Pacifier Hell

The books say (several but I'm talking about the 'what to expect' series here) that if you plan to breastfeed your baby that you shouldn't give them a pacifier for the first 4 weeks to prevent nipple confusion. I'm not an expert but I know that breastfeeding is really important to me and wanted to make sure my baby didn't quit on me so I agreed with this logic.

2 weeks into being a human pacifier I decided a little artificial pacifier time couldn't hurt. After all, she was starting to suck on her wrist anyway and she had just found her thumb and I REALLY don't want a thumb sucker. You can take a pacifier away, you can't remove a thumb. So I pop out one of the pacifiers I purchased before she was born (I bought a few packs so I wouldn't loose them), pop it in her mouth and she starts choking and gagging. This breaks my spirit and I decide it's too early and go back to letting her suck on me for comfort.

I then head to babiesrus with my trusty gift cards and look for a different shaped nipple (I had an orthopedic one). She hates that one too. Another week of trying a few more times and I break down, head back to babiesrus armed with the remainder of the giftcards, and buy 4 more kinds of pacifiers. None of which have been successful. I try larger ones (again back at babiesrus) with no luck. Fancy one, cheap ones... I even drive down to Vacaville to get one beause non of the stores around here have it in stock.

All in all I have a fancy (read: over priced) rubber pacifier from Europe; every kind of Nuby Softflex (even a few different sizes); I have Mam's, Playtex, Soothies (the hospitals use it but apparently it's still not good enough for Evelyn), Nuk, and Sauvinex. I have orthopedic nipples, round nipples, flat nipples. Pacifiers made from silicone, caoutchouc (rubber), and latex...Still she refuses to take it... I'm getting desperate, and in the mean time I have invested a small fortune in a plastic collection for my junk drawer.

Stupid book now what am I supposed to do? I have a baby who's not nipple confused, but can't pacify herself!

One Month

Cried for her first bath, but was happier with her duck luve. Enjoyed other baths that Dad gave her and smiled during her bath with Ma in the big tub at 27 days






Smiles often with big grins... especially when Mamaw talks to her or daddy makes funny faces and noises
Still hates being in the car

Been out to a resturant several times during her first 2 weeks of life and already gone on road trips to visit Great-Grandma and to Mamaw and Grandma Debby's house

Sleeps for 5 hours at a time during the night most nights since week 2
Slept for 7 hours during the night at 28 days




LOVES her fist... will stare at it for a very long time quite happily

Always so calm, and loves to have a clean diaper




Still wont take a pacifier and only tried to take a bottle a couple times (with no success), but does pretty good once she's swaddled and shusshed.
Likes to sleep in until around 9am and usually goes to bed about 10pm

Sleeps better when she's really warm

Smiles a ton in the morning

Got her first real awake time 9 days old when she stayed up and played with Ma for a few hours before Dad came home

Grunts when she's happy and her cry starts out sounding like she's saying "ooo gee".

LOVES to snuggle

Gets grumpy often because she's not sitting upright

Already up almost 3 pounds since birth

Am I Done Yet?

Just when I think I'm done I realize I have a few more to send; more thank you cards and announcements. And still, I haven't managed to write cards for everyone who's helped me since Evelyn arrived... There's just not enough time these days (to sleep).