Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Fertamax for Fertility - Giveaway
Back When It All Was New
A good friend of mine recently found out that shes expecting her first baby.
I am beyond excited!
I love watching the people around me grow their families, and there's something magical about going through it for the first time, isn't there?
She has so much to look forward to, the fluttery baby kicks, the growing belly, the connection that you feel with your baby, before you even meet them. I cant wait to watch her blossom into a mother, and to watch her and her husband become parents.
As I always do, whether I get asked or not, I want to share my own knowledge with them. Which prenatals are best, what you can do for a headache, what is safe to eat and what isn't?
I find though, that in talking to them, my mind has drudged up memories of a time when it was all new to me.
More resolutions
I wish I could love myself the way they love me,
unconditionally, unreservedly, wholly and completely.
My body is strong, I know it is, I have grown and loved four babies in as many years, it has nourished, chased, played with and held three of them and mourned one until it felt like it was ripping itself to pieces.
And it shows.
I have stretch marks, grey hair, bags under my eyes and a dress size that would have shocked me ten years ago. In public I call my "smudges" badges of honor, after all, I went through a war or four to get them, but in private I sometimes find myself mourning the body I once had.
I have stretch marks, grey hair, bags under my eyes and a dress size that would have shocked me ten years ago. In public I call my "smudges" badges of honor, after all, I went through a war or four to get them, but in private I sometimes find myself mourning the body I once had.
My kids however, they just love me.
Old Wives Tales
I am normally a very level headed person, ( if you dont ask my husband), but for some reason, every time I get pregnant, somewhere between peeing on the stick and finding out the gender, I go a little nuts.
It always starts out like a trickle, Ill check the Chinese gender chart, or compare symptoms with past pregnancies, or over analyze the fetal heart rate. As my ultrasound nears, It usually gets a little worse. Ill start swinging my wedding ring over my belly on a string to analyze the patterns, every craving becomes a sign, and Ive even been known to come up with a few crazy theories of my own and call them science.
Then comes the week before the ultrasound, and I go completely nuts. I have spent a huge chunk of this week scouring the Internet for new Old Wives Tales. I came this one and it seemed pretty legit to my crazed pregnant mind, and so I introduce you to, The Baking Soda Gender Test.
Its based on the theory that if you're pregnant with a boy, you will have a higher level of uric acid in your pee, (or something like that). Basically you pee in a cup, add a Tbsp of baking soda and swirl it around. If it foams, you're having a boy, if it stays flat you're having a girl.
I read a little bit about it before hand, and expected to have to listen for the foaming, or for it to be a small amount ( it was described to be like head on a beer), I was not prepared for this,
Its was like a pee volcano!
If the foam = boy theory really is correct then I think I may be pregnant with the manliest baby in the world !
All of this craziness will hopefully end Monday at our ultrasound and I can move on to obsessing about things unrelated to gender, but until then, here's a breakdown of Old Wives Tales and what they say about the creature invading my uterus;
Spongebob Theory - GIRL
Heart Rate - If the baby’s heart rate is above 140 bpm, it is said that the baby will be a girl. If it is under 140 bpm, then it will be a boy. Heart rate has been 145-150 every time GIRL
Shape of Belly - If you are carrying high with a big, round belly, you are having a girl. If you are carrying low with a smaller belly that sticks straight out, it’s a boy. GIRLRing Test - Using a string, hang your wedding ring over your belly. If the ring swings back and forth its a girl and if it swings in a circle its a boy. BOY
Acne - If you have acne while pregnant, it’s a girl. GIRL
Cravings - Salty = boy, sweet = girl INCONCLUSIVE
Ancient Chinese Gender Predictor - GIRL
Side You Most Rest On - Left Side = Girl, Right side = boy. GIRL
Dad’s Weight Gain
If the dad-to-be gains weight while you are pregnant, it’s a girl. If he doesn’t gain weight, you’re having a boy. GIRL ( sorry D)
Morning Sickness - Girls make you sick and apparently boys don't. GIRL
Baking Soda - BOY
So it looks like its 6:4 for a girl with the old wives tales, for now, I'm pretty confident that this craziness wont end before Monday.
My baby is now the size of a bell pepper, (which makes me feel a little bad about the omelet I had for lunch) and his or her ears are in their final place, which sounds a little creepy.
18 weeks!!!!!!
With both my girls I had the Big Ultrasound booked for the day I turned 18 weeks, and this time around i don't even know where in this city i can have an ultrasound done! It reminds me of this email my mom sent me a few months ago;
Changing Attitudes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Babies
Your Clothes
1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.
Preparing for the Birth
1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.
3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.
The Layette
1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean & discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?
Worries
1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby.
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.
Diapering
1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need it or not.
2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.
3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.
Activities
1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.
Going Out
1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.
2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.
At Home
1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.
Pacifier
1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.
2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the bottle.
3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.
Swallowing Coins
1st child: when first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays.
2nd child: when second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.
3rd child: when third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!!
source: unknown
Spongebob theory
AKA why I think I'm having a girl
Anyone who's ever been pregnant knows there are a million old wives tales out there to tell whether you're having a boy or a girl. Women have been claiming their never fail techniques for centuries, from Chinese gender predictor charts, to wedding rings suspended over you belly, to analyzing and obsessing over cravings/morning sickness/ feet swelling etc. and for most of us they can usually be expected to be right, around 50% of the time.
I however have discovered an interesting new sign, I call it Spongebob theory.
Below is a picture of me in my first, second, and third pregnancies. Each of these selfies were taken between 14 and 16.5 weeks. In the first two pics I am pregnant with girls, in the third, I am pregnant with a boy.
OK, lets look a little closer. In pictures 1 and 2 you will notice that I have no butt. It became a running joke between my friends that the farther along I got, the smaller my butt got, and by 20 or so weeks in my first pregnancy I became known as Spongebob, because well, my butt was a flat square.
Pregnancy number 2 followed the same pattern, and was another girl, but I had yet to make a connection. Then along came pregnancy #3, and around 12 weeks something strange began to happen, my butt started to grow! I wasn't gaining any extra weight, but my body took on a whole new shape.
Around 14 weeks I began to suspect that just maybe, I was carrying a boy, and at 16 weeks it was confirmed.
Anyone who's ever been pregnant knows there are a million old wives tales out there to tell whether you're having a boy or a girl. Women have been claiming their never fail techniques for centuries, from Chinese gender predictor charts, to wedding rings suspended over you belly, to analyzing and obsessing over cravings/morning sickness/ feet swelling etc. and for most of us they can usually be expected to be right, around 50% of the time.
I however have discovered an interesting new sign, I call it Spongebob theory.
Below is a picture of me in my first, second, and third pregnancies. Each of these selfies were taken between 14 and 16.5 weeks. In the first two pics I am pregnant with girls, in the third, I am pregnant with a boy.
Pregnancy number 2 followed the same pattern, and was another girl, but I had yet to make a connection. Then along came pregnancy #3, and around 12 weeks something strange began to happen, my butt started to grow! I wasn't gaining any extra weight, but my body took on a whole new shape.
Around 14 weeks I began to suspect that just maybe, I was carrying a boy, and at 16 weeks it was confirmed.
Fast Forward to this pregnancy, once again no change in my weight gain pattern. Same symptoms as all my other pregnancies, but look.....
My bum is slowly disappearing.
In a few weeks I will know for sure and Spongebob theory will either be proved or disproved but in the meantime I thought I would add my own to the millions of theories out there.
Did you have any signs of what you were carrying? Was Spongebob Theory correct for you?
17 weeks and 3 days
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Yesterday I was 17 weeks and 3 days pregnant.
In my first two pregnancies, this day meant nothing, it wasn't memorable in any way. I would have been anxiously waiting for my ultrasound, dreaming up nursery ideas, picking names. I would have been lost in a cloud of happy pregnant-ness.
My third pregnancy ended at 17 weeks 3 days. At 17 weeks 3 days, i woke up pregnant with Joshua for the last time, I went to the hospital when they called. I survived a day that still haunts my dreams. I came home at what should have been 17 weeks 4 days with an empty body and a broken heart. My son came home 6 days later, his ashes tucked inside of the belly of a tiny blue teddy bear.
Its so surreal to think that right now I would have had a six month old. In a different reality he would be starting on solids, rolling around, laughing and playing with his big sisters. I wish for that every day. I wish I had never had to hold my son and not feel him move. I wish I had never had to leave him at the hospital. I wish I had never had to have the conversation with my eldest daughter that sometimes babies don't get to live with their families, but have to go straight back to heaven instead. I wish for those things with all my heart, but unfortunately its the hand that I have been dealt.
Here I sit now, 17 weeks and 4 days pregnant with a new baby. A baby that the Dr's and geneticist's have told me has just a teeny tiny chance ( 1 in 14,000) of being affected by a trisonomy ( you know, I didn't know it was possible to actually hate a word, but i hate that one). Last May I would have given anything to have been 17 weeks 4 days pregnant. Tomorrow I will be 17 weeks 5 days pregnant, in a few weeks I will go for my big ultrasound, and before I know it, my little baby will be here in my arms. I feel so blessed.
Its amazing how my perspective on pregnancy has changed, each milestone, each test that we pass, every single day is a triumph, and yet its tinged with a sadness that Joshua couldn't have had this as well. It makes me appreciate the simple things so much more, makes even the hardest parts of pregnancy seem not so bad. How can I complain about morning sickness and back pain when my baby is alive? How can anything bother me when I get to go maternity clothes shopping instead of urn shopping?
I can feel in my heart that this baby will come home with us, will be a part of our days, our weeks and months, and our lives. I am so blessed, but I miss him. I have come to accept that this isn't going to go away. There is no bouncing back from a loss like this, and that's alright. I may not be able to hold my son in my arms today, but i can feel the piece of my heart that is his. Sometimes, like today and the last few days, it hurts, but sometimes, when I'm watching my daughters sleep, or just sitting in the tub relaxing, I can imagine that hes here with me.
Sometimes I have to pretend that I'm okay, and sometimes I really am. One thing I do know, is that I am blessed. I have four beautiful children in my heart, and if the number in my arms doesn't match today, I can have faith that it will one day. Today I am 17 weeks and 4 days pregnant, and I am blessed.
Maternity Wardrobe Basics
I have become a little obsessed with maternity clothing lately. I'm lucky this time in that I have all the basics, and Ive been able to concentrate on finding some really great pieces to make my wardrobe pop. This time around I'm going to really be showing through early spring and summer so I can really show off my bump!
A few of the pieces I will be recycling from my previous pregnancies are
1. Skinny Jeans
A dark wash is universally flattering, and I'm in love with these vintage skinnies from Asos Maternity. One thing you're going to want to look for is some stretch in the upper thighs and butt, enough that the pants in the event your butt grows, but not enough that they will stretch out and be saggy by the end of the day.
2. Leggings
If you lived in your leggings pre-pregnancy you're going to want to have a few pairs on hand now as well. You may be able to recycle some that you already own, ones that sit really low under the belly, or have a thicker waist band. Maternity leggings can be had as a splurge or a steal, Walmart carries a line of thick banded/low rise leggings under their G21 brand for $6. I have them in about ten different colors, I bought them in a size up from pre-preg and have worn them through three pregnancies and now into my fourth. If you want to splurge though, I cant say enough about Isabella Oliver Maternity Leggings, they're softer and stretch across your skin so nicely, definitely worth the splurge.
3. Long tanks and Tees
These can be bought almost anywhere, and don't necessarily need to be maternity. The secret is to look for the longest you can find and you should be able to make it through. Don't buy bigger to get longer though or you'll have gaping at the top, one of my favorite brands for tanks is Old Navy because they carry long sizes. These are great for layering during your pregnancy, but also after while you're trying to hide the extra bulge, and they're great to layer while nursing baby, a long tank top under a tshirt is the perfect way to keep your belly under wraps while baby eats. You're going to want black and white at the bare minimum and a few fun colors as well.
You'll also be able to borrow some basic pieces from your regular wardrobe, blazers, yoga pants, anything with a fold over waist, cardigans, sun dresses and of course, all your accessories can help to bulk up your maternity style.
What are your maternity must haves?
Can men handle labor?
This video literally made me spit out my Cheerios this morning!
This is a little NSFW
This is a little NSFW
I love how they go in laughing, and how quickly the laughing stops. My only issue is that it only lasted 2 hours, thats amateur! Lets see them take it for 40 hours and then maybe they would have an idea
I have a secret
and I can finally share it with everyone!Surprise, surprise we are expecting again! Sophia and Vanessa are both going to be big sisters this October.
To say that Im shocked was an understatement. After using assisted reproduction to conceive both of our girls, I really didnt think a "whoops" could happen to us and so we did absolutely nothing in the way of birth control after Vanessa was born. Then out of nowhere I started feeling nauseous, i stopped losing weight no matter how hard i tried at the gym, and I was beyond tired. I even said to dh that I felt ... pregnant.
Neither of us believed it though, I didnt even bother to test until I had been feeling steadily worse for over a week. I cannot even tell you how shocked I was when that second line came up on the pregnancy test. There really are no words.
The very next day an ultrasound confirmed that we were 8! weeks along.
I am now 13 weeks and so happy to be able to share it with the world.
Milestone: This week Im officially out of the first trimester. I cannot say that Im going to miss it at all. Morning sickness, extreme fatigue, cramping, fear at every twinge, I am not leaving it behind fast enough.
Feeling: Sick, tired, but it seems to be easing up a little bit, Ive ventured out of the house during the day a few times in the last week and that definite progress.
Cravings: hot sauce actually anything spicy, but the second it touches my lips I get killer heartburn so i havnt been indulging. I have however been eating freezies like they're going out of style.
Wishing for: a doppler
Looking Forward To:My very first midwife appt tomorrow, I wasnt able to get the entire team that delivered Vanessa because unfortunately they were very full by the time I called. But I am fortunate enough to be seeing two of the three woman who helped me through my last pregnancy
Reading: Hunger Games trilogy
Favourite clothes right now: My maternity clothes... Yup - I'm officially in my mat clothes!!!
Feeling: Sick, tired, but it seems to be easing up a little bit, Ive ventured out of the house during the day a few times in the last week and that definite progress.
Cravings: hot sauce actually anything spicy, but the second it touches my lips I get killer heartburn so i havnt been indulging. I have however been eating freezies like they're going out of style.
Wishing for: a doppler
Looking Forward To:My very first midwife appt tomorrow, I wasnt able to get the entire team that delivered Vanessa because unfortunately they were very full by the time I called. But I am fortunate enough to be seeing two of the three woman who helped me through my last pregnancy
Reading: Hunger Games trilogy
Favourite clothes right now: My maternity clothes... Yup - I'm officially in my mat clothes!!!
Baby Fever - Its contagious.
Its official. I have baby fever.
Ugh. I think I must be insane. Vanessa is only 7 months old and yet Ive found myself staring longingly at bellies and newborns every time I see them. Ive worked hard at getting my body back, and yet i found myslef hesitating to put my maternity clothes away in storage.
I must be sick.
Its not helping that my SIL is about seven months pregnant. Every time i see her beautiful belly, im reminded of how much I loved mine. How much I loved feeling my babies move and kick, and how great i felt when I was pregnant.
One of my biggest fears is that dealing with infertility will leave permanent marks on me. I'm worried that I will never find a place where I feel done. Will I always want another baby? omg, am I going to end up a Duggar?
One thing I know for sure is that I dont want another baby right now. Three under three may be fun for some but i just don't think I could do it. Sophia and Vanessa fill up my days completely, how would i find the time to give them everything they need and take care of another one?
Logically I know this, unfortunately Ive have never been known for my logic.
For now I am going to try to live vicariously through my preggo friends and family, and if the fever gets too bad, Ill just try to remember what four straight months of sleepless nights felt like.
Hopefully it works.
Our Maternity/Family Photos with Michell Collis Photography
Me, the hubby and Sophia were recently lucky enough to get together with Michelle of Michelle Collis Photography for a combination maternity/family photo shoot.
I desperately wanted to have maternity photos done when i was pregnant with Sophia but we just never had time, and with all the complications we had at the beginning/middle of this pregnancy I am so happy to have made it to a point this time around where we could do it.
Michelle is an amazingly talented photographer and her suggestion of a conservation area just north of Toronto was perfect for the vibe we wanted. Here are some of the pics she took for us, you can see more on her blog here. While you're there take some time to check out her work, especially the sweet little babies, you'll be glad you did.
I want to send a huge thank you to Michelle for these pics, they came out so amazing and I can't thank you enough! If you're in the GTA and looking for a photographer I highly recommend you check her out.
I desperately wanted to have maternity photos done when i was pregnant with Sophia but we just never had time, and with all the complications we had at the beginning/middle of this pregnancy I am so happy to have made it to a point this time around where we could do it.
Michelle is an amazingly talented photographer and her suggestion of a conservation area just north of Toronto was perfect for the vibe we wanted. Here are some of the pics she took for us, you can see more on her blog here. While you're there take some time to check out her work, especially the sweet little babies, you'll be glad you did.
I want to send a huge thank you to Michelle for these pics, they came out so amazing and I can't thank you enough! If you're in the GTA and looking for a photographer I highly recommend you check her out.
Amazing Deal Alert - My Little Legs and My Little Noggins
If you are a fan of baby leggings you need to head straight over to My Little Leggings
They are having a sale right now that saves you more the more you buy. In addition to that you can use the coupon code Summer2011 to save an additional 10%, and they're offering free shipping to Canada and the United States.
I just scored 15 pairs of leggings for under $40.
This is an amazing deal when you consider that some brands (cough cough baby legs cough cough) are charging close to $20/pair!
I love these leggings i used them on sophia all the time!
In the winter underneath looser fitting track pants so her legs stayed warm on walks.
In the summer with little skirts or just onesies they look adorable and make diaper changes a breeze.
They are lifesavers for the crawling stage and the learning to walk stage, i cant count the number of times they've saved her little knees from scrapes
Im also going to use them when were potty training, so much easier than pants.
So head on over to My Little Legs and score some for yourselves. While you're there check out their great selection of hats, headbands and skirts as well.
Happy Shopping.
Guidelines for dealing with pregnant women
I seriously need a few copies of this to give out,
Dear Non-Pregnant Person,
I hope you find these guidelines helpful in your interactions with pregnant women, as failing to follow them may result in serious physical harm. If you are thinking, surely she doesn’t mean me – then you should probably read this twice.
1. The appropriate response to a couple telling you they are having a baby is ‘Congratulations!’ with enthusiasm. Any other response makes you a jerk.
2. Through the wonders of science, we now know that babies are made ONLY by the mother and father – not grandparents. Unless the baby is in your uterus or you are the man that helped put it there, you may not ever use the phrase ‘my baby’.
3. On the same note, unless you made the baby as defined in 2, the pregnancy, birth, and raising of the child are not about you. You do not have input. No one wants to hear your opinion unless they ask for it…
4. The body of a pregnant woman should be treated the same as any other body. You would not randomly touch someone’s stomach if they were not pregnant, nor would you inquire into the condition of their uterus, cervix, or how they plan to use their breasts. Pregnancy does not remove all traces of privacy from a woman.
5. Likewise, no woman wants to hear comments on her weight…ever. A pregnant woman does not find it flattering that you think she is about is pop, must be having twins, looks swollen or has gained weight in her face. Telling her she looks too small only makes her worry that she is somehow starving her baby. Making such comments invite her to critique your physical appearance and you may not act offended. The only acceptable comment on appearance is ‘You look fabulous!’.
6. By the time we are 20-30 years old, most of us have picked up on the fact that the summer is hot. We are hot every summer when we are not pregnant. We don’t need you to point out that we will be miserably hot before the baby comes. Nor do we need to know how badly you will feel for us because we will be pregnant during the summer and how glad you are that YOU will not be pregnant this coming summer.
7. There is a reason that tickets to Labor & Delivery are not yet sold on Ticketmaster. Childbirth is actually not a public event. It may sound crazy, but some women really do not relish the idea of their mother, MIL, or a host of other family members seeing their bare butt and genitals. Also, some people simply feel like the birth of their child is a private and emotional moment to be shared only by the parents. You weren’t invited to be there when the baby was created, you probably won’t be invited to be there when it comes out either.
8. Like everything else in life, unless you receive an invitation, you are NOT invited. This includes doctor appointments, ultrasounds, labor, delivery, the hospital, and the parent’s home. You do not decide if you will be there for the birth or if you will move in with the new parents to ‘help out’. If your assistance is desired, rest assured that you will be asked for it.
9. If you are asked to help after the birth, this means you should clean up the house, help with cooking meals, and generally stay out of the way. Holding the baby more than the parents, interfering with breastfeeding and sleeping schedules, and making a woman who is still leaking fluid from multiple locations lift a finger in housework is not helping.
10. The only people entitled to time with the baby are the parents. Whether they choose to have you at the hospital for the birth or ask for you to wait three weeks to visit, appreciate that you are being given the privilege of seeing their child. Complaining or showing disappointment only encourages the parents to include you less.
Sincerely,
All the Pregnant Women in the World
Dear Non-Pregnant Person,
I hope you find these guidelines helpful in your interactions with pregnant women, as failing to follow them may result in serious physical harm. If you are thinking, surely she doesn’t mean me – then you should probably read this twice.
1. The appropriate response to a couple telling you they are having a baby is ‘Congratulations!’ with enthusiasm. Any other response makes you a jerk.
2. Through the wonders of science, we now know that babies are made ONLY by the mother and father – not grandparents. Unless the baby is in your uterus or you are the man that helped put it there, you may not ever use the phrase ‘my baby’.
3. On the same note, unless you made the baby as defined in 2, the pregnancy, birth, and raising of the child are not about you. You do not have input. No one wants to hear your opinion unless they ask for it…
4. The body of a pregnant woman should be treated the same as any other body. You would not randomly touch someone’s stomach if they were not pregnant, nor would you inquire into the condition of their uterus, cervix, or how they plan to use their breasts. Pregnancy does not remove all traces of privacy from a woman.
5. Likewise, no woman wants to hear comments on her weight…ever. A pregnant woman does not find it flattering that you think she is about is pop, must be having twins, looks swollen or has gained weight in her face. Telling her she looks too small only makes her worry that she is somehow starving her baby. Making such comments invite her to critique your physical appearance and you may not act offended. The only acceptable comment on appearance is ‘You look fabulous!’.
6. By the time we are 20-30 years old, most of us have picked up on the fact that the summer is hot. We are hot every summer when we are not pregnant. We don’t need you to point out that we will be miserably hot before the baby comes. Nor do we need to know how badly you will feel for us because we will be pregnant during the summer and how glad you are that YOU will not be pregnant this coming summer.
7. There is a reason that tickets to Labor & Delivery are not yet sold on Ticketmaster. Childbirth is actually not a public event. It may sound crazy, but some women really do not relish the idea of their mother, MIL, or a host of other family members seeing their bare butt and genitals. Also, some people simply feel like the birth of their child is a private and emotional moment to be shared only by the parents. You weren’t invited to be there when the baby was created, you probably won’t be invited to be there when it comes out either.
8. Like everything else in life, unless you receive an invitation, you are NOT invited. This includes doctor appointments, ultrasounds, labor, delivery, the hospital, and the parent’s home. You do not decide if you will be there for the birth or if you will move in with the new parents to ‘help out’. If your assistance is desired, rest assured that you will be asked for it.
9. If you are asked to help after the birth, this means you should clean up the house, help with cooking meals, and generally stay out of the way. Holding the baby more than the parents, interfering with breastfeeding and sleeping schedules, and making a woman who is still leaking fluid from multiple locations lift a finger in housework is not helping.
10. The only people entitled to time with the baby are the parents. Whether they choose to have you at the hospital for the birth or ask for you to wait three weeks to visit, appreciate that you are being given the privilege of seeing their child. Complaining or showing disappointment only encourages the parents to include you less.
Sincerely,
All the Pregnant Women in the World
Im home
and im loving every minute of it. Today at least. Yesterday was a little more difficult.
Yesterday i was discharged form the hospital after lunch, i was so happy to be going home. There really is something magic about being in your own surroundings, it can make you feel a thousand ties better in an instant, and it did.
I wasnt prepared though, for how shell shocked i would feel when i got home. It was like i was in a daze. Thank god for my wonderful husband who took care of Sophia for me so I could just relax. I think yesterday was when all the weekends events really sank in. Its so scary to think how close we came to losing Vanessa, I cant imagine. I just cant.
After spending a night in my own bed under the same roof as Sophia and Donald though, i feel a lot better today. Donald had to go to work this morning and so I came over to my moms so that she could take care of us. Its not my house but its still home and i can feel my spirits starting to come around to the positive side a little bit more.
Tonight we go and see our midwives, im so happy that we get to continue seeing them. My midwife J. has been a huge source of support through all of this, and I am looking forward to having her as a part of this pregnancy and hopefully the birth. I have so many questions for them, though i doubt there are many answers at this point, we just have to wait and see. I have another ultrasound booked for Friday so have a few more answers then.
I want to apologise if my writing has been all over the place in the last few days, i expect it will continue to be for a while, its how my head feels right now, all over the place. I will keep everyone updated as I learn.
Yesterday i was discharged form the hospital after lunch, i was so happy to be going home. There really is something magic about being in your own surroundings, it can make you feel a thousand ties better in an instant, and it did.
I wasnt prepared though, for how shell shocked i would feel when i got home. It was like i was in a daze. Thank god for my wonderful husband who took care of Sophia for me so I could just relax. I think yesterday was when all the weekends events really sank in. Its so scary to think how close we came to losing Vanessa, I cant imagine. I just cant.
After spending a night in my own bed under the same roof as Sophia and Donald though, i feel a lot better today. Donald had to go to work this morning and so I came over to my moms so that she could take care of us. Its not my house but its still home and i can feel my spirits starting to come around to the positive side a little bit more.
Tonight we go and see our midwives, im so happy that we get to continue seeing them. My midwife J. has been a huge source of support through all of this, and I am looking forward to having her as a part of this pregnancy and hopefully the birth. I have so many questions for them, though i doubt there are many answers at this point, we just have to wait and see. I have another ultrasound booked for Friday so have a few more answers then.
I want to apologise if my writing has been all over the place in the last few days, i expect it will continue to be for a while, its how my head feels right now, all over the place. I will keep everyone updated as I learn.
UpDate #2
I am officially wireless as of 8 am this morning. My IV has been removed, and it feels great! It is such a huge PITA to try and be comfortable when you cant move your arm.
Im trying to not read too much into it though, even though i was told theres a good chance I can go home today, because the only reason they took it out is because my vein burst, which is not actually as bad as it sounds, but my arm is really swollen. Luckily it didnt happen until after I got the last bag of required antibiotics into my system.
I really want to go home today, i do not enjoy being in the hospital at all. I wanted nothing more than to be with Sophia and I spent the entire night Saturday in tears. I have to say it was the worst night of my life. I was terrified for Vanessa, i had no idea what was going on, if she was going to make it through this or not.
I have to say being told it looks like your water is broken and your child will have a next to zero percent chance of survival is something i would not wish on my worst enemy.
I felt so helpless, this was my child, i should be able to protect her.
The first gush of fluid had happened at 9:30 saturday morning and my only comfort saturday night was the fact that I had had next to no leaking all day and that the ultrasound taken 5 hours after the gush showed my cervix was still perfectly long and closed and Vanessa had a normal amount of fluid around her still. Then at one oclock in the morning it happened again, another gush. No nearly as much as the last time but a gush of clear fluid none the less.
I called the nurse in tears and was told that they didnt want to do another amnioswab becasue of the risk of infection but they were going to watch me closely for leaking and contractions. my vitals and babies hb were doing great so they told me to get some sleep. That didnt happen.
I stayed up all night praying for my daughter. I am so thankful to know that I was not the only one, and I will never forgot the wonderful support, love and prayers our little family have received over the last few days.
By morning, i had no leakage still and had not had a single contraction, and i started to let myself hope. The dr on call came to visit me after lunch and he seemed so positive. He thinks that the tear has already gone a long way towards healing and that, I may even be able to go home after 48 hours of antibiotics had been put in my system. Just as long as i continued to not leak and had no contractions. 48 hours of antibiotics were complete as of this morning and now I just have to wait to see the dr today. I am feeling so positive today. Vanessa kicked up a storm last night and I just cant imagine that anything could happen to her, I am so in love already with this little girl.
Im trying to not read too much into it though, even though i was told theres a good chance I can go home today, because the only reason they took it out is because my vein burst, which is not actually as bad as it sounds, but my arm is really swollen. Luckily it didnt happen until after I got the last bag of required antibiotics into my system.
I really want to go home today, i do not enjoy being in the hospital at all. I wanted nothing more than to be with Sophia and I spent the entire night Saturday in tears. I have to say it was the worst night of my life. I was terrified for Vanessa, i had no idea what was going on, if she was going to make it through this or not.
I have to say being told it looks like your water is broken and your child will have a next to zero percent chance of survival is something i would not wish on my worst enemy.
I felt so helpless, this was my child, i should be able to protect her.
The first gush of fluid had happened at 9:30 saturday morning and my only comfort saturday night was the fact that I had had next to no leaking all day and that the ultrasound taken 5 hours after the gush showed my cervix was still perfectly long and closed and Vanessa had a normal amount of fluid around her still. Then at one oclock in the morning it happened again, another gush. No nearly as much as the last time but a gush of clear fluid none the less.
I called the nurse in tears and was told that they didnt want to do another amnioswab becasue of the risk of infection but they were going to watch me closely for leaking and contractions. my vitals and babies hb were doing great so they told me to get some sleep. That didnt happen.
I stayed up all night praying for my daughter. I am so thankful to know that I was not the only one, and I will never forgot the wonderful support, love and prayers our little family have received over the last few days.
By morning, i had no leakage still and had not had a single contraction, and i started to let myself hope. The dr on call came to visit me after lunch and he seemed so positive. He thinks that the tear has already gone a long way towards healing and that, I may even be able to go home after 48 hours of antibiotics had been put in my system. Just as long as i continued to not leak and had no contractions. 48 hours of antibiotics were complete as of this morning and now I just have to wait to see the dr today. I am feeling so positive today. Vanessa kicked up a storm last night and I just cant imagine that anything could happen to her, I am so in love already with this little girl.
Today has not been a good day for me and my family.
I am currently sitting, at 23 weeks 6 days in labour and delivery because it looks like my water is broken.
I got here at about 11 this morning and have had test after test after test, including a 2 hour ultrsound and a consult with the NICU that was pretty grim.
So far the tests have all come back inconclusive as to exactly what is going to happen but it looks like its a tear not a full rupture which gives us a chance at least. I had soemthing similar with DD but I was 34 weeks and it was a lot less fluid.
Ill keep everybody updated as I find out whats going on but we could really use some positive thoughts and prayers if you can spare them.
I am currently sitting, at 23 weeks 6 days in labour and delivery because it looks like my water is broken.
I got here at about 11 this morning and have had test after test after test, including a 2 hour ultrsound and a consult with the NICU that was pretty grim.
So far the tests have all come back inconclusive as to exactly what is going to happen but it looks like its a tear not a full rupture which gives us a chance at least. I had soemthing similar with DD but I was 34 weeks and it was a lot less fluid.
Ill keep everybody updated as I find out whats going on but we could really use some positive thoughts and prayers if you can spare them.
23 Week Appointment
Weight gain: 7 lbs! In 5 weeks ! I think I need to lay off the pudding. Or maybe I need to not weigh myself, I haven't decided which.
And just for fun, here is my 23 week belly
Blood Pressure: 100/60 Good
Heartbeat: 140 but you could barely hear it with all the jumping around going on in there.
And just for fun, here is my 23 week belly
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