In a Month

My littlest man is a month old. It seems crazy that he has been with us for a full for 4 weeks. It also seems like the longest week stretched out. I am definitely in the sleepless newborn stage. Though it is much different with two kids. I can not nap when the baby naps... I sleep when my two year old AND my newborn sleeps. This happens only between 1am and 7am and on a REALLY good day, between 1-3pm, give or take. SO, having two babies? MUCH harder than the first one. I feel like if I just had Colin, it would be a walk in the park.

Colin also likes to give us some mild panic, like any good child does to their parents. Once again, I am dealing with a child and eating/nursing issues. Colin is able to suck like a champ, unlike his older brother as this age, but he just decides to latch and unlatch to his hearts content. He also decided to not gain weight for a solid two weeks.

At his 1 week appointment he weighed in at 7lbs 3oz, his discharge weight from the hospital. No biggie said the pediatrician. My milk was in since the hospital and she expected him to gain and almost be to birth weight at his 2 week appointment.

He didn't. He lost a half oz. He eats ALL the time. I nurse him from both sides for a good 30 minutes per side. Now, he is a sleepy, lazy little newborn, so this is not straight sucking... but it is a long nursing session non the less. So we had to began a slew of test of why he was not absorbing calories and began supplementing him with formula after his hour long nursing session.

5 days later he gained weight and was at his birthweight. The tests came back with good results and much of the panic stopped. ( Scary words like syndromes and Cystic Fibrosis has been used...) Back to full time breastfeeding.

Four days later we were back for a weight check. He was back to 7lbs 8 oz. Sigh. More blood test and more supplementing. I feed him and supplemented him all weekend. On Monday, he topped the scale at a whoppin' 8 lbs 1 oz. That is a half pound gain for the little man. All the test results came back with no problems. So, what was the problem? Me.

I obviously was not making enough to supply him with what he needs. So, now I am nursing ALL the time, pumping and drinking water like it is going out of style. We are stuck with supplementing him still for the next month, but to play everything by ear. I am a sad momma. I WILL nurse this boy... praying that things improve real soon.

Anyone have any good ideas on how to increase milk supply and/or the nutrient levels of my milk?

So, that has been our month, with lots of cute antics by Jack, blowouts by Colin, and sweet little moments barely remembered in my sleepless stupor.

I am attempting to do a day in August like this post, but will probably wait till the weekend. Nursing shots with toy laiden living rooms and people in pjs till 4pm is not super exciting viewing material. Maybe I will actually do my hair instead of pulling it back into a ponytail for these pictures. Maybe, just maybe.