Pineapple Newborn Summary: Week Seven

This is a summary of the seventh week of Pineapple's life. She was 6 weeks old.

Nursing

Nursing is the same, using a nipple shield. I'm having more problems getting her to latch w/o it on both sides. I'm going to try having her nurse w/o the shield at night when she's sleepy. She might not realize what I'm doing.

I asked a friend (who is a SuperMOM) about nursing in public and she told me she found it easier to nurse using a regular slightly padded underwire bra. She said pushing the padding under the boo.b (with the straps still over your shoulders) helped to support it better than wearing a nursing bra while nursing.

Tonight we went out for NYE. We were in a park and I was wearing Pineapple in a Moby. I knew I wasn't going to be able to get back to the car for nursing so I watched some videos on nursing in a Moby. I managed to get it done relatively discreetly while watching the fireworks (they had a 9pm display for the young kiddos -- or those who can't make it to midnight). These are the videos I found to be the most helpful.

Waketime

We were doing a lot of prep for the in-laws visit at the end of the week so Pineapple had to spend some awake time each day in the swing. It should have been nap time but she just wouldn't sleep. She wasn't fussy, she was just not interested in sleeping.

Naps

Naps are mostly in the swing and between 1-2 hours. 

Night Sleep

Things are going fine here. She's sleeps in the swing after the 8pm feed and then her cradle after the 10pm dreamfeed. Sometimes after the 6am feed she'll be a little fussy and Kevin will have to walk around with her. 

Swaddle

The swaddleme blanket needed a wash so we're on to a single blanket swaddle but she can break out of them. We have to make sure to do it tight and our form has to be perfect or her arms will break free.

Baby Acne

Still here and seems to flare when she's feeding (and agitated). I'm not sure if it's a reaction to the silicone in the nipple shield or if it's just because she's agitated.

Spit

It seems to be getting worse. I know it's not all of what she just ate but it can be a lot. And it happens a couple of times. But always after a feed. There doesn't seem to be a trigger for it. She can be upright, reclined or completely flat. She can be being held or being changed. It catches us off guard mostly because GV never spat up. I'm hoping it's just that she overfed and it's just excess.

Outings

Tuesday we were at myParents house for xmas lunch until about 7pm. Thursday we went over to SuperMOM's house for a playdate. SuperMOM's daughters were fascinated with Pineapple even though elder daughter wasn't interested when younger daughter was born.

Friday morning the whole fam when to the mall and stores for some after xmas shopping.  

Sunday after mass we went out to lunch with (almost) the whole family. myParents, Wiki, us four and Mum & Dad. Monday we walked around the park and then went out to lunch. Monday night we went to a city event at a park to celebrate NYE. 

Big Brother

GV is having issues with frustration. He tells me he's sad and that he wants to bite or kick someone (usually the source of his frustration). He's been put in time out a few times. But he is such a great big brother. He loves Pineapple and loves giving her kisses and hugging her.

Schedule

She seems to be forming her own schedule. Sometimes I'll need to tweak it a bit because of outings but for the most part it's starting to come together. 

Pineapple Newborn Summary: Week Six

This is a summary of the sixth week of Pineapple's life. She was 5 weeks old.

Nursing

She started out the week by nursing on the right w/o the nipple shield. An entire nursing session - so about 30-35 minutes. I'm gonna keep trying to get her to nurse w/o it but I'm not pushing it just yet. I told myself I was going to wait until she reached GV's birth weight but she's there and I don't think we're ready.

I'm using a MBF to nurse Pineapple at home. Now that we have the big car (a Trav.erse) I can feed her in the back seat with more privacy than the previous car (a Se.ntra). I been using the MBF because Pineapple can't seem to nurse w/o getting milk everywhere. This week I took the MBF to some playdates because I didn't want to hassle with trying to nurse her while holding her, my bo.ob, keeping her latched, keeping my boo.b covered up and wiping up all the spilled milk. The MBF is really the 3rd hand I need when BFing.

Friday we went to the park between two outings where I needed to feed Pineapple. I took a bottle and the Calma nipple. Pineapple hated it! It took a while to get going and she leaked a lot. Eventually she took the bottle but it took about 45 minutes. Sunday I took it again for her feeding that fell during mass and it wasn't any better. This time I took a regular nipple and just switched before she got really agitated. After all we were in mass and she needed to eat (quietly).

Waketime

She's so much more alert now. Her eyes watch everything. She usually makes it about 10-15 minutes after a feed before she starts yawning.

Naps

Naps are anywhere between 1-2 hours. But unfortunately she wants to be held most of the time. It seems to be the only way she can sleep. So I've been trying to transition her to the bouncer or swing. She doesn't really like either but she started out doing about 5 minutes in the beginning and at the end of the week we got some naps in it (as opposed to me holding her the entire time. I did get to take a shower one day when she napped for a bit in the bouncer (in the shower room).

Night Sleep

This is going so much better. She stretched to four hours just fine. Now I'm waiting for her to reach 11lbs which is when I feel okay with letting her sleep as long as she wants at night. I should mention that at night she sleeps in the cradle just fine. I can place her in a bit drowsy but still awake and she'll nod off on her own.

Swaddle

Still using the swaddleme blanket. We received two but for some reason I can only find one. I'm going to need to wash it soon so I might have to go back to a regular blanket swaddle.

Baby Acne

It's a little worse this week. GVs came on so suddenly it just seemed to appear one day. With Pineapple it seems to be building up a bit more each day. Can't wait till it goes away!

Spit

Pineapple has started spitting up. It's annoying because I'm never prepared for it. Of course it started up the week after her one month appt and we don't have another appt until next month.

Outings

Tuesday we had a playdate. I was only half an hour late. I don't think we'll ever make it to anything on time with the three of us. Wednesday was my OB appt. Everything is all healed up. Strangely I'm looking forward to returning to my exercise classes. We also went to the mall in the afternoon. And I had a MNI with my moms group on Wednesday night. I did take Pineapple but she wasn't the only newborn there! Thursday we went to a cookie decorating playdate and Friday we went to a preschool concert for Chicklet. After she was done with school we went out to eat. It was surprisingly easy considering Chicken and I were technically outnumbered. 

Sunday just Kevin and I went out! We went to IH.OP. Our favorite restaurant. We had an hour before Pineapple's next feed, GV was asleep and both myMom and Wiki were around so we quickly took off. We made it back in time.

Big Brother

GV is really acting so much older now. He's feeding himself and behaving in public. I was a bit worried at our playdates because a couple of times he was picked on by his friends and I don't think he realized it. But maybe it's good that he didn't retaliate and thought it was just part of playtime. Today at the Christmas Eve children's mass he walked up to join the other children at the altar and listen to the priest and then came back when dismissed with no issues. He's not a baby anymore :(.

Schedule

During the day I'm letting her decide her next feeding time as long as it's not over 3 hours. At night we're going 4-5 hours between feeds. Usually we'll do a feeding in the 8pm hour and then again in the 10pm hour. She'll nurse once or twice in the night but most times she'll nurse at 6am and then at 8:30am to start the day.

Pineapple Newborn Summary: Week Five {One Month}

This is a summary of the fifth week of Pineapple's life. She was 4 weeks old. She turned one month old during this week.

Nursing

Going great with the nipple shield. Sometimes on the right (and once on the left) we can go w/o the shield for 5-10 minutes.

Waketime

We do a lot of holding her, some tummy time. Some sitting by herself. Last week for my bday Kevin got me a neck pillow and I've been using it to prop her up during waketime. She is mostly held though.

Naps

Naps are anywhere between 1-2 hours. 

Night Sleep

At her ped appt they said we could go 4-5 hours at night! Yeah! Maybe I love my night sleep too much??

Swaddle

We started using the swaddleme blanket because it started getting too warm to double swaddle her.

Weight Gain

At her 1 month appt she was 8lbs 13oz!! Dr. M was soooo impressed. 

Baby Acne
Wednesday at the ped appt, Dr. M noticed that some baby acne was developing on Pineapple's face. I had noticed it around her mouth and thought it might be irritation with the nipple shield but I don't think it is anymore. Rhys had baby acne so I know it'll go away on it's own but it's just irritating to have it there.

Outings

Wednesday we had family photos done in the morning and then Chloe's ped appt in the afternoon. Monday we had a board meeting at a friend's house. Three toddler boys and 4 newborn girls. It was fun!

Dad is Back

Kevin has to be available for support for 12 hour shifts so he's been working from home. It's nice to have him home all day because GV hangs out in his office most of the day. And he can help when GV decides he wants water/milk/juice right when I start nursing Pineapple.

Big Brother

myFamily went out of town this weekend so we decided to try potty training GV. It didn't work. He peed twice on the floor. He tells us when he's done it but doesn't tell us when he needs to do it. So we've shelved it and will try again in a couple of months.

Fast Friends

GV has two friends that are 6 months and 2 months older than him. They now have sisters that are 2.5 months and 1 week older than Pineapple. Since I get along really well with the moms it's the perfect set up. Plus another one of our friends whose son is 11 months older than GV has a new sister that is a month younger than Pineapple. Today was the first time all four girls were together. It's so crazy to see the size differences between the girls.

Schedule

2.5-3 hours during the day and 4 hours at night. I tried doing a set schedule with wakeup/nap times and it didn't really work. Because every day looks so different from the day before it's hard to set up a structure right now.

Pineapple Newborn Summary: Week Four

This is a summary of the fourth week of Pineapple's life. She was 3 weeks old.

Nursing

Other than having to use the nipple shield nursing has been going great. We went to the New Mom Group again and she weighed in naked at 8 lbs! That's a weight gain of 11 oz in one week! Maybe she is going to rival her brother in weight gain.

I called the ped. to let them know about the weight gain and I think Dr. C didn't believe me. But we don't have to go back in for a weight check this week so we'll see for sure next week at her 1mo appt.

Waketime

Keeping her awake is much easier. We've tried some tummy time - most times she is lying on her tummy on us though. Whenever she does use her tummy time mat GV wants to be in it with her. 

Naps

Her naps are anywhere between 1-2 hours. I've decided to start her on a schedule this week because I need some structure and I'm sure she does too.

Night Sleep

She's suppose to be on a 2.5 hour schedule but truthfully I've been pushing it out to 3-3.5 hours. We always have to wake her up and I don't want her to "learn" to wake up every 2.5 hours.

Swaddle

We still double swaddle her at night. I've started swaddling her during the day.

Weight Gain

11 ounces to bring her up to a nice even 8 lbs!

Outings

This week we were brave. On Wednesday we went to a library story time (with my sister). Thursday we went to a moms group playdate (cookie exchange!) and Friday night we went to a xmas party (family friendly). I managed to time the first two outings between her feeds but at the party I had to nurse her. I didn't take the MBF but we did okay w/o it. Sunday I had a product premiere in a movie theater to attend and I tried to feed her in the moby but no such luck. I ended up in the disabled bathroom for 10 minutes just so I could get something in her. And I ended up with breastmilk all over me.

Big Brother

GV still loves his sister but he starting to show his frustration with Kevin or I being tied up and not doing things for/with him because of her. 

These Eyes
I know that newborn eye color is not set it stone. They can change colors all the way up to 6 months. Also that they'll never get lighter just darker. Pineapple has brown eyes (so do Kevin and I) but they've got some grey in them. Most times they look grey rather than brown. Idon't know if it's just because they're really dark, darker than GV's or maybe a effect of MIL having blue eyes but it's neat and I hope they stay greyee-brown.

Conclusion

Things are so much better now! What a difference a properly feeding baby makes.

Schedule

Still at 2.5 hours between feedings during the day and 3 hours at night.

Pineapple Newborn Summary: Week Three

This is a summary of the third week of Pineapple's life. She was 2 weeks old.

Nursing

This week has been so much better. It helped that we went to the new mom group at the hospital Pineapple was born at. They weighed her and she was 7lbs 10 oz. When she started showing signs of being hungry they did a feeding weight check. They weigh her, had me feed her and then weighed her again. Based on her weight change they can figure out how much breastmilk she's drinking. The LC said her weight gain corresponded with a feeding of about 3oz. She told me that was a good amount for a baby her age and weight. At the end of the meeting we weighed her naked and she was 7lbs 5oz. This gave me a boost.

We haven't done any more supplementing since last week but we did give her a bottle twice when she got really finicky during a feeding. Even with the nipple shield. We've even been able to do a couple of feedings without the nipple shield. Mainly on the right. On the left she really needs to have it in place the whole time.

Waketime

She is spending more time awake these days. There are some times between feedings that she'll be awake most of the time and then only nap for about an hour. I always feel guilty waking her up but she needs to eat every 2.5 hours! 

Naps

I guess I don't consider what she's doing now to be real naps. Since her schedule isn't really structured right now she's only sleeping about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. The times she chooses not to sleep between feedings are arbitrary so she hasn't even set her schedule yet.

Night Sleep

This is getting better. This week Kevin was back to work so some nights I had to deal with her on my own. Since I'm impossible to wake up it's probably been harder on me. But Kevin still helps when she just won't go back to sleep.

Swaddle

We still double swaddle her at night. No swaddle during the day but she does sleep better when I have her in the Moby.

Weight Gain

At the NMG she was 7lbs 5oz. At her ped appt two days later she was 7lbs 6oz. So up 3oz since last week. Still not in the 5-7oz a week range but at least it's gaining! 

Just the Three of Us

This week marked the first time GV, Pineapple and I were all on our own. Kevin's last day off was Monday. Wiki came over Monday night and stayed with us until Wednesday at lunch time. Wednesday afternoon a friend and her son came over to visit. Thursday morning we were on our own until myMom came over to watch GV during Pineapple's ped appt. She left before he got up from nap though so it was just us again. Friday was really the first day that it was just us for the whole day. Although Kevin has been coming home during his lunch hour to help with GV's lunch and putting him down for his nap.

Big Brother

GV is still in love with Pineapple. He asks to hold her everyday at least once. If she's not feeding or trying to fall asleep I try to let him. She doesn't always like it but I think it's good for them. We did pull out his old tummy-time mat for her to start using and he's taken over it. I tried to do tummy-time once and she was not impressed. It might have been because GV kept getting in and dumping toys in. 

Conclusion

Things are getting better and I think I can manage the two of them. I'm starting to realize I'm going to have to let go of "our" schedule. Sometimes GV is going to nap late because Pineapple needs feeding. And sometimes Pineapple's going to have to wait to be fed because GV needs a diaper change. Everything will happen when it needs to.

Schedule

Still at 2.5 hours between feedings during the day and 3 hours at night.