My main concern/question regarded feeding. When will this ever be a non-issue!?! I decided last week to call it quits on the breast feeding. The decision was due in-part to the inconvenience of pumping every 3-4 hours (felt like I might as well have the thing permanently affixed to me) and Braylon's unsuccessful suckling at the breast. Although he did do well for a while around 4 weeks, he went back to his old self of falling asleep and just not sucking strong enough. I was only putting him to the breast once a day. So on his 8 week birthday I breastfed for the very last time. I cried. I know things are going to be easier this way and I did keep up this song and dance for 8 weeks (longer by the time I dry up the milk), in some way I feel like I failed or gave up or something. I also think it's a hard pill to swallow that he is growing so quickly and I will be going back to work soon too. But, enough of that, decision's made, moving on. I am slowly eliminating a pumping session every couple days to dry up the milk. This is day 2 of only pumping twice (down from 6 times) a day. So far the volume is still the same in a 24 hour period, it's just a whole lot at each pumping. I can feel a difference though and believe it will decrease soon. At the same time, I have been alternating breast milk and formula feedings for Braylon with 4 or 5 ounces each time. He has starting giving us a problem taking the bottle sometimes though. Why did I expect this to go smoothly?! He just wants to make feedings frustrating apparently. He'll eat most of the bottle then start pushing it out with his tongue, playing with the nipple in his mouth, trying to gag himself, loosening his lips and letting the milk just run out each side and down his face, etc, etc. But if you take it out of his mouth he starts crying or shoving his fist in his mouth because he's still hungry. It will sometimes take 30 minutes to get the bottle in him. Dr. Machen said this is not completely uncommon. We can burp him and go at it again, let him take a break and try later, give the rest at the next feeding, or force him to finish it as long as he's not spitting up later. Good grief, hope he doesn't keep this up very long!
I started back working out at the gym last week. I took Pump on Monday and then Attack on Wednesday. I was sooooo sore. But I was excited to be sore, I'm so glad to be back at it. I did the same thing again this week and will teach Pump tomorrow too. Can't wait! This Saturday is also my personal trainer certification. Everyone thinks I'm back to working out so soon but it feels like it's been way too long for me. What can I say? Jumping back in with both feet!
We celebrated Josh's first father's day this past weekend! What a great dad he is! I'm so happy to have a husband who helps with everything, not only for the baby but around the house in general. So many people have said their baby daddy never changed a diaper or fed a bottle etc. I can't imagine. Josh will do whatever to help me. And he holds him, changes him, feeds him, just because he wants to. He really is great! Braylon has an awesome daddy! He also got to meet his great-granddaddy for the first time on father's day. Below are recent pics of my boy and father's day.
1 comment:
Oh my goodness - he is getting so big already! I love the pics and am glad to hear things are going well. Try not to worry too much about the nursing/feeding thing - trust me, he won't starve himself. Evie did some of the same thing at first and is now the chubbiest thing ever! I know you'll hate going to back to work, it's hard to leave that first time. We miss you though! Enjoy the rest of your break and don't push too hard!
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