I can't believe my little wiggle monster has been out of my belly and in this world for nine whole days already. I feel like they've flown by!
Ryker has been off of his IV for two days now, his feeding tube is gone and he is getting all of his food and fluids from his bottles! Yesterday we got to try breastfeeding for the first time and he has a great latch, which was super exciting. The only not exciting part- he thinks my nipple is a pacifier. He'll latch on, suck really well for the first five minutes or so and then instantly fall asleep. As much as I would rather breast feed than pump, it's a pain not being able to know exactly how much he is getting before he knocks out. The doctors want us to have him breastfeed four times a day and then get a bottle of Enfamil Preemie formula for the other four feedings when he comes home. Did I mention that they are planning on sending him home this coming Tuesday?? That was our goal and luckily we should be able to have him home in just a few short days! Short of any apnea or other issues like that he should be completely ready to go! Yesssssssssss.
This picture is my favorite one I think, doesn't he just look like he takes his sleep so seriously? This was right after yesterday's breastfeeding sesh. I wrapped him up and practically sprinted out of the NICU. Vic only gets to visit with us for about an hour, on his lunch break from work. For the record, they've been super chill and offered him all the time we need but we are saving it up for when he his home and family is here and stuff. On the note of running out of the NICU...Vic usually has to drag me out because I'll tuck Ryker in over and over and then get stuck in massive tunnel traffic. Now that I am with him by myself for two hours after Vic leaves I have to run away from his crib the second I can convince myself he's asleep so that I don't leave him in hysterics. Ugh, I just want him home already!!
Pumping is going a little bit better. Of course in true Christina fashion I have an app that allows me to micromanage my pumping and my supply and it has shown that I have steadily increased my supply each day. However, he's getting 45 mL at each meal, and I'm getting about 200 a day, which doesn't quite add up to enough for all of his feedings. I guess the whole formula supplementation will work out, I just hate to have to do it. Oh well.
Did I mention in my last post how absolutely necessary a hands free bra is for pumping? Absolutely life changing. Originally I was super excited about the gel soothie pads too, but then I realized that when you peel that gel stuff off your sore nipple the whole "soothing" aspect is out the window. That and the fact that they are way expensive makes them suck, so...they are no more.
Tomorrow I've got to remember to bring in our car seat so that the NICU nurses can test Ryker in it, I guess they put him in the car seat and have him hang out for an hour or so in it so that they can make sure he'll be good for the ride home. Kinda random, but I'll do whatever they want at this point as long as it gets him home soon. Good thing I got the Chicco Keyfit right? When we were shopping around I felt like it might be a good idea to get the one that was rated best for even the smallest babies and alas, I have a teeny baby. (He's 4 lbs, 10 ounces now!)
On the postpartum fitness note, I'm going out of my mind trying to listen to doctor's orders about not getting back to the gym yet. I've been walking the dogs in the mornings. On Monday I ran a mile, which felt great but my lovely doulas let me know that I was crazy and to stop that so I did my best to chill out the last few days. Today I got on the treadmill with the intention of speed walking/hiking and may have accidentally jogged a half mile or so, whoops! I just miss running so much! I think I am going to sign up for the Great American Mud Run at the end of the month, it will put me at 5 weeks or so post partum and I have full confidence that I will be totally fine. I'm pretty stoked. I ran the GAMR in November with Vic just a few days before I found out I was pregnant with Ryker!
The picture below is from this morning, I plan on doing like a backwards belly pic and track my progress back to where I was in October when I got pregnant!
Nine days Postpartum
You know what is so not cool? All of my tops from pre pregnancy are still too tight, so I've been rocking my maternity tee shirts that don't have any elastic on the side or whatever to try and not look like I have this crazy muffin top. Well, maternity clothes are really good at emphasizing that cute little bump. In the hospital elevator on the way to the NICU, same floor as the Labor and Delivery unit and the OB/GYN, this guy sweetly asks me when I am due to have my baby. EPIC FAIL. I almost burst into crazy tears. He felt really bad, as evident by his mortified face, when I told him I had just had Ryker last week. Motivation to eat a little healthier and walk a little longer? I think so.
Tomorrow is Friday, which is almost the weekend which is so close to Monday which is next to Tuesday which is when I get to bring my baby home!!!!! I've never wished for a Tuesday so much before :)
No comments:
Post a Comment