Brief Honeymoon Period

Bringing our daughter home was totally surreal. We already loved her so much and were excited to see her little personality unfold. I was feeding her every 1-3 hours or so, but she wasn't the typical sleepy newborn. Maybe because she was 10 days late, she was really alert and wide awake! She did however know day from night... only a few nights did she decide to party between feedings around 4-5am.

I thought... this is pretty easy! What is everyone complaining about? Breastfeeding was going well after a few days of confusion. I called 811 and the newborn hot line 604-737-3737 (Vancouver BC) after freaking out about her crazy spitting up and green poo (apparently both normal!). The nurses described the first weeks as a 'dance between you and baby'. My body and hers were 'in tune' relatively quickly and life was good. Until... one day in week 2, she was awake one day from 9am until 2pm!!!  I was exhausted!! Why won't she fall asleep?? At only a couple weeks old I knew this was bizarre... around 4 weeks old the fussy evenings began, this is when she woke up from her newborn bliss and things became a major challenge!!!!

I will post advice that got me through each period in bullets under each post:

• Trust your instincts, (regardless to what people say) if it doesn't feel right IT ISN'T!
• Nipple confusion is a myth: but if you wait too long to start baby may reject bottles/soothers
• Bottle=freedom
• Soother=silence (although brief it is heaven!)
• Start the soother ASAP, maybe wait a week or so to recognize the hunger signs (newborns physiologically need to suck 16/24 hours---or they will be sucking on you instead)
• Start pumping ASAP (your boobs need to 'train' and can't if you wait too long)
• Ask for help from anyone as often as possible (food, laundry, hangin with baby while you nap)
• Sleep while baby sleeps (who knows what you may be in for that night!)
• Dr. Karps' 5 S's (Shushing, Swaddling were key--use Aden+Anais muslin cotton swaddle blankets)
• Go for daily walks (rain or shine!)
• Put your baby down- especially once asleep. Constant holding= baby that needs constant holding.
• Wear your baby (Moby carrier, Ergo good (although I found infant insert a bit awkward)

Books--ideally read a little before baby arrives. It's nice to have a range of perspectives so you can find right approach for you and baby.

• 'Secrets of the Baby Whisperer' Tracy Hogg
• Dr. Harvey Karp's 'Happiest Baby on the Block'
• What to Expect in the First Year