Well, from my ponderations of pregnancy, a few things have transpired to be true and a few to be woefully inaccurate.
I got my section, no need to worry about whether or not I wanted one, it was taken as wanted, and as E was delivered at 36 weeks and I couldn't be induced having had a previous section, it would have to have been a section in the end regardless of prior arrangements.
No breastfeeding, although E did latch on and get some colostrum on day 3. I cannot now breastfeed as my blood pressure refused to calm down with breastmilk friendly drugs, so I am now on ones that are working, but which are not suitable for breastfeeding. Which is a shame when she'd had a shot, and she looks for it from me, but she is so small and in need of food she would have required at least some top ups anyway. My milk is now in, I am engorged and in pain, with entirely unappealing cabbage leaves in my bra (they do provide relief) and looking forward to "drying up".
One baby is infinitely easier than two. Way, way easier. E is a very chilled and contented baby, which helps, but still. Just one!!
E is a tiny baby, not jumbo as feared. She was just the right size for 36 weeks at birth, but that's tiny. Her skin is too big for her and she is teeny tiny pocket sized. Healthy, but minuscule. Everyone comments on her tininess, including me and her daddy. She is very cute though, and does, fingers crossed, seem very well.
And then there is me. I'm a bit broken. I have been scared shitless (sorry) about dying, and I feel very emotional. For no good reason I feel sad that I am not pregnant any more, I should be for another 2 or 3 weeks. The fact is I am not, I don't have to endure the lumbering discomfort of the last month of pregnancy, and the birth is behind me, with baby out, and healthy. So why do I feel bereft whenever I think back to being pregnant?
Answer: hormones. All out of whack. I am also very tired and need to take things sloowwwwly.
Bananas reduce blood pressure. Damned marvellous fruit so it is. I am self medicating (plus the official drugs) by eating more bananas and consuming less caffeine and salt. Something's working finally, my bp is that of a normal person with slightly raised bp. Not mental admit-to-hospital high like before.
Pelvis is normal! Like it never had a problem. I can walk again!
Neck still not sore.
Overall weight gain in pregnancy is currently 5lb and falling daily. Woohoo. It was all baby and baby fluids, not doughnuts. Joined weightwatchers online to avoid piling on post natal weight.
And that is where I'm at, 8 days after the birth of my daughter. I have a daughter you know.
Showing posts with label Birth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birth. Show all posts
Saturday, 10 September 2011
Friday, 2 September 2011
She is here
Baby is here, and she is perfect.
Woke up this morning feeling fine, temperature normal, blood pressure high. Spoke to various doctors and at 11.30 or so I was taken down to theatre. Various preparations were done and then at 12.37 baby E was born by caesarean section at 36 weeks weighing 5 lb 8.5.
She required just to be rubbed in a towel in order to breathe properly at birth, and she has been lying in a hot-cot to raise her temperature, which seems to have worked. She did not require to go to special care and is tucked up in my room with me.
Given how worried I was about her, I am so relieved she had but minor needs. And I seem to be better, so awas necessary and right.
She is perfect and gorgeous. I can't stop just staring at her.
Woke up this morning feeling fine, temperature normal, blood pressure high. Spoke to various doctors and at 11.30 or so I was taken down to theatre. Various preparations were done and then at 12.37 baby E was born by caesarean section at 36 weeks weighing 5 lb 8.5.
She required just to be rubbed in a towel in order to breathe properly at birth, and she has been lying in a hot-cot to raise her temperature, which seems to have worked. She did not require to go to special care and is tucked up in my room with me.
Given how worried I was about her, I am so relieved she had but minor needs. And I seem to be better, so awas necessary and right.
She is perfect and gorgeous. I can't stop just staring at her.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Decisions
There's a lot of decisions to be made.
The biggie: how to give birth. An elective section is my current mode of thinking after further research. TMI to explain why, just nod.
Another fairly large one: where to live. The 2 bed flat is obviously not going to do in the long run, once baby needs her own room, we need a room to put her in. Theoretically we can manage with baby in our room for a year, but... I think not. So when to try and move. Current thinking is to declutter/redecorate/pray and put this on the market and just wait till it sells. Hopefully soon, then we can rent in the shortish term. If that elusive sale isn't in time, we have to rent first and sell this empty. That's expensive obviously so not exactly ideal.
A small decision: what does baby sleep in?
Option one: into the cot straight away. This worked for the boys but there were two of them (early days they shared) and they had their own room.
Option two: the very nice crib that was mine and which has been lingering in our loft forever. No good for twins so we never used it. Smaller than a cot, cute and it rocks. As in, it has a rocking motion, it's not particularly awesome.
Option three: a Moses basket. Handy on account of its portability. Possibly too frou frou.
Option four: all of the above, except I'm not mental.
The ongoing decision is names. Obviously the scan will reveal which type of name we need (5 sleeps!!) as I don't like unisex names, but big decision time if it's a Hubert.
Final decision is when to take maternity leave. Actually, I think the answer is ASAP as I'm struggling a bit.
20 weeks now, that's halfway! If we ignore the two weeks prior to conception. Next week is really halfway between supposed conception and supposed due date but hey ho. It's all rather imprecise.
Much the same as 19 weeks symptomwise. Movements are more recognisable, and very frequent. Back pain is getting rubbish, lying down is v difficult and so sleep is a problem. I have a physio appointment next Monday though so hopefully I'll get advice/props to aid me. I also have pain walking and what not, it's not great. I am a teeny concerned as to how difficult getting to the school and back is going to be when they go back after the summers hols. I'll be 35 weeks or so then. Urgh. I'll need to allow 40 mins each way instead of 5-10.
The biggie: how to give birth. An elective section is my current mode of thinking after further research. TMI to explain why, just nod.
Another fairly large one: where to live. The 2 bed flat is obviously not going to do in the long run, once baby needs her own room, we need a room to put her in. Theoretically we can manage with baby in our room for a year, but... I think not. So when to try and move. Current thinking is to declutter/redecorate/pray and put this on the market and just wait till it sells. Hopefully soon, then we can rent in the shortish term. If that elusive sale isn't in time, we have to rent first and sell this empty. That's expensive obviously so not exactly ideal.
A small decision: what does baby sleep in?
Option one: into the cot straight away. This worked for the boys but there were two of them (early days they shared) and they had their own room.
Option two: the very nice crib that was mine and which has been lingering in our loft forever. No good for twins so we never used it. Smaller than a cot, cute and it rocks. As in, it has a rocking motion, it's not particularly awesome.
Option three: a Moses basket. Handy on account of its portability. Possibly too frou frou.
Option four: all of the above, except I'm not mental.
The ongoing decision is names. Obviously the scan will reveal which type of name we need (5 sleeps!!) as I don't like unisex names, but big decision time if it's a Hubert.
Final decision is when to take maternity leave. Actually, I think the answer is ASAP as I'm struggling a bit.
20 weeks now, that's halfway! If we ignore the two weeks prior to conception. Next week is really halfway between supposed conception and supposed due date but hey ho. It's all rather imprecise.
Much the same as 19 weeks symptomwise. Movements are more recognisable, and very frequent. Back pain is getting rubbish, lying down is v difficult and so sleep is a problem. I have a physio appointment next Monday though so hopefully I'll get advice/props to aid me. I also have pain walking and what not, it's not great. I am a teeny concerned as to how difficult getting to the school and back is going to be when they go back after the summers hols. I'll be 35 weeks or so then. Urgh. I'll need to allow 40 mins each way instead of 5-10.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)