First Few Days

All things considered, we have had a very smooth first few days.  Elizabeth is a pretty easy baby (so far, knock on wood) and being second-time parents makes this whole thing so much less daunting.

Our biggest challenge so far is that she absolutely will not, no matter what, sleep in her bassinet.  The nurses at the hospital worked some crazy magic after middle of the night tests each night to get her asleep in the bassinet, giving us a 3-hour stretch each night, but since we arrived home I think she has managed one or two 45-minute stretches and that is it.  She will sleep in the swing or the bouncy seat, but her favorite place is in someone's arms. 

From 2013 November

We have tried swaddling.  We have tried warmer pajamas and a fleece sleep sack.  We have tried putting her in the corner of the bassinet so she is basically touching 3 sides.  No luck.  For now we're taking this a night at a time and I'm not going to worry about it for the first week.  But my nights are less than refreshing, as you might imagine.  But, really, if you are going to spend most of the night up with a baby, way way way better to be up with one who just wants to sit and snuggle all night than one who is screaming.

And she certainly is a snuggler.  She has completely captured our hearts with her snuggles.  Is there anything better than baby snuggles?

From 2013 November

She has a slight touch of jaundice, but nothing worth treating and the doctor is just keeping an eye on it.  Her coloring is a little yellow, but I think that given how pale she will always be, the yellow just shows up more for the same actual levels.  The doctor examined her yesterday and decided that even given the yellow, we could wait to do any more tests given how alert and active Elizabeth was and how well she has been eating.

Speaking of which, Elizabeth is very alert. 

From 2013 November

From 2013 November

Not all the time, mind you, but we get some pretty decent playtime.  She is particularly fascinated by light and shadows.  There is a video from our first evening home here: https://picasaweb.google.com/103033220833760597415/2013November?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite#5944836184401392322

Last night we did have a moment of minor panic.  (Let me preface this story with the note that she is perfectly fine.)  At about 7:00 Elizabeth spit up some blood.  Or had some blood-laced spit up.  See why the panic?  But it was only minor panic because the first week of nursing is (for me at least) the week of bloody nipples and so we were pretty confident that the blood was my blood, not hers.  A call to the pediatrician confirmed it, but for that half hour while we were waiting for a call back, my stomach was churning a bit.  There has been no more bloody spit up since then, although I am sure she is still consuming blood.  It doesn't seem to bother her and the pediatrician reassured us that it is perfectly safe, but I'm not thrilled about it.  And not only because that means I am bleeding.

My mom left Monday afternoon, but the fact that it worked out that she was here the whole time we were at the hospital plus the first 24 hours at home made the whole experience at least a million times easier and less stressful.  We now have friends here who were on call to take Nicholas, but knowing that Mom had him and could keep him the whole time and that he was at home meant that we didn't have to think about logistics or worry about him at all.  Also, Grandma hugs for Elizabeth!

From 2013 November

From 2013 November

So, all things considered, we are doing really well.  Tired and I'm in the moment where nursing is the most challenging, but doing really well.  Certainly able to enjoy things so much more this time around.