The Adventures of Callie Victoria Ortiz: Callie

So, since coming home, Callie has had so much going on. She slept SOLID for the first few days, we had to wake HER to eat every 3 hours... we went to the pediatrician on Monday, November 7 and her weight was at 6.6 from 7.4 in the hospital. The pediatrician said everything looked great and her only concern was that 6.6 was close to 10% loss which is their cut off... So she wanted us to feed every 2-2.5 hours during the day and 3 at night. Callie does have mongolian spots on her bottom, which I thought was a bruise, and was upset! She has no jaundice and great coloring. She had no more heart murmur. Callie has excellent control of her neck: she held it up her first day of life, and moved her head!

At our followup on Thursday, November 10, she was still at 6.6, so the pediatrician wanted to make some adjustments. She wanted me to take an herbal supplement to increase milk production, as well as supplement in between or after feedings with formula. I said "what about pumped milk?", she did not know I had some frozen already, so she said that was even better! (I don't want to have to resort to formula unless really necessary...). We found out that basically I was not eating enough calories, fats and proteins (pedi gave an excuse to eat flan lol). So if Mommy does not have enough calories, baby does not get enough, and therefore her energy is low. We thought she was just a great sleeper, however now we know it was because she was lethargic from not enough milk/calories. So, I am trying to eat every few hours when I can. I have to remember to do this for her!!! We need the weight to be up on Monday at the next followup!

So since then, Mommy had a breakdown because she felt like she was not doing the right thing, and could not provide. We spoke to WAY too many people and got WAY TOO MANY DIFFERING IDEAS/ADVICE. Today we went to the lactation consultant, who was actually our doula, and she weighed Callie. Callie was 6.10 according to their scale. We did a 'let down' test, and weighed Callie before and after a feeding. She was able to retain close to an ounce from me. So, we need to supplement a few times a day with .5-1 more ounce, which means I have to PUMP, PUMP, PUMP every other feeding for 10 minutes for a few days to build supply. This is so demanding and tiring, but it is for her health.

Lactation consultant said I can have a glass of wine and that "pump and dump" is not necessary... not like I have wine in the house since it's been 10 months of no wine allowed during pregnancy.

Callie has been WAY more alert in between feeds, which is a great sign that the lethargy is not as bad. I am praying to continue down this right path. I was in such a dark place yesterday, crying my eyes out and feeling like a failure. It's hard to feel like you cannot provide what G-d gave you the natural ability to do, but I know now that: I NEED TO EAT MORE, I NEED TO STRESS LESS, BABY WILL NOT STARVE, SHE WILL BE OK.

Here are some pics from her pediatrician appointments (1st/followup)