Monday, January 24, 2011

Baths & Growth Spurts

First of all, it is 3:25 and I have not even looked in a mirror today or brushed my teeth or thought about lunch...and my mom is still here helping! I'm scared for a day alone..

The babies MUST be going through a growth spurt. It has taken since the 8 am feed to get them calm. I'm looking at three swaddled and happy campers - but oh did my mom and I work to get here today! Gone are the days of waking sleepy babies to eat. (Which I am thankful for!) They seem to want to eat every 2 hours if not before that. So we are doing our best to get everyone fed "on demand" (there is no other way - I love a schedule but if I was so hungry it made me scream and violently attack a pacifier I would want fed). So I'm still nursing and in fact, getting to almost the 6th week has been well worth the climb up the hill. My milk is a little better (last night at the 2 am feed I looked down to see milk overflowing from a bottle while pumping - now that is a "pat on the back"). And all except Harper latch on without the nipple shield now. I can't keep up with all they need, and I am, of course, supplementing w/ formula, but it's going well enough to bump my goal to 8 weeks.

In fact, being able to nurse before their baths for a little bit of comfort (for them and maybe for me too..) was worth all the work we've put in. And although baths are seriously a marathon, they are SO worth the sleepy, calm babies you get after. I've moved the baths into our master bath so I can turn a space heater on and shut the doors. We play music and everybody gets forced one on time.. I love that. And I switched to the Mustela foam newborn shampoo and it is awesome! I don't have to take the time to pour out J&J.. it just pumps and it foams on their little head perfectly. And it smells so good! After their baths and bottles they had a very peaceful night..and then the sun came up. And we start all over again! I am thinking it's time we have 2 baths a week instead of one...

Misc pics of feeding & baths through the weeks....


I need another hand!

How big am I? Gracie at 3 weeks

Daddy & Gracie

1st bath at 1 week old

3 week old fuzzy head Gracie after bath

Quinn!

Happy Harper 

7 weeks old in our gowns and caps post nap

Baths make me sleepy...Harper

Smooches for the baby boy
First of all, it is 3:25 and I have not even looked in a mirror today or brushed my teeth or thought about lunch...and my mom is still here helping! I'm scared for a day alone..

The babies MUST be going through a growth spurt. It has taken since the 8 am feed to get them calm. I'm looking at three swaddled and happy campers - but oh did my mom and I work to get here today! Gone are the days of waking sleepy babies to eat. (Which I am thankful for!) They seem to want to eat every 2 hours if not before that. So we are doing our best to get everyone fed "on demand" (there is no other way - I love a schedule but if I was so hungry it made me scream and violently attack a pacifier I would want fed). So I'm still nursing and in fact, getting to almost the 6th week has been well worth the climb up the hill. My milk is a little better (last night at the 2 am feed I looked down to see milk overflowing from a bottle while pumping - now that is a "pat on the back"). And all except Harper latch on without the nipple shield now. I can't keep up with all they need, and I am, of course, supplementing w/ formula, but it's going well enough to bump my goal to 8 weeks.

In fact, being able to nurse before their baths for a little bit of comfort (for them and maybe for me too..) was worth all the work we've put in. And although baths are seriously a marathon, they are SO worth the sleepy, calm babies you get after. I've moved the baths into our master bath so I can turn a space heater on and shut the doors. We play music and everybody gets forced one on time.. I love that. And I switched to the Mustela foam newborn shampoo and it is awesome! I don't have to take the time to pour out J&J.. it just pumps and it foams on their little head perfectly. And it smells so good! After their baths and bottles they had a very peaceful night..and then the sun came up. And we start all over again! I am thinking it's time we have 2 baths a week instead of one...

1 comment:

  1. You are amazing! Keep it up. I would love to come and help for a few hours after your mom leaves. Sign me up for a shift!

    ReplyDelete