Arden pooped twice today!! 🎉🤸🏻‍♂️💩

For the first time since Arden’s birth, I feel finally able to rest deeply into the pleasure and joy of our little baby.

Being able to take a shower in my own home on Sunday was a good start (the “family room” we were put at the hospital the last night had no windows…). I was so glad to be sprung free!!

Having said that, we have been in and out of medical facilities every single day since then because of Arden’s elevated bilirubin levels, my body’s inability to produce enough milk, the somewhat significant bruising she had on her way out, and her being half-Asian…if jaundice continued, she might have been at risk of developmental issues. The two poops today really mark the turning point of this issue (we hope) and the relief is absolutely palpable.

The three most challenging parts of this week has been the incredible exhaustion, pain in the nether regions as I sit up to feed, and Arden not getting enough food to flush the bilirubin out of her system. All this while navigating doctor appointments / moving around etc. There has definitely been some overwhelm, but we are so lucky to have been held by Jana (who was here the whole week with us keeping us and the house sane) and Ingrid, who has come by the hospital and house with all kinds of food and help). It ALWAYS takes a village and we are so grateful that Arden will grow up to know these powerful and incredible women, who already love her.

We have also been blessed to have some help from Aaliyah, a post-partum doula who has supported us two nights now, through the toughest nighttime feeding regime. She is a gentle, experienced, healer with culinary training and we are so fortunate to have her support a few nights a week. From 9p to 7a, she takes care of Arden’s needs, brings her to me for feeds, and between feeds supports our home with some light housework and cooking. She is a godsend.

Speaking of cooking, Tandy has really taken on providing me with healing brews under the tutelage of my cousin Fiona. ah the familiar smells and tastes Gogi berries, red dates, dang gui etc. Thank you so much Fiona!!! (And Tandy for taking care of me of course).

It’s been a very peaceful day. Arden sleeps through the day and it was at first very worrying that she wasn’t eating enough, then very challenging at night because she stays up a lot of the night fussing. We will see what happens today. Here is what it is like trying to rouse her to feed (wasn’t very successful) Apparently A lot of babies are much more active at night then during the day like they are (and Tali was) in-utero.

I will spare you photos of the indignities of motherhood, like having to wear breast pumps around the house. Sending love to everyone ❤️❤️