Hindsight

I have decided hindsight is going to be a very big part of parenting. I think we'll realize so much looking back that we question in the moment.

How many more pushes til this baby is born? You only know looking back.
How many hours of labor will it take? You only know once it's done.
Why is my baby doing ______? Is it ______? We'll only know on the other side.

What brings this topic to mind? Asa has been topsy turvy today! I guess it really started some yesterday, but today he's woken up from every nap 10-15 minutes early. He's gone from 9 feedings (on average) during the day to 11. He is impatient nursing, gulping for milk and pulling off once he gulps all the initial let down. If I offer the other side then, he gulps that down and then pulls off/nurses (back and forth). So we switch back and forth a few times. All this when he HAD settled into a little routine of eating every 2-2.5 hours during the day and being woken to eat every 3-3.5 hours at night. We were so looking forward to him achieving birth weight so we could let him sleep longer at night and all get some rest. Ha. Rest? Not looking likely right now, Mr. I-want- to-eat-every-2-hours-or-less-no matter-what-time-it-is. He's just fussy and not himself! I know babies change all the time, especially just when you think you have them figured out. But it's so hard not to know for sure what's going on with the little guy! I'm so thankful Mom is here to reassure me. :)

We have no reason to think it's a supply issue. On top of Asa's symptoms, I drank 2 liters of water in less than an hour and was still thirsty and I've been hungry all the time the last two days. Lastly, Asa is 3 weeks old. The lactation consultant said to be on the lookout for a growth spurt around 3 weeks.

So, nursing mamas, does this sound like a growth spurt to you?? I have to add one last thing. At the doctor last week for his 2 week check-up, the nurse said he was 21.5" long and that his head shape probably rounded out more causing the discrepancy in length from his birth measurements (22"). I measured him today, and he is definitely 22.5" at least (he was a bit squirmy).

Alright, so if you have any input, that would be great. I think this is one of those things we won't know for sure about until after it's over. If he settles back down in a day or two and his voracious appetite slows, we can most likely check off growth spurt. Please pray for our stamina in the mean time! Also, according to our scale, he is 8 lbs. 3.5 oz. We are hoping to take him Thurs. to be weighed for the official okay from the doctor (have to go this week). Please pray that the scale we have is accurate and that theirs is too, so we can stop being pestered about his weight! :)

Thank you!