Bath Time
Bath time is a fun time with babies, aint it?
Emma is a bit Jekyll and Hyde with the bath…. she likes getting her head done, enjoys the warm water rinsing her noggin, and a light scalp massage… lol.
But she’s usually not a fan… at all… of the body wash. Generally she wails and fidgets and squirms.
But tonight she was unusually calm… which was great luck, as I’d chosen tonight to have the camera on hand during the procedure.
The results can be seen in the web gallery shown below: (click it)
Today was generally a good day all around. Emma was pretty easy going most of the day. So much so that after Lisa and I (with Emma, of course lol) got done picking up some things at Walmart, we decided to go out for a burger at Red Robins… and Emma slept throughout, allowing us a nice leisurely dinner out.
Basically the only issue we’re having now (other than lack of sleep) is that the breast feeding doesn’t always go all that well. Emma often decides it’s fun to feed and feed and feed, in short 10 minute chunks, for 2 or 3 hours at a time, not being satisfied, which exhausts Lisa, and makes her boobs feel like they’ve been run over by a truck. Those are times when we break out the formula.
Lisa has told me she feels saddened that Emma doesn’t always seem to be satisfied from the breast milk.. we had planned on only using formula occasionally, but have now gone up to about 3 times a day generally.
But I’ve told Lisa it’s nothing to be sad about… she can only do what she can do, and she’s doing great. If there’s something about breast feeding, or the breast milk, that doesn’t always seem to satisfy Emma, so be it. Hopefully it’ll change over time and get a bit easier, but even if it doesn’t… I think it’s great that Emma is feeding on 90% breast milk, and some formula to “top her up” when necessary, when Lisa’s just too exhausted or sore.
There’s nothing wrong with that in my humble opinion… the main thing is that we keep Emma healthy and growing.
Lisa has said a few times that she wants to go to the local breast feeding clinic, which is close to us (walking distance), but hasn’t gone yet. I’m trying to convince her to definitely go one day… if for no other reason than to just get some reassurance that things are fine. Maybe she’ll get some good tips, or some piece of advice that’ll make it a bit easier for her too!
Any of you readers out there, of the mother variety, did you breast feed? If so, how did it go? Did you have any trials and tribulations, or was it smooth sailing?
mothman
I didn’t breast feed any of my boys, but I tried with all them. They didn’t take, and didn’t seem to want my milk, so I can totally empathize with Lisa. Tell her she’s doing fine and go down to the clinic today, or do some research online, maybe she’ll get something to ease her mind.
The photos are adorable, love the hand shot.
Have she been using a pump at all? You can buy one and take out the milk when you want, and then feed Emma later.
Or at least, I believe that’s how it works.
Lisa can get the full amount out when she wants to and then feed Emma from a bottle. It might just be a nipple issue.
Chica, thanks. THe clinic is closed today I think (Sunday) but hopefully she will go Monday.
And thanks re: the photos… I like the hand shot too.
Matt: Yeah, we bought a manual pump and Lisa uses it once or twice a day, so that’s an added bonus, that we can get a feed or two with breast milk from the bottle. The pump doesn’t work extremely well for Lisa though… it’s not bad, but it doesn’t get everything out.
Firstly your photos are beautiful and your darling Emma looks so much like my daughter did when she was a baby. Breast feeding for some babies is not easy. My daughter didn’t take to it that well and it was a struggle, but I persisted and topped her up with formula or breast milk that I had expressed myself (I didn’t have a pump) and she seemed to do okay. My son on the other hand was crazy for breast milk and would suckle away for 15-20 minutes, glug down his share and be on his way. Tell Lisa just to stay calm when she is nursing and maybe only let Emma suckle for 20 minutes at a time as she probably isn’t really getting anything after that, and she may just need to suck. A soother is always a good substitute, if you are into that, some people are not. Emma may be unsatisfied because she wants to suck and not because she is hungry. Just a thought, but it might help. The breast feeding clinic would be a definite help. Good luck – I’m sure things will turn out just fine.
Thanks for the comments and reassurance Kinnigurl.
We’ve talked about a soother… but to this point we don’t use/have one, and for whatever reason, we’re hoping we can get away without using one.
My son took to the breast before we even left the hospital! He apparently thought it was great stuff, and wanted to eat about every hour-and-a-half. All day and all night. (Man, I can relate to that lack of sleep thing!) He was so healthy and grew so fast that we started supplementing with formula to ease the burden on my overworked boobs! Then at 4 months we started him on cereal, and he was just in hog-heaven! Apparently the “solid stuff” was pretty yummy, and he would voice his pleasure at feeding time with this “ummmm, hummmm, ummmm, ymmmm” thing. Hysterical! But by about 5 months, the breast milk didn’t interest him any more, and we were off to the races with various strained vegetables and fruits. Every baby is different…just keep enjoying yours. Love her–that’s all she really needs!
Thanks for that wiregems. Cereal at 4 months, wow!!