Hunger Games

I placed Wyatt in the icy cold, steel scale cushioned by only a thin, one-ply paper towel expecting for him to have gained back the 4oz. of original birth weight he lost plus maybe one or two extra ounces. He weighed 7lbs 8oz at his last visit to the doctor the day after we were discharged from the hospital. On this visit, much to my surprise, the nurse announced that he weighed 8lbs and 7oz! So much for my doubts as to whether or not he is getting enough nourishment from breastfeeding. After all my breasts, unfortunately, do not feature units of measurement inscribed in red on their sides, the proverbial measuring cup that a paranoid first-time breastfeeding mother demands in order to peacefully sleep at night. Wyatt's weight achievement was a rich and embarrassing source of Vitamin Glee for me as I clapped and said "Yay!" upon hearing the news like an overzealous soccer mom having just finished watching her child make the winning goal. The nurse offered a big smile of congratulations as she was probably thinking I was skipping along the spectrum of insanity.


While we're on the topic of weight, I have just finished making yet another meal that it turns out I do not want. Since having the baby my appetite has dwindled to almost nothing. I never ate huge portions before I was pregnant, but now I just never seem to be hungry. The strange thing is that everything I craved or ate regularly while pregnant I have lost all desire for. I still make meals for myself and then just pick at them or eat a few bites. Tonight's cuisine was spaghetti and not just any spaghetti but my coveted Guiseppe's, an entirely homemade gourmet spaghetti, noodles and all, that I buy twice a year at a huge local arts and crafts event, the Bizarre Bazaar. After a few forced bites, I ended up nestling my parmasan cheese-topped pile of spaghetti into some plastic tupperware and then into the fridge for safe keeping before settling on eating the spinach herb noodles with butter, a lighter choice that my stomach welcomed. Sure, having already lost nearly 25lbs of my pregnancy weight is good, great even, especially for Mommy's buns which had grown to the approximate size of Montana, although not good for Mommy or baby if the method of losing weight is a diminished appetite. My concerns for Wyatt receiving enough nourishment from my breast milk mainly stemmed from my diet, or lack thereof. I was assured by my lactation consultant that as long as I am at least continuing to snack throughout the day, drink plenty of water, and taking my prenatal vitamins that he should be getting everything he needs and now with the knowledge of his weight increase I'm not so worried anymore. He seems to be doing great.