Happy 1 Month Miss Kyria!
Kyria turned one month old this past week! I can't believe it's been four weeks already! Wow! I've gotta soak up all of these moments, because they are already going by way too fast!
Now, we weren't planning to take pictures again until 3 months, but we are incredibly blessed to have my talented friend, Areke Worku as a photographer! She just lives about 5 minutes away and can come take pictures of Kyria just about whenever we want her! What a sweet friend! (Not only is she sweet, but this girl is talented! If you live in the Joplin, Missouri area you should definitely contact her for all your photography needs! She is just started out, and her prices are way too cheap! Take advantage while you can!)
So it's been one month. I thought I would write out a list of things that have been different than I anticipated! Here is goes:
1) Labor and contractions were not as bad as I expected.
2) Transition was longer than I anticipated.
3) Holy Cow! (only in India) (jk) pushing did not feel "good"!
4) I am so thankful to my doctor for giving me an episiotomy! Who knew?!
5) Recovery has been much better than I imagined! No excessive bleeding or painful constipation like I was told.
6) Breastfeeding hasn't been as difficult, nor was it as painful as everyone told me it would be at first (including when my milk came in). Plus I don't wake up drenched with leakage either! I am very proud of Kyria for being such a great eater!
7) I didn't realize how quickly I'd lose 20 lbs! Seriously! When I came home I had lost 10lbs. In two days I lost ten more!
8) That being said, I really thought I would be able to fit into my regular jeans and clothes after a month! Still have 8-10 lbs to go before I am back to pre-pregnancy weight. I really think this is worse than being pregnant! I have fewer clothes to choose from than ever!
9) Kyria doesn't cry near as much as I thought she would.
10) Kyria spits up a little more than I thought she would. I didn't think getting her to burp would be as difficult as it is sometimes.
11) Wow! I didn't realize she would be able to hold her head up so soon!
12) I didn't anticipate her tummy having such trouble digesting. She sometimes stays up from one feeding to the next because her tummy is working on something, or fighting gas.
13) I was nervous about getting Kyria in the carseat and traveling by myself (Skyler came with me a lot at first). Now I like getting out and about with my little girl.
14) I didn't know how she'd handle getting her pictures taken! She's such a little model! Perfectly photogenic, and no crying whatsoever!
15) I kept putting off using the pump because I wasn't sure what I was doing . . . it's a breeze, no big deal! We still haven't given her a bottle, but there is breastmilk in the freezer just in case.
16) Judging by where we put her pack-in-play/bassinet, I didn't think we'd be moving it into our room on the first night home! (It's still at the foot of our bed!)
17) I was told my relationship with Skyler would change, and that I would be all about the baby with little to no sex drive. Not true. I adore this man, and seeing him love on our little girl makes me that much more attracted to him! I am anxiously awaiting the green light from my doctor! ;)
18) I wasn't sure how I would be at all this momma stuff, and I was nervous about so many little things! Like anything, though, when the practice is part of your daily life it becomes much more comfortable and easy. God created us for this, and He gives us just the grace we need to conquer every moment.
19) I never thought I would miss her so much! Anytime I am gone for even just a few minutes, I can't wait to get back home with my baby and cuddle with her!
20) Many people say a baby will "be a drain on your life", some even say "suck the life right out of you" . . . no, no, no - giving everything I have, falling asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, being willing to sacrifice whatever I need to for the benefit of one of God's children, doing exactly what I was created for . . . this is TRULY LIVING!
I am loving every minute of being a momma! It is better than I could have every dreamed!
I'm so glad that everything is going so well for you. A few of my two cents:
ReplyDeleteYour recovery is probably much easier because you went naturally. My son was a horrible recovery but my daughter who I had with no epidural was no biggie! I was up and moving the next day!
I read something the other day that said that during crowing you will experience a "burning or stinging sensation". Ahem. I would compare it more closely to "You will feel like you are splitting in two, and just when you are sure you can't handle it any more, your baby is there and it is suddenly all worth it".
I would also really recommend introducing a bottle soon. They say the magic number is 3 weeks because it is late enough that it shouldn't cause nipple confusion but early enough that they shouldn't reject it. You definitely want to have the option of getting away every once in awhile, and I know my husband really enjoyed bottlefeeding (and it gave me a bit of a break!)!
Congrats again and she is just precious!
Good list! It's really good to hear the good side of being a new mom. There is so much chatter about the messes and lost sleep etc etc, sometimes you wonder why people keep making babies! ;) haha It's really good to keep the perspective that its what we are made for.
ReplyDelete*She is so beautiful! Seriously. And I am a complete outsider with no bias at all and I STILL think she is a gorgeous baby!
ReplyDelete*I told you that baby weight would fall right off! :)
*I am so glad that breastfeeding has been a breeze. Some people really struggle with it and it makes me sad for them. Addie was a vicious nurser so when I started nursing it was painful but it only lasted a week and after that it was fine. I never had any problems with the other two. Proudly nursed all three for over a year (Jack for the longest at 16 mo)
*Ha! I was probably the one who told you it felt good to finally be able to push because for me, it really was a relief, but of course the longest I had to push for was 8 minutes so that might explain it. ;)
*Random tidbit of information: Jack was the only one of my babies to drink from a bottle and he only did so for his first few feedings in the NICU. The nurse actually told me that nipple confusion is just something that people use as an excuse when they don't want to nurse. While I don't really believe that, Jack never struggled with breastfeeding even though he was exposed to bottle feeding first so I think you are probably ok not introducing a bottle. I introduced a sippy cup between 4-6 months old and they all did really well with it.
*And finally, I am so happy Kyria is such a good baby and you are loving motherhood so much. We will have to get together real soon so I can snuggle with your little princess. I miss the baby stage!
Yeah, I don't really understand that about the nipple confusion that the nurse told you. I was worried about nipple confusion and I wanted to breastfeed more than anything, which is why I waited to introduce it! I think how much a bottle early on effects them really depends on the baby, because I know some moms that use them a lot at first and end up nursing successfully. Delaney was also a vicious nurser (ouch!) but when the nurse gave her pacifier I noticed that her nursing got lazier (and I actually noticed this before I found out she had a pacifier).
DeleteWith Jameson and Delaney I had to introduce a bottle since I would be returning to work. Even though I'll be staying at home with this one, I plan to introduce a bottle with this baby as well since I want the option to go on date nights with Shaun or have a mommy's night out every once in awhile. Shaun also really enjoyed when he got to bottle feed (especially at first) so I felt like it was no big deal to introduce a bottle and I was glad I did it. My babies nursed very well with me and took a bottle well when they weren't with me, so I was very glad I did it. I guess it depends on the mom, but I just know that I needed those "mommy nights" or date nights occasionally and I didn't want to be stressed about getting back before the next feeding session.
So really, Megan, it is up to you depending on what your preferences are. I just know other moms who have waited past that 3 weeks to introduce a bottle and ended up struggling with it, so I just didn't want you to wait to long if you do want to introduce a bottle! If you are comfortable not introducing a bottle then it is certainly not a requirement! I guess I just assumed that you were planning on introducing it eventually and didn't know if you knew about that 3 week mark and wanted to give you a heads up! :)