Baby Exercises

Today, we had a visit from Baby Garrett and Nanny Gail. In this photo, Maddi is doing some baby exercises with Nanny Gail to help her relieve some gas.

We went to see Dr. Wenner today and she said Maddi looks good. She gave us a prescription for Oval to give Maddi 3 feeds per day to help with her gassiness.

Although she is not feeding as long as she used to (20 mins each time), feeding only 5-10 mins. each time now... she seemed happy tonight and wasn't fussing at all.

She nursed while waiting at Dr. Wenner's office, then slept most of the time from after we got home from around 5.30pm till about 7.30pm. She woke up to feed and slept till about 8.30pm, fed again then slept till about midnight. We thought she was out for the night, but I guess she was making up for lost time and fed 40 mins at a time starting midnight till 3am! I guess the baby exercises worked.

Poor Boo

Poor little Boo probably had a gassy belly last night. She normally feeds for 20 minutes each time but last night she would only feed for 5 to 10 minutes at a time and would latch off and cry. She seemed hungry but wouldn't take the breast when I offer it, she looked frustrated and would cry. She's such  good baby, so far she has only cried when she's hungry, cold or gassy. So I figured she had a tummy ache from being gassy. I rubbed clockwise circles on her belly and lifted her knees to her belly like how Alicia showed me, but that didn't seem to help relieve her last night.

I called the newborn hotline to see if there's anything else I could try, but they didn't really have anything different I could try. The nurse at the other end of the line said that at two weeks, babies start to take in more milk and could have reflux. Also, colic usually shows up around this time, although breastfed babies don't normally become colicky. She suggested that I make an appointment to see the doctor tomorrow.

It is heartbreaking to hear her cry like that. It's true what they say about a parent's love; you would wish you were in pain if only that could take the pain away from your child. Til this point, whenever she cried, I knew how to meet her need and comfort her. When I knew what was wrong with her but can't seem to help her, I felt helpless. I never got the baby blues, but I sure got emotional watching her be in such pain tonight.

Maddi slept on my chest for the first half of the night for some comfort, then between mama & daddy on our bed for the second half of the night. I think it did the trick and she still slept through most of the night, getting up only once to feed.

A Visit From Auntie Nicole & Hayley

My baby is two weeks old today!

Today, we got a visit from Nicole & Hayley. Hayley is such a cutie - such a great eater, she loved my dad's cooking! She was saying "mmmm" the whole time =)

Maddi got more loot... thanks Auntie Nicole!

After 2 weeks with Maddi, I'm starting to figure out a routine with her. She feeds as soon as she wakes up, then continues to sleep for another hour or so... and I either go back to sleep with her, or that's my time to do my own thing while she sleeps with Sean. She sleeps most of the day, waking up about every 3 hours to feed. At around 6pm, she feeds nonstop with only 15-20 minutes in between feedings until she goes to bed for the night, which could be as early as 9pm or as late as 1.30am. So, it is crucial that I take a nap while she's sleeping between 3-5pm... and that has become my time with her as we nap together with her either on my chest or beside me on our bed.

The Best Family In The World

In the last few years, I've started to appreciate and be grateful for my family more than I ever have. Although we live halfway across the world from each other, we've become closer than we ever have. I have no words to express just how much my parents have done for me and been there for me. My brother has been such a source of encouragement and my sister has been such a great support and comfort.

My sister arrived on my due date, and has been taking care of all my needs since Maddi was born. I am receiving the traditional Chinese postpartum care, and she's brought Sean and I food everyday as well as picked up anything that we may need. My parents arrived on the Friday after Maddi was born and they took over cooking and cleaning duty as soon as they got here. I am very lucky to have family that would fly 16 hours halfway across the world to serve me and take care of me during this time. I just realized how much I've missed them and wish I could see them more than just a couple of weeks in a year. It will be hard to see my sister leave in a few days and my parents leave in ten days.

In this photo, my parents are preparing an herb concoction for me to strengthen my body after birthing.

Popeye Face

Maddi's starting to fill out, I also noticed that she seemed to have gotten some colour - she's gotten a little darker the last couple of days. She's entertaining to watch, she makes funny faces and this is one of the regular ones she makes - her Popeye face.

A Visit From Auntie Cathy

Maddi is still a very good sleeper! She went to bed at 1am last night and stayed sleeping until 7am - mama definitely appreciates that!

Maddi has been eating a lot too! She has started to fill out and as much as I get excited that she is growing, I get a little sad that she will simply keep growing and will never be this small again =(

Tonight, Auntie Cathy came for a visit. She met Maddi for the first time, and I think she likes her =)

A Visit From Gruncle Bob

Today, we went to see Dr. Wenner for a follow up check up appointment for Maddi. She said that she was at a doctor's convention last Thursday and has been raving about my birth and talking to the other physicians about Hypnobabies. She discovered that not many have heard about it and thought that she could be the spokesperson for Hypnobabies. It's so amazing to see how she went from being suspicious of it to now totally intrigued by it.

Maddi is doing great, she's healthy and has already surpassed her birth weight by 2oz... now weighing 6lbs. 11oz.

Shortly after we got home from Dr. Wenner's clinic, Gruncle Bob stopped in for a visit before flying out to Australia. Maddi got lots of loot again; all sorts of sports paraphernalia - a BC Lions onesie, a BC Lions hat, a pair of Canucks shoes, a Canucks hockey stick, another Sophie (which we'll exchange for something else at the store) and a grobag. Thanks, Gruncle Bob!

Uncle Mike also came for a visit just before bedtime... bearing gifts. Thanks, Uncle Mike!