Hospital

We are 2.5 weeks in and I am starting to get a hang of this mum stuff. I really think that is due to the amazing support that I have around me.

My hospital stay was both helpful but overwhelming. The midwives were lovely and so caring and understanding of the different questions and many tears that came around. But it was hard having so many different opinions as each person has their own way of doing things. The first night Daniel was unsettled so after trying to feed him, but no milk available, he was taken to the nursery so I could get some sleep. In the morning he was brought back to me, but I still couldn't feed him, even with the midwife's help. She suggested that I go to a breastfeeding class, which I did. That was very helpful! We had some skin to skin time which was very special and then we tried to have him attach and he did! Very exciting moment. I went back to my room and was able to have him attach on the other side too. Yay!

Skin to skin time

We snuck Jens in for a visit which was lovely. She is such a proud Auntie!

Tanya came to visit us too to check on us and Daniel and chat about the labour process and answer any questions we had. She was so lovely! Dr Booker also checked on me and was happy with how things were going.

 In the afternoon Mum and Dad (aka Nana and Poppy) came to visit and have cuddles. And Jenny came again :-)

The next few days were a roller coaster ride. I had my up moments and my down moments. Some of the cuter moments were when Daniel cries, his bottom lip quivers. He also has the cutest sneeezes! I caught this on camera when I was filming him having hiccups.

 

Daniel loved his first bath! It was a class on how to do it, but we were blessed in that noone else was there so it was a personal lesson.

Oscar came to visit but was very hesitant to touch Daniel. He just looked at him from a distance and with us asking questions like 'Are Daniel's eyes open?' 

And Howie has decided that he is going to be called 'Uncle Awesome'.

My beautiful Year 1 buddies came to celebrate in style with Chocolate milk and mint slice (that sums up our Year 1 times). Sadly Daniel decided that he wanted to eat and a number of people came to visit as a surprise so it was rather stressful! Resulting in me being very emotional as I needed to feed Daniel, he was very upset, I wanted our lovely visitors to cuddle Daniel, etc. It was just too much. James was wonderful and took everyone to the cafe so I could calm down and start feeding Daniel.

Saturday saw Daniel 'watch' his first AFL game. James and I hope that as he grows up, he will enjoy AFL and join the Gower clan at the games.

On Sunday we were going to be going home, however, Daniel got weighed at night and he had lost more than 10% of his birth weight. With discussions with Cathy, one of the midwives, Dr Kehogh (Dr Booker's obstetrician colleague) and our pediatrician it was decided that we'd stay in for another day. I worked closely with Deb, one of the lactation consultants to try and feed Daniel more. This involved feeding 30mins both sides, 10 mins both sides and then express for 10 mins both sides and give Daniel the expressed milk. The hope was that he'd put on weight in the next day.
 
The other lovely thing on Sunday was that James' parents arrived and came for a visit and cuddles. It was lovely to have them here for a week!

On Monday morning Daniel was weighed again and this time he had put on 25g. Because it was on the up and James and I were going to continue the feeding routine we had done that day, we were allowed to go home on Monday morning. His new weight was 3.360kg. On Thursday we were to have a follow up weigh in to make sure he was still putting on weight.

Heading home was scary but great as we were starting doing things our way, in our space. Daniel was happy with the capsule and the car trip home. James did a good job with putting him in.

 When we got home Chilli was very curious about Daniel. We will need to keep an eye on her and have decided that she isn't allowed in Daniel's room - just to be on the safe side.

Asleep in his own bassinet. He looks so little!