Facts vs. Myths: Newborn Leeroy Edition

Before having Leeroy, I spent PLENTY of time researching the world wide web to prepare myself for the absolute worst newborn situations in all shapes and forms. I had it in my head that this mentality would allow me to embrace the advertised struggle that is: The First Month of Motherhood.

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Fact 1: Blanket statements aren't applicable to newborns.

Let's face it, the WORST-case scenarios are out there for a reason, but so are the BEST-case scenarios. There is hope out there, moms!

I quickly learned that every baby is very different. That's why there are so many conflicting pieces of advice out there.

So, especially for the sake of this post, I don't want to start spitting out facts and myths for ALL newborns. These are purely a few elements that shocked me over the past few weeks I spent keeping a little human alive during his newborn stage.

Myth 1: Newborns cry all the time.

For those of you who read my labour and delivery post, you already know that when Leeroy made his debut into the world he was surprisingly quiet. Almost too quiet. I was so surprised that he barely made a peep in the delivery room.

All night in the hospital, I could hear babies in the other rooms absolutely wailing. Leeroy, on the other hand, would just look around the room super alert during his waking hours.

Even when they pricked his heel for a blood test, he only let out the tiniest little squeal for a few seconds before whimpering and tapering off into silence again. It was weird to me...

I had watched so many labour and delivery stories (too many to reveal in this post) and that moment where the baby emerges, is almost ALWAYS accompanied by some form of baby screams. Right?

Over the past month, Leeroy has slowly become more vocal in his times of "distress". Whenever he's uncomfortably working his gas out (from above or below), getting toweled off after a bath, or getting hungry with no solution in sight, to name a few examples, he scrunches up his face and let's a teeny battle cry out.

Other times, he mostly just holds his breath and gets red in the face! Something that puts anyone on edge when holding Leeroy in their arms. Riley and I joke and say he's just holding his breath for attention, which usually gets a laugh or two from the crowd.

I'm glad we prepared ourselves for cries on cries, but so far he has been pretty good to our ears.

We may not be this lucky for long. Cue the teething! ;)

Fact 2: Newborns can easily clear a dozen diapers a day.

Most sources say newborns should go through upward 6-8 diapers a day in their first stage of life. All I have to say on this is don't be surprised if your baby volcano-poops four times in a row, 'cause yah... that can happen.

Suggestion? Include a diaper raffle in your baby shower / pre-baby party.

Thanks to our generous friends and family, Riley and I have a well-structured diaper tower in one of our closets that will take us through the first few months of Leeroy's life. Makes it easier to accept the numerous occasions you're sent back to the changing table in record time...

Second tip, if you have a boy, is to use a baby wipe to wipe (lol) across his belly button / diaper line before opening the diaper. This is a hack I learned on YouTube from a seasoned mom of boys. The cold wipe helps ensure that your little one isn't shocked by the air exposure during a diaper change, 'causing them to pee everywhere.

The one time Riley forgot this trick of the trade, we ended up with pee all over dad and the floor. So... we always use it now. You live and you learn. ;)

Myth 2: Newborns make you sleep deprived.

I was ready for bloodshot eyes, multiple coffees a day, snapping uncontrollably at my husband, and any other side effects of not getting enough sleep.

Our little angel baby loves his sleep as much as his mom (if not more) apparently. Who would've thunk?

In the hospital, the nurses' most difficult task was waking Leeroy up from his slumber to ensure he could down the couple drops of colostrum and gain weight on schedule. They would flick his heels, strip him down to his birthday suit, pat his back, etc. and he BARELY wanted to open his eyes despite their best efforts.

Once we got home, Riley and I then had to make our best attempts at waking Leeroy up or he'd sleep for houuuurs on hours.

Since Leeroy cleared his birth weight after a week, we were in the clear! We no longer had to stress about him eating enough. Now, we aren't phased by Leeroy's long naps and he's even slept through the night a couple times! Hallelujah!

If Leeroy didn't support such chunky legs these days, I may be more concerned by this, but he's our pudgy boy now. Yay!

During Leeroy's naps in the early days, I was able to sleep alongside him. I found this gave me ammo for the night ahead. However, most often, this wasn't even necessary since he only wakes once to feed at night (if that).

I'm so thankful that Riley is able to sleep through the night and go to work as a fully-functional human being in the morning.

Sleep baby, sleep!

Fact 3: Newborns love car rides.

Since we left the hospital, I was Mrs. Norris level petrified about taking Leeroy on car rides. Full disclosure, I cried when we got in the car for the first time with him (hormones?).

Questions whirling around in my head before the rides:

- What if he screams the entire time? (See above, pretty unlikely.)

- What if he has a massive poo all over the car seat? (See above, VERY likely.)

Questions during the rides:

- Why can't I hear him breathing?

- Is he too hot?

- Is he too cold?

- Is the sun shining in his eyes?

- Seriously, why can't I hear him breathing??!!

... What can I say, I was paranoid.

We took our first family trip to Quebec City for my birthday weekend. Knowing we would have to drive for two to three hours had me super anxious leading up to the departure date.

To our surprise, homeboy Leeroy slept THE ENTIRE TIME.. (both ways). Of course.. I was panicking for nothing.

I don't know why I was so nervous looking back. Now, it's become more of a routine to click him into place and take off on a new adventure (even if that adventure is as short as driving to get a doughnut at Tim Horton's down the street on a cold winter day).

I mean, I still sit in the backseat with him... One (baby) step at a time people!

Myth 3: Newborns only smile when they're gassy.

(No toots were required, from baby or photographer, in the taking of this photo.)

Enough said.

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Now that I've gone through the fire and come out on the other side unscathed, trust me when I say this: no matter how much you research before having a baby, the joy (and to be brutally honest, at times the fear) is finding out which facts and myths are applicable to your baby in the newborn stage.

Reading or hearing all the advice is different than actually putting it into practice. You'll know what works best for you and your baby when the time comes. Remember that every experience is a learning experience and take it one fact, or myth, at a time.

(I can almost hear pro-moms in the back row slow-clapping at my beginner stage revelations... #rookie)

Anyhow, here's hoping you have a wide collection of pleasant surprises like I did!

*sips wine*

Bye!