(no subject)

[rivka]

Alex is asleep in her sling. She has had five feedings in a row without reflux symptoms.

Oh please. Please. Please.

(My post of last night had a math error in it. At the time she had been on Zantac for 28 hours and four doses, not 16 hours. She'll get her sixth dose when she wakes up from this nap. Maybe it really has had long enough to work. Oh please.)

It occurs to me now that she's been just as sleep-deprived as I have, from the reflux. Before it got bad she napped after most feedings, but when the reflux is in full swing she starts to drift off to sleep and then jerks awake, screaming. Poor kid, she wound up overtired as well as in pain. No wonder she was so fussy. Today she's been sleeping well. Of course, I haven't tried to put her down, or anything. I have no problem with having someone hold or touch her 24/7, at least until she's feeling better and stronger. It makes sense to me that she'd have a very high need for contact just now.

She nursed moderately well last night and this morning. This morning I felt like the feeding was satisfying enough that she didn't need a bottle added on immediately - although I did need to pump afterwards to drain the mastitis-y breast. It may actually be plausible to have her start getting every other feeding exclusively from nursing, as the lactation consultant suggested. (We'll try again when she wakes up.)

This morning, while I was reading all of the wonderfully encouraging responses to my last post, I heard a gurgle. I looked down and Alex was smiling up at me. We grinned at each other like crazy fools for a full five minutes.

I am feeling much less insane today.

Comments

[ailbhe]

Woohoo!

It may be useful to manually express when you don't need the quantity - there's some anecdotal evidence in my immediate circle that pumps can bruise the tissue a bit and make mastitis worse. Can you ask your incredibly excellent experts about this?

I'm SO glad she's nursing properly again. SO SO GLAD.

*cries*.

A.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

"Properly" would be a stretch. She is showing more dedication, though.

[ailbhe]

"to get food" rather than "to get nipple" is really what I meant.

When all this is over, I'll tell you about my nephew and reflux.

[eeyorerin]

Smiling babies always make me grin like a crazy fool. I wonder if that's some kind of reflex?

I am glad that you are feeling less insane and that Miss Alex is feeling better. Continued good vibes sent southward from my location.

[guruwench.livejournal.com]

This is such good news!! I'm so glad you're both feeling better today. You're doing an amazing job, Rivka - and anyone trying to tell you otherwise will have to deal with a long line of folks ready to tell them off, with me amongst them.

[ckd]

Good to hear that both of you are feeling better. May it continue.

[richtermom.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're both feeling better today. Alex is very lucky to have you. Lots of contact is good for both of you, and don't forget to let Dad get some good hugs in! My dh never figured out how fun it is, but finally after I started working and he got her for a few hours in the afternoon, he learned the Joy of Napping with a Baby. I've come home to see them snuggled together sacked on the couch a few times... "Hey. Whose drool is on Daddy's tie?"
:^)

Big hugs to you all.

[tammylc.livejournal.com]

Good news is wonderful to hear.

And the only thing better than a smiling baby is a laughing baby.

[minnaleigh.livejournal.com]

Yay for improvements and smiling babies and Rivkas!

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

Go team!

TK

[bibliotrope.livejournal.com]

Grin at Alex for me, too.

xxx -- little baby kisses for the little baby

I'm so glad to hear she's doing better, and that you are too.

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

Nothing quite as yummy as a perfect baby smile.

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

Hooray!

How amazing are you that in the middle of this you are able to form coherent sentences, analyse the situation, and even discover math errors in previous posts? When I had a month old baby - no feeding problems, no reflux, no mastitis - I was having trouble remembering English. You are amazing.

*HUGS*

[tendyl.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you and she are doing better! I keep fingers crossed for continuing goodness.

[erisian-fields.livejournal.com]

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Baby grins are the best!

I can't wait until Colin smiles at me with his eyes open.

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

Oh, good! Oh, good! I'm so hoping things will stay better.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

High five!

K.

[pickledginger.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear that you're both doing better!

(And oh, the memories of Mount Saint [niece's name here].)

[ratphooey.livejournal.com]

Oh, progress! Hooray! I'm so glad for you.

Aren't those moments of just staring at each other the best thing in the world?

[thbeatnik.livejournal.com]

Alex knows who's best for her. :)

[roozle.livejournal.com]

yay! big grin for you.

[jinian.livejournal.com]

I'm glad things are better today. What I meant to say this morning but had to run was that I know exactly one local mother who had no problems nursing. (I may be lucky if I try it, because the one is my mom.) Everyone else has some kind of trouble and feels awful about it, but the babies turn out great. cheesepuppet's kid is two and he's the size of a four-year-old, formula all the way. You rule for breastfeeding, but whatever you need to do is okay. It's a difficult balance between those, even just writing them, so living it's got to be even more so. It sounds like you get good rewards, though. :)

[purplepaisley.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Excellent news. Hope good progress continues.

[sashajwolf.livejournal.com]

Yay for greater sanity! (Not that you weren't holding up amazingly well, mind!)

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

I am feeling much less insane today.

Oh, yay! Yay yay! Long may it continue.