Elisabeth at 3 months

9/11/2013

 She enjoys bath time for the most part

9/11/2013

Today marks exactly three months since this beautiful girl joined our family. I know this blog is horribly out of sequence, but I just have to get stuff down as fast as I can these days and let go of some perfectionism.

Oh this sweet little child of mine....big sigh...

I adore her, (yes here comes the "BUT") but she is truly my hardest baby yet. She just cries and cries all the time. The crying spells don't last as long any more, but they are still quite frequent. It is very, very frustrating and I am sincerely hopeful that it is due to some sort of physical discomfort and NOT a sign of what is to become of her personality. (please, please,please!!!)

As frustrating and exhausting as it is, I just love her to pieces and am so thankful we have her.

Breastfeeding is still a big, fat challenge which I am also very frustrated with. More so on days that are just harder in general. Like today.

On Monday we went down to Portland and saw and ENT doc down there who did a frenectomy and frenotomy (used the laser to release her tongue and upper lip tie). Although we had her lip done before, it had reattached some. Theses lip and tongue ties really affect a babies ability to breastfeed properly. They have a poor, shallow latch, don't drain the breast properly which can lead to clogged ducts or mastitis, and for me the main problem is PAIN! Nipple vasospasms, breast pain, etc. It just hurts. A lot!

I only wish we had seen this problem, oh, I don't know, like 12 weeks ago! Now she has established her bad sucking habits and we will work with a lactation specialist to see if we can reverse it.

I'm pretty burnt out with it to be honest. I am thankful for what I have been able to do and I'm thankful for what breastmilk she does get from me. I am just ready for it to stop hurting. My long term breastfeeding goals have now become very short term goals. One day at a time.

With all the crying she does, it is such a pleasure to get some sweet smiles out of her. She is getting stronger and better at holding her head up. She has found her hands and plays with them a lot. She is starting to make cute baby sounds, lots of eye contact. At her appointment on Monday she was 11.8 lbs and she is 21" long right now. She is beautiful.