I spent the first part of Friday 18 May at my Acupuncture clinic, re-acquainting myself with my Acupuncturist that I hadn't seen since our last failed IVF cycle over a year ago. I had made the appointment in the hope she could help get things moving, since my due date was 2 days away. I was not keen on going too far overdue and even keener to avoid any medical induction if possible.
Given I had not yet reached my due date, she only performed a light treatment, to help draw blood to my cervix and prepare my body for labour. She said it would also help labour and contractions to work efficiently once they begun. Feeling my pulse, she said I was very close to going into labour and she gave me some pressure points I could work on at home.
I did some grocery shopping and spent the afternoon at home, taking the dog for a walk and relaxing. The most noticeable difference I felt after the treatment and for the rest of the afternoon, was a strange pressure on my tail bone.
At 11:20pm, I woke to my waters trickling out. I quickly got out of bed and headed for the bathroom, telling Riffa '"here we go!" on my way past him. It was trickling out here and there, so Riffa grabbed me a pad and I planned to go back to bed and see what happened. 10 minutes later, contractions started.
Riffa commenced timing the contractions (highly recommend the contraction apps on your phones!) and they were coming every 3-5 minutes and lasting around 30 seconds. I made a call to the hospital and they said I could come in if I wanted or keep going at home for a bit longer.
I felt early on that the contractions needed to be breathed through and found talking difficult. They seemed to be fairly strong, considering they had only just started. I found Riffa to be the most comfortable thing to brace during these contractions at home.
At 2am, I felt ready to go to hospital. Knowing it was going to be an uncomfortable 20 minute drive, I was keen to get it over and done with. I braced myself over the back seat and was thankful it was the middle of the night so no one could see this strange woman on her knees, hugging the back seat headrest!
When we arrived at the hospital, they made me get onto the bed and they monitored my contractions and Flynn's heart beat for about an hour. The midwife examined me and was happy to see I was already 4-5cm dilated. The contractions felt quite intense in that position and I was keen to get off the bed as soon as possible. Riffa ran the bath and it was pure bliss to finally get in there.
I spent the next few hours in there, with Riffa supporting me with back rubs, hot shower water running on my lower back and cold face washers. I breathed well through the contractions and kept repeating in my head "This too shall pass" - reminding myself that this would not last forever. Contractions were coming roughly every 2 minutes and were very intense.
I started to feel the urge to push, so I got out of the bath to be examined. I was 10cm dilated so started pushing- the part of the birth that I found the most challenging. I tired various positions on the bed, on the toilet, on all fours- but found the toilet to be the most productive.
To deliver, I ended up squatted on the floor, supported from behind by Riffa. This was suggested by the midwife as a good position, as I was starting to have trouble getting him out. I thought every push would be my last to get the head out, but it wasn't happening. The midwife was finding it hard to monitor his heartbeat and due to the length of time it was taking, a quick episiotomy was performed and Flynn's head was out with the next push- crying already. Another push and he was here. What an amazing feeling, I just can't describe it.
Riffa cut the cord and I moved to the bed where Flynn had his first feed. The first time he latched on bought tears to my eyes.
After 3 years of trying to conceive, our little miracle was here and we had bought him into this world as we has hoped- a totally drug free, natural and empowering birth experience.
What an overwhelming achievement.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
He has arrived!
Our son Flynn arrived into this world at 6:29am on Saturday 19th May and our world changed forever. He is the most amazing thing I have seen and we are very in love with him.
It was a good 7 hour labour and we were blessed to have such a positive birth experience. I think my preparation and Calmbirth course made all the difference and helped everything flow as it should have and me cope with the pain.
We are now at home and heading into night two on our own.
As I will be up most the night breastfeeding, I plan to use this time to write up my birth story. This all takes so much longer one handed....!
Watch this space.
It was a good 7 hour labour and we were blessed to have such a positive birth experience. I think my preparation and Calmbirth course made all the difference and helped everything flow as it should have and me cope with the pain.
We are now at home and heading into night two on our own.
As I will be up most the night breastfeeding, I plan to use this time to write up my birth story. This all takes so much longer one handed....!
Watch this space.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
39 Weeks & Happy Mother's Day!
Happy Mother's Day to all those long-time mums, first-time mums, mums-to-be and my thoughts go out to those still fighting in the trenches.
My exciting Mother's Day today consists of doing the grocery shopping (yippee!) and spending the day at home with my fur-baby. Riffa is working and my Mum is a few hours drive away, so I wont be seeing her today. We caught up last weekend for an "early" Mother's Day, which was lovely.
Can I tell you, shopping is now an interesting event. I feel like EVERYONE is staring at me. I have become very self-conscious! I can see shop attendants looking at me and thinking "she better not drop it here" and "where did I leave the mop?!" I feel like I have eyes on me everywhere and it's a very strange feeling. Random people are talking to me, stopping me in the street and asking me questions.
I had a lady the other come up to me in Target to ask me how many weeks I was. She wanted to look at my bump and compare it to her Daughter's over in Perth- a bump she has only seen in photo's. So, once she realised I was within a week of her daughter, she was eying me all over so she could picture her daughter looking the same!
In other news, nesting started yesterday. Now, I'm not sure if it was really nesting, or the fact that I was totally bored out of my brain and in need of something to keep me busy and stop myself from going totally insane! Either way, all that cleaning was good exercise and the house is sparkling.
I actually think this last two weeks of my pregnancy have been the hardest of them all.
Sitting around.
Waiting.
Not knowing when this baby will make an appearance.
It's my own fault that time feels like it's dragging. I was 100% convinced that I wouldn't make it past 35/36 weeks.
Now people will say that I should enjoy these precious last moments before my life is changed forever and I have been. I've been enjoying walks along the beach, pottering around the house and basking in the Autumn sun. It's just that I've had enough now and I'm really, really, really ready for this baby to come.
I have been telling bubs for a long time that Mother's Day is the day I want he/she to make an appearance.
Hmmm.... I'm not liking my chances. It's already the afternoon.
I will be ringing my good old Acupuncturist this week to book in some Acupuncture sessions if I make it to 40 weeks - I will be doing anything I can to avoid an induction and from what I have read, this is probably the most effective method. I haven't done Acupuncture for over a year, since our last failed frozen cycle.
If you want to check out the bump, I've taken a 39 week bump pic today - lets hope it's my last! I'm not sure how much more room I can make!
My exciting Mother's Day today consists of doing the grocery shopping (yippee!) and spending the day at home with my fur-baby. Riffa is working and my Mum is a few hours drive away, so I wont be seeing her today. We caught up last weekend for an "early" Mother's Day, which was lovely.
Can I tell you, shopping is now an interesting event. I feel like EVERYONE is staring at me. I have become very self-conscious! I can see shop attendants looking at me and thinking "she better not drop it here" and "where did I leave the mop?!" I feel like I have eyes on me everywhere and it's a very strange feeling. Random people are talking to me, stopping me in the street and asking me questions.
I had a lady the other come up to me in Target to ask me how many weeks I was. She wanted to look at my bump and compare it to her Daughter's over in Perth- a bump she has only seen in photo's. So, once she realised I was within a week of her daughter, she was eying me all over so she could picture her daughter looking the same!
In other news, nesting started yesterday. Now, I'm not sure if it was really nesting, or the fact that I was totally bored out of my brain and in need of something to keep me busy and stop myself from going totally insane! Either way, all that cleaning was good exercise and the house is sparkling.
I actually think this last two weeks of my pregnancy have been the hardest of them all.
Sitting around.
Waiting.
Not knowing when this baby will make an appearance.
It's my own fault that time feels like it's dragging. I was 100% convinced that I wouldn't make it past 35/36 weeks.
Now people will say that I should enjoy these precious last moments before my life is changed forever and I have been. I've been enjoying walks along the beach, pottering around the house and basking in the Autumn sun. It's just that I've had enough now and I'm really, really, really ready for this baby to come.
I have been telling bubs for a long time that Mother's Day is the day I want he/she to make an appearance.
Hmmm.... I'm not liking my chances. It's already the afternoon.
I will be ringing my good old Acupuncturist this week to book in some Acupuncture sessions if I make it to 40 weeks - I will be doing anything I can to avoid an induction and from what I have read, this is probably the most effective method. I haven't done Acupuncture for over a year, since our last failed frozen cycle.
If you want to check out the bump, I've taken a 39 week bump pic today - lets hope it's my last! I'm not sure how much more room I can make!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
38 Weeks
Thought I'd jot a few things down, mainly so I can have a record of how I was feeling playing this waiting game!
Sleeping is becoming more and more difficult with aching hips and lower back. I still get a good nights sleep, just lots of tossing and turning throughout the night and smothering Riffa with my what I call my "other husband" - the body pillow. By 6am, I can't take the pain anymore so I get up and it's instantly relieved.
To date, I've put on 9-10kg and it has slowed dramatically in the past two or three weeks. I have not been as hungry, although I still seem to be eating lots - just not the intense hunger I had been experiencing throughout my pregnancy. I was having a competition with Riffa to see if I could beat his weight and it looks like I will just miss out! At least it's one less kilo I have to loose post-baby.
Stretch marks
None that I can see! I haven't done much to prevent them, as everything I read said it really comes down to luck (and maybe good genes!) I have used the odd bit of cream when I feel like it, but not religiously.
Unknown - and driving everyone else except us crazy. Every time I speak to my Nan, she asks if we know yet. When I say no, she asks if we know but we are just keeping it to ourselves. No Nan - we do not know! My Mother-in-law is going stir crazy not being able to shop for clothing and she keeps walking through shops and seeing outfits she wants to buy. I think I have saved my father-in-law a lot of money by not knowing the gender. There are bets going at work and passers by in the street also likes to have a guess too. Boys still seem to be winning, but we will wait and see!
Getting plenty of funky pains and pressure in the old vjj, along with lots of braxton hicks. Sometimes it feels like the baby is just going to fall out, or there is a rabbit in there trying to burrow it's way out! Bubs is now engaged and it's just a waiting game. I have been drinking some Raspberry leaf tea to tone my uterus, but nowhere near the daily amounts you need to to have any affect. I just can't bring myself to drink that many cups of it!
Last week was my first week of Maternity leave and it felt weird not being at work for the first few days. I have now got all work stuff out of my head (and out of my dreams!) and am enjoying the days to myself. I've been relaxing, reading in the lovely Autumn sun, taking the dog for plenty of walks and doing odd jobs around the house as I come across them.
As mentioned in my last post, Riffa had purchased an iPod touch for the baby. I loaded on a whole stack of songs onto it during the week- from nursery rhymes, soothing bedtime lullabies and even some retro "Play School" that reminds me of my younger years! I was amazed how many of the songs came back to me and I could sing along as I heard them! Songs that I haven't heard for over 20 years... It's amazing what useless information is taking up valuable space in our brains! It really got me excited that I will be singing to my baby so soon.
Today our iPod dock arrived all the way from Tassie! It's very cool indeed and looks great in the nursery. Again, a very spoilt baby thanks to daddy.
Excited. Impatient. I am getting increasingly uncomfortable in general and just can't wait for things to get going. I secretly hope that the baby arrives on Mothers Day on Sunday, not for any real reason other than it makes for a pretty damn fine Mothers Day present and it certainly sets the gift stakes high for following years!
I feel well prepared and confident going into the birth and am hoping this helps me handle anything that may be thrown my way.
I have really enjoyed being pregnant (most of it!) and have certainly be blessed with an incredibly smooth ride, with little complaints, no extreme emotions and very little discomforts compared to many others. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing my belly grow, feeling my baby move every day and watching Riffa's excitement.
Sleep
Sleeping is becoming more and more difficult with aching hips and lower back. I still get a good nights sleep, just lots of tossing and turning throughout the night and smothering Riffa with my what I call my "other husband" - the body pillow. By 6am, I can't take the pain anymore so I get up and it's instantly relieved.
Weight
To date, I've put on 9-10kg and it has slowed dramatically in the past two or three weeks. I have not been as hungry, although I still seem to be eating lots - just not the intense hunger I had been experiencing throughout my pregnancy. I was having a competition with Riffa to see if I could beat his weight and it looks like I will just miss out! At least it's one less kilo I have to loose post-baby.
Stretch marks
None that I can see! I haven't done much to prevent them, as everything I read said it really comes down to luck (and maybe good genes!) I have used the odd bit of cream when I feel like it, but not religiously.
Gender
Unknown - and driving everyone else except us crazy. Every time I speak to my Nan, she asks if we know yet. When I say no, she asks if we know but we are just keeping it to ourselves. No Nan - we do not know! My Mother-in-law is going stir crazy not being able to shop for clothing and she keeps walking through shops and seeing outfits she wants to buy. I think I have saved my father-in-law a lot of money by not knowing the gender. There are bets going at work and passers by in the street also likes to have a guess too. Boys still seem to be winning, but we will wait and see!
Pre-labour
Getting plenty of funky pains and pressure in the old vjj, along with lots of braxton hicks. Sometimes it feels like the baby is just going to fall out, or there is a rabbit in there trying to burrow it's way out! Bubs is now engaged and it's just a waiting game. I have been drinking some Raspberry leaf tea to tone my uterus, but nowhere near the daily amounts you need to to have any affect. I just can't bring myself to drink that many cups of it!
Keeping busy
Last week was my first week of Maternity leave and it felt weird not being at work for the first few days. I have now got all work stuff out of my head (and out of my dreams!) and am enjoying the days to myself. I've been relaxing, reading in the lovely Autumn sun, taking the dog for plenty of walks and doing odd jobs around the house as I come across them.
As mentioned in my last post, Riffa had purchased an iPod touch for the baby. I loaded on a whole stack of songs onto it during the week- from nursery rhymes, soothing bedtime lullabies and even some retro "Play School" that reminds me of my younger years! I was amazed how many of the songs came back to me and I could sing along as I heard them! Songs that I haven't heard for over 20 years... It's amazing what useless information is taking up valuable space in our brains! It really got me excited that I will be singing to my baby so soon.
Today our iPod dock arrived all the way from Tassie! It's very cool indeed and looks great in the nursery. Again, a very spoilt baby thanks to daddy.
How I am feeling
Excited. Impatient. I am getting increasingly uncomfortable in general and just can't wait for things to get going. I secretly hope that the baby arrives on Mothers Day on Sunday, not for any real reason other than it makes for a pretty damn fine Mothers Day present and it certainly sets the gift stakes high for following years!
I feel well prepared and confident going into the birth and am hoping this helps me handle anything that may be thrown my way.
I have really enjoyed being pregnant (most of it!) and have certainly be blessed with an incredibly smooth ride, with little complaints, no extreme emotions and very little discomforts compared to many others. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing my belly grow, feeling my baby move every day and watching Riffa's excitement.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Over Reading
I think I am reading too much.
I have always liked to be well-informed and knowledgeable... I think it's something to do with being a bit of a control freak. I hear of women who have not read a single book during their pregnancies and wonder if they have gone into it all with their eyes closed! That would freak me out indeed!
But, it is easy to go too far, which I think is what's happening with all these baby books I'm reading.
Everything starts to contradict each other and I seem to be getting one extreme to the other. Controlled crying V's attachment parenting. Setting routines V's letting your baby set the routine. Breastfeeding, sleeping and parenting. I think my brain is going to explode.
I think you get to a point where you have to stop reading and trust that you will do what you think is right when the time comes.
I was feeling a little overwhelmed yesterday with it all and had a lovely visit from my friends and their nine-week old baby boy. It was amazing how that two hour visit really lifted my spirits. By the end of it, I was feeling much more relaxed about the whole looking after my baby thing. I asked my friend lots of questions and watched her with her baby. The bonus is that she lives at the end of my street and will be a wonderful support person when bubs arrives, especially as I have no family within a 2 hour radius!
They say knowledge is power and to an extent it is good to be well informed, so you can make appropriate choices. But boy, there is some conflicting and extreme information out there to work your way through!
I have always liked to be well-informed and knowledgeable... I think it's something to do with being a bit of a control freak. I hear of women who have not read a single book during their pregnancies and wonder if they have gone into it all with their eyes closed! That would freak me out indeed!
But, it is easy to go too far, which I think is what's happening with all these baby books I'm reading.
Everything starts to contradict each other and I seem to be getting one extreme to the other. Controlled crying V's attachment parenting. Setting routines V's letting your baby set the routine. Breastfeeding, sleeping and parenting. I think my brain is going to explode.
I think you get to a point where you have to stop reading and trust that you will do what you think is right when the time comes.
I was feeling a little overwhelmed yesterday with it all and had a lovely visit from my friends and their nine-week old baby boy. It was amazing how that two hour visit really lifted my spirits. By the end of it, I was feeling much more relaxed about the whole looking after my baby thing. I asked my friend lots of questions and watched her with her baby. The bonus is that she lives at the end of my street and will be a wonderful support person when bubs arrives, especially as I have no family within a 2 hour radius!
They say knowledge is power and to an extent it is good to be well informed, so you can make appropriate choices. But boy, there is some conflicting and extreme information out there to work your way through!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
37 Weeks and Hello Maternity Leave!
Okay, so this is really happening now.
Seriously folks, I'm having a baby. Really soon.
I finished up work on Friday and it was the strangest feeling. It felt like I was leaving forever! I got lots of kisses, hugs and gifts from workmates and a surprise lunch too. I was thoroughly spoilt and it has been lovely to watch how excited everyone has been for me throughout this journey.
Today marks 37 weeks - officially "full term!" I never thought I'd actually make it to this point. Riffa is getting so excited too, talking to the baby and trying to coax it out - I think he is getting impatient already! He purchased an iPod touch for bubs this week, so we can play music in the nursery. This baby is already more technology savvy than me and it hasn't entered the world yet!
Being the organised freak that I am, everything is well and truly ready for bubs arrival. Bags are packed, everything is washed and cooked frozen meals are in the freezer.
So what have I got planned between now and when bubs arrives? Not a great deal! I plan to relax, nap, catch up on the few books I still want to read about crying, sleeping and breastfeeding, practice my Calmbirth breathing and visualisations and just take it easy.
In saying that, after a weekend home alone during the day, a list has started to develop. Wash couch covers. Condition the leather couch. Wash crochet throw rug on couch. Get dog groomed.
I just can't help myself.
Updated pic of the bump today is over on the bump page if you'd like a squiz.
Seriously folks, I'm having a baby. Really soon.
I finished up work on Friday and it was the strangest feeling. It felt like I was leaving forever! I got lots of kisses, hugs and gifts from workmates and a surprise lunch too. I was thoroughly spoilt and it has been lovely to watch how excited everyone has been for me throughout this journey.
Today marks 37 weeks - officially "full term!" I never thought I'd actually make it to this point. Riffa is getting so excited too, talking to the baby and trying to coax it out - I think he is getting impatient already! He purchased an iPod touch for bubs this week, so we can play music in the nursery. This baby is already more technology savvy than me and it hasn't entered the world yet!
Being the organised freak that I am, everything is well and truly ready for bubs arrival. Bags are packed, everything is washed and cooked frozen meals are in the freezer.
So what have I got planned between now and when bubs arrives? Not a great deal! I plan to relax, nap, catch up on the few books I still want to read about crying, sleeping and breastfeeding, practice my Calmbirth breathing and visualisations and just take it easy.
In saying that, after a weekend home alone during the day, a list has started to develop. Wash couch covers. Condition the leather couch. Wash crochet throw rug on couch. Get dog groomed.
I just can't help myself.
Updated pic of the bump today is over on the bump page if you'd like a squiz.
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