Postpartum Vlog: Prairie Moon, Week 2
WHAT WEEK?
2
HOW BIG IS BABY?
Prairie is 7lbs 4oz/3.28kg today at 2 weeks old so she’s well ahead of where she should be which is affirming, all that cluster feeding is paying off!
MY BODY?
Recovery wise I feel wonderful! My tummy has come back in but still feels better supported by either a tubey grip or my Belly Bandit. I’ve lost about 20lb/9kg of the 30lbs/13kg I put on, I’m in no hurry to drop the rest especially since I’m nursing not one but two babies! I need to keep my caloric intake high enough to sustain milk for two and to replenish my own needs. I’d love to be exercising more as I feel my body is ready for it and I always feel great going on hikes around my property or having a trampoline sesh but solo parenting 4 is no joke and I am finding myself with absolutely zero time during the day between all the drop offs/puck ups/playgroups/dance classes/extra curricular activities etc. omg it’s so nuts how little time I have in the day. Even now I’m writing this at 9:30pm as it’s the only time I have! Also the other thing worth noting is that I pinched a nerve in my shoulder blade and/or neck and my left arm and fingers are numb. Today is day 5 of it! I’ve been finding it really painful oftentimes and at the best of times it’s uncomfortable so I’ve been a bit miserable about it. I’m counting down the days till it eases up. I’ve seen my chiro, taken pain relief to take the edge off and tried heat therapy but so far nothing has aided it, any suggestions please let me know!!
WHAT’S SOMETHING NEW?
The dreaded crying in the car has started. ALL my babies hate the car. I always wonder if it’s because they’re so used to being in arms, co-sleeping and not having much time away from me that my babies in particular hate it, I’m not sure but we all have such a hard time hearing our little babe wail in the car, I have ended up on the side of the road nursing many times this past week!! I hate thinking that she feels afraid, abandoned or confused, it absolutely breaks my heart and my feats start milking as we drive haha!
MOST CHALLENGING MOMENT?
I would say the most challenging thing this week has been that I’m the only one that can settle her. She has definitely figured out who mama is and she feels most at ease with me. Sometimes it’s been hard this week when I’m trying to tend to all the other kids, meet their needs or just make dinner and Prairie needs me. I’ve noticed it doesn’t bother the children but Poet has said to me a couple of times now this week, “mama I need a cuddle, put Prairie down” I instantly do of course but then if we are interrupted by bubs I feel torn. Prairie likes to be rocked a certain way and held in specific ways and it’s funny all my babies respond to the same methods of soothing that really only Mark and I can do and without Mark here it’s on me to juggle the needs of everyone and ensure that the other kids don’t feel like they don’t matter as much if I’m needing to be with Prairie. I follow Dr Harvey Karp’s methods of the 5 S’s and my babes have always responded to those same soothing mechanisms. Lots of touching, holding tight, rocking and ssssh’s, thank goodness for the carrier (loving Artipoppe right now) it’s been really helpful this past week as it enables me to be hands free!
FAVORITE MOMENTS?
All my close snuggling with her, I just kiss her all the time and love on her so much. I love the feeling of being able to settle her and follow her cues, we are feeling really in sync at the moment. I also just adore seeing the kids with her, it makes me so proud to see how ,ugh they love her. It’s really everything I always envisioned and dreamed of.
MAMA TIME?
Verrrrry little, it’s been absolutely non stop, however I have my second Golden Month appointment this week and it’s getting a massage. BRING IT ON!
WHAT I AM EATING?
My diet hasn’t been great to be honest. I spend time making sure the kids are well fed and then always forget myself. Luckily as a part of the Golden Month I get given their amazing meals that they’ve prepared and there is a lot! Yummy curries, soups, lentil dishes. That isn’t to say that I haven’t definitely ordered burgers, fries and pizza too and had a caramel ice cream every single night!!
WHAT’S WORKING?
I’ll say it again this week as I said last week, just being in flow is working. Allowing the day to unfold without expectation, feeding whenever Prairie seems hungry, letting her sleep whenever she’s tired. Honestly this kind of style of parenting has always always always served us, I’m the opposite of the parents that have strict sleep/eat/play routines I think knowing my personality, that that style of parenting would drive me crazy, even though of course it works perfectly well for others. I’m very baby led and definitely gravitate towards attachment style parenting but without being dogmatic about any one approach. I guess I just keep it chill and flexible and it really takes the pressure off it all affording me a kind of ease with however the day turns out even when it means poop explosions at school pick up or pulling on the side of the road for butt changes/breastfeeding stops or forgetting burp cloths or a change of clothes for the toddler that gets muddy at the playground. I just try and have a giggle when things get a bit nutso and allow myself to be human and imperfect, as long as the kids are happy and safe and as long as I’m feeling good then we are winning!