Jake's first night home!

Jake is doing so well. I am breastfeeding and that is going really well. I just have to get over the sore nipples. In the beginning I was having trouble getting him to latch on to the left breast. It hurts really bad when he first starts but then when he is latched on good it doesn't hurt. So I know I can do it we just have to keep practicing. So far he usually nurses every 3hours during the day and naps in between those times. At night he has been nursing usually around 12ish and then he will sleep for about 3 to 4 hours before I have to nurse again. Which has been great! I am able to get some rest. He is usually fussy late at night but it doesn't last long. Overall he is doing awesome and doesn't cry much at all. He had his circumcision yesterday before we came home and last night he took a big old BM poor guy. That was hard trying to get him cleaned up. Everyone had told me not to stock up on newborn diapers, I only have a few left so we are going to have to go out later and get some more. The size 1 diapers are way too big for him. So far he is wearing all newborn clothes, the 0-3 months swallow him up.

I don't like the bassinet we have so I want to look into getting him a cosleeper. We may look later but will probably have to order it online. Is anyone else using a cosleeper and have any advice? Jake is a big boy and I don't feel comfortable at all with him in the bassinet. Plus I have a hard time putting him in it right now because of my incision and I can't lean down to put him in it or pick him up.

We had a photographer take Jake's pic at the hospital. I will share those as soon as I get them. They are so cute.

Tomorrow is Jake's first appt with his pediatrician. He lost 11oz was weighing 8 pounds when we left the hospital, which weight loss is normal but they want to see him again so soon just to make sure he is gaining. Hopefully my milk will be in soon. Because of my c-section it can delay my milk coming in by a day or two. For Jaundice he was testing at 10% they are not concerned about but want to check that again. I will be meeting with the l action specialist tomorrow, so yeah maybe I can get some more advice about that.

I am doing ok as long as I keep taking my pain pills. I missed a few doses late last night and I paid for that this morning. It hurt so bad. I am getting my belly button back! Yay!!

I am not online as much anymore but wanted you ladies to know that I am thinking of you all and I am so happy for those of us who already have our little ones and those that get to hold their little ones very soon!!!!

One more thing, I have tons of pics....but haven't had time to download. I will work on those when I can.....

I can't wait to share my sweet my boy with you guys!!

Dee thats wonderful news! Im glad your feeling a bit better. I know you didnt want the csection but it sounds like your diong well. I cant wait till you post those pictures! hehe I need to take more so i can post. But you know what its like in the hospital.. they dont leave ya alone! Keep up the good work with the breastfeeding! After he catches on to a good latch the pain will go away.

rest up

Things sound like they are going well. He sounds like he is getting on a pretty good schedule already. I can't wait to see more pics of Jake!

Dee - I am so happy for you, you sound so happy. I am glad that BF'ing is going well, I have always heard that the "correct latch" will actually hurt, so hurting is a good thing, that you have to "toughen" them up to get over the pain, but I am NOT speaking from experience, April and the other pros would know better, that is just what the lactation consultants have told me. Are you pumping after each feeding? That will help with your milk...

Wow, sleeping for 3-4 hours at a time during the night, that is a dream come true, Avery sleeps for 45 minutes in her co-sleeper, but if I pick her up she will sleep longer. Her first two days home she would wake up 90 minutes after she ate, would be fussy, but would eventually calm down until it was time to eat again, we are keeping her on the 3-4hr feeding schedule, if she is up we feed her at 3hrs, if she is sleeping we don't wake her until we hit the 4hr mark.

So to answer your question about the Co-Sleeper, Avery isn't crazy about it yet, and depending on how high your bed is, it would still likely fall at the same height and require you to bend down, etc. It isn't an easy roll over and grab her movement from our bed. Avery likes to be confined, be in close quarters, so the Co-Sleeper doesn't contain her when she startles, last night we slept in the Baby Papsan and it was an improvement over the night before, but nothing to write home about. HA. She does fuss, but its to be expected...and the poor thing is super congested, they said she came home with a "cold". Her jaundice appears to be improving, they told us it works its way out from the feet to the head, so her face and eyes will be the last things to "go back to normal". She goes back to the Doctor tomorrow morning at 8am, as long as the roads are plowed and we can get there.

She lost 7oz while we were in the hospital. Its funny you say that the Size 1 Diapers are too big because they fit Avery just fine, the newborns were way too small and she only weighs 9lbs 5oz, so if Jake was at his birth weight they might be okay. Her clothes are bigger on her than I thought they would be compared to how they fit Olivia, its amazing how much a 1lb difference makes.

I am glad to hear your first night home was not so bad. Our first night with Alyssa was a little touchy. She just did not want to sleep! She got it down pat the second night and there after. She slept in her swing for the first couple of nights home, because she would not sleep in her bassinet, so I slept in the recliner out in our living room with her. Poor John asked me if I was ever going to sleep in the bed with him again..LOL. After about 3 nights she slept in her bassinet and has every night since then. Lucky for me, I did not have a c-section, so the bending over did not bother me, but I am sure that would be painful!
I am glad to hear the breastfeeding is going good for you. I have heard that can be really tough and frustrating sometimes, so don't give up! I have no experience there...I bottle fed both of mine!
Take care and rest when you can! I cannot wait to see more pictures. I need to take more of Alyssa and post them!

Dee that is great news that the two of you are doing well, but now you have me anxiously awaiting these pictures, i need them like Sarina need cake (lol), please don't take to long to post them.

dee sounds like he is doing awesome! im so happy for you!!

Marie I am working on downloading pics now....so hopefully they will be up tonight!!!

We went to babies r us today and found a co sleeper. Brought it home and the wheels were crushed and the bed wouldn't latch right. Needless to say we are taking it back tomorrow. I think we have decided that it is to small anyway. We found a pack n play that was pretty plan. It only has the top full part as the bassinet and once Jake is too big for that then we will use it as a play yard in the basement. For $69 versus the $139 for the co sleeper that we can only use for a short while we have decided to get the pack n play. Jake has been sleeping with us so I am hoping to make the transition over to the pack n play soon.

Tomorrow is our first drs appt. I hope Jake has started to put on some weight. Plus we noticed today that he looks a little more yellow so I am hoping the Jaundice is working its way out.

Marie, we are going to have Jake wear his camo outfit to the drs....

Dee, I'm so pleased things are going well and you have Jake at home! I gotta tell you, I can't wait to join the ranks of the mommies!! But in the meantime, it's good to hear your experiences and think about what it's going to be like to bring Baby Miles home and deal with BM's and breastfeeding, etc.

daj72705 wrote:
Marie, we are going to have Jake wear his camo outfit to the drs....

you know i love that outfit lol

Dee, do you mind if I ask how Jake's circumcision is healing? We're still on the fence about whether to do it or not, and I'm definitely hoping your little guy is healing like a champ. Was he fussy after it or seem to be in any pain? How are you keeping it clean and caring for it? You totally don't have to answer any of these questions, but I'm super curious. Thanks!

Dee, I'm so glad things are going so smoothly. Thanks so much for the updates. I love getting on to check how all the little new peanuts are doing. Can't wait to see pictures!!

I'm glad to hear that your doing well Dee. Can't wait to see those pictures!

lisa_m wrote:Dee, do you mind if I ask how Jake's circumcision is healing? We're still on the fence about whether to do it or not, and I'm definitely hoping your little guy is healing like a champ. Was he fussy after it or seem to be in any pain? How are you keeping it clean and caring for it? You totally don't have to answer any of these questions, but I'm super curious. Thanks!

My DH went with Jake to have the circumcision done. It was just one thing I didn't want to have to watch. It only took a few minutes to do. My DH said they gave Jake 4 shots to numb it and then the dr cut the skin. Sounds horrible I know. The nurse gave Jake a little pepsi on her finger to calm him and it worked. It was bloody but the nurses checked Jake 3 times before we were allowed to go home. We put Vaseline on a piece of gauze and cover his penis with it. The Vaseline will keep the gauze from sticking to it. Jake wasn't fussy at all. In fact when they came back to the room he wasn't even crying. He doesn't like having anything cold on him so the worst part for him is having cold vaseline on him. I am glad we did it so now we don't have to worry about any infections etc later in life. His penis is still real red but no bleeding or anything. The dr said today that its healing nicely. I think I had a harder time with the procedure than jake. Its just the thought of it that scares me. I know Jake will never remember what happened and I am glad we had it done. I hope that helps.

It totally helps. I think we're going to do it, but I think you're right that it's harder on the parents than the baby. I'm glad things are healing nicely for both of you! Thanks!

Lisa, I wanted to wait until after Dee had answered. We had Connor circ'd and have no regrets.

The nurse took him to the nursery, and my ob did the circ. When he came back to the room, just 10-15 min later, he was soundly sleeping. He had been numbed. Dh was at home with the other kids and I didn't want to go watch. That day of the circ, Connor slept most of the day and the nurse said it was normal. (my roommate's baby cried all day, grrr, I jokingly wanted to tell her to get her son circ'd so that we could both have peace & quiet but of course I didn't).

We took care of his penis the same way Dee described. It healed up nicely, fairly quickly, and he has had no problems at all. If I have a boy, we will be choosing to circ again.

I didn't watch my son get circed and I probably won't be there for this one. It is such a quick procedure and I will be recovering from a c/s. I would rather not have the image stuck in my memory and I don't think any boy has every remember getting circumcised or who was there to be with him!

My DH has volunteered to stay with him during the procedure. I feel terrible that I can choose this for him but not have the stomach to be with him during it, but DH is fine with it. It's a hard decision! I never expected it to be so tough.

It is a hard decision. And I am glad DH is going with the baby. Yay, for our DH's being stronger than us. We give birth the least they can do is be with the little one during the procedure.