Today was the first day without kraamzorg, and I have to say I missed it. Kraamzorg really has no English equivalent because the Netherlands is the only place it exists. As our first kraamverzorgster put it, she’s sort of like a visiting housewife. But she’s also one with basic breastfeeding and medical knowledge. The first one came for 4-5 hours a day on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and helped me find a position to feed Liam in and get him latched, checked out the stitches and my recovery, recorded how both me and Liam were doing, went out to get formula and fill my prescription for the prevention of blood clots (docs worried because of my pulmonary embolism a few years back), cleaned the house, did laundry, made tea and sandwiches, watched Liam so I could sleep, etc. She also got mad at the hospital because she felt their actions had screwed up breastfeeding somewhat and ’cause they’d sent me home without any formula for a baby who still needed it – she actually asked her company to make a complaint. She got sick on Friday, so a different one came on Saturday and Sunday. She was less chatty and only stayed for a couple hours to check on both of us and tidy the house – it’s a very small place, so not as much to do and Ivo was home for the weekend. But today they come no more, which is sad – it was very nice to have the help. And the best part is, it’s covered by medical insurance.
We also got two visits from the midwives, who checked me and Liam out to make sure everything was OK. At the first visit on Thursday there was worry that Liam was sleeping too much and not eating enough so we were advised to feed him every three hours, waking him if needed – breast milk if I could and formula otherwise. So for a day I finger fed him and changed him and then expressed milk. Luckily, only the first feeding had to be formula since my milk came in and I had enough, but it was basically full time – by the time one round was finished it was time for the next. But, after 24 hours of this he became much more active and alert and we started breastfeeding again. Of course, it was still difficult, but that was from Liam’s side. He’s what one of the books calls an “excited ineffective” – he gets so excited about eating that he waves his hands around, getting them in front of his face, and kicks his feet out, and gets his tongue moving which prevents the nipple getting far enough in. Despite this, we managed, and settled into an on-demand schedule (which really means no schedule).
On the second visit from the midwife on Saturday, she also weighed and measured Liam – six days after his birth, he was down 200 grams from his birth weight of 3.508 kg (7 lbs 12 oz), which is fairly normal and no cause for worry. She also measured his length for the first time – for some reason the hospital here doesn’t do that. He was 53 cm (21 in). And all agree he’s a healthy little boy and that he’s quite alert and inquisitive for his age – though that’s more normal for a late baby. But from birth on he’s been quietly looking around and taking in all that happens around him.
This evening we had more visitors – Anne-Marie, who owns this apartment, and her boyfriend, Jorre. Here’s Jorre holding Liam.
