14 Days of Baby

Newborns sleep a lot throughout the day and I have had plenty of time to blog, I just have been enjoying myself and life as a new mom that I don't have much interest in anything else. Natalie is doing well. She is a typical baby and her hobbies include eating, sleeping and pooping. She has been an absolute dream. So far she doesn't cry too much and when she needs something she just kind of fusses and makes little noises. She has been having some trouble with gassiness and that's when she does get upset and wail. I hate seeing her uncomfortable and really hope the problem gets better soon. Last night was particularly bad. She didn't want to sleep on her back so we held her on our chests tummy to tummy but while we held her we couldn't sleep out of fear of dropping her or rolling over. Matt took two weeks off of work to be with us and all day we adore her and anything she does. He's been such a big help. Changing diapers, feeding, burping, putting her to sleep. All the typical things a good dad does. We both have been working together to make sure the other one's needs are met and I think we're adjusting pretty well. There have been the rough nights when she doesn't sleep much but I am shocked at how little sleep I can run on and feel okay through the day without. I know everyone says to sleep when the baby does but once I'm up it's hard to nap during the day and usually I feel too excited to sleep. I definitely have more energy now than when I was pregnant. As much as I enjoyed housing her in my belly, it feels great to not have 7 1/2 lbs sitting on my bladder and spine and in my arms instead. Parenting seems to come naturally to me. It feels so right to be a mom and like nothing else is more meant to be. I do have moments where I feel a little lost and scared but thankfully I have people to turn to. Babies often breath either really slow and you have to watch their chest for movement or really fast to the point you think they're having trouble. Even though I know this is normal I always freak out a little, especially when she's too quiet. Matt is definitely going to be a little over protective of her but not in an annoying way like nothing is good enough for his baby. He just thinks she's so precious and fragile (because she and all babies are) and wants to make sure she is happy and safe. I obviously want the same thing but am a little bit more relaxed since I've been around newborns before. I can't explain how happy and lucky we feel to finally have her here. I'm also still so thankful about how well labor went. My body is slowing but surely healing. I still look like I'm about 5 months pregnant but I know that takes months to change. I'm not sore or in any pain which is the most important thing. Emotionally I am doing well too. I was terrified of postpartum depression and so sure I'd experience it. The first few days were a little hard. I had some crying spells and way too many feelings to process. The very first day in the hospital was the most exhausting day. All the excitement throughout the day drained me. I was really tired and never got a moments rest since giving birth. The hospital "encourages" moms and babies to be together at all times and never offered to take her to the nursery so I could sleep. This made me feel extremely guilty for wanting someone else to look after my brand new baby and by eight o'clock I was having a little breakdown. My mother in law was with me in the room when I just started sobbing. I explained to her how I felt and she took good care of me. She talked to the staff and they said they would take the baby while I slept that I night. I was so relieved but somehow the nurse seemed like she was reprimanding me for it when they came to get her. I was miserable in the hospital and felt like no one was of any help and not just because of this. They hardly checked on me and didn't teach me the basics like swaddling or how to change a diaper. (I knew how to change a diaper beforehand, just so you know.) All that's behind me though and I'm so happy to be home with my husband and daughter and to have gotten through these first couple of weeks pretty easily. Life is as good as ever!