Wahoo! My baby was born a week ago. I’m working on the birth story, and TRUST ME, you will want to read it! 🙂
In the meantime, I wanted to post a quick update about our first week as a family of 7.
Ethan Alexander was born at 6:40PM on November 1st. We were all surprised at his size, but thrilled to have him join our little family. He is a very loved little boy!
We stayed 2 nights at the hospital. We really could and should have gone home sooner, but the midwife that was on call postpartum wanted to keep me there one more night to make sure I didn’t have any bleeding issues or fainting episodes or whatever. Apparently I was a bit anemic, so that played a bit of a part in it, too.
The hospital stay was the typical experience. Everyone was more than pleasant, but we still had someone in our room at LEAST every other hour, but usually once an hour. We had to have our temperature taken, breathing listened to, pain level assessed, blood pressure taken, etc. Oh, let’s not forget that we had to give a diaper and breastfeeding report all the time, too. This is the part that always frustrates me and makes me wish I was comfortable homebirthing. However, with my history, I really do feel safer spending my postpartum time in a hospital. Sigh!
Once we left, we came home right after a swift stop at Chick-fil-a to eat some real food. I ordered some chicken strips, fries, and a lemonade to go and gobbled that down once we got home. No regrets! I was starving the first 4 days.
My kids have been going crazy over the new baby. They really love their little brother and all beg to hold him several times throughout the day.
So far, Ethan has been a DREAM. He has slept practically the whole time we’ve been home. He whimpers or cries a little to get my attention to feed him, and he cries a little when a wipe touches his butt. Other than that, he has been silent and sleepy.
He has nursed like a champ from his very first latch. We’ve had absolutely zero problems, and he hasn’t spit up a whole lot either. He does some cluster feeding, sometimes going from one side to the other and then maybe back to the first side. Other times, he just wants one side and then sleeps for 3 1/2 hours. We’re just going with the flow!
I love when he opens his little eyes. He’s like this tiny little angel. He’s become a little more alert just today, and I expect he will continue to get more interested in having wake time over the next few days.
I’ve been able to get a lot of sleep at night. Honestly, our 2 year old coming into our room every night has woken us more than the newborn! Charlie keeps coming in and expecting to snuggle. As I was doing prior to the birth, I’m telling him he’s welcome to stay, but has to sleep on the blanket and pillow we’ve set out on the floor at the foot of our bed. He’s more than happy to sleep there. I just wish he wouldn’t wake us up! I’d love it if he would just automatically go there without waking both me and the hubby.
A sweet friend brought us some meals when we got home. Hubby’s job gave us a congratulations card and a Babies R Us gift card. We’ve had so many congratulatory messages and phone calls, too. I’m so glad that even though this is baby #5, he is being celebrated.
We’ve been using disposable diapers on Ethan so far, but I have tons of cloth diapers ready to go for when I start “real life” in a few days. Right now, we’re sort of weaning off of that survival mode that I got into during the last few weeks of pregnancy. The kids took this whole week off of school, and we have had so much junk food in this house that I’m totally embarrassed!
I can’t wait to see what our next week holds! I’m so sad that a full week has already passed. I feel incredibly blessed and overwhelmed at the opportunity I have been given to be the mom to this sweet new baby, and my other precious children as well. How awesome is that?!
Paula @ Frosted Fingers says
He is so stinking adorable! Congrats! I just hope that when and if we have #5 that baby will be as celebrated as yours. I can’t wait to hear your birth story. I wanted a vbac SO badly!
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Hailie Wolfe says
I’m so glad to hear everything is going well. I seriously CANNOT wait’ to hear that birth story! Miss ya gal!!
Debra @A Frugal Friend says
I love that picture of you and all the kids! So sweet!!! XOXO
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molly @ digital mom blog says
Yay! So happy for you and the family Jennifer! Ethan is absolutely adorable. Bless!
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Katie Harding says
What a cutie! Love the family pic!!
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inchirieri microbuze says
Ethan is so cute! i hope that he will be very happy!