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rkoldActually, it does and it doesn't lol Giving birth was painful, particularly pushing, which is not what people generally say. Most people talk about active labor and contractions and transition but those were all not that bad. I mean contractions hurt but I sort of let myself go with it and just moaned through the pain. Pushing hurt, particularly as she went down the canal and got to the end. But out she came! I do plan to post my birth story for those who are interested. I did give birth naturally aka no drugs or pain medication. I was eventually given lidocaine for my stitches and I've taken Tums and some Colace but that is it.
I also hate being anxious over her. My sweet little Adina was born quite small and my breasts just are not producing enough milk/colastrum for her. It's terribly depressing. Even more depressing, is we've not even been able to get enough formula in her so far, so we have to work harder. She's lost way too much weight and if we don't see the # go positive by Saturday she might need to go into the hospital :(
But I love her. I love her sweet little serious face. I love the way it feels when she snuggles up to me and sleeps. I love her soft hair and can't stop petting her. She has the most adorable serious little expressions and she reminds me so much of my husband. Having her in my life (along with Kennis) are probably the best things that have ever happened to me and despite all my worries about her, I would not wish her gone for the world. Right now, nothing makes me happier than falling asleep with her.
I will be slow responding to people, I have a lot going on right now.
Things I need to do:
Order/pick out Announcements
Find a caterer for the Naming
Find a location for the Naming
Contact the Townhome Complex re: our refund
Make a problem transaction thread/bad review for Volks unless they refund me 7000 yen or send the two wigs I paid for with my July FCS order
Write more thank yous
Eat
Shower
Sleep
Be nice to Cookie ♥
FIND BRAS!!!!!!!!!
I also hate being anxious over her. My sweet little Adina was born quite small and my breasts just are not producing enough milk/colastrum for her. It's terribly depressing. Even more depressing, is we've not even been able to get enough formula in her so far, so we have to work harder. She's lost way too much weight and if we don't see the # go positive by Saturday she might need to go into the hospital :(
But I love her. I love her sweet little serious face. I love the way it feels when she snuggles up to me and sleeps. I love her soft hair and can't stop petting her. She has the most adorable serious little expressions and she reminds me so much of my husband. Having her in my life (along with Kennis) are probably the best things that have ever happened to me and despite all my worries about her, I would not wish her gone for the world. Right now, nothing makes me happier than falling asleep with her.
I will be slow responding to people, I have a lot going on right now.
Things I need to do:
Order/pick out Announcements
Find a caterer for the Naming
Find a location for the Naming
Contact the Townhome Complex re: our refund
Make a problem transaction thread/bad review for Volks unless they refund me 7000 yen or send the two wigs I paid for with my July FCS order
Eat
Shower
Sleep
Be nice to Cookie ♥
FIND BRAS!!!!!!!!!
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(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-14 10:05 pm (UTC)Giving birth sucks, but at least after it's over you feel better and better and soon it's a distant memory. I had the worst contractions (glad it sounds like yours were better than mine) and I remember that they sucked but I've already forgotten how bad lol.
If you need to talk to somebody about the BFing thing I'm here for ya, I had a lot of problems producing with Noah and eventually switched over to formula for him so I've been through it too, my aim is obsessivetamm still, I know we haven't talked on aim for a while though.
It's scary when babies have to go into the hospital but she'll be ok :). They just do these things as a precaution not because something bad is happening or has happened <3.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-14 10:27 pm (UTC)Good luck with everything!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-14 10:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-14 10:58 pm (UTC)I mostly see Kennis in her, but it's OK. I use to tell Kennis she would look more like him than me and he didn't think so lol
The contractions were bad but not that bad... the pushing and feeling her coming out was not fun.
I don't want her to leave me. Right now I just love being near her all the time.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-14 11:00 pm (UTC)I'm so glad you think so!
Thank you, we're trying, I think we had a positive breakthrough this afternoon, and have gotten 3 good feedings in, 1 of which was more than half milk I had made for her! (pumped but even so....)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-14 11:07 pm (UTC)I can't wait for you to get a chance to meet her in person. I really am hoping to bring her to Japan in the Spring. (Maybe in May for GW? or?)
I'm feeling a little more upbeat, I just pumped and was able to produce about half to 2/3 of what she is supposed to get in a feeding. If I can keep this up, I can slowly wean her off the formula so I am just pumping and the work to get her back onto me. I would feel better if it was my milk, even if it was pumped.
I love her so much, I hope to get more pictures and videos up. All her clothes are so big on her!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-14 11:16 pm (UTC)I see that she has your nose at least :). Everybody always told me that Noah looked like my husband when he was littler, but now he is looking more like me/whiter lol. He really looked a lot more asian when he was a newborn. So wait and see, I bet she will look a lot more like you when she is bigger :).
I don't know why the contractions were so bad for me...I never had bad cramps with my period or anything. Oh well, labor lasted so long for me that it was best I got an epidural, either way. But I really respect women who can do it naturally, it's really an accomplishment! I think so even more after giving birth myself.
Yeah I understand, a mother's bond with their baby is quite something! Even now I miss Noah if I'm not with him for a while, no matter how much trouble he causes.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-14 11:31 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-14 11:36 pm (UTC)Congratulations to you and Kennis and welcome to the adventure of parenting!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-14 11:58 pm (UTC)Congratulations!! It'll be great to meet her when you come to Japan next time.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 12:18 am (UTC)I'm glad you didn't have too awful of a delivery. Hopefully the feeding will get better/easier. And I hope you're both able to get some sleep. ^_^
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 12:31 am (UTC)Be sure and get as much rest as you can manage (I've heard rest is kinda hard with a baby around, but still...!) and I hope you heal up soon. And that Adina starts eating more.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 01:37 am (UTC)And echoing what has been said above, even if she has to go to the hospital, they'll get some weight on her and she'll be able to come home soon. My mom had to tube feed me, that might be an option?
Get some rest, as best you can, and good luck!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 04:05 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 05:32 am (UTC)Congratulations, and Adina will have prayers for weight-gain coming her way.
~Bruce
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 10:00 am (UTC)Having some problems with breast feeding is apparently pretty common, it's just not talked about as much as the possible pains and troubles of giving birth. *nodnod* I'm sure it will work out eventually tho!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 01:28 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 02:40 pm (UTC)Congratulaions!! She really looks like you!! I'm shocked at the resemblance when she's still just a newborn!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 04:53 pm (UTC)My Isaac was a preemie and 5.5 pounds at birth, and we did supplement him with some formula at first, though if I had it to do over, I might have made a different decision if I hadn't been so clueless and shell-shocked. But it did all work itself out and he nursed till he was 2 1/2.
I know what you mean about the pushing too. I really didn't find the contractions terribly painful, but the pushing was awful. Just as a data point, it was the other way round the second time. ;)
Beautiful pix, glad you are so happy with her :) Hugs!! And don't forget the eat and sleep parts of your list -- and DRINK too!!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 09:38 pm (UTC)I really don't mind if she resembles Kennis more always. Though I hope she inherits my eye sight. :D I guess we will see though what she looks like at 1 year.
I use to have awful period cramps, maybe that is why contractions didn't seem so bad. lol I honestly don't know how long labor was and then there was my labor at home vs labor in the birthing center. I got to the center around 6ish? Was checked and told I was 4-5 cm at 6:30/6:45 and she was born at 10:11.
Yeah, I'm sure at some point I will relish the breaks, but especially after having her be inside of me so recently... sometimes I miss that despite how awful it made me feel.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 09:39 pm (UTC)So honestly, I really do appreciate it. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 09:41 pm (UTC)I'll have to share baby pictures of the two of us at some point in comparison to Adina as we get closer to the same age. :D
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 09:43 pm (UTC)The missing sleep is frustrating but not as awful as the feeding issues. It just worries me a lot but I'm hoping we've turned the corner and that our appointment tomorrow is much brighter. :D
*hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 09:44 pm (UTC)I think she's adorable but I am horrifically biased.
I so hope she has turned the bend with eating, I don't want her to be in NICU and for us to be apart. I'm getting a few hours of sleep, but most of the time it's not so bad.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 09:46 pm (UTC)Also, we're tube feeding her right now! It is helping a lot and is something we do together. (the 3 of us)
Thank you for all your wishes, and hopefully you'll gt to meet her when we all go to WDW! :D I keep thinking about how much fun it might be with her.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 09:47 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 09:54 pm (UTC)Yeah they change a lot, of course Noah still looks similar to when he was really little but he's also changed a lot.
I dunno, maybe! My labor, including at home I think...ended up being 27 hours all told >.> so yeah...
Yeah I enjoy the breaks and look forward to them, but I miss him a the same time. It's a weird feeling.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 10:42 pm (UTC)No, people talk about it, but it just doesn't help when you are there and suffering with it. :(
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 10:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-15 11:41 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-16 12:29 am (UTC)Thank you so much for thinking of me and do you really think she looks like me? I always think she looks more like my husband. I need to get more pictures.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-16 12:40 am (UTC)*hugs* The problem is, I'm not making enough because she got behind on eating and lost more than 10% of her body weight and went from 5 pounds 11 oz down to 5 pounds and between 1 and 2 ozs. The ped said if I wasn't working with a lactation consultant she would have considered NICU and I am worried if she is not positive tomorrow, it will be the NICU. I love love love co-sleeping with her. I never ever expected to, but I sleep so much better with her on my chest. My breasts are now producing, it's just not the amount she needs right now. I'm doing about 15-20 ccs 8 7+times a day but she really needs more like 45 ccs. I'm hoping it will go up though as my milk comes in more and if we continue the stimulation with her and the pump. I want to go back to breastfeeding, or if worse comes to worse supplying everything she needs via the pump.
It's really scary when they come early. I kept worrying she would come super early and be a preemie. I sometimes feel like she is an almost preemie with her tiny size.
I just felt so much with the pushing and the pushing itself was hard because I wasn't quite sure what I was doing. But Kennis says I seemed to be doing it a little too well, since the baby came very fast and her placenta came out right away too.
*hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-16 02:56 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-16 07:41 am (UTC)I would looooove to see her someday~ Disney FTW!
welcome baby!
Date: 2010-10-16 05:09 pm (UTC)the bf will get better - really - though her initial weight loss might sound like "a lot" as a percent of body weight (it's not a fair comparison since other babies might be 7-8+ pounds, so their percent loss for the same actual weight loss is less, etc) her initial weight loss is ok - and best practice is for more time at the breast - even when it seems like "you don't have enough" that's normal too - as I'm sure you have heard - best breast pump = baby.
and more than how much goes in - it is important to be aware of the wet diapers - as long as there are "enough" wet diapers - it is less critical how much exactly she gets at each feeding - overall wet diapers in a 24 hour period should be monitored when there are concerns like this
loving co-sleeping is great! that will help
this "advice" would be different if baby could not suck - but if baby can - then all the co-sleeping you can do is what I would do - just keep thinking - baby is the best (most efficient) breast pump and in a few weeks (which might seem like forever) bf will be established - I know you are hanging in there - try not to worry -
maybe try to feel encouraged by all the wet diapers - that's what counts. And if there are not enough wet diapers - tell your doctor/nurse/baby doctor
so - that's what they should be asking you - about the quantity of soaked diapers - not about the ounces she "takes" at each feeding - because of course with exclusive BF, you do not know that number!
and at the risk of sounding too tough - the more people supplement with formula, the less the mother's supply - it's just how it works - there's no getting around that fact -
very true that mom needs a lot of water/liquid, keep that water handy and have Kennis at your beck and call bringing you water on demand! Or just leave a bottle of water around wherever you're likely to be when you start feeding so you don't have to get up.
And - one last thought - it helps to remember those growth spurts at 3 weeks - 6 weeks - 3 months - 6 months - these are common times when moms end up throwing in the towel on bf - because of the 24 hour feedings common around these growth spurts - they are to be expected - it does not mean mom does not have enough and needs to supplement - baby's increase demand at these times is meant to up the mom's supply and that's what it does.
sorry to be such a bf promoter - but I think that's where you want to be and I believe you will get there - and every mother needs information and support.
all the best - lots of love for you little family
PS I hope all your relatives are thrilled - I'm sure they are - in their own special ways
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-16 06:13 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-16 06:19 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-17 07:37 pm (UTC)We're slowly doing better breast milk-wise but it involves spending 45 minutes every 4 hours pumping. The pumping itself is not so bad, it's the holding the damn pumps up! But I feel like I'd rather give more pumped milk than formula. Yesterday, we still gave some formula, but so far today has been milk only. I'm hoping I can keep up my pace.
I'm trying to drink a lot and eat healthily. It helps she is improving, it makes me less depressed and worried. I'm sure you feel the same as me, where you just love your little one and want the best for them. BTW what's his name?
It's neat that they're both born so close together and congrats to you too!!!!!!
*hugs* And just keep working on it too, at least we're both able to do something for our babies!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-17 07:39 pm (UTC)Hopefully at some point you will get to see her in person though the newborn stage can be so short. It's weird to think she is almost a week old and that last Sunday I had no idea how close she was.
Re: welcome baby!
Date: 2010-10-17 07:52 pm (UTC)We're still having problems with actual feedings on the breast, but as of yesterday the majority of her milk is mine, just a lot of it is now pumped and in a bottle. The pump is not as efficient as she would be if she swallowed and didn't fall asleep so fast into it, but lets us know we are giving her enough food. Saturday she got maybe 10-15% of her food from formula and we're hoping today to be formula-free. Right now we give at least 5+ minutes on each breast until she either falls asleep or loses interest and then give her pumped milk.
It's not ideal, but could be worse and it lets Kennis be more involved. I don't feel so bad giving her my pumped milk, since it's still from me. I'm trying to keep my fluids up!
Thank you for all the advice though, I do appreciate it.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-17 07:53 pm (UTC)Labor was not as bad as I thought, just the pushing part and I think it would not have been as bad if I had really known how well I was doing. Time sort of stands still, and I had thought I had been pushing for hours when it was barely an hour lol
She's gone up in weight and won't need to go to the hospital! Also my milk is finally coming in more, I need to make a big updated LJ post but we've been busy!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-17 07:56 pm (UTC)Anyway, sorry, I get behind very easily right now. Taking care of her is a huge time commitment and I've been trying to take care of me as well. >>;
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-17 07:57 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-17 07:59 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-17 07:59 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-20 12:27 am (UTC)