Month: October 2015

Routines and everything in between

Lately it has dawned on me that every child has a different “normal”. Whether it be their routine, their milestones or their weight. I realise this isn’t new information but as first time mother, I think it is something each mother does work out in their own time.

My daughter is nearly 4 months old and has only just began to giggle, is not interested in rolling over and absolutely hates tummy time. She has ample free time on the floor and we have modified tummy time to best suit her. She feeds roughly every three hours during the day but will go 10 hours overnight without a feed. She loves to sit up (with help) and is always trying to stand up on our legs and tummy.

Her nap time in the morning, resembles a cat nap and lasts at most half hour, but in the afternoon she will sleep three hours or more. Her bed time is 8.30 and she goes straight to sleep, at nap time she fights us like nobodies business.

Rhemy is going in 00 clothing and is exclusively bottle fed, after being breastfed for the first three months. A decision we made, based on what was best for her. She is a happy baby, who only cries when hungry or tired. Squeals when things don’t go her way and smiles like crazy when they do.

For the first couple of months of her life, I fretted over her getting into a routine, I fretted that she wasn’t meeting milestones at the “correct” time or that her feeds weren’t spaced enough or were too far apart. As time has gone by, I realised she has found her own routine, she is progressing and growing every day at her pace and she eats when she is hungry (and gaining weight rapidly!). She is happy and loved, she is clothed and taken care of, everything I want for my beautiful baby girl.

I realise now every baby’s needs vary, some need routine from day one and others work theirs out as they go. Some babies are breastfed exclusively and others are fed from a bottle. Some babies reach milestones extremely early and others extremely late, and thats okay.

So I ask you what’s your baby’s routine?

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My Caesarean experience

Before I had Rhemy I decided to do research on what a caesarean meant for me and what would actually happen in the theatre. After about an hour of reading I had seen too much! I had read things I didn’t want to know and seen photos that I couldn’t unsee! I certainly didn’t feel more knowledgeable on the things I wanted to know most.

What I wanted to know was how it would feel when I was numb and during the actual procedure – completely strange and like nothing that anyone could ever explain, maybe that’s why I couldn’t find anyone who had tried. There was pulling and pressure when they were getting Rhemy out and to be honest after she was born I don’t even remember feeling anything else. I was too smitten with my newborn. I was told I would get to see Sean cut the cord and the doctors checking her out but I couldn’t. We did however have an amazing nurse who took photos and video for me and showed me while I was on the table waiting for Rhemy to be brought to me. Once she was on my chest looking into my eyes the rest of the procedure flew by and I was back in recovery before I knew it.

Which brings me to the next thing I was dying to know when I began my research. The recovery and pain! The rest of that first day was pretty good. I was still numb but beginning to get feeling back, and thankfully felt absolutely no pain. I did vomit for most of the afternoon and evening, probably from the anaesthetic or pain relief or more than likely – a mix of both.

Then day two happened… I woke up feeling great and hanging to have a shower, I couldn’t wait for the nurse to come and get me and to get out of the bed! That’s when I felt all the pain it was excruciating and horrible but necessary as it meant I had commenced the most crucial part of my recovery (moving around) even if I was sure my mum was going to have to brush my hair for the rest of my life haha. After my shower I spent the rest of the afternoon sitting in my chair chatting to family and enjoying my beautiful newborn.

I spent a total of 3 days in hospital and 2 in the Rendezvous as part of the Baby Bliss program Ashford Hospital offers. It was lovely to have that time with Sean and know that midwife was available around the clock to help me whenever necessary. Rhemy was such a good baby and not a hassle to feed so I didn’t need to call on her once but it was nice to know  she was there.

I believe each day I got better, less pain and more movement. 2 weeks after I felt really good except for turning which felt strange and almost unnatural. Now apart from the numbness around my scar I feel normal and have no concerns with having another caesarean.

Lastly I leave you with a small bit of advice, if you are asked if you would like to see your baby as he or she is born say yes! We were not asked, instead the curtain was dropped as it was all happening and it was absolutely amazing! So I say, if you can – go for it!

Until next time

Do we rely on google?

I was lying in bed the other night and I was thinking about all the milestones baby Rhemy is yet to reach and when she would reach them. Needing to know the answers straight away, I found myself googling the answers from my phone.

Now, you may be thinking – so what I google all the time and I am exactly the same, however this time it was 3am in the morning and I just fed my baby. I should have been catching up on all the sleep I could get!

While the Internet is helpful and convenient and not something I intend to give up any time soon, it occurred to me, I am reliant on googling! Anything I need to know about the baby, I ask the web! The issue with this is most of the time you find yourself reading multiple articles on the same thing because everyone has a different opinion! Next thing you know, it’s two hours later what you first began googling is long gone and you’re not sure how you’ve come this far!

Googling is so impersonal and the information you find is not always accurate. To be honest I much prefer advice (when asked for, of course) from friends and family. However time and time again i find myself asking Google all I desire to know.

So I ask you, do you rely on Google?

Until next time,

B xx