Motherhood without the manual.. Part Two | 8 Weeks

Okay.. So now we get home.. our first night..

I was a bit unsure why I didn’t receive a Manual on what to expect and how to raise a child! I was kind of annoyed when the nurses only said : “Bye, enjoy your baby”

I was like ... ”Okay.. so when are you going to tell me what to expect?”

Guess it doesn’t work that way... anyway..

Everything was calm, chilled, quiet and we were confident and chuffed with ourselves.. the 40 min drive from the hospital was super easy.. Dad driving, me and babsie in the back seat..

My husband and I had a conversation about our Yorkie, wondering how he would react and hoping he would be okay with his new sister..

We got home. Not knowing what to expect, we asked our parents to just give us a minute to get into the house and introduce Olivia to Benjamin so he can relax and see that it’s a new little human and that we will be keeping her for ever hahaha.

The dog was excited to see us, sniffed and Gently peaked at Olivia.. it was the sweetest moment ever!!

There were a few times where he jumped into her co-sleeper which scared us a bit, but he never jumped on top of her..

Later on he grew so fond of her, he would tap her on the head wanting to play..

The one day he got a bit rough and triple tapped her on the head, but hard! She started crying.. but now they‘re besties! And he’s very protective of her!

Anyway.. back to the first night..

Still, very confident.. the three of us go to bed..

Feeding times were like ridiculous hours of the morning.. she woke up at around 01:00 and I fed her burped her and then her tiny, cute little butt exploded!!!!! Poop EVERYWHERE!

At 02:30 in the morning my husband poured a bath and here we are.. bathing this tiny little human for the very first time not really knowing what to do.. Olivia screaming, me shaking, hubby running away, Benjamin very upset wanting to bite me and the baby.. I obviously started crying.. saying to my husband.. “What a shit show - literally!”

I think our Neighbour went onto property24 that morning to find himself a new house.. hahahah

Well after the poop escapade, we went back to bed and laughed about it the next day. Even though it really wasn’t funny at all in the moment!

But it that’s not where it stopped! The pooping continued up until 2 weeks ago..

She pooped on me like a hundred times.

let me break it down for you - 2am morning poops.. all over me.. I learned to change a diaper like super quickly because leaving that tiny butt exposed is DANGEROUS!

Oh don’t let me start on the public pooping.. As Murphy has it. The danger poops will always happen when you have no place to clean.. like when you take her out of her car seat and then you notice you’re Arm covered in poop and the baby covered in poop.. now what do you do??? I changed her in the car’s Boot quite a few times.. using a whole pack of wipes!

The other day I was at a friends house waiting for my husband to pick us up so we can go see the Chiro.. And my beautiful little daughter decided it’s time.. ALL over me - I was wearing white that day!!

I changed her and then I realized I’m screwed because I can’t go to the chiro covered in poop.. My dear friend lend me one of her shirts! My husband got there and he immediately knew we had another poop accident again..

Now I don’t only have extra clothes for Olivia in the diaper bag.. momma also has a extra pair!!

So.. I decided it’s a good idea to co-bath with Olivia.. just because of the skin to skin we get to do and also it helped keep her calm during bath times..

Well that didn’t last to long.. I guess she thought it was a shitty idea- literally!

I wont go into the gorrie details.. but you can just imagine how traumatizing it must have been for me! Haha

I could go on and on.. but let’s rather move along

Week one went well. We were flooded with guests and comfort food! It was VERY cold so everyone had to visit us in the main bedroom! I was to scared to take her to the living room.. it was just to cold!

I loved waking up every morning just to find the house filled with fresh flowers and food everywhere! No cooking for me. !!!

During this week we had to take Olivia to the hospital for jaundice check ups twice.. her counting was a bit high! But it came down very quickly when we put her in the sun for a few minutes a day :)

So we got to leave the house and had coffee when we had the chance.. bonding and coffee dates were the best.

Week 2 was a bit more difficult.. Olivia only wanted to be close to me.. we slept two hours a night, because she refused to sleep in her own bed.. Eventually I put her in the bed with us.. believe me I was crucified for co-sleeping with my daughter and everyone had a opinion they wanted to raise.. but hey.. I’m the mom who needs her sleep.. and my child wanted to sleep with me and that’s what worked for us.. everyone warned me that she would be spoilt.. but they can’t get spoilt when they’re so small.. and you know what, I just decided that I won’t let a moment with my child pass, just because I was to scared to do something or just because someone else demotivated me to so something.. She only started sleeping in her own bed for the past week now, and only because she is now comfortable with it..

The one night she wouldn’t stop screaming. I went through the whole list of things that could be wrong.. She was fed, burped, diaper changed and I tried comforting her.. NOTHING worked..

At 01:30 I told my husband to go to the hospital pharmacy and ask them for panado syrup.. The poor man got up , and drove all the way.. In the meantime Olivia eventually Fell asleep and so did I, so when hubby got home he found the two of us sound asleep.. he was a bit miserable which is understandable... the next morning we told our helper what happened and she informed us that there is a sealed bottle of panado in Olivia’s room... My husband was not miserable anymore... he was now FURIOUS and irritated.. poor man! Haha!!

We also had our very first braai with our Neighbour’s.. I swaddled Olivia and wrapped her onto me.. so she was warm, comfy and happy..

Week 3 was a bit hectic. I had to get help. My child cried non stop and we barely slept. I phoned my mom and asked if she would mind helping out.. We made a appointment at the baby clinic where I gave birth and the nurse examined Olivia and weighed her.. At least she grew.. I was scared she was not drinking enough - I was breastfeeding at that stage-

She gave us meds for cramps and taught me a few tricks to get Olivia to sleep!

It worked! The cramps were still there but much better!

I had my very first two meetings. Luckily here at home.. But during the one my child started screaming so much I had to excuse myself to go breastfeed! While Olivia was on the one breast I started pumping the other side so I can have just enough to give her back to my mother to feed her via bottle so I can return to my meeting! Ugh and it took forever, because I had a hand pump ! My hubby felt sorry for me and went to buy me a proper electric double pump so I could express and know our child can be fed by anyone if I needed to work..

I put her pram in my office and she became a lil office baby! This way I was able to get back to work and pump at the same time..

During this week I had to go on a location shoot and Olivia stayed with daddy.. He managed really well! And I was able to go work with a okay heart! And not worry all the time, because I don’t really believe in nannies.. No one will be able to look after Olivia like I do.. You can anyway not trust anyone these days.. So I would rather watch my child myself..

We also did our Lifestyle shoot with Livie that week.

The images came out so nice! Memories captured forever! She was so cute and worked together like a boss !

On the 14 th of August I got my very first smile!! Yeah I’m the mom who remembers dates!!

It literally made me SO happy! Her very first smile and I actually caught it on camera! How lucky?!

Since then she’s just been smiling all the way!

She Is a very happy child!

Over the last 4 weeks I just got to know my child, figured out a routine and spend as much time with her as possible..

The one night she fell sick and had a fever and everything was just wrong.. we rushed her to the ER and there they drew blood.. it was terrible.. the first time was n fail and I was informed they would have to try and get blood again from her other arm.. me as a mom obviously flipped out because it was super painful for Olivia.. I was asked to rather step outside.. it was the worst to hear my baby scream her lungs out as the needle went into her tiny little arm for a second time!

My husband was at his cricket game and came to the hospital straight after.. where he found me in tears and very upset! I anyway laid a complaint at the hospital, because the service was ridiculous and it was not very clean.. I just wish I was able to drive to the hospital I gave birth at.. but it’s a 40 minute drive and my husband took my car with Olivia’s car seat in! So I didn’t want to take the risk..

It was a very long night for us. When we got discharged I just cuddled her and stayed awake with her to make sure she’s fine.. She anyway just wanted to be with me.. and that was okay,. As long as she felt safe and better..

Turns out she had a Virus.. she was dehidrated as well.. so I had to feed her rehidrate for babies with a syringe the whole time .. and it just went right through.. so believe me I was freaking out a bit!

But eventually it was better as she kept it in!

Its the absolute worst when your child is sick and in pain and there’s nothing you can really do.. I hated every minute of it..

She was also diagnosed with very bad silent reflux just after the whole hospital/virus trip, and had to get a top up milk to help her. She was also a little under weight so the milk was necessary.

My breastfeeding journey came to an end when I got mastitis.. so now she is a formula baby who is happy and sleeps through at night!

I took her for her 8 Weeks vaccines.. what a brave girl! Two injections and she was okay! I was proud of her!!! She screamed a little bit, obviously my heart broke a little bit too, but she was really fine in a wink! She even gave me smiles when I changed her diaper afterwards :) !

All I can say about the past 8 weeks.. What a journey, what a joy.. I wouldn’t change it for the world! Time goes by so quickly!

If there’s anything I would change?

It would definitely be not to listen to everyone’s opinions.. it would be to follow my motherly instinct and do what is best for me and my child!

To many people raised they’re opinions to often.. and I just kept quiet,. Not anymore,. I think it’s very important to follow your gut and do what you need to do..

Since then I’ve become a stronger mother who very easily now tell people off.. and who very easily now say no if I’m not happy..

My child, My rules..Don’t tell me how to raise her or what to do when I have it all under control and I did not ask your opinion..

This journey will only get better and better! I can’t wait for the next chapter with my daughter!

Love

A Mommy

xx