Apparently, women who ate chocolate at least 5 times per week during their 3rd trimester were 40% less likely to experience preclampsia than those who did not. As if you needed an excuse to each chocolate daily! I have to honey, it's good for the baby.
My baby is doing well. The big one is adjusting, he's having a bit of a time with the fact that Mom's not always available to carry HIM around anymore, but he's having a great time home with his dad this week. The little one is adjusting too, she's still pretty sleepy and doesn't always want to wake up when she's supposed to to eat and stuff, but we're managing. She's doing well, gaining weight and stuff, but is definitely a sleepy, content little person.
I'm going to go make myself some supper. Grant and Kieran have gone to Rexton for the night so Grant can get his tires put on his car and his inspection done. Just me and the little girl! I'm not too worried, I'm on night duty with her anyway.
Wednesday, April 30
Sunday, April 27
it's a baby!
and a girl, and even born on her due date. Things are going well so far!
The story, in short form. It's not really a long story anyway.
Tuesday morning I woke up at about 3am having some contractions. These were not the Braxton-Hicks "may sometimes be uncomfortable or even painful" contractions, they were real. But, happening anywhere from 10 minutes to almost an hour apart, so completely useless and just, well, a pain. Did that all day. Had a pretty good day regardless, took Kieran for a playdate until he about collapsed into a psychotic rage from fatigue. Took him home, he fell asleep in the car, but naturally did not sleep once we got home. So, up since 3 and no nap. Awesome. In pain. Even better. I thought they might be going away, and since I had 2 friends who both experienced false labour days or weeks before the real deal, I was trying to ignore it and just assumed it would go away. Labour did not agree with my plan. They finally got regular around 7:30, while I was lying down and Grant was putting Kieran to bed. Naturally. So at 8-ish we called Grant's parents, got our stuff together, and headed to the hospital with a not sleeping and pretty excited to go to town at night Kieran in tow. Got me all checked in, and Tiresa came to stay with me so Grant could take Kieran home to bed and wait for his parents to arrive. So from 9 until 11:30 Tiresa and I hung out, snuck downstairs to get a juice and a granola bar (I had half a bagel for supper, I was starving) and then regretted that since it made me sick. I guess the nurses were right. Also I drank the whole juice in about 28 seconds, that might have had something to do with it. Anyway. They weren't so good about the phentenol this time. They were giving it to me about every 15-20 minutes rather than every 5, which is what it takes for it to make any real difference. It doesn't even really make the pain go away, but it dulls it every so slightly and makes you loopy, so you just don't care so much. 11:30 the doctor came in and I had gone from 2-3 to 6cm, so he decided to break my water. Did that at 11:50, just after Grant got back. Tiresa left, since we were likely in for a bit of a wait after that. Not so! At some point soon after that, I had to push. I had no idea how dilated I was, but for those of you who have had babies, I really couldn't do much about it. So I had maybe 2 contractions of pushing but trying not to, and then one where they finally told me I could push, and lo and behold...
Willow Jenny Roach
8lbs 5oz
April 23 @ 12:16am
I have to say, *during* the 5 minutes of holy hell where I had no drugs whatsoever because it had just been such a gong show and it's hard to medicate a screaming woman, I was pretty unhappy. But, after they got the 'minor arterial bleed' under control, and got poor Willow woken up (I think she was a bit traumatised by the whole thing, she had no time to get ready to come out, she just arrived), everything's great.
That's it. She sleeps A LOT, and we're working on the nursing thing, which is a bit of a challenge because she falls asleep as soon as she's had a bit to eat, and then wakes up hungry, and there's a lot of milk waiting for her because she's not drinking it all at once. We'll figure it out. She's pretty cute. Kieran likes her, and wants to hold her all the time, and gets mad when we won't let him because she's screaming her head off or whatever.
The lady calls.
The story, in short form. It's not really a long story anyway.
Tuesday morning I woke up at about 3am having some contractions. These were not the Braxton-Hicks "may sometimes be uncomfortable or even painful" contractions, they were real. But, happening anywhere from 10 minutes to almost an hour apart, so completely useless and just, well, a pain. Did that all day. Had a pretty good day regardless, took Kieran for a playdate until he about collapsed into a psychotic rage from fatigue. Took him home, he fell asleep in the car, but naturally did not sleep once we got home. So, up since 3 and no nap. Awesome. In pain. Even better. I thought they might be going away, and since I had 2 friends who both experienced false labour days or weeks before the real deal, I was trying to ignore it and just assumed it would go away. Labour did not agree with my plan. They finally got regular around 7:30, while I was lying down and Grant was putting Kieran to bed. Naturally. So at 8-ish we called Grant's parents, got our stuff together, and headed to the hospital with a not sleeping and pretty excited to go to town at night Kieran in tow. Got me all checked in, and Tiresa came to stay with me so Grant could take Kieran home to bed and wait for his parents to arrive. So from 9 until 11:30 Tiresa and I hung out, snuck downstairs to get a juice and a granola bar (I had half a bagel for supper, I was starving) and then regretted that since it made me sick. I guess the nurses were right. Also I drank the whole juice in about 28 seconds, that might have had something to do with it. Anyway. They weren't so good about the phentenol this time. They were giving it to me about every 15-20 minutes rather than every 5, which is what it takes for it to make any real difference. It doesn't even really make the pain go away, but it dulls it every so slightly and makes you loopy, so you just don't care so much. 11:30 the doctor came in and I had gone from 2-3 to 6cm, so he decided to break my water. Did that at 11:50, just after Grant got back. Tiresa left, since we were likely in for a bit of a wait after that. Not so! At some point soon after that, I had to push. I had no idea how dilated I was, but for those of you who have had babies, I really couldn't do much about it. So I had maybe 2 contractions of pushing but trying not to, and then one where they finally told me I could push, and lo and behold...
Willow Jenny Roach
8lbs 5oz
April 23 @ 12:16am
I have to say, *during* the 5 minutes of holy hell where I had no drugs whatsoever because it had just been such a gong show and it's hard to medicate a screaming woman, I was pretty unhappy. But, after they got the 'minor arterial bleed' under control, and got poor Willow woken up (I think she was a bit traumatised by the whole thing, she had no time to get ready to come out, she just arrived), everything's great.
That's it. She sleeps A LOT, and we're working on the nursing thing, which is a bit of a challenge because she falls asleep as soon as she's had a bit to eat, and then wakes up hungry, and there's a lot of milk waiting for her because she's not drinking it all at once. We'll figure it out. She's pretty cute. Kieran likes her, and wants to hold her all the time, and gets mad when we won't let him because she's screaming her head off or whatever.
The lady calls.
Monday, April 21
2 days.
Do you think though? really? I don't. I'm all for it, but I just have my doubts. Grant says Kieran and I should go to town every day, because then if I go into labour (in that like, 3 hour window) I'll be close and he won't have to drive all the way out here to get me. He also suggested I keep my hospital bag in the trunk, to save time. I should stick my camera in Kieran's bag, which is always with us, and then I'll be all set. Except that you can be too prepared, and then nothing happens. Watched pot / uterus and all that. I have been having contractions. The braxton hicks ones all the time, but they don't count. Real ones this time, which is AWESOME. I had some probably 2 weeks ago, then some a couple of nights ago, and then some last night. They hurt, I don't like it. I'd be much more tolerant of the whole thing if they served any purpose other than to wake me up and make me have to pee, but I have to wait until they subside to get out of bed. I'm sleeping with that Snoogle pillow, which is great, but I have it on the edge of the bed, and since Grant is on the other side, I have to climb OVER the snoogle to get the hell out of bed, and it's difficult to do.
Yeah, we're at that stage again folks. The whining and complaining. It's actually not terrible. During the day I feel pretty good for a 9 month pregnant lady. Kieran keeps me very busy, but he's a pretty great guy most of the time, so it's ok. I still am trying not to really think about how a very needy tiny baby will fit into this equation. It just will, so we'll figure it out. I can occasionally catch a nap when he naps, something that I didn't do when I first had Kieran, but that I definitely will if given the golden opportunity now and (it's possible, but unlikely) if he happens to nap at the same time as the baby when she arrives. It's really the nights that are killing me. Kieran has been really hard to get to bed lately, which he's never done before. He just gets up. It's like he's just now figured out that he can get out of bed at night. Before he would just sit up there and yell at us or cry, but he'd stay in bed. Now he gets up. Sometimes every 3 minutes for an hour. We've tried several things, and the thing that works best for us seems to be just go up, tuck him in again, leave. There is minimal interaction, but I can't just ignore him, or he gets even more upset and gets up more. So I tell him, every time, that it's bedtime, he has to go to sleep, it's not time to play, no more cuddles, whatever he's asking for, and leave. Last night he only got up 3 times, which is really good considering what we've had some nights this past 2 weeks or so.
The fact that I'm not sleeping very well once he stays in bed and we go to bed isn't helping. I can't sleep on my back, and am not supposed to, but I probably would if it were comfortable. It's not, I feel like I'm being crushed. But it does make my hips feel better. When I sleep on my side, my hips are hopelessly sore. No-win. The best I can come up with is sort of a halfway between back and side on that stupid snoogle pillow.
Anyway. I'll keep you posted, I promise! I appreciate that this time I don't have people asking me EVERY DAY if I've had a baby yet. That's pretty annoying. I promise I'll tell you.
Yeah, we're at that stage again folks. The whining and complaining. It's actually not terrible. During the day I feel pretty good for a 9 month pregnant lady. Kieran keeps me very busy, but he's a pretty great guy most of the time, so it's ok. I still am trying not to really think about how a very needy tiny baby will fit into this equation. It just will, so we'll figure it out. I can occasionally catch a nap when he naps, something that I didn't do when I first had Kieran, but that I definitely will if given the golden opportunity now and (it's possible, but unlikely) if he happens to nap at the same time as the baby when she arrives. It's really the nights that are killing me. Kieran has been really hard to get to bed lately, which he's never done before. He just gets up. It's like he's just now figured out that he can get out of bed at night. Before he would just sit up there and yell at us or cry, but he'd stay in bed. Now he gets up. Sometimes every 3 minutes for an hour. We've tried several things, and the thing that works best for us seems to be just go up, tuck him in again, leave. There is minimal interaction, but I can't just ignore him, or he gets even more upset and gets up more. So I tell him, every time, that it's bedtime, he has to go to sleep, it's not time to play, no more cuddles, whatever he's asking for, and leave. Last night he only got up 3 times, which is really good considering what we've had some nights this past 2 weeks or so.
The fact that I'm not sleeping very well once he stays in bed and we go to bed isn't helping. I can't sleep on my back, and am not supposed to, but I probably would if it were comfortable. It's not, I feel like I'm being crushed. But it does make my hips feel better. When I sleep on my side, my hips are hopelessly sore. No-win. The best I can come up with is sort of a halfway between back and side on that stupid snoogle pillow.
Anyway. I'll keep you posted, I promise! I appreciate that this time I don't have people asking me EVERY DAY if I've had a baby yet. That's pretty annoying. I promise I'll tell you.
Wednesday, April 16
no news
naturally. My "your pregnancy this week" email today was kind enough to inform me that only 5% of babies are born on their due date, which I did know, since the whole thing is basically a guessing game. I did not know though, that 75% of babies are born AFTER their due dates. They don't tell you that. So that's exciting. I'm expecting to go over anyway, just because I did with Kieran, so why should this one be any different? Even though it has been pretty different. Who knows!
Anyway. I have an appointment tomorrow, my first internal, should be fun. I don't really see why they need to go poking around in there, I doubt it happens very often that they're like, 'oh, you're 6cm dilated, better get to the hospital!' I think you'd notice something.
We have a house showing tonight, so Kieran and I are headed out after he wakes up from his nap. He fights me every day on napping. It's easier when I don't have to get him out of the house by a certain time, but sometimes you have to, so yes, sweetie, you NEED TO NAP NOW. I'm bribing him with all kinds of things today, we're going out to the store (that's what he calls them all, except Superstore, which he knows specifically), and then to a movie (Empire shows matinees here on Wednesdays, we're heading to Horton Hears a Who at 3), and then to meet Grant for supper, since there will be people in our house. It's not that we NEED to go to the movie, but I think he'd really like it, and it's something different from wandering around our road / highway or just going to the mall. This weekend we're going to look at some houses, since the sale of our house appears to be moving along nicely. We're looking at a June 30 closing, which gives us time to find a place and not be moving with a 2 week old. All good things. Not that moving with a ... 2 month old will be a lot better, moving with a 4 month old was hard enough, but I'll just strap that little one on with my sling and do what I can. I'm sure Kieran will be very helpful with the whole process.
I'm going to go put dishes away and vacuum.
Anyway. I have an appointment tomorrow, my first internal, should be fun. I don't really see why they need to go poking around in there, I doubt it happens very often that they're like, 'oh, you're 6cm dilated, better get to the hospital!' I think you'd notice something.
We have a house showing tonight, so Kieran and I are headed out after he wakes up from his nap. He fights me every day on napping. It's easier when I don't have to get him out of the house by a certain time, but sometimes you have to, so yes, sweetie, you NEED TO NAP NOW. I'm bribing him with all kinds of things today, we're going out to the store (that's what he calls them all, except Superstore, which he knows specifically), and then to a movie (Empire shows matinees here on Wednesdays, we're heading to Horton Hears a Who at 3), and then to meet Grant for supper, since there will be people in our house. It's not that we NEED to go to the movie, but I think he'd really like it, and it's something different from wandering around our road / highway or just going to the mall. This weekend we're going to look at some houses, since the sale of our house appears to be moving along nicely. We're looking at a June 30 closing, which gives us time to find a place and not be moving with a 2 week old. All good things. Not that moving with a ... 2 month old will be a lot better, moving with a 4 month old was hard enough, but I'll just strap that little one on with my sling and do what I can. I'm sure Kieran will be very helpful with the whole process.
I'm going to go put dishes away and vacuum.
Wednesday, April 9
38 weeks
and my husband is away until about midnight Friday. So, hopefully no baby before that! Cause even if I call him, on my cell which he took with him, because he still doesn't have one, he'll still be the better part of a day to get home. I again have my sister and Tiresa on high alert, but I really don't think this baby's in a big rush to get here.
I am making good progress on the tiny sweater I'm knitting. I have one side and most of the back and other side done. Then we need sleeves, but they're not very big, and a hood, which is just a rectangle. I think I can handle it! I made buttonholes and everything. I looked up how to do crazy things like "slip stitch" and "yarn over" on youtube. That's a great site, not just for stupid people doing stupid things. The sweater is 3-6 month size, so I should get it done in time! I also got some super cute patterns at Fabricville, they have some really good member deals on this month.
It's the wee lad's birthday, so we're going to go out for lunch and then do some fun stuff this afternoon. I'll also have to take some pictures, of course. It's really nice out, I'm going to see if he'll go along with me to a couple of places downtown, and then maybe we'll go for birthday ice cream. He's napping in preparation for his day of fun, so I'll take advantage of that and like, shower. Wooh!
As always, I'll keep you posted with any baby news.
I am making good progress on the tiny sweater I'm knitting. I have one side and most of the back and other side done. Then we need sleeves, but they're not very big, and a hood, which is just a rectangle. I think I can handle it! I made buttonholes and everything. I looked up how to do crazy things like "slip stitch" and "yarn over" on youtube. That's a great site, not just for stupid people doing stupid things. The sweater is 3-6 month size, so I should get it done in time! I also got some super cute patterns at Fabricville, they have some really good member deals on this month.
It's the wee lad's birthday, so we're going to go out for lunch and then do some fun stuff this afternoon. I'll also have to take some pictures, of course. It's really nice out, I'm going to see if he'll go along with me to a couple of places downtown, and then maybe we'll go for birthday ice cream. He's napping in preparation for his day of fun, so I'll take advantage of that and like, shower. Wooh!
As always, I'll keep you posted with any baby news.
Sunday, April 6
weekend du liberte...
coming to an end. Grant ended up spending the night in Rexton with the out-laws and Kieran last night, so he'll just call when they're on their way home. I ended up doing a sweet pile of not much. Had supper Friday and lunch yesterday out with a friend from work, bought a bassinet and a 4 pocket canvas storage thing for the wee lass, and then came home around 3 and hung out the rest of the time by myself. I rented a movie on PPV, which was odd and not as entertaining as I had hoped, "Margot at the Wedding". I also knitted! I'm making a sweater, and I have the back done as far as the sleeves, and one side done just a bit past that. Wooh! Baby sweaters are pretty small, so I have a chance of actually finishing it. Once I look up how to "yarn over" and "bind off".
My pedicure ended up being the homemade variety, which turned out remarkably well, I think. No facial or massage. I napped and knitted instead. Just as fun!
My pedicure ended up being the homemade variety, which turned out remarkably well, I think. No facial or massage. I napped and knitted instead. Just as fun!
Friday, April 4
quick
and pointless. just an update to tell you there is no news. Just another regular checkup, pee in cup, weigh, blood pressure, measure, heartbeat. One more of those, and if this baby hasn't decided to make her grand entrance by then, they start to get more intrusive. I did, however, get to do the swab for group B strep again, which was as fun as the first time I did it. They said that apparently it can just go away, and that the test is very accurate and good for 5 weeks, so yippee. Go stick this giant swab in your no-no bits and we'll let you know how it turns out.
I'm done work, which is fantastic. I had to promise like 7 people that I would call them when I go into labour so they can come visit me in the hospital. And as many, mostly the same people, offer to be my drive to the hospital should I happen to go into labour this weekend while Grant is away. My plan is to clean the house, we have a showing tomorrow, and I'm going to try to get a pedicure, and maybe a massage or facial. They have one massage that says "perfect for expectant moms", so I'm all over that.
anyway. my laundry is done, so I'm going to put it in the dryer and go to bed. I'm SUPER CRAZY on my CRAZY weekend of freedom. I think I'll take some antacid first though, because I have indigestion, and that makes it hard to sleep. I think having a bed to myself will make it easier though.
I'm done work, which is fantastic. I had to promise like 7 people that I would call them when I go into labour so they can come visit me in the hospital. And as many, mostly the same people, offer to be my drive to the hospital should I happen to go into labour this weekend while Grant is away. My plan is to clean the house, we have a showing tomorrow, and I'm going to try to get a pedicure, and maybe a massage or facial. They have one massage that says "perfect for expectant moms", so I'm all over that.
anyway. my laundry is done, so I'm going to put it in the dryer and go to bed. I'm SUPER CRAZY on my CRAZY weekend of freedom. I think I'll take some antacid first though, because I have indigestion, and that makes it hard to sleep. I think having a bed to myself will make it easier though.
Wednesday, April 2
37 weeks
I figure we're good to go, right? I have an appointment tomorrow, and I'm hopeful that they'll be able to tell me if I'm in imminent danger of delivering. I don't know that I would believe them, even if they did tell me that, because they told me that every week last time, from about 34 weeks on. Liars! I don't actually even know if they do internal checks yet, because again, last time was a bit different. I either am or will be 37 weeks now or on Friday (depends who you ask), so I'd think they'd want to sort of...see what's going on in there. But maybe not. I'll let you know, because I'm sure you're curious. About my inner lady parts. Mmm.
Still not sure about the name thing. Grant's not crazy about my name, so we'll have to think of something else. He's over Riley, which is good, because I know too many boys and dogs with that name. He also has suggested some which I just don't like at all, not that they're bad, just not my taste for my child kind of thing. We have one that we both like, and that's the closest we've come to anything so far, so it's a start.
My bag is packed, and put away so it doesn't taunt me like it did last time. All the baby clothes, new and from Kieran, are clean and some are put away. I had just done the new ones, but a lot of them are too big for a tiny baby, and will be replaced by the mostly used (by Kieran) tiny sleepers and stuff. I am *such* a fan of the tiny terry sleepers, we have like 50 of them, it's great.
Ok, I'm out. Grant's playing hockey, I didn't eat supper but I had a 4lb muffin at our staff meeting after school, and I'm just not hungry. Also, I have heartburn constantly, and eating most things makes it worse. Like chocolate. What kind of cruel joke is that to play on a pregnant lady??
Still not sure about the name thing. Grant's not crazy about my name, so we'll have to think of something else. He's over Riley, which is good, because I know too many boys and dogs with that name. He also has suggested some which I just don't like at all, not that they're bad, just not my taste for my child kind of thing. We have one that we both like, and that's the closest we've come to anything so far, so it's a start.
My bag is packed, and put away so it doesn't taunt me like it did last time. All the baby clothes, new and from Kieran, are clean and some are put away. I had just done the new ones, but a lot of them are too big for a tiny baby, and will be replaced by the mostly used (by Kieran) tiny sleepers and stuff. I am *such* a fan of the tiny terry sleepers, we have like 50 of them, it's great.
Ok, I'm out. Grant's playing hockey, I didn't eat supper but I had a 4lb muffin at our staff meeting after school, and I'm just not hungry. Also, I have heartburn constantly, and eating most things makes it worse. Like chocolate. What kind of cruel joke is that to play on a pregnant lady??