I didn’t mention this on my last post. But on Thursday, the day after we brought Isabelle home we noticed her lips looked dry. We thought she might be dehydrated. We were concerned so we called the hospital. We already had an appointment set up for Friday but the nurse told us to come in anyways.

At the appointment we found out she had lost weight. It is normal for breast feeding babies to lose weight after they are born. But the nurse was concerned because she seemed to lose more weight then they would like to see. So they watched me feed her and saw that Isabelle wasn’t latching on as well as she could so I was sent home with nipple shields (I think that’s what they are called) to help in her feedings.

We kept our appointment on Friday and Isabelle had lost even more weight. So this time we were sent home with a breast pump machine to supplement her feedings and we were told to come back on Monday. We’ve basically been bundles of stress.

Well at our appointment yesterday we found out happily that Isabelle has gained weight. We have another appointment on Friday and I’m sure she’ll be fine. She’s become quite a little piggy much to the pain of my boobs. But I don’t mind. I can’t believe how much we love her already.

Isabelle has lost her umbilical cord. We would do a happy dance if we weren’t so tired and wanting to sleep all the time.

I’ve discovered I can post to my blog while little Isabelle is breast feeding. Everything takes a little longer though because I only have use of one hand and the laptop is at an awkward angle to me. I feel very out of touch. I can’t remember when I last read my favorite blogs.

Well anyhoo this was the last thing I was working on before Isabelle joined us. It’s the umbilical cord baby hat from Stitch N Bitch. I’ve finished it along with another one but just haven’t managed to take a picture yet with my erratic sleeping impairing my memory. Let’s see if I remember tomorrow.

Who knew such a little cutie could cause such heartache. It’s been a frustrating 24 hours filled with crying and tears. I couldn’t get Isabelle to suck. She would just cry and cry and pull her little head away. And her feeding time had come and gone. It was so upsetting. She was crying, I was crying. I felt so helpless…sitting there with all this milk dripping out and her refusing to drink from me but screaming and crying in hunger.

It breaks my heart to see her crying so much. I was so frustrated I about gave up and almost had Alan go out and buy formula. I ended up pumping some milk for her and eventually she got onto the breast maybe 10 hours after her last successful feeding. It worries me so much. At our last appointment with the lactation counselor she had only gained half an ounce from her previous appointment and she still only has about one or if we’re lucky two poop diapers a day.

I don’t know how to make her eat when she’s not sucking.

Here’s the finished umbilical cord hats. Now just to wash them so I can get a picture of her.

And on Isabelle: She had an appointment yesterday and she’s gained 4 oz in 4 days. But after we left the hospital Alan said the nurse forgot to take her diaper off before weighing her. So the weight gain wasn’t accurate. How much could a diaper weigh? And also she’s been much more cooperative at feedings. No more refusing to suck so YAY!! In fact a couple of times I got her on my boob without the nipple shield. And she went poop. She hadn’t gone in 3 days and who knew we would be so happy to see a poopy diaper. So basically we’re doing really good. Now if we can just get some more sleep.

Isabelle has started stretching out, her little arms flailing around uncontrollably. And she’s started making more noises besides her crying. She makes little cooing noises and little sighs. It’s adorable.