Z is for Zoey: August 2012

Zoey is 10 days old today, and today was my first day at home without any help... My mom went back home yesterday, and my husband worked from 6am-2pm, so it was just me and Z all day long. I was nervous, but all things considered, it went pretty well. I nursed her before we got out of bed, and she slept for a good solid 3 and a half hours... I got the dishes done, half of the laundry cleaned, folded, and put away (still a work in progress), bathrooms cleaned, trash taken out, my closet cleaned (Whoa!), and the desk in the kitchen cleaned and de-junked. She did awesome! When she wasn't sleeping, she just sat and stared... She really has been a great, happy baby!

She smiles A LOT! She's either very happy, or very gassy. :)

Last week, we battled with the jaundice levels... We went to the doctor for bilirubin tests every day, and she ended up with a grand total of NINE holes in her poor little heels! It broke my heart. We fought against supplementing with formula, until it got to the point that her levels were no longer going down... they jumped 2 and a half points in a day and she was a point away from going under the lights again. So after many tears, we switched her to nothing but formula. Apparently, bilirubin is better flushed out with formula... something about how it doesn't attach itself well enough to breast milk. It definitely wasn't a supply issue... My milk came in on day 4. Anyway, I hated it. Every single stinking minute. And I can't lie... I snuck in one nursing feeding. I don't know if she needed it more, or if I did. I think it made us both feel better. Her stomach got torn to pieces... She threw up and had diarrhea, and it was horrible! BUT, after 3 days, her jaundice is down! They're going to check on her again next week, but she's much less yellow and her eyes are even starting to turn white! I switched back to breastfeeding only, and her little tummy is so much better. She's still a bit gassy, but she's much happier and is sleeping easier. I'm so glad that the endless doctor's visits and heel pokes are over with!

All things considered, her first week at home has been pretty easy. She's on a pretty good schedule of eating about every 3-4 hours (although she'll go 4 and a half if I let her!), and she sleeps most of the time. She's getting more alert, but she's completely content in her bouncy seat or her swing. Which brings me to my must-have list! I have seen these on blogs, and it really helped me decide which things were important to have and which weren't. I hope my list helps someone too!

Graco Pack n Play with Newborn Napper: I think a Pack n Play is on most everyone's registry, but Graco makes this nifty one that has a newborn napper attached. It's super soft and comfy, and keeps them at a slight incline. Zoey LOVES to sleep in it! I love it too, because it keeps her at arm's reach at night. The model that we have also has storage underneath... We have extra burp cloths, gowns, diapers, breast pads, and receiving blankets. It also has a vibration box under the newborn napper that can be moved underneath the bassinet when they're a bit older, and an attachment that plays music and has a light! It's a bit pricier, but amazingly worth it, especially if you plan on keeping your baby in the room with you for the first few months!

Graco Pack n Play with Newborn Napper in "Faith"

Swaddling Blankets: Zoey loves to be swaddled! I have become a self-proclaimed expert at swaddling, after having at least 6 nurses show me how. One thing I learned is that everyone has a different way! Another thing I learned is that swaddling in the store-bought receiving blankets is impossible. I tried it once... She stayed swaddled for about .2 seconds, at which point all 4 limbs busted out of the swaddle at once. Hulk-Smash style. So we went to Joann and bought flannel in 5 cute patterns, and my friend Krystal serged the edges to make nice swaddling blankets for Z. We swaddle her every night, and she's instantly asleep! I really want some Aden & Anais swaddling blankets... but they're SO expensive! I settled for the security blankets instead (with the silk edges), and she loves them too!

Sleeping babies rock.

Night light: Okay, so not just ANY nightlight... Mine rocks. It's an OXO Candela Tooli. I love this thing! Seriously, I couldn't live without it. I bought it when I was about 26 weeks, and I was constantly going to the bathroom, but bumping my belly into anything within a 6 foot radius. The cool thing about it is that it's rechargable and cordless. You pick it up off of the base, and it turns on. You set it down, it turns off. It has an 8 hour battery life, so you can leave it off of the base all night, and recharge it in the morning. It comes in handy now that Z is here too... We take it off of the base, and tuck it into the napper by her feet. Then I can be paranoid and check on her all night without turning on the lights! :D You can order one here! (This will take you to a rocket ship one, which is the same concept... You can buy the Tooli tops and change them out. Different colors, yeah!)

Mine is blue!

Baby Carrier: I am a little obsessed with baby wearing. I have 3 carriers so far... A ring sling, a Moby, and an Infantino Sash mei-tai style. The only one I've tried so far is the ring sling, and Zoey loves to be in it! As soon as I put her in it the first time, she was asleep within a minute! It's nice to be able to carry her, but have both hands free... It is also an awesome cure for fussy-baby! I'm going to try the Moby tomorrow... I'm a little intimidated by all of the fabric, but I can't wait to try! I ordered my ring sling from Sleeping Baby Productions... She's been hand-sewing slings for 12 years, and the quality is fantastic! I received mine within a week of ordering it, and she sews them all to order.

Chillin'.

That's my list so far... There are a few more, like her Snugabunny Swing, Soothie, and my Medela Pump in Style... but these are my favorites!

Keep an eye out this week... I'll be posting her newborn pictures that my Mom took this week! Like this one:

Stay tuned! :)

After everything that we went through in the last few weeks, our sweet baby girl is finally here! Please meet Zoey Ava, born on 8/6/12 at 38 weeks and 2 days, weighing 8 pounds 12 ounces and measuring 20 and a half inches! I was induced on Sunday afternoon after going into early labor that morning... After 17 hours of labor and just an hour of pushing, she was here!! She had some trouble breathing at first and needed a bit of oxygen... She also has pretty bad jaundice due to the Cholestasis, and had to be given phototherapy treatment in an isolette... She is home now, breast feeding like a champ and being such a good, easy baby (SO FAR!). We love her so much already and are so glad to be home cuddling with our baby girl!!