My emotional status about the nursing situation fluctuates every few hours.
My IBCLC came for another visit on Saturday, we tried some techniques with Joseph and we drafted the next stage of our plan.
Sometimes I see a tiny improvement (Joseph latched!) and am overjoyed. Other times I can't see any light at the end of the tunnel and do not understand how he is going to learn to nurse.
I want to be there for the big kids more than I am. Sometimes the girls especially cry for me when I just can't spare any minutes for snuggles with them. It is so hard for me to hear them (needfully) being taken back downstairs--wailing for me--when I know their emotions are legitimate.
Chris is super supportive of this whole endeavor: I am blessed.
Calf about twice as thick as my index finger
Foot smaller than my thumb
Our five-month-old goddaughter now looks nearly like a toddler compared to our newborn son!
A lovely, brief visit from a friend
Before: Nothing like feeling postpartum hormones and watching one's son be whisked off to the Emergency Room. I managed to fake calm and cheerful on his behalf. I knew he'd be okay but seeing him starting to panic made me feel mirror emotions. John had gotten his finger stuck in a toy (a math manipulative from my weights and measure set, actually) and then it swelled up. He was pretty tearful so the above anesthetic of choice while in the waiting room is the iPad.
After: All was well! The doctor was able to remove it without even having to cut it. Little tip for us parents in the future: ice down the finger to make the swelling go down!
He looks visibly bigger, fatter and sturdier!! Prayers for successful nursing! I know it will happen. The waiting is the hardest part but look at that healthy baby- it is still all you... Sorry about the ER trip :S
ReplyDeleteI see a double chin! It's amazingly obvious from the pictures that he's gaining weight!
ReplyDeleteJoseph is still so little. Everything will work out. Remember, things are not on your schedule, but on God's.
ReplyDeleteYou can see his little cheeks starting to fill out! Perfectly kissable!
ReplyDeleteI know you are frustrated, but each small success such as latching is HUGE. And wasn't that moment of latching the sweetest moment? :) I cried when I put Lucy to the breast and she latched for the first time after having to bottle feed her for so long. Just remember that you are giving him everything you possibly can in a way that he needs it at this time. The successes will continue each day until one day you find that he nursed every feeding. :)
Hang in there about the children. I found it harder to go from 3 to 4exactly for this reason. Time will help (plus a lot of cartoon watching with them).
Thank you for all your encouragement. I especially appreciate being able to hear from women who have been down this road, like you, Ashley. That adds so much to my belief that this can be done, even though I can't understand how.
ReplyDeleteI was so eager (and stressed!) to get Ben breastfeeding those first few weeks. I thought the longer I used bottles the harder it would be. But all those bottles were helping him get bigger and stronger so that he was more able to do it! And I know I had many friends praying for me - in fact one friend even started praying for breastfeeding success as soon as I told her of Ben's diagnosis :-)
ReplyDeleteSharon: Thank you for the encouragement and for sharing your experience with Ben!
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