How is everyone feeling?

Bri • 🌈 💙 10/2019 🌈💗 12/2022

Just thought it would be nice to have a check in post. 😊 How's everyone feeling physically and mentally?

My little girl is 5.5 weeks now. I had a c-section and felt pretty rough physically for about 2 weeks but now I feel great! However, I'm so exhausted. 😩 My little one is overall doing great but is gaining weight slower than our doctor would like so we're on a strict schedule feeding. This means I haven't slept more than 2 hours straight since she was born. The constant waking up is getting to me. My husband tries to help as much as he can but since I'm exclusively breastfeeding there's only so much he can do. Other than that I'm so incredibly happy she's here with us and I'm so in love with her, I just can't wait for longer stretches of sleep!

170 views • 6 upvotes • 14 comments

COMMENT (14)

Ch

Posted at
Almost a 6 week old baby here he is gaining weight slowly as well but just quick enough I don't have to wake him every 2 hours. He still fits in newborn clothes though. Hope your baby starts gaining soon. I feel the exhaustion here I have been up since midnight 2 hours later and here i am feeding my baby hoping he falls asleep. Nights are getting better but I sure do miss a solid 8 hours. Wouldn't trade it for anything though.

Br

Bri • Jan 17, 2023
Special outings is a great idea!

Ch

Chelsea • Jan 16, 2023
My 4 year old is needing extra attention too. We are taking him on outings with one of us and no baby so he can have full attention away from baby. Dad went on one first with him they went on a nature trail we had a random 60 degrees day then out for McDonald's. Mine will be next but we haven't planned it yet. The first one really seemed to help with his need for extra attention.

Br

Bri • Jan 16, 2023
I have heard that and this lack of sleep is rough, but aside from the lack of sleeping my second one is way easier so far overall! My first wanted to be held 24/7 and cried a lot... this little girl is perfectly content to just hang out wherever you put her and watch whatever is happening, and she barely cries at all. In fact my husband keeps having to go into my 3 year olds room at night because he suddenly wants attention despite being a great sleeper before the new baby arrived! 😂

Ir

Posted at
I am a mother of 5 and I feel you! The same thing happened with my four kids I refused to give them a bottle and was just breast feeding and so tired with no sleep.With this one I am like no more! I am breast feeding but I do 1 bottle of formula (2 oz) before she goes to bed and I get my 3 or 4 hours of sleep. I also doing it once a day to and that helps a lot, she is gaining good weight. We are all different, some woman’s produce a lot of milk and some of us less or takes more time to increased our milk supply. 🙏🙏

Br

Bri • Jan 19, 2023
My main problem is that she's gaining weight slower than the pediatrician would like. She's nurses great but seems to have a small stomach so she just wants to eat smaller amounts frequently and the pediatrician recommends no more than 3 hours max between feedings (but baby often wakes before that point). I have plenty of supply so I have the dilemma of letting my supply drop off if I skip a feeding to have my husband give a bottle, or getting up with her every time like I currently am. Luckily now that she's 6 weeks it looks like she may be gaining a bit faster so fingers crossed she starts sleeping longer and I can stop waking her. It's a big contrast to my first who slept 5 hour chunks at night within a couple weeks. I'm ok with formula supplementing (I did it with my first), but this little one isn't big fan of formula the couple times I've offered it. Good for you for recognizing what you need to survive! I'm glad it's working for you to get extra sleep, you deserve it with 5 kiddos!

Sa

Posted at
My baby boy is 2 weeks old. He had jaundice and lost weight after birth so we were also on a strict feeding schedule, every two hours. He also had his circumcision done so we had to go through the healing on that as well. He is doing sooo much better now thankfully. Jaundice went away in two days and circ has healed perfectly! He is a champ and a strong baby. He now sleeps 3-4 hours. I am breastfeeding but mainly pumping and bottle feeding. I have had to supplement with formula since my milk supply isn’t the best and he’s a little chunk and eats a lot! Other then pure exhaustion and now trying to find a routine with three kids, we are so blessed he’s here and we love him so much!

Br

Bri • Jan 17, 2023
Glad to hear he's doing better now!

El

Posted at
Congrats on your little girl. My little girl is just over 6 weeks now (planned CS). She’s been gaining weight ok, have been EBF which has been absolutely exhausting and have recently introduced a bottle of formula per day as I want to Combi feed. (Will intro a second bottle gradually soon). The nights have been pretty horrendous as she’s still waking every 2 hours or even 1 hour to feed or be held. Had a pleasant surprise the other night where she slept a 4 hour stretch followed by 3 hours after a feed … but then the night after was crap again. So unpredictable and so draining in every way. I know it will get easier but these very rough nights are part of the reason I waited before trying for a second child , so that my first would be older and a bit more independent. Couldn’t be happier with my little girl though 💕

Br

Bri • Jan 16, 2023
Hang in there! Hopefully things will improve soon with the sleep department for you. I agree with waiting to have another to allow a more independent older child, we did the same thing and I'm so thankful we did.

CD

Posted at
My little guy is 4 weeks old this week. We are exclusively nursing too but sadly was slow to gain weight as well! Our pediatrician asked to bottle feed an ounce of breast milk (or formula) after each nursing session when he doesn’t seem content. Our biggest issue is he falls asleep so fast while nursing. We have a follow up this week, he’s been gaining good while doing this but I hope we don’t have to forever. Doing both for each feeding is so exhausting.

Br

Bri • Jan 16, 2023
My first born had some weight gain issues as well but around 2 months it improved drastically. I'm trying to tell myself that hopefully she will pick up as well soon. Hang in there!