Katy update

Katy and I have been gradually getting back into a regular routine, now that we're at home again. This week we went back to our breastfeeding support group and our mom's group at the hospital. When I weighed in Katy on Tuesday, she was 13 lbs 8 oz. So she had put on exactly 1/2 lb in 4 wks. The breastfeeding consultant says as long as she is seeing about a 1/2 lb per month, they are doing great. It seems like Katy is also getting longer by the minute! While we don't nearly need the next carseat according to weight, as our infant one is good for 20 lbs, her head is right at the top and her feet getting close to reaching over the bottom. So we have started to look at the next seats, as I don't think her height will allow her to remain in this one until 20 lbs!

We are also working on her sleep routine, and trying to cancel out middle-of-the-night feedings. We got a little off track while in Moose Jaw, as mid-way through our week there Katy started waking up pretty much every 2 hrs!?!? As I was sick, I didn't want to be awake more than necessary, so I would just feed her as that puts her right back to sleep. However, not the best habit... as she definitely does not need feeding that often at night! Before that, she was still usually feeding one time, but returning right back to sleep. That I could handle, but the every 2 hrs, or even a couple times a night, had to stop!! So I chatted with the breastfeeding specialist about it, and with that I was fairly confident Katy should be able to do at least a 7-8 hr stretch, if not more. I think I was partly to blame for encouraging night feedings, as when a baby wakes up and is fussy in the middle of the night, one tends to just want the quickest way possible for getting them to go back to sleep! Which, of course, was reaching over and pulling her into bed with us (she is usually in a cosleeper right next to our bed on my side) and hooking her up! Then we both could fall back to sleep.

So... I figured now that we were home, and I could manage a few tough nights, I was going to try to wean her off of nights and encourage longer stretches. So my rules... if she was just sort of fussy or making a little noise, or calling out, or a momentary cry, I'd let that go and not feed her. Only if the cry elevated to a full-out cry and didn't fairly quickly come back down would I assume she then must really be hungry. Otherwise, I'd just let her work it out on her own (while being right there), and maybe at the most just stroke her head or hold her hand to give a little comfort, without the feeding, to encourage her to return to sleep.

Our progress so far?? Last night she slept for close to 11 hrs straight without a feeding, or even needing me to pop her pacifier back in or anything!!! :) :) :) It was only the 2nd night since I decided I would try this, so I was pretty amazed. Of course, I kept waking up, sure that at any moment she'd be fussing, but barely a peep all night. I do think she was awake momentarily around 3am, but just a little movement and no cries or fussing, and after a few minutes she was completely still again. The first night, she went down around 8:30, but by 11:30 was pretty persistently crying, so I fed her hoping than she'd be set for the night. Around 5am, she began fussing. I just layed there as still as could be... but the fussing continued on and off, so at 5:30 I started stroking her forehead etc and SSSHHHHing her. Finally, by 6am, she was back to sleep, and woke up happy just after 8am. So she did make it over 8 hrs that first night without a feed, but we did have that hour of fussing.

I was convinced yesterday she must be close to cutting a tooth... Katy seemed exhausted in the afternoon and evening, in spite of good naps. She was desparate to be sucking or chewing on something, and seemed a little flushed and warm. So I was actually bracing myself for a tough 2nd night on my plan... but she was an angel! Straight to sleep without a fuss after her 8pm feeding, and woke up happy but hungry at 7am today. And then she went right down for a good 90 min nap at 9am! That's my girl!!! I still think her gums are bugging her a bit, but she's a trooper.

She should actually be just about ready for another nap now... she's been playing next to me in her Bumbo as I type. So I'll sign off for now, but I'll try to add a few more pics soon!