Monday, August 18, 2014

First Week with Baby Sage

Hello!


I'm writing on my iPhone with the wonderful baby Sage sleeping on my shoulder having just fed him.  It's just after 4AM and Sage slept for the last two hours!  Considering that I'm breastfeeding every two hours (but on demand really), that short stretch of sleep is much appreciated.


In just an hour from now Sage will officially be one week old.  We've watched him develop a bit in just a week so I can't imagine what a month will bring.


First, I'll chat about how Sage is doing.  He's eating like a champ and sleeping like one too.  He much prefers sleeping on my or my husband's chest or in our arms, so that definitely doesn't mean we're sleeping a ton.  Sage's life basically just consists of eating and sleeping right now, oh, and of course having lots of dirty diapers.  


I kept track of my feeding times (because literally my brain is sometimes so tired I can't remember from one to the next) and he fed 13 times yesterday.  That is almost on the dot every two hours.  His weight was up three ounces at yesterday's doctors appointment.  Just got to keep that up so he gets back to his birth weight of 7 lbs 14 ounces in the next week.


Sage's favorite thing to do is cuddle with mommy or daddy, and his least favorite thing is being changed because he gets cold.  He doesn't appreciate sponge bath time in general, but he seems to like when daddy gently pours warm water over his head (we tilt his head back over a little bucket so it doesn't get in his face) to get the shampoo out.  Also, Sage is beginning to smile.  When he's awake for brief periods of the day, he loves making eye contact with one of us while cuddled in our arms and being talked or sang to.  

Now onto how I'm doing.

I'm sleep deprived and happier than ever.  I have moments of feeling overwhelmed and not really know what I'm doing, but my frustration passes pretty quickly.  My husband is a huge support and our teamwork makes it all possible.  He takes Sage numerous times throughout the day so that I can get sleep for an hour here and there.  I try to get in a quick nap right before nighttime so that I've got an extra boost to get through the night.


We've spent the majority of the week at the hospital so we are just starting to get into a routine at home.  For the first few nights Sage would only sleep in our arms.  Yesterday we were given a Fisher Price Rock n' Play after it was recommended to us due to his reflux, and that has made a big difference in the last twelve hours.  Sage spent chunks of his naptime in it and slept there some of the night while I slept on the couch next to him.  It was a beautiful relief to me that he likes being in it.

Really sleep deprivation is the biggest challenge I'm facing right now and that's 100% to be expected. I've been making a point to eat well and drink lots of water.  I grocery shopped yesterday while my husband watched Sage and stocked up our refrigerator and cupboards like crazy. I spent double what we normally do in a week so we've got plenty of food in the house.  With breastfeeding it's incredibly important to me that I eat well (and lots) for my and Sage's benefit.


I am seriously impressed with how my body is bouncing back. I look down at my stomach and it's hard to believe that just a week ago I was close to 30 pounds heavier.  I've definitely shrunk down a lot but my stomach is still soft.  I'd like to start running again soon, but I don't anticipate getting out there for probably a month or so.  This time right now is all about resting in with Sage.


I think that just about sums up the last week. Let me know if there are things in particular that you'd like me to share on the blog, whether it's about Sage or my experience as a new mom.

Have a great Monday!

4 comments:

  1. Congrats, again! Glad you're both home and doing well :)

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  2. Sage is adorable! Great to hear you & your husband are making such a great team - as if I thought anything different would be happening :)

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  3. Congratulations! He's beautiful!! :) Good luck with the first few weeks--you're doing great! :)

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  4. Congrats!! I love birth stories and everything birth related right now (36 weeks myself) so I must not cry!

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