Life with Ezra
So we’ve rounded the two-week mark and on the whole, things seem to be getting a tiny bit easier. First off, I’m feeling much better and am not needing to be on pain meds every 6 hours for the c-section incision pain. In fact, I’m generally only taking Motrin once a day. Secondly, we haven’t had any absolutely awful nights like day 3 and 4 in the hospital, where Ezra was starving and was inconsolable for hours in the middle of the night. Thirdly, we got Francis back from Bryce’s parents last night and so far he’s done remarkably well.
Ezra is now up to 7 lbs. 3.5 oz. as of his last pediatrician appointment, almost a pound above his birth weight. He’s started to acquire a “fussy period” that our pediatrician thinks might be the beginning of colic, but I’m not so sure, as he isn’t inconsolable. Bryce has taken to driving him around Pasadena until he conks out. I’m thinking it could be overstimulation, cluster feeding, or perhaps he’s reacting to something I’ve eaten. Today I’m going to cut out dairy and see how that goes.
It is a very good thing that he is so adorable, because when I’m not sleeping and feel like I’m feeding him all the time, the cuteness does help. We’re having fun watching his funny little faces and his fascination with the light coming in the blinds when he’s on his changing table. Bryce has been “hosed off” a few times and even got his hands in a poopy diaper once and so feels he’s joined the ranks of “real Dad-ness.” We’re doing pretty well functioning on little sleep, but I’m really looking forward to a more consistent sleeping schedule. We’ve had two nights where Ezra has had a 4-hour stretch followed by a 3-hour stretch between feedings. Hopefully that will continue! We’ll continue to update with pictures and one of these days we’ll have something more intelligent to share. 
September 15th, 2007 at 12:37 am
It sounds like you are doing really well with him if he is gaining that much weight, that’s great!
Colic if often bandied about, but in my experience with babies, very few actually had real colic, many were as you suggest overtired.
September 15th, 2007 at 1:31 am
Hi Ashley, belated congratulations on the birth of your son first of all! Secondly, my top tip in a not-a-mum-but-works-with-kids kind of way is when Ezra hits the six week mark look for baby massage classes. They are just amazing. It is good fun, helps with attachment/bonding etc and also helps with any number of physical ailments (including colic!). Also the babies get really blissed out. Very cool. If you can’t find a class then I can recommend a book… Lovin’ the name Ezra btw.
September 15th, 2007 at 10:13 am
I’ve been craving an update so was glad to see your post! So glad things are getting settled and sleep is not too terrible.
September 16th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Oh that’s wonderful about the 3-4 hour sleep stretches. That’s the most important thing, keep thinking of 3-4 hours as pure bliss! I agree with the above comments about colic and about baby massage. Ezra sounds like a great baby, and good luck figuring out if there’s anything you need to stop eating. I had to cut out all beans, because they made Fiona windy, even though they didn’t make me that way. Babies, huh? Think they’re the centre of the universe! (They are.)
September 17th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
That’s so funny about your husband driving Ezra about town. My dad would bounce me up and down on his chest and sing spirituals until I stopped crying. I know because he did the same with my little brothers.
September 23rd, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Heh, my parents drove me around all the time, too. Something about the motion helps chill out a little person’s mind and body, I guess. *files this away for future reference*