New normal
A little over 2 weeks since she’s been born and this is starting to feel like the new normal – and that is such a great feeling. This is our life now, we’re settling in to a routine (well, sort of – it’s not much of a routine, lol), we’re getting used to this living with a baby. Our baby.
We get up whenever we get up – sometimes it’s at 8am, sometimes it’s not until 11am, depends how well she slept that night. She’s waking every 3 hours or so, I have to feed her and sometimes we have to change her – I’ve been letting Den deal with the dipes so I can catch another few minutes of sleep, considering he can sleep while I feed. Den is spending a good deal of time doing work around the house and yard, all the things that he’s been meaning to do but hasn’t gotten around to. It’s nice because he’s right there if I need an extra hand. He gets things done, then spends the rest of the day with Kate and I.
The breastfeeding is still hurting like a bitch. I knew it might be hard, but holy hell I did not expect it to be this rough on my nipples. Friends tell me that they’ll get used to it very soon and it’ll stop hurting – I’m really looking forward to that day. Thankfully the blisters are gone, they’re just really raw and sensitive. Usually it’s not bad during the day, but when she starts cluster-feeding and nursing to soothe for 2 solid hours in the evening, well, then I just want to rip my boobs off my body for a little while. But I know Kate is eating well, getting lots of milk, she’s happy… that’s the important part.
We’re slowly figuring out that her fussiness in the evening is gas – and when she’s fussy she wants the boob. I’m trying to make sure to burp her really well during and after she eats, and that seems to be helping. She sure gives some good burps. I’m also trying to keep her upright when I can, like letting her sleep on my chest or in a tummy-to-tummy hold in the ringsling. Kate does love her swing but she prefers to be snuggled up to one of us, which honestly is just fine with us, we just love cuddling with her while she sleeps so peacefully. I love to nuzzle and kiss her sweet little head as I rock in the rocking chair.
I watch a lot of HGTV while laying back in the rocking chair with Kate nestled against me. I don’t get a whole lot done in the day, but you know I really don’t care. This is the best way to spend my days.
She is sooooooo very, very beautiful!!!!! You are doing a great job, Natalie!!!! Lucky baby! Lucky mommy! (Oh, and I love HGTV!)
She’s ADORABLE.
I love the pictures with a baby sleeping on you! I’m so happy that everything is going well for you guys.
I’m a longtime reader and lurker, and I think this every time I read your blog, so I thought I would say it: I am so. freaking. happy. for you. I’ve been reading for about two years probably, and no one deserves this happiness more.
On breastfeeding pain, yes! I’m totally there with you. It always got on my nerves that advocates are so adamant that it doesn’t/shouldn’t hurt if you’re doing it right. Because it does for a while, even if the latch is fine, at least that was my experience and that of many other women. And it does get better at some point, and then you forget about the toe-curling, teeth-clenching early days. :) Again, congratulations on your beautiful daughter!
She is just gorgeous, and those pictures of her sleeping on you are so sweet.
I remember those raw, blistered, burning nipples so clearly, but I promise it will get better. It took about three weeks for me before they started improving and by 4 weeks I think they were pretty much fine. We hit another sort of rough patch around 3 months, due to introducing a bottle I think, but that sorted itself out with some time and patience too, and then it was smooth sailing. We both enjoyed the connection and closeness of it so much that Austin nursed for almost 3 years (I never planned to do extended breastfeeding – it just happened and it worked for us.)
She is just so cute and precious!!!
My nipples hurt for a month with my first. They hurt so bad I would have to curl my toes and move my feet around to keep from squealing in utter pain! I can totally relate to the wanting to rip your boobs off and say, HERE TAKE THEM!! But after the first 4 weeks, it’s smooth sailing!
Have you had a lactation consultant check her latch? Just make sure it’s right just in case it will relieve some pain?
These pictures are THE best. You both look so utterly content and she is adorably sweet.
Does lanolin ointment (I used Lansinoh) help at all?
And, I agree with Kristina that having the latch checked is a good idea because when almost the entire areola is in her mouth (vs the nipple or nipple/partial areola) you will likely feel much better.
When I was really sore, the only thing that gave me relief was Soothies…
http://www.amazon.com/Soothies-Gel-Pads-1-pair/dp/B002KGHUL4
I would put on lanolin for healing and those for comfort. If you put them in the fridge they are even better! You can reuse them multiple times too so don’t throw them out after one use (like my dumbass did the first time).
Oh, and I forgot to say that there are other brands of similar products, but they are crap compared to these!!!
Those are my favorite moments. I don’t get them very often anymore, so they are SO PRECIOUS when I get them. I agree, it’s the best way to spend your day.
I’m glad things are getting a little easier for you. Nursing is a rocky road, so I’m glad you’re not blistered anymore (Erin never stopped blistering me for 6 months, but I think that she lost her latch after the first few minutes of nursing and I didn’t know enough to realize it). It’ll get better. Totally hear you on wanting to take your boobs off for a bit though!
And I use lanolin for everything, lol. It’s really great for diaper rashes too!
OMG she is just perfect. Need I say more? :)
Yes, BF effing hurts, it’s true. Try drinking a huge glass of ice water through a straw while she latches/cluster feeds/whenever she nurses. That helped my mind concentrate on the numbing cold in my mouth, and not the burning fire on my chest. And Lanolin immediately following a feeding (that also helps with the assaulting shower spray!)
Hang in there. 6 weeks seemed to be the turning point for me & my bleeding, cracked, and oh-so-sore nipples.
You’re doing a great job, Mama!
Yep those are the best moments of just laying there with her on your chest while she sleeps! It didnt last long for me and I really miss it. After she got big enough she doesnt sleep with us and barely wont even cuddle with us to much. She has to much to do. I miss those baby moments so bad! Enjoy them as much as you can!
I know everyone keeps saying it, but she is just so beautiful!
First off I have to say your daughter is beautiful!!! I love sleeping baby pictures so very much (I may have a few hundred or so of my girls lol)
After nursing do you try expressing extra milk and rubbing it on your nipples? Just wondered as I can’t recall if you had mentioned that? But I found it helped when I nursed.
she is just so beautiful – beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!!!
She’s so wonderful! Congratulations again. Makes me wish I could have another.
On the breastfeeding: more of the same; I know that everyone’s been saying the same thing, so I’ll throw in my 2 cents. It is excruciatingly painful, for a while, as you’ve learned. But truly, truly, it gets better. So much better. My son is now 13 months old, and still nurses several times a day, and the ONLY time it’s painful now is if he’s nursing while asleep and loses his latch. (Also, N.B. on teething, though you won’t need to know this for a few months: It’s not nearly as bad as some people make it out to be! He bit me for one day. Every time, I tried to keep the hiss of pain quiet, unlatched him, said no, and let him re-latch. If he did it a second time, no nursing for 5 minutes. After an experimental nip during 3 or 4 feedings, he got the point, and never bit me again.)
She is too cute!!!! She looks so big too….what does she weigh? You can tell she is going to have quite a personality….love those little faces.
Plain yogurt on my nipples was also soothing…sometimes yeast or thrush develops and that can cause severe pain (I had it and owwch!!!!). Have you spoken to a lactation consultant? Maybe they can help…sorry you are in so much pain. But isn’t it soooo worth it?!!! Kate is a beauty! Best to all of you.
OH my word!!! She is just so perfect and beautiful!