Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Successful Baby Bathing 101.

We have survived our first week at home with no third party assistance. I'm not going to lie, I was more than a little worried about how I was going to survive being home alone with a newborn baby. But we did just fine. I mean, there were a few days where I didn't shower until Scott got home, or I showered with the soundtrack of a crying baby in the background, but we survived. All I can say is thank gawd for Grocery Gateway, because if wasn't for them, we would be surviving on pizza.

We have learned a few things about each other over the past month that I forgot to mention in my previous post. First, baby poop smells like buttered popcorn, I kid you not. Second, trying to get a wide awake baby to fall asleep is just about the most frustrating thing in the world. Third, trying to get a sleepy baby to stay awake is a losing battle. The second and third points have been playing out over the past couple of days as Max decided to party from 11pm - 4am on Sunday night/Monday morning. This combined with wanting to nurse every 1 - 2 hours just about made me fall over.

Last night I vowed to keep him awake all evening so that we could go to bed at 11pm. We banged pots and pans, sang loudly, threatened to play Rage Against the Machine, jiggled him on our knees, gave him a bath, and forced him to watch basketball. And success. In bed for a feeding at 10:40pm, snack at 2:40am, 4:30am, 7am, up and out of bed by 7:30am. If you haven't guessed already, Max is having a growth spurt. He is in his first 3 - 6 month clothes as of today. My baby is growing up!

8 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:22 a.m.

    Congratulations on surviving your first week alone!!

    Have you recovered physically, after the birth - or does that still take some time? That's probably the part that I'm most anxious about!

    Holly

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  2. Anonymous10:59 a.m.

    That last picture is the cutest! I have always found that around six weeks babies change. They become more wakeful, sleep a little longer (when they do sleep) just seem a little more mature.

    All that being said my kids woke up every two hours for two years each. I am the last person to give sleep advice.

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  3. Holly - in terms of physical recovery, I'm just about healed. Because I pushed him out in only 16 minutes, I had some tearing, and the stitches are pretty much dissolved. I also had some hemorroids (good times) and they are also almost gone. My hormones also seem to have leveled out, I think any tears at this point are more due to exhaustion! My breasts are still very tender and sensitive, but they are not raw anymore, so I'm happy about that. The only other thing I can think of is the postpartum bleeding, and that ended last week. If it makes you feel any better, the first 2 weeks are the hardest, but after that it gets better. Hopefully you will have lots of help in the early days so that you can get some rest. Make sure you have the following for when you get home:

    - stool softener
    - Preparation H
    - Advil
    - epsom salts (x2!)
    - Purelan (nipple cream)
    - breast pads
    - nighttime maxi pads

    The first "movement" after you have the baby is scary but if you stay hydrated and take your stool softeners you will be okay and you won't die. I was a bit worried...take lots of epsom salt baths too, there were some days I took more than one. Eat your fruits/veggies as well, and drink mango juice and eat oatmeal (they are both good for breast milk production).

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  4. jess - every 2 hours for 2 years? How did you manage??

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  5. Anonymous3:01 p.m.

    I can't believe how much his little face has changed, in less than two weeks. He just gets sweeter and sweeter.

    love,
    mb

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  6. Anonymous3:29 p.m.

    Kat - thanks a million for the advice! I'm due at the end of December, so I'm still trying to digest the fact that I'm pregnant.

    You're a brave soul!

    I've copied and pasted your list into my "baby" folder.:-)

    Holly

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  7. Men get to have sex with us and we get pregnant and then we talk to strangers in the internet about our sore butt and boobs. It seems unfair in a way.

    In any event, thanks once again for the uncensored advice of a new Mother. Those of us waiting are very curious. VERY curious.

    Max is lovely and I enjoy the new pictures and stories.

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  8. Anonymous2:01 p.m.

    So proud of you Kat. The Newborn Mom is a fiercely capable and incredible creature.All hail the Amazing Female! And God bless sleep.


    AV :o)

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