- At hospital my baby will room in ONLY. ha...it took less than 4 hours for me to realize that all those moms who advised me to take advantage of the hospital nursery were 110% right. During the first 2 hours of sleep, my aching body was out of bed 3 times to check on the baby because I heard her make a little sound or I needed to make sure she was still breathing or she started crying because she got her little arm out of her swaddling. Then I woke poor sleeping daddy to check on her once because I just couldn't make my legs move anymore. We both agreed she would go to the nursery....best thing I ever did. We both got MUCH NEEDED sleep. Our first night home, with the baby finally asleep, we looked at each other and said, "no nursery anymore" :( Bless those nursery nurses for taking care of my baby!
- I won't use the pacifier.... when you have a screaming baby and can't calm her down, the pacifier becomes your sanity saver. I also said I wouldn't let her have it in bed....yeah she gets it in bed.
- I'll be tough and let her cry herself to sleep. I'm tough....for about 2 minutes and then I can't stand it any longer. I've become tougher, or as Brendan would say, my heart has become cold. :) I do let her cry a little longer than 2 minutes, but sometimes the girl just needs her momma.
Nursing is natural; the way God designed it; the best for baby.... then why is it so darn difficult! We spent Eliana's first 6 weeks with a lactation consultant. For 6 weeks for e.v.e.r.y. feeding we nursed, pumped and fed her a bottle. Each feeding lasted about an hour or more. EXHAUSTING! I'm so glad that for the first 2 weeks my mother in-law and my mom were there to help out. They would even get up for the night time feedings. Bless their hearts, they were so helpful! Around 7 weeks baby girl finally caught on to nursing and by 8 weeks the bottle was a thing of the past! So were night time feedings! Hello 8 straight hours of glorious sleep! It seriously does a body good!
In the first few weeks you spend most of your time consoling a crying baby, feeding your baby, changing your baby, or putting baby to sleep. All the while trying to find a spare 15 minutes to take a shower just so you can feel human! More common advice from moms is to, "Sleep when baby sleeps." And ladies if you follow any advice follow this! It makes a much happier momma, a happier daddy, and just a happier home! One day I didn't get a nap and I was a basket case! So my hubby became the nap nazi. He always asked me when he got home from work if I took a nap that day. I really didn't stop taking naps until she started sleeping through the night.
Here are some of my top picks on must have's for new mom's...ok, maybe you don't have to have them, but they made my life a little easier.
When parents tell you to, "Enjoy them because it flies by before you know it," listen to them. I can't believe that I have a 2 month old! Every day is different than the day before. The sweet noises of a cooing baby that fill my home put a smile on my face and tears of joy in my eyes
I love this post. It reminds me of our nights in the hospital. We also had about 2 hard weeks of bfing woes and trips to the lactation consultant and physical therapists that ultimately led to exclusive bfing but that was a slow transition. Im still learning new things about it and a few books have REALLY helped. The pacifier thing i was on the fence about bf Kalex was born but its been super helpful and i havent looked back since. Id love to chat more- its always good to hear from other women going thru the same things.
ReplyDeleteAren't we all expert parents until we actually become one!! ;o) I'm so glad everything is clicking for you and Eliana now. God shapes us and grows us and humbles us so much through mama-hood. But those hard, hard early days go so fast . . . oh I'd love a little tiny one to snuggle again! ;o) Have a great day Sara!
ReplyDeleteI was a *much* smarter mother before I had my boys! :) It's amazing the things we learn--so many of them....the books just can't prepare you for. And I'm finding that the more they grow.....the more I'm learning and the more I find my need for the Lord and *His* wisdom!! It's a continual process. I always felt like an extra 6 hands would be nice when nursing in those early weeks! It's tough, but so glad you stuck with it and are now seeing results. So fun to see you loving your sweet girl and finding joy in being a mommy.
ReplyDeleteThis is so great Sara! I can't tell you how many "I'll never"s I have broken. I saw a book titled "I Was the Perfect Mother...and then I Had Kids" at a store once and decided that that about sums it up. :-) So happy that feedings and sleeping are improving, praying it just gets better and better. I'm enjoying your thoughts on this wonderful, excruciating journey of motherhood! :-)
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