Post Partum

So breastmilk didn't arrive until 4th day with Camilla. The struggle is real! Mom and I took turns in watching (and carrying!) over Camilla as she sleeps at night since she didn't want to be put down. What we did was cradle her in our arms in an upright position so that she can sleep and we can somehow rest, too. It was a very tough first week, first 3 days most especially. Milk was not coming out and Camilla kept sucking until she get tired and then goes back to sleep. We gave her formula to supplement at that time. It was so frustrating seeing her struggle and ask for milk and not getting any thing. Come day 4, my breasts got really hard as a rock, sensitive and painful. It was painful yet it I was fine with it since it meant milk! That 4th day was like the first day of Creation. "And then there was light!" I thought I won't be producing milk, but somehow I did! So Camilla sucked the life out from my nipple until she was satisfied, finally.

Problem solved? Are you kidding me? Another challenge was the right latch. So no matter how many videos you watch about latching, you won't learn until you're actually doing it. Good thing, there are nurses here and classes you can take (for some) to learn on how to properly latch. So I learned from the nurses or doctors we've met and they were a great help, mind you. When I knew how it worked, we didn't bother to take any more classes or meet any other doctors. Camilla and I just danced our way into perfecting it. We met with a specialist who cut her frenulum since it looked like at that time she may develop or become tongue tied. She was what, a week old at that time? No biggie. First few days of breastfeeding, my nipples also got sore and had cracks since we didn't know the right way. But eventually we figured it out, Camilla and I. It was a challenge as well since one of Camilla's habits was to put her hand in front of her face and I need her not to do that so I can see how I am latching her, but she just kept on doing it even if I remove her hand so we go into this endless loop and she starts crying since she wanted milk but I can't latch her since I literally can't see her face and mouth.

She loves placing her foot on top of the other.

During my maternity leave (2 months after birth), I was a mess. Of course, I still had stitches, which didn't hurt thank God, but I had a lot of blood coming out from my thing, and I still had to wear thick pads. I wore it until 3 to 4 months after I think. I couldn't take a bath for more than 5 minutes because Camilla doesn't want to be put down. She'll fall asleep but know that she's being put down. The times I was able to put her down, I would take a shower for 5 minutes max. Of course I couldn't eat lunch as well. Whenever I succeed in putting her down, it's always a decision between taking shower and preparing/eating lunch. I had no choice but to bring lunch in my room most of the time since I can't leave her. Also, the baby is a spitter. I guess she has a sensitive tummy so when she drinks milk, we can't put her down for 1.5 hours because she would spit. I even questioned if I was giving her too much milk, but, that's just how she is, True enough, she outgrew it. (This is me writing 8 months after!)

I remember being so worried because she would involuntarily twist her body while sleeping or drinking milk, I thought it was something serious. I swear while I was holding her and giving her milk, she would just stop and cry because her body would twist for a good few seconds. It didn't always happen but when it does, it's worrisome. We brought her to a specialist and they said it was nothing, she probably was just stretching or something. She outgrew that as well, only now her body would shake as if she was peeing. They said it's probably her personality and that it's nothing. So I won't worry on that.