Progress

I love Moxie yes I do, I love Moxie how 'bout you? Okay, seriously, Moxie, thank you thank you thank you. Your comments have helped me feel so much better (as have everyone else's--thank you also).

Perhaps I'm not doing such a bad job with this breastfeeding thing--at least not today. Today I called the pediatrician because I was so worried. So they had me come in this afternoon to see the doctor and possibly the lactation nurse. But it turns out I didn't need to see the lactation nurse because my little oinker has gained 6 oz. in the past 5 days!--which the doctor was very happy with. I'm pleased to say Juliana is up to 6 lbs., 1 oz. (now she's above her birth weight) and the doctor declared her 'perfect.'

I asked the doctor about my only being able to feed Juliana 7 times a day as she is so difficult to wake up. She said she was fine with 7 feedings, especially since Juliana is gaining weight just as she should and typically has 8-10 wet diapers and 3 or more poopy diapers a day. So long as there's lot of pee going through her, all should be good. The doctor did say that she'd like me to try to keep Juliana awake so she gets a longer feeding and therefore gets the rich hindmilk that a longer feed entails. I just need to keep the snacker awake long enough to get the good stuff. Sometimes she'll do a good 10, 15, or even 20 minutes so it's not like it's every time. But I know I need to do my best to keep her up--tickling, poking, prodding, rubbing, stripping her to her diaper, etc. But the doctor was okay with her sleeping so much--after all, she said, that's when babies do their growing. And pretty soon I'll be wishing for her to go back to sleeping so much she added.

Last night saw our first marathon feed. From around 10:15 to 11:30 or so, Juliana would eat for 10 or so minutes, take a break, doze a little, then want more. So I sat on the couch in my tres chic maternity bra, flaps open, bottle of water at my side, pillow on my lap and baby off and on the boobs. So now I know what a cluster feed is like, perhaps it is a growth spurt as she's hitting the three week mark this Saturday. We'll see...but for now, I feel better about my abilities. Perhaps I'm not as bad a mom as I thought I was (until my confidence is again shaken, that is).

We go back in 8 days. By then, the doctor would like to see her gain another 7 oz., bringing her to 6 1/2 lbs. Here's hoping we blow by that number :-)