Mommy Monday: 1 Week Postpartum Update

I can't believe its already been 12 days since Baby Jack was born! I thought it would be fun to keep track of Jack and I's changes over the next few months. I will be doing a weekly update that will normally post on what I will be calling "Weekly Update Wednesday" and "Mommy Mondays" will be all things mommy! I figured since I missed the one week mark I would just use today to post last weeks updates :)

Mommy's Recovery

One week after my c-section I was still very much on pain killers. I feel like if I were to give any advice on how to recover quickest it would be take your meds!!! I've heard that a lot of people are
afraid that taking medication during breastfeeding isn't worth the effects on the baby. However, from my experience and from the instruction of my doctor this really isn't the case. I didn't notice anything in baby Jack that seemed to be related. As far as moving around, getting out of bed is by far the worst. It's amazing you don't realize how much you use your lower abs until you cut into them! I have been doing my best just to take it easy and not do a ton of activity. I definitely notice when I walk a lot, even if it's just around the house, it aches really bad. But, I am moving around and functioning pretty well considering the circumstances...not to mention I have a superstar husband who has really stepped up and helped me more than I could have ever hoped for.

Breastfeeding has been going really well overall. I was given a nipple shield in the hospital to help with his latch and it's been a miracle. However, I am convinced I produce more milk than any human on earth. I started leaking colostrum around 20 weeks of pregnancy, so I should have known it was going to be a river when my milk finally came in (which seemed to be fully in by the second day in the hospital) As thankful that I am that I am producing tons of milk, it can be really hard at times. It's really discouraging to feel like I won't be able to feed anywhere other than the comforts of my own home because of the mess it causes. I talked to my doctor about it and he said that hopefully around 6 weeks it will all level out.

Body Changes

Holy stretch marks! It's so funny I didn't have ANY stretch marks my whole pregnancy and all of a sudden within the last couple of days they all appeared. I am not super worried about them though because for one I know they will fade and if not who really cares :) 

I think if I were to tell any first time pregnant girls what to expect (with a c-section) is don't expect just because a baby is coming out that you're going to lose weight! With all of the fluids they give you in the hosptial you feel like a tick! My face was so swollen and my hands and feet were just ridiculous. When I got home I weighed and had only lost 4 pounds! Which made no sense since Baby Jack weighed over 8. But have no fear-- the water weight will come off. I would say I finally felt "unsowllen" after about 3 days at home (6 days pp).

During my pregnancy I gained a total of 43 lbs. This is what I looked like at 38 weeks pregnant, almost exactly one week before my c-section and then what I looked like 1 week postpartum. At one week I had lost about 21 lbs. I really do think this is mostly because of breastfeeding because my diet hasn't changed much at all. I also wore an abdominal binder that the hosptial gave me that helped support my incision and back and was wonderful! It's now a little too big and I have transitioned to my belly bandit (I'll talk more about on my 2 week update)  

 

Jack's Weight

When Jack was born he was 8lbs 8oz and he lost a lot of weight at the hosptial. I am pretty sure the lowest he got to was 7lbs 8z. I think this was mostly because we were trying to figure out how to deal with the latching problems I was having. But once they gave me the shield (made by Medela) it solved my problem! By one week Jack was already up to 8lbs 3oz!

 Sleeping

I feel like I am a grandma when it comes to my sleep. Before Jack, Chad and I were always in bed and asleep by 10. But, if we are being completely honest, we were in bed by 9. Now, sleep isn't that   

easy to come by. What's funny though is that it's not because we are waking up to a screaming baby like people always make it seem. He sleeps amazing but we have to wake him up to feed since we aren't supposed to let him go more than 4 hours. So the routine we've started is going to bed around 11 and waking up at 3am and then again at 7am.

Eating/Feeding

During the first week, Jack was eating about every 2 hours during the day and every 4 hours at night. In the hospital he ate probably around every 2 around the clock but once we got home he jumped into a routine really fast. He only eats for about 5-10 minutes a feeding on one side and then only about 2-3 minutes on the second. According to the doc though, he's gaining weight great! So whatever we are doing to keep doing it. 

Sizes

Jack is wearing 0-3 month clothes. He has a few onesies that claim they are 3 months but there's no way! So he can fit in a few of those.  Otherwise, it seems like just about swallows him! But, no worries he has his bronco gear that fits :)

Milestones

His umbilical cord fell off on day 6 and he had his first doctors check up on day 7. He has lots of sleeping smiles and one heck of a grunting face. He's also starting to lift his head quite a bit!

Jack's Favorite Things

Currently Jack's favorite things include: staring up towards ceiling fans, being swaddled, riding in his car seat and his wubbanub....oh and mommy and daddy of course! 

Overall, baby Jack and I are doing great! After my first full week of post c-section I can confidently say that I don't regret the decision at all. Yes, it is difficult but it isn't impossible. If I can offer any advice I would say if your doctor recommends a c-section because you or your baby could potentially be at risk-- don't be afraid! Remember good health is worth it!!!!

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