So – no more bumpday updates, due to the fact that I am no longer be-bumped.
However, just because I know have an outside baby, it doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to talk about! Also, I don’t want this to be an “All Alvie All the Time” blog. There are other things to talk about: Shoes, books, training, running, swimming, biking, etc.
So – I am going to dedicate Wednesdays to Alvie updates – and along those lines, my recovery updates, too.
Alvie Progress
Alvie Bean (as I mentioned yesterday) is one month old!
He has grown so much in the lsat month. He grew 1.5 inches! And gained at least 2 pounds (actual weight gain cannot be confirmed due to the fact that I cannot locate the scale) and is officially too big for all of his 0-3 month clothes. (Which, really? How does that even work? He’s only one month old!)
He recognizes my voice and will turn his head to look at me – especially when he’s hungry.
Today, he had his first immersion bath – and loved it. He didn’t even cry until I took him out of the bath.
He is trying his hardest to roll over, but can’t get all the way there. I have a feeling when he becomes mobile, I will be in trouble.
He really enjoys tummy time, but gets frustrated pretty quickly.
Alvie/Mommy Learning Curves
i.e. breastfeeding
Breastfeeding really hasn’t been too hard for us. He latched on right away as a new guy – as soon as they got him to me after I was in the recovery room post-op. There are times that it is more difficult – he has performance anxiety, so if there are people looking, we have trouble latching. (Honestly? It might be my performance anxiety – not sure.)
He eats between 3.5 – 4 hours per day (there’s an app for that!).
The first time he latched on, it was awesome – tears came to my eyes, because it was such a connection. I really do enjoy this bonding experience with my little man. However, there are times when it seems a bit much. I feel like a milk-cow, and not in a good way. Those moments are few & far between, but I still pledge full honesty, and it’s not 100% awesome all the time.
My Recovery
First off – mental recovery. I feel pretty damn good, actually. I was really afraid that I would suffer from post-partum depression. Between my history of depressive issues and the events of the past few months, it was definitely a worry. I have been seeing a therapist since mid-January to work on everything – dealing with the illness and death of my father, being stressed and stuck in Portland, being pregnant, and then post-partum, not having the birth experience I wanted/expected. I have moments where I cry – but I do think that those moments are 98% grieving and 2% being a normal new mommy.
Secondly – physical recovery. I gained a LOT of weight. Lots. I went about 20 weeks without putting on a pound, and then BOOM! It was like I took some weight gain 3000. Total pregnancy gain: 53 lbs.
Total lost at one month: 31 lbs.
Total loss to go: 22 to get to pre-pregnancy weight; 42 to get to my goal weight (there had been some creepage between my 2009 marathon and my 2011 impregnation).
I am not going to talk too much about actual numbers here, but want to deal in percentages.
I want to lose a total of 73 lbs from my high point on 4/8/12. I have lost just over 60% of the weight gained due to being pregnant (and, let’s be honest, stressed) and 42% of the total desired loss. From now on, these updates will include only percentages lost (pregnancy weight & goal weight).
I have not been able to start exercising yet, other than slow walks once or twice a week.
My incision is pretty much healed, but there is still a lot of soreness off & on at the incision site. It’s much worse today than it has been in a few days, likely due to yesterday’s solo trip half way across the country.
I am feeling pretty good, though. Tomorrow, I’m going to go for a nice long walk, and am hoping to hit the pool on the 19th or 20th of this month, and start up with a yoga class the week after that. Biking, walk/running, and my new p90x will start on 5/31-ish.
