Adventures In Mommy-hood

Brandy: These first 3 weeks have gone by SO QUICKLY! My mom and Brian were home for the first week. The second week, I was home Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday by myself. The third week my mom came back. This is week four and I am solo again. Orlaith and I are trying to get in a pattern that works for us. I got a little spoiled with all of the help from mom.

We have had some feeding and weight issues with Baby O. We took her to the pediatrician the day after we brought her home from the hospital. She had gone down to 6 lbs 15 oz (from 7 lbs 11 oz). She had lost 10% of her birth weight and that is the maximum weight loss they want to see. So... we were forced to supplement. It took a full 7 days for my milk to come in. I had some blood loss during the birth, and this has wreaked havoc on my milk supply. I am still trying to get my body to play catch up. Once my milk came in, we stopped supplementing and went back to solely breast feeding. Then, when we went in for her 2 week check up, she had lost more weight. I had a feeling about this because of the way she was acting. She would nurse for over an hour at a time, only sleep if I was holding her, would scream if anyone else held her and was nursing every 1 1/2 hours. Let's just say I was constantly feeding her and when she would sleep, I still couldn't lay her down or hand her off. Those several days were quite trying. Once we figured out my supply was not adequate to satisfy her, we had to supplement again. We went ahead and introduced a bottle this time. We had used a supplemental feeding system the last time. Once we started giving her formula after breast feeding, she was a different baby. She would fall asleep after feeding and let me lay her down! I felt SO incredibly guilty that she had not been getting enough food previously. It was deceptive though because she was having all the appropriate pee and poo diapers each day. Her pediatrician said that she was getting enough to stay hydrated, but not enough to grow. Anyway, she is growing now. Her cheeks are filling out, and she is a happy little baby girl! The last time we weighed her, she was back up to 7 lbs 9 oz (just 2 oz shy of her birth weight). I am going to take her in tomorrow to check on her progress. Her next official appointment is her 2 month check up on 2/19.

I have been really torn about not being able to solely breast feed like I had planned. Her pediatrician assures me that she is getting all of the benefits of breast feeding, even though she is getting formula as well. I just want my body to work the way it is supposed to... just once! I have been pumping and taking herbal supplements to get my supply up, but it does not seem to be working. My lactation consultant told me to try and get a prescription for Dom Peridone. It is a nasal spray that increases supply and makes let down faster. Orlaith's pediatrician advised against it because she is not familiar with the drug. Then my midwife advised that it does work and she recommends it. Everyone always has something different to say about everything. It makes it so confusing! Has anyone used it? What is your experience with it?

I broke down and starting using a pacifier yesterday. I am only using it when she is falling asleep. I am taking it out before I lay her down. So far, so good.

Other than breast feeding issues, motherhood has been going great. I love my Baby O, and I am enjoying watching her grow and change every day. We are getting ready for a girls day out today. We are meeting 2 friends from birthing class and their newborn daughters for lunch and the cry baby matinee at the Angelika. It is a beautiful day and I can't wait to get out!!!

Orlaith will be four weeks old this Friday. We are going to get her picture made... hopefully this weekend. Then I will finally get around to sending out birth announcements...