Just a quick update!

Well, during most of my pregnancy, I had so much to write. My journal saw entries daily, but for the last 6 weeks, it's been a little different! :) I had my son, he's 3 weeks old today. An absolutely gorgeous baby boy I've named Zander. He was 7 lbs 5 ounces and 19 inches. So my birth didn't go at all like I had planned, but I don't regret anything. I'll post his birth story one of these days.

I am so grateful to have a healthy lil guy that loves to be held. The first week was amazing, I got out a few times, slept plenty, took him shopping for NB sized clothes and was feeling great. It wasn't until about day 13 that things started to change... He cries a lot more and is harder to comfort. My only fail proof remedy is to let him feed and when the Ped told me he was overeating causing gas resulting in his fussiness, I was devastated. When he starts the ear piercing wails, nursing is the only thing seems calm him. It's been a rough 3 days of not letting him eat so much.  I'd have to take him off before he fell asleep, then he just scream. Thank goodness for a great lactation consultant/Hypnobirthing instructor/doula whom I had an appointment with this morning. She told me to follow my instincts. YAY!!!! I can feed him as he needs and allow him to comfort nurse. He seems to need that in the middle of the night to get back to sleep and I am so grateful to have this tool back!

So he may get air/gas from comfort nursing, he would from the screaming as well right? I’ve concluded I should burp him more frequently (as I rarely do), and will try some massage techniques, and maybe the gas drops and see if they help. My LC also suggested a tea to help soothe his fussiness. It’s equal parts fennel seed, chamomile and catnip which I’ve read great reviews of and can’t wait to try! I’m rereading my Happiest Baby on the Block and while I do most of these instinctually (maybe not as vigorously though), it’s nice to know my instincts are right.

Breastfeeding wasn’t as easy as I’d hoped. I ended up having a hard time getting him to latch due to flat nipples, so have been using a nipple shield. It’s nice to not have cracked nipples, but difficult because I can’t just feed him anytime he needs it, like in the pediatrician’s waiting room. So today at my LC appointment, I got help to wean him from it, and we had our first successful feed at home without the shield ! Yippee!!

I don’t wear my Moby as much as I’d planned, but Z is still in arms for all but maybe 2 or 3 hours a day. He also usually falls asleep on my belly at night after feeding, though I will sometimes roll him off to sleep next to me. I’d like to use the Moby more, it’s just so long and I feel like I’m always changing diapers while attempting elimination communication. It’s just so cumbersome (the Moby, not EC).

Well, my milk has just let down, so I’m off to rouse this sleeping baby from my chest as it’s been nearly 3 hours. I sooooo look forward to his expressions while he eats and how when he pops off, he bobs his head around like a little turtle, looking for his breast again. It’s beyond amazing, priceless. I hope I can remember these moments forever.

My First Blog :)

Welcome! 
My name is Jennifer, I'm 30 years old and I've just recently moved back to Sacramento, CA after being in San Diego and Las Vegas for the last 5 years. I'm 35 weeks 5 days pregnant and OH SO excited to have my first baby, a little boy, name yet to be determined.  I'm going to give birth at my local birth center and do this the natural way so that my son and I can have the optimal bonding experience for the best possible start of our relationship (hopefully!).  My sister is my best friend, roommate and birthing partner.  Both of my parents, and all of my family, live here in Sacramento and are beyond excited to meet the first child of our next generation next month.  My family has been very supportive, at least to my face :), of my desires to practice a sorta crunchy parenting style, except maybe the topic of extended/full-term breastfeeding.

So I think I'm just about ready to meet my lil man.  I've got my Marathon 70 installed, Gdiapers and leg warmers are on their way, I've got my BBLP sitting next to the big toilet ready to start EC'ing and a playyard set up next to my bed, just in case he likes his own bed better (doubt it :)).  Oh, and I've been practicing my wrapping techniques with my Moby and listening to my hypnobirthing tracks every night.  Other than that, I don't know what else I can do to prepare... I'm just so excited!  I'm definitely looking forward to my upcoming journey into motherhood.

32 weeks