Thursday, May 16, 2013
Sleep!!
After a month and half of next to no sleep, you finally slept for 5 straight hours last night!! YAY! We seen your pediatrician yesterday and he told me to put you down sleepy but awake. I thought he was crazy and that it would never work but after laying you down about 10 times, you finally fell asleep. You are now taking your morning nap and you have been sleeping for an hour and 45 minutes when you usually only sleep 45 minutes to an hour! I am ecstatic!! :)
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Tongue & Lip Tie
I'd like to start by saying that even before getting pregnant, I have
been very passionate about breastfeeding my children. What I didn't
know or realize is how difficult and frustrating it really can be. As
soon as I found out I was pregnant, I began reading. I read everything
from magazines, to online articles to books. ("So That's What They're
For" by Janet Tamaro is a great book by the way). I was determined to
breastfeed and know everything I needed to know beforehand. I honestly
thought breastfeeding would be so natural and enjoyable.
When my son was born, he latched almost immediately and ate for a few minutes. The next day however, I was not so lucky. Baby Alex began to not latch and developed jaundice. I partly blame myself because I was so tired and allowed him to sleep for 6 hours straight with no feedings, so I could sleep as well. Anyway, I ended up having to supplement with 10 cc's of formula to get his blood sugar back up. From then on I woke him every 3 hours to feed but had to use a nipple shield in order to get him latched on. I continued with the nipple shield for about a week and then with lots of practice, I able to get him latched without it.
As the weeks went by, I realized that something wasn't quite right. Although my son was gaining properly and seemed to be transferring milk correctly, things just didn't feel right. I felt as if he was pinching my nipple. It was unbearable. I would literally cringe whenever he could latch on (& my nipples came out of his mouth very misshapen), and we would just cry together whenever he couldn't. There were so many late nights that I seriously contemplated just making him a bottle of formula and handing him off to daddy just so I could get a wink of sleep. Of course that wouldn't have made a difference since he could not hold onto a bottle whatsoever. After a few weeks had passed and I knew this wasn't just normal beginning breastfeeding pain, I finally went to see a lactation consultant. Alex was about three weeks at this time. That is when I learned my precious son was tongue tied. Before that day, I had barely even heard about tongue ties and had no idea how they could affect my breastfeeding relationship. I did my research and called a few doctors and found a doctor who would snip little man's tie. I was so nervous but the procedure took about 2 seconds and Alex seemed more annoyed that the doctor had his hand in his mouth than anything else. Unfortunately, I didn't notice much of a change in the way he was latching. The lactation consultant said everything looked good and that maybe I should give it a few days and see what happened.
After a few days had passed and still no change, I began doing more research and found information on lip ties. I nervously lifted Alex's top lip up to find that he indeed had an upper lip tie. I went back to the doctor who told me that the lip tie would not affect breastfeeding and that my son would most likely fall in the future and end up tearing it (awesome!). He also mentioned that my son had a posterior tongue tie but that he was unable to take care of it. I was devastated. I thought my breastfeeding days would soon be over. I began pumping in preparation, but luckily I was able to stick through it and am still going strong at 4 months.
I was determined to have a good breastfeeding relationship. So, I dealt with the pain and continued doing my research. It seemed as if no one really understood the affects of tongue and lip ties except for other mothers who had children with them. I could not find anyone in my area who would even look at my son's ties, let alone do something about them.
Finally, I stumbled upon a group on Facebook called, Tongue Tie Babies Support Group and lo and behold, lip and tongue ties are far from rare and far from being, "no big deal." The group had so much great information and support that I finally made the decision to find a doctor as close to us as possible and make the trip to get these ties taken care of once and for all. Unfortunately, during this time we were also battling thrush for 2+ months but that's a whole 'nother story.
Anyway, we now have our appointment set up and are prepared to take a 13 hour road trip to Portland, OR. I am a bag of mixed emotions. I am so nervous for my precious bubby, but I know it will be worth it in the end, not only for our breastfeeding relationship but also for his speech development and hygiene later on in his life. I really hope this procedure gives us some relief and allows both him and I to benefit from breastfeeding in the way that nature intended.
When my son was born, he latched almost immediately and ate for a few minutes. The next day however, I was not so lucky. Baby Alex began to not latch and developed jaundice. I partly blame myself because I was so tired and allowed him to sleep for 6 hours straight with no feedings, so I could sleep as well. Anyway, I ended up having to supplement with 10 cc's of formula to get his blood sugar back up. From then on I woke him every 3 hours to feed but had to use a nipple shield in order to get him latched on. I continued with the nipple shield for about a week and then with lots of practice, I able to get him latched without it.
As the weeks went by, I realized that something wasn't quite right. Although my son was gaining properly and seemed to be transferring milk correctly, things just didn't feel right. I felt as if he was pinching my nipple. It was unbearable. I would literally cringe whenever he could latch on (& my nipples came out of his mouth very misshapen), and we would just cry together whenever he couldn't. There were so many late nights that I seriously contemplated just making him a bottle of formula and handing him off to daddy just so I could get a wink of sleep. Of course that wouldn't have made a difference since he could not hold onto a bottle whatsoever. After a few weeks had passed and I knew this wasn't just normal beginning breastfeeding pain, I finally went to see a lactation consultant. Alex was about three weeks at this time. That is when I learned my precious son was tongue tied. Before that day, I had barely even heard about tongue ties and had no idea how they could affect my breastfeeding relationship. I did my research and called a few doctors and found a doctor who would snip little man's tie. I was so nervous but the procedure took about 2 seconds and Alex seemed more annoyed that the doctor had his hand in his mouth than anything else. Unfortunately, I didn't notice much of a change in the way he was latching. The lactation consultant said everything looked good and that maybe I should give it a few days and see what happened.
After a few days had passed and still no change, I began doing more research and found information on lip ties. I nervously lifted Alex's top lip up to find that he indeed had an upper lip tie. I went back to the doctor who told me that the lip tie would not affect breastfeeding and that my son would most likely fall in the future and end up tearing it (awesome!). He also mentioned that my son had a posterior tongue tie but that he was unable to take care of it. I was devastated. I thought my breastfeeding days would soon be over. I began pumping in preparation, but luckily I was able to stick through it and am still going strong at 4 months.
I was determined to have a good breastfeeding relationship. So, I dealt with the pain and continued doing my research. It seemed as if no one really understood the affects of tongue and lip ties except for other mothers who had children with them. I could not find anyone in my area who would even look at my son's ties, let alone do something about them.
Finally, I stumbled upon a group on Facebook called, Tongue Tie Babies Support Group and lo and behold, lip and tongue ties are far from rare and far from being, "no big deal." The group had so much great information and support that I finally made the decision to find a doctor as close to us as possible and make the trip to get these ties taken care of once and for all. Unfortunately, during this time we were also battling thrush for 2+ months but that's a whole 'nother story.
Anyway, we now have our appointment set up and are prepared to take a 13 hour road trip to Portland, OR. I am a bag of mixed emotions. I am so nervous for my precious bubby, but I know it will be worth it in the end, not only for our breastfeeding relationship but also for his speech development and hygiene later on in his life. I really hope this procedure gives us some relief and allows both him and I to benefit from breastfeeding in the way that nature intended.
 |
| Lip Tie... getting a pic of his tongue was impossible. |
First Zoo Trip
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A couple of weekends ago, I took you on your first trip to the zoo! Of course you didn't really know what was going on but you loved being outside! We walked around for two hours with Chelsea and her family. You go so wore out you fell asleep before we even drove out of the parking lot!
Sunday, May 12, 2013
My First Mother's Day!
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Oh what a joy it is to be your mother. I'm so blessed, proud, and joyful that I get to wake up everyday and call you my son. I look forward to many, many more Mother's Days spend with you!
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Enjoying the Sun
 |
| Distracted by your shadow |
Saturday, May 4, 2013
4 Months Old
Four months old... wow, I can't even believe it! The time is flying by! You are growing and developing so quickly. You learned so much this month! You rolled from your tummy to your back for the first time and you even started scooting. You are chatty and happy regardless of the fact that you rarely sleep. You are a little booby monster but are definitely starting to notice and become interested in what is on daddy and I's plates. You LOVE attention and get very mad when you are left to play by yourself for long. You have quite the set of lungs and definitely let us know when you are unhappy. You have started teething, so you are drool city and constantly have a hand in your mouth. You are truly an amazing little child and you make every day worth living. I love you so very much!!
love, love, love,
Mama.♥
Mama.♥
Friday, May 3, 2013
Milestones
BUBBY!! Your development through this growth spurt is absolutely amazing!! You have made me one proud mama the last few days! You began rolling over from your tummy to your back yesterday!! Every time I would put you on your belly, you would roll right to your back! Then this morning when I put you on your tummy, you began scooting!! I couldn't believe it! It's as if you are doing something new everyday! You even slept for 4 straight hours yesterday!! You make me so very happy & I am so proud to call you my son!!
Love, love, love,
Mama.♥
Love, love, love,
Mama.♥
Thursday, May 2, 2013
4 Month Sleep Regression
aka... the worst phase EVER!! Your sleeping is worse than ever. You wake up every 45 minutes to hour and a half during the night and mama is plain exhausted!! They say this longest growth spurt/phase that you will go through so I'm hoping it ends soon. Last night was night 5 with next to no sleep. I have no idea how you are even functioning but you are still happy as ever (most of the day). You are still growing like a weed. I swear you are bigger every single day. You are doing all kinds of new things. You are able to hold your toys now and transfer them from one hand to the other. You discovered your feet a couple of days ago and were just holding them and playing with them. You haven't rolled over yet but you are getting so close! You rolled onto your side today. I know you will be rolling in no time then there will be no stopping you!! Well anyway, here's to hoping we both get some much needed sleep really soon!! I love you, Bubba!
Love, love, love
Mama.♥
Love, love, love
Mama.♥
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