October 31, 2007
Reflections on the past month... and 9 days!
Okay... I had intended to do this post a heck of a lot closer to Logan's one month birthday (Oct 22), but it just didn't happen. So, here I am (finally).
First off, there was something I forgot to mention in the post about Logan's birth - and that is the night after he was born. Logan got more sleep than I did! I had heard that for some women, the feeling after giving birth is best described as euphoric. Well, that would be how I would describe it. That night I could not fall asleep, though heaven knows I was utterly exhausted. I probably only got 2 hours sleep at most, dozing off here and there. The rest of the time was spent staring at my son in amazement. I am still shocked by the fact that something so amazing came out of me. At one point a nurse caught me simply staring at Logan and remarked, "You're in love, aren't you?" And yes, for the first time, I knew that love at first sight was indeed possible.
The first month as a new little family has been full of ups and downs. Most of the "downs" are usually linked to a severe lack of sleep. All-in-all, life is good right now.
We have experienced thrush - and that is not a fun experience, let me tell you! Both Logan and I just finished our medicines for that on Sunday. I'm really glad his medicine is all gone (mine was a cream), as it was really upsetting his poor little tummy. We went through a heck of a lot of gripe water during that week!
I had the flu Monday night/Tuesday, but so far Logan is fine (apparently babies receive antibodies in breast milk so they don't necessarily get sick when Mom does). Thank goodness James was home Monday night! When I fed Logan at 2am I was so shaky and weak from fever/chills that I was scared I would drop him if I tried to move him. So, I had to call for James who then took care of him until his next feeding, by which time my fever/chills had subsided enough that I knew I'd be okay to function when James was at work on Tuesday. I still had a bit of a fever all day (100.5 deg F) and felt really weak - Logan and I spent pretty much the whole day on the couch watching TV. By bedtime, my temperature was back to normal and today I'm feeling good - just a little tired. I am so happy that Logan didn't get sick at the same time as me!
Logan is a little fussy at times - he fights falling asleep almost all the time and he wants to be held almost constantly when he's tired/sleeping. If he wakes up during the day and I had put him in his swing, he gets mad. And let me tell you, this little man has a temper! His lungs will be well developed, that's for sure. The only reason I'm able to be typing this post is that I am finally making us of my Moby Wrap. We are attempting the cradle hold right now. I need to put the wrap on a little tighter next time I attempt this, but all-in-all it is working well. I have two hands free and Logan is happily napping.
Breastfeeding is going okay, other than the recent bout of thrush. Most days Logan has himself (I am demand feeding, not attempting to do scheduled feeding at this point) on a 3 to 4 hour schedule, which isn't too bad. Some night he'll sleep longer - 5 or 6 hours... which is really nice, but hasn't happened lately. However, I think he went through his "6 week growth spurt" a week early, as Sat/Sun/Mon he was feeding every 2 hours (thankfully at night he went his usually 3 to 4 hours). Apparently babies go through growth spurts around 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months - though each individual child can be off that schedule a little bit. He is very gassy (poor little guy). I'm avoiding dairy, though I caved and had some ice cream the other day, as apparently that is one of the biggest causes of gas in breastfed babies. I miss cheese! I hope he gets less gassy soon, I feel bad for him. I'm really hoping he didn't inherit his father's stomach - JB has a really finicky, easily upset stomach.
I can't believe Logan is over 5 weeks old already! The last month has been a blur. Some days I feel like I'm getting into a routine, but others I find myself overwhelmed. Life completely changes when you bring a little one into the world. I'm sure things will get more organized, but I think it will take a while yet. Perhaps by 3 months I'll feel like things are under control again.
I was going to dress Logan up for Halloween today - he was going to be a yellow M&M. However, due to my flu I never made it into town to pick up something I needed for his costume from my friend. So instead he is simply wearing his little diaper shirt that JK bought for him - it's black with a glow-in-the-dark ghost on it and it says "Daddy's lil ghoul." I'll take a picture of him in it sometime today and post it.
Well, that's it for now folks. Hopefully I can manage more than one post every 2 weeks from now on! I will definitely try my hardest...
First off, there was something I forgot to mention in the post about Logan's birth - and that is the night after he was born. Logan got more sleep than I did! I had heard that for some women, the feeling after giving birth is best described as euphoric. Well, that would be how I would describe it. That night I could not fall asleep, though heaven knows I was utterly exhausted. I probably only got 2 hours sleep at most, dozing off here and there. The rest of the time was spent staring at my son in amazement. I am still shocked by the fact that something so amazing came out of me. At one point a nurse caught me simply staring at Logan and remarked, "You're in love, aren't you?" And yes, for the first time, I knew that love at first sight was indeed possible.
The first month as a new little family has been full of ups and downs. Most of the "downs" are usually linked to a severe lack of sleep. All-in-all, life is good right now.
We have experienced thrush - and that is not a fun experience, let me tell you! Both Logan and I just finished our medicines for that on Sunday. I'm really glad his medicine is all gone (mine was a cream), as it was really upsetting his poor little tummy. We went through a heck of a lot of gripe water during that week!
I had the flu Monday night/Tuesday, but so far Logan is fine (apparently babies receive antibodies in breast milk so they don't necessarily get sick when Mom does). Thank goodness James was home Monday night! When I fed Logan at 2am I was so shaky and weak from fever/chills that I was scared I would drop him if I tried to move him. So, I had to call for James who then took care of him until his next feeding, by which time my fever/chills had subsided enough that I knew I'd be okay to function when James was at work on Tuesday. I still had a bit of a fever all day (100.5 deg F) and felt really weak - Logan and I spent pretty much the whole day on the couch watching TV. By bedtime, my temperature was back to normal and today I'm feeling good - just a little tired. I am so happy that Logan didn't get sick at the same time as me!
Logan is a little fussy at times - he fights falling asleep almost all the time and he wants to be held almost constantly when he's tired/sleeping. If he wakes up during the day and I had put him in his swing, he gets mad. And let me tell you, this little man has a temper! His lungs will be well developed, that's for sure. The only reason I'm able to be typing this post is that I am finally making us of my Moby Wrap. We are attempting the cradle hold right now. I need to put the wrap on a little tighter next time I attempt this, but all-in-all it is working well. I have two hands free and Logan is happily napping.
Breastfeeding is going okay, other than the recent bout of thrush. Most days Logan has himself (I am demand feeding, not attempting to do scheduled feeding at this point) on a 3 to 4 hour schedule, which isn't too bad. Some night he'll sleep longer - 5 or 6 hours... which is really nice, but hasn't happened lately. However, I think he went through his "6 week growth spurt" a week early, as Sat/Sun/Mon he was feeding every 2 hours (thankfully at night he went his usually 3 to 4 hours). Apparently babies go through growth spurts around 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months - though each individual child can be off that schedule a little bit. He is very gassy (poor little guy). I'm avoiding dairy, though I caved and had some ice cream the other day, as apparently that is one of the biggest causes of gas in breastfed babies. I miss cheese! I hope he gets less gassy soon, I feel bad for him. I'm really hoping he didn't inherit his father's stomach - JB has a really finicky, easily upset stomach.
I can't believe Logan is over 5 weeks old already! The last month has been a blur. Some days I feel like I'm getting into a routine, but others I find myself overwhelmed. Life completely changes when you bring a little one into the world. I'm sure things will get more organized, but I think it will take a while yet. Perhaps by 3 months I'll feel like things are under control again.
I was going to dress Logan up for Halloween today - he was going to be a yellow M&M. However, due to my flu I never made it into town to pick up something I needed for his costume from my friend. So instead he is simply wearing his little diaper shirt that JK bought for him - it's black with a glow-in-the-dark ghost on it and it says "Daddy's lil ghoul." I'll take a picture of him in it sometime today and post it.
Well, that's it for now folks. Hopefully I can manage more than one post every 2 weeks from now on! I will definitely try my hardest...
October 17, 2007
Sleep deprivation
I still haven't gotten around to doing that "real" post (or my thank you cards for that matter)... yesterday was a pretty long day, and an even longer night. We opted to get our little guy circumcised and as such, he's not too happy. He's doing okay, just needs extra cuddling and his diaper changes take a little more care and attention right now.
So, no "real" post today, as I got very little sleep last night. Logan is napping right now and I really need to do the same.
So, no "real" post today, as I got very little sleep last night. Logan is napping right now and I really need to do the same.
October 12, 2007
20 days old already!
Firstly, we are alive and we are doing well (pretty well, anyways). I will post a real post, hopefully this weekend. I'm starting to feel like things are getting a little more "normal" around here - other than the headaches I've been having... likely partially due to changing eyesight from pregnancy (can't go to the optometrist for a couple weeks yet). Chat you later!
Logan loves his Daddy (picture was taken on Oct 7 - Thanksgiving dinner at Gran's house, that is my Mum's new designation!)...
Logan loves his Daddy (picture was taken on Oct 7 - Thanksgiving dinner at Gran's house, that is my Mum's new designation!)...
October 03, 2007
Logan's Birth Story
Okay, Logan is now 11 days old and we are starting to get used to our new life as one little family. However, I am still suffering from a serious lack of sleep and am dehydrated most of the time (I am working on both of those), thus meaning I am getting a number of headaches (going to the chiropractor for my neck only perhaps on Friday). Anyways, as I'm not planning on doing much of anything today - it's JB's first day back at work, which means I was a little emotional last night - I thought I'd try and post Logan's birth story:
~ ~ ~
I ended up being induced because of my high blood pressure. When I was admitted to be induced, Jenn D. was my nurse! She got a kick out of being assigned to me and then seeing my birth plan where I asked for her if she was available (she was recommended by a co-worker and his wife). When she went off duty, Jenn looked at who was coming on-shift and picked out a nurse for me who works in much the same way as she does (and also works with midwives) - Jenny. I was so thankful that Jenn cared enough to do that for us... Jenny was amazing!
Before she left, Jenn D. predicted a "hard and fast" labor because of how quickly the inducing medicine affected me - normally it's left in for a full 12 hours, but it was taken out after only 7 hours (I told them to take it out despite the risk of slowing labor... and my doctor called and told them the same thing not more than 5 minutes later!). No one really believed Jenn, but it turned out she was right!
When Jenn D. went home (3pm), I was only 1-2 cm and after an hour in the tub - so 4pm - I had no change. I got out and tried to walk around and change positions, but it became very clear that I was much more comfortable in the tub, so back in I went. At this point, still just 1-2 cm, my contractions were about 45 sec long with just 45 - 60 seconds in between so I was getting no rest and that was making things quite hard. (Before they took the medicine out of me, I was having 30 - 45 second contractions with 30 - 45 seconds rest, so I guess it did technically *slow* labor.)
We had hoped to go medicine-free through labor, but I was also open to things as long as it was me that requested it and not the nurses that pushed it. I needed something because I was quickly running out of strength - physical and mental. So, I tried the laughing gas, but just could not use it effectively. Since I was barely dilated, an epidural was not an option yet. I had hoped to avoid narcotic drugs because of how they affect me, let alone the possible effects to baby. Jenny explained that because I was only 1-2 cm, by the time baby arrived the drugs would be worn off (still no one believed Jenn D!).
I needed something to help me get a little rest - so I ended up with a low (my doctor was reminded how drugs affect me) dose of Demoral combined with Gravol. When that kicked in, the contractions were still basically continuous but I would feel the peak of each one and I would be able to relax sooner and control my breathing better. James said I even managed to doze off between a few of them - I was sure I dozed for longer, but the longest break was only about 40 seconds by that time! That was a bizarre feeling.
Well, sometime around 6:30/6:40pm things started getting really intense. I asked for an epidural (again!). When checked (still in the tub!), I was still only 3 cm (my emotional low). But, after consulting via phone with my doctor they were going to give me one anyways as I needed to rest, even though they aren't normally given until 5cm I think due to the risk of stopping labor.
When Jenny went to go get an IV to put in me I started having the strongest feeling that I needed to push. This scared me so badly because I had just recently been checked and was only 3cm... JB went to find Jenny as I was really panicking myself. He kept talking to me (he was amazing through the whole thing) and telling me to talk or scream or whatever I wanted... because that meant I wasn't pushing. I heard a couple more nurses come in the room (including the charge nurse) and someone said that I really was acting like it was time to push so they decided I needed to come out of the tub ASAP!
My doctor was paged at 7:00pm as they were getting me out of the tub. They got me to the labor room where the anesthesiologist was waiting. He got an IV in me, but I was still insisting I needed to push so I believe it was him that suggested they check me once more before he gave me the epidural. I was checked and the nurse said "there's nothing there"... all of a sudden the room became a little more chaotic as they realized baby was coming with or without the doctor!
My doctor made it - after running every red light on the way to the hospital - and arrived in the labor room at 7:10pm. My waters were broken by him at 7:18-ish pm and Logan arrived at 7:20pm! Jenn D. was right... fast and furious! I went from 3 to 10cm in less than 20 minutes... that was scary! The doctor said the only thing keeping Logan in as long as he was is that my membranes didn't rupture (water didn't break) on their own (much to the delight of the nurses... you could feel the tension ease when my doctor arrived).
Oh - and though I had Logan much sooner than the nurses expected, I wasn't dopey at all during labor and he wasn't either... the Demoral had given me the break I needed but was worn off by the time I needed it to be.
~ ~ ~
So, that's my tale. Much to my surprise, I never cried once during labor. However, when I was watching JB with Logan during his first moments of life - while getting his check-up under the heat lamp, holding Daddy's finger - I did cry, but those are a different kind of tears. Before he had his check-up, I did get some bonding time with Logan - Jenny insisted on it (she was an amazing nurse). She also kept us in the labor room as long as possible so that we could have quiet bonding time before being moved to our permanent room (which is shared, no single rooms on the maternity ward unless it's a really slow day, which doesn't happen often in Red Deer anymore).
I did tear a little during labor and my doctor gave me an episiotimy to prevent the tearing from getting worse and to be able to control the direction of it. So... I'm on the mend and Logan is doing really well. He was just about back to his birth-weight when we had our public health nurse visit last week. If I'm on the south end of town this week I'll probably pop in to the health unit and weigh him.
~ ~ ~
So, the details:
Logan Tyler B. was born at 7:20pm on September 22, 2007. He weighed 7 lbs 14.5 oz and was 20" long.
I never really believed in love at first sight until I saw my little Baby Bee for the very first time. For an amazing picture of him, visit Ashley's blog (the amazing photographer that did my maternity session) - Logan had his photo session on Sunday!
Here's my amazing little guy (this is my favorite pic that we've taken so far)...
~ ~ ~
I ended up being induced because of my high blood pressure. When I was admitted to be induced, Jenn D. was my nurse! She got a kick out of being assigned to me and then seeing my birth plan where I asked for her if she was available (she was recommended by a co-worker and his wife). When she went off duty, Jenn looked at who was coming on-shift and picked out a nurse for me who works in much the same way as she does (and also works with midwives) - Jenny. I was so thankful that Jenn cared enough to do that for us... Jenny was amazing!
Before she left, Jenn D. predicted a "hard and fast" labor because of how quickly the inducing medicine affected me - normally it's left in for a full 12 hours, but it was taken out after only 7 hours (I told them to take it out despite the risk of slowing labor... and my doctor called and told them the same thing not more than 5 minutes later!). No one really believed Jenn, but it turned out she was right!
When Jenn D. went home (3pm), I was only 1-2 cm and after an hour in the tub - so 4pm - I had no change. I got out and tried to walk around and change positions, but it became very clear that I was much more comfortable in the tub, so back in I went. At this point, still just 1-2 cm, my contractions were about 45 sec long with just 45 - 60 seconds in between so I was getting no rest and that was making things quite hard. (Before they took the medicine out of me, I was having 30 - 45 second contractions with 30 - 45 seconds rest, so I guess it did technically *slow* labor.)
We had hoped to go medicine-free through labor, but I was also open to things as long as it was me that requested it and not the nurses that pushed it. I needed something because I was quickly running out of strength - physical and mental. So, I tried the laughing gas, but just could not use it effectively. Since I was barely dilated, an epidural was not an option yet. I had hoped to avoid narcotic drugs because of how they affect me, let alone the possible effects to baby. Jenny explained that because I was only 1-2 cm, by the time baby arrived the drugs would be worn off (still no one believed Jenn D!).
I needed something to help me get a little rest - so I ended up with a low (my doctor was reminded how drugs affect me) dose of Demoral combined with Gravol. When that kicked in, the contractions were still basically continuous but I would feel the peak of each one and I would be able to relax sooner and control my breathing better. James said I even managed to doze off between a few of them - I was sure I dozed for longer, but the longest break was only about 40 seconds by that time! That was a bizarre feeling.
Well, sometime around 6:30/6:40pm things started getting really intense. I asked for an epidural (again!). When checked (still in the tub!), I was still only 3 cm (my emotional low). But, after consulting via phone with my doctor they were going to give me one anyways as I needed to rest, even though they aren't normally given until 5cm I think due to the risk of stopping labor.
When Jenny went to go get an IV to put in me I started having the strongest feeling that I needed to push. This scared me so badly because I had just recently been checked and was only 3cm... JB went to find Jenny as I was really panicking myself. He kept talking to me (he was amazing through the whole thing) and telling me to talk or scream or whatever I wanted... because that meant I wasn't pushing. I heard a couple more nurses come in the room (including the charge nurse) and someone said that I really was acting like it was time to push so they decided I needed to come out of the tub ASAP!
My doctor was paged at 7:00pm as they were getting me out of the tub. They got me to the labor room where the anesthesiologist was waiting. He got an IV in me, but I was still insisting I needed to push so I believe it was him that suggested they check me once more before he gave me the epidural. I was checked and the nurse said "there's nothing there"... all of a sudden the room became a little more chaotic as they realized baby was coming with or without the doctor!
My doctor made it - after running every red light on the way to the hospital - and arrived in the labor room at 7:10pm. My waters were broken by him at 7:18-ish pm and Logan arrived at 7:20pm! Jenn D. was right... fast and furious! I went from 3 to 10cm in less than 20 minutes... that was scary! The doctor said the only thing keeping Logan in as long as he was is that my membranes didn't rupture (water didn't break) on their own (much to the delight of the nurses... you could feel the tension ease when my doctor arrived).
Oh - and though I had Logan much sooner than the nurses expected, I wasn't dopey at all during labor and he wasn't either... the Demoral had given me the break I needed but was worn off by the time I needed it to be.
~ ~ ~
So, that's my tale. Much to my surprise, I never cried once during labor. However, when I was watching JB with Logan during his first moments of life - while getting his check-up under the heat lamp, holding Daddy's finger - I did cry, but those are a different kind of tears. Before he had his check-up, I did get some bonding time with Logan - Jenny insisted on it (she was an amazing nurse). She also kept us in the labor room as long as possible so that we could have quiet bonding time before being moved to our permanent room (which is shared, no single rooms on the maternity ward unless it's a really slow day, which doesn't happen often in Red Deer anymore).
I did tear a little during labor and my doctor gave me an episiotimy to prevent the tearing from getting worse and to be able to control the direction of it. So... I'm on the mend and Logan is doing really well. He was just about back to his birth-weight when we had our public health nurse visit last week. If I'm on the south end of town this week I'll probably pop in to the health unit and weigh him.
~ ~ ~
So, the details:
Logan Tyler B. was born at 7:20pm on September 22, 2007. He weighed 7 lbs 14.5 oz and was 20" long.
I never really believed in love at first sight until I saw my little Baby Bee for the very first time. For an amazing picture of him, visit Ashley's blog (the amazing photographer that did my maternity session) - Logan had his photo session on Sunday!
Here's my amazing little guy (this is my favorite pic that we've taken so far)...
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