Calling All Nursing Mamas!

*Disclaimer*

If poop and breastmilk make you uncomfortable:

discontinue reading now.

Help!

Nursing sweet Laynee has been such a blessing but oh such challenge!

Yes. Sweet girl is:

1. sleepy

2. a lazy eater

3. so teeny tiny.

These 3 things do not make for a power nurser.

I am doing my very best for her, trying my darndest to make

this experience a positive one.

She started off nursing very slowly - in the hospital

and I could immediately tell we were going 

to have a little struggle with it.

I was relaxed and ready to face the challenge 

with a happy heart.

My milk came in on day 5

which I thought was kind of late - but I was just glad

that it came in.

Between week 1 and week 2 there was no poop.

No poop? For a breastfed baby? What?!

For 7 days?!

I KNOW.

I finally called the pediatrician.

Here is what he told me:

Feeding every 2.5 hours was hurting my supply - 

as it was not enough time for me to "replenish"

She was absorbing every (little) bit she got from me - 

leaving nothing for waste.

 Supplement.

I did not want to hear that.

Here is what I have been doing:

drinking between 64-80 oz of water a day.

Eating healthy snacks. All day. Literally.

(was) feeding on demand.

(I know- I did this intentionally in the beginning to build up supply)

It turned out to be feeding about every 2.5-3 hours.

Pumping 3 times a day.

Herbal supplements

Vitamins.

What else can be done people? Why can I not make enough?

 She has had a bottle.

Her urine started turning a very dark color 

(indicating signs of dehydration)

and I could not have my baby not pooping!

Please comment away on what I can do - what else is there for me to do?

I am not at all ready/willing to give it up - 

but when you try 8 -10 times every single day

for 4 straight weeks- 

it gets wearing on a mama!

 

Welcome Laynee Blair!

July 31st has come, and with it came our sweet

Laynee Blair Moses!

We went in to check her growth that morning.

Little girl wanted to stay little.

Not a thing had changed from the week before,

and we knew it was time for her to grow on the outside

instead of on the inside from that point forward.

We we were 99.9% sure that would be the case,

so we headed to the doctors office with our hospital bag

in the car and a carseat and base installed.

(both had been done the night before, mind you...not a second a before)

We left Dr. Neel's office and headed straight to the hospital.

under 3 hours later, at

11:55 am I laid my eyes on her for the very first time.

She was 5 lbs 12 oz and 19 inches long.

A huge piece of tiny.

I love every inch of her, and thankfully had

an almost instant connection.

(For those who know my story, you know this was a huge prayer of mine)

She has hair like Kensington did.

Long skinny feet like Anslee.

I can't help but see all of the good in both Ans and Kens in Laynee.

Her nose matches that of both of her sisters and does her chin.

(A trait from mom and one from dad)

Since she is so small, and pretty sleepy, nursing challenges

came from the first attempt.

I am happy to say, now, that 6 days have passed she is doing

remarkably better and learning so quickly.

The C-section.

Whew. I hate surgery.

I was shaking like a leaf in a windstorm when I went back to the OR.

There is something so eerie about being in such a 

sterile environment.

The spinal took fine. Tyler was able to come back with me once 

I was good and unable to feel anything.

I was still awake, very aware of everything going on.

Lets just say this...

I was aware of every single thing that was happening to me.

So. Did you know there is a national back order on 

the medicine they call astromorph?

I am assuming its a form of morphine.

All I know is that typically this medication is put in with the spinal,

because the spinal only lasts for as long as the surgery lasts.

The astromorph provides comfort on a longer lasting basis

(24 hrs) after surgery.

So what happens when there is a national back order?

The hospital gets none of the medicine and neither do you.

By 10 pm Tuesday evening I was in a lot of pain.

The poor nurses were trying to help me as best they could

with the pain killers in pill form and demerol.

It just did not give me quite the relief I was hoping for.

Guess I am little wimpier than I had originally thought I was!

Each day has been better since! In fact, since being home,

I have only taken 1 of the prescribed pain pills!

Just 1! 

I think my body, after 3 of these, is savvy on how to 

get back in gear.

The recovery has been a million times better this time

compared to Anslee's. Its never fun though!

There you have it! What we gained this last week!

Here are some photos. I totally recommend having a friend who 

has photography skills coming to the hospital to capture those moments.

Hopsitals are not the prettiest setting, but its a time you won't

want to forget. 

 Kensington, worried about having to share paci's.

 The best girl dad that ever was.

 puffy. ugh.

 All 3 of my girls with all of their grandparents!

 Feet!

 Admiring my 3rd baby girl!

 Happy 3 times over! Can't believe it!

Richly blessed indeed!