Reflections of a 2 week old mother

Happy 2 weeks old Annaleigh! Wow, it's been a long two weeks, so many things have happened. It's amazing what 24 hours for 2 weeks looks like when you are up for most of them, well I'm exaggerating of course since I have slept in the evenings and a bit in the days but they have been split up with feedings. At least at night from 11pish to 5am I have gotten 5- 7 hours of sleep minus the feedings. Daddy has been great to be the one to take her and burp her while I go back to sleep. It's taken a while to relax and really allow myself to sleep. Now to work on the cat naps in the mornings and afternoons. We have figured out right now that Annaleigh is slow to wake in the mornings and feeds and eats mostly with little or no awake time so that makes for a quiet morning and then is slow to quiet down in the evenings so there are many hours between her 3p feeding through her 7p feeding where she doesn't nap much and only if she's in the sling or Moby wrap (which is not deep sleep). We've dubbed that her fussy time. That's when the big guns like the pacifier comes out, which we try to use sparingly.

There are many things that I've learned and have reflected upon during this two weeks. To keep record I will share them here:

1. Take one moment at a time, if I start future-tripping I get overwhelmed and with all the extra hormones lots of crying ensues.
2. Simplify- food, shelter, clothing and safety. That's it. All the rest will happen if those are completed, those are not only requirements for Annaleigh but also for mom and dad.
3. Have no expectations. Easier said than done
4. Listen to my body- when to eat, sleep, hydrate.
5. Trust my instincts on taking care of Annaleigh
6. What's the highest priority at the time, living in the moment.
7. Be flexible about my own thoughts and convictions and desires as compared to advise given by family and friends, nurses, doctors etc (pacifiers and formula etc) because sometimes what's important at the moment for Annaleigh might be to use the pacifier during meltowns or formula if need to supplement. Listen to Annaleigh and her needs at the time. They can and will change and she may not need those coping ways all of the time.
8. I will always be given advise but I need to learn to listen to myself and my instincts and be ok with trying new calming techniques etc. Not all will work all of the time. It just depends on Annaleigh's needs and what she will accept for help.
9. Keep trying to stay calm and work towards that.
10. The hardest thing is to relax and be calm when there is a lack of sleep and stress so work towards getting more even if just cat naps and ask for help to relieve stress. Be ok with asking for help.
11. Get enough to eat and drink which will help milk production but most important is rest and relaxing.
12. Make lists which will allow me to download my thoughts on paper get to them when time and opportunity converge.
13. voice mail is a lovely invention for new parents. It's perfectly ok to let it ring and call the person back if you're feeding or just too tired to talk. Everyone will understand.



I think the list taking has helped me the most (well it's up there anyway). Things that I've written about: What to put in a diaper bag, what is our regular grocery list in case someone wants to pick something up for us on their way over, calming techniques, feedings, to do's, goals, questions for medical, a want to do list, things those that want to help can around the house, list of those that I can call to help and what they are able to do (take a few hours so I can nap etc)

Me on computer right now typing blog and Annaleigh sleeping in the sling. =)