:)

I never thought I would be a mother one day however I wanted to! When I held Soorya in my arms for the first time which was on the 3 January 2018, I could not believe that he was the one who had been with me for those 9 months. I wonder, how did Soorya managed to adjust in my tummy :)
Soorya was very good to me during my pregnancy! I’m glad, he didn’t change a bit when he came out!
I'm happy to share few of my experiences as new mommy if it can be of any help :)

Soorya was born at 35 weeks 6 days. He was 4 lbs 15 oz & 18.5 inches tall. I want to share my experience especially because people around you will make you feel either 100% secure & comfortable or discourage you to the core.

One of such incidents happened to me when my parents visited us from India. The very moment they saw Soorya, they told “oh he looks so thin/weak”. They started looking at my baby like an alien! In fact my mom told me once that he’s so different from other babies. These things to me as a new mother was very painful, especially when these things came from my very own parents. As family, one needs to comfort the other especially when things aren’t in good shape. The only fact people(so called 'Loved ones') could not take was Soorya coming to this world a little early. Now, Soorya is their favourite guy in the world! :) 

If I have to talk about my lil champion, though he came 4 weeks early, my baby passed all the tests at the hospital. Even after coming home, doctor told he needs to put on weight fast and he did it. You name something, my baby will get it done! :)
As a mother, these 2 months i've gone through a lot of mixed emotions. sometimes it's overwhelming, painful, cranky, happy, sad & challenging. I have tried to enjoy every moment possible with Soorya. First few days were challenging yet memorable. I'm happy that I'm getting to experience these new things in life :)

First 2 days at the hospital-

At the hospital, they check the baby 100 times sucking the blood out. For blood sugar, hearing test, temperature check, car seat test & what not? During all these times when Soorya used to cry, I always had tears just by listening to him. I didn’t wanted my baby to get hurt like any mother would think!
I always believed that I’m strong in and out. People around me call me unique, looking at the things I do differently. I never felt I was one. After having Soorya, multi-tasking and getting things done on time have made me feel I’m a super woman :) The confidence I’ve gained about myself is immeasurable. First few days were definitely not easy. Having a complete stranger at home was different. Understanding his signs took time. During all these time I kept telling myself “This too shall pass” & I swear it works!


Initial Challenges-
Having Soorya is one of the best things happened to us! Though we thought we were ready to become parents, it took us a week to get adjusted to him! I didn’t understand his language for some time. All I used to do is cry when he’s crying! He was such a lazy bum for a week! We used to wake him up every 2 hrs to feed him! This little munchkin used to have milk in his sleep :)
Genuinely, Sarpa helped me feed him first few days!

When I had to do all by myself, it was difficult & scary because I never liked forcing Soorya or make him feel uncomfortable. I remember the day when Soorya was 7 days old, Sarpa had to go pick my parents from the airport. I stayed with Soorya all by myself for the first time! When I had to feed him I was not waking him right and of course he wasn’t awake. I broke down so badly & asked myself if I did anything wrong by having a new life in our lives. It was very emotional as things were not working my way. Whenever I imagined Sarpa going office leaving us together, I used to get so scared thinking how challenging it would be. Again all these time, one thing I kept telling myself is “This too shall pass”.


Visits to paediatrician-Since Soorya was an early baby, Doctor had told the possible problems. One of that was bilirubin & jaundice. Initial 4 visits were not successful. As always, they drew blood & the check-up was done. They undress him every time we go. Check on his weight, seal the hot pack & draw blood.
Bilirubin got into the track after 4 visits. Jaundice never reached Soorya :) Next challenge was his weight gain. My baby lost 5% of his original weight after birth. later between 2-4 weeks he gained 6 ounces, between 4-6 weeks, he gained 1 kg. At his 2 months visit, Soorya was 9 lbs 5 oz. His Doctor is surprised & happy to see his progress towards weight gain.


Car Seat Experience-
I was very sure I would be very strict with Soorya using car seat and crib. Car seat of course is mandatory but I’d seen my friend’s kids not using them. Soorya had to go through car seat challenge at the hospital where they’ll put him in the seat and monitor him for 2 hours. He passed that.

While we were coming home from the hospital, Soorya sat in his car seat alone but started making sounds(may be he was uncomfortable, also nobody was with him), the first experience wasn’t very pleasant. Second time was when we went to Doctors, he was extremely comfortable & I sensed he liked it. From then, we’ve not had an issue him sitting in his seat. This pushed me assemble his bouncer as he liked sleep sitting :)

Latching-

This topic really amazes me! I have lot of my friends sharing experiences about their babies latch! Initially when I used to listen to those I thought, I never knew the concept “baby not latching”.

When Soorya was born, the very first day I started producing breast milk. Colostrum was given to him through syringe tube and he was having formula for first 2 days(10 ml). After 2 days

I started producing good amount of milk. Soorya hadn’t latched! I genuinely didn’t want to force him hence didn’t try the right way. Later I visited lactation consultant just to make sure if things were right. She checked how Soorya’s sucking ability was and she said he was doing great. Also she latched him on to me and I was on cloud9! But after coming home, when I tried, it didn’t work! I was heartbroken. I wasn’t desperate for first few days, but when he did it right I thought I should try. I kept telling myself, be patient and keep trying. It wasn’t easy. When Soorya was 13 days, I made up my mind to try just last one time and guess what, it worked! All I did was waited for him to get hungry and gave my breast to him and it was quick, he latched! But he latched on to my right boob first and he wasn’t comfortable with my left one. When he was 20 days he completely latched, he started to feed on both my breasts! I try to nurse him at least twice every day and bottle feed breast milk for the rest of his meals. If I run out of breast milk, I give him formula. Latching your little one might not be this easy for all. If the baby latched on to you in front of lactation consultant, then the baby is all ready for it. All you’ve to do is to be patient and keep trying. I know it sounds easy, but it works. The babies sense your anxiety very well! You got to keep yourself calm and composed when you’re nursing the baby. That’s the reason, most of the time they don’t latch.

Feeding-
Soorya has been a good feeder. He doesn’t leave the nipple until he’s full. He makes all sorts of noise to convey his food is yum! His expression while having milk is always cute. My husband and mom tell me, Soorya acts totally like me when it comes to drinking milk :) When Soorya was 10 days, he started to wake us up to feed him. We no more make a note of time. He gets up and starts crying. He also starts acting as if we’ve not fed him for years together! :(

First 2 days after his birth, he used to have 10 ml formula every meal with the available Colostrum. Later for few days it was 30 ml, and then it became 40 ml, later 50-60 ml. After 16 days he’s started having anywhere between 80-90 ml every meal & it kept increasing. At 8 weeks around 120-160 ml.  Nothing of it was decided by us. He’s setting his own standard for his meal plan for which I’m very proud of.

No poop-
Soorya after turning one month, his pooping interval got reduced. He started pooping just once a day. That one day, he didn’t poop for 24 hrs. I almost had a heart attack. He started acting weird may be he was feeling very uncomfortable. He got cranky, he cried for no reason, he wanted someone to carry him all time and at night he gave us hard time! 

I called up Doc & she said it’s okay at this age for him to not poop for 4-5 days. But With Soorya, his acts made me get worried. My mom told rectal temperature check might ease/stimulate his poop. It worked. Sarpa did that and Soorya pooped that entire 24hrs quota :) 

It happened the 2nd day too. Now I got worried because I don’t want to stimulate it every single time. I started to give Soorya, Woodward’s Gripe water! I call it life saver. Ever since I started to give him that first thing in the morning along with his D drop, things have fallen in place. Soorya loves the taste of it! :)

Crib Experience-
As I told, I wanted him to sleep in his crib from day 1. First 2 days it was on and off. He slept during the day and night once or twice he used to cranky, we put him between us and he was fine. From day 3, I got serious because if this becomes a habit, he’ll not make an effort to sleep in the crib alone & it worked! Sometime all he needs is a hug. His crib is right next to our bed so we can give hugs to him whenever needed :)

He sometime gets little fussy during early mornings (Sarpa puts him next to me & he’ll be all fine), sometime during the night he just doesn’t stop acting weird (when he’s on our bed, he’ll be fine), during the day I’ll put him on his bouncer for some time (as its cosy he likes it). Whenever he acts fussy/cranky, I’ll make an effort to calm him down how many ever times possible & when I don’t succeed that’s when he’ll sleep with us. All these scenarios was only till he turned 30 days. It’s not like the moment he starts crying he’ll be with us. We’ve not spent an entire night sleeping with him. I can’t wait Soorya to have his own room :)

Losing Control over things-

When Soorya was 14 days, I was feeding him & lost my temper on him which even today I’m ashamed of. He was cranky for something and was not acting my way. Of course, he’s a baby and I failed to understand that. It happened twice on the same day. All I told myself was “before expecting him to act human, you become one”.
I know it was stupid of me to have lost control, but after all I’m a human being! I have emotions too. Ever since that, I told myself that I’m not raising my voice against him for silly reasons. He’s new to this world and he’s trying his best to adjust!
This isn’t the end of the story. I still lose patience but not for silly reasons anymore :) I try to control myself as much as I can.

Things bought for fashion but were useful-

Most of the things I put on baby registry was for fashion or I would say others had it for their kids so I wanted them too.

But as days went I realized how useful they were and I was glad for adding them to the registry!

* Changing table- The one I selected had pretty good space to keep things so I added it but never thought I would change Soorya’s diaper there from day 1!

* Bouncer- I thought I’ll start using it for Soorya after 2 months but since he liked his car seat, bouncer for him was a boon!

* Old clothes- When our friends gave their kids clothes to us, I liked those cute little things & got them home. Shopping clothes was one thing I had kept for last moment. since Soorya came early, it just saved us.

* Diaper pile- Total boon :)
* Bathing tub- Soorya thinks he's in a spa when i put him in his tub. he likes to rest on his waterbed. It's easy for me to handle him when he's in the tub :)

Soorya's Drama-
Soorya has been such a king in drama. He started his acts when he was a week old. He cries for no reason. He makes cute sounds to convey he's hungry. He cries to see if anyone is around him & the moment we talk to him he'll stop crying. When he needs a hug, he'll cry to get one :)Staring at everybody has become his hobby these days. Scratching his Amma is something he enjoys.

Emotions-
* The very moment when we got Soorya home, I was very emotional to welcome him home.
* The first bath I took at home after Soorya’s arrival was very emotional. To accept the fact that he’s not inside me anymore was painful.
* I feel bad when I think of starting my morning routine, a walk because all these days I had him inside me. I always told myself “let’s go walk”
* When I had all yum yum food, I looked at him because all these days he somehow used to eat what I ate :)
The above statements might sound very light/funny/weird, but they were my true feelings.

All these things are extremely new to us but being Soorya's parents has been a joy.

                                                                                               -KS