Lots of baby talk here, with a spattering of pictures.
Unless time has played tricks on my memory, Clark has been by far the fussiest baby. Fortunately, I’m still really enjoying him, but it’s been hard. I’ve been getting 3 hours of sleep a night, in 1 hour increments. I haven’t been able to sleep during the day, but all of this will change.
My milk is in, which is obviously more satisfying to his demanding little tummy than colostrum was. That helps.
At the recommendation of my sister-in-law, I sent Nate to the store to pick up some Lansinoh. I’ve never used it before, and it is glorious. I don’t hurt nearly as much now, and I wasn’t even cracked. It just made it all better.
This is my first time using a Boppy. Wow. I feel like an idiot resisting with my other babies.
First of all, when I was in labor at the house and about ready to go to the hospital, sitting enormously increased the most painful contractions. I didn’t know how I was going to survive the car ride, so I sat on the Boppy in the car, and my contractions were way better. I was actually relatively comfortable.
I sat on the Boppy in the wheelchair up to the doctor’s office to get checked (couldn’t walk at that point), and in the wheelchair back down to be admitted in the hospital, at which point, I think I loved the Boppy as much as I love anesthesiologists that administer epidurals.
Right now, I want to go on and on about my admitting nurse. She is Superwoman. I was hurting SO bad, and between the time I was at the doctor, and the time I was “checked” in the hospital, (about 30 minutes, tops) I had dilated 1-2 more centimeters and effaced the remaining 30%.
She jumped into high gear, ignoring all the computer stuff she had to do. She got a helper in with her, and got my IV started immediately with the antibiotics and hydration. Right on the heels of that, she ran and got my epidural supplies, called the anesthesiologist from my room, and had me out of pain sooner than I thought was humanly possible.
All the while, telling me how brilliantly I was handling my contractions, and how amazing I was.
I really love nurse Kathy.
After the fact, she told me that the contractions had been 2 minutes apart, and were very intense. So I got my wish to go into labor on my own, eh? :-).
Back to the Boppy, it next proved it’s worth when the girls came to visit Clark for the first time. You know how awkward it is to hand a brand new baby to young children? Well, we put the Boppy around their little waists while they sat in a chair, and set Clark on top. There was no slipping, head dropping, nothing. The girls were confident. The baby was secure. We could step back a little bit and give them some “alone” time without having to interrupt and reposition, or correct them.
Third, nursing. Ah, it’s better that way.
Another thing I did differently this time was buy cute jammies for the hospital. I also bought several pair of underwear in matching colors. Sounds silly, as things are so messy after delivery, but I didn’t want to wear the nasty hospital clothes and disposable, netting panties any longer than I had to.
So on Tuesday, I re-braided my hair, put on my new stuff along with a nursing bra, and felt pretty!
I also slipped Clark into a little sleeper, which he seemed to really appreciate.
It felt SO good, that Clark and I spent quite a bit of time walking the halls. Clark got oogled by nurses and visitors alike, and I got to chat with a few Grandparents-to-be waiting in the lobbies for their own good news.
It was a pleasant way to spend the unforeseen extra day in the hospital while Nate was out making Abby’s birthday special.
We’re still very tired, and I’m going to get off the computer and try to take a nap while the house is quiet.
But before I do, here is a shot of Nate on the couch after dinner, asleep.
And Clark cuddling up in a diaper.
Oh, and Clark and I got a nice stretch of sleep this morning from 6:30-10:30 after a couple good feedings. I so desperately needed that! I have high hopes that now that my milk is in, we’ll be able to sleep a bit more.
April 6th, 2006 at 6:59 am
What sweetness! I tell ya, there is nothing better than a great labor and delivery nurse! I’ll never forget those wonderful women who helped me!
April 6th, 2006 at 7:01 am
Love your pjs! Sweet kid you got there, too. I wish you both lots and lots and lots of SLEEP! 😀
April 6th, 2006 at 7:10 am
He really is a cute one! You look great too. Sounds like things went pretty darn smoothly. Congratulations to your whole family 🙂
April 6th, 2006 at 7:21 am
oh, what a sweetheart! 🙂 It’s great to see everyone looking so happy and cozy. 🙂
April 6th, 2006 at 8:06 am
I totally forgot about those horrible panties from the hospital! THE WORST THINGS EVER. Get as much sleep as possible girl. The sleep deprivation is torture!
April 6th, 2006 at 9:16 am
He is just perfectly cute! I’ll have to remember the Boppy thing for some day when I hopefully have one of my own. And I LOVE the picture of your hubby and baby.
April 6th, 2006 at 9:22 am
I’m filing mental notes as I read your posts. Thanks for sharing the important stuff along with the sweet stuff. 😉 Clark is adorably perfect and you look fantastic. Good luck with the sleep!
April 6th, 2006 at 9:49 am
I just have to tell you how completely jealous I am of your Superwoman nurse…it took me over an hour to even get into a bed, where they promptly said, “Oh, you’re at 9 cm.” Well, duh, did you see me laying on the floor in the hallway because it hurts so bad?! No epidural for me. Grrr! Thanks for posting so many pics. We love ’em! You look great!
April 6th, 2006 at 9:56 am
You look fabulous! Gosh, I sure didn’t look that good, haha! When my #4 came along, I finally took up the attitude that I was going to get a BIG one or two hour NAP, instead of thinking that I was only going to get an hour or two of sleep. Well, it fooled me into feeling a little better!!
April 6th, 2006 at 10:43 am
That picture of you and Clark is wonderful. I hope you frame it!
April 6th, 2006 at 11:20 am
Thank you for sharing the pictures of the new Clark. You all look like you are doing very well. Best wishes to you all, and a delayed Happy B-Day to Abby!
April 6th, 2006 at 11:51 am
Wow, what a cutie! The first week or so at home with a newborn is so challenging. It’s somewhat comforting to know that it’s as tough on experienced parents as it is on a first timer like me. I’ll pray that you and Clark get lots fo restful naps. Hang in there!
April 6th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
Couldn’t nurse without a Boppy. Best thing ever if you’re going to nurse – and I agree – they are great to let young children help hold the baby.
Sleep…. what’s that? It does improve over time though.
April 6th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
I forgot to include that Clark is absolutely precious.
April 6th, 2006 at 12:50 pm
Clean pajamas can make a world of difference, can’t they? It sounds like you had a pleasant hospital experience.
April 6th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
How sweet is that of Daddy and Son?! I have a few of my DH and Son sleeping together.
You look GREAT and I agree about the pjs. I took some with me as well and they just make you feel *normal* again.
The boppy is a wonderful invention. We still use it as a pillow to lay on or our son likes to sit against it, so over a year later and still gets good use. 🙂
A suggestion on the feeding at night vs sleep. I had the problem where my Son would wake hungry, get so comphy against me that he would go back to sleep before he was finished and full. It was sweet the first week, but only getting an hour or so of sleep a night and that was broken up wore me down. It was going on 3 plus months of it and I just had to do something. I came to the realization that I can pump some milk during the day after feedings and some at night so that I can bottle feed him as well as DH can too. It saved my sanity. He would drink the entire bottle at night and sleep at least 3 if not 4 hours. It was so good to get some sleep and sanity. It might be something to think about if it continues. I know that he is new at it and all so he might get with the game plan, but I just thought I would let you know what helped us.
Congratulations again! He is such a cutie!!
April 6th, 2006 at 1:54 pm
You look great! So glad things are going well. I agree that Boppy’s are wonderful things. I just wish i had thought to use it when I was in labor with my second. Oh well.
April 6th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
learning how to nurse lying down saved my sanity. the boppy’s great, love mine, but nursing side-lying is so wonderful.
April 6th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
Must have been good Baby days. Mine arrived on the forth and is also a boy. Congratulation to your sweet son, he looks cute. And best Birthday wishes to the great sister!
April 7th, 2006 at 1:41 am
you both look so great.
amazing!!
congrats x infinity!
April 7th, 2006 at 5:50 am
Congratulations!!! He is a beautiful little boy!
April 9th, 2006 at 1:41 pm
The Boppy is a wonderful thing. Love the pics.