Camden is one week old today and as much as I am in love, it saddens me that time just never stands still, before I know it my boy will be walking and talking and I feel as though there are never enough hours in the day to record everything or even take mental notes of all that happens in one day.
 |
| Photo courtesy of CapeTownBirthPhotography.com |
I will try and do updates of Camden and how he is progressing as often as I can and I hope to add some post-partum fitness blogs (after my six week check up I am hoping I get the go-ahead to hit the gym, feeling like a junkie who needs their fix) along with posts on what life is like with a baby. I hope you guys have enjoyed following the journey thus far and I hope you will keep on enjoying them as my Lil boy grows up and our family progresses.
Now...where to start?! Be prepared, this first post is going to be a long one. Our first week, 3 days of which we spent in the hospital have been nothing short of amazing. We are SO in love with our boy.
How Big?: 3.890kg and 52cm
Clothing Size: This first week he has been wearing Prem baby grows. Strange...when I looked at these tiny little growers I thought there is no way our big boy would ever fit into them. He has this entire week but to be honest, they were rather tight by the time Cam's first week came to a close.
Eating: Breastfeeding was one of my biggest fears and it kind of grossed me out. The thought that came to mind when I thought of the act, was animalistic. I couldn't ever picture myself doing it. I breastfed in the hospital, no-one was able to assist me in the hospital and I couldn't get him to latch correctly (shame even my amazing birth photographer tried to help me in my drugged up state). The experience was the worst, so filled with anxiety as I wasn't sure if I was doing it right, was he getting enough to eat, why was it so painful...and then...he ripped the top of my right nipple off. I carried on breastfeeding even though the anxiety set in every time I looked at the clock and saw that feeding time was nearing. I would literally curl my toes over the end of the hospital bed and moan from the pain while tears escaped my eyes every four hours - torture. I still carried on because I wanted to at least try, so I sucked up the pain. On the Monday after we returned home from the hospital I went to see a nursing sister who showed me how to latch Cam correctly and it was pain free. We decided that I would give this another go and I went home and that night, burst into tears when I was not able to get him to latch and that same anxious feeling set in as he started to cry. I decided to start expressing my milk instead, my thought process was that even though he may be feeding from a bottle at least he would be having my breast milk, I would get to save what was left of my poor nipples and if I was doing this I wouldn't be such a bad mom after all, right?
To cut this LONG story short. I expressed for 45 minutes at a time to get 20ml of milk. I had milk coming out of one duct on each breast and then it dawned on me as to why the paediatrician had told me my son had Jaundice and it was likely due to him being dehydrated by me...well the mother of the year award goes to me...yes I know this isn't my fault but I felt terrible, I felt like a complete failure. I decided to dry up the little bit of milk I did have and put my boy on formula...Happy Baby, Happy Mommy!
He eats roughly every 3 to 4 hours. After I left the hospital, I decided to let him sleep and wake himself up when he was hungry. I decided to do what worked best for my boy and I and not listen to what everyone else told me I MUST do. Being in hospital for 3 days caused me so much stress...I hated every minute of being in hospital.
I record his feeds, diaper changes, sleep times etc on an app that my friend told me to get...Baby Connect, best thing I ever did as I kept forgetting when last I had fed the poor guy - mommy brain! Anyways I am getting a bit off the "eating" topic here.
Sleep: This first week he has slept like the dead, especially the first few days in the hospital...by Friday he was wide awake, more awake than any newborn I have met. He sleeps in his bassinet in our room for roughly 2-3 hours at a time and everyone tells you to nap when he naps...how does a person who struggles with sleep, do this...I can't nap so I am exhausted to say the least.
Movement: Camden is all about his hands, they never stop moving lol like a little raver. I don't think he likes to have his hands swaddled as he tends to perform if I swaddle them, so I try leave them out for him to "self soothe". He is such a strong little boy. He pulls his head and neck up if you hold his hands and boy does he have powerful little legs! Like our photographer said..." This boy will be running by next week, not crawling" lol
Milestones: A lot of milestones this week. First time peeing in the Gynae's face as she took him out of my stomach,first time in the car, first time at the shops,first time at mommy's work, first time pooping in granny's hand ( hahaha yes that happened). His umbilical cord also fell off on day 5..this was rather gross. This first week has been a HUGE learning curve for everyone. Having a baby is amazing but it is hard work...don't let anyone ever tell you this is easy...unless they are superwoman...they are lieing.
Excitement this week: HAVING A BABY! BECOMING A FAMILY! Ok besides that, we had two newborn sessions, one on Wednesday, which was a favour to us and one on Friday.
 |
| A behind the scenes shot of Wednesdays newborn shoot |
 |
| Are you as in love as I am...I don't blame you. |
We have some sort of schedule that we are trying to work with but nothing set in stone. I think once all the visitors die down ( we have had a house full of visitors every day) and things settle we will all start feeling a little more comfy with each other and things will start to come together.
I know some of you have been asking how I am doing, well here goes.
One week post-partum: During my entire pregnancy I gained a whopping 21kg. I had hoped I would be one of those skinny biatches who would only gain 12kg...no such luck. I ate healthy in the week and weekends I would allow myself to eat what I liked. Exercise after week 20 was a no go for me, the aches and pains I experienced during pregnancy due to my pubic bone was NO joke, it literally brought me to tears OFTEN and my fingers didn't function properly due to swelling and pressure from Carpal tunnel syndrome...they still aren't ok and I struggle to pick Camden up during the night as my hands and fingers just do not function. I have been told by my six week check up that they should be back to normal but if they aren't I may need to go and see a neurosurgeon..really?!
Anyway, this first week even after having a baby, I only lost 4kg. My entire body swelled up after I had Camden, I was looking at my ankles and thinking I was looking at someone elses ankles. It was so weird. I had, had hardly any swelling during my pregnancy yet the minute he was born..BAM the swelling set in and BIG TIME!
I have been told I may not drive, I may not exercise either. This is rather frustrating for me. I hate having to rely on people to take me places and I just want to get into the gym!
Besides all of this, considering I had a baby 7 days ago, I am feeling pretty good. Every day I feel better and I think I look a little better, the day I gave birth I still looked seven months pregnant.
Emotionally I feel good, yes I cry for no reason at random times in the day but I am not depressed at all and I have gotten the reaction from most people that they cant believe I just gave birth.
Physically, things are a little tougher due to having a c-section, a lot of what I wanted to do in the first few weeks of being a mom has now been put on hold. I am going to take a lot longer to heal than I had hoped but that is ok...there is an up side to all of this...I get to sleep on my back..after nine long months, sleeping on my back has never felt so good AND the day after I gave birth...my pubic bone pain just vanished!
I am taking these few weeks while I am healing to cherish every moment I can with Camden as I know this time is just going to fly by and I don't want to miss a thing.
Life has definitely changed but for the better. I could not imagine my life any other way...without Wayne and Camden...life would have no meaning.
 |
