Your Three Week Old ~ BabyCenter Update

Belly baby

Be sure you're continuing to put your baby down on her stomach for "tummy time" when she's awake. Babies should sleep on their back, but they also need to spend time on their belly every day to strengthen their neck muscles, which help them push up, roll over, sit up, and crawl. Tummy time will also help your baby avoid developing a flat spot on her head from being on her back.

By the end of this week, your baby may lift her head briefly and possibly move it from side to side when she's lying on her stomach. Try putting your face in front of your baby's to encourage her to hold up her head to look at you. You can also roll up a towel or receiving blanket and put it under her chest to help get her started with her push-ups. Soon, her nervous system and muscle control will mature and her jerky movements will become more fluid.

Self-soothing

Babies love and need to suck, so don't discourage it. In fact, you may have discovered that a pacifier works wonders in helping your baby calm down.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using pacifiers at nap time and bedtime, based on evidence that using a pacifier may reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). When the binky or your finger isn't around, your baby may even be able to find her thumb or fingers to soothe herself.

Call it quits

If you or your partner smokes, you may want to put an end to your puffs. Secondhand smoke can be extremely dangerous for your baby — it weakens the lungs, makes babies more prone to ear infections, increases snoring and sleep-disordered breathing (a proven cause of health, behavior, and learning problems), and doubles the risk of SIDS. Even if you don't smoke when your baby's in the room, the harmful chemicals travel throughout your house in a matter of minutes.

First Bath

As promised, here are pictures from Taylor's first bath today. We waited a little longer due to the holidays and people visiting. She screamed through the whole bath! I sure hope she learns to like them eventually, or we may have one dirty baby!! :)

No More Cord!!!

Taylor's cord fell off today!! I was just changing her diaper and there it was! I was very relieved that it came off this soon. It always made me cringe to clean it, and I felt awful if I hit it while I was changing her diaper. Now she can have a real bath! We will wait a few days for her belly button to heal, then she will get a bath. I'm sure we will take pictures and post them later this week!

Your Two Week Old ~ BabyCenter Update

It's a scary world

Your womb was a warm and cozy environment, and it'll take time for your baby to adjust to the various sights, sounds, and sensations of life outside your body. You may not be able to detect much of a personality just yet, as your baby spends his time moving in and out of several different states of sleepiness, quiet alertness, and active alertness.

The only way your baby knows to communicate is by crying, but you can communicate with him through your voice and your touch. (Your baby can now recognize your voice and pick it out among others.)

Your baby probably loves to be held, caressed, kissed, stroked, massaged, and carried. He may even make an "ah" sound when he hears your voice or sees your face, and he'll be eager to find you in a crowd.

Colic cries

If your baby cries for more than three hours in a row on three or more days a week for at least three weeks, and there's no medical explanation for his distress, chances are he's colicky — a term used to describe uncontrollable crying in an otherwise healthy baby.

A colicky baby may act truly uncomfortable — alternately extending or pulling up his legs and passing gas. His crying and discomfort can happen at any time of day, but it's usually most intense between 6 p.m. and midnight.

Thankfully, colic doesn't last forever. Sixty percent of babies will be through the worst of it by 3 months, and 90 percent are better by 4 months of age.

Innie or outtie?

After your baby was born, your doctor (or your partner) painlessly cut his umbilical cord, leaving an umbilical stump. You'll notice during your baby's first couple of weeks that the remaining piece of cord tissue will begin to fall off.

During this time, give your baby sponge baths instead of tub baths to keep the area dry. When the cord has totally separated and fallen off, what remains is your baby's cute belly button.

Take it slow

You may notice your baby becoming irritable or fussy at the end of the day. This is normal. It could be that your baby is just overwhelmed by all the new sights and sounds. (There's a lot to take in even if your home is relatively calm.)

A baby's heart rate and sucking patterns actually change when he encounters a new sound. When you see your baby getting agitated, arrange for some quiet time — a massage, snuggle, or rocking — to help soothe him.

The baby blues

As a new parent, it's normal to feel some degree of emotional vulnerability. At least 60 to 80 percent of new mothers experience the "baby blues," a mild form of depression that causes weepiness, anxiousness, sleeping problems, irritability, and moodiness.

If your blues last more than two or three weeks, you may have postpartum depression (PPD), a serious condition that affects up to 20 percent of new moms. If you're feeling any of the symptoms — insomnia, weepiness or sadness that persists all day, diminished interest in almost all activities, difficulty concentrating, change in appetite, anxiety, excessive guilt, panic attacks (symptoms include a racing heart, dizziness, confusion, feelings of impending doom), or suicidal thoughts — contact your healthcare provider right away. Not only will you get the help you need, your baby will benefit from your healthier mindset.

First Time Out!

We decided it was time to take Taylor on her first outting today! Actually, I was starting to get a little stir crazy inside, so Blake took us both to Starbucks! (Yes we are starting her out early). It was a great time just to sit and have a hot cup of coffee. She slept the whole time in her car seat, and I couldn't keep my eyes off her! It really was nice to get out. I'm sure there will be many more of these Starbucks trips in our little girl's future!

First Official Doctor Visit

Taylor had her first official doctor's visit today. I was very anxious about this one to see how much weight she was gaining. When we left the hospital she was down to 6 lbs 10 oz, so I was really hoping for some good weight gain since I am exclusively breastfeeding. Blake's Mom is here for a few days helping out, so she drove us there since I still can't drive or lift Taylor in her car seat. We made it there on time at 1:00 p.m., got signed in, and filled out all of her paper work. Then they called us back. It was really great to have some help because I am still new at getting out with a baby and being able to manage it all!! When we got to the room, I had to undress Taylor. Of course she screamed at this point because she hates being naked and getting her clothes changed! Then, I took the diaper off for them to weigh her and she peed all over the table and me!! It was pretty funny! The nurse was very helpful and said that happened all the time. I was almost embarrassed, but then I remembered that Taylor is a baby and can't help that. Anyways, on to the good stuff. Taylor weighed in at 7 lbs 4 oz. and was 20.5 inches long!! Not only had she gained weight, she grew a half inch! I was absolutely thrilled. The hard part about nursing is you have no idea how much she is getting. I basically go for a certain time period feeding her and follow her cues. If she seems hungry, I feed her. I guess that is working! Dr. Franklin came in after that and checked her out. He said she looked perfect (his words exactly)! All in all it was a great check up. We go back at two months. That is when she gets her S-H-O-T-S, but we won't discuss that now. No need to stress too early!

Staples Removed

I had my staples removed today. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I actually didn't feel a thing. Dr. Gleason said my scar was healing great. My Mom drove us since I still can't drive myself. (Only a few more days until I can drive!) Taylor wore a cute blue snowflake outfit. The only problem was everyone thought she was a boy. All the nurses kept saying "he" and finally my Mom was like "It's A Girl!!" It was pretty funny! So, everything is looking good on my end. I'm starting to feel better and move around better. It is nice to have the staples out. The incision is not as intimidating now. We go in two days for Taylor's first official doctor's visit! I'll update on how she is doing then!

One Week Old

As of 9:10 p.m., our little girl is one week old! It is hard to believe that a week has gone by so fast. I just hope this isn't a preview of how fast time is going to fly by. So far, we are surviving life with a newborn pretty good. Of course it has helped that Blake has been off all week and my Mom has been here keeping the house clean and cooking for us! We are definitely sleep deprived, and I do my best to try and sneak in a nap while Taylor is sleeping. Of course it is hard to do when it takes her an hour to eat and she is eating every two hours! But, I am very thankful that the feeding is going very well. She is a pro! I am very blessed that I have not had major problems in that area because I know that breastfeeding can be a very difficult process for some. Blake is going back to work tomorrow, which I know he is dreading. Hopefully the day will go by quickly for him, and he will be back hanging out with us! As for Taylor, there is not too much new to report. She sleeps, eats, and poops (not always in that order). She only seems to cry when she needs something, which is good for us! I guess that is all for now. Here is to another great week with our new baby girl!

Your One Week Old (Thanks to BabyCenter.Com)

All during my pregnancy, I received e-mail updates each week on the development of Taylor from BabyCenter.Com. After your baby is born, they continue to send updates each week on how she should be growing and developing as a general rule. So far, it looks like she is right on track! I do like how they remind you that each baby is different at the end. I really feel passionate about that with Taylor. She is an individual and she will grow and develop at her own rate and that will be perfect! Here is what this week's update said:

She only has eyes for you

Your baby's eyesight is still pretty fuzzy. Babies are born nearsighted and can see things best when they're about 8 to 10 inches away, so she can see your face clearly only when you're holding her close.

Don't worry if your baby doesn't look you right in the eye from the start: Newborns tend to look at your eyebrows, your hairline, or your moving mouth. As she gets to know you in the first month, she'll be more interested in having eye-to-eye exchanges. Studies show that newborns prefer human faces to all other patterns or colors. (High-contrast items, like a checkerboard, are next in line.)

Give your baby plenty of opportunities to study your features by looking at her up close. As you or your partner feeds her, move your head slowly from side to side and see whether her eyes follow you. This exercise can help strengthen the eye muscles. (Don't be alarmed if your baby looks at you with crossed eyes: It's normal for a newborn's eyes to wander or cross now and then during the first month or so of life.)

Babies are sensitive to light and can see in three dimensions. Notice how your baby blinks when you bring an object close to her.

Weighty issue

If you're breastfeeding, you may be wondering whether your baby's getting enough to eat because she may seem to be hungry all the time. She probably is, since she's digesting breast milk within a couple of hours of consuming it.

Some signs that your breastfed baby's getting enough milk: Your breasts are being emptied and feel softer after nursing, your baby has good color and firm skin that bounces right back if pinched (if you pinch a dehydrated baby, the skin will stay puckered briefly), your baby is growing in both length and weight, you can hear her swallowing while nursing (if the room is quiet), she's passing mustard-yellow stools or frequent dark stools, and she has at least five to six wet disposable diapers a day (or seven to eight cloth diapers).

Whether you're nursing or formula-feeding your newborn, keep in mind that all babies grow at different rates and that their rate of growth tends to slow down at certain times. In addition, if your baby was big at birth, she won't grow as quickly to move closer to her predestined size.

If your little one is hitting her developmental milestones pretty much on time, relating well to you, and looking otherwise happy and healthy, she's most likely doing fine. But if regular weight checks at the doctor's office indicate that your baby isn't developing at a healthy rate, she might not be eating well or might not be absorbing or using nutrients properly.

Number two

In the early days, your newborn's bowel movements are thick and dark green because of meconium — a substance that was building up in her intestines while she was in the womb. As your baby starts to feed and the meconium is cleared out, her stools will start to turn yellowish, but they may vary in color daily depending on your diet if you're breastfeeding or the quantity and type of formula you're feeding her, as well as how hydrated your baby is.

A newborn can have as many as eight to 12 bowel movements a day, but as long as she's having at least one, she's probably all right. (If you're breastfeeding, your baby's stools may look softer, like diarrhea.)

Simon says

Even this early, babies can recognize faces and gestures intuitively — and sometimes even imitate them. Try putting your face close to hers and sticking out your tongue or raising your eyebrows a few times. Then give your baby some time to mimic your gesture.

Even if your baby doesn't copy your expression now, she's keeping close tabs — and learning. If you interact with her and she doesn't seem receptive at all, don't worry. She may have gotten sleepy or a bit overwhelmed and need to take a break.

Tummy time

Young babies spend a lot of time sleeping, and to reduce the risk of SIDS, the safest sleep position is on their back. But when your baby's awake — and in the coming weeks she'll have more and more "awake" time — be sure to put her on her tummy. Babies need to spend time on their belly every day to strengthen their neck muscles. So start getting her used to that position now, or she may resist when she gets older.

Remember, your baby's an individual

All babies are unique and meet milestones at their own pace. Developmental guidelines simply show what your baby has the potential to accomplish — if not right now, then soon. If your baby was premature, keep in mind that kids born early usually need a bit more time to meet their milestones. If you have any questions at all about your baby's development, ask your healthcare provider.

Congratulations Daddy!

Blake officially has his Master's Degree now!!! Two long years and a lot of hard work paid off today when he graduated. It was pretty hectic considering we have only been home with Taylor for three days now, but I really wanted him to be able to walk the line since he worked so hard for this. I was not able to go since I am still recovering from the C-section and have a six day old baby to feed! I was pretty upset that I would not be able to make it and did shed some tears this morning as Blake and my Dad were getting ready to leave. We were able to celebrate after with family. Everyone came over to the house for cake and refreshments (and to see Taylor). I could not be more proud of Blake. He did such an awesome job! He made all A's and one B, which is great considering the work load he had as well as working full time!! He has definitely made some sacrifices to get this done to help support our little family. Thank you Blake for all your hard work!

(Thanks to my Dad for going and taking some great pictures at graduation!)

Heading in to line up.

Walking in.

On his way to get his diploma!

He got it!!!

Our first family photo!
Blake and his Mom.
The cake
Blake, his Mom, and Tracy

Blake with Grandma and Grandpa
Blake and Maggie
Blake, Jackie, and Maggie
Blake and Nana

December 7, 2008

Recovery

After they finished closing me up after Taylor was born, they sent me back to the room I was in to "recover". This was the worst time for me. First of all, my mouth was so dry that I could barely swallow and talk. I asked for some water. They asked me if I thought I could handle it, and I said "sure". Well, I couldn't. I ended up throwing it up on myself. The sad part was that I didn't have the energy to tell anyone. The nurses were not in the room, and Blake was busy with Taylor, so I just let it go. Then I started shaking terribly when the epidural began to wear off. I also had no feeling in my left arm from the epidural. When Blake handed Taylor to me, I had to tell him to take her because I couldn't hold her at all. I was so scared that I was going to drop her. Plus, I was having a hard time keeping my eyes open because I was so exhausted. Blake did manage to snap a picture of me holding her for the few seconds I had her. I think we were both ready to get into our regular room and get some rest. We had already decided that we would let her stay in the nursery so we could sleep. We were in recovery for about an hour and a half. I think Taylor screamed the whole time. At least it seemed that way to me. I was in and out most of the time. I tried my best to stay awake, but I'm not sure I did a very good job of it. They finally came in to take me to my regular room. They rolled my bed down the hall since I could not walk. As soon as we got into the room, I got sick again and threw up. This time I did manage to make it in a trash can. I think the nurses felt sorry for me, so they got me some ginger ale and a cracker even though I wasn't supposed to have them. I think I barely ate and drank, but it felt good to have it right there if I needed it. We were finally getting settled, and I felt like I could go to sleep. Blake took Taylor to the nursery, and I drifted off to sleep dreaming of my sweet baby girl!

December 7, 2008

Labor and Delivery

Once we got to the hospital, got hooked up to all the monitors and IV, I was ready to get the show on the road. The nurses checked me and found that indeed my water had broken. However, I was not dilated one bit. I was so disappointed because I knew that I had made progress, but was wrong! We waited for a couple hours and they came back in with another bag of fluid for my IV. The were starting me on Pitocin to get my contractions going and get Taylor outta there! I was on the Pitocin for a couple hours before they checked me again, and still had not progressed much. I was maybe 1 cm dilated. At this point, I knew that I would be there for a while before we met Taylor. My parents arrived at the hospital around 6:00 a.m. I was glad for them to finally be there. There is something comforting about your parents being around when you are going through something big. Blake's family arrived shortly after at about 8:00 a.m. I was surprised by myself during this time. I thought I would want privacy and to be alone during labor, but I was wrong. I enjoyed having everyone around. I think it took my mind of the constant contractions. The day was the longest and shortest day of my life! I was finally dilated to 3 cm around 3:00 p.m. so they allowed me to get my epidural. I was very nervous about it, especially after the girl next to me was screaming while she was getting hers. My Mom stayed in the room with me since Blake isn't a big fan of needles. I did jump when he put the numbing medicine in, but other than that, it wasn't that bad. It was really great when my legs started going numb and I had no idea I was having a contraction!

After I got my epidural, they rolled me on my right side so that it would be even on both sides. I would roll from side to side every 30 to 45 minutes is what they told me. However, things got a little scary after they rolled me on my left side. Taylor's heart rate dropped for a few minutes. The nurses came in and quickly went to work to get it back up. Blake and I were both about to panic, but we were both trying to hold it together for each other! Blake did step out once everything was okay and pulled himself together so I wouldn't be so scared. At this point, I was ready for our little girl to be here. I had already been in labor for 14 or 15 hours and I was getting pretty tired. I couldn't sleep now, because I was worried her heart rate would drop again, so I was focused on the monitor the whole time. At about 5:00 p.m., I decided to spice things up a bit, and threw up all over myself. Of course, they had to come in and clean me up, which meant rolling me to my left side. When they did this, Taylor's heart rate dropped again. I think it was at this point that I knew I was going to have a C-section. Actually, I was hoping they would go ahead and do one so that she would not be in any danger. They checked me again, and I was only dilated to 4 or 5, so the Dr. came in with the plan. They were going to up the medicine to try and make the contractions stronger. If that didn't work, we were going to C-section. So, we stayed there for a couple more hours and then they checked me. I was still at 5. At this point, I was coming up on 21 hours of labor! We decided that C-section was the best option now and they started getting everything ready. Within 10 minutes they were rolling me to the OR. At this point, everything was a blur. I was so tired that I kept asking if I could just take a nap. I think it was good that I was so delirious because I wasn't scared of going through the C-section at all (and I'm a very scared person of this kind of stuff). They got me ready and brought Blake in to sit beside me. Right as he sat down (at 9:06 p.m.) they made the incision. Four minutes later, our baby girl was here!! She weighed 7 pounds 4.8 ounces and was 20 inches long. They unstrapped one of my arms so that I could touch her and see her. Nine months of waiting to see her little face was here! I was so releived that she was okay!

December 7, 2008

The Journey Begins!


Actually, the journey began 9 months ago, but the next phase of this wonderful journey began at 12:50 a.m. when I woke up to go to the bathroom, and my water broke. I immediately turned the light on and woke Blake up to tell him we needed to start making our way to the hospital. We were actually scheduled to be induced on December 10th, but I was really hoping to go into labor "on my own". The car was already packed (it had been packed for about 3 weeks), so all we had to do was get dressed and head out the door. Of course that was easier said than done because we were both a little nervous at this point. I changed clothes twice, then finally gave up and grabbed a towel to sit on instead. Blake called the hospital to let them know we were on our way. I was in the bathroom when I heard Blake asking for the department we needed. The funny thing was, he couldn't think of the name of it. Finally he blurted out "the place where babies are born". I was trying to yell "labor and delivery" but he couldn't hear me! I guess the nevers were really kicking in for him. Blake took a short video for Taylor of us heading out the door to go to the hospital and we were on our way. We both called our parents to let them know that we were on our way to the hospital. The drive to the hospital was pretty uneventful since it was after 1:00 a.m. in Cookeville. Blake was thinking it would be a little more exciting with me in labor. He thought I should be screaming in the passenger seat with each contraction! We made it to the hospital after a short 15 minute drive and got checked in at the emergency room. Once they verified my information where I pre-registered, they sent us on our way to labor and delivery. A lady asked us while we were walking if there was a baby coming. I think my answer was something like "I hope so, otherwise I just peed all over myself." We made it down the hallway to the labor and delivery area. We told the nurses who we were and they showed us to our room. We were the only ones there at that time. I changed into the lovely hospital gown and got into bed to wait for the adventure to begin!