October 30, 2009
Week 3
This week was much smoother than last. We're getting into the groove. Cam's blog has a picture of him wearing a onesie that says "Eat Sleep Poop Cry", and that pretty much sums up the groove! Hah.
His eye is much better; we continue to clean it periodically and it looks great. Which is good, because I was afraid that it would be all goopy for months, and that we wouldn't be able to get any cute photos!
One of my biggest obstacles is still sleep, but for a different reason. I wake up in the middle of the night with the light off and a cat asleep on me, and freak out because I think that I've fallen asleep mid-feeding session and forgotten to put Cam back in his bassinet. He has a full head of hair...the cats are furry...see where I could get confused in my just-awoken state? Yeah. I hope this passes soon!
His eye is much better; we continue to clean it periodically and it looks great. Which is good, because I was afraid that it would be all goopy for months, and that we wouldn't be able to get any cute photos!
One of my biggest obstacles is still sleep, but for a different reason. I wake up in the middle of the night with the light off and a cat asleep on me, and freak out because I think that I've fallen asleep mid-feeding session and forgotten to put Cam back in his bassinet. He has a full head of hair...the cats are furry...see where I could get confused in my just-awoken state? Yeah. I hope this passes soon!
October 19, 2009
Week 2
Cameron woke up with a crusty, goopy left eye on Monday. I tried cleaning it, but it persisted, so off to the doctor we went. (Why is it that the days we need to venture out are the days that it is pouring down rain?) Fortunately, it's not an infection. It's a clogged tear duct, which is apparently pretty common in young babies. With a few rounds of a warm washcloth compress and a little duct massage, it's now looking much better. But it could be a recurring issue that we'll deal with for several months.
We then went back to the pedi on Friday for Cam's 2-week checkup. He has gained weight like a champ (he's up 15 ounces in 10 days, and now weighs 8 pounds 6 ounces). This is great news because now that he has surpassed his birth weight, we no longer have to wake him up to eat every 2-3 hours at night. (!!!) We can let him decide when to wake up and eat. He's a good sleeper so far, and even a 4-hour stretch at night is soooooo welcome. I'm just trying to make sure he eats well and often during the days so that he might be more likely to sleep more at night.
Chris went back to school this week, so Cam and I got our first few days alone together. I'm pleased to report that things are going very well. I don't always get a lot done (okay, I don't really get anything done), but the little man is happy. I'm trying to nap when he naps, but that's much easier said than done!
We then went back to the pedi on Friday for Cam's 2-week checkup. He has gained weight like a champ (he's up 15 ounces in 10 days, and now weighs 8 pounds 6 ounces). This is great news because now that he has surpassed his birth weight, we no longer have to wake him up to eat every 2-3 hours at night. (!!!) We can let him decide when to wake up and eat. He's a good sleeper so far, and even a 4-hour stretch at night is soooooo welcome. I'm just trying to make sure he eats well and often during the days so that he might be more likely to sleep more at night.
Chris went back to school this week, so Cam and I got our first few days alone together. I'm pleased to report that things are going very well. I don't always get a lot done (okay, I don't really get anything done), but the little man is happy. I'm trying to nap when he naps, but that's much easier said than done!
1.5 months later...
and my rings fit again. They're snug, but I can get them over my knuckle! :)
I'm still too scared to try on some of my favorite shoes, though. I'll be pretty sad if they don't fit.
I'm still too scared to try on some of my favorite shoes, though. I'll be pretty sad if they don't fit.
October 16, 2009
Week 1
Whew. What a week it has been! I'm actually marveling at the fact that it's been a week already...time has definitely become more fluid and hard to track. I find myself unable to remember when events occurred. Tuesday? Wednesday? I just don't know. I'm happy to report though that all is well.
We were discharged from the hospital on Sunday morning, and have been taking care of Cameron at home since. When we left the hospital, Cam was down 6% from his birth weight. (Some weight loss is normal, as babies are born with excess fluid to tide them over until mom's milk comes in.) We had an appointment with his pediatrician on Monday to check for jaundice and weight loss. The jaundice was not too bad, but he had slipped down to a 9% weight loss. This was of concern because the pedi has a cutoff of 10% before they want to intervene and supplement with formula. We were sent home with an appointment to return the next day for another jaundice and weight check.
Fortunately, feeding has been going very well. It put a bit of pressure on me knowing that I had to make him eat enough and gain weight overnight, but he came through with flying colors. He had gained 5 ounces by the next visit, and the pedi was thrilled. Now, we just have to make it back up to his birth weight by his 2 week appointment. And the pedi thought that jaundice wasn't going to be a big issue for us. The slight yellow tinge to his skin will likely subside on its own in the coming days.
Sleep (or lack of it) is proving to be the biggest hurdle so far. We're making do. But it's hard when we have to wake him up to eat every 2-3 hours. Feeding takes 30-40 minutes, plus the time for a diaper change, burping, and soothing back to sleep. All that adds up to about an hour. And the 2-3 hour window starts from the beginning of the feeding, so even if he wants to eat only every 3 hours, that's only 2 hours of sleep (max) for us in between. But I wouldn't change it for the world. :)
We were discharged from the hospital on Sunday morning, and have been taking care of Cameron at home since. When we left the hospital, Cam was down 6% from his birth weight. (Some weight loss is normal, as babies are born with excess fluid to tide them over until mom's milk comes in.) We had an appointment with his pediatrician on Monday to check for jaundice and weight loss. The jaundice was not too bad, but he had slipped down to a 9% weight loss. This was of concern because the pedi has a cutoff of 10% before they want to intervene and supplement with formula. We were sent home with an appointment to return the next day for another jaundice and weight check.
Fortunately, feeding has been going very well. It put a bit of pressure on me knowing that I had to make him eat enough and gain weight overnight, but he came through with flying colors. He had gained 5 ounces by the next visit, and the pedi was thrilled. Now, we just have to make it back up to his birth weight by his 2 week appointment. And the pedi thought that jaundice wasn't going to be a big issue for us. The slight yellow tinge to his skin will likely subside on its own in the coming days.
Sleep (or lack of it) is proving to be the biggest hurdle so far. We're making do. But it's hard when we have to wake him up to eat every 2-3 hours. Feeding takes 30-40 minutes, plus the time for a diaper change, burping, and soothing back to sleep. All that adds up to about an hour. And the 2-3 hour window starts from the beginning of the feeding, so even if he wants to eat only every 3 hours, that's only 2 hours of sleep (max) for us in between. But I wouldn't change it for the world. :)
October 10, 2009
Announcing...
Mr. Cameron Joseph Baker, born Friday 10/9/09 at 12:10 a.m. He weighed 7 pounds 13 ounces, and measured 21 inches long.
It was quite the labor and delivery journey to get here (feel free to ask me about it if you want the details), but we are just in love with this little man! He's very alert for a newborn, and thus far he has been a pleasure to be around.
We'll be leaving the hospital mid-day on Sunday. If you're local and you'd like to come by to meet him, please give Chris or me a call and we'll try to find a time that works for everyone. :)
We'll be leaving the hospital mid-day on Sunday. If you're local and you'd like to come by to meet him, please give Chris or me a call and we'll try to find a time that works for everyone. :)
October 6, 2009
Cookie's getting evicted!
41w1d
At my checkup today I got hooked up to a fetal monitor for about 30 minutes. At first Cookie wasn't very active (he's more of a night owl like his daddy), but after I changed positions and drank a really gross Capri Sun (wild cherry flavor, BLECH), he started moving around.
Cookie exhibited enough movement to pass the non-stress test, and my levels of amniotic fluid were good, so my doc determined there's no immediate need for me to go to the hospital. But, he also scheduled my induction for tomorrow night. Eeep!
At my checkup today I got hooked up to a fetal monitor for about 30 minutes. At first Cookie wasn't very active (he's more of a night owl like his daddy), but after I changed positions and drank a really gross Capri Sun (wild cherry flavor, BLECH), he started moving around.
Cookie exhibited enough movement to pass the non-stress test, and my levels of amniotic fluid were good, so my doc determined there's no immediate need for me to go to the hospital. But, he also scheduled my induction for tomorrow night. Eeep!
There's still the chance that labor could start on its own before then, but I'm not holding my breath. If nothing happens tonight or tomorrow morning, I go in at 5pm tomorrow and get some medication to help my cervix along. I then spend the night and hope that labor gets going. If it doesn't, there's talk of starting pitocin on Thursday morning.
It definitely isn't how I pictured or planned, but such is life, right? It's so crazy to think that in two days I'll no longer be pregnant!
October 5, 2009
41 weeks
41w0d
Well, according to my doctor I'm actually 40w4d today. But changing my dating system now seems too confusing. So there you go. Either way, this Cookie is overdue!
I feel like a broken record these days. "I'm still here, nothing new to report." I have spells of time where I'm more uncomfortable, but then I also have spells of time where I feel just fine. So, we continue to wait...
Well, according to my doctor I'm actually 40w4d today. But changing my dating system now seems too confusing. So there you go. Either way, this Cookie is overdue!
I feel like a broken record these days. "I'm still here, nothing new to report." I have spells of time where I'm more uncomfortable, but then I also have spells of time where I feel just fine. So, we continue to wait...
October 2, 2009
Diapers
40w4d
Cloth diapering is something that I've been interested in for awhile, and I found this company that offers a very cool trial of several popular brands of cloth diapers. In case you aren't up to speed, there are TONS of brands with lots of different features these days, and it makes it very hard to choose what to buy.
I've spent a lot of time reading user reviews of many different brands, but it really boils down to the fact that what is great for one baby might not be great for the next. So, this trial seemed like the perfect thing: I can use all the different brands for 21 days, and at the end of it, even if I don't like any of them, I pay only $10. Or I can keep what I do like, and they'll just deduct that from my refund. Pretty neat!
Now, off to do more laundry to prep everything...
Cloth diapering is something that I've been interested in for awhile, and I found this company that offers a very cool trial of several popular brands of cloth diapers. In case you aren't up to speed, there are TONS of brands with lots of different features these days, and it makes it very hard to choose what to buy.
I've spent a lot of time reading user reviews of many different brands, but it really boils down to the fact that what is great for one baby might not be great for the next. So, this trial seemed like the perfect thing: I can use all the different brands for 21 days, and at the end of it, even if I don't like any of them, I pay only $10. Or I can keep what I do like, and they'll just deduct that from my refund. Pretty neat!
Now, off to do more laundry to prep everything...
October 1, 2009
Update, 40 weeks
40w3d
Woohoo! We have progress!
I just returned from my 40 week appointment with my doctor. I'm still about 50% effaced, but I'm now beginning to dilate too, which is great news. We scheduled my next follow-up for Tuesday, but hopefully things will get moving before then. His heartbeat is still strong, and though I didn't gain any weight this week, the belly grew another 2 cm. I'm catching up to where I "should" be...I'm now measuring only 1 cm behind instead of 2 cm.
The good news is that if Cookie does decide to get moving this weekend, my doctor happens to be the on-call doctor. Yay for that!
His parting words as I left the office today were "Go and have a baby, already!" I'm working on it doc, I'm working on it!
Woohoo! We have progress!
I just returned from my 40 week appointment with my doctor. I'm still about 50% effaced, but I'm now beginning to dilate too, which is great news. We scheduled my next follow-up for Tuesday, but hopefully things will get moving before then. His heartbeat is still strong, and though I didn't gain any weight this week, the belly grew another 2 cm. I'm catching up to where I "should" be...I'm now measuring only 1 cm behind instead of 2 cm.
The good news is that if Cookie does decide to get moving this weekend, my doctor happens to be the on-call doctor. Yay for that!
His parting words as I left the office today were "Go and have a baby, already!" I'm working on it doc, I'm working on it!
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