Sleep

Happy Father's Day! Milo was sweet enough to plan his arrival at a time that would bring all of the Father's in my life together. And of course, this being Nathan's first Father's Day, the day is extra special.

In the spirit of maintaining the openness that I've kind of based this blog on... I wanted to make a post about our first days home, first nights in particular.

Of course, the hormones play a huge part in these early days post delivery. I have had plenty of crying episodes since being home. Not sad, just overwhelmed. And I quickly realized I have no problem taking care of Milo. I feel confident in meeting all of his needs, especially since nursing is going so very well. What was overwhelming me, was that I wasn't sure how to take care of myself.

Our first night home was OK. Milo did fine. He kept up with his pattern of eating, sleeping, and pooping through the night. I was the one who didn't do so well. First of all, our plan was to start Milo in his crib from the very beginning, but I knew I'd want him close by, so we moved his crib into our bedroom. Well about ten minutes into our first night home, I realized not only was I not comfortable sleeping in bed (because of my incision) but I still felt too far away from Milo. I needed to have him much closer. So I ended up in the living room with Milo sleeping in a newborn infant seat thingy while I tried to doze in the LayZBoy between feedings. I ended up only sleeping about two hours total. And I didn't wake Nathan because there wasn't really anything I especially needed him to do. I knew quickly I needed to figure some things out.

Yesterday evening, I started to cry as we geared up for another evening, and again I felt overwhelmed. Luckily we had our parents there and they rallied together and moved some things around in the bedroom and helped me kind of establish a game plan. We moved the crib next to the bed with about a foot or two between. That way, I can see him right beside me while I'm laying in bed. Then we took a good nursing chair into the bedroom and set up a table for all of the nursing goodies I might need. We also set up a sound machine that also projects a soothing, moving night scene.

So I refocused before bed, said a prayer, and hoped to at least get Milo to sleep a couple stretches in the crib. And of course I hoped to sleep a couple stretches as well.

I cannot be more pleased with how last night went. Milo did not sleep a couple stretches in the crib. He slept in the crib all night. He woke every 1-2 hours to nurse, which I needed to keep the engorgement under control (which it is.) And after he ate, I'd lay him back down in the crib, still slightly awake and he'd fall asleep until it was time to get up again. And I, too, was able to sleep in bed between feedings. I truly could not have hoped for a better second night at home.

And as far as sleeping crutches... yes we are using a few right now. We swaddle Milo in an Aden and Anais blanket, which is a fabulous muslin blanket perfect for summer swaddling. We also used the sounds machine and projector. But my biggest concern is getting Milo comfortable sleeping in his crib. We can transition out of the sleep crutches later.

And something that many of you may find controversial is the pacifier. We have begun using a pacifier. But what about nipple confusion?? Well... once breast feeding has been established, nipple confusion is no longer an issue. And you may find it hard to believe, but we definitely have breast feeding well established. Even the nurses in the hospital realized Milo was probably just fine to go ahead and introduce a pacifier. Milo is a nursing machine! His nursing alone is what managed my engorgement and within 24 hours. We don't use the pacifier often because he pretty much only cries when is wet or hungry. But I did use it twice to help Milo fall back asleep in his crib last night. And we have used it during a diaper change or two. The pacifier may not be for everyone, especially this early, but it is working quite well for us. And if at any point, we feel like it is being counter productive, we'll simply reevaluate.

I feel very rested this morning, and I am very encouraged by last night.