Last night was another long one. One
feed lasted from 11 to 2 am and the next one from 4 am to 6 am. I wondered how
long this would go on. My parents and all the married friends with children who
told it me it is a beautiful phase and parenthood has to be experienced, left
out this little detail when they were singing praises – that the boy has to be
fed every 2-3 hours! Dark circles had started forming under my eyes and my body
clock is tuned such a way that I cannot sleep beyond 7 am. At work, it was a
struggle to keep my eyes open after lunch. Black coffee and black tea provided some
respite.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Thursday, July 18, 2013
His first bath!
Thanks to the tub. He
looked fresh. Some adhesive marks on his face remained from the googles. Subsequent baths should take care of this.
For a new born, I don’t think this is the right way to give a
bath. His neck is not strong and he kept sliding down in the elevated platform
in the tub. I believe the best way would be lay him on your legs after keeping
them together or on a mat on the ground till his neck has been set. The bath
tub was this one Baby Center recommends some good models here
No jaundice
The wife didn't get much sleep. The
previous night was bad. The feeding started at 1 and by the time he slept, it
was 4. During this time, the wife was at her wits end and also threatened to jump off the building.
I did hold him and rock him but he did not sleep.
Went to Dr K yesterday morning, who said the jaundice is under control but
wanted to examine the boy under morning light. We were at the hospital at 9 am
the next day. Dr K looked at him and all was well. Just as we were getting into
the car, the skies opened up. We wanted to shop for a bath tub but the downpour was high. Got home
and B dropped in with a bath tub – very sweet. God bless! Law Of Attraction?
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Reuse. Reduce. Recycle.
We were of the opinion that there is no point in buying the boy expensive clothes as he simply outgrows them. We were more than happy to receive hand me down clothes, slings, bassinet, car seat and prams.
The diaper trash bag stinks! For the amount of babies in our country, imagine the amount of stinky diapers piling up. A silent thanks to all the civic workers who handle this. It also reminds me that we take all these things for granted. Generate waste and throw it. Somebody will handle it. Initially I attempted cleaning the diapers before throwing them away. That does not work as the diaper had already absorbed most of it.
And it is time for me go back to work. Sigh.
The diaper trash bag stinks! For the amount of babies in our country, imagine the amount of stinky diapers piling up. A silent thanks to all the civic workers who handle this. It also reminds me that we take all these things for granted. Generate waste and throw it. Somebody will handle it. Initially I attempted cleaning the diapers before throwing them away. That does not work as the diaper had already absorbed most of it.
And it is time for me go back to work. Sigh.
Monday, July 15, 2013
It’s a boy! Delivery and the week after…
The wife wanted a girl but I was ok with either way…as long as it is a healthy baby.
We regularly attended the pre natal classes and it was very helpful. Eventually the D-Day neared and on a Saturday - 6th July, 2013 the wife was admitted to the hospital at 810 am. I stayed calm and composed – one of us had to. Chewing gum helped. The initial contractions were ok, the wife was able to manage but post lunch the contractions became long and painful. Dr G came, had a look and said the delivery would be done by 5. My heart started pounding. Wow! The wife’s pains started increasing, her water broke and each physical examination became painful. For each contraction, I started breathing with her. They were getting more and more painful with passing time. The wife was brave and handling it well. I felt bad for her and wished there was an easier way to deliver.
Finally it was labor time, I changed to pink overalls and went to the labor room with her. Although she was pushing hard, the grape (as we fondly called the boy from start) refused to come out and his heart beat stared dropping, with the umbilical cord around his neck. I held her hand through all of it. Finally Dr G suggested C-Section. That done and my son was shown to me. I was too worried about the wife to take a good look at him – born at 10:05 pm and 3.04 kg. He looked so fragile! Small little ball with a tube sticking out of his nose and helpless. He was wheeled to the NICU and was breathing was fast. The in-laws (Father, Mother, Sister) and I congratulated each other! I rushed down to admit B/O (Baby Of) the wife. Called and texted friends and immediate family with the good news. Our room was ready and I moved up there.
Sometime after midnight (Sunday), the wife was wheeled in. She was in pain. We slept on and off. In the morning, I went down to the ICU and saw the boy in tubes. It was an overwhelming feeling to be a father and be responsible for somebody's life. I gently stroked his tiny hands and he twitched a bit.
I saw him again the next morning (Monday) along with the wife. This time he was in the photo-therapy light box because of jaundice. With the goggles on and the tube sticking out from his mouth, I felt very sorry for him. The wife tried feeding him but he refused to drink. By 730 pm he was in our room. A light box was set up and back inside he went. He lay on a water bed in it. I put my hand in and it was warm! I wonder how the boy slept through it. First night of waking up, feeding him started. I was comfortable changing diapers. The wife had a tough time secreting milk. The nurse (god bless her) started formula feed and did a swell job of burping and putting him to sleep. We were feeling bad that his first milk was not breast milk. I also realized how important is to wash my hands well before touching him.
The next day (Tuesday) he was out of the light box and had a cradle. Dr G came and discharged the wife. Phew! One step done. The wife's challenge with secreting continued and the Lactation Specialist came in. She looked like she just got off the ramp (so fashionable!) and suggested Nipple covers which helped. Time to name The Boy and since we could not decide between 2 shortlisted names, tossed a coin and decided on the name :)
On Wednesday, Dr K came and discovered jaundice traces. Back under the lights he went. He got his first visitors! We were thankful that we had a such a good support system – family, friends, the doctor. Everything fell into place.
More visitors on Thursday. I filled up the forms for his Certificate Of Birth. I had to collect it from the nearest Municipal Office in a month’s time. The hospital also took a photo of him for their own version of the Birth Certificate. We were discharged and free to go! I drove very carefully. He was too small to be in a car seat. The Baby On Board sticker did not help much. Drivers behind honked. I wondered how many of them had gone through this experience of becoming a father and having to drive their new born home. We walked into our house, decorated and welcomed by family and friends. And then the 2 hour feeding concept started in the night. It was difficult but I slowly got used to the crying and waking up to help the wife if she needed assistance.
By Friday, we were drained and I don't remember when we woke up. Diaper changed happened every 4 hours as well. He was amassing so many diapers! Wondered what his carbon footprint would be. I wished there was a clean way to dispose diapers.
On Saturday morning, I went to buy more Pampers New Baby Diapers and a Philips Avent 11 Ounce Feeding Bottle. After that went to the hospital to collect his reports. Visit to Dr K in the evening, then visit to the hospital to take a blood test for the boy, picked up his Birth Certificate, dropped the wife home and then went to the hospital again to pick up the report. Thankfully no admission required.
It was a day of visitors on Sunday. 4 families!
We regularly attended the pre natal classes and it was very helpful. Eventually the D-Day neared and on a Saturday - 6th July, 2013 the wife was admitted to the hospital at 810 am. I stayed calm and composed – one of us had to. Chewing gum helped. The initial contractions were ok, the wife was able to manage but post lunch the contractions became long and painful. Dr G came, had a look and said the delivery would be done by 5. My heart started pounding. Wow! The wife’s pains started increasing, her water broke and each physical examination became painful. For each contraction, I started breathing with her. They were getting more and more painful with passing time. The wife was brave and handling it well. I felt bad for her and wished there was an easier way to deliver.
Finally it was labor time, I changed to pink overalls and went to the labor room with her. Although she was pushing hard, the grape (as we fondly called the boy from start) refused to come out and his heart beat stared dropping, with the umbilical cord around his neck. I held her hand through all of it. Finally Dr G suggested C-Section. That done and my son was shown to me. I was too worried about the wife to take a good look at him – born at 10:05 pm and 3.04 kg. He looked so fragile! Small little ball with a tube sticking out of his nose and helpless. He was wheeled to the NICU and was breathing was fast. The in-laws (Father, Mother, Sister) and I congratulated each other! I rushed down to admit B/O (Baby Of) the wife. Called and texted friends and immediate family with the good news. Our room was ready and I moved up there.
Sometime after midnight (Sunday), the wife was wheeled in. She was in pain. We slept on and off. In the morning, I went down to the ICU and saw the boy in tubes. It was an overwhelming feeling to be a father and be responsible for somebody's life. I gently stroked his tiny hands and he twitched a bit.
I saw him again the next morning (Monday) along with the wife. This time he was in the photo-therapy light box because of jaundice. With the goggles on and the tube sticking out from his mouth, I felt very sorry for him. The wife tried feeding him but he refused to drink. By 730 pm he was in our room. A light box was set up and back inside he went. He lay on a water bed in it. I put my hand in and it was warm! I wonder how the boy slept through it. First night of waking up, feeding him started. I was comfortable changing diapers. The wife had a tough time secreting milk. The nurse (god bless her) started formula feed and did a swell job of burping and putting him to sleep. We were feeling bad that his first milk was not breast milk. I also realized how important is to wash my hands well before touching him.
The next day (Tuesday) he was out of the light box and had a cradle. Dr G came and discharged the wife. Phew! One step done. The wife's challenge with secreting continued and the Lactation Specialist came in. She looked like she just got off the ramp (so fashionable!) and suggested Nipple covers which helped. Time to name The Boy and since we could not decide between 2 shortlisted names, tossed a coin and decided on the name :)
On Wednesday, Dr K came and discovered jaundice traces. Back under the lights he went. He got his first visitors! We were thankful that we had a such a good support system – family, friends, the doctor. Everything fell into place.
More visitors on Thursday. I filled up the forms for his Certificate Of Birth. I had to collect it from the nearest Municipal Office in a month’s time. The hospital also took a photo of him for their own version of the Birth Certificate. We were discharged and free to go! I drove very carefully. He was too small to be in a car seat. The Baby On Board sticker did not help much. Drivers behind honked. I wondered how many of them had gone through this experience of becoming a father and having to drive their new born home. We walked into our house, decorated and welcomed by family and friends. And then the 2 hour feeding concept started in the night. It was difficult but I slowly got used to the crying and waking up to help the wife if she needed assistance.
By Friday, we were drained and I don't remember when we woke up. Diaper changed happened every 4 hours as well. He was amassing so many diapers! Wondered what his carbon footprint would be. I wished there was a clean way to dispose diapers.
On Saturday morning, I went to buy more Pampers New Baby Diapers and a Philips Avent 11 Ounce Feeding Bottle. After that went to the hospital to collect his reports. Visit to Dr K in the evening, then visit to the hospital to take a blood test for the boy, picked up his Birth Certificate, dropped the wife home and then went to the hospital again to pick up the report. Thankfully no admission required.
It was a day of visitors on Sunday. 4 families!
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