Sunday, August 18, 2013

A post-partem update: 5 weeks

I thought I'd do another update post sort of following the same format as my weekly pregnancy posts.  They say the first 3 months with a new baby is really the "forth trimester" so I thought I'd do just a couple more of these updates.

How far along?  5 weeks post-partem
Maternity clothes?  Yes and no.  I lost 20 pounds within the first week after having Megatron.  Most of the remaining weight seems to be in my lower belly and my chest.  Without going into too much detail, I had hoped there would be an advantage to the "girls" in that I would end up being the Dairy Queen.  And for the most part that has become a reality.  The downside to that is dressing my new shape.  The majority of my maternity shirts are too large in the torso yet too small in the chest.  Only a couple of my pre-pregnancy tops fit.  I'm still wearing maternity shorts/capris but they are too big.  But my pre-pregnancy shorts are too small in the hips.  I've been able to wear some lounge-wear and some workout gear which is great around the house but not so much when its time to venture out.  I lucked out and Target was having a sale. . . an additional 20% off all clearance clothing.  I picked up a couple tops one size larger than my usual size which was just enough extra room in the chest.
Have you started to show?  Depending on what I'm wearing, I don't think I look pregnant anymore.  Knowing what I looked like before though, I'd say I have about a 3-months pregnant look to my mid-section. 
Symptoms:  Well, the evil things like heartburn, hip and back pain have gone away!  Almost all of the symptoms from the HELLP syndrome have also gone away.  My blood pressure is back to my normal 110/75 range and no more chest pain!  I was slightly anemic when I left the hospital so I'm still on an iron supplement to help remedy that.  I go this week for a follow up on that.  My body is still figuring out post-partem life though.  There is still some unpleasantness that I won't get into on the internet.  If you've had a baby that wasn't born via c-section, then you know what I'm talking about.
Activity:  Does feeding a baby every 2-3 hours, pumping breast milk every 3 hours around the clock (more on that later) count as activity?  If so, then I'm really active!   I've really started to feel better in the last week so I've been moving around a lot more.  There was the walk the other night and I hope to slowly keep at it so I can try to get back into a decent workout routine.  I've also got a post-partem mom and baby workout DVD that I'm just waiting on the OK from my doctor to try out.
Best moment this week:  Watching "Happiest Baby on the Block" and realizing the tips for soothing a crying baby really do work.  There was also some nursing success!  Since Megatron was early, he wasn't ready to latch on consistently.  He's figuring that part out but now the challenge is his endurance...or lack there of.  He takes a bottle like a champ but the extra work required on his part to nurse leaves him sleepy.  He's too dang small to just let him work at it.  He needs to eat.  So that means nearly every 3 hours for the last 5 weeks I have been pumping in order to meet his demands.  It's exhausting, but we met with a lactation consultant who worked with us and helped us come up with a game plan.  So far its working!  Megatron is now nursing every 2-3 feedings and taking a bottle of the milk I pumped for his other feedings. 
Miss anything/movement:  I'm combining these because I miss the movement.  I didn't think I would but I do miss some of those little flutters.  I certainly don't miss the jabs to my bladder or rib cage but it is a bit surreal to watch Megatron kick and twitch on the outside now.  When I'm cradling him in my arms and a hand or foot twitches, it is as if I am watching the movements I felt from the inside for so many months.  It's so surreal!
Food cravings:  While I'm not quite as hungry as I was in that third trimester, I'm much more hungry than I was pre-pregnancy.  Nursing works up an appetite!  I'm also not picky at all.  I told The Pilot that I feel like I can be easily influenced.  I can see a commercial for some food item and then will want it.  He can suggest something for dinner and then I'll suddenly want that.  I will say the best food has been the food that others have brought for us!  Some homemade, some takeout, it doesn't matter.  People bringing food is probably one of the most helpful things in these first couple weeks (second only to my parents coming over so The Pilot and I can take a nap!).
Gender:  I had this slight fear we'd plan for a boy and then be surprised if a girl actually came out...but Megatron is in deed a boy.  :)  Most definitely a boy as both The Pilot and I have been peed on already.
Looking forward to:  Surviving the first 3 months.  Everyone tells us the first couple months are the most difficult.  I'm holding out hope that it will indeed get easier.  I'm also looking forward to being able to sleep for more than 3 hours at a time.
Not looking forward to:  As if Megatron's arrival wasn't stressful and scary enough, little man has had a few complications.  Most likely from his early arrival but he has jaundice that just won't seem to go away.  We have more testing at the local Children's Hospital and then will have to wait for the results.  I'm not looking forward to any of it!
Milestones:  All three of us survived the first month!  That's all I can ask for!  :)

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