week one

Holy crap, I'm a mum.

This first week has been pure insanity. Thank G-d for my parents who have come to the rescue by helping with the housework and keeping D and I fed.

My first real challenge as a new mum has been breastfeeding. Maya has a huge appetite and a very, VERY hard suck. Thanks to that, and some terrible latches early on, my nipples have been sore, cracked and bleeding. Which is obnoxious in and of itself (feels like I've been dragged across a gravel road on my chest), but the worst part has been the bleeding. Maya can't help but express and ingest that blood every time she feeds and when she spits up, it looks like she's a little vampire. I have been assured and reassured that it doesn't harm the baby to ingest some blood in these situations, but it really seems to have been hard on her digestion.

Thank goodness for Charlotte, our community health nurse (in Canada, every new parent gets a personal nurse who comes to your house every day to check on you for as long as you need) who suggested the miracle that is the nipple shield. I have used it only for 24 hours so far but what a difference it has made. Maya now gets pure milk, with no blood, and my poor ragged nipples get a fighting chance to heal. I think I will use it for one more day and see how it goes from there.

Speaking of milk, I apparently have enough milk to feed twins. Seriously, I make loads of milk. It practically sprays out whenever I even hear Maya starting to fuss. A woman's body is so incredible. I am so relieved because I was nervous that because of my PCOS, I might have troubles in the milk department. Not so.

Other pearls of wisdom I've learned this week, that I'd like to pass on to my fellow expecting bloggers:

1. Do not bother to change baby's outfit every time she spits up on it. You will never be able to keep up with the laundry.
2. Become adept at picking things up with your feet. At least one hand/one arm will always be tied up going forward.
3. Your bed will become a soiled mess with all things that come out of your baby. Expect it and be happy. Fight it and lose the battle (see point #1).
4. Everything takes waaaaay longer than it should. If you would normally take, say, 5 minutes to load the dishwasher, expect the job to be done in 45 minutes. Nothing goes smoothly anymore and baby distractions are numerous and imminent. To that end, try not to make any plans either. There is a very good chance you will have to break them.
5. Invest in a good sling. With my sling, I am able to walk around, check my email, do the dishes, eat a snack, go to the washroom, etc. I am wearing Maya right now as I type this. And she is sucking her fingers and snorting like a little piggy girl. Observe: