Here's a little summary from Matilda's first week...
Stats: As far as weight, I think the lowest Matilda got in the hospital was 5 lbs 13 oz. By her first pediatrician appointment at 5 days old, she was already back up to 6 lbs flat - only 1 oz lower than her birth weight. The pediatrician was impressed with her weight gain and the fact that she already had the yellow seedy bowel movements that indicated that my milk had already come in. No change in height yet.
Sleep: Matilda usually sleeps in 1-3 hour increments for about 14 hours a day. During the day she usually naps in her bouncer and at night she sleeps in a Pack N Play bassinet next to our bed. Nights are a bit difficult as we are still getting used to getting up to feed her and change her diaper and then fall back to sleep quickly. We're trying to sneak in naps during the day while she sleeps, but the age old advice of "sleep when the baby sleeps" is easier said than done.
It seems like everyday she is getting more and more alert during her time awake, which has been fun.
Eat: She eats on average about 15 times a day for 20 minutes each feeding session. If you do the math, that's 5 hours a day or 35 hours a week. Jeez louise, that's almost a full time job.
Breastfeeding has proven to be difficult. After dealing with painful latch issues in the hospital, I thought things were going better once we got home. But, Matilda's started to have some bad gas that keeps her from wanting to feed even though she's hungry. I think it's being caused by a forceful letdown on one side, so we've read to just burp her more often and make sure that she is sitting somewhat upright while nursing. I can totally understand why so many women give up on nursing during the first few weeks. It's hard work! I'm just hoping that once we have a few weeks under our belts, it will get easier.
Play/ Milestones: It's been such a busy week! Matilda's met her extended family, taken her first baths (2 so far), gotten read her first books, had her first pediatrician appointment, and taken her first walk to the park.
Hip Dysplasia Update: She had an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon this past Tuesday to assess her hip dysplasia. We weren't expecting for her to be put in her harness for a few more weeks, but she actually got put into it the same day. In four weeks she'll have an ultrasound that will tell us more about how severe her condition is. The absolute minimum amount of time in the harness would be 8 weeks, although since her left hip is full dislocatable, I expect that it will be much longer.
The harness doesn't really seem to bother her right now. It's made diaper changes a bit more difficult as well as clothing options. For now, we've just been putting gowns over the harness. She should be able to wear onesies under the harness as well, but we haven't attempted to go that route yet since it seems a bit difficult.
Let's hope for a quick and easy journey to healthy hips!
In some ways, this week has flown by and in other ways, it's been one of the longest weeks of my life. Seriously, last Wednesday seems so far away. It's been really great, but really hard at the same time. There is so much we have yet to learn, but I guess that's how parenting is. Just do your best and get through one day at a time.
2 comments:
There's nothing like your first :) brings back memories! And breast feeding is definitely the hardest thing I've ever done. So wonderful, but so hard. It sounds like things are going really well! You're making it, and that's what you do with a newborn :)
Yes, taking it one day at a time is the new parent's mantra. You and Jason are doing wonderfully with Matilda.
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