Three Parts

Part One: Milo's First Dr. Appointment

This morning we took Milo to his first Dr. appointment. I tried to time his feeding/napping appropriately and made sure to dress him in an outfit easy to get him in and out of. And it went very well. He wasn't very happy after they stretched his leg out to get his length... and we did do a crash nursing session while waiting for the Dr. But it really went very well. He was a perfect gentlemen for our Dr. His umbilical cord stump is looking great... his circumcision wound is healing beautifully, and he is a perfectly healthy baby boy. They weighed him today. At birth he weighed 9lb 8 o; he weighed 7lb 13oz Friday morning... this morning he weighed 9 lb 2 oz. In three days he gained over a pound! We have no doubt he is eating well.

Its pretty sweet... when he gets hungry and I'm not moving fast enough for him... he starts to do thing snorty kind of thing... so I call him my little piglet. Then after he eats... he does that thing we all do after Thanksgiving dinner where we find the nearest couch and kind of pass out in a bit of a food-induced drunken state. That's what Milo does... he just passes out with a smile on his face. We call it being "milk wasted." :)


Part Two: Nursing

I wanted to make a post about nursing. I realized that I painted a wonderful easy picture of nursing. And for those mom's out there who breast fed... you know it is not always wonderful and easy. I wanted to make sure I did not pass on any illusions that breast feeding is easy. I was very determined to breast feed, as was a good friend of mine. And we are both still breast feeding. But, you have to have the determination because in the beginning it can be hard. And I say that having a baby who came out a pro nurser... it is really more of getting myself to his level of expertise.

The goal of this post is not to discourage or cause fear or anxiety about nursing. But as I have always said, I think it is important to be honest and open as a way to empower and equip one another.

Milo will be a week old tomorrow evening. In that time, I have experienced great joy in nursing, I mean joy like nothing else. But as I said, nursing can be hard. Caution: TMI... You may have to combat bleeding nipples, leaking nipples, engorgement, pain, and all kinds of other hurdles. I had women talk about this to me, so I knew all of those things were possible. But as my friend experienced... she reached a point within the first week where she wanted to quit. But she pressed on, and is now nursing her baby with ease. I have yet to reach a point where I have wanted to quit, but I understand how and why some women do.

After dealing with major engorgement twice, I've learned what to do to prevent it, and how to get it under control quickly. I learned that Lansinoh Lanolin stuff is without question an essential. I have a tube in every room of the house and in the diaper bag. While there have been very difficult times within the first week of breast feeding... I am learning quickly and it is definitely getting easier. And similar to childbirth... the pain is completely worth it once you just get through the tough stuff.

So if you mom-to-be and you have hopes of breast feeding... know that it is no walk in the park in the beginning and takes a lot of determination, but certainly worth it.

And on a side note... most hospitals also provide a free lactation consultant service to help with any and all issues that may arise from help on latching on to positioning. I was blessed with THE best night nurse who was with us every night of our hospital stay. She was the one who helped Milo nurse immediately after my c section. Anyway... her help and knowledge was so important in Milo and I getting a good start. And even still, I'm going to be meeting with our childbirth education who is also a lactation consultant just to get some extra tips or advice.

Part Three: Foot

I think I told you about that horrible interthecal experience that has caused a persistent pain in my left foot. Well its still there. I was instructed to call back on Monday or Tuesday if it hadn't eased up at all. And it hasn't. What concerns Nathan and I is that we feel as though there is something they're not telling us. After my wonderful night nurse, finally made someone realize I needed to talk to the anesthesiologist... the anesthesiology department quickly became very attentive to me. And then I was told that the entire department of anesthesiologist and CRNAs were made aware of my case in case it didn't go away. So their concern, kind of gave Nathan and I some cause for concern. Granted... I can still walk and the pain isn't debilitating... but still. So tomorrow I'll have to call back in and let them know there has been no change.