Postpartum Diaries: 6 Weeks

I’ve gotta keep this one pretty short this week for two reasons: 1. My son is constantly crying so I don’t have much time 2. My husband is about to leave me alone with two kids (one in the terrible twos and one who screams all day) and a dog all weekend so I need to spend some time preparing myself!  I have to be honest I am absolutely TERRIFIED about this weekend.  I know women take care of 2, 3 even 4 children by themselves all the time but I am not that girl.  I get overwhelmed easily and I am a perfectionist (remember???) so if I’m not doing everything at 100% I can tailspin easily.  All I can do is hope for the best and realize that for the first time in my parenting life Lily may need to be using the TV as a babysitter once or twice.

So here are some updates:

-had my 6-week check up with my OB.  Everything looks good down there.  I had a 2^nd degree tear that has healed nicely.  I still had a stitch left in there that he removed while I was there. I’ve gotten the OK to have sex and resume regular workouts but I’ll be waiting to do either until I see my pelvic health physical therapist next week

-Lily is quickly learning how to push our buttons.  She knows that if we ask her to talk quietly because the baby is sleeping that if she screams we will react.  I’m trying to learn to be calm and not let her get the reaction that she wants but that is pretty hard when I have been begging for Maverick to sleep all day. She is in swim lessons and they always affect her.  She’s extra cranky and usually has diarrhea and a tummy ache.  I think it’s from swallowing too much pool water!  Good news, its over on Friday so hopefully she’ll feel better soon.

-Maverick is tough.  I cut out dairy last week (it’s been about 10 days now) and after about 4 days he seemed to be getting better and then WHAM we had the worst day yet.  He cried all. day. long.  He refused to nap and nothing would calm him.  The next day he slept a ton but his awake times were still fussy.  The next day was more crying.  I’m not giving up.  I know this is not “usual baby stuff” and I am determined to figure out what’s going on and how I can fix it.  I’m planning on setting up a visit to a GI specialist to see what he thinks.  I’m going to continue with dairy, soy, chocolate and spicy food elimination and see if after 3 weeks I notice anything.  If that doesn’t work I’m going to do the full Dr. Sears Elimination Diet and see if I can pinpoint anything.  While there is no research to prove that anything mom eats makes baby more fussy (unless there is a real allergy or intolerance) it can’t hurt to try & so many moms have told me that elimination has worked for them.

-Andy and I are hanging in there.  We are both physically and emotionally exhausted.  We bicker more than usual but we both know that this stage is temporary.  He is busy trying to heal his triceps and start training again and coupled by the fact that we still have no help (we fired the new nanny) we are both burnt out.  Neither of us thought we would have two hard kids and I think this is throwing us both for a loop.  I’m lucky that we have a good line of communication and although I can get really snippy when I’m overwhelmed, he knows that I don’t mean to hurt him.  I think we both wish the other could be better at certain things but that part of being married.  Niether of you are perfect.  What’s important is to remember that you both have a short fuse during these first few months and to do your best to be understanding of what the other is going through.  It’s a learning process to be sure but I certainly wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else!

Wish me luck this weekend, y’all.  I need it!