Week 2 Update

Here is mine and Florence's week 2 update...

We both had our 10 day check, which went brilliantly and we both have now been discharged. 

Mama

Recovery:

I feel almost back to normal, my below area is still a bit on the painful side but that will get better soon I am sure.

My milk is starting to get better too but I am still producing too much for Florrie! 

Body: 

I haven’t weighed myself yet but am still not able to fit into pre-pregnancy jeans easily.

I want to buy a few new bits, preferably nursing clothes, so if anyone has any recommendations, please let me know.

Mood: 

My mood has changed this week and I have been so up and down. I think that it’s a combination of the count down to Chris going back to work and the fact that Florrie is already growing too fast. I know that it's mainly to do with my hormones settling but it still doesn’t help.

Florence

She has just been so easy this week and she has fitted into our family as though she’s been here for years. Her colour has got better but I still think there is a bit of jaundice in there, so hopefully that will be gone soon.

Milestones:

She has become a bit more alert this week, spending more of the day awake and looking around. Jackson loves this time at the moment, he finds it funny to copy her facial expressions! 

Routine:

Generally its about 2-4 hours between feeds but she then cluster feeds from about 10pm–12'ish, which is not ideal but she’s still so little so I forgive her! At night, it’s really hard to get her to sleep in her bed too, so we have just ordered a 'Sleepyhead' to see if that will help. I have heard great reviews on them so hopefully it will help us! 

Weight: 

She is back over her birth weight, weighing 8lbs 13oz.

Jackson just loves his little sister!!!

Love Sophia xxx

Week 1 Update

Here is mine and Florence's one week update...

Mama

Recovery:

My recovery is so much easier this time. After having Jackson, I felt like I had been hit by about 10 buses, whereas this time it just feels like a car or 2! Not sure if this is due to the natural birth element, the fact that it was a quick labour or that it happened during the day, rather than in the middle of the night. Maybe it is even a combination of all of the above. We managed to leave the hospital the next day after having Florence too, which was an amazing feeling to be at home so quickly. 

Going to the loo hurts this time due to the stitches I had, which doesn't make it a pleasant experience. Also, my boobs are just massive!!!! I am pretty sure my body thinks I've had twins or something.

I am exclusively breastfeeding and this time round it's a lot easier - no waiting for bottles to warm up or expressing etc. 

Body: 

I have lost a fair amount of weight already, due to Florence being so big but I just feel very squishy now!!! I am also in that awkward stage where maternity clothes fall down but there is no chance pre-pregnancy clothes will fit!

Mood: 

My mood has been really good; we are currently in the 'baby bubble', which I just love, I don't want it to end!

Florence

We had to keep checking her blood as she was diagnosed with jaundice (which wasn't hard to tell since she looked like she had been given a bad spray tan) but she just kept falling below the line, meaning she never had to go under the lights. We got the all-clear on day 6, which I am so glad for, as we can finally start bonding as a family of 4 without the constant hospital visits.

Milestones:

Nothing at the moment, she is still getting a grip on being on the outside! 

Routine:

Again no routine yet, I feed her on demand. Sometimes we are lucky and get 3 hours straight of sleep, other times she is on the boob for 3 hours straight!  

Weight: 

She is doing really well, only lost about 2% of her birth weight at the 5 day check, making her weight 8lbs 8oz. 

Love Sophia xxx

Truth about Motherhood

So, many people talk about pregnancy and what you should expect but they never really say it how it is. Before you read on, please note that I know how lucky I am to have my gorgeous boy and to be pregnant with the number 2!!!!

It is a fact that you are pregnant for about 9 months, however, the side effects last for so much longer, making it very similar to an Elephant pregnancy!!! One example of this is the fact that the weight that most people tend to put on takes well over 9 months to lose. Don't get me wrong, there are those lucky few (most of whom I am friends with - everyone I know that has given birth to #2 already look amazing!!!!) who shed the weight almost instantly, but not me! The 'tired bags under the eyes' look you get in the 3rd trimester seems to stay with you for a very long time too, even if your baby does sleep through the night with ease. 

My next point, which often isn't mentioned, is 'Mum Guilt'. This really is a thing (I wonder if all schools should stop teaching children to put condoms on bananas and showing them videos from the 1970s for sexual education, as all they need to do is explain and find a way for them to experience Mum Guilt!). It makes you feel terrible, especially at the moment when I am growing another child, you feel like you are going to forget about your first born! I thought that it would stop after a while but my Mum informed me that she still feels Mum Guilt with my sister and I (we are 26 and 29 by the way).

Some days, you will see your husband playing with your child and you will have so much love for him, you can't quite believe it is possible. Then, some other days and for no apparent reason at all, you will hate him to the point you do not even want to be in the same room! Why should you have to put up with all of the snot and tears everyday, only for your other half to come home and have nothing but smiles and giggles?!? 

Another thing to consider when having a child is, you are never alone!! Whenever you need to go to the loo, you must lock the door, else you will have a little visitor playing around you in the bathroom while you try to do your business (not off-putting at all!). The visitor also won't just sit there and be silent, he will start unrolling the loo roll, opening the doors and emptying the cupboard - just what you need. 

When you do have some rare alone-time, all you can think and talk about is your baby who you have left at home. They may as well be there with you, completely defeating the object of alone time.

Some days, you will love your children so much that you are worried you could actually eat them. Then again, some days you are pretty sure it's already time that they made it in the big wide world by themselves (please bear in mind my son is not even 2 yet and I already have these days).  

Your beautiful home, that you spent a lot of time and money making perfect for yourself, now resembles a cheap soft-play most of the time.

You actually see yourself age. It's quite amazing, every day you look in the mirror and you will have a new wrinkle or some more grey hairs.

A healthy diet is trying not to eat more than 4 biscuits and a chocolate bar each day, especially when breastfeeding when you wake up wanting to eat a roast dinner in the middle of the night.

I used to care a little about what I looked like and made sure I did things that I enjoyed. Now, all I care about is making Jackson happy. I suppose you could say that what makes me happy has changed. However, after an hour pushing your son on the swings, it gets a little old!

What do other Mama's think of these points? 

Love Sophia xxx