A child is born

Hi, I am here to share my experiences of motherhood. I will try and be honest and share the information and advise i have received, not only record this so i don't forget the little things, but so i may help another new parent going through the same thing.  One thing I have found is everyone has advise and you need to just pick and choose what works for you because ( it is so true)EVERY BABY IS DIFFERENT!

 My beautiful Beau was born on the 4th July 2010. I loved being pregnant... the expanding belly , wonder and joy as I felt those first few movements at 14 weeks, the nerves and anticipation. I know people say it all the time but it's true nothing will ever prepare you. And as my 12week old  sleeps I will endeavor to share with you the joys and frustrations of a first time kiwi mum living in Auckland.

I can only do this now, as those first few weeks was a shock to the system, not only my body getting over the trauma of childbirth, but slowly catching up on lost sleep (as i didn't sleep for the 3 days following) and the constant demand on your time a new born requires My waters broke at 9.30pm and he was born 9.30am the next day, a song compared to some of the horror stories you will hear.

Beau Hayden Sayster 3hrs old

He came out a pretty attractive boy, 8.3lb (3.75kg) I just could not comprehend that this little man was the thing living inside me for 10 months! A very surreal experience- its different for everyone to me it was surreal- i didn't feel the overwhelming love that you hear about...just amazement i think.

It was that first day when Ricky left Birthcare to get some things we (he) had forgot (phone charger) that it hit me, I didn't know what the hell I was doing! I read the pregnancy books so wrapped up in what developments my baby was making week to week in the womb, but really neglected the fact he would be a living, breathing, feeding machine at the end of it.

Beau was (and still is) a very sucky baby and wanted to be on the breast nearly every waking moment, at the start breastfeeding is extremely painful, he had great suction, and i had poor technique which resulted in cracked nipples, owwwwwwwww!!!! Lanolin was good but nothing can really help, I would suggest getting all the help and advise you can before you give birth, and demand to see a lactation consultant on that first day.And make sure you are going home to a relaxed and happy home on the third day when your milk comes in because on top of sleep deprivation those hormones make you a bubbling mess. This is just my first of many rants on breastfeeding as I was admitted to the hospital when Beau was 2 weeks then again at 4 weeks because of two bad cases of Mastitis.

His first bath at home day 4

But as the days progressed we slowly and surely got in sync with each other, from the start he was a very good natured baby, with amazing dark eyes that made me melt.