RELIEF!

About 2 weeks after John was born- I was feeling "dolled up" because it was the first time I put any kind of make up on since giving birth LOL.

This past week has been quite difficult in terms of being a mom. I noticed that John started spitting up more than normal and then the quantity started to increase as well. I figured that I just wasn't burping him enough or well enough. He can kind of be difficult sometimes. But then he started to make gagging sounds when he was sleeping so I'd of course pick him up and pat him on the back and then just a large amount of spit up would follow and he'd scream. This isn't normal. Most babies feel better after they burp and spit up. So I did some research and felt like he had acid reflux so I got him into the doctor and sure enough that's what he has. He's now on Prevacid for the next month or so and that usually clears it up. If not he'll go on it until he can sit up on his own.

Well, I thought that would fix our problems. Evidently not. He had a very difficult time nursing. It was such a struggle every time. He'd lay there in my arms and cry and squirm... pulling and tugging (ouch!). I was getting at the end of my rope. I was in tears almost every time feeding time came around, which was about every hour and half because he'd only eat for a little bit at a time before falling asleep. I started to really hate breast feeding and was seriously thinking about getting formula. So I figured it was time to go to the breast feeding clinic. I hadn't been since he was 4 days old so I figured maybe their habits change as they grow.

I am SO thankful I went! The nurse was so great and so helpful in showing me many positions that would make feeding time successful since he has acid reflux. She also had me use this nursing pillow called the boston billow. It is so much easier to use than a Boppy or The Brest Friend. The boppy is too rigid and too rounded for breast feeding and The Brest Friend is too flat for him since he has reflux and it gets really hot since it straps on all the way around you and is made of a heavy foam and the cover is minky feeling. So I ended up buying a Boston Billow & it has made a world of difference. He's like a whole new baby now! There's no more crying, squirming, or frustration on my part. He even unlatches himself now when hes done instead of just falling asleep and staying latched. YAY! Oh the things women get excited about once we become mothers lol :)

http://www.bostonbillows.com/ 

The past two nights I've been working on getting him to sleep in his crib. After Nathan left to go back to Germany when John was a week old, I was so distraught one night because I could not get John to settle down. I had tried everything I could think of. So, I laid him down on the center of the bed so I could use the restroom as a breather and as soon as I laid him down he stopped crying and fell asleep. Now, I NEVER wanted to co-sleep. But, at this time of desperation I just didn't care. If that's what comforted him, then so be it. Well, I decided that he's getting bigger and it's only going to be harder to get him to sleep on his own. The first night was absolutely terrible. I got up 31 times to calm him down. Yes, that's right 31. I thought I was going to go insane! I gave up and put him in bed with me at 5:30am. (We had gone to bed at 10pm.) Last night wasn't too much better and instead of going hours without sleep like the night before I put him in bed with me much sooner than the night before.

Tonight I'm going to use the bassinet that someone from church lent to us since we got the sheets washed. Hopefully he'll like that better and feel more secure since I can position it close to the bed. *fingers crossed tightly!*

One of our attempts at a new family of 3 picture before Nathan left this last time for Germany. I wish the quality was better lol.