Little lightweight

Monday, Lucy had a doctor appointment which we were really anxious for since we were anticipating her big weigh in. Since Lucy’s birth we have been watching her weight carefully, trying to make sure it’s on a healthy path. I haven’t really gotten into it, but Lucy had a scary dip in weight right after being born, so we have been scrutinizing her eating habits and weight gain since we brought her home. Basically she was an unskilled and apathetic eater and had lost a whole pound in her first 48 hours. We did everything we could to make sure she ate while in the hospital – pumped, supplemented with formula, breastfed, bottle fed, syringe fed, spoon fed… Finally her weight stabilized and we took her home a tiny 5 lbs 11 oz.

Thanks to a visiting nurse who came about twice a week, we had eyes on Lucy making sure she was healthy after leaving the hospital and working on the eating situation, which is now completely resolved. So no more eating on a clock, supplementing, etc. At her Monday doc appt, she weighed in at 7 lbs 15.5 ounces! Which averaged out at a little over an ounce a day since her last visit, meaning everything is good!

It was hard in the meantime though. No one tells you that breastfeeding can be difficult; you just assume it’s some instinctual thing – but there is a learning curve for both mom and baby. One night I was rocking her to sleep and wondering if she was getting all the nutrition she needs, and being a little hormonal I was hoping I was doing a good job trying to keep her healthy and happy. She looked up at me with an expression of total disappointment and I felt a pang in my heart… But then she crossed her eyes and shit her pants and I realized I shouldn’t take it personally…

But she is completely healthy and a very happy baby. This week she has been smiling so much in her sleep that I know the real smiles are coming soon! Which makes me a happy mama.