1 You aren't doing anything "wrong," it's trial and error with almost all babies.  Might take a look at what you are eating...sometimes that can cause gas...at least from what I remember, my boys are 27 & 25.  Big hugs!  Things will get better as they get different

2 My first son had awful gas depending on what I ate.  My second son, I could eat whatever I wanted and it didn't effect him at all. So, food may or may not be her problem, but it's worth a shot!

What bothered my first son was anything that can cause mild gas in adults~it really bothered him. I had to avoid broccoli, onions, beans and cucumbers with him.

When she seems to be in a lot of pain, think about what you ate before she ate. Like Connie said, it's trial and error. 

My son also got  better after he hit the 6 week mark.

3

Our big problem with our littlest guy was that I eat a lot of dairy and was breastfeeding. He just couldn't handle the dairy. At one point he was on 3 different prescriptions and was still having problems. The pediatrician agreed with me that we needed to start from scratch instead of adding more meds. He suggested I cut dairy out of my diet. Within 12 hours of me stopping dairy he started feeling better. It made ALL the difference. He didn't even need the prescriptions after that.

He's 19 months old now, and handles dairy just fine. He eats pretty much everything. Just back then his delicate little tummy couldn't handle it.

I thought I'd mention this because dairy can be a common culprit among babies who are breastfed and having tummy problems. Good luck finding something that works for you. It's terrible to see our babies uncomfortable.

4 I would ask the doc about possible reflux.  I think the vomiting and gas can be symptoms of that.  If it is reflux, propping her at night (towel or something under the top of her mattress, or a sleeping wedge) can sometimes help.

I remember now, after reading your last post, how tough that first month was.  I think I had a little bit of mommy amnesia... now that he's 6 months, I'd almost forgotten how hard it was in the beginning.  I think I called my mom every day or so asking for advice, and if this or that was normal, and if I was doing this right.  I second-guessed myself so much, and yes...I was definitely still hurting from labor (I too had a nasty episiotomy), plus I was under the impression that breastfeeding wasn't supposed to hurt if you were doing it right, and yet here I was with cracked and bleeding nipples - I ended up doing a lot of pumping and bottle feeding the first couple of weeks until we both got the hang of it.

Yeah, it's hard, but like I said...it's one of those things that you just kind of forget as your baby gets older and you move on to new & different challenges, until someone reminds you.  If we didn't have mommy amnesia, I think fewer people would have multiple children

Best of luck to you.

5 NONE of those worked for us.  There were these gas drops we had to buy at our pharmacy that finally helped.  I will try to remember what they were called...you might be able to get them.  Not sure since we are in Canada.  They were the ONLY thing that finally worked.  They had to be kept refrigerated.  One dose a day...it was heaven to finally have SOMETHING that worked.  

6 We had scads of other stuff going on, so not sure if any of this is relevant--but keeping him upright, even to sleep (like in a bouncer chair?) and cutting out dairy *completely* (even reading labels and avoiding things like natural flavorings, which can be dairy-based) were important for us. And waiting for growth. I know hearing you have to wait can be horrible--I'm sorry. I hope things smooth out quickly for you. 

7 The drops didn't work for us either...just made him spit-up more...

8 If Mycolon and Gripe water aren't working then it might be time to see the pedi.  Our daughter could not handle a single drop of milk and it wasn't until I stopped breastfeeding and went to an amino based formula combined with Prevacid that she stopped projectile vomiting and slept through the night.  She was almost a year at the time.  No one told me that what I was eating was affecting her and it took a GI specialist to recognize she was having food issues.  There are a few products designed to help them sleep in the upright position, one is the Tucker Sling; it is to be used in their crib to keep them from sliding down the mattress when you elevate one end.  The other is the Nap Nanny, which is a "chair" for newborns and you can even put them on their tummies to help press the stomach sphincter closed.  The first 2 months are the hardest!!  It does get better or at least you get better at meeting their needs before they realize what is needed so the fussyness is shortened in duration. Ditto to everything posted above!

9 Mutant babies likely need mutant baby milk.
Our son got gassy if The Mrs. ate broccoli, the daughter just liked to vomit until we started giving her zantac.  We didn't have to give her the zantac very long, eventually she grew out of the projectile vomiting.

10 Also, now is the time to throw out all of you dijon or other brown mustards.  Eventually, you'll change a runny diaper, and then be making lunch, and notice the small spot of mustard on your wrist, and lick it off, only to realize THAT. WAS. NOT. MUSTARD.

It's been French's yellow for me ever since.

11 Just a thought....if you continue to have cracked and bleeding nipples have baby grok looked at for thrush.  It would show up as a white fuss or film in her mouth.  I nursed two and had no problems untill number three.  I sympathize.

12 Sarah, ditto to what the other said - I really had to watch what I was eating when nursing - anything spicy, broccoli or any alcohol (not that I was boozing it up, but even a glass of wine would set them off) If she keeps projectile vomiting, I'd ask the ped if she has reflux. keep us posted!

13 Caffeine  irritated my older daughter's reflux. Even just a cup of coffee or a glass of Diet Dr. Pepper would cause hours of crying and  projectile vomiting.  Of course, it took about two months before I realized what was causing her "colic", but once I eliminated caffeine from my diet, it was like having a new infant. I hope you figure out what works for you. Motherhood is an exhausting, but ultimately rewarding enterprise :-)

1   You DO grok!

2 By the way, keep it up...you're doing a GREAT job...learning those survival things like burping in the bathtub...it shows you were made for this!

3 Insane, isn't it?   Motherhood is forever a full-mind-and-body experience--and you often don't get full use of your mind and/or body in the duration!  It's a good thing those little babies are cute (and remain cute as toddlers, for the most part), or the human race would never have survived.

By the way, if you haven't already, try out some Lansinoh lanolin cream.  It's stickier than honey, but it's extremely soothing AND you don't have to wash it off before nursing.  Beware of using gel pads, especially sticky nursing pads, because they can block the natural flow of milk and cause clogged ducts, and the adhesive tears the tender skin, making bleeding worse. 

You might also consult a lactation consultant to make sure your baby's latching on properly.  Supposedly, "nursing isn't supposed to hurt."  I beg to differ sometimes, but on the whole, it's not.  I had to fix Ian's latch from birth till I weaned him, because he kept getting that upper lip in the way and just wouldn't open his mouth wide enough on the first try.  As much as I would have loved it to be, nursing just wasn't a natural, easy process for us.

But I'm sure you've had enough unsolicited advice.  I have a hard time shutting up when I get going.

4 Tired cry is easy--close the door and go downstairs.  It'll play itself out in under 15 minutes (an hour at the longest.)
Hungry cry is easy too--just give the baby to mama! --Oh, wait...

I agree with Russ, you go through the most painful experience in your life, and simultaneously get life's greatest responsibility.  But then, you also get a baby shower, and bigger juggs, so it's totally worth it. 

The bad thing about the crying is that as they get older, it only increases in duration, volume, and frequency, until they turn 22 or so. Then they stop crying long enough to ask if they can move back in after college.

My 10 year old son threw an hour-long fit yesterday because I grounded him for a single day.  A full-on, wailing, screaming, sobbing, hyperventilating fit.  And my 7 year old pitched one tonight, because she thought she was in trouble for something she did, even after her mother and I assured her she wasn't in any trouble.

If the honkers are bleeding from being chapped, Udderbalm or Lansinoh (or even chapstick) but the thicker the cream, the better.  To keep my nipples tender (okay, to help my skin grafts heal faster,) I wholeheartedly recommend gold-bond hand lotion or Nivea. Whatever you choose, ensure it does not contain any of the alcohols, or it will make the problem worse.

 The Mrs. says to try alternating ta-ta's between days, to allow recovery time.  If blood is coming with the milk, don't nurse.  Otherwise your baby will become a goth kid.

I know you get advice from everywhere, and you aren't asking for it--just telling you what worked for me, because I really can't imagine what an episiotomy feels like, although I imagine it's something like having having a testicle explosively amputated.  Nobody gave me a baby to care for afterward, however, just lots and lots of narcotics;  so, YMMV.  I'm not giving advice to tell you what to do, just to let you know that what you are going through is normal, that you are not alone, and that gin and Zoloft will cure postpartum depression just fine. 

One last tip:  sometimes babies won't stop crying until you take them for a drive.  Just remember to take them out of the car when you get home.

5 because that's what mothers do.

That is the wisdom of the ages. I understand that breastfeeding is very important to some mothers.  We bottle fed our kids though.  As a dad, the middle of the night feeding was a VERY special time for me as I was the one to do it.  Holding my children close as I fed them is a fond memory. As crazy as it sounds now, you will miss these days. 

A helpful hint about the gas.  Look into a product called  Mylicon (simethicone drops).  It was a tremendous help with my son when he was colicky.  

6 If you haven't already, I totally second getting Mylicon (I think Gripe Water does the same thing).  We gave it to the Captain whenever she was uncomfortable and it works like a charm.

Just keep on keepin' on.  Keep doing the things that work for you and let go of anything that doesn't. She'll change the game on you frequently but you are a smart woman and you roll with it with the best of 'em.   I know you know this already but it gets better/easier/you get more used to it every day.   

7 LOL, Chuck

Hang in there, Sarah -- I've no doubt you are becoming an awesomer mommy by the moment!

8 Sometimes I comment to my husband now "I can't remember when they were little" maybe its the sleep deprived fog - -or maybe I just dont want to remember all those nights of standing/rocking in front of the exhaust fan from the stove (the only thing that worked to calm the cries!) but in a few weeks, she will sleep more, you will sleep more, the stitches of your epis will be a distant memory (ok maybe not... ) but you will settle into a routine and be able to more fully enjoy your new bundle of joy. Oh and I totally agree the people that say "nursing doesnt/shouldnt hurt" must've never nursed b/c I beg to differ - at least in the beginning....

9 Great post, Sarah.

I remember, after having my firstborn, looking around at other mothers I knew and feeling bonded in a way I never knew existed. We had all gone through this experience that could never be fully explained to someone who hasn't been through it.

Just remember, the first three months are survival mode. (At least that's how I view it.) As long as you and your baby make it through the day, it's a good day. LOL. Seriously, anything else is secondary and optional.

I triple the recommendation for Lanisoh. Slather it generously before and after feedings. And, I found the best nursing pads were Johnson & Johnson. Many other pads have plastic backs or lining, which don't allow nipples to breathe properly & can lead to further problems. Nursing, honestly, sucks the first month. (Ba-dum-pah.)  But, it gets better! Hang in there! When it gets towards weaning time, you'll weep because that stage is ending.

10 It is hard work, but we do it anyway.
Maybe some words of advice, maybe not:
My mother nursed 6 of her seven children, including me and my twin.  On the seventh for some reason, I was 12 and remember this, she had projectile vomiting because of blood in the milk.  She had to bottle feed her seventh child.
On the other hand, my first child was bottle fed and had projectile vomiting, till we tried about 4 different soy milks.
She had it until she was about 12 when I started making her clean up the mess!  
I know it was not her fault as a baby and young child but after about three it came after tantrums.;D
Thanks for giving us the grokking update, its cool.

11

Welcome to the sisterhood!   My babies are 23 and 28 now, but I vividly remember the sleepless nights and the overwhelming feeling of navigating a place I'd never been. 

I was engaged in a nursing marathon (constantly smelled like a dairy cow) for a year and a half with each of them.  BEST investment I've ever made.  Each daughter was a little different, as is every mother/baby team, but here are things that remained constants for me:  for the first three or four months, I eliminated onion, brocolli, asparagus, cabbage, caffeine, chocolate, milk, and cheese from my diet.  These things made them gassy and/or made the milk taste funny.  Gradually, their stomachs became less sensitive and my diet didn't matter much.  Neither of them had fruit or juice or cereal until they were six months old.  Another thing I had to do early on was  burp them gently every few minutes during feedings.  This mostly eliminated trapped air bubbles which caused tummy ache and spitting up.

The pay off for all this effort?  Some day soon, you'll be nursing, and you two will make eye contact, and she will smile and pat you.  I wouldn't trade five minutes of my experience for anything in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 You've already had lots of personally tested ideas and advice given above. I'll add a few. Advice gives you starting points, since each baby is different, some advice may resonate while other stuff is already being used or is not relevant or doesn't work. My kids were prone to the projectile vomiting, not after every feeding, but enough to take two or three outfits in a diaper bag with me. When they were infants, you were told to have them sleep on their tummies. I worried about the vomiting and them choking, so we raised the head of the mattress. Each baby slept on a slant in the crib. We raised the head of the mattress a notch or two above the foot end. I think it helped. My son also did this with his infant after he got home from 10 days in the NICU. He put packages of diapers that the baby hadn't grown into under one end of the bassinet type crib's mattress to create the slant. That seemed to really help his son as well. He is turning 4 this week, and slept on his back per the current advice. I also recommend making an inexpensive album of the first month of baby pix. Relatives cherish it, especially if they aren't local, and your baby changes so fast, it's nice to look back and see what and how they were doing when you were so exhausted. Kids like looking back at themselves as well... especially if and when younger siblings arrive. First meaningful smile is magic and has a wonderful way of softening any pain and worry memories. It still is amazing to me how a baby, so small, can so change a house and the people in it.

13

You're doing great, Mama!  It is so hard.  And no one can really explain that to you, and it's something we don't talk about which makes it that much lonelier.  But you are doing it and doing it well.

I just want to say, because of course, it's my thing...  You don't say much about how you're feeling here, and I'm not assuming anything.  I say this because I wish someone would have said it to me--if how you're feeling doesn't start getting easier...  If it continues to feel too hard...  If you just feel off and not yourself...  It is so ok to get help.  It's ok to explore the idea that maybe you're dealing with PPD.  Because you CAN feel better.  And motherhood CAN feel better than bleeding nipples and exhaustion.  And again, I'm not assuming anything.  I'm just giving my little PSA because I wish I had known that before I went through it.

But let me say again, you are doing SO GREAT. 

14 With neither of my kids was I ever able to distinguish the cries...it was always going through a list of possible solutions. I would laugh, because for my husband, it was always: they need to be changed....my first thought was: they're hungry...lols.

15 I grok'd your grok. Give your husband a hug for me. I love his quote about responsibility and pain. Many of my friends will firmly believe that I'm sure. I love your raw honesty and thoughts how "childbirth will be hard" doesn't describe the pain, the bleeding nippples, the inability to sitdown or the survival techniques like burping in the bathtub. Hang in there! My twin used to say ... how many years to go? That 11 years has flown by.

16 "The pay off for all this effort?  Some day soon, you'll be nursing, and you two will make eye contact, and she will smile and pat you.  I wouldn't trade five minutes of my experience for anything in the world."

My wife would second this.  And the advice to see a lactation consultant - a regular nurse (even the L&D nurses) just won't do. 

The mushy feelings might not be there (my wife didn't have them, especially that first month) - it's the actions that show you love your baby (and you really do if you are doing all of that).

That first meaningful smile wipes away a lot of the troubles.  And we just weaned our fourth (and last), and it was hard for my wife, despite the pain from the teeth and other abuse nipples get.

Parenthood is the hardest, bestest thing I've done (am doing - the oldest is 6, the youngest 1).

17

I love that even the "Dad's" are weighing in...says that they were a great support to their wives.

 

Momma you are doing a great job and before you know it she will be old enough to date and then you and Dad can fight off the "evil little boys!" (I say that because I had three boys and always used to tell the boys that "girls are evil" I knew because I was one.)  Enjoy these moments they do fly by quickly

18

Though I've never been a mother (and never can be, sadly) a friend has sworn that her usage of the offerings from LeLeche http://www.llli.org/nb.html helped her immensely. Particularly in re: nipple issues and thrush...

I am confident you are smart enough to have already been there, done that, so I offer it as a just in case your exhausted brain hadn't reviewed yet.

I have to tell you - I came home all mad because we had to rush to a dinner tonight and the kitchen was left a mess that I returned to...a dog that had to be let out...a garden to water...a stack of laundry...but after reading your words I can put all those things in their proper level of importance. As in not very damned. Thanks for giving me some real perspective tonight...

It WILL be better.

1 Certainly eventually it gets easier, right?

2

yes, it's different.  Yes, it's taking some adjustment......but don't you just LOVE IT!!!!

Eventually you'll get into a new rythm.  Then she'll become mobile and it will change again.  You'll learn to roll with the punches and adapt quickly.  And smell her fuzzy, sweet little head!  Isn't she heavenly?

3 This is why I am such a fan of interweb phones.  I don't hardly ever comment on blogs but I can at least read some stuff while feeding and holding in the dark.  At anytime really. 

And I hadn't read The Corner at all today and I guess there is some ta-ta brouhaha.  Jeez. 

I hope you get in a groove that works (or at least feel acceptance for the non-groove if that is the case).  And most especially I hope her tummy settles down and that stops.  It is no fun getting yakked on and it is even worse getting used to smelling like eau de spit up. 

4 As my wife Tracey will post as soon as she reads this, Acid Reflux.  It is a common cause of projectile vomiting in babies.  Diagnosing it can be tricky as babies are noticeably reticent to open up around doctors.

5 I changed the info to me, but I guess that preview blanked it out so now it looks like I'm married to myself. 

6 Agree on the reflux, zantac worked with the girl-child.
As for learning to use a laptop one-handed, congrats, you've mastered the same skill as every pubescent teen boy since al gore invented the internets.
Finally, if you only have time in your day to read one blog, I fully expect you will make it mine.  I will forgive this transgression, this time, as I attribute it to being baby crazy until your hormones can re-stabilize; pray you do not make this mistake again.
But trust me on the zantac.

7 I also had projectile-vomiting issues as a baby.  Mine stemmed from using hand-me-down bottles; Mom didn't know my aunt had used them for cereal and therefore cut larger holes in the nipples.  I would suck down the bottle in no time flat and then promptly spew it at the nearest wall.  I don't suppose Baby Grok could have the same problem?

8 Lissa -- She's not using bottles, but let's just say that she's treating breastfeeding like a college beer chugging contest.  I know that's part of the problem...  We are working on fixing it together.

9 Do you have a baby carrier? Those would help hold her upright without requiring both hands all the time. I couldn't do anything without them! My favorites: http://www.babyhawk.com/ http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/ http://www.mobywrap.com/ http://www.mayawrap.com/ These are all safe and awesome for newborns on up.

10 Tara -- I do have a Moby and a ring sling, but she wants to be over my shoulder to relieve gas pressure.  She's not as comfy on my chest/belly right now.

11 When beer foams at the tap, there's usually too much pressure in the line, or the tap/line is dirty.

Since I assume you wash your boobs, try to turn down the pressure in the system.  It may help to bleed off tap pressure prior to pouring.

Just a thought.  And no, It doesn't make sense.

12 I think what Chuck is trying to say is to pump a little of the foremilk out (by hand or with a pump) and achieve letdown (if you can) before she latches on.  Forceful letdown and sugary foremilk can cause all sorts of digestive issues.  Ian used to choke, even with nursing shields, because my letdown was so strong.  Then he would arch and scream because of the bubbles it caused immediately in his little tummy . . .  It was pretty horrid.

That's just one factor, though.  Reflux from some digestive disagreement and/or being overfull can cause the same issues.  There are numerous other reasons.

Invest in burp cloths and bibs.  Receiving blankets make really great large burp cloths for spit-uppy babies.   Good luck!  You'll see this through!

1

I think infant mortality rates might actually increase. The US has more pre-term births than many other countries, and we have a lower mortality rate than most European countries for babies born before 37 weeks.

The argument is that preterm births are the cause of our higher infant mortality rate, and these can be avoided by improved prenatal care.

They may or may not. But I wonder if any cuts will be made to how preterm babies are cared for. I remember finding the blog of a woman who gave birth at 25 weeks while on vacation in FL. She was thanking her lucky stars that she went to one hospital's ER over another one, because the other hospital had a non-intervention clause/rule if the baby was born before 26 weeks. Luckily the hospital she went to didn't....and he received all the medical care he needed. And fast forward a few years later, he had no deficiencies at all, no hearing issues, no sight issues, no internal issues. Nada. But the other hospital wouldn't have tried to keep him alive. Crazy.

There will be some rules made, and I doubt it will be a carte blanche to do whatever is necessary.

2 Sarah, I'm glad you've been able to find time to read. What was the other article? CVG, I agree that "here will be some rules made." The government is all about adding rules. The 3,000-page bill is just the beginning.

1

More love, too. I didn't know it was possible to love someone as much as I love my babies. There are no words strong enough. You know you're going to love them, but more.

 

2 Surely there are positives, too?!  Please oh please oh please share the positives too!!!!  What am I getting myself into?!

3 The first 6 weeks for me were hard.  Beautiful, but hard.  I totally agree about the labor and breastfeeding and all of that.  And the love, as Amber said.  But aside from baby still being alive and seeming relatively content, it's hard sometimes to not have much in the way of positive reinforcement from the baby.  Most of the noises and faces newborns make are in the way of complaints or sleeping.  But at about 6 weeks - for my son, 6 weeks to the day - that beautiful little bundle of joy will smile for the first time, and your whole world will seem to be bathed in sunlight.  And then they will do it again, and again, and more often.

My son, at 6 months old now, gives me these looks like I am everything wonderful in the entire world and it just melts me every time.  There is nothing better than that feeling, I think.  It is A-MAZ-ING. 

4 I second what Amber said. The love... And the first smile... and when she laughs for the first time! Its the most beautiful sound you've ever heard!!!

5 I was absolutely amazed how much laundry a 7 lb baby could make. It is hard to fathom. But my kids are in their 20's and they still sometimes bring their laundry home, and it is STILL more than I can fathom. So maybe it's just a mystery.

Breastfeeding gets easier. Can't say the fatigue goes away that quickly though.
Hang in there. Post more pictures. Then you will get lots of comments about how adorable she is and that will be like a shot of adrenaline. (and we will love the pictures)

6 You want positives?  Try these:
First (non-gas) smile.
First roll-over.
First giggle.
First time they stop crying just because you picked them up.
First time the fall asleep on your shoulder.
First time they pull themselves up to stand.
First steps.
First time they use pull-ups.
Last time they use pull-ups.
First time they feed themselves.
First time they give YOU a kiss and hug.
First day of kindergarten.
First day of summer vacation.
First time their fever breaks.
First time they run naked through the house.
First lost tooth.
First tooth.
First haircut.
And every time they need something fixed, they bring it to you.

Eventually, they will try to do things for themselves, but until that time, YOU are their whole existence.  They depend on YOU for everything.  You never know just how able a person you are until you've provided for someone's every need and want. 

1 I'm glad you're getting the chance to just be with your little girl. But I know having waited long for these moments doesn't make the hard ones any easier now. Hang in there!

2

Take a break Sarah!  You have more important things to do.  The world will still be turning even if you're not paying attention all the time.  ;o)

 

I just started back to school this week for the first time in 20+ years and my attention span to the web is very constricted.  I miss it, and squeeze it in when I can (this is the first place I went today--and every day), it's an adjustment in my time I have to make right now.

 

Baby Time is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much more important than school, so believe me, no one here begrudges you at all!  [Cheers from the crowd!]  Infancy goes so incredibly fast, soak up every Blessed second of it you can get.

 

I've been holding off 'til the right time, and since I'm posting, this must be it.  The BEST advice I got being a 1st time mom was this:

 

Night time feedings are just that.  Just feeding.  Don't turn on the lights, don't play and talk with your angel.  Just feed.  Full tummy, back to sleep.  (I always did it in the recliner, just so I wouldn't be tempted to fall back asleep with baby.)  The very first day I started my boy on cereal he slept through the night.  (3 mos.?)  My sister had her kid sleeping in Mom & Dad's bed until he was five.  Didn't want to go there at all.  Bed time was never an issue from the get go for me and mine.

Thanks for taking the time to share what you have.  I wouldn't have been disappointed if you didn't post for weeks at a time.

Bless all of you!  Enjoy this wonderful beginning of your family!

3 When I first saw the title, I thought, "Who's Mia?"

Then I realized you're Mia.

You haven't missed out of much. I'm sure that if the USA became the USSA, your husband would have told you.

4 Ditto what everyone else said.  Good advise about feeding and back to sleep for nighttime.  Really, you'll look back on this time and realize just how fast it went by...you are doing the most important thing for now!  Continued best wishes for your family.

5

MIA stands for "Mom in action," right?

6 Above all, DO NOT WATCH THE NEWS, it might spoil your milk.

7 Trust me, it will all be there when you finally do have time to get back to it.  Not to worry. If anything hugely major happens you'll find out without having to watch anything - someone will call or email you. 

I think I missed most of the 1980's because of the kids.  Heh.

8

Wow this is what I get for finishing grad school and not touching a blog for almost a year?  Maybe I should stay away from blogging a little more often.

Congrats to you and dad!  What a beautiful little chub chub.  I'm so very happy for you all.

Household6

1 She is an actor!

I hope she makes all your dreams come true ... and more.

2 LOL Cute pic. She is, of course, adorable!

3 NOM NOM NOM!!!!!!

4 Perfect!

5 It's fabulous!

6 That is sooo funny.  No wonder I like your blog, you have a sense of humor as weird as mine, or my mother's.  I'm just sitting here laughing. I would think the octopus is hugging the baby except for the fact that I watched the science channel last night and saw the really, ugly predator octopi.

But I still love the picture.

7 I love it.  

8

ROFLMAO

That's perfect.

My son was born with a dislocated hip and had to wear a harness for the first year of his life.  Of course, I dyed one OD Green and we have a picture of him looking like a little paratrooper.

9 Ooh! She's so adorable!

10 Barely born and already fighting deadly krakens! ;-)

11 LOL....I've looked at this 6 times now and laugh every time.....fun with baby.

12 Help Mom! This yarny blue octomonster is trying to EAT me!! Waaa!

13 I have a lot of baby pictures like this.  I love them but for some reason my kids don't like looking at them.  I tell them that they will be enthusiastic about their own kids baby pictures.... Of course I also tell them that they can warp them any way they please if they don't like our own parental warping....

14 Too funny! And she is so stinkin' cute!

15 Love it!!

16 "Way to make mommy's dreams come true" Literally snorted. So funny!

17 My only objection is that BabyGrok looks as if she were losing the battle! We need periodic updates where she grows big enough to vanquish HIM!  Bwaa ha ha!

18 That is so freakin' CUTE!!!  And she's beautiful!!! I am sooooo happy for you!

19 so happy for you. she is so cute !!!!

20 I'm sure you are busy taking lots more pictures of her.  (They get big WAAAAYYY too fast!)  But I also wanted to let you know that I left something for you at The Lemon Stand

1

And penguins!  That kid's on the road to geekdom!  Woot!

She really is adorable.  I can't tell you how happy I am for the entire Grok family.  

2 She's so pretty, Sarah.

3

Next ... her cute hands! She's trying to hide them, but I can see them!

Her cheeks are so rosy. Are they always like that?

She seems to be sleeping. I hope you can find such peace.

I'm glad your husband's back to father her.

I wrote this comment in Google Chrome which isn't compatible with the paragraphing function of your blog. So I switched to MSIE (argh) to post it ... only to discover I had closed the Chrome tab with this text in it. ARGH.

I hope you're composing your new post outside a browser. One reason why I usually type comments within a browser is that it's annoying to paste plain text comments and add formatting (bold, italic) and links by hand later - it's easier to format as I type.

4 Oh, she's beautiful! Congratulations again!

5 What a beautiful child! Glad you got some sleep so you can enjoy your family more. I'm so glad your husband got to get home for her birth and is able to share in the baby duties and joys. In the military, that's not always possible, but I'm glad he got there. It means a lot.

6 Aww... sweet little baby feet.  Thanks.

7 absolutely adorable!

8 I can't look at that picture for too long, or I'll end up with massive baby fever! She's so adorable.  Ditto what everyone has been saying about slowing down, focusing on yourself and the baby, and letting go of all but the most essential jobs (eating, sleeping, feeding). The two of you will eventually settle into a rhythm, and life will take on some semblance of normalcy. For now, try to rest and kiss those little toes frequently! :-)

9 She is sooo cute! Congrats!

10 She 'almost' makes me want to have another baby.  Till I see my kids current college tuition bills...  Sigh.  Still, I adore them when they are still so little.  Glad to see your husband is treating you so nicely.  They are both definitely keepers and I can see why you didn't throw either of them back. 

11 She is SO beautiful!  You and Russ make pretty babies!

12 Sarah and Russ,  Oh, she is so beautiful.  I know you must be totally exhausted but that will change so save lots of pictures so you can go back and appreciate those first few days.  I know your mom, Sarah, will be crying all the way home.  Jane

13 She has a delicious nose too! Not just feet ... thought I'd point out the obvious for you ...

1 (patting you on the shoulder)  I think we've all done that...

2 Exhaustion will do that to you.  Maybe you should just take a nap when she does.  We all value you posts but you need to take care of yourself.  We can wait. (easy to say as I check your site every single time I sit down at the computer.)
Have fun with the baby, relax when she does and get back to us when your can.

3

I agree with Ruth. I did not listen when people told me to nap when baby napped. I wound up literally sick from exhaustion. The computer will still be there, none of us is going anywhere, laundry will wait, the vacuum won't run away.

Enjoy this time with baby. 

4

I wind up doing some of my longer posts in Word and then paste them over because of just that...  Then I get lazy and forget and the blog eats one and then I start the cautious plan all over again.

You do realize that you could put up a close up picture of BabyGrok's toes and everyone here would love you all that much more for it.  Baby toes are 11 on the cute meter.

If we could incorporate smell-o-vision and get the new baby smell on the blog, you'd have more hits than Glenn Reynolds.

I'm going to go see if there's a smell-o-vision plug in out there.  I'll make Chuck's blog smell like bacon while I'm at it.  

5

*giggles @ codemonkey*

BabyGrock better have a bazzilion toes 'cuz everyone here is going into hormornal overdrive to nibble baby toes!

And, jealous, oh hell yes, so YOU have to nibble toes for us!

Bacon smell?  Cover his ass (Chucks) in bacon!  Will smell much better, I'm sure, and preserve his ass .  Why didn't he think of that a-for he got blowed up?  ;-)

1 Yes, it can be overwhelming, but just focus on feeding yourself and the baby.  Kiss and snuggle your girl, tomorrow is another day!

2

Absolutely nothing has been going on - let alone anything more important than taking care of your littlest sweetie.  

I totally sympathize on the constantly beginning-continuing-ending-cleaning-up a feeding thing!!!  That was why I didn't eat or drink much of anything, let alone get more than a wink of sleep, for DAYS... and it was a bad idea.  All sorts of unpleasantness. 

You might try setting a timer for your meds; inspired by the hospital's charts, keeping a chart that someone more mobile can review helped me, too... seriously, have someone else keep your "brain" documented outside of your body for a while.     Once I was through with *some* of the very early, made-me-want-to-just-die, rigamarole, I'd feed Kiddo; then just sit there holding him until we both fell asleep.  Wake up & feed him again. Then fall back asleep.  (Not sure how much of that was painkillers, and how much was sheer exhaustion...)  Every few minutes helps, and I promise it'll get better... these first few days really are rough.

Timing-wise for a bath, the best time would be right after a feeding so she's happy & you can hand her off to whoever's helping; OR... you could probably even nurse her *during* the bath, once you got settled...  not sure how slick that would work, but it occurred to me just now, so I figured I'd mention it.  But yeah, you'll probably have to really, intentionally, schedule the most mundane things for a little while.

Anyway, we're totally pulling for you & hoping it gets just that much easier, that much sooner... *hugs*

3 I agree on  focusing on feeding the baby. It will get better. The more she feeds now the more milk you will make and it will eventually get on a schedule. Not a perfect one but a do-able one. Having a baby the first time is HARD. No one tells you because its something you just have to experience. But she will only be 1 week old once and 2 weeks old once, and so on. Enjoy it even though it sucks. If that makes sense. I've followed your blog for fourish years now and realized at some point that I had met you. The hubs and I were stationed in Germany the same time ya'll were. What I am trying to say is that after all you have been through I am so happy for you to be a mom. I'll be emailing to find out her name. I HAVE to know what you named the baby you waited so long for! Cheers -gina

4 Oh, Sarah - I well remember days when at 5 in the afternoon, I still hadn't managed to shower or get dressed, or eat anything. It bothered me until I realized that my only responsibility was to snuggle with my kids, feed them, change them, and snuggle some more. The first couple of weeks, everything seems overwhelming, then you two will develop a routine, and everything will fall into place. Really, it will. I don't blame you for not posting her name publicly - although it really is BabyGrok, right? Sending much love & many prayers for you and your family.

5 Congrats!

6 Sarah,
Mine are late teenagers now.  I well remember and cherish the newborn days. We bottle fed from the beginning, so as a dad I was able to feed them too.  One big thing to know and remember.  There is NOTHING going on in the world that is even close to important as snuggling with your baby girl.  Cherish every single moment. And take lots of pictures.  Those pictures will be cherished keepsakes.
Congratulations again! She is a cutie!
Jim

7 LOL, it gets much better soon. I call the first weeks home with the baby the "survival" period. Don't worry about anything that's not directly related to your or her survival. Everything else is secondary and optional. :-D

Except, sitz baths and pain pills. You need those, girl. Believe me, I speak from experience. The sitz baths will help you heal much, much faster.

1 Wow! Sounds like it was scary for a minute there, I'm so happy everything came out perfect in the end. I'm just so thrilled for all 3 of you (Charlie too!). She is just beautiful!

2 Oh my goodness...She does look just like Daddy. I'm so glad all of your hard work paid off, Sarah. I'm so happy for you.

3 BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL! You are blessed. I am so happy for you. <3

4 Long time lurker just calling in to say she's simply beautiful. Congratulations Sarah! I do hope you'll share the name you've picked for her, but I completely understand if you choose not to. All the luck in the world as you get to know your little one and get used to being a family complete with bub.

5 You are a beautiful family.  

6 She's absolutely beautiful!  Congratulations! 

7 Wow, that sounds like a super-fast, super-scary delivery! She's beautiful. Thank you for posting pictures. Congratulations!!! :-)

8 Happy Babymoon!

9 She is so perfectly gorgeous! Congratulations.

10 An exciting delivery, and worth every minute of it.  What a wonderful baby. She looks so pretty and chubby, I would love to give her a hug.  No wonder Charlie wants to lick her! It's doggie kisses and he's feeling maternal.What a treat to see your baby and you at such a blessed time.  Thanks for sharing.

11 So very glad she's safely born. What a cutie! Is it being in the military that makes us so SS# conscious? We got that taken care of way, way, way before a birth certificate. Like, months =). 

12 She is beautiful! Love the blond hair

13 Okay, you are good!  I STILL haven't written about when Rusty was born!   

I am so glad it went so quickly for you...a little jealous, I have to admit it, but also GLAD!  She is gorgeous, you look beautiful and you are a family!  A BEAUTIFUL family of four!  AWESOME!

14 A very hearty congratulations! What a beautiful little girl you have there! Best of luck and take good care.

15 Third most beautiful baby I've ever seen (after my own).

I am so happy all went well.

16 The baby story has just begun! May her tale be long and exciting. She's already had quite a prologue.

I hope to see her in a photo with her big brother Charlie!

17 Just beautiful!!

18 She is beautiful! And you rarely see that white blonde hair on newborns.

My oldest was born via vacuum. It took 30 minutes to stitch me back together. Ouch, ouch, ouch!!

19 Congratulations, Sarah!!!!   She's gorgeous!

I never wrote my birth story, though I intended to.  My husband did it for me, and did such a great job that I just linked to his blog.

20 Congratulations to the both of you!!! What a beautiful baby girl you guys have produced Well worth the wait and drama i'd say.. May you enjoy this wonderful time together

21 Congrats again! I love when people have accidental natural births! Glad your baby is here and in your arms. Keep up the good work with breastfeeding, it hurts like hell for two weeks but then its so worth it!

22

Thanks for sharing....she's wonderful.  My son was a forcep delivery back in the olden days, so I had the wacky episiotomy.....all I can say is that Tucks are your friend!!!

Blessings to you all.

23 She's adorable! Congratulations to both of you

24

Sarah, she's adorable. You look great too. I want to squeeze her little pink cheeks. And hooray for you going natural!

CONGRATS!

PS - I hope your stitches are healing - yikes! Yeah for icepacks!

25 looks like a viking baby!  She is beautiful, God is good....

26 *tear*  I'm so glad she's perfect!

27 She's beautiful! I'm so happy for you and your family. Congratulations!

28 So full of joy for you, Mr. Grok, baby and Charlie. Thank you for sharing your story and pix with us.
If you don't want to share her 'real' name with us, can you pick a 'blog name' to refer to her by? She seems so anonymous. Maybe you should have a naming contest.....  I suggest BG for 'baby grok'.

At any rate, enjoy your babymoon, be patient with the breastfeeding, and just revel in this new beginning. So wonderful!

29 I'm not sure when I started reading your blog, but I always knew Baby Grok would become a reality. Internet people know this stuff, you know Congrats, again!

30

She's gorgeous.  Her blond hair is just precious.  Make sure you use the analgesic spray they gave you on your stitches.  If you didn't get any, go get some.  Its called Dermoplast. 

http://www.dermoplast.com/

It was a life saver for me.  And be sure to take it easy so you are completely healed.

Good luck with breastfeeding.  Don't be shy about using your finger to break the suction and try again if she doesn't latch properly.  I was the first time around and nursed for 3 weeks with a poor latch, which caused major nipple pain that I thought was normal.  Proper latch fixed everything.

Enjoy your new family.

31 Dermoplast is of the gods.


As for BG, she's absolutely beautiful!! Congratulations!!!

32 What a cutie! Congratulations!

33

Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful.

God Bless her!

34 Congrats!! So happy for you!

35 She is beautiful and look at all that blond hair!  Congratulations on a job well done.  Take it easy and let everyone do things for you.

36 Congratulations!! 

37 Mom and Baby are so beautiful!  Congratulations!

38

Sarah - she is so beautiful, and you looked radiant!  Congratulations and God Bless your family!  I am so thrilled for you all!

Hugs,

Mary

39 Yay.

So much happiness.

I don't have words to say what this means to me. But your story has given me hope, and I am sure it has given hope to countless other people.

Congratulations

40 Sarah, I had tears as I read this. A MILLION times congratulations on your beautiful daughter! I know you waited for her and wish you and your family all the happiness in the world. You deserve it so much.

1 I could not be more thrilled if it were my own grandchild.
Bless you all.
 May I be the first to say," I knew you had it  in you?"  ;D

2 That's wonderful news !!  Best wishes to the new family !!

3 Congratulations on your wonderful news~!!!! So thrilled for you all.

4 Congratulations! Yay!

5 yipee...delurking to say congratulations.

6 Congratulations!! 

7 CONGRATULATIONS....I have been following your blog for months now and have thoroughly enjoyed the way you have kept everyone up to date. :-) 

8 I am so happy for you and your husband, Sarah. I've been following your blog for over a year now and even though I don't know you IRL, I feel like a friend just received a wonderful blessing. God Bless you, your husband, and your new baby girl.

9

No way  . . . can't wait to hear ALL the  details.  It has been long overdue and I am sure you are enjoying every second!  Take care and keep smiling because she is all yours.

Heidi

10 Have been reading your blog for about 2 years now. I've been waiting for this day ever since I started reading. CONGRATS and enjoy your bundle of joy!

11 Congratulations!!! God Bless you all!! Take it easy while you can, Mommy.

12 Huzzah!!!

13 Congratulations! And ditto to Heather's comment. I'm so excited for you and Mr. Grok, and smile knowing how happy you must be at this very moment.

14 Congratulations!!!  God Bless you all.

15 CONGRATS!!! Enjoy all the ups and downs that this new little one will bring you, parenthood is an amazing, amazing ride.

and no more writers block, kids are fantastic blog fodder.

16 I am so glad this day has finally came.  You two seem as though you will be the absolute best parents. Ever.  Happy tears of joy! Congratulations to your family on this awesome addition!

17 Congratulations!!!

18 Happy birthday, BabyGrock! So glad you are here!

19 Congrats!

Enjoy the little stuff... time flies. 

Nicki

20 Congratulations!  What a welcome that child had waiting for her. It's amazing how such a tiny little person can so change your world. She's a very blessed child to have such a loving family to cherish her.

21 Congratulations! I am so happy for all of you! Now, get down to business kissing baby toes!

22 Congratulations.  May you grok nothing but happiness.

23 March 1st, 2010.  The beginning of a new era for the Grok family.  Congratulations to You and Your's.  This is wonderful news.  I have been following avidly, just waiting for this day. 

24 Hooray!!! Congrats to you both!!

25 WHOOT!  Congratulations a million times over!! 

26 Congratulations!

27 One long journey has come to an end, and another begins. Thank you for sharing the ride so far. We've learned from you - and felt so much for you. I've never been happier for you!

28 Yay!  Congratulations!

29 omagosh! congratufrickinlations! I'm very happy for you both.

30 Congratulations!!! Hope everyone is doing great.

31 Congratulations!!

32 Congratulations on your new arrival. Best to you and yours at this amazing time!

33 So happy for you, let the fun begin!

34 What a great birthday - the meteorological  (as opposed to the astronomical which is the 20th) first day of Spring! 

Was there a full moon?  I think yesterday there was...

35

I am so happy and excited for all of you!!!!!!  I can't think of another baby so eagerly anticipated and wanted and worked for--and now she's finally here!!!!!!  I recall crying at the news of your last miscarraige, but now they are tears of sheer JOY!

God Bless you all and welcome to the world Baby Grok.  You are one lucky little girl!

36 Congrats Grok Family. May you enjoy every second!!! WOO HOO

37 'Bout damn time.

38 Love and prayers. Congratulations!

39 Congratulations!!!!

40

Congratulation!  I am so happy that everything worked out.  I was pretty worried that Husband wouldn't make it back in time.  Best of luck to all three of you.  You'll do great!

41 CONGRATULATIONS!  But wait...no liveblogging? What's up with that??

42 How wonderful! Congratulations to you, Mr. Grok on the addition of your beautiful baby grok. 

43 Win!

44 Yay, indeed!!!

45

Yipeeeeeee!  Good wishes from Alaska!

Hey, I just realized something.  We are in D.C., hubby is on detail here.  I took the boys to the Chineese New Year's parade a few weeks ago.  Not only is Babygrok born in the year of the tiger......she is born in the year of the white tiger.  That only happens every 60 years.  Very cool!

cindy h.

46 Wonderful news!  So happy for the Grok family!

47 HURRAY!  I knew you could do it.  Can't wait to see her pictures, I'm sure she is beautiful!  I'm so proud of you, Sarah!

48 So happy for the three of you!

49

YAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

I'm SOOO happy for you!!!   (And I KNEW I should've checked in here last night!!! )

Oh, I am just overjoyed!!!!!   *hugs* to all of you!!!  And CONGRATULATIONS!!! 

50 So very pleased and happy for you all!  Enjoy!

51 Congratulations!!!  ) 

52   <--- insert this instead of the shocked face, haha

53 I've been reading for the past couple of years and am just thrilled for you!  Many congratulations!

54 I am so over-the-moon happy for you!!!

55 Welcome to the world, BabyGrok!  Congratulations, Sarah and hubby!!

56 I've followed your blog for years and am FINALLY delurking. Sososososososososo excited for you. Congrats and best wishes!

57 YYYAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!

SOOO proud of you!  Congratulations!  Hooray!!!

x1,000,000!!!

58 I am soooooo happy for you!!!  I've been struggling with bronchitis and didn't check in at your blog like I should have or I would have already known about your little bundle of miracle.  I remember counting fingers and toes and looking at my husband with a look that said, "We couldn't possibly have made something this precious, could we?"  We were amazed, happy, scared, wondering, blessed and terrified all at the same time.

Bless you both and your baby with good health and happiness, always.

1 wooot!

2 I don't think I was *this* excited over the birth of my own children. YAY!!! Go Sarah!

3 airforcewife,

I initially thought you wrote ""best contractions in the world." That wouldn't surprise me! Sarah is a living superlative.

Please keep up the reports!

4 Woohoo!!!  Praying it all goes well!

5 looking forward to hearing the great news! Push Sarah Push!

6 Woooo Hoooo!

7

Yayyyy! GoSarahGoSarahGoSarah!  Woooohooo! GoMr.GrokGoMr.Grok!

Welcome to the world BabyGrok!

What a beautiful thing this is!

8 So happy for the Groks! Keep us posted!

9 Och, I have CHILLS reading that. So exciting...some prayers, quickly, now!!

10 Push her out, push her out, way out!

11 Oh yay! I'm glad =).

12 YAYAYAYAY! You can do it, Sarah! :-)

13 Yahooooooooooo!!!! Can't wait for the "She's Here!!!" Post.

14 Woohoo!!!

15 Woohoo!!!!  Fantastic news!

16 I just read a mutual FB friend's post that Baby Grok is here and they are doing well.....I'm so thrilled for The Groks...they deserve this and so much more.

17 Congratulations from this side of the pond!!
Now, breathe out, relax and enjoy!!
Baby Grok has a fantastic start in life, she has two loving parents. She is so blessed.