Schedule bliss! It's like he was waiting for me to put him on a schedule. We started it 4/19 and he fell into the rythm like a dream. It was like immediate magic. I got the schedule structure from baby wise (yes, I know the controversy over it and no, I'm not implementing much more than a flexible schedule). Scheduling has allowed for me to start enjoying breast feeding! I hate to type this but I promised full disclosure. The 1st 3 1/2 weeks, breastfeeding was sucking (literally) the life out of me. Oliver is a "non-nutritive" sucker so he will stay attached for an hour just using me as a pacifier. Its sweet the first week. Then in all honestly (5 years of infertility aside) it was completely suffocating. Yes, I take the fact that he's an easy eater for granted. While we had our challenges the 1st few days, he is really really good at breastfeeding. I on the other hand was not! I didn't feel that bonding experience. I was doing it for survival and best choice for baby only. Our bonding in my world comes when he's awake (not hungry, just awake and happy) and we are playing,
Reading, talking or getting sleepy (those super calm moments when he's awake right before he dozes off are incredible). Bonding whilst dining?.. Not so much for us yet but I am actually looking forward to it more now that it's more predictable and I have my boobs back to myself for at least 2 hours at a time. He is now getting full feeds every 2 1/2 - 3 hours followed by alert awake time and then solid naps afterward. Before he was predominately cluster feeding. Cluster feeds resulted in a sleepy incomplete feed, 15-30 min naps then back at it again. His awake time was minimal and a bit cranky and most likely he wasn't getting much hind milk because he would fall asleep so quickly after latching on. Full feeds ensure that he's getting to the higher calorie much more nutricious hind milk he needs to chunk up and grow. It's wonderful. When I go back to work this schedule may actually allow for Chad to get real work done which is so important if the work from home arrangement is actually going to work.
So the schedule has allowed 7ish hours of sleep (interrupted by mommy in the middle of the night to nurse) 4 nights in a row with the last 2 in his room!! Energy is being restored and we are able to not only enjoy Oliver more but most importantly each other. Someone asked the other day as people do, "how many do you want?". While I've been fairly adamant that Ollie is it (85% sure), Chad said, "we were complete before he came." Wow what a statement and how true does that need to be for a healthy family dynamic?! Our relationship is priority one then comes the baby. I see so many moms make the mistake of revolving their entire world around the children. Husbands get left out easily especially with breastfeeding. I have to stay mindful of that and the schedule is really enhancing the time chad and I have together when Ollie is napping.
We were already complete. Oliver is an added bonus.
I haven't blogged enough but clearly we've been busy! I'll have more time to now. Ollie and I go out at least once a day. We've walked the lakeside village, lakes Morton & Hollingsworth, target, publix and our neighborhood. He's been out to lunch and visited Chad's office a few times. He even went to his 1st birthday party last Saturday! He is an excellent traveler. Having him on the schedule allows for me to not be stressed when we're out as well. I strongly believe that babies sense stress so a calm confident mommy should help baby stay calm and secure no matter where we are!
I know there is no perfect equation for a newborn but we are certainly figuring our what works best for the Kostellas. All of them!
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