04.30.13

We had Bram's weight check follow up today and the little beefcake gained 7 ounces in the past 4 days!!!  He's officially over birth weight (which was 6lbs 12oz), currently at 6lbs 15oz!!

We don't have to go back until 2 months when he'll start getting shots. Now we just need him to grow into his clothes! WOO HOO!!!!

I'm probably going to jinx myself but this little guy is amazing.. so different than Liliana! He's a little lover.. snuggler.. no spitting.. no colic.. awesome eater.. I remember going through some PRETTY rough days with Li so I'm completely counting my blessings with him being so different!!

I'm supplementing with BM.. I'll feed him each side for about 15-20 minutes and add in about 1 - 1.5 oz of pumped BM to "top off" his tummy.

04.26.13

So we're 2 weeks and 2 days old today.. Here's the stats..

4/10 (Wed - Birth day) he was 6.12
4/16 (Tuesday - Home appt) he was 6.02
4/17 (Wednesday - Pedi office) he was 6.02
4/24 (Wednesday - Pedi office) - he was 6.06

4/26 (Today) - he was 6.08

We're up 2 ounces!  That's an ounce a day which they seem to be pretty ok with! We do go back on Tuesday for another weight check.. he's still below birth weight and they want him back there sooner than later.

At the suggestion of the nurse practitioner, DH and I went and bought him some new caps, gloves and socks. She said he burns calories when he has to fight to stay warm so we're going to try to cover as much as possible to keep him from fighting to stay warm.

On a side note, he's only in the 5th percentile in weight. (COMPLETELY opposite from DD who was always in the 75th percentile range for the first year!  She was a chunker!) That is great that he is gaining!! Just remember he was a bit early, might take a little bit for him to catch up!

That's what they keep saying in the office.. "He was a late term preemie so it's gonna take him some time and a little bit of effort to get back to his birth weight." They say that every time, no matter who we see! lol..

04.24.13

So today Bram had his 2 week follow up appointment - he's only gained 4 oz in the past week. Dr isn't happy and wants him back on Friday for another weight check and wants to see him up at least 3-4 oz. Um.. in 2 days??  Is that possible??

I did get a chance to work with one of the office lactation specialists for over an hour and I think she gave me some really good tips on getting my milk to come down more. Basically right now Mr. B is exerting too many calories getting the milk to come down and by the time "let down" occurs, he's too tired to eat. She sent me home with a starter "nutrition kit" from Enfamil but she said we could use the BM I have stored in the freezer if we wanted to.

It's killing me to not do 100% breast but he just isn't strong enough right now. She said once he's back up to birth weight, she thinks he may be able to go 100% breast without syringe supplement. Poor little dude. His billy count was down to 9.something - VERY happy with that!

So weight wise, here’s where he stands -
4/10 (Wed - Birth day) he was 6.12
4/16 (Tuesday - Home appt) he was 6.02
4/17 (Wednesday - Pedi office) he was 6.02
4/24 (Today) - he was 6.06

They want him back to 6.12 by this Friday, 4/26.

They weighed him after I fed him 10 min on each side and was 6.08 so he got 2oz of BM which the LC said was pretty good!

I'm supposed to feed him then pump 1 hour after he's done and then feed him one hour after I'm done pumping - and do that repetitively through the day and let him go 3-4 hours at night.

Tonight I fed him about 10 min on each side and pumped but he wanted back on the breast about 20 minutes after I pumped so I let him but he ended up eating all 2 oz I had just pumped as him supplement, post breast.

I've just re-read all I wrote and maybe I'm tired but it's sounding all jumbled lol.. I *know* what I mean to say.. hope it's coming out right.  Yup, I have a newborn, alright.

The crap part of my day was when I had to go into the work office to have some insurance papers sent off and my boss said "Let's see the little rat. "

My son is NOT a rat.  I hate that man.. I really, really don't like him. :(

04.22.13

I can't believe my little man is 12 days old already! Updates on us.. He was born at 6lb 12 oz and dipped to 6lb 2oz. His billy level was pretty high at birth but at 1 week old, his risk level shifted down to the 75th percentile. I'm trying to feed him like crazy to get it out - we'll know how well it's working when we go back on Wednesday for another jaundice follow up. He's looking better, I think!

Nursing like a little champ - I'm concerned about my milk supply being enough, though. He's gone to eating every 30-60 minutes where as just a week ago was going 3-4 hours in between feedings. I was able for him to eat AND pump for storage but now I'm scared he's not eating enough. I'll mention it to the doc on Wed.

His cord and circumcision thingy fell off within a day of each other so he's been given full on baths already which is a good thing cuz he's a little pooping machine!! Sometimes only a bath will get this stuff off lol.. Thank goodness, he's pretty ok with the bath thing. Although when it comes to washing his hair, he's in love with the water fall from my bath faucet.

Here's some pics from the past week or so..

04.15.13

Some new pics!

04.10.13- HE'S HERE!!!!!!!!!

From my Birth Board this morning -

Ok so.. May be a mega TMI but what else am I good for.

Woke up at 330 this morning, went pee, laid back down and couldn't go to sleep again.

Sat up to prop the pillows to play on the computer and felt liquid slide out of the privates. Not thinking much (pee maybe?) I got up and changed the towel that I have on the bed.

5am I get in the tub to watch TV for a bit and am out at 6am.

610am I'm brushing my teeth and can not keep liquid from rolling down my leg. Pee again? Discharge? Water?

I get my undies and put a pad on.

From 615 - time to leave around 650, I go through 2 pads.

The liquid feeling can only be described as what it feels like when your period blood flows out of you. That "running out of my vagina - dear God I hope my pad is centered so my undies aren't blood red!" feeling.

Got to work at 730 and had to change my pad again. It wasn't full but definitely wet and I don't want wet just sitting up against me ( blush )

It's now about 1 hour later and this pad is still ok to wear although the "period blood flowing" feeling has hit a couple of times.

My question - do you think baby boy is just seriously having fun with my bladder or should I call the dr?

So I called the Dr's office and based on that conversation at 10:30, decided it would be best if I went in to get checked. I told my boss that I fully expected to be back but that it was at the recommendation of the Dr's office to get things looked at.

Once at the birthing center, they did a check and it came back positive for ruptured waters. I asked the nurse "So now what?" She said.. "We're going to have a baby today!"

SHOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I called my mom and DH and let them both know it was baby day!  By 12:30 they both had arrived and we just waited for things to start progressing on their own. My initial check I was dilated to 2 and thick - an hour later, I was a 4 and 50% effaced. That never changed until they started Pitocin.

I decided on an epidural this time, just to be safe in the pain department  - both the epi and Pit were in full swing by 3:30 pm. 

By 5 pm, I was feeling contractions get stronger.. still dilated to 4 but 90% effaced (which I'm told effacement is more important than dilation). By 5:30, they were painful. By 6pm, they were unbearable so they checked and I was ready to push!

Bram Alexander was born at 6:12 pm on 4/10/13 weighing in at 6lbs, 12 ozs and even though officially classified as a preemie, he's absolutely perfect in every way! 

I wish there were some excitement to my little man's story but everything went as smooth and "expected" as can be for birthing a baby! lol..

Here's a couple pictures that got captured on my phone.. we have more on the camera which I can post when I get a few more minutes.

04.07.13

So I've been having some today.. nothing worth a dang though  But I do have to say that I know they are coming because they start as a hot flash. That hot flash doesn't go away until the contraction is over..

Can't say I've ever experienced this before.. anyone else ever dealt with the hot flash stuff before?? 

ME: More contractions today... wonder if they are doing anything. I'll find out Friday!

HUBBY:  We shall see. I'm anxious for your pain and suffering to end... and for our son to come into the real world. :)

ME: That's one of the sweetest things you've said in a while.. thank you so much for that. :) Sometimes I feel so alone.. like it's never going to end but I know it's literally just days away.. and it will be worth EVERYTHING.. the heartburn, tinkles every hour.. insomnia (which that won't end for another almost 2 years lol)

He'll be here before we know it. We'll be parents to two kids.. and you'll have your first natural born child!!  How crazy is that!?!?! Almost 44 years.. but he's coming! :)

HUBBY:

It's an amazing feeling. I know I don't show it (mostly because I don't know how), but I'm really exited to share this with you, baby. We already have so much, and this will be the icing on the cake.

He has no idea how much I appreciate his words right now...  :)