Week 4 - She's Officially One Month Old
The last two weeks have been more difficult than the initial two weeks. We have no patterns at all and time really doesn't mean anything. The lactation consultant who visited us last week encouraged this type of no pattern schedule. She recommended I nurse, feed, sleep on Alexandra's schedule. The specialist even recommended the baby sleep with us, next to me to allow for anytime feeding throughout the night.
At the time it sounded like a good idea but of course in reality it didn't really work out that way. She didn't say that it would be hard for me to fall asleep with her next to me in bed; that I would be required to sit long hours at a time nursing her and feeding her (two different acts); and napping when she napped? impossible. During her napping I had to do what I couldn't do when she was awake requiring my attention: I ate, went to the bathroom and stretched my legs. These aren't luxuries but necessities. Sitting for so long brought on pains and aches and led me to develop a daytime TV schedule that I'm embarrassed to share. Although we had some good nights, more often than not, at bedtime, Alexandra became irritated and let us know it by screaming her head off, fighting her feedings, or by making noises unrecognizable from a baby, all between 11pm and 2am, every night. We tried keeping her up during the day but like clock work she continued this behavior. The only thing that calmed her was if either of us carried her around, and so we did. With saggy bags under our eyes, almost like zombies we walked around the room until she finally fell asleep.
With his IPhone, Curt video taped one of these tantrums for us to share with her doctor at the next visit. The pediatrician said it's all normal and in fact noted her healthy weight gain and overall appearance between her hospital leave and now.
The past few days we have taken the lactation consultants advice (too much to share here) and modified it to better fit our lives. My doctor and Alexandra's pediatrician did warn me against taking the well intended advice of lactation consultants word for word and instead recommended we do what works best for us. I recognize this and tell myself often that if I'm not okay (in pain, too tired, hungry. etc.) then Alexandra isn't going to get the best of me.
Last night Alexandra slept with us waking once for feeding and changing. There was no dramatic tantrum during her usual 11pm to 2am hours. Everyday we learn more and more to read her as she becomes more patient with us.
At the time it sounded like a good idea but of course in reality it didn't really work out that way. She didn't say that it would be hard for me to fall asleep with her next to me in bed; that I would be required to sit long hours at a time nursing her and feeding her (two different acts); and napping when she napped? impossible. During her napping I had to do what I couldn't do when she was awake requiring my attention: I ate, went to the bathroom and stretched my legs. These aren't luxuries but necessities. Sitting for so long brought on pains and aches and led me to develop a daytime TV schedule that I'm embarrassed to share. Although we had some good nights, more often than not, at bedtime, Alexandra became irritated and let us know it by screaming her head off, fighting her feedings, or by making noises unrecognizable from a baby, all between 11pm and 2am, every night. We tried keeping her up during the day but like clock work she continued this behavior. The only thing that calmed her was if either of us carried her around, and so we did. With saggy bags under our eyes, almost like zombies we walked around the room until she finally fell asleep.
With his IPhone, Curt video taped one of these tantrums for us to share with her doctor at the next visit. The pediatrician said it's all normal and in fact noted her healthy weight gain and overall appearance between her hospital leave and now.
The past few days we have taken the lactation consultants advice (too much to share here) and modified it to better fit our lives. My doctor and Alexandra's pediatrician did warn me against taking the well intended advice of lactation consultants word for word and instead recommended we do what works best for us. I recognize this and tell myself often that if I'm not okay (in pain, too tired, hungry. etc.) then Alexandra isn't going to get the best of me.
Last night Alexandra slept with us waking once for feeding and changing. There was no dramatic tantrum during her usual 11pm to 2am hours. Everyday we learn more and more to read her as she becomes more patient with us.
1 Comments:
Hi Mary,
She looks adorable :) If you ever have questions, feel free to call my mom. She's kind of a baby expert, and I know one of my brothers had little tantrums as a baby too. he grew out of it. xoxo, Lauren
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