The point of this blog, as well as being a place to save my sanity, was always going to be so that I had a record of what was happening in my life at any given time. I know that some people will not be terribly impressed by my day to day reporting of things Evelyn did, but these are the things that I don’t want to forget. Hence, publishing them here. The fact that I have friends reading and supporting me is just an (awesome) bonus.
Tomorrow is day three, and that is when they will start talking about sending me home. Frankly, I’m terrified. Probably because I know what my hormones have been like and I know I’ll cry. Lots.
Tonight’s midwife prepared me for this – bearing in mind that she had a baby born early and is both sympathetic and understanding. I need to get breastfeeding established, and doing that when I am not available to feed her as much as possible would be a struggle.
But it might be okay.
Evelyn had formula overnight for her top up feeds, and I am okay with that. But I’m a bit bothered that her top ups have to be so huge in a babe so tiny, meaning that she wasn’t hungry at her next feed, because the 20 mls of extra milk were still hanging around in her belly.
That said, she fed well at midnight, breastfeeding for 21 minutes straight.
She’s not had any formula since 6am however, and has fed quite well today, with top ups of breastmilk only. This is where I am incredibly grateful that I’ve never had milk supply issues and don’t seem to be having them this time either.
I managed to have her in the ward with me for a fair bit of time today too, snuggled up inside my clothes, skin to skin. Unfortunately, her billirubin levels are up and she’s gone a sunny shade of suntan, so she’s now having to spend her time snuggled into a billiblanket. UV blue suits her.
I can’t seem to upload photos to the blog from my tablet so if it’s photos you’re after, my Facebook page has some, as does twitter/instagram. She’s very cute and I am in love.
For those who are wondering, Amy and Isaac are also in love. Isaac is showing some signs of anxiety, but Amy is just concerned that she can’t cuddle her sister yet. They both got to snuggle her (while she was inside my top) this afternoon, as well as getting to kiss her. I imagine Amy will be excited to share that she has a sister now when she goes to school tomorrow.
Finally, Internet, thank you so much for all of your support. You’ve kept me company while I’ve been pumping, shared stories that made me feel less alone and been generally all around awesome. I could not be more grateful.
Loving the photos. Top up feeds are a hard one to figure out at first – it’s a bit of trial and error. You’ll get there x
Is this your first premmy, Veronica?
I for one take great comfort in knowing that you have your blog to turn to at a time when it’s clear that you could use it for the support and the self expression and memory taking. I can see how much it’s helping you:)
so glad to hear she is feeding better and getting skin to skin. You know you can insist on staying until feeding is well establish.. they are NOT allowed to force you to leave. Hope you get to stay longer despite shit food but better for you adn bub
Good news about the feeding, hope the uv thingy does its job and she can go home with you.
When I had my girls,there was what was called “boarding mums” where mums could stay after they had been discharged from the ward but their bubs were still in the nursery. Maybe enquire about that?
She is just gorgeous. I wish I could snuggle her.
Hugs
xxxxxxx
I agree with Kelli – we stayed for 6 days after M, although I had a C-Sec I know that the stay times are different. But we were having feeding troubles and I kept on insisting to get help with feeding before I said I was happy to go home. She’s beautiful and I’m glad you’re both doing well. xo
I imagine how happy you must be that she is feeding so well. Lots of hugs for you both…
Glad that she is feeding so well, I hope it goes upwards only from here!
I remember walking through a hospital corridor years ago and seeing a couple of tiny babies in their cribs pushed up near a sunny window because they were jaundiced. Things have changed now with lights and blankets and stuff.
I think you should stay in hospital until feeding is well established, things might be hectic once you get home.
It is your blog , so glad your are getting skin to skin snuggles .
Hopefully, your own EBM can be used for NG feeds overnight soon enough. You are doing so well and so is Evelyn. I love her name , a very good friend of mine has a daughter Evelyn .
I wrote a whole message out to you and then because I am in the dark typing I lent on a button and deleted the bloody lot of it!
So the compacted version is do as much skin to skin as you can, feed her like there is no tomorrow, don’t make her too tired because she will be burning all that energy off instead of using it to get fat. I always use to always have a hat on Airlie no matter what! So much energy is used for them to maintain their temp and if their hat is off and they are cold then they are using those calories to keep warm rather then getting fatter.
Have they said they are going to send you home day 3? If you are close to establishing bf tell them you want to stay to giver her a better chance of getting the weight back on. If they won’t let you stay on the ward ask if there is parent accommodation where you can stay and visit her in SCBU and feed her as frequently as possible. Don’t be afraid to ask them that is what its there for. If I can do anything or you want to chat just tweet or fb me. My bub is going to be born within the week now too. Thinking of you xxx
Cool… hang tight. You are doing GREAT (that pumping is not so easy, I know!).
Also, feel free visit my Olympic Echidna, if you are looking for something wacky to smile at. Won’t help the letdown, but good for distraction!!
🙂
BB
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