Apr 2006
Eating Machine
19/04/06 20:44 |
Permalink
When they say the first few weeks are the hardest,
they aren't kidding. Figuring out when Amelia's
hungry, how much she needs to eat, how much she ate,
how to get her to eat/stop eating, and how to make
time to eat a meal yourself when you're so busy
attending to her takes up a lot of time.
It's frustrating when she's so hungry that she's red in the face and screaming but keeps putting her hands in her mouth instead of getting to the source of food in front of her! There have been tears all around and sleepless nights, but I think we're finally starting to get the hang of it. We can at least recognize her hungry cry now and attend to it quickly instead of looking at each other with wild-eyed desperation and a puzzled look. The baby book that cheerfully advised "Your baby will need to be fed every 2-3 hours and will mostly sleep in between feedings" has been safely placed where it belongs (IN THE TRASH) and we have realized that just like a man, her stomach is the way to her heart and as long as she's full, she's relatively happy. This might mean eating every hour for 6 hours straight or not eating for 5 and trying to put her on any kind of schedule is just insanity at this point. Maybe in a few more weeks, but for now I'm happy to follow her lead and let her be the boss. We are mere servants, oh Princess!
It's frustrating when she's so hungry that she's red in the face and screaming but keeps putting her hands in her mouth instead of getting to the source of food in front of her! There have been tears all around and sleepless nights, but I think we're finally starting to get the hang of it. We can at least recognize her hungry cry now and attend to it quickly instead of looking at each other with wild-eyed desperation and a puzzled look. The baby book that cheerfully advised "Your baby will need to be fed every 2-3 hours and will mostly sleep in between feedings" has been safely placed where it belongs (IN THE TRASH) and we have realized that just like a man, her stomach is the way to her heart and as long as she's full, she's relatively happy. This might mean eating every hour for 6 hours straight or not eating for 5 and trying to put her on any kind of schedule is just insanity at this point. Maybe in a few more weeks, but for now I'm happy to follow her lead and let her be the boss. We are mere servants, oh Princess!
One Week On
10/04/06 21:00 |
Permalink
Well, our beautiful little girl has been with us for
a week now. It has been quite an experience so far,
moments of joy and wonder swiftly followed by
desperation and fatigue. Amelia is trying to figure
out the big, wide world while we try to figure out
what 3 hours of non-stop crying mean!
Paul has become the chief diaper and clothes changer. He's much more patient than I am with getting a squirming baby into a sleepsuit with a dozen snaps and ridiculously small armholes. I, of course, am the caterer, providing all meals and snacks for our young lass. Thank goodness we invested in a good gliding chair with footstool, I spend a LOT of time in it.
Today we took Millie to the osteopath for some cranial work as babies delivered by ventouse (commonly called a 'vacuum' -- the doctors used one to help Amelia out during delivery) sometimes have problems with the bone structure in their heads afterwards, often leading to problems with feeding and sleeping. We weren't sure if she did have any problems but since she can't very well tell us if she did, we thought better safe than sorry. Amazingly, she fell asleep during her treatment and learned how to suck on a pacifier instead of a finger. This was good news for Paul since his pinky finger had been Amelia's chew toy of choice for the last few days.
Tomorrow we have Tim and Ivana coming to see her in the evening and then on Wednesday my fellow American expat friend Jen is coming to meet Amelia and then say goodbye before she heads off on her trip around the world with her husband. We're both embarking on new adventures though. Hers is far away and to distant lands, while mine is right here at home with me.
Paul has become the chief diaper and clothes changer. He's much more patient than I am with getting a squirming baby into a sleepsuit with a dozen snaps and ridiculously small armholes. I, of course, am the caterer, providing all meals and snacks for our young lass. Thank goodness we invested in a good gliding chair with footstool, I spend a LOT of time in it.
Today we took Millie to the osteopath for some cranial work as babies delivered by ventouse (commonly called a 'vacuum' -- the doctors used one to help Amelia out during delivery) sometimes have problems with the bone structure in their heads afterwards, often leading to problems with feeding and sleeping. We weren't sure if she did have any problems but since she can't very well tell us if she did, we thought better safe than sorry. Amazingly, she fell asleep during her treatment and learned how to suck on a pacifier instead of a finger. This was good news for Paul since his pinky finger had been Amelia's chew toy of choice for the last few days.
Tomorrow we have Tim and Ivana coming to see her in the evening and then on Wednesday my fellow American expat friend Jen is coming to meet Amelia and then say goodbye before she heads off on her trip around the world with her husband. We're both embarking on new adventures though. Hers is far away and to distant lands, while mine is right here at home with me.
New Arrival
02/04/06 15:35 |
Permalink
Amelia "Millie" Louise Reed came into the world at
6:31am. We got to the hospital at about 11pm the
night before.
