* As soon as you change a diaper, be prepared for the poopy!
*If you like your outfit, it will get spit up on it!
*Pee-pee goes down in the diaper.
*Difference between those used to babies and those not: the panic face vs the calm talk when baby cries.
*2 cups of coffee after 9months of little to no caffeine = major caffeine buzz and dizziness!
*Shaved legs are overrated!
*Babies just get rashes. "The wind will blow wrong and he'll get a rash!" -Dr. Clark
*A nurse giving Jonah a bath vs Grandma = about 30 difference!
*How such a small thing can produce so much poop is either terrifying or amazing!
*Being out burped by your baby.
*learning to view stretch marks as battle scars!
*Boobs turn rock hard when you miss a feeding/pump!
*How such a little thing can bring so much joy and love!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Friday, August 17, 2012
Thoughts, Hopes and Fears of a New Mom
Thoughts:
Why don't I have a six pack after 12hrs of labor?
Perfect present for new parents: diapers and 5hr energy drinks!
How amazing taking a shower can feel and make you feel like a person again!
Never thought I'd be able to feel my breast "refill" after a feeding.
How victorious I feel after getting a fussy baby to sleep!
Amazed that I feel awake and ready to go after so little sleep.
Hopes:
That Jonah will grow up loving Jesus and his family.
He will excel at everything he wants to do.
He will love his mama!
Fears:
Am I doing ______ right?!
I will never have a waist again.
His life will be filled with troubles.
I will be an overbearing mom.
It can be easy while sitting alone with Jonah to get lost in worries. It takes continued reminding myself of the gospel and who Christ is to not fall into the darkness of fear. So glad my future does not rest in my hands, but in His!
Why don't I have a six pack after 12hrs of labor?
Perfect present for new parents: diapers and 5hr energy drinks!
How amazing taking a shower can feel and make you feel like a person again!
Never thought I'd be able to feel my breast "refill" after a feeding.
How victorious I feel after getting a fussy baby to sleep!
Amazed that I feel awake and ready to go after so little sleep.
Hopes:
That Jonah will grow up loving Jesus and his family.
He will excel at everything he wants to do.
He will love his mama!
Fears:
Am I doing ______ right?!
I will never have a waist again.
His life will be filled with troubles.
I will be an overbearing mom.
It can be easy while sitting alone with Jonah to get lost in worries. It takes continued reminding myself of the gospel and who Christ is to not fall into the darkness of fear. So glad my future does not rest in my hands, but in His!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Hospital Days
After giving birth to Jonah, I had the privilege of spending 5 days in the hospital with him! Trust me, by the time we left... we were READY to go home!
The first few hours after delivery were a bit of a blur filled with people moving me cuz my legs are still numb, changing rooms, getting Jonah from the nursery, trying to breast feed, and saying hi to everyone. Jonah had to be whisked off to the nursery at first for sugar checks because he was so small and then had them every 3 hrs for the first 24hrs. That first night wasn't too bad because I wasn't afraid to send him to the nursery while we slept in between his feedings. It was still pretty odd to feel my stomach and it not be hard! After all those contractions I was hoping to have a nice six pack forming but instead just got a nice little pudge.
That first morning was filled with several different nurses and doctors coming in. I was still trying to breast feed at this time but having a hard time with it. So, while waiting to hear from the lactation nurse, we started supplementing with formula since we didn't want him to lose too much weight. Families started trickling in around 11am, wanting a glimpse and a chance to hold our handsome boy. This was all fine and good till around 4pm. Thats when I really started to feel the sleep deprivation and stress of all the newness. So, I did my best to say in a polite way, "get out!", which I believe everyone understood. We still hadn't heard from the lactation nurse and I was getting pretty stressed about making sure Jonah was getting enough food. After having everyone page her and talking to a nursing instructor (who happened to be a lactation nurse on the side), we finally got some help. She worked out an interesting supplemental drip tube to go along with breast feeding until my milk came in. I also started manually pumping to encourage things to get started. With all this, the idea of sleep was starting to fade-- 40min breast feeding + 40min pumping + 15min cleaning supplies + random vital and blood draws throughout the day = leaving me about 45min-1hr of sleep.
Day 2-- Alan had to leave to take an exam for getting hired with the police dept, leaving me by myself. I quickly called mom to just come and help. Also, they rolled Jonah in with a bili blanket that morning saying his levels were too high. The ob/gyn doc said everything was looking great with me and would be discharging me home. However, the pedi doc said that Jonah was going to have to stay in the hospital due to his high bili levels and his low weight (he had dropped to 4.14 at this time). So they worked it out at that I could stay as the parent taking care of Jonah, instead of them putting him in the nursery. This morning, a new lactation nurse came in and helped some more. She ended up being such a stress relief and an amazing support for the rest of our stay (she definitely made me consider a career change)!
I discovered this day how amazing a shower can be! I just kept singing to myself "To be human again, to be human again" from Beauty and the Beast.
The next few days blur together of Jonah getting poked and the doctor saying he needs to stay longer. It worked out nice because we were able to get more help from the lactation nurse and had plenty of people to ask all the new parent questions that came to mind! It was interesting, but I believe my favorite nurses throughout our stay would be those on night shift. I'm really not partial to one shift or another (even though I work nights), but I believe the nurses that work nights tend to be a little more realistic and down to earth. One was sweet enough that she brought Jonah a blanket and a teddy bear cuz she felt bad that she had called him a girl by accident!
Random side note: I find that almost everyone calls new babies girls. All the books I've read and several people that see Jonah all refer to him as a girl. Not sure why, but just noticed that!
When we finally got to go home, we were basically racing for the door! We still had to get Jonah checked by the doctor for his bili levels, but it was nice to sleep in our own bed.
The first few hours after delivery were a bit of a blur filled with people moving me cuz my legs are still numb, changing rooms, getting Jonah from the nursery, trying to breast feed, and saying hi to everyone. Jonah had to be whisked off to the nursery at first for sugar checks because he was so small and then had them every 3 hrs for the first 24hrs. That first night wasn't too bad because I wasn't afraid to send him to the nursery while we slept in between his feedings. It was still pretty odd to feel my stomach and it not be hard! After all those contractions I was hoping to have a nice six pack forming but instead just got a nice little pudge.
That first morning was filled with several different nurses and doctors coming in. I was still trying to breast feed at this time but having a hard time with it. So, while waiting to hear from the lactation nurse, we started supplementing with formula since we didn't want him to lose too much weight. Families started trickling in around 11am, wanting a glimpse and a chance to hold our handsome boy. This was all fine and good till around 4pm. Thats when I really started to feel the sleep deprivation and stress of all the newness. So, I did my best to say in a polite way, "get out!", which I believe everyone understood. We still hadn't heard from the lactation nurse and I was getting pretty stressed about making sure Jonah was getting enough food. After having everyone page her and talking to a nursing instructor (who happened to be a lactation nurse on the side), we finally got some help. She worked out an interesting supplemental drip tube to go along with breast feeding until my milk came in. I also started manually pumping to encourage things to get started. With all this, the idea of sleep was starting to fade-- 40min breast feeding + 40min pumping + 15min cleaning supplies + random vital and blood draws throughout the day = leaving me about 45min-1hr of sleep.
Day 2-- Alan had to leave to take an exam for getting hired with the police dept, leaving me by myself. I quickly called mom to just come and help. Also, they rolled Jonah in with a bili blanket that morning saying his levels were too high. The ob/gyn doc said everything was looking great with me and would be discharging me home. However, the pedi doc said that Jonah was going to have to stay in the hospital due to his high bili levels and his low weight (he had dropped to 4.14 at this time). So they worked it out at that I could stay as the parent taking care of Jonah, instead of them putting him in the nursery. This morning, a new lactation nurse came in and helped some more. She ended up being such a stress relief and an amazing support for the rest of our stay (she definitely made me consider a career change)!
I discovered this day how amazing a shower can be! I just kept singing to myself "To be human again, to be human again" from Beauty and the Beast.
The next few days blur together of Jonah getting poked and the doctor saying he needs to stay longer. It worked out nice because we were able to get more help from the lactation nurse and had plenty of people to ask all the new parent questions that came to mind! It was interesting, but I believe my favorite nurses throughout our stay would be those on night shift. I'm really not partial to one shift or another (even though I work nights), but I believe the nurses that work nights tend to be a little more realistic and down to earth. One was sweet enough that she brought Jonah a blanket and a teddy bear cuz she felt bad that she had called him a girl by accident!
Random side note: I find that almost everyone calls new babies girls. All the books I've read and several people that see Jonah all refer to him as a girl. Not sure why, but just noticed that!
When we finally got to go home, we were basically racing for the door! We still had to get Jonah checked by the doctor for his bili levels, but it was nice to sleep in our own bed.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Jonah's Birth Story
Thursday, August 2, 2012
5:35am- Woken up out of sleep by a contraction after only going to bed 2hrs before. I noticed these were stronger than my Braxton hicks, so I started counting them.
6:30am- woke Alan up to tell him contractions have been 5 min apart and trending toward 4min. This is the real thing. Went ahead and packed bags and had some breakfast.
8am- arrive at Hillcrest Medical center. One nurse says "you're back!" since I had come in to get checked just 2 days before. Doc laughed and said I just wanted to see her every day this week since I had seen her twice already! Doc checks me and I'm 5cm dilated, 80% effaced and my water was broke (I thought I might of just had an accident after a contraction)! Called the parents, some friends, and work since I was supposed to work that night (I had been saying all week that I just needed to go into labor before 5pm on thurs so that I could call-in instead of having to leave work and drive 40min back to Waco).
11:30- 100% effaced and dilated to 6cm. On the birthing ball with the support of Alan and in "the zone". Strictly focused on relaxing and breathing through contractions, which are about 2min apart. The nurse said she was so impressed with how quiet and calm our room was-- she asked if we had taken classes or something! Nope, just letting my body do it's thing.
2:30- 7cm dilated and starting to transition. Contractions are 1min apart and my body is starting to get pretty shaky. Having some nausea and vomiting with the stronger contractions. Still on the birthing ball with Alan being an amazing support.
4pm- Still 7cm dilated and contractions are 30sec apart. Had to get off the birthing ball because I was getting to shaky and weak to stay on, even with Alan's support. Doctor wants to give me an epidural because I was more and more shaky and having a difficult time relaxing. I still requested to go natural.
4:30pm- Ended up with an epidural. I was pretty sad that I didn't end up going all natural, but the doctor said because I had held off for so long getting one, there was no way they would put me on pitocin (which I really really didn't want). At this time, I was already shaky, but the epidural made me vibrate basically! I had to keep convincing everyone that I was warm enough. Now that I was more relaxed, we had more people in the room. Which I still think is funny that everyone wants to come and stare at me while I'm in a hospital gown, having contractions and about to give birth.
5pm- 10cm dilated! The epidural allowed me to relax enough to get to 10. Doctor reposition me so that Jonah would come down a little bit more before we push.
5:30- Everyone is kicked out of the room except Alan and mom. Doctor and everyone is set up to go!
5:39- 12hrs of labor and three contractions later and we have a Baby Boy! Weighing 5lbs 1oz, 18inches long, and wide eyed! I was so shocked to see him when he came out, my first reaction was to just reach and hold his little hand! Doctor was super quick and removed the umbilical cord that had wrapped around his head twice, but fortunately it had not affected him. Alan was able to cut the cord and Jonah was placed on my chest right after birth. Alan was an amazing support and encouragement throughout the entire labor. We both had tears of joy when we saw our little boy! Such an incredible experience! I do believe now in love at first sight! I wasn't sure how I would feel and I honestly don't think I could ever put words the overwhelming amount of emotions that collide together in one very miraculous moment.
Wow, I'm a mother! What a Joy!
5:35am- Woken up out of sleep by a contraction after only going to bed 2hrs before. I noticed these were stronger than my Braxton hicks, so I started counting them.
6:30am- woke Alan up to tell him contractions have been 5 min apart and trending toward 4min. This is the real thing. Went ahead and packed bags and had some breakfast.
8am- arrive at Hillcrest Medical center. One nurse says "you're back!" since I had come in to get checked just 2 days before. Doc laughed and said I just wanted to see her every day this week since I had seen her twice already! Doc checks me and I'm 5cm dilated, 80% effaced and my water was broke (I thought I might of just had an accident after a contraction)! Called the parents, some friends, and work since I was supposed to work that night (I had been saying all week that I just needed to go into labor before 5pm on thurs so that I could call-in instead of having to leave work and drive 40min back to Waco).
11:30- 100% effaced and dilated to 6cm. On the birthing ball with the support of Alan and in "the zone". Strictly focused on relaxing and breathing through contractions, which are about 2min apart. The nurse said she was so impressed with how quiet and calm our room was-- she asked if we had taken classes or something! Nope, just letting my body do it's thing.
2:30- 7cm dilated and starting to transition. Contractions are 1min apart and my body is starting to get pretty shaky. Having some nausea and vomiting with the stronger contractions. Still on the birthing ball with Alan being an amazing support.
4pm- Still 7cm dilated and contractions are 30sec apart. Had to get off the birthing ball because I was getting to shaky and weak to stay on, even with Alan's support. Doctor wants to give me an epidural because I was more and more shaky and having a difficult time relaxing. I still requested to go natural.
4:30pm- Ended up with an epidural. I was pretty sad that I didn't end up going all natural, but the doctor said because I had held off for so long getting one, there was no way they would put me on pitocin (which I really really didn't want). At this time, I was already shaky, but the epidural made me vibrate basically! I had to keep convincing everyone that I was warm enough. Now that I was more relaxed, we had more people in the room. Which I still think is funny that everyone wants to come and stare at me while I'm in a hospital gown, having contractions and about to give birth.
5pm- 10cm dilated! The epidural allowed me to relax enough to get to 10. Doctor reposition me so that Jonah would come down a little bit more before we push.
5:30- Everyone is kicked out of the room except Alan and mom. Doctor and everyone is set up to go!
5:39- 12hrs of labor and three contractions later and we have a Baby Boy! Weighing 5lbs 1oz, 18inches long, and wide eyed! I was so shocked to see him when he came out, my first reaction was to just reach and hold his little hand! Doctor was super quick and removed the umbilical cord that had wrapped around his head twice, but fortunately it had not affected him. Alan was able to cut the cord and Jonah was placed on my chest right after birth. Alan was an amazing support and encouragement throughout the entire labor. We both had tears of joy when we saw our little boy! Such an incredible experience! I do believe now in love at first sight! I wasn't sure how I would feel and I honestly don't think I could ever put words the overwhelming amount of emotions that collide together in one very miraculous moment.
Wow, I'm a mother! What a Joy!
A moment before there was three!
Alan cutting the cord!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Check list complete!
Room set up- check
Labor bag packed- check
Car seat installed- check
... now what?! I guess that would be to get emotionally ready. But how do you do that? I don't think it's entirely possible.
The one thing that is starting to bug me more and more are the comments I get when asked if I'm going to get an epidural. The answer is no.... actually hell no! I understand I do not get a medal for going through labor without one, I understand and am anticipating the pain I will endure, and I understand that "most" woman get them. But I also understand the side effects of an epidural and potential harmful lasting effects, I understand that evidence based research (aka the best kind) all point to how epidurals increase the rate of complication + slow labor= C-section, and yes, I understand it will hurt. It's freaking labor... what else is it going to feel like! I may not be an L & D nurse, but I did spend a semester studying pregnancy and child birth. I understand how "it all works" and am quite prepared to work with my body in delivering our baby boy. I'm going to do this because it's the best thing for my son and my family and myself. I appreciate that other mom's have delivered with an epidural and everything went fine, but that's not going to be my story. I'm not some super human because I want a natural child birth, I'm just a woman among millions of women throughout history who have given birth without an epidural.
There, I feel better now that I've said it!
On another note-- here's some cute photos of baby Jonah's room!
Labor bag packed- check
Car seat installed- check
... now what?! I guess that would be to get emotionally ready. But how do you do that? I don't think it's entirely possible.
The one thing that is starting to bug me more and more are the comments I get when asked if I'm going to get an epidural. The answer is no.... actually hell no! I understand I do not get a medal for going through labor without one, I understand and am anticipating the pain I will endure, and I understand that "most" woman get them. But I also understand the side effects of an epidural and potential harmful lasting effects, I understand that evidence based research (aka the best kind) all point to how epidurals increase the rate of complication + slow labor= C-section, and yes, I understand it will hurt. It's freaking labor... what else is it going to feel like! I may not be an L & D nurse, but I did spend a semester studying pregnancy and child birth. I understand how "it all works" and am quite prepared to work with my body in delivering our baby boy. I'm going to do this because it's the best thing for my son and my family and myself. I appreciate that other mom's have delivered with an epidural and everything went fine, but that's not going to be my story. I'm not some super human because I want a natural child birth, I'm just a woman among millions of women throughout history who have given birth without an epidural.
There, I feel better now that I've said it!
On another note-- here's some cute photos of baby Jonah's room!
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