6 weeks on

The only reason(s) why I'm (finally) able to blog now:

1) Thank you smartphones and Blogger app

2) I'm off to a gynae visit on my own and that frees me up a little.

6 weeks into mommy-hood and i think I'm slowly getting the hang of it.

Attending to Baby's needs

After a period of 'Why are you crying???', I'm sort of able to identify Lil J's needs. Sometimes I still try my luck but this is roughly what it is.

#1: I'm hungry! 

According to Priscilla Dunstan, babies cry with the 'neh' sound. I've been trying to listen out for this sound but I'm not too good at it. 

Lil' J's hunger cries sounds like 

"ng eh" to me instead. And she usually has her head arched backwards at a really awkward angle.

#2: Diaper change 

If we are lucky, baby responds with an O-shaped mouth if we ask "Do you want to wee wee?" when she fidgets. That means we probably could make it in time to the potty. (My mummy is really good at this.)

Else she cries and I'll look out for blue stars on her Huggies.

#3: Burp me!

She usually fidgets, turn her head left and right and looks like something is stuck in her throat. This is sometimes accompanied by a throaty sound.

#4: I want to sleep 

I'm supposed to listen for the 'owh' sound with an O-shaped mouth. Either baby doesn't want to make it easy for me or I'm really bad at it. 

I usually know that she wants to sleep after she yawns multiple times.

#5: I want to bathe.

This happens usually in the morning. If #1- #4 fails and the back of her head is wet from perspiration, I'll assume Lil J wants her bath. 

Usually she does.

#6: Give me my tummy time.

When Lil' J fusses and #1- #4 fails, I'll try my luck with this one. I'll put her over my shoulder/ on my chest. If she lifts her head happily, I'll give her a brief session of tummy-time.

This usually ends with her looking satisfied.

Breastfeeding 

After a visit to the lactation consultant at Mount Alvernia when Lil' J was 2.5 weeks old, we are finally better at latching. But I'm still supplementing her with formula because she doesn't pee/poo much when she's solely on breast milk. And that scares me.

These days she chooses her milk source. Sometimes she insists on breast milk even when I offer her the bottle. 

That really encourages me to persevere in this journey.

Sleep

I sleep in stretches no longer than 4 hours. Even if Lil' J is sweet to sleep through the night sometimes. I'll wake up wondering why she hasn't summoned me for feeding. 

Me

No one told me that being a momma means that I got to protect my baby from cockroaches and mozzies as well.

Despite the lack of sleep and the constant worries, I'm still very thankful for my little bundle of joy.