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Hi everyone!
Eeeek! I have totally failed at keeping up with the thread this week. I am on the computer a lot during the day, reading HelloBee but I usually have Pete in one hand nursing, so I can’t actually type anything to respond!
We have two SILs coming to visit at any minute, but I am going to try to squeeze in a quick update:
Pete and I had a fairly good week together. On most days he has a regular newborn schedule of being alert for an hour or two, and then napping for an hour or tow. On Tuesday, however, he was wide awake all day which was a bit exhausting. It’s not that he was fussy per say, it’s just that he needed to be held, bounced, and entertained for like 18 hours straight. He finally fell asleep around 11pm and then slept for the entire following day. He must have been totally wiped... I know I was!
Tomorrow we are going to drive to the suburbs north of NYC to look at some open houses. I’ve only been a mom for 4 weeks, but I’ve about had it with city living, at least where we are now. Our current lease isn’t up until December 1, so we won’t be able to put an offer in on a house until late summer, but I think it still will be good to start exploring different neighborhoods now.
I figured out why he was leaking through all of his diapers- they were way to small on him! Gah- embarrassing first time mom mistake! He was born at 7lbs., so I’d been using newborn sized diapers. Well, I put him on the scale this week and he’s almost 10 lbs.! I started using size 1 diapers on Monday and we haven’t had a single leak since.
I absolutely loved looking at the all the photos of adorable March babies last weekend! It’s so fun to see how much they’ve changed over the course of just a few weeks. Like NaturallyCathy, my husband doesn’t really like me posting any photos on the internet but I think I can convince him to post a photo on a Gold thread one day soon!
@blackbird: During a full feed, Pete was eating between 3-4 ounces last week (he just turned four weeks on Thursday).
@Adira: It’s so wonderful to hear that you had a great week. What a difference a few days can make!
@aprk: Whoa, so impressed you are in real jeans! That must have felt so great, even if they feel a little snug. I have about 15 lbs. to still lose, and I can’t even fit into my maternity jeans yet. I think they might technically zip, but they are so tight on my incision. I have been living in maternity leggings and maxi dresses for a month now. You are giving me motivation to get my butt in gear to get back to pre-pre size!
@shopaholic: Lol, I love that your drive took you less time with K than it did while pregnant! That’s amazing! The story about her waking to your voice is quite funny too! I have been nervous about a long car ride as well, so I’m glad to know there’s hope that it might not be as bad as I anticipate. Also happy to hear that her recent growth spurt has been easier than her last one!
@smurfette: Definitely go have some pizza and ice cream! Glad R enjoyed her first experience with the WubbaNub!
@naturallycathy: I loved your breakdown of Em’s “awake time.” At least you are able to handle her feisty spirit with a good sense of humor!
Has anyone’s baby smiled at them with a real, social, responsive-type smile? Pete makes the cutest smiles all the time, but I know they are still random or related to gas. I just can’t wait until he flashes me a true gummy smile that says, “I’m happy!!” What is the typical time frame for adorable baby smiles?
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@QueensBee: It's great that you're looking now. It took DH and I a whole hear of looking before we found our house (again! Long story...). And we didn 't have a lease constraint because DH had a house already. So good luck!
And honestly, I have a better sense of humor and everything the second time around than I ever did the first time around. Maybe it's because we're less cramped and I've been through this before. I had some real low points this time last year when Henry was an infant.
Hope the SIL visit goes well!
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Hi ladies on my phone right now so I'll answer everyone in later when I get to a laptop. But to answer @QueensBee: Kaitlyn was smiling since the second day at the hospital. It was actually the nurse who pointed out that she was smiling and had dimples! My baby app said that they usually start smiling at one months though. The baby laughs are so fun and make all the hard times worth it! Kaitlyn starting to smile and laugh but without sound, at things now like when I shake the rattle at her. This was just earlier this week!
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@shopaholic- Omg that is the cutest little block of photos! I love her little tuft of hair right on top! She was smiling on the second day?! Wow, you might have a real performer on your hands! Pete will be one month old tomorrow so at the encouragement of the baby app, I am now officially on "Smile Watch 2013." Can't wait! Will let you ladies know when it finally happens!
@naturallycathy- I always love reading your advice as a second time mom, because you are so relaxed and good humored about everything! It's such a good perspective! And, thanks for the house hunting encouragement. I've been living in the city for 9 years, so it feels like a scary next step, but as spring rolls around, I find myself really wanting a big green yard and a porch and... a garden! Hopefully we will find something this summer!
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@blackbird: I am not sure since R is BF. but once she sucked down 2 oz bottle and was still hungry. She usually eats evey two hours and now is starting to go to every three
@QueensBee: R smiles and I think they are in response to us but then she smiles in her sleep, so I have no idea. Start looking early for a house. We started in April and went into contract Dec 31st.
@shopaholic: those pictures are so cute!
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@QueensBee: @Smurfette: Thanks ladies! I love her smiles!
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Okay, so I'm kind of psyched from today's shopping! We ordered the Beco Gemini in Stella Black. DH apparently didn't order it Wednesday because he forgot which pattern we agreed on. Love that he can remember car part numbers but not print names for fabrics... Then we went to Target and picked up nore utensils and plates for DS. Then went to Essex (Bargain Hunt) and found a Graco stroller frame for DD's car seat and the Boppy activity gym in Garden Patch. I'm stupid excited about these baby (and toddler!) purchases today.
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@NaturallyCathy: Good deals are always something to be excited about.
We are having a rough day over her. All she is doing is eating, sleeping, and crying. She seems to have to always burn. We took her temp, it was normal. But nothing seems to calm her down. I have a feeling it is going to be a long, long night.
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@Smurfette: As rough as it sounds and as hellish as I know it is, give it 48 hours. It's probably a growth spurt or something didn't digest right. Unfortunately, the inconsolable spells happen all the time for no apparent reason that you can fathom. If possibly, get her some fresh air. A warm bath can also soothe when you're at your wits end. She could be reacting to changes in the weather. Babies are sensitive tuning forks. Hang in there, momma.
And yes, good deals and baby things make this momma very happy
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@NaturallyCathy: I do think that it might be the 6 week growth spurt. The hardest part is DH isn't dealing well at all with the crying. So I feel like it is all on me. She is so tired, but won't stay asleep even on us. She is waking up screaming too. I haven't had a break in a week. I am going somewhere tomorrow whether he likes it or not.
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@Smurfette: Good for you. You deserve it. And it will get better. One day soon you'll be calling your mother to make sure she's okay because it will seem like she's slept forever.
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Last night wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Got her down at 1030 and the she woke up twice to eat. I put her back down around 6, but she woke up back and the she just slept on DH till 8. She went down for a nap, when she woke up, I fed her. Then we got in the car seat, I sat with her in the back, had to give her the pacifier. But we got in Costco before she started crying cause she was tired. So I put her in the Ktan and she was out. Walked to Home Depot. She went back in the car seat and slept. DH and I took our chances and went out to lunch. She slept the whole time!! I feel like a new woman!! She has been sleeping most of the day. Is that part of the growth spurt?
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Vi just had her first bottle and she took it like a champ!
I'm going to start building up a freezer stash (slowly, since I only have a single manual pump) just in case I were to need to leave her for a few hours or something.
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@Arden: Way to go V!
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Must get better about replying, but it's so hard one handed on my phone! One handed is pretty much how I'm doing everything lately...
Jack is awesome, but exhausting! He's 6 weeks today, and we are definitely in the middle of a fussy growth spurt.
We had his 1 month and my 6 week checkup on the same day on Thurs. He's 22 3/4 inches, and 11 lbs 12 oz, so he's gained 4.5 lbs since birth - crazy!! He is nursing all the time though. Except at night.I don't want to jinx it, but he's had several 5-6 hour stretches of sleep at night over the past 2 weeks. He's sleeping around midnight until 5 AM often. It's awesome!
He doesn't really have a napping schedule during the day though. He'll sleep for 2 or even 3 hours in the baby carrier, but not very well in his bassinet, crib, or swing. I think we're moving him into his crib in the nursery tonight. I'm a little sad!
Got the all clear from my OB on Thurs, so my husband and I DTD last night. It hurt a little at first (no lube, that might have been a good idea!) and I was sore afterward, but it was nice to do it again!
Also found out from my OB that I've lost 30 lbs since delivery, which is insane. I only gained 20 while pregnant. I guess nursing all the time has helped in a few ways - burning calories, and preventing me from eat big meals and snacking!! I don't feel thin though, I have a definite muffin top
I think we're dealing with an oversupply/forceful letdown issue over here. Jack is so gassy, he chokes at the beginning of nursing, and I soak through nursing pads. Ugh! Anyone else facing a similar issue?
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@keepcalmcarrie: I think I may have a really forceful let down too. I soak through nursing pads all the time (I actually doubled them up yesterday and soaked through both). Vi makes loud gulping sounds when she's nursing, and sometimes it leaks out the other side of the mouth like she can't swallow fast enough.
At my midwives appointment last week Vi weighed 10.8, and she was three weeks old. That's almost a two pound gain in three weeks, from her birth weight.
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@Smurfette: I'm the same way - I go to bed with Xander does. We just got lucky that Xander was taking a nap in the evening after Hubs got home, so we did it before dinner. Usually Xander doesn't nap in the evenings, so we normally wouldn't have time at all except on the weekends!
@NaturallyCathy: What!!! You did it at week 3?? Good for you, girlfriend! I definitely was in the mood, but too scared to do it before my six week postpartum visit!
@QueensBee: Xander has been smiling!! He was sort of doing it around 5 weeks, but this week, it's been much more obvious (he's 7 weeks). He smiles the most in the morning. I'll get him up to feed him and he's all smiles! It's soooooooooo sweet!
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@keepcalmcarrie: That is great you are getting good sleep. Awesome on the weight gain. I can't wait and can wait to see mine tomorrow. I have been to chicken to check yet. You were brave to DTD without lube! I think my left side is more forceful if she hasn't nursed in awhile. I nurse one side each feeding. So in that case I let some go into the burn cloth first so it isn't to fast for her. But I hardly leak only if it has been over 4 hours
@Adira: does he smile in response to y'all? Sometimes R does, or I think it is, but then she will smile at nothing. So not sure they are real or not.
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@Smurfette: Yes! He is definitely smiling in response to us! He smiles when we talk to him and smile at him. He also smiles at his own reflection, which is cute. But he also smiles as he is drifting off to sleep. He did these sleepy smiles first long before he started smiling in response to us.
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@Adira: R does the sleepy smiles too. One sign I know she is about our, when I see her smile. So maybe she is smiling at us
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@NaturallyCathy: Yay! Baby purchases are more fun than stuff for myself now!
@Smurfette: Sorry for your rough night, but sounds like you had a good night last night? And yay for getting out and about finally!
I think we had a rough 6 week growth spurt night last night too. That or she was really gassy from the altitude in the mountains. She was generally just unhappy after dinner and it was so hard to comfort her. Nothing really worked until about 11pm, I just kept letting her comfort nurse till we both fell asleep. Hoping tonight is better.
* One thing I did find in my search on growth spurts to know whether it was a growth spurt or something else was that babies would have less poopy diapers during a growth spurt (using all the nutrients to grow!) I definitely noticed K had less poopy diapers the previous 2 days, and today she's had 3 already. So that's my hope for the growth spurt coming to an end. Nice that R is sleepy as a sign of growth spurt. K takes naps, but they are all still short little catnaps.
@Arden: Yay for V!
@keepcalmcarrie: Sounds like we're all dealing with the fussy 6 week growth spurt. Wow on his growth since birth! I'm interested to see what K's numbers are this week! K doesn't sleep well in any of those things either. Just being held or on us. She'll fall asleep in the carrier pretty quickly, but again, wakes up within 20 min.
Way to go on DTD as soon as you got clearance! I've been thinking about it, but with the weekend trip and K only sleeping in bed with us, I just haven't figured out the logistics yet. Let us know how the crib transition goes if you get around to it! I'm not sure when I'll do it...
I'm jealous of your weight loss! I'm not doing too bad, but the sweet tooth I developed in pregnancy is continuing and I'm not liking it.
I definitely have overactive/forceful letdown. If I am not proactive about it, K will always gag/choke and cry during the letdown. But it happens so quick, it's often hard for me to get her off the boob before it happens. I try to express or just letdown before I feed her if I can. I also try to nurse with her head higher than the rest of her body and with me leaning back for the flow to go against gravity. Have you tried those methods?
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Hi Ladies! I've spent the last couple nights during feedings reading through this board and decided that I should join up with you.
My little man, Isaac, was born March 21. 13 days early. He was 9lbs 5oz and at his pediatrician appt at 20 days he was 10lbs 9oz. So far I am EBF, which is going pretty good. Except for the last 36 hours have been a bit rough with more frequent feedings. I can say I do not enjoy getting up every 2 hours during the night, especially when the few nights before he had started to go 3.5 hours between feedings, so I was only up twice in the night.
Overall he is a pretty good baby. He has some days that aren't so great, but we've been making it through. I look forward to being on more of a schedule than we are, but that will come with time.
Everyone's babies are so adorable. I look forward to sharing this journey with all you ladies.
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@shopaholic: That is interesting about the diaper changes. R still has plenty of poopy diapers but I have noticed the amount is less. I think we are still in the spurt. R had a bad night last night and this morning has been fussy.
@ALV91711: Welcome! Yes, the more frequent feedings are hard. 3 1/2 hours is good. I wish R would go that long. I am luckily if I get 3 hours. Sucks! I am hoping it is going to start to get better now that she should be over 10lbs.
DH worked from home today, so I left her with him while I went to the doctor. Got the all clear for exercise and sex. I am 8 lbs over per-pregnancy weight. I need to start watching my intake more or my work pants aren't going to fit me in 5 weeks. I really don't want to wear maternity.
I have an appointment on the 17th to get an IUD. Till then the doctor said to use condoms to be safe.
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@ALV91711: Welcome!! It sounds like your little one is going through the 4-week growth spurt possibly, waking up every two hours to eat. I know how frustrating that is when they had been sleeping a lot longer! Xander usually only wakes twice in the night to eat, but every so often, he's up every two hours too, and it's soooooo frustrating (and exhausting)!
@shopaholic: I don't think I can tell a growth spurt based on poopy diapers. Xander's at the point where he's only going once every 1-3 days, with no rhyme or reason as to when he's going to go, haha.
@Smurfette: So jealous about your weight. I haven't lost a single pound since having the baby almost 8 weeks ago. My work pants do NOT fit. I'm struggling so hard to eat better or exercise. I might have to break out my belly-bands again to fake the work pants when I go back to work!
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Hi everyone! Just checking in quickly from my iPad. Baby boy had his 2 month well baby checkup and shots today. He is now 23.5 inches long and 12 lbs, 13.5 ounces (up 5 lbs from his birth weight!). The shots were pretty hard to watch -- I completely teared up when he cried! -- but he seems to be doing fine now. I nursed him immediately afterwards, and he has now settled down for his afternoon nap.
We start Mommy and Me playgroup next week, which I am really excited about. Are any of you guys signing up for classes, etc, yet? I want to eventually find some Mommy and Me "swim" classes, but I don't know when kids start them. 6 months? He likes the bath, so I want to just bob him around in the water!
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@ALV91711: Hi! Welcome to March Mommas!
Man, the 4 week growth spurt was harder on me than this 6 week one. The frequent nursing will stop eventually - hang in there! I know it's exhausting! @Smurfette: Ditto. K's been having poopy diapers, but was pretty fussy again this morning. She just looks so uncomfortable and sad when she cries. She has only been nursing a few minutes at a time (sometimes just 2-3 min.!)
Nice that you got cleared for sex and have your IUD appt. Your weight loss actually sounds pretty good! But I know what you mean. I really need to watch my sugar and carbs intake too!@Adira: What?! That's crazy about his poopy diapers! Is that normal? I feel worried when I don't see a poopy diaper for half a day!
@mole: Aww..
I think we get shots this week? I'm not sure because she'll be 7 weeks? Thanks for the nursing tip! I'm going to do that if it helps! Sounds like is growing big and strong! I want to join some Mommy & Me or Meetup groups, but not sure if K is too young still? For the swim classes, I read they should be at least 6 months to go in the chlorine water? Also, I'd want to make sure she has good, strong head & neck control before I take her to swim. Sadly, I think by 6 months, Summer weather will be coming to an end.
So I think we are still in the 6 week growth spurt too. Normally she is awake ALL DAY and won't sleep. Of course, today, I've been trying to keep her awake before our road trip home and all she wants to do is sleep! She woke up so upset so I nursed her (for 2 min.) and she was crying inconsolably, until she fell asleep.
Scared for our drive home, but hoping it will be as good as our ride up here.
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@shopaholic: yeah, I think we are on the young side of things, although the playgroups at the Pump Station stores in LA start around 8 weeks, as do some of the baby Move N Play classes. (I am so bad at singing, though, so I haven't signed up for those yet. Haha.) Luckily, there are now a few 2-4 month old babies in my Stroller Strides group.
I also just stumbled across baby water safety and familiarity classes here: http://www.lennykswim.com/ Our city pool's last swim sessions end right before my kid turns 6 months, so that's too bad -- especially since the pool is within walking distance of our home!
Good luck on your drive home!
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@shopaholic: haha, yes, it's normal! Breastfed babies can go up to 10 days without a poopy diaper! I guess as their digestive track matures, they start absorbing more and more of the nutrients from breast milk and so they have less waste.
@mole: Wow!!! I'm impressed with your son's weight gain!! I'm so curious to see where Xander is at his two month visit, which is on Friday. Hopefully he's been gaining well.
As for Mommy & Me classes, I doubt that we'll join any, at least not any time soon. I'll be going back to work full-time in four weeks, so I'm just not sure when we'd have time to do anything, except maybe on the weekends. There's a place here that has a ton of groups and classes like that, but most of them are during the day during the week, so we wouldn't be able to attend. Oh well.
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@Adira: Wow! I am sure I will still be really worried if she doesn't poop even for one day!
@mole: That's so nice you have some moms with younger babies now in your Stroller Strides class!
I don't know if it's the growth spurt or the long sleeping stretches from the car rides for 2 days, but K has been sleeping more each day during the daytime! What worries me about that is it might mean less sleep at night?
We went to the mall today for lunch w/a friend and some shopping and were out for almost 5 hours total without any meltdowns!
I did have to wear her in the K'tan for about 1 1/2 hr of the shopping, but that is totally fine with me! I've been trying to mix it up with the baby wearing and stroller in preparation for our summer trips. She always prefers baby wearing, but the regular walks in the stroller seem to be helping with longer and longer stretches.
Our drive home yesterday took a bit longer than our way there. She was awake for over half of the drive. Luckily, she was content to look at her hanging toys for the most part. Only the last 20 miles were really rough, but I can't blame her for being in the car seat for over 6 hours. She slept wonderfully in the Miracle Blanket though! @Smurfette: My key for the MB is she has to be really tired to get her snuggly in it! -
@shopaholic: that is awesome you were able to get out of the house for so long. I didn't even get out of my pjs till 5 today. We had a good day but she just wanted to be held most of the day. I did go grab dinner with a friend. She wouldn't take a bottle from DH though. She did calm down when he turned the vacuum on. I am supposed to go to this cooking thing with a friend tomorrow night. I worry leaving her for longer but DH tells me it is fine. I just feel bad he has to deal with her fussy time peak all by himself.
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@shopaholic: I can't say this will be the case for you and your LO but DS used to sleep longer stretches during the day at this time and it didn't effect his sleep at night. He wasn't STTN by any means and we'd have the odd awake for an hour in the middle of the night but I think it's normal.
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@Smurfette: Truly, honestly... I've been finding it easier to be out and about (even if it's just a walk around the neighborhood) with the baby than to be inside at home with her. At home, she wants to be held and awake 80% of the time. If I'm out with her pushing the stroller or baby-wearing and walking, she is more likely to fall asleep or at least look around. Ex. Since we've been home she was awake and wanting to be held until I finally got her to sleep at almost 10!
Have you tried the phone app for the white noise? We left it on last night for K for the whole time. I think that's easier than leaving a vacuum on. And it can be REALLY loud. Too loud for me actually!
@NaturallyCathy: Oh I HOPE so!
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I think baby boy is feeling a bit fussy from the effects of his vaccinations yesterday. We had a great day -- a walk to Trader Joe's, coffee meetup with some new mom friends and their babies, trip to the farmer's market -- but he is having a bit of a rough time tonight. He just wants to comfort nurse and be held. I'm not stressed about it, but I hate that he seems uncomfortable! Poor little man.
I second the white noise. Our friends gave us a white noise machine, and we use it every night. He's been sleeping well for his age: last night he only woke up once! I'm not sure how much of that can be attributed to the white noise, but I'm not going to change anything.
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@mole: Sounds like a wonderful day (minus the post-vaccine fussiness)! Did he get any fever? I think we have shots on Thursday. Did your DH go with you for the shots? I'm sad I think I'll have to go alone.
Ditto on the comfort nursing tonight! I've literally nursed K 4 times in 2 hours!
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@shopaholic: @mole: We have a sound machine and it is on al night long. But I am not sure that she even notices it. It is right next to the RnP but I still wonder if it is loud enough or not.
@mole: Sorry he isn't feeling good!! I am not looking forward to her shots at 2 months at all.
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@shopaholic: I'm in the same boat as you - Hubs won't be able to go with me when Xander gets his two month vaccinations. I'm not looking forward to going alone! I hope Xander handles them okay.
@mole: @shopaholic: @Smurfette: We also use white noise. We have a white noise machine that I keep on all night. It's next to the bassinet. I have no idea if it makes a difference or not, but I'm not going to turn it off to find out!
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Well, postpartum visit went well yesterday. Mirena inserted with no issue and I feel fine. Ache a little but not uncomfortable in the least. Doc says I look great and he looks forward to seeing my in about eight weeks to check on the Mirena, then again in a year. Apparently I've been an utter delight.
Em was awake during the entire appointment - about an hour, all said, including check in - then asleep for a few hours while we were out and about. We had lunch, then walked around campus and visited with a few old university friends and professors. Then home to big brother and MIL. Since I didn't breastfeed her the entire time we were out, starting at around nine thirty to when we got back a little after two thirty, my breasts were a little engorged and tender. We nursed as soon as we got home and I instantly felt better. Glad I'm making enough for a few of her feedings!
Em did something really strange last night. She actually slept from about ten o'clock (no clock in the bedroom) until four forty in the morning. Solid. Not a peep. The worst I had to deal with was my parent's dog, who we're pet sitting until next Tuesday when they return from California, who needed to pee late at night and then wouldn't settle somewhere! He's a big dog so we could just hear him thumping around the house which was really really annoying. I was afraid he would wake Em or Henry but they both remained blissfully asleep. It was hard for me to get back to sleep though
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@NaturallyCathy: Glad to hear that your appointment went well!! Sounds like everything went smoothly!
Oh my gosh, I can't believe your baby slept so long!!! I'm so jealous! Xander has NEVER slept that long. The longest he's slept is 4.5 hours. I hope this is something that continues for you and wasn't just a fluke! Is Em exclusively breastfed or does she take formula as well? I've heard that babies will sleep through the night sooner on formula, though I have no idea if that's true.
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@Adira: It's a gentle myth we formula feeding moms like to tell ourselves when we give our babies formula before bed... Yes, in a way, their tummies get fuller and they may sleep, say, half an hour longer but do they generally sleep longer? I think not. I'm waking up just as much if not more with Em than I was with Henry and he was more exclusively formula fed than she was. Although they were both being breastfed at this age...
And to clarify that jumble-y gook, yes, Em is being breastfed and formula fed although for the past, say, two days she's been on something of a formula strike. Not sure what the reason is but I think it's been nearly 48 hours since she's taken more than a few frenzied gulps of formula. She hasn't had a four ounce bottle in at least a day and I'm struggling to get her to just eat two ounces. Not sure what's up with that, never ran into this problem with DS.
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@NaturallyCathy: I am so jealous of your sleep! Glad y'all had a great mother/daughter day out.
@Adira: I have only got a three and half hour stretch. I am beginning to think it is never going to happen.
I am suppose to leave in 40 mins to meet a friend for this cooking demonstration. It sounds fun but I am dreading it. I am worried about leaving R for so long cause yesterday I was gone for an hour and half and she wouldn't take a bottle. I am going to be gone for longer. She has been really good today, sleeping most of the day. I just hate making DH to deal with the fussiness all on his own. Why do we feel guilty? I mean I am with her all day by myself
I think we get shots this week? I'm not sure because she'll be 7 weeks? Thanks for the nursing tip! I'm going to do that if it helps! Sounds like is growing big and strong! 
Scared for our drive home, but hoping it will be as good as our ride up here.
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