Jen's Path of Happyness: Ethan's first week!

I felt Ethan's first week was busy but smooth and enjoyable! Having Amber here was huge! Ethan was happy, sleepy, and healthy! We did have a bit of a scare with a blocked tear duct toward the end of the week but antibiotic drops cleared that up right away.

Mathew did great with him! Hugs and kisses all around! He randomly would come and hug him or give him kisses. I was glad to see him bonding with his younger brother.

I didn't do much that week as I was in recovery mode. I took advantage of Amber and John being home to rest. I slept in when I could and John was sent to change Ethan and bring him to me at night.

But with all this help, I still didn't get more than three straight hrs of sleep that whole week. Ethan was persistant on nursing, especially at night. Mathew came home and slept six hrs the first night. Nope - infant Ethan was an eater! We let him control the night time but we woke him during the day for feedings every two hrs.

I find the best way to train a baby is to let him sleep at night and wake in the daytime. Also at night keep the room dark so the baby associates quicker with dark being sleep time. He became content with the bassinet next to the bed, swaddled for the first week, and tended to fall sleep on his own.

At night he would usually poop which woke him up.

Poop face

So we nursed every three to four hrs. During the day we would wake for nursing every two hrs. He got chubby as my boobs were producing overtime! I barely made enough for Mathew and with Ethan I have stuff to spare! I never would have thought I would have had so much extra! I even got a blocked duct (which kills btw)! But Ethan fixed that right up! Cure was to have him nurse on the blocked side to suck out the issue and lanolin... Lots of lanolin! He did great but it really hurt!

He was a good baby and patient. Amber was awesome taking both boys at times that she helped me realize that taking care of two is possible, once fully healed and no longer experiencing PTSD...

But his smiles, his poop face, his falling asleep on his own - it all began to feel worth it.