So I just don't have the time to internet any more! I read while Hank feeds, but never get the chance to type anything. My facebook friends get the occasional picture or smartass status update, but it's rare.
So here are some updates. Hank is 3 weeks old as of last Saturday. Friday I fell down the stairs with him. Most. Horrific. Experience. Ever.
I had him in my right arm in the football hold and my water jug in the left hand. It was 5:00 in the morning and DH was downstairs getting ready for work and I was still half asleep. Almost at the bottom, I stepped wrong and my heel slipped and I fell backwards. I "caught" myself with my elbows, my sacrum and my upper back. Hank slipped forward a little and his head fell backwards, but I was able to hold onto him. He got jarred pretty good, and cried for just a minute. I definitely got the worst of it. I bawled my eyes out and apologized to him over and over again even though he was clearly okay. I felt like the worst mom ever! Luckily, I didn't break anything although I'm still sore. Then, later that morning, I had to get his tongue clipped. It was a really hard decision for me because I was afraid it would hurt him and was traumatized by the idea. He was totally fine. It hardly even bled a single drop and he was mostly just annoyed with someone holding his mouth open. His latch is a million times better and now he sticks his tongue out of his mouth so I'm really glad I just got it done right away instead of waiting to see what happened with it.
Hank is quickly becoming Hank the Tank. He weighed two pounds more than his birth weight on Friday! Two different nurses made comments about how I must be producing heavy cream.
AFM- My hematoma is totally healing up and I was feeling really good before the whole stair incident. I've taken a few little joy rides on my sport bike already and it made me really happy. I felt like I could be this new self who is Hank's mom without losing all of my old self in the process. I also figured out how to nurse in my homemade moby. I love it! It's so cool to be walking around, going about my day with Hank just nursing away. It was just the biggest accomplishment for me.
Pumping- I found I could still pump pretty well after Hank was done nursing. I haven't pumped very much - just enough to have some emergency stores in the fridge, but I figured it was better to get some good, rich hindmilk for my freezer.
Acne- Hank has the WORST baby acne!! His skin is so sensitive! He just seems like he's covered in rashes and acne. I just try not to let it bother me. Some of it is heat rash and goes away after a little bit. But it always gets bright red after he nurses. His dad has insanely sensitive skin and it looks like Hank is the same way. :(
Fussy at night - I've been dealing with this a lot for the last few days. Yesterday, I picked up some baby probiotics and have been really making sure I'm block feeding so that he's not getting too much foremilk. So far it seems like it's working!! I'll keep you posted just in case it's only a coincidence. I've been swaddling and trying some of the Happiest Baby techniques, too.
Awake time - I think Hank was awake for like six hours one night! It was rough.
Diaper changes - I put my microfleece lined pocket diapers on Hank during the night and if I'm dead tired by the time he gets in some good blocks of sleep, I'll just leave him in them. Doesn't seem to be causing a problem. He had a bout of diaper rash while I was still using the prefolds, but I got that cleared up with a day of disposables and desitin and then just back in cloth with California Baby after that. It hasn't come back.
Ascher- I block feed. So just one boob for several feedings in a row. I don't really watch the clock, I just go by how my boobs feel. But I also produce a lot. When you're a rookie mom like me with nursing questions, call your local La Leche League leader. They're so awesome! I talked to someone about Hank's tongue-tie and she really helped me to make the right decision about it.
Burping - I try for a burp after every feed but sometimes don't get it. I can usually tell if he needs it by the noises he makes. Sometimes the gas bubble isn't ready to come up until a little bit later. Burping is so tricky! I seriously had the hardest time figuring it out and was so proud of myself the first time I got a burp out of Hank. He had a couple of times where I didn't burp him and he just puked everywhere! I was terrified. Poor guy.
WCM- So glad your numbers are high!! You must be eating right and taking care of yourself. That's great news!
Sometimes nothing works. Other times, swaddling, nursing, white noise and jiggling will put him back to sleep at night. I go through my arsenal of baby sleeping techniques and if nothing works, I just go downstairs and watch netflix and dance around the living room like a zombie until he falls asleep on my chest.
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