Today Eli is 4 weeks old....1 month!! Time has flown but I will say I enjoy the 1 month more than the 1 day just because I feel a little more "secure" about my abilities and he is on a better "schedule" (if you want to call it that!). We'll try to take a picture in this same position each month with Mr. Monkey to show our sweet boy's growth. I had to add the 2nd pic just because he was smiling, although he is turned to the side....love his smiles!!
Here's the link to the professional pics taken while in the hospital....hasn't he grown???
Today we went to see a lactation consultant/RN at Centerpointe to help with our latch. We met with Sheri, one that I hadn't met before. Well, she is a godsend! I really liked her as she was so easy to work with and she worked with us for an entire hour!! She gave great tips that were practical and specifically for Eli. She took her time to watch us and hold Eli to see what was really going on. She was great with Eli and said he reminded her of her own son who had similar issues at Eli's age. She believes his fussiness is due to gas and stomach aches. We are now feeding more upright (he's practically sitting up) which has already helped so much. He latches so much better (just in a couple of feedings since going to the hospital) and it isn't as painful. There is still a little pain due to the thrush which makes my nipples tender, but it is SOOO much better (hopefully I am not jinxing myself for writing this post :) She said he is latching wonderfully and that when he gets frustrated and pulls away it's because he can't keep up with the milk flow (I guess I have a gushing flow!!). She also thought that he gets a lot of air while gulping (which he gulps A LOT) and to burp him when he does this and then put him back on. She also gave ideas for how to make his tummy feel better such as massage and holding him on our shoulder and legs to put pressure and warmth on his tummy. In addition, the pacifier is really good for him as it helps soothe him and give him something to preoccupy himself with. Eli really liked her and was really calm with her, which was awesome to see.
I also asked about how to do tummy time since he hates it. I told her that it seemed like it hurt his tummy. She said it might and that he was pushing up with his head and arms while holding him and she said to not be concerned with him strengthening those muscles as he was already, just in a different way. She suggested doing tummy time a short time on our legs or shoulders or after a diaper change since he likes the changing table so much. This made me feel much better as I was just concerned he would not ever like it and somehow be behind developmentally. She assured me this would not be the case.
So, I feel optimistic once again, so hopefully we can stay on this track. We pray the thrush goes away this week and that we continue to latch correctly. We also pray that we can use tummy soothing techniques to help our little boy feel better. Wish us luck and I'll keep you informed! Oh, and thank you for all the advice on the previous post!
....so I'm sorry about the delay. Eli is what the books call a "fussy" baby. About 85% of the time when he is awake, he is fussy and hard to keep content. As a result, I spend a lot of my time trying to find what makes him happy when he is awake in between feedings. This is a challenge, but mommy can handle it :0 He's just too irresistible not to!! He likes the following (but each only lasts about 10 minutes if that):
1) mobile in his crib-I lay him in there and he just looks at the mobile and listens to Bach, Mozart & Beethoven. He usually has to have his pacifier, too, which he has a hard time keeping in his mouth so I am continually putting it back in...poor guy! 2) changing table- about 99% of the time while on his changing table he is just a happy boy. We don't even have to be changing him, just being on there calms him. 3) outside-we often take him out on the deck and sit with him for awhile as he looks around. He also likes walks. 4) the 5 s's- Happiest Baby on the Block techniques include swaddling, shhhushing, sucking, swinging & another one I can't remember. Eli likes swaddling, sucking, and swinging or bouncing on the exercise ball. I use this if he is awake after a feeding in the middle of the night. 5) walking around facing outward- we have an infant carrier but need to adjust to fit him right. Now he sits too low in it and doesn't like it so I just carry him facing forward.
Eli hates:
1) being still- when upset you must walk around or he just gets worse 2) tummy time- he REALLY hates it and it is hard to do because he usually only does it for a few minutes before he explodes and then I spend another 20 minutes calming him down!! 3) to lose his pacifier, which he always does!!!
We also are watching to see if he has reflux. He is showing some signs, but we hope he'll outgrow them so we don't have to give medication for it. But, if he does, this would explain the fussiness. We give him gas medication along with the thrush meds so we hope this helps some. Here is some video and pics to show his likes and dislikes!!
In addition, breastfeeding still has it's issues, the main one being his latch. He is gaining weight like a champ as he weighed in at 10 lbs. 1 ounce yesterday. I am more accustomed to him eating every 2-5 hours and getting up at night and he is better at sleeping in between feedings at night. The killer is my soreness from him not latching correctly. He is now getting fussy and slipping down once I try to put him on right and refuses to be on correctly. He also doesn't open as wide anymore and I have to hold his chin down and then he still slips down on the nipple. With thrush along with this (which is still not gone), I am just sore, sore, sore!!! I am working with lactation consultants and La Leche League to help, so we'll see if we can get this fixed ASAP!!! I really want to breastfeed but I can't handle the soreness for much longer! Wish us luck!!
Yesterday we went to a breastfeeding support group and Eli weighed in at 9 lbs. 3 ounces. This means he gained 14 ounces in 10 days since his doc appointment. I'm glad to hear this as it verifies that he is eating and gaining well, regardless of the on going issues we've had with breastfeeding. The group should be a good support to attend weekly to get advice, hear others stories, and get him weighed. The new news with breastfeeding is that we have thrush which is not fun either. It makes my nipples really sore (as if they weren't already) and gives Eli a white coated tongue. He has to take an oral medication, which he hates, and acts like he's going to puke it up each time we give it to him (thankfully only 4 times a day). Thrush is a common yeast infection passed between mom & baby during breastfeeding and it isn't dangerous, just annoying!!
My mom has been here since Eli was born and she returns home to Iowa in about an hour. She has been a great help with meals, cleaning, getting up with me in the night, and spending time with Eli when mommy needs to sleep. We will miss her greatly and Eli has enjoyed his time with his grandma. She has surgery on her foot in about a week so she has to return home to prepare for the surgery. I will have to be more coordinated with eating, taking showers, going to the bathroom and any outings with just myself during the day....ahhhh!! Thanks mom/grandma & we love you!!! You are welcome to come down anytime after you feel healed enough to do so!
In my last post I wrote about letting Eli sleep as long as he wants and going by his schedule. We've done this and I must say he hasn't slept as long as he did those 2 nights. So, we still get up at least 1-2 times in the night and it's not really consistent. For example, last night he got done feeding at around 7:30pm and slept until midnight when he fed again. The feeding ended at around 12:45am and he was wide awake (which is a problem, too). I swaddled him and held him in a dark room with his paci in his mouth. He just fought and fought sleep, but pretty much stayed quiet. He would have little yelps now and then but generally was just calm. He finally feel asleep about 30-45 minutes later and I laid him in his vibrate chair (where he sleeps most of the time, or his car seat). It worked, so that's what matters ;)
Awwww.....
This will be one he can use in his montage when he gets married to say what a mean daddy he has ;) Eric thought this was hilarious!
Our first walk....he loves being outside! I hope to walk with him a few times a week...it will be good for both of us!
Below is some video of Eli in the boppy during our play time
Today Eli turns 2 weeks old-hard to believe!! We have been taking many pictures and videos so I'll post some so you can see how much he has changed since 2 weeks ago.
Breastfeeding is STILL our biggest challenge. He continues to latch on inappropriately and I try to correct it each time but some times, such as in the middle of the night, I just give up. I know I need to keep trying to make sure he latches correctly, but it gets hard. His lower lip has a hard time flaring out like it should. We've also had a hard time with the frequency of feedings. He gained his weight back after just a week so we know he is gaining okay, but he is sleeping more. While this is good for us, the lactation consultants at the hospital say he should eat every 2-5 hours, with only one long 5 hour stint a day. But, if I let him, he would wait 6-7 hours between feedings at night. Right now, per the lactation consults, I have to wake him to get him to feed at 5 hours. He will feed, but it's just hard on me and he gets really tired. It's confusing because they say to feed on cue but also to not let them go more than 5 hours between feedings, and prefer 2-3 hours. We are struggling with this and will weigh him on Monday at the breastfeeding group to make sure he is gaining okay. Some say we are just lucky and he just sleeps longer than most and with his vigorous eating, he gets what he needs with the feedings he cues for. Who knew breastfeeding is so complicated!!! Any and all advice is certainly welcome!!
Overall he is a pretty calm baby. When awake (after about every other feeding or so), he likes to take tours of the house, go outside on the deck, bounce with mommy or daddy on the exercise ball, swing in his swing, sit in his vibrate chair, or lay on his changing table and just be played with. Now this doesn't mean he's quiet and calm during this time, but that it can take all of the above techniques to get him that way! He is quite the grunter and groaner which is really funny.
Oh yes, and the big news is that he lost his umbilical cord this morning, weehee!!
Daddy went back to work today and mommy & I were sad. Daddy is an amazing Daddy and has helped mommy so much this last week. Daddy has changed more diapers than mommy, makes snacks and feeds mommy and makes sure she has enough water. Daddy knows how to settle me down and is very creative in his ways: going outside, putting me in my car seat, singing to me, swaddling me, and resting me on his chest. Daddy is the best daddy ever and mommy & I feel so blessed he is our daddy and husband. Daddy will be home in an hour and 15 minutes and we cannot wait to see him. Love you daddy!!!
Eli has lots of toys to play with that help mommy & daddy keep him entertained. One of them is his swing. Depending on his mood, he can swing for around 10 minutes or so before getting bored or falling asleep. He also enjoys his matching papasan chair that vibrates and plays music. In fact, he's napping there right now!!
Eli also was put in his crib for the first time for about 5 minutes as he enjoyed his mobile. Right now Eli sleeps in his mommy and daddy's room in a pack-n-play bassinett, or more often in his car seat!! He is definitely a swaddle baby and enjoys snuggly places.
Poor Eli gets the hiccups a lot and some times they just make him so angry, where other times he just takes them on and lets them run their course. Thought you'd like to see the happier Eli with hiccups instead of the upset one :)
