Looking at babyhood from an IT perspective, Seamus has three functions: input, output, and downtime. (There's also a fourth -- spreading joy -- but only Steve Jobs defines that as an IT function.) His output is exemplary (that's my boy!); he has already finished expelling the vast quantities of meconium that filled his intestines in utero, and is now heroically pushing out looser, watery poo.
The input and downtime are more challenging (for Greta, primarily), because he spends so much time feeding that there's not much time left for sleeping. So far, his pattern has been more or less: feed for forty-five minutes, sleep for forty-five minutes.
Many people aren't even aware that new mothers need to learn to breastfeed -- I always assumed that it was instinctual for both mother and child. To an extent it is -- but getting it right is not. This has been Greta's biggest challenge so far, leading to a fair amount of angst ("What am I doing wrong??") and culminating in a semi-desperate call to Bonu early this morning. When I described Greta's issues to her, she had two excellent pieces of advice, which I will share with you, on the off chance that you might need to breastfeed someday:
1) The breastfeeding class that we took emphasized that you should remove your baby from the breast immediately if your nipple hurts, because that's an indication that the "latch" is incorrect, and you will wind up feeding inefficiently and damaging your nipple. Bonu, however, clarified that for many women, nipple soreness is unavoidable at first -- you just have to "power through it", and eventually it will lessen and then go away.
2) Newborns are such lightweights -- Seamus would get one swallow, and then immediately (and somewhat comically) pass out. Bonu said: wake him up in some gentle way (a foot tickle, talking, etc.) so that he starts sucking again. Repeat over and over again until he's had enough to eat.
These two tips turned nursing sessions from frustrating ordeals into smooth sailing ... now if only he would sleep for a little while longer after nursing. The kid's like the Energizer Bunny of breastfeeding -- I think he's transferring his intake into an alternate dimension via a tesseract or something. There's no way that all of the liquid that he demands with such frequency could fit into him.
The good news is that breastfeeding is the sweetest-looking thing in the world. Utter contentment, both during and immediately after, suffuse little Seamus' being.
Right now, child and exhausted mother are dozing next to me, following two back-to-back marathon feeding sessions. Now sleep, Seamus! That's an order from your old man! As long as you live under my roof, you'll follow my rules! ... etc. ...
[another nanapow original photo]
9 comments:
"Jim, On Breastfeeding" -- who'da thunk we'd ever read that, anywhere?
In case you-all missed my First GrannyTip, I suggested that gently stroking the boy's face right near the corner of his mouth can both wake him and start the sucking reflex going again -- I guess tickling his feet does the waking bit also, though: and apparently when Seamus is awake, Seamus is sucking (or yelling for more).
Breastfeeding is absolutely a learning process, in spite of some of the built-in genetic responses -- that's why midwives and doulas and LaLeche have prospered. You need advice and encouragement, Mama: and it can get discouraging, as I well remember. But once it's in gear, there's no experience like it in this world.
lara was in tears as I was reading the the "time line". HUGE CONGRATS!!! a bit late... What a wonderful experience. We can't wait to meet Seamus. We'll be using your blog as a guide so keep up the good work.
When I was in the same place I read somehwere that I should give it 40 days. For some reason it helped to have that timeframe and it definitely did start to become second nature at around that point. It seems like a long time but as you probably already know, time starts to become irrelevant.
Remember the deep breaths? I found that a few deep breaths right when the baby latches on helped me "power through it".
Also, the painful part passes way before 40 days. It's the being accessible to your baby at all times regardless of anything else that takes getting used to.
Ah, docking on to the Mother Ship. It is painful and so frustrating ... at first. Once you and Seamus both get the hang of it, though, Greta, you will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE breastfeeding. Meanwhile, perservere, forgive, yowl when you need to, and call La Leche League or a lactation consultant anytime...those ladies have heard it all, done it themselves, and always have good tips.
More pix!!!!!! Please!!!!
Love
Auntie Teri
Is that "beast" a typo or on purpose?!
Curious in Gloucester
Julie here, not too far removed from the breastfeeding days to second Granny Franny's advice about ticking him near his mouth when he starts to drift off, that always worked for me.
And I also concur with Teri, it's painful at first but then it's just wonderful and time you will cherish with Seamus (okay, there will be times, at 3 am...but nevermind that for now...)
Definitely getting used to it and no way am I giving up. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel already. I'm amazed and happy to see actual milk dripping down my son's chin. What a lovely sight.
Greta
Trees -- "beast" is on purpose. I was just being cute.
Jim, you are always cute!
:)
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