Just over this mountain...
It's been said that civilization is never more than 3 square meals away from chaos and ensuing collapse. This suggests that, should everyone miss 3 square meals in a row, everyone would be in such a rotten mood that we'd all go down fighting with sticks and stones to be sure that we didn't miss a fourth meal. Today, Lindsay and I learned that something similar can be said for a satisfied baby's belly and her inexperienced parents!
Last night and early this morning was a rough ride for the three of us. Genevieve wanted to be fed whenever she was conscious, but when she was being fed she began to fall asleep while eating, meaning Lindsay was constantly trying to keep her eating so Genevieve could get a full belly and sleep longer than a few minutes. She was an unhappy baby, and we were bewildered in our struggle asking, "Will she always be like this?"
Then the tide turned: Lindsay's milk came in, which was followed with an explanation from Tobi-Lynne, one of our midwives who came for a home visit and checkup on the ladies today. Lindsay's colostrum just wasn't giving the satisfaction Genevieve wanted, simply because Genevieve is such a big baby! Thus, her blood-sugar was on the low side and, just like her daddy when he is late for a meal, she gets CRANKY!
WOW! Now that Genevieve is satisfied with her feedings (and Tobi-Lynne said that she wants to hire Genevieve to show other babies how to feed properly) she's like a different baby! Happy to be held when sleeping! Alert to us, even when not hungry! What a relief.
Yes, there are countless rough rides ahead like this one, and worse, but the peaceful look on our little one's face is like the sun coming out on a warm spring day.