*Baby Corner*

[new orleans bound 0]

Oh wow...30. See, I hadn't even looked at the ticker, haha. I'm feeling pretty good. We spend most of our days at the pool or inside. Outside it's just too hot for a pregnant lady. I can't believe that in about eight weeks it might be over already.

Eveline, do you think you'll go early with this baby? Adam was a week late wasn't he? I remember a post way back a few pages in which you said you were having Braxton Hicks contracts a lot-are you still having them? I pray every day that this baby will be born soon and that I don't go over. Are you in Texas? I know the heat bothers me here in Louisiana. It's more the humidity really. I spend all day in doors untill it cools off. I feel like a nuclear reactor with the amount of body heat I produce. Are you the same way? I have nine more weeks until this one is born.

[new orleans bound 0]

Hey everyone! Hope all the new moms and moms-to-be are doing good. I realized that I never posted about my birth experience, so here goes. Better late than never!!!

On May 7, I saw my doctor in the morning for my 37 week check, had the Group B strep test then. Doc said my cervix was still closed and he would see me the next week. So, I went to work and had THE worst day ever. I was majorly hormonal, even more than usual. My clients all kept telling me that they thought I would have the baby soon. Of course, I told them, no way, not for another 3 weeks. Went home and hubby encouraged me to relax and watch tv in bed. So, at 8 pm, I was watching tv (I think maybe American Idol that I had tivo'ed) and all of a sudden, I felt a gush of warm water. I KNEW my water had broken, but was in disbelief since the doc kept talking about first time moms going over their due date. Went and told hubby (who was frantically trying to finish our construction project of a new bedroom BEFORE the baby came). Called my doc, who told me to come to the hospital to be checked, that it might just be my mucus plug that I felt. I knew in my heart that it was my water breaking. Had not packed for the hospital yet (actually had planned on doing it that night). So, I frantically ran around packing and hubby went and installed the carseat! Arrived at the hospital and doc did an internal exam and conclused that, yup it was my water. No contractions had started, so the doc and nurses encouraged me to try to sleep a bit. At 1 am, the contractions began. They weren't regular though. I would have 3 strong contractions in a row and then nothing for 15 minutes or so. So, the next morning, since I wasn't progressing and since my water had broken so there was a risk of infection, the doc decided to start Pitocin. BEFORE the Pitocin, I had it in my mind that I wanted to have a natural birth ... and was using all the techniques that we learned in my prenatal class ... the birthing tub (lovely, I wish I had one at home!), deep breathing, the birthing ball. AFTER the Pitocin began, my contractions became hellish. I still had the groups of 3 contractions in a row, but this time, they were much more severe in pain and lasting longer, and the group of 3 were coming very frequently. Hubby was timing them and the actual contraction was 3 minutes or so of solid pain before decreasing. So, I decided then to ask for an epidural. I am very glad that I did. I still felt the contractions (they said it takes away 70 % of the pain), but they weren't excruciating anymore. The doc placed a scalp electrode on the baby to monitor his heart rate and also placed something inside me to monitor my contractions (they were having a hard time monitoring those things externally). They did increase the Pitocin mid afternoon and apparently turned down the epidural so I would have more feeling at the end. I began pushing around 5 at night and Declan was born at 7:17 pm that night, on May 8. I had a nurse on either side of me holding my legs and pulling them back whenever it was my turn to push. At the end, I had to wear an oxygen mask. The doc said I could take it off between contractions because I was having a hard time breathing with it on, but everytime I did, one nurse yelled at me and put it back on! And I was so tired, I couldn't summon the words to tell her that the doc okayed it!!! My mom and husband were in the room with me and really encouraging me at the end. Everyone kept telling me, one more push and the baby will be here! This happened for many many pushes, but finally my amazing little boy was born. It was all worth it to have him, and the most wonderful feeling in the world when the doc placed him on my chest.

Even with the Pitocin contractions, it really was a great childbirth experience. The only difficult thing was (and is) the breastfeeding. Most of the maternity nurses were wonderful as were the lactation consultants. They kept us in the hospital an extra day because Declan wasn't feeding well. There was only one nurse who made it a bit tough. On the last day before we were to leave, we were still struggling with breastfeeding. She told me that she wasn't going to help me because I had to be able to do it on my own at home. Needless to say, I was in tears after she left and hubby absolutely refused to ask any of the nurses for help because he felt they would yell at me again.

We left the hospital on Mother's Day (how sweet that my little boy decided to be born early to give me a special present!!!). Declan did have to be hospitalized the next day for jaundice, but got to leave 2 days later.

So, there's my birth experience. The interesting thing is, when I was born, my mom had just seen her doc, who said, see ya next week, and her water broke the next day. I was 3 weeks early also. My mom had not packed for the hospital either (boy I SHOULD have learned from hearing about her experience). I was born on a Thursday as was my little boy. So, a lot of similarities

Autumnchik, that was a nice birth story. Your labour didn't sound all that bad. I guess with the next baby you'll have to prepare a little bit early. Any idea why Declan prefers one breast over the other?

[chri'stina 190]

autumnchik-

Thanks for sharing!! I know what you mean about planning on going natural. But I have to agree that after so many hours of horrible back labor I had, I was so relieved to have the epidural. Sometimes you have to weigh your exhaustion and pain with wanting to make it through the experience, and an epi helps you get through it! Even though I had the c/s in the end, I am really glad I had the epi along the way or I don't know how I would have survived, hehe. That is so amazing about how your birth story is so much like your mothers!! And your birth on the same day of the week. That's cool!!

Kavi went to the Dr at approx 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months and next is 6 months. They didn't give him any shots til 2 months so maybe that's why they don't want to see Declan til 2 months? Of course if any concerns come up I am sure you can take him to the Dr. The part that stinks is that if you don't have a baby scale at home(I don't) then you don't get to see how much he weighs til 2 months!

Oh yeah---he had his first rice cereal on Saturday! He did pretty good. I tasted it myself and it tasted like nothing really. I made it runny and not a lot(like a tablespoon). He had some again last night. Just once a day for now.

Hey I think people should post more baby pictures soon!

Eveline-What is your due date? I have a friend who is due Aug 3rd I think and I was wondering if you are due right around then too.

[Eveline 9]

My due date is August 14 and I don't think she'll be early. I thought so with Adam because my Braxton Hicks started soo early and everybody told me that I might go into preterm labor because of it. But nada. I just think that from 38 weeks up my OB will suggest a c/s so that is why I don't think that we'll actually make it to the 14th. We'll see.

@Autumnchick: Thank you for sharing your experience. Sounds like an ok labor and delivery to me and epidurals are really great. It took my pain away within minutes and I thought if labor was that easy I could always have kids..haha, until the pushing part, ouch.

Also, since Declan seems to like on breast more than the other have you thought about consulting a chiropractor or ostheopath (sp?). He might have squished a nerve in his neck and it hurts him to latch on on one side.

Adam is getting on my nerves today. He had rought night, with night terrors about three times (he just woke up screaming, he never does that) and now he's tired of course. He's already taken two naps and it's not even noon yet. We'll go for his 15 month checkup in half an hour.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

Adam is getting on my nerves today. He had rought night, with night terrors about three times (he just woke up screaming, he never does that) and now he's tired of course. He's already taken two naps and it's not even noon yet. We'll go for his 15 month checkup in half an hour.

I hope all goes well at your appointment. I am sorry to hear about his bad night and subsequent bad day. Though I do sympathize with him getting on your nerves at times. Toddlers key into how to push your buttons. That gets worse it seems with age so far.

[Eveline 9]

Adam is getting on my nerves today. He had rought night, with night terrors about three times (he just woke up screaming, he never does that) and now he's tired of course. He's already taken two naps and it's not even noon yet. We'll go for his 15 month checkup in half an hour.

I hope all goes well at your appointment. I am sorry to hear about his bad night and subsequent bad day. Though I do sympathize with him getting on your nerves at times. Toddlers key into how to push your buttons. That gets worse it seems with age so far.

I got a lot more patient after Adam. Really the older he gets and the more I see that just being loud and all harsh with him the more I see that it doesn't make much sense. Where is the sense in explaining him things, he doesn't understand anyway. The only thing I can do is show him things, distract him and comfort him. After all, he was a very easy baby, he still is rather easy and I will survive the occasional bad day/night.

We gotta go. Have to make some snacks and then take off to the ped.

[Eveline 9]

Here's a little video of my babygirl moving, taken the day before yesterday: http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x244/Ev...nt=MOV04282.flv

[chnst 6]

Here's a little video of my babygirl moving, taken the day before yesterday: http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x244/Ev...nt=MOV04282.flv

wow she's one active little girl!!! btw, nice pedicure, haha! aww i miss being pregnant!

[Dr. Obvious 49]

Where is the sense in explaining him things, he doesn't understand anyway.

That is the fun part when you watch your kids do stupid things. For example, she might try to stick a dinner plate in a Playstation console. When this does not work, she screams and screams and screams. Sometimes all you can do is laugh because whatever it was she was trying to do was just so stupid. At the same time, whenever they scream about nothing in particular, it is harder to deal with, because it really is about nothing.

There is generally no comfort to my daughter except for whatever she does for herself. She has always been this way from day one. She is the only person that can calm herself down. She also gets frustrated with her anger or hurt and will tend to push people away and reject any type of affection. That is just her personality. It was particularly hard to deal with as an infant because if she picked her up when she was upset, she would scream louder and more and you put her down and she would calm down, no problem. I felt pretty rejected and disconnected from her becasue she just wanted to be left alone. Eventually, I just accepted that that was who she was. At the same time, when you just want them to shut up and you have no idea what to do to make them shut up (distration does NOT work, indeed, makes it worse with her) and this is the 12th time today in two hours they are screaming like an idiot about doing something stupid, well, then I remember why I don't want more kids and enjoy going to work.

I love my daughter, but I don't understand how my mother did it with us three times over. I think I would have to check myself into the asylum.

Thanks for uploading the video. It will be great to see your daughter soon on this side of the womb!

[Chrissy25 0]

great video Eveline...well ladies so far AF has not shown....cross fingers

[Dr. Obvious 49]

Oh yeah, and I was proud of my daughter yesterday. She finally showed some interest in the potty seat. We bought a Baby Bjorn toliet seat and we had it on the toliet for two weeks. At first she thought it was a toy and was mad that we wouldn't let her drag it all over the house. Then she lost interest and we didn't push the issue. Then yesterday, she took the seat off the toliet and brought it to me to put back on. Then she wanted to get up and sit on it. She practiced getting on and off the toliet and pretending to wipe herself with toliet paper like she had see us do before. I am not sure she knows what the full purpose is yet, but the interest is there so yay!

I hope for the best Chrissy!

Edited June 2, 2008 by Wacken

[new orleans bound 0]

Here's a little video of my babygirl moving, taken the day before yesterday: http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x244/Ev...nt=MOV04282.flv

Eveline, that was awesome. Mine doesn't move that much. Only when I try to sleep sometimes. All I feel is a hard lump here and there. I watched your video twice. Thanks for sharing.

[Eveline 9]

@Chrissy: Keeping my fingers crossed. Maybe we can congratulate soon.

@Wacken: How old is your daugther. I was thinking about starting Adam on his potty but he doesn't show any interest yet, he rather puts that thing on his head.

Well, according to Adam's ped he is just fine and on target. He's lost two pounds but that is ok since it's so hot here and we mainly live off of cream of wheat, watermelon and apple sauce. He walks good and she said not to worry about his iron levels. She won't test him again until he's 18 months old but the WIC office will check on Thursday. I think we're good. He's not sluggish or anything so I guess we got his levels back to where they are supposed to be.

About the early checkups. Adam went to his 1 week check and since he had already gained 1lbs in one week the pediatrician told us to skip the 1month checkup and just go in for the 2month. Well, by then Adam was 13lbs and off the charts. Now he's 'only' 28lbs and 31 1/2 inches long...and he kept everybody entertained at the office.

Here's a little video of my babygirl moving, taken the day before yesterday: http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x244/Ev...nt=MOV04282.flv

Eveline, that was awesome. Mine doesn't move that much. Only when I try to sleep sometimes. All I feel is a hard lump here and there. I watched your video twice. Thanks for sharing.

I NEVER had movements like that with Adam. My OB said it's because my uterine wall is streched from the previous pregnancy. He said it's like that with every 2nd pregnancy. I think it's because with Adam I had an anterior placenta and this time it's in the back so I feel movement way more.

[TracyLuis 0]

It's great to read all the updates. Thanks everyone for keeping us all informed

I went to my OB/GYN today to have the IUD Mirena put in. Anyone else using Mirena? I really liked what I read about it. Seems to be the most easy and cost effective (with insurance) birth control for my purposes. It's also very reassuring to know that as soon as it's removed, getting pregnant again is immediately an option. What method are others here using?

[Eveline 9]

I was thinking about getting an IUD (maybe even Mirena) put in. My husband asked if it was ok for me to have my tubes tied but even though we are done with babymaking I just don't know what to think about that. I mean, we don't want more children but having my tubes tied is just so final. I want something that is easy and doesn't interfere with breastfeeding. I don't think Mirena is an option then until I weaned her off. We'll see. I'd be ok with taking the pill again for a while.