Week Three

Dear Hedgehog:

I know you're only three weeks old and we've got a lot, lot, lot to learn about you yet, but I'm going to go ahead and peg you with the label of "overachiever" right now.  Based on your genetic heritage I probably could have safely labeled you that in utero, but now you've gone and proven it.

Your job, at the moment, is basically "grow and develop."  And, well, let's look at the facts:

The standard, as I understand it, for infant weight gain is for you to have re-reached your birth weight by the time your two week check-up rolls around.  Now, to be fair, you did not lose as much weight as is "allowed" in your first couple of days of life, but still, to have gained a POUND over your birthweight (so one pound 6 ounces over your lowest known weight) in time for your two week check-up, well that's just crazy.  The pediatrician basically said as much:

"You're breastfeeding, right?  JUST breastfeeding?  Haven't been supplementing with any formula?"  Yep, really, it's all from me.

The standard for height is that you gain around an inch a month for the first 6 months of life.  Now, I did not pay close attention to when they measured you at birth (and they did not have a fancy digital readout as they did with the scale), so perhaps there is a margin of error at play here, but you have gained 2.75 inches already.  At this rate you'll have done about 6 months worth of growing in a week or so.

And while the growing and developing is wonderful and beautiful and a joy to witness it is also, without a doubt, the most difficult part of being your mama at this stage of the game.  Because when you are going through a growth spurt you can easily nurse for 5 hours straight, without more than a 5 minute break.  And although I really just have to sit there while you're chowing down, it's still DAMN tiring.

But even this I'm getting used to, and learning how to make it work for us.  Because you and I, we're both learning at this together.  We're starting to figure out all the rules, and how things work best for us, but I know there's a lot of work left to do.

And I'm looking forward to every minute of it.  (Except the next growth spurt, but maybe you'll learn how to be a little kinder to me by the time that rolls around).

Love,

Mama

Comments

[Alison]

I'm always amused that folks are so shocked, SHOCKED that a baby can grow and thrive on "just" breastmilk. The growth spurts are definitely a little rough, but you should have three weeks or so before the next one kicks in. Good job on the growing, Hedgehog!