Grace is now 10 weeks old and a big 7 lb. 1 oz.! At her 2 month Dr.’s visit yesterday, Dr. Byrne pronounced her the picture of health, which was music to my ears. She is still not on the growth charts (0 percentile for height and weight), but her growth curve is a mirror image to babies born full term. I couldn’t ask for anything more. She is still an avid eater and is starting to smile more and more. While she complains a lot during tummy time, she is able to push herself up off the floor for up to 15 seconds. She probably has more arm strength than her mother!
All that aside, the past few weeks have been rough. I realized 2 days ago that Grace hadn’t napped during the day for longer than 1 hour more than three times in the last 5 weeks; the only exception was when she was being held or in the baby sling. She was nursing for a little over an hour each time and straight from 7 pm to 10 pm at night (we had to cut her off at 10 and then Doug had to really distract her to get her to sleep by 11pm). In addition, she was cranky whenever she wasn’t nursing and I often didn’t get a quiet shower in until after 4 pm. I kept on thinking that she was having a really hard time keying down for naps and therefore wasn’t staying asleep. With her being a preemie, she has had more sensitivities and a harder time coping than I believe a full-term baby to have. So as any OT would, I brought out the rocker, the sling carrier, the swing, and if I would have had time, the hammock swing that goes in a doorway! After a lot of talking with Doug, some reading, and a weekend of bottle feeds, I realized that she actually was napping and I didn’t know it. It was just during feeding times! And so that’s why when I’d cut her off after an hour of feeding, she’d be mad and grumpy and I thought she needed a nap. In all actuality I had just woken her up from her nap! So this is day 2 of what we’re calling Baby Boot Camp here at the Lake house. I work to keep Grace awake during her feeds, we play or go for a stroller ride afterwards, and then I help her to nap. It has been a godsend too. Last night she slept for 6 hours before waking for a feed and she is napping right now and has been for 1 hour 45 minutes! Even her feeds have starting cutting down on their own to 40 minutes! Yesterday she went a full 26 minutes awake and interacting with me until she made her first fuss.. I feel like a whole new woman and mother. If this keeps up, I hope to get some new pictures back up on the blog!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Chunky Monkey
Well, we have survived and actually thrived the past two weeks! Grace's weigh-in today showed a gain of 8 oz. in just one week. She's now up to 6 lb. 4 oz. Looking at her body now, she's actually got a chubby belly and some weight on her limbs and face. When I hold her during feeds, her belly and mine actually now make contact! This past week she had a growth spurt where she was wanting to feed every 1 1/2 to 2 hours and pretty much did full feeds every time. We're so thankful she's a good eater, but I'm thankful that we're now getting back to a feeding schedule of 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
It's been difficult to know what to expect of Grace as far as her sleep and activity patterns with her being a preemie. While I have looked through many of my early intervention resources, none really have any good information that seems specific. How much should she be sleeping during the day? How much should she be awake? There are days that she stays awake all day with the exception of 20-30 minute occasional naps, and other days where she naps longer and wakes due to hunger. Is she considered 2 weeks old for her coping skills, although her motor skills are probably 5-6 weeks? The flies on our walls are probably laughing at us two bookworms reading baby books (with a plethora of different answers) but also trying to figure this out as we go. I suppose this will be what it's like the next 18 years! It is wonderful, difficult, and rewarding all in one.
This weekend will be Grace's first road trip and party. Doug's brother will be getting married in Topeka. Grace hasn't really been out in public (save a few restaurants and Target), and will hopefully take it all in stride. People still say she's really tiny, and although she is, to me she is getting big, big, big. That too will likely be another theme for the next 18 years! Hope you enjoy the pictures!
It's been difficult to know what to expect of Grace as far as her sleep and activity patterns with her being a preemie. While I have looked through many of my early intervention resources, none really have any good information that seems specific. How much should she be sleeping during the day? How much should she be awake? There are days that she stays awake all day with the exception of 20-30 minute occasional naps, and other days where she naps longer and wakes due to hunger. Is she considered 2 weeks old for her coping skills, although her motor skills are probably 5-6 weeks? The flies on our walls are probably laughing at us two bookworms reading baby books (with a plethora of different answers) but also trying to figure this out as we go. I suppose this will be what it's like the next 18 years! It is wonderful, difficult, and rewarding all in one.
This weekend will be Grace's first road trip and party. Doug's brother will be getting married in Topeka. Grace hasn't really been out in public (save a few restaurants and Target), and will hopefully take it all in stride. People still say she's really tiny, and although she is, to me she is getting big, big, big. That too will likely be another theme for the next 18 years! Hope you enjoy the pictures!
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