Update From the Trenches

Hey, it's my first Mom-post!

Eddie and I have been hanging out all week upstairs. The midwife doesn't want me taking the stairs till Friday and since we neglected to install a fireman's pole prior to the birth that means I stay up here. I have a bedroom, a bathroom, a computer loft, and a craft room (like I'm doing any crafts right now!) but mostly I stay in bed with Eddie either next to me or on top of me.

One arrangement is my favourite, and the other means I can actually use both hands to type on my laptop, bought on Black Friday for this specific purpose.

Right now Eddie is sleeping on the bed next to me, leaning against the side of my leg for warmth. Eddie sleeps a LOT, which was worrying at first as he wasn't nursing much and may have started to get dehydrated. He didn't seem very interested in colostrum (the pre-milk that is the only thing on the menu for the first few days post birth). Even now, when he's getting full milk, it's a struggle to keep him from falling asleep while nursing. It seems to be incredibly soothing for him, which is great, but he needs to eat! Fortunately he is gaining steady weight and providing a copious amount of wet and dirty diapers. Now I just have to make sure he is getting both foremilk (more hydrating) and hindmilk (richer) in his feedings, and the midwife has given me some tips for that. So while I'd still like to see him doing some feeding sessions longer than the 13-15 minutes that seems to be his maximum (and usually closer to ten), I am no longer as worried about him as I was a few days ago.

I'm glad this is a big bedroom, though, because as it is I'm already starting to go a little stir crazy. Martin is being absolutely fantastic at getting me everything that I need, and it's really, REALLY nice not to have to worry about diaper changes - the Principal Gentleman of the Privy Chamber is on the case and whisks the young master away whenever All Signs Point To Poo, giving me a chance to resettle myself and do any quick personal tasks that need doing. Rest is a strange thing. Do enough of it in one go, and you can feel sleepy/tired but still not be able to sleep. I tried several times to take a nap this afternoon, but having been on the bed all day already my body was resisting my brain's commands. Ah well - maybe tonight will give us another round of 2.5 hour sleeps at a time.

Which reminds me - I need to take my Motrin. I'm supposed to take it four times a day to help with inflammation and nursing 'discomfort'. I forgot to take it this morning and was reminded of that fact at the last feeding.