Post Partum Tidbits

As we're adjusting to life at home with our little one, I'd thought I'd share some of my thoughts and experiences regarding the first month home with a newborn:

1.) It's a lot harder than anybody tells you. Seriously... And, harder in a different way than you think. It's just something you can't possibly be prepared for, no matter how many books you read (and believe me, I've read most of them) or how much information you accumulate. You just have to become a parent and find out for yourself. Unfortunately, I've had to also fight the battle of comforting a baby with reflux (more on that later) which thankfully not every new mom has to deal with, but still...

2.) Having a baby with reflux is quite a mountain to climb - getting medications right, comforting them when they're starving but it hurts to eat, or when they're tired but can't sleep. It breaks your heart to see them in any kind of pain. Thankfully, Olivia is now appropriately medicated and doing much better :).

3.) You will love your child more than you ever thought possible. And, when you're having a rough day and are tempted to throw a pity part for one, you'll see her smile and remember how blessed you really are.

4.) The baby blues are very real. After delivery your hormones are adjusting, causing many new moms to experience something worse than menopause, and let me tell you, I certainly did. Josh would call me on the phone and I would just start crying, Olivia would cry and so would I. And then, if you're at all like me, you start asking yourself, "Oh my God, is this the beginning of post partum depression? Am I experiencing post partum depression? Should I call the doctor!?!?!" I laugh at myself now, and obviously what I was experiencing is totally normal, but new moms beware: you may feel quite out of sorts the first week or two at home, after the initial high wears off. Don't worry, it's doesn't last long.

5.) If you ate sensibly and continued being active throughout your pregnancy, you will lose the baby weight. I gained about 37 pounds throughout my pregnancy. I came home from the hospital 20 pounds lighter. Within 10 days, I had lost 33 pounds. I finally got the courage to try on my pre-pregnancy jeans last week, and what do you know, they fit!! So, if you're keeping track, I have about 4 pounds left to lose to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. However, since I'm betting about 3 of those pounds are in my ginormous boobs (I wish I was kidding), by all accounts, I'd say I'm doing pretty well.

6.) Breastfeeding is awesome. Now, don't get me wrong, it's also a lot of work. I have faced quite a few challenges including mastitis, a huge milk supply coupled with a baby who was having trouble eating for the first few weeks, thus a need to pump quite a bit and the gamut of engorgement and sore nipples - but, when that baby latches on, coos in pure contentment and reaches her hand up, resting that tiny baby fist on your chest...there is nothing like it in the whole world. Everything they say about breastfeeding being such a bonding experience is true, and I love it.

7.) Whatever gadget they hate one week, they'll love the next (and vice versa). Like the swing that, in the beginning, couldn't keep Olivia content for more than five minutes, suddenly started calming her into sleep when nothing else would work. Or all of the carriers that she HATED for the first few weeks of life. Then, one day, after trying everything else to calm her (including the swing - you guessed it, she hates it again) you decide to give the BabyBjorn another try. And, what do you know, she falls right to sleep for a long three hour nap. Lately, it's one of the only places she'll sleep for an extended period of time.

8.) Being able to squeeze in a shower and a blow dry in a day is a HUGE victory. As is, doing virtually anything around the house including dinner and laundry.

9.) Being able to actually eat dinner WITH your spouse is a thing of the past. Like a lot of babies, Olivia's fussiest time of the day happens at about 5:00 to 7:00 pm. So, when Josh gets home from work we're usually eating and entertaining our little one in shifts. Most of our quality time together is spent sleeping, lol.

10.) Your bedtime will be earlier than it has been since you were 12. Honestly, 9:00 pm is about my limit and plenty of nights I've been in bed by 8:00. With a newborn, you'll take all the sleep you can get.

What else can I say except life is good, and things are really starting to come together around here. We've started getting out of the house a bit more and have been working on doing a walking tour of some local malls. I'm anxious for the weather to warm up so we can get outside a bit.

Olivia is a joy, smiling and cooing up a storm. They really do grow and change so incredibly fast. Every week she is doing something new, and I find myself already looking back on her newborn photos in awe of how much she's grown. I am doing my best to cherish each and every moment...