My Little Joram

Joram has all the best features Joshua and I have to offer: Nice round head, dignified brows, firm chin, big double-eyelid eyes, proportionately sized nose and mouth, 2 dimples and a full head of wavy jet-black hair. When I first set my eyes on him, I thought that he did not look like anyone else in the family. But as time passes by, I started to spot certain looks and expressions, each resembling different members of the family. Now, I think he looks like everyone! LOL

He is the only child who has the same blood group as mine, while the rest of the kids have Daddy's blood type. This was happy news as it meant that his jaundice level was not as high as the the others.

I had prayed for an intellegent baby and it seemed like God answered my prayers, except that in a particular instance, Joram is too smart for his own good! It happened that my milk did not come in the first 5 days. There wasn't even colostrum. I was very puzzled because usually, colostrum would be available on the second day and I would begin to produce milk on the third. So for the initial 3 days, Joram had nothing to drink despite nursing constantly. By the third day, he realised that there was no 'reward' for his efforts and went on a strike. He refused to suckle at my breast anymore! The moment I brought him close to my nipple, he would bite me. 

He started having orange/red pee, showing signs of dehydration. Thus, we fed him formula and used the breast pump to stimulate milk production. I consulted the breastfeeding hotline, started taking fernugreek and had a friend who graciously came down to do a massage on my chest. Thanks to the prayers of many, my milk finally started coming in on the 5th day. 

However, it is still taking very long for the milk to increase in volume. Joram would nurse for as long as the flow is there for the first 3 min and would refuse to suck any longer. It is almost as if he has decided not to waste his energy. This is so pragmatic of him, unlike the older siblings who all continued to suckle out of basic instinct. Unfortunately, it's counterproductive in this case! Silly boy...

Hopefully, after another week of regular pumping, the milk flow would be established enough for him to be willing to drink via latching on.

Return of the 'po-pia' days

Smiley baby!!!