kanga86
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Well seeing as I had a ttc journal and a pregnancy journal I thought it was about time to start my parenting journal My birth story can be found here for anyone interested:
Harry Michael Albray was born 11 days late on Friday 6th July 2012 at 3:43am by emergency c section weighing 7lbs 1oz
First day
So after moving from recovery back to the labour ward, me and Harry had to be checked out because I was still recovering from spinal and had a high pulse rate and he had to be checked for strep B. It was hard being laid on the bed unable to do anything for Harry due to being numb, I didn't do my first nappy until 8pm that night. I didn't get any sleep during the day due to being so overwhelmed with his arrival and completely besotted with him, I couldn't stop looking at him. The first night was hard as I was on my own and really struggled to move around and care for him, but I didn't want to rely on the night mw's. I was so glad when I was finally allowed home as I wasn't coping very well with my emotions and just really wanted to be home with my DH.
Week 1
The first week was really hard, trying to establish BF'ing, sleepless nights, completely haywire emotions and loads of nappies lol.
My emotions were really hard to deal with this first week, with over thinking the labour and birth of Harry and thinking what could have been, also thinking omg what the hell have I done and why did I want a baby coupled with extreme guilt for feeling like that about the baby I was so in love with! I mean how could I be wishing away the very thing I waited not 9 months, but 15 months for! I cried so much these first few days over everything and sometimes nothing! I didn't feel like a good enough mum for Harry to have. I was so grateful to my DH who kept me sane and told me what a wonderful job I was doing and helping out as much as possible.
The nights are definitely the hardest because ur so tired and a screaming baby is enough to send u over the edge. The first night at home Harry would cry as soon as I put him down in his basket and want feeding again. We ended up with me semi sleeping with him on my belly cos as soon as I moved he cried. We eventually found that the liked sleeping in his boppy pillow so we had that on the bed along side us. At least we knew he was safe from us even though we were sharing our bed. He was going roughly every 2-3 hours during the night and feeding/changing took up to an hour each time.
Now nappies, omg I never realised we would get through so many!! Be prepared for every nappy change to be a poopy one! The meconium ones were the worst, tar like black stuff that was so sticky!! We had these for 3-4 days before they changed to explosive yellow ones! Every time he passed wind he would poop and he did this quite often, usually straight after putting on a clean one!!
Week 2
DH was back at work this week so I had loads of visitors, my sister came down and so did my aunty with my grandma. It was lovely to have them help me out as I was still really sore from the op and had an infection. My sister cooked, cleaned and waited on me completely and told me off if I tried to do anything but feed Harry! She even bathed and changed him during the day. My aunt and grandma were the same and I had time to go for a nap and a nice soak in the bath.
His sleeping started to get into a pattern this week. Bed 10-11, 1st feed 1-2, 2nd feed 3-4, 3rd feed 5-6 and 4th feed around 8am, when I got up with him.
Week 3 and 4
The last few weeks have gone so quickly, what with mw and hv visits, going out to meet friends and going out to get bits from the shops and fitting in naps when he does (although I don't do this every day). The mornings are usually quite hard going as after he gets up/ starts to stir around 7/8am he wants to feed quite a bit and then not be put down! So I end up stuck on the sofa with him. Then have to rush around doing cleaning, laundry, dishes as fast as I can when he finally sleeps for about 20 mins without me lol
His sleeping pattern varies quite a bit now but it is usually bed 10-11, 1st feed 2-3, 2nd feed 5-6 and 3rd feed 7-8am so we have dropped one feed during the night. Sometimes (very rarely) we get a 4 or 5 hour sleep from 11 til 3-4!! Which is amazing.
Week 5
I went to my first breastfeeding support group on the Monday, which was nice to get out and meet a few mummies as I don't have any friends with kids other than my cousin with her 2nd child who is 6 months. I didn't really get much help with the breastfeeding but enjoyed the chat.
I also met a few mummies from a local fb group who all breastfeed their babies, some are even still going at 16/17 months old. It's nice to meet other mums to chat about baby things with although Harry is the youngest so I don't really know what to say sometimes. xxx
Harry Michael Albray was born 11 days late on Friday 6th July 2012 at 3:43am by emergency c section weighing 7lbs 1oz
First day
So after moving from recovery back to the labour ward, me and Harry had to be checked out because I was still recovering from spinal and had a high pulse rate and he had to be checked for strep B. It was hard being laid on the bed unable to do anything for Harry due to being numb, I didn't do my first nappy until 8pm that night. I didn't get any sleep during the day due to being so overwhelmed with his arrival and completely besotted with him, I couldn't stop looking at him. The first night was hard as I was on my own and really struggled to move around and care for him, but I didn't want to rely on the night mw's. I was so glad when I was finally allowed home as I wasn't coping very well with my emotions and just really wanted to be home with my DH.
Week 1
The first week was really hard, trying to establish BF'ing, sleepless nights, completely haywire emotions and loads of nappies lol.
My emotions were really hard to deal with this first week, with over thinking the labour and birth of Harry and thinking what could have been, also thinking omg what the hell have I done and why did I want a baby coupled with extreme guilt for feeling like that about the baby I was so in love with! I mean how could I be wishing away the very thing I waited not 9 months, but 15 months for! I cried so much these first few days over everything and sometimes nothing! I didn't feel like a good enough mum for Harry to have. I was so grateful to my DH who kept me sane and told me what a wonderful job I was doing and helping out as much as possible.
The nights are definitely the hardest because ur so tired and a screaming baby is enough to send u over the edge. The first night at home Harry would cry as soon as I put him down in his basket and want feeding again. We ended up with me semi sleeping with him on my belly cos as soon as I moved he cried. We eventually found that the liked sleeping in his boppy pillow so we had that on the bed along side us. At least we knew he was safe from us even though we were sharing our bed. He was going roughly every 2-3 hours during the night and feeding/changing took up to an hour each time.
Now nappies, omg I never realised we would get through so many!! Be prepared for every nappy change to be a poopy one! The meconium ones were the worst, tar like black stuff that was so sticky!! We had these for 3-4 days before they changed to explosive yellow ones! Every time he passed wind he would poop and he did this quite often, usually straight after putting on a clean one!!
Week 2
DH was back at work this week so I had loads of visitors, my sister came down and so did my aunty with my grandma. It was lovely to have them help me out as I was still really sore from the op and had an infection. My sister cooked, cleaned and waited on me completely and told me off if I tried to do anything but feed Harry! She even bathed and changed him during the day. My aunt and grandma were the same and I had time to go for a nap and a nice soak in the bath.
His sleeping started to get into a pattern this week. Bed 10-11, 1st feed 1-2, 2nd feed 3-4, 3rd feed 5-6 and 4th feed around 8am, when I got up with him.
Week 3 and 4
The last few weeks have gone so quickly, what with mw and hv visits, going out to meet friends and going out to get bits from the shops and fitting in naps when he does (although I don't do this every day). The mornings are usually quite hard going as after he gets up/ starts to stir around 7/8am he wants to feed quite a bit and then not be put down! So I end up stuck on the sofa with him. Then have to rush around doing cleaning, laundry, dishes as fast as I can when he finally sleeps for about 20 mins without me lol
His sleeping pattern varies quite a bit now but it is usually bed 10-11, 1st feed 2-3, 2nd feed 5-6 and 3rd feed 7-8am so we have dropped one feed during the night. Sometimes (very rarely) we get a 4 or 5 hour sleep from 11 til 3-4!! Which is amazing.
Week 5
I went to my first breastfeeding support group on the Monday, which was nice to get out and meet a few mummies as I don't have any friends with kids other than my cousin with her 2nd child who is 6 months. I didn't really get much help with the breastfeeding but enjoyed the chat.
I also met a few mummies from a local fb group who all breastfeed their babies, some are even still going at 16/17 months old. It's nice to meet other mums to chat about baby things with although Harry is the youngest so I don't really know what to say sometimes. xxx
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