On the Mend!
This is the first day that I've been able to sit up to the computer on my saddle chair, which is a good indication that I'm on the mend ‘down there'!
Over the next few days I want to fill you all in on the last couple of weeks, but first, a bit more about the 14th & 15th!
Mark kept a record on his Blackberry throughout the whole of my labour and birth, so here it is, in full!
6.30pm - Stretch and sweep by Katie's sister, Anna (urrgghh), already 2cm dilated
7.30pm - Hot curry for dinner
8.00pm - Contractions starting
8.30pm - Photos and on all fours with birthing ball in the back room
9.00pm - Contractions every 5mins, lasting 1min
12.30am - Decide to try and sleep
2.30am - Contractions getting much more painful, Katie unable to sleep
3.10am - Wake Anna up
3.20am - Decide we should go into hospital (Wellington, our dog, is perplexed)
3.40am - Left home, drove very fast to the hospital as there was no traffic
4.00am - Arrived at hospital, midwife called Caroline
-Checked over. Bp 128/96. 6cm dilated
-Baby heart beat at upper end of normal
-Standing leaning on bed, some photos taken
-Music on - Katie's favourite yoga music - "Wah"
-Baby heartbeat back to normal
-On all fours on the floor with ball
-Chatted with midwife about safaris, photography and midwifery as contractions get increasingly painful
-Tens machine and massage
-Katie now bored of sports drinks
-2 chocolate mini rolls gone - suspect not much else will get eaten. Katie doesn't feel like anything
-Various shows etc, less time between contractions and getting more painful. Katie doing brilliantly at
coping with the pain
6.10am - Tens on 7 and constant boost, Caroline and Anna think Katie is entering transition
6.25am - Pressure on bottom, Tens on 8 now, big breaths
6.40am - Still on 8, heartbeat fine, waters still intact. All on track - Caroline and Anna very impressed so far!!!!
6.55am - 35mins until Caroline finishes her shift
7.05am - Tens on 11. Windows shut to make the room warmer for the baby - woo hoo!!!
7.15am - Peak of pain apparently, still on 11. Jack Jonhson off, Chicane on. Good breathing, lots of pressure, really painful, Katie very tired now
7.25am - New midwife with student, room getting lighter as sun rises
7.35am - On the bed, with ball, waters break (loads, everywhere but not on Anna's new boots). Very exciting, little bean is on his way, want the pain for Katie to be over. Tens on 12.
7.50am - Pushing happening!
8.00am - Katie exhausted, still waiting for young bean to come out
8.30am - More pushes, getting close now. Hand getting squeezed a lot. Come on little bean, Katie is really ready for you to come out now, knees shot to pieces, been on all fours for hours now!
8.35am - Tens on 14. Little bean's heartbeat still good, he needs to be out soon, not sure how much more Katie can take, she looks so tired but coping with pain amazingly
9.15am - Still here, still pushing. Cold flannel and fan essential now. 4 mini rolls left. Need some new fingers having had a couple squeezed to pieces (but I shouldn't really complain). Really want this to be over for her
9.25am - Seems to be taking forever, I thought little bean may pop out around 7 / 7.30, but then what do I know. Anna reckons it is text book, pushes are exhausting now, 4 at a time
9.40am - Moved position, now lying on her left side, baby about an inch away apparently, I haven't ventured downstairs
9.45am - New position seems to be helping
9.50am - Things getting more messy now - 'creating space' apparently, "we like seeing poo, it confirms the pushing is right". Nice! A slight feel of a midwifery demonstration, comparing glove sizes,brands etc. So glad Anna is here.
10.00am - BP 90/51, lower than usual?
10.20am - Not sure midwifery is my thing, I'll stick to accounting I think, less fluids and much less pain.
10.30am - False alarm contractions, followed by some mega pushing
11.09am - Waterworks, baby girl. So beautiful.
12.35noon - Ouch, lots of stitching, extra doctors around, gas and air comes out big time. Isabella enjoys Katie's breasts!
Katie x
Little bean is now a gorgeous little girl!!!
Isabella was born on Sunday 15th February at 11.09am weighing in at 8lbs 4oz. An amazing experience and she is so beautiful. We are both doing well although I am a bit sore and tender, will write with some more details soon but here is a photo of her when she was only 3 hours old!
Katie x
Could this be it?
After a lot of pressure from my Mother to have the baby on her birthday (15th) I have been working through the "helping to bring on labour list" today. 4 cups of raspberry leaf tea, a 2hr (4.5 mile) brisk walk, pineapple, a stretch and sweep and a very hot curry! It seems to have got things moving and I am now having regular uncomfortable tightenings!!! Watch this space...... Katie x
Impatient
I'm beginning to feel a bit impatient - I am so ready for little bean to arrive now! The tightenings are definitely increasing and at 1.30am last night for a few minutes they began to feel crampy and I actually thought this is it!!! But no, it passed and I'm still here!
I had an unbelievably amazing massage last week and came round really spaced out, embarrassingly discovering that my cheque book had run out of cheques.
I experienced my first really sleepless night at the weekend. I was completely wide awake between 4.30am and 7am; so much so that I got up and made myself some horlicks and sat in bed reading and eating choccie biscuits. My mind was busy thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of Syntometrine, boy's names, and how on earth I'm going to find a nursing bra that fits when my milk comes in.
I've been feeling much more tired for the last few days; perhaps it's my bodies way of telling me to slow down a bit before the big day....or perhaps it's just the miserable weather.
I'm still drinking raspberry leaf tea, but have to say I am absolutely sick of it, so have started putting my daily dose of teabags in a mug all at once and downing it. Not to be recommended!
Mark has been a star and has sorted my ipod out, putting about 20hrs of relaxing music on for labour. I am really hoping I won't need that much!
Katie x
38 Weeks!
I had my 38 week antenatal yesterday. Little bean remains cephalic, but as I thought is continuing to move from left to right side. Today he/she was on the right side. Everything else was fine except 3+ leucocytes were present in my urine sample indicating a UTI. I had a feeling that might be the case as my left kidney has been feeling very achy for the last few days. I can't believe I've got to the last 2 weeks and I'm developing haemorrhoids and UTI's. Typical!
I still feel pretty good otherwise. My bump seems to have had a growth spurt over this last week and I noticed it was considerably more difficult shaving my legs this morning! I also seem to be getting much more regular Braxton Hicks contractions. At the moment I don't really feel nervous at all - just really excited!
I'm continuing to ‘nest' like crazy. On Tuesday I didn't sit down once until the evening, although I paid the price yesterday!
I'm going for a full body massage later - can't wait!
Katie x
Nesting
Yes, I am still alive and no, I haven't had little bean. Good job, as I have manically been finishing my tax return!
It's been another busy week. So much for slowing down and resting as much as possible in the final weeks! Having a baby is a great incentive for getting jobs finished in the house and boy have I been making the most of the nesting phase - washing woodwork, painting skirting boards, filing a years worth of paperwork etc. It's great!
I've been feeling really good and seem to have loads of energy. I gave in and decided to get my hair highlighted before little bean's arrival (after 10 months of abstaining), as I figured it might be impossible for quite a while. It has made such a difference - I no longer feel so drab!
Little bean is still pretty active and continues to move from left to right, although I'm pretty sure he/she seems to be spending more time on my left side now. My sister is convinced he/she has a hand over their face as I keep feeling like I'm being prodded, poked and scratched down there! I can definitely feel little bean heading down. My frequency and urgency to wee has increased dramatically over the last week. Just when I thought I was lucky enough to escape too many pregnancy complaints I have developed my first haemorrhoid, which I'm sure is due to the increased weight of little bean. Lovely!!!
I had a sudden thought that it might be a good idea to remove all my rings this week, and I'm so glad I remembered, as it was a nightmare getting them off.
You'll be relieved to hear that my hospital bag is finally packed, although I seem to keep adding to it on a daily basis.
Earlier in the week I was sure that I was going mad - Mark was sure I was too! I keep the worktop cloth under the kitchen sink and for the last couple of weeks they seemed to be constantly disappearing. I was sure that Mark was moving them and he was sure I was losing my mind due to pregnancy hormones. I began to think he was right, until I discovered that we have mice under our floor boards that are stealing my dishcloths! I can't tell you how relieved I was that there is a logical explanation! Not so happy about the mice though :-(
NCT classes are going well. We covered breast feeding this week, which Mark seemed to enjoy - particularly experimenting with a balloon and breast pump!
Katie x
36 Weeks Today!
I am so excited about reaching 36 weeks and the day has been topped off by the arrival of little bean's car seat and pushchair (3mths after ordering) and an "all's well" antenatal appointment (little bean was in the perfect position and has started to engage!)
I had such a good yoga session on Monday and astounded myself at how I was still able to achieve all the positions without difficulty.
Mark is gradually improving on how long he is able to continue pregnancy/labour massage. We time it every night; I'm sure the motivation to beat the previous night's score is enough to keep him going! The NCT course leader said that if it's painful on his hands, then he should use a tennis ball. Tennis ball?!...
My internet shopping splurge last week continues to arrive in dribs and drabs; it feels like Christmas everyday at the moment. My washing machine has been on constantly, washing borrowed and new baby clothes.
The nursery is nearly finished and everything now has a home (unlike the rest of our house!) My Mum paid an unexpected visit and made the nursery curtains which was a huge bonus as I had just received an outrageous quote from a local curtain maker.
Today I printed off our Birth Plan, although I've named it Birth Preferences as it is really just an outline and is very flexible.
I feel like everything is coming together, although still haven't packed my hospital bag after all that moaning and groaning last week! It's nearly there...just kind of in bits all over the spare room!
Katie x
Panic
I have developed a sense of panic over the last few days; such little time and so much to do. How did that happen?! Time suddenly appears to be accelerating and I can't keep up. Or maybe time is in fact the same but what I achieve in a day has slowed down!
On Wednesday I received my 35 week pregnancy email from one of the many websites I seem to have signed up to, and read that my hospital bag should be packed and waiting by the door by no later than 36 weeks. I suddenly felt quite panicky - I hadn't even started mine. What if little bean decided to come early? Another list compiled; I trudged round the shops buying little mini toiletries (which I'm sure cost nearly as much as their full size equivalent), a new dressing gown, maternity sanitary towels and some cheap throw-away knickers from Primark, and then spent far too long deliberating whether to buy some new PJ's (or is that a bit extravagant) and which one's? Maybe both?...
I feel a bit out of control with my credit card at the moment. It feels a bit like Christmas again; the anxiety hits me for a moment as I pull it out yet again! Internet shopping is the worse and I have to say I've been doing quite a bit of that over the last few days.
Mark started my pregnancy massage last night. At last my DreamGenii massage oil was finally cracked open! I'm not entirely sure he was doing what he had been taught - the hesitancy and nervous laughter gave it away.....and so much for 15mins; he managed only 5mins before his aching hands became too intolerable to continue.
"What about when I'm in labour?" I questioned. "I'm going to be exhausted", he replied!
I think I have started getting heartburn. I say, "I think", because I'm not entirely sure what it's supposed to feel like. It seems to be worse in the evenings and particularly when I lean over to do things like brushing my teeth, or removing my socks. I have also officially entered comfy clothes mode; all I want to wear is tracky bottoms and leggings!
Little bean continues to become more and more active; or perhaps it's that he/she is running out of space and all the movements feel much stronger. Sometimes it feels like my insides are literally being bruised! He/she also hiccups a lot!
We've started to question our initial list of boy's names, so have pulled the baby name book out again this week. We're pretty sure about our girl's names, but I think the boy's name will have to be a wait and see...
Katie x
Getting Organised
I am sooo excited! We built the nursery furniture over the weekend and we are gradually putting things away. I keep going into the room and just looking at it with a big grin on my face. I'm finding my sleep is very restless, but I'm sure it's more down to a busy excited mind than pregnancy related.
My mind is certainly buzzing at the moment and I seem to have numerous lists on the go. My brain cells continue to diminish, so if it doesn't get on a list, it is forgotten! As well as getting organised for baby we are desperately trying to get all those niggly DIY jobs finished. Problem is, one thing leads to another and we find that most of the jobs are not simple (which is probably why we've put them off until now), and in fact we need to, for example, install a whole new heating system, which can't be started until a week before baby is due - ahhhh!
I impressed myself and made it to aquanatal again today. It seemed much harder work this week and little bean was on the move the whole way through. He/she is still not keen to remain in "optimal foetal position" and seems to like being on the right side; but I guess there's still time - I hope so anyway!
Katie
Fab Day :-)
I've had a fab couple of days. I managed a long dog walk in the sunshine with no nightmare moments, followed by an aquanatal class (yes I finally made it, although I nearly didn't go as I hadn't realised how tricky sorting my bikini line would be with a bump!) The day was topped off when I received my glucose blood test results - normal, no action - what a relief - yay!
We attended our first NCT antenatal class which was good. Most of the other women were around 28 weeks (so we are 6 weeks ahead!) After Mark learned that a baby born at 37 weeks is considered Term, he quickly worked out the maths...
"37 weeks = 28th January......oh my goodness we are in January!!!"
He had a hard time sleeping that night.
I'm hoping the panicked feeling will continue and he will be motivated to get going with the DIY list this weekend!
Little bean's nursery furniture arrived yesterday (in flat pack) and I can't wait to get it in situ so we can start putting things away. There are boxes and bags everywhere at the moment. I can't believe such a little person needs so much paraphernalia!
Yoga last night was hard work; my bump felt like it was constantly getting in the way and all the moves felt really uncomfortable. I think little bean must have had a major growth spurt over Christmas; that or I ate way too much!
Today I saw the hygienist again and my teeth and gums were actually pretty good, compared to early pregnancy... and the best bit, I didn't have to pay! I then popped into town and bought some bargain baby toys from Early Learning, raspberry leaf tea, grapeseed oil and vitamin E oil in preparation for my sister's schedule, beginning over the next couple of weeks!
Katie x
