Labour and Delivery (39weeks - 3 and a half months ago)

Hello Blogosphere

I'm sorry I've been out of touch lately. I'm not going to lie I've just been so absorbed by my handsome baby boy to really worry about posting. But now that I have a bit more free time (and sleep) I figure that it wouldn't hurt to first show him off a little bit AND tell everyone about the Labour, Delivery and the days (week and a bit) leading up to it all.

I SHOULD THROW A TMI ALERT IN. Really don't read this if you don't want to hear a lot of the details surrounding my labour and delivery. I'm not shy, but you may be and I just don't want this to be an issue. Also I should let you know I don't think this post is one of my funnier posts. It's just more factual. And pretty much a novel. Enjoy!

So first leading up...

I was dead set against having this baby after June 30th/July 1st for the reasons of having the new residents (Please refer to my Birth Plan post) BUT I know very well that there is really only so much that I can control when it comes to labour and delivery. So at 37 weeks on the nose before knowing my GBS status (GBS is a bacteria that can be found in the woman's vagina. It isn't harmful to her, but can be passed to baby following the rupture of membranes and a woman is given antibiotics during the labour to prevent the bacteria being passed to baby as it can be deadly) a friend of mine - a labour and delivery friend of mine. Came over and did a sweeping of my membranes and a stretch. After this stretch and sweep I was 2cm dilated, 50% effaced and baby was -1. So not great, but not terrible for a primip. Anyway there were a couple more exams in there that I wont bore you with... In terms of having started the sweeps when we did, I did not delivery before June 30th. So at 38 weeks 5 days I went to my doctor's appointment and my nurse (and friend) Franky did a sweep/stretch and I was 3cm, 70% and -1. The unit quite often admits first time moms with cervixes like that; however, they are generally in lots of pain from contracting and looking for an epidural. I still was not contracting (regularly). The next day I went in to the unit to pick up some pay stubs and to see how busy it was (and to see what I would need to do to get admitted that day.) Well it was pretty busy but my nurse Franky was working so I had a little visit with her and by the time I walked out of the unit I was contracting more frequent than what I had been before, irregularly still and mildly and was 4cm, 70% effaced and 0. YAY! This meant business. When was yet to be determined but it definitely meant business. So that afternoon I went home and contracted mildly through the night every 6 minutes pretty much exactly until the next morning (Friday) when Eric was trying to decide if he should go into work or not and I didn't know how dilated I was. SO I called my dear friend (and nurse) Bonnie to come over. There really are perks to having friends that are nurses/being a labour and delivery nurse. She did an exam and I was still 4cm/70%/0. That was pretty disappointing. I had been contracting (mildly) all night and really was expecting more. Hindsight it makes sense I wasn't further because those contractions were mild - although I didn't know that at the time... So Bonnie and I took my dogs for a walk around the neighbourhood because we agreed I was having this baby today. After the walk we laboured at home some more and she reexamined me and such and she determined me almost 6cm, and that was when we called Eric to come home from work so we could go to the hospital...

The Labour:

Although, I was contracting before it wasn't really until Bonnie came over and we did some walking that things got a little bit more intense so I don't really consider it labour any earlier then that. Really it wasn't bad until I started getting pitocin - but we'll get there. So Eric came home took a shower that lasted all of .2 seconds grabbed "the hospital bags" and we were off! Breast pump and all! (Use that to help release oxytocin to keep the contractions going. Actually I was even able to get an okay amount of milk at the time - not that it is anything compared to now but still pretty awesome.) So we got to the hospital at 1030am. I had called before we left the house to let them know we were coming in, so I completely bypassed triage and walked in to the cursed room number 7. The Team Leader Nancy who I adore figured it would be a nice big room for me and it would be perfect - but I dreaded room #7 as most of my cases in that room ended up in the OR. Yes, I can be a little superstitious. Can't we all? Anyway perks to this room: lots of space, shower AND jacuzzi, quieter room. Cons: furthest room from the OR in the case of a crash c-section - EEK. So when I got in a lot of the nurses were busy as it was a pretty busy day (what can I say July 9th is a good day to have a baby!) And Nancy came down to do my admission for me while we waited for Franky to finish up in the Recovery Room. So when I had my admission exam I "SROMed" aka broke my water. Then I waited for 2 hours. The contractions didn't get more intense (which they generally do) and didn't get closer together (which they also sometimes do following the water breaking). Unfortunately my cervix was still 6cm and to say the least baby's heart rate tracing wasn't beautiful - so it meant it was time to start "actively managing my labour" aka pit me. So pit or pitocin is a synthetic form of oxytocin - for simplicity sake we'll say the labour hormone - the one that causes contractions. Well about 15 minutes later my contractions were no longer contractions I could talk through or even smile through. Actually I didn't even want to talk before or after the contractions. And up until that point Eric, Bonnie, Franky and I were cracking jokes and having a good time. After the pit started I was not happy. Eric would rub my back during the contractions and was incredibly supportive. He'd whisper that I was doing a good job and help me change positions when I was in too much pain or too uncomfortable to do it by myself. Finally an hour passed and I asked Franky to reexamine me (generally you wait 2 hours before you do another exam.) I told her before she examined me that if my cervix was still 6cm there was no way I was going to continue without an epidural because there was just WAY to much pressure and pain. Anyway she did the exam and told me I was 7cm. I still don't know to this day if she just told me that I was 7cm because she knew I wanted to do natural labour and figured I could do it OR if I actually was. But that 1 cm kept the natural child birth train going. So I realized labouring in hands and knees wasn't cutting it for me even though we all knew I had a baby not facing the right direction (maybe with the exception of Eric) SO we decided to try the tub and if that didn't work I was getting an epidural (by Dr. Gallant nonetheless). I got into the tub and leaned over the side like I've told what seems like a bajillion NCB moms before me AND man oh man that felt SO MUCH BETTER. During the contraction I would lean over the edge of the tub and then in between I would lay on my side in the tub and try to get some sleep. Yeah I know - crazy. ANYWAY. It felt a lot longer to me (probably because I was in PAIN) but apparently it was only about 3 maybe 5 contractions and then things started to happen... I started pushing involuntarily. Franky told me to stop and that after I was done that contraction I would get out of the tub and she would reexamine me. Things I learnt from that alone: it's almost impossible to stop bearing down when you're in that situation. I have a new found sympathy for women who feel the urge to bare down when they're only 7cm. I was reexamined and THANK GOD I was 9.5 cm and baby's head was at the +2 position. At this point things started going really quickly and I asked/demanded that Franky go get the doctor to give me a pudental block (they free the "lips" to avoid the "ring of fire" during the delivery - now that you know that please remember I said that this post may have TMI!) Anyway while she left the room I contracted again and was bearing down. Bonnie was in the room still and I asked her to go get Nitrous Oxide for the pain so she took off.

The Delivery:

Franky and Dr. Amankwah and Alia came back to the room. Dr. Amankwah didn't even need to exam me as she said she could start seeing the head already and that I was NOT going to get a pudental block. They told me I could start pushing so I did a set of pushing and it was really painful. I would be lying if I said otherwise. There is such thing as the ring of fire. Also I feel like a total jerk for telling my patients: "don't make any noise while pushing" or "push for 10seconds 3 times with each contraction" because my first set of pushing I was definitely making noise and I didn't make it to 10 seconds 3 times. Bonnie came back with the NO and I took 2 puffs on that and I swear to you the room started spinning. Or maybe it was my bed that was spinning - which would make more sense because it has wheels and the room is stationary- well sort of I guess the world spins, but I don't think that it spins that fast. ANYWAY - after 2 sucks/puffs whatever you want to call them I got rid of that stuff because it was NOT helping. So I pushed again with everyone's encouragment and direction with Eric right by my head (he moved there pretty quickly after the doctors came in. He told me he had started to feel a little bit light headed - maybe he had a hit or two of nitrous as well? JK) I pushed a second time and more effectively (I didn't make noise and I held my breath etc, etc, etc..) and then something wasn't quite right. The fetal heart rate was 60bpm. Alia asked Dr. Mukhida if she wanted a vacuum and I (who apparently still had a bit of a sense of humour left) told them to go ahead and just slap it on. Nancy entered the room at some point in time and told me that with the next contraction I had to mean business. I guess with the next contraction I meant business because all I remember is Dr. Amankwah asking who I wanted to deliver the baby and I said "I don't care just get it out" and Franky in her calm, reassuring and happy voice said to me "Okay stop pushing". WHAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN STOP PUSHING? I HAVE A BABY I NEED TO GET OUT. Okay I didn't say these things. At least not to anyone in the room. BUT we waited there with lots of pressure and burning and pain sensation. And then the next contraction started to build and Franky said "okay only small pushes now, push to 3 seconds" WHAT? we're there already?? We're having a baby... So after about 3 small pushes and one more big push our little baby was born at 1455. Baby cried right away as did my other baby (Eric) and I immediately asked "what is it" and Eric being the observant fellow he is replied "A boy - I think?" And Dr. Amankwah being the quick witted one she is said "You think? That's definitely a boy" as his balls were a little bit swollen and by a little I mean A LOT. Anyway I was shocked. I still kind of am. I was expecting a girl. Not that I'm complaining. I'm so in love with my son. Fynn is just amazing. And it's even more amazing that he's all mine and Eric's.

The afterbirth (aka placenta):

It decided to take it's time. Like 35 minutes or so. And my uterus decided to bleed. So I got 4 little pills inserted in a not so friendly spot and 5 minutes later had the biggest most painful contraction ever (pass the nitrous please!) and I delivered the placenta. Intact. Thankfully.

And really, that's more or less the end of it. Or the beginning depending on how you look at it.

Regardless it was an amazing experience. Easier than coping with Fynn cluster feeding. And really I don't need any hormones that make me forget about it - we're already talking baby number 2. When is still yet to be determined - but Fynn will have at least one sibling - so long as my uterus cooperates!

Thanks for reading everyone!

I'll be sure to post less gory stuff - like how much fun I've been having as a mom! And what we've got planned. Like I said before I just have been taking the free time I do have and spending it on other things. Like Fynn!

Take care,

Beth

But it came and that was more or less than end of it. Or the beginning depending on how you look at it. Regardless, we're talking about baby number 2 already. I'm pretty excited.

Pregnancy Recap.

So I'm labouring more regularly now - but you wont know that ahead of time because I don't intend to post this blog entry until after this peanut is born. But I am contracting every 5-7minutes and hanging out at home. I tried to get some sleep - but haven't had much luck. I'll probably try to lay down again. I've been contracting lots the last two days and some were more uncomfortable than others - but it has definitely gotten more intense over the last few hours. They're still quite spaced out but aren't lasting very long (maybe 30-40 seconds.) Like I said, just hanging out at home until my contractions are closer together or more intense. So far so good though.

I decided because I have all of this adrenaline rushing through my veins I would take this opportunity to recap on my pregnancy:

First Trimester:
Found out I was pregnant: November 12th
First sign of morning sickness: really shortly after November 12th.
Calculated due date as per LMP: July 16th, 2010. As per dating ultrasound: July 17th, 2010.
Cravings: none - however, I could handle soda crackers and ginger ale (but even ginger ale could spark my gag reflex)
Pros: I was pregnant!
Cons: morning sickness (and having a very smelly job some days.. BGS augh); feeling like I couldn't do much - yoga, physical activity; being constantly drained.
Weight gain: none, actually I lost weight...

Second Trimester:
Cravings: just like my husband's cousin POTATOES. Pretty much in every shape and form. I could eat potatoes anytime, anyday, anywhere, any style. RIBS - yes, like the meat kind, like the, I-haven't-eaten-ribs-or-any-pig-or-cow-in-over-8-years-but-please-give-me-some-ribs-asap. I was told to go to Baton Rouge in Ottawa for the best ribs ever - but I never made it down (probably for the best.) Then there was the random cravings: poutine (probably falls under fries), popsicles and freezies, cupcakes, pizza, nothing really all that crazy. It sounds like I ate super unhealthily but really I promise I didn't.
Pros: TONS more energy and thus felt human again and could DO THINGS, everyone knew so I was able to explain my crazy behaviour of my first trimester, no real stressors, felt baby move early - all in all a great trimester.
Cons: I needed to do that STUPID STUPID STUPID GTT testing twice - but it was for a good reason so I should try not to complain. (It came back fine. I didn't have gestational diabetes.)

Weight gain: I was 136lbs by the end of the second trimester.

Third Trimester
Pros: Almost there, getting the nursery set up (saving 600$ on the nursery furniture!), felt lots more movement, a decent amount of energy, TONS of walking, and just overall happy. Also I only started needing to get up in the middle of the night to pee after 34 weeks AND it was only occasional, probably happened 7 times in total.

Cons: Working night shifts from 32weeks - 35weeks. Don't get me wrong I still did my happy dance while there, but the 12 hour shifts and the craziness that became the birthing unit at the end was a little much. It's pretty hard to go from 9pm-530am without eating when you're pregnant and running around like crazy. The elbows or knees (who knows...) that baby would use to push against the bed which made sleeping at the end very difficult.

Overall Pregnancy:
Total number of maternity clothing bought: 10 pieces (not including new panties or bras). 2 pairs of maternity jeans (I was lucky and fit into most of mine up until 26 weeks and than after that had my lululemon pants), 6 maternity tops (again pretty lucky in that my looser fitting tops lasted awhile), 1 sweater, and a bella band. All in all I was pretty lucky.. which brings us to the next point:
Total weight gain: Okay, so this is harder to calculate as if you were to start with my beginning weight I only gained 22lbs; however, I was in the negative during my first trimester which would put me at around 28lbs after gaining back the weight I lost. Either way - not too bad - my doctor was pretty pleased.
Best moments: when baby would dance for Eric - my all time favourite was probably when I laid in bed and we put Eric's iPhone on my belly and played some music and you could see the baby moving the iPhone. I also loved when my linea nigra came in (even though above my belly button it's crooked.)
Worst moments: Please see "cons" of the first trimester.

What I would do differently: I would have started practicing yoga earlier on in the pregnancy (second trimester.) I was missing a decent amount of my balance by the end. Also, I only swam a few times while pregnant and when I did it I LOVED it. I should have done that more. AND I should have taken more pictures. Next time right?

Well that's all I'm going to post on that matter because really I'm finishing off this blog entry 3 and half months into my postpartum period and really want to do a post about the actual labour and delivery next...

Thanks for reading!

Take care,

Beth

False Alarm - sort of (38+5)

Hello again blogging world.

I just wanted to give a quick little update - My uterus is still contracting - however, very mildly and irregularly. I'm not anticipating a July 8th baby - actually I'm not even anticipating a baby this weekend (although I am still hoping!) Who knows, maybe something exciting will happen. But I'll keep you in the know!

Take care,
Beth

Nearing an end.. I hope (38weeks and 4 days)

Hello Blogworld.

Augh - ooooh - eeeeeeik - breathe. So I'm contracting - irregularly and they go away sometimes and then they come back - and then leave again. And then are more intense - then less intense. Then it's just crampy and then it's my whole stomach (uterus) is hard as a rock. Ahh - early labour. Could last another week - god forbid - contractions could stop altogether- could have a baby tomorrow?? While my ob/gyn is on call... Please??

I'll keep you in the know.
Beth

Happy Canada Day - No June baby for me. (37+5weeks)

Happy Canada Day Blogging world.

How are you planning on spending Canada Day today? Ottawa is funny in that the whole city literally shuts down - it's so weird. Driving on the outskirts is like driving on a Sunday morning at 7am - the roads are deserted; however, as you start heading downtown the festivities really pick up. And I mean REALLY pick up. The government posts and map on their website which lets you know which roads are closed downtown and really the best way to get anywhere is the bus or the O-Train. So this is actually only my second Canada Day in Ottawa (besides a couple when I was younger - which I'm not sure even happened.) Last year we spent it with my cousin and it was a little bit crazy. We left from her house with literally 7 minutes to get to the fireworks (we are at least 13 minutes away) and I was nominated driver (for a few reasons) and we made it there with 2 minutes to spare - and it wasn't because traffic was light. Anyway we parked and were running through the downtown streets of Ottawa watching the fireworks off the reflections of the glass windows. It was pretty neat. We made it for the "grand finale" which wasn't that grand (probably had something to do with the recession.) Anyway, it was a good Canada Day. This year my cousin and her boyfriend have gone off to the cottage for the weekend and I have a feeling this year's Canada Day will be significantly more low key than last years. We're going to head down to Parliament during the day and watch some live music and see the Snowbirds and CF-18s. I think we'll just spend some of the day downtown - I'm not sure if we're going to go back for the fireworks - and I can tell you right now I am NOT spending from noon until 10pm downtown. Hecks no. Also Eric picked himself up a steak last night and I grabbed some halibut so that we can have a nice "Canada Day Dinner" using the BBQ - which we have used almost every day since purchasing (great buy - so far!)

Alright, so I managed to keep the first half of this blog baby free, but since the blog is really about baby (or at least that's why I started writing the blog) I feel as though I should fill you in on the last few days. So as you know I am term now (woot woot) actually I'm 37 + 5 weeks today - if some of you choose to take the time to do that math you will realize that I've lost (or baby has lost) 2 days in gestation. You would be right. My due date based on dates was July 16th and my due date based on the first ultrasound was July 17th - and they go with the first ultrasound - which is fine. But I for whatever reason kept calculating things with the girls at work who are all pregnant and there "switch day" is Thursday (today) so they are all either 32 weeks, 37 weeks or 33 weeks today, so it was easy to just say I was 38 weeks. BUT I'm not really - I'm a poser. Not the point of the story. Anyway - in my last post there was all this hope and desire to be in labour by now (which I'm severely not - I have a very severe case of "Not being in labour") which is fine - as I cry myself to sleep. Anyway, I was really set that I was going to have this baby in June. Which is now absolutely impossible (regardless of what place in the world you are) and that's okay - now I'm aiming for July. Dad suggested I aimed for August, but I don't think he fully understood that the desire of June was that it was SOONER than July. I still love him - even if he doesn't quite get it. One of the nurses who I worked with figured I would have the baby come Friday. I think she's wrong now. You need SOME form of contractions and my uterus just really isn't committing. So to say the least I was a little upset the day before yesterday when nothing was going on - especially because I was doing everything you're supposed to do to induce labour (and more) and nothing happened. Which could be because it's not actually my due date yet. Still not the point. I was walking, biking, climbing stairs, eating pineapple, hot bath taking, yoga-ing, dancing, hula hooping, jumping, breast pumping (owww...), raspberry leaf tea drinking, and several more things that just didn't seem to cut it. So this baby is comfortable and as my dad has said "this baby will come on it's birthday" AUGH. Eric used that line this morning and I almost hit him (love you babe). So due to my disappointment that there is no baby yet I have made a list of reasons why it's better to still have the baby on the inside:

Reasons why it's better to have the baby inside instead of outside:

Leaving the house:

1) You only need to make sure one of you has peed/pooped before leaving

2) You only need to make sure one of you is fed before leaving

3) You only have 1 seatbelt to do up - and temperature in the vehicle is dependent on how you like it, not what keeps baby from crying - also you get to choose the tunes and don't need to play them so loud they drown out the cries of baby (just kidding)

4) Walking 2 dogs is easier when you don't need to push a stroller.

5) Running to the grocery store (okay waddling to the grocery store) is a 10 minute activity before baby, after baby - do you really need to eat?

Sleep:

1) You can at least ATTEMPT to sleep when you like where you like.

2) If you're on mat leave that can be any time at all.

3) When you do finally fall asleep you don't need to worry about that being EXACTLY when baby starts crying.

Showering:

1) You can do it with door the closed.

2) You can take as long as you want.

3) This points go for all bathroom activities actually.

Eating:

1) You can eat almost anything you want (obviously there are the issues if you have heartburn and stuff like that BUT the point is more or less you can have anything) after baby is born be prepared to cut out the foods that make him/her not enjoy your breastmilk or make the baby colicky (which was chocolate for my friend Jess's baby Adair - that sucks.)

2) You still have time to sit down and eat.

3) You can go out to eat and you generally get extra good service - actually that's another point service - while you're pregnant people hold doors open for you and are super friendly - after pregnancy - well I'm sure they would still hold the door open for you BUT you're probably out and about less.

Eric's contributions to my list:

1) Harder to break when it's on the inside.

2) Don't need to worry about losing it.

3) It doesn't poo (that he needs to clean)

Alright, that's my list so far. Pretty much for every day this baby stays in from this point forward I'll find something to add to my list. I don't want people to be confused and start whispering that I don't really want to have my baby - this is just my way of being less frustrated that I don't have the baby yet - I've spent the last 4 days trying to bring on labour - I'm just going to take a break from it for the weekend (as Eric has a nice long weekend) and resume activities and attempts come Monday (and I have a whole list of other possible tricks.)

On that note! Have a spectacular long weekend (for those of you who have one) enjoy Canada Day! If you don't have a long weekend - especially enjoy your normal length weekend!

As always,

Thanks for reading!!

I'm going to lose it.. (37+2, aka go time!)

Hello!

Just to not confuse anyone, it isn't ACTUALLY "go time" not just yet. I would LIKE it to be go time. But It's not. Give me another week (ideally not two, but you never know) and hopefully there will be a baby. BUT even then it could be another 4 weeks (which it wont be if I have ANYTHING at all to say about it.) So anyway, I'm term, or better yet baby is term. And what has been going on?

Well let me tell you:

1) the hospital bags are packed and at the front door. 1 for me and 1 for Eric and baby to share - we've packed a few things for Eric "just in case" he needs to meet me at the hospital from work instead of having the chance to go home and change, more importantly shower, first.

2) Nursery is all set up. I maintain it's not decorated, BUT all of the wonderful clothing I received from the lovely ladies at the Birthing Unit as well as the wonderful clothing from the guys and gals who made it to my surprise baby shower (thanks again mom and Jill) have been washed with Ivory Snow, and are not folded and put away according to size. Also the organic mattress pad and organic muslin sheet that I received have been washed and on the crib (which I know, I know wont be in use for awhile yet) Besides decorating and removing the plastic from the handles of the dresser and bookshelf the nursery is more or less ready to go. Okay, okay, I need to wash the windows, but I'm not going to lie, my mom has offered to do them so I'm going to wait and do windows with my mom when she comes!

3) Bottles, nipples, breast pump pieces and soothers have all been sterilized. Actually they're just drying right now and then they will be returned to their home. I'm not sure when I signed up for these things but I have 3 different kinds of formula - I don't plan on using formula. I plan to breastfeed and pump; however, somehow I have all of this formula. Maybe I'll feed it to Eric and try to fatten him up a little bit.

4) Car seat is in the car. It fits, but when we have baby number 2 we're going to need to buy a slightly bigger vehicle as it requires the front seat to be a little bit more forward than I like.

5) House relatively clean. I sometimes think Eric is working against me in cleaning the house. On that note I KNOW it's not his fault. He's not doing it on purpose. It confuses me a little what happened with him. He was sooooooo good at cleaning when we first got married. Actually he was better than any of the girls that lived in the house (and there were 4 of us at the time) and maybe it was cleaning up after all of us that made him decide he refused to clean, but ever since I've started doing shift work it has become my responsibility to clean the house on my days off. I refuse to clean the kitchen by myself though. When I was first pregnant I couldn't even go into the kitchen without being overwhelmed with nausea. I would gag and vomit and augh. So although it is "Eric's room to clean" It tends to only be cleaned when I am there gently reminding Eric it needs to be cleaned. Augh, I hate kitchens. Anyway, I'm lucky enough again to have a wonderful mother who has offered to help get the house better than "relatively" clean when she visits. I just had to agree to not using any "green products" to clean the home as she thinks they're crap... I'm not going to lie, I gave in in exchange for help cleaning my home.

6) EI applied for... sort of. I'm really fortunate in that I get a "top up" from my employer for the first 6 months of my maternity leave. It's not to 100% but it is still nice to be getting more than the 55% that EI pays out (which I'm also not complaining about - I'm getting paid 55% to be working 0% - okay deal.) So anyway, I thought it was smooth sailing until I was asked to provide my ROE from Magpie Jewellery. Do you think I have ANY clue where that is right now? No of course not. So I'm on the search. I may need to send a letter to Bathurst to get it, but this is all delaying me getting paid. I'm not super heart broken about the delay, I just want it all dealt with before baby is here so I don't need to deal with it then!

7) Too Much Information ALERT. TMI ALERT. (I'm giving everyone a head's up just in case you don't want to read woman body stuff - just skip #7 then). My cervix is very slightly opened. SLIGHTLY. Which is GREAT. It's better than being closed which is more common for a first time mom such as myself. AND baby's head is nice and low! SOOoooOOOoo what does this mean? Well really nothing unless I start having some regular contractions. I've been having some unpleasant Braxton Hicks but until I have some regular contractions, I don't think much is going to happen. BUT it is better than being closed at this stage in the game!!

So more or less I'm now just waiting for baby. Like I said before, I'm hoping sometime in the next week, but I know the odds of a first time mom going early. They're not super realistic. BUT here's to positive thinking and having a bunch of people crossing their fingers or praying for me (whichever they think is more valid.) SOOOoooOOo, if you're not too busy if you could just send some positive thoughts/energy out into the universe for me that I have this baby sooner rather than later I'd really appreciate it!

Father's Day (was yesterday) (36 weeks and 4 days)

Hello all!

So I just wanted to send out a message saying we did end up buying the Weber Genesis BBQ. It was a bit of a splurge, but we decided we could justify it after we saved the money we did on the baby furniture.
So there it is set up in our kitchen. Why is it set up in our kitchen? Well as much as I thought it was a safe place for it... (just kidding) we set it up inside, because our day went a little bit like this....

First thing in the morning we drove across the border (that would be the french border) and went and picked up a filing cabinet I found on UsedOttawa. I love Kijiji/Used Ottawa. Those sites. It was about 40 minutes away and out in cottage country. It was beautiful. My allergies went crazy. I have to admit that is my biggest complaint about being pregnant is that there is NOTHING I can do about my allergies. Luckily they haven't been TERRIBLE this year. But they do still suck.

Second we came back to the house and moved the heavy filing cabinet into the basement.

Then we called Home Depot to see if they had any of the BBQs we were interested in left... THey had 1 and couldn't hold it for us because they were doing 20% off yesterday. So we booked it down to HD (unfortunately it wasn't the one that is less than 2km away, it was one on the otherside of the city). So as we're walking into HD we see a very happy looking brown man walk out with a Weber Genesis, e-320 BBQ. My heart sank. Eric swears it was natural gas, but I KNOW it was Liquid Propane (which is what we needed) ANYWAY. We checked out their BBQ selection anyway, and lo behold they did still have 1 more left. So I guarded it while Eric went a looked for a sales associate to help get it down for us. While he was gone I stood their rubbing my belly giving people angry-hungry looks as they tried to come down the aisle towards MY (Eric's) BBQ. Anyway, to say the least most didn't come near me. So we got our BBQ brought it home with us. The box was super big and awkward and because I'm useless in the carrying department these days we decided to just put it in the driveway open the box and then move the pieces to the back. It worked out very well and everything was on the deck in no time. So we started away on building it (Eric started away on building it while I entertained the dogs). Anyway, first 4 screws are in and it just starts DOWNPOURING. I was starting to take this as a sign that maybe we shouldn't have bought the BBQ.. but there was the one left for us which then is sort of a sign that it was meant to be. ANyway, we moved everything into the kitchen and built the BBQ in the kitchen. Which is why Eric's BBQ is sitting in my kitchen in the picture. We then had Thai food for dinner. Yes yes, we should have used the BBQ but we will tonight - Salmon Steaks. YUMMY...

Anyway, that is all for now. Baby is still doing really well. I was starting to think he/she was going to be Eric's Father's Day gift because I seemed to have started contracting up a storm. Oh the joys or Braxton Hicks. 3 more days and then I'm term. So anywhere from 3 days to 4 weeks and 3 days... So we'll see. My mom was late with us, so I'm not holding my breath...

Take care blogging world! Hope all is well.
Beth

Change of Plans (36 weeks + 2 daus)

Hello Blogworld.

So today was Eric and my big "date day" where the plan had been to go to Montreal to see Cirque du Soleil, Totem and eat Thai food. Well we stayed in Ottawa instead. We decided last night we weren't going to go (and it's good we hadn't bought tickets already - we wanted to do it last minute you know "just in case") and it worked out well because I woke up not feeling so hot. So after spending a good chunk of the morning/early afternoon in bed we finally started a BBQ hunt and came up empty handed... BUT we do know what is out there. See I really want a BBQ because I assume we'll have a decent amount of company stopping in throughout the summer - so I would like to be able to say "Hey Dad - Can you take care of BBQing up dinner tonight" and not being responsible for dinner every now and again. Anyway, I want a Weber Genesis and Eric and I think it may be a little more than what we should spend on a BBQ and unfortunately when my mind is set on something nothing else will do. So it's either the Weber, or nothing at all.. so we're not getting anything (yet.)

So what else did we do? While Eric took some pictures of our new nursery:





(The packaging is still left on the handles on the dresser and bookshelf because I'm a little crazy and would like to try to keep it nice for as long as possible.)

(Mom got "Baby Bronson-Moisey" this ornament 2 Christmases ago and I absolutely adore it. It's from the Nursery Rhyme "Winken, Blinken and Nod" Anyway, for the longest time I wanted to do a Nursery Rhyme themed room, but changed my mind once I realized a lot of the baby bedding/fabric for it is pretty terrible.)

I told him the floor needed to be swept before the pictures were done, but he was already laying on the floor and decided to take the pictures. You can't really see in the corner to the right of the window, but there is a comfortable Ikea chair in that corner. It isn't a glider (we have the glider in the spare room) but it just looks SOO good in the room with the dark finish. As you can see the only picture hanging in the room right now is the picture of the bird which my mom painted eons and eons ago. Anyway, I'm going to move that photo into the spare bedroom and I plan to only hang photography in the room. Probably black and white with a specific colour accent. I was really hoping to hold off until we found out the baby's gender but I may go ahead and buy some fabric and sew up the baby's bedding. I'm still torn between doing black and white with one colour "accented" OR using the fabulous fabric I brought back from India and just having very colourful baby bedding - which could definitely be gender neutral. I'm torn. Regardless, besides the furniture clearly this room isn't super matchy matchy (and I still need a rug!) We'll take some new pictures once it's completely finished being set up. There are still boxes and a car seat in the pictures.. And the floor will be swept next time!

So tomorrow Eric and I plan to go to the beach for the a portion of the day and eat thai food and if the house is cool enough do some cooking and baking. I have a nice list of things I would like to bake/cook and store for when the baby is here but the temperature is just way to hot to have the oven on for hours... Hopefully it cools off just a little bit.

Anyway, I think that's everything for now. I hope all is well with everyone and take care!!
Thanks for reading!

(And just for good measure a picture of my babies who haven't suspected a thing yet...)




(just kidding about Eric... I hope.. he does ask every now and again if I'm "SURE" that I'm having a baby. Generally before big purchases like the furniture.)

Long overdue... (36 weeks)

Wow..

It's been a month since I've posted last! I only have 1 month to go until my due date... although on that note I am doing everything in my power to go just a little bit early. And by a little bit I mean June 30th. We'll see how that goes..

Quick life updates:

1) We got a new dog. His name is Baxter. He's really cute. And him and Pabloe get a long pretty well. They were playing to day. It was sweet.

2) I've locked myself out of the house on a couple of occasions now. (Yes twice and yes I used the ladder to climb back in) I don't find it very reassuring that a pregnant person can break into Eric and my house; however as Eric says if they want to break in it doesn't matter if there is a ladder in the backyard or not they'll get it. If you're on facebook read my note "Morning" and you can get filled in on the details of my breaking back into my house.

3) I finally have 2 of 3 pieces of nursery furniture in the nursery. And we got a GREAT deal on them. That's a long story involving me bringing a sales associate to tears (not actually, but I wasn't very pleasant.) So now I'm still torn between waiting the next couple-several weeks to find out the sex and then just purchase bedding/decorations OR I'm thinking a black/white theme or using the fabric I brought back from India and making it super colourful. I just don't know!

4) I had an AWESOME surprise baby shower thrown by my mom and sister Jill. The only things that could have made it better would have been if Kari could have made it (the youngest sister) oh and if I was a little more cooperative with Eric and let it actually be a surprise. I also had a SPECTACULAR baby shower thrown by the lovely ladies that I work with and between the two showers I fared really well! I have everything I will need and baby will need to survive the first month of life... I think... I hope.

5) Eric and I finally have a list of boy names and a list of girl names. Thank goodness. I was getting a little bit worried that this child would come home with us as "Baby B" or "Baby G". Crisis avoided.

6) I'm on mat leave! As of last Saturday I started my mat leave and I'm so happy I did because today I started contracting. Not regularly or long. Really they'd probably be considered "Braxton Hicks" BUT just in case this baby does come early I was able to get some cleaning done first. Thank goodness.

I think that is pretty much everything as of right now... Eric and I have an exciting date planned for Saturday. Probably our last real big date before the baby comes. I'm sure we'll do dinner and a movie BUT on Saturday we're going to Montreal and seeing Cirque du Soleil "Totem" and then doing dinner (and maybe if we get there early enough we'll do some shopping! YAY).

Anyway I'll try to blog more often in the next couple of weeks and get some photos of nursery up! And maybe of Totem!

Take care and thanks for reading!

Belly Pictures (or lack thereof... 31 weeks +4 days)

Hey..

So I just wanted to send a little message out there that Eric and I keep discussing doing belly pictures, and then we don't. Then when we're goofing around and do take photos I really don't like them (my hair is messy, I'm in my pjs, etc). This is why the blogosphere hasn't seen any belly pictures since 6months. They exist (sort of..) but not many of them I want to share with the internet. Because it has been sOOOooooOOoo long I will post a couple today... so here you go. I'm getting HUGE!

This picture was taken in the bathroom (obviously.. hence the toilet in the background). I have a very irritated look on my face because I kept getting the angle wrong to have my belly in the picture. It was mostly just face and ceiling. So here is one that turned out okay...


Eric eating baby? We were goofing around with the camera because Eric was kissing where baby would kick (which was all over) and I wanted a picture of it. But the pictures kept turning out... well not quite right. So we started being goofy instead. You can see my crooked linea nigra in this picture (that slightly darker than my very white skin leading up to my belly button - my linea nigra is really faint, but I still have 2 months so it may get darker!) It's funny because on the other side of my belly button it's nice and straight. Go figure.

I LOVE this one. It makes me want to get professional pictures done just so we can get Eric, me and the belly in the picture all at once and have our faces too... But they are so expensive! We'll see what happens as I have time off and keep getting bigger.


And of course a picture with my crazy puppy. Who I ABSOLUTELY adore. I hope he isn't too jealous when he's not the baby anymore!

Eric and I are going to the beach this weekend so maybe (if I still fit into any of my bathing suits) there will be some more photos. Ideally after I have a little bit of sun though, as I could blind someone with this skin.

Anyway as for pregnancy update. Things have been moving along super smoothly. Everything has been AMAZING. (Hopefully it will stay that way right until the end!) I have 11 shifts left at work! YAY! I have a doctor's appointment Wednesday. I was supposed to go last week but I forgot (oops) so I took a quick listen to baby at work and the heart rate was beautiful. Baby is still not giving away his or her sex. The baby's baseline was 140.. and they say if the heart rate is above 140 it's a girl and below it's a boy. Although all joking aside after working Labour and Delivery it really turns out ALL of those little old wives tales are myths. Nothing determines a baby's sex definitely besides an amnio or a cvs because even ultrasounds can be wrong (on that note they are pretty accurate - like 95% accurate).

Anyway I have some cleaning to do before I lay down to sleep before work!
Take care blogging world!

Birth Plan.

Hello Blogworld!

As a Labour and Delivery nurse I see A LOT of birth plans/preferences from patients. Some are very realistic, some not so much. We tend to say that an unrealistic birth plan is a ticket to the OR (which has proven true a lot of the time.) Regardless I've decided to write my "Birth Plan" however, it's more to be funny, not serious. Just give people something to laugh about. Specifically nurses something to find funny.

Draft 1: Beth Bronson's Birth Preferences;

Please have ALL NURSES on during my delivery read this.

Written especially with the lucky (unfortunate) nurse who ends up having me for my delivery in mind. Please keep my best interest in mind... However, I've clearly outlined most situations that may arise and my ideal situation for them. Also the things that are most important to me are highlighted.

Admittance to Birthing Unit:
Please do not admit me to the Birthing Unit before 4 centimeters. If I seem to be coping "well" and am 4 centimeters tell me I'm 2 centimeters and send me walking. If my water is broken and I'm GBS positive put a saline lock in and send me walking. Please find the most incapable nurse from 8 east to attempt to insert the IV (Reasoning: I deserve it after the IVs I've inserted.) My first choice of rooms are: Room 4 and Room 5. After that, just not Room 6 or Room 7 please.

Birth companion:
The only birth companion I want present for the labour and at the delivery is Eric Moisey. However, on that note there will be A LOT of times during the labour I will probably NOT want him present (due to how highly irritable I will probably be). Please let him sit at the desk, as it could be a matter of minutes that I want him to be present again (and may inflict some serious bodily harm on him if he's not back in the room quickly). Or place a chair in behind the curtain so at least I can't see him and he's not far. If he's in the way, send him for coffee for the nurses.

Positions for labour:
Just don't let me lay in bed whining. If I am move me to gross, dirty, amniotic-y hospital floor. Remind me that it is gross, dirty and amniotic-y so I don't stay on the floor.

Pain relief:
It could have something to do with me working in Labour and Delivery but I know my options for pain relief so don't explain them to me. I'll ask for it when I want it. I'm stubborn. If you tell me I need medication I'll probably tell you to screw off. Don't take it personally. If/When I do start screaming for an epidural please give me some Nitrous. I don't want to be a screamer. On that note, if I start screaming for anything give me Nitrous (the mask will muffle the screaming and make the whole thing more bearable for everyone)

Monitoring your baby's heart rate
I get when I need to be monitored continuously. Don't let me see the screen. I don't need that stress. Also please keep track of anytime I decide to be a pain in the ass with flipping from side to side or any whining I do. Following the delivery, when my breasts are engorged, I want the nurse I was difficult with to punch me in the boobs for each time I didn't cooperate. Trust me, I'll understand (and deserve it). it'll be teaching for baby number 2.

Assisted delivery
-If by some crazy chance I'm still NCB at the time of delivery, and I require a vacuum, please give me something to bite. Ideally Eric's arm; however, I would be okay with cloth of some sort. Also reassure Eric that any profanities I swear at him during this time I don't really mean.
-If I am still NCB at the time of delivery and require forceps please please please get me a pudental block, or at least some lidocaine (1% and lots of it). I would also like versed at this time. If versed isn't available check my bags for a flask of Everclear, I tend not to leave home without it. Also make sure Eric is watching the whole process. I'd like him to understand what was required to have his baby. While also discussing forceps I would like to emphasize one of my favourite aspects of my body is that my anus and vagina are 2 separate entities. Please keep this in mind while advocating on behalf of me. I don't want a vaginal c-section. I like that I don't suffer from incontinence and am able to sit.
-Finally C-sections: prior to the c-section (if possible) I would like a scalp pH done. None of this "well you've been 6 centimeters for 6 hours" business. Scalp pH or no consent (except in emergency c-sections)
- Non urgent c-section: Room C please. I would like Eric geared up in hospital blues and placed with his back against the wall and a good view of what is happening. Thus there is no need to explain to him later that week why I don't feel like vacuuming or cooking.
- Emergency c-section: do what you need to do. Please try to make sure that my abdomen gets put together as normally as possible.
Also I do NOT want the nurses sitting at the desk saying "oh she's going to the back for sure, she's definitely going to the back." Anyone I catch saying that will get kicked in the twat - HARD.

Delivery position
I don't care. Just however the baby is going to come out.

Third stage (delivery of the placenta)
Give me the pit.

Feeding the baby
I plan to breastfeed. What is it called when you place the baby on your stomach and make them wiggle up and find the breast? Yeah, well I don't want that.

Additional Notes:
Nurses: You know if I want you there and thus you also know who I don't. Have my back.

Doctors: same as above.

Residents: Mostly the same as above; however, since my due date is after July 1st (new resident day) there will be new residents wondering the halls. I wont flat out refuse them; however, I will ask 3 skill testing questions prior to letting them be involved in my care and delivery. Most questions will be OB related. I expect none of them to succeed.

Med Students: 3 skill testing questions as well, however my tolerance to their presence will be less than that of new residents. They may as well know that right from the beginning. They also may be where I direct my anger. They are probably better off not present.

Visitors: we don't plan to tell anyone when we leave for the hospital for the birth, on that note, if for some crazy reason someone calls and asks about Eric, myself or the baby while at the hospital please tell them none of us made it through the delivery and that you're sorry for their loss. If they call you on the lie tell them to mind their own damn business. People know better than to "check in" on us. We'll call them when there is anything worth knowing.

Entering and Exiting the room: I appreciate that A LOT of people will probably see my vajayjay during this process, I get it. On that note. I don't want ANYONE wandering in during the pushing stage "just to see how I'm doing". It's my first baby, I get that it can take 3 hours. I'm sorry for the sucker who gets stuck pushing with me, but if you leave to go on break while I'm pushing, I'm stopping and waiting for you to come back. Anyone who enters the room "just to see how I'm doing" or to 'see how much head you can see" will be pants in public at a later date. I will go for underwear as well and ideally it will be in front of A LOT of people. Consider yourselves warned.

Hello Third Trimester! (28 weeks + 5 days)

Hello Blogging world!

I'm finally here! The wonderful, exciting third trimester. I tentatively have 4 more weeks worth of work (unless I decide I want to work longer, or unless the baby decides to misbehave and I am off earlier...) Although I know a lot of people think I'll be bored during the 8 weeks I have between the being off work and the baby being born, I probably wont be. I have TONS of things I would like to get done before Eric and our newest addition. Including sewing baby stuff, cooking and baking in mass (to go in the deep freeze for the weeks following the baby that I just DO NOT want to make anything), cleaning, purging, reorganizing (especially the kitchen), swimming, shopping (for me and baby), reading and last and most importantly: attempting to induce my labour starting at 37 weeks. I either want to somehow have this baby before July 1st (which is fine, babies are term at 37 weeks and my baby would be 37+6 on June 30th, so not considered preterm...) OR I want to have my baby as late into July as possible. And that is because July 1st is "New Resident Day" so I've decided I would like to either have a baby before the old residents leave OR after the new residents have some time practicing on other patients first. My due date is July 16th, so that means the doctors could let me go as late as July 25th without doing anything to start my labour if it hasn't started yet. If come July 26 I'm still NOT in labour my body would be medically induced to believe it's in labour and thus I would have a baby sometime after the 26th, probably the 28th (which is my sister's birthday.) So like I said, I'm going to start at 37 weeks to attempt to put myself into labour and that will probably be quite time consuming.

I've been very lucky in my pregnancy that not much has gone wrong. Really if anything. I was very sick the first trimester. Which I am completely okay with and besides that my pregnancy has been moving a long swimmingly. Baby has been great on all of the ultrasounds. My blood pressure has been staying the same (low) and I haven't been suffering from any of the gross and unflattering aspects of pregnancy (none of which I will list off because I don't feel like that's necessary.) My baby is definitely growing, as I can tell by my growing belly. Even just from 2 weeks ago I am SOOO much bigger. So we'll see what happens in the next 10-12 weeks... I've had a few "tightenings" and a couple contractions even that I needed to stop to breathe through, but nothing was regular or consistent, so I'm not concerned that it's changing my cervix.

Eric and I have been more or less at a stand still with preparing for baby. All of our energy has been moved outside to get the backyard ready for the summer. We figure we'll have a decent number of guests coming and going that it would be great to have the backyard set up for entertaining rather than keeping everyone locked in the house! So Eric built a deck a few weeks ago and it looks AMAZING. This past weekend we worked on actual yard, digging up timbers and patio stones that have been there probably as long as the house has been standing (30-40 years) so we worked on that and I thought we would have everything done in a jiffy.. well there is still definitely work to be done in the backyard 3 days later and today for whatever terrible reason it is snowing! SO baby shopping/sewing/building will resume probably after I go off work.

Last thing: as of late I've had the moving bug again... As in sell my house and move somewhere. It figures this hits when I'm 28 weeks pregnant. But I REALLY REALLY want to. Houses aren't really staying on the market in Ottawa right now and that appeals to me, because I don't want to try to spend weeks and weeks selling my house. A girl who I work with who lives around the corner put her house up for sale last Tuesday (a week ago) and had an open house this past Saturday and already has had offers, one that is several thousand more than she is even asking for the home!! It's just conditional on the home inspection. SOO I want to sell our house now and buy something bigger, with more land and not a duplex. I would even take not bigger in exchange for more land and not a duplex. When I mentioned the idea of selling to Eric he was all for it and ready to move to either BC, Halifax or Hawaii. I suggested Alberta, but he wasn't biting and that's okay. I would rather stay in Ontario (probably Southern Ontario to be closer to my mom and dad) or head out to Halifax. Don't get me wrong Hawaii and BC would probably be my first and second choices, BUT we're going to have a new baby and taking him/her to Hawaii where Eric and I aren't citizens or permanent residences and we don't have much in terms of social security just would be stupid. I don't even know exactly how health care works so making sure my children are taken care of (and we can afford it) would be another headache. And as for BC, unless we were out in the Boonies the only thing we could afford would probably be some row housing where I wont have ANY backyard. Then again if there was work out in the Boonies it could be pretty cool... So that more or less leaves us with Southern Ontario and Halifax. And although we WILL live in Halifax some day I would prefer not to keep moving further from my parents as they start moving closer. Which means if Eric and I are serious about moving, which I haven't completely figured out if we are or aren't or if we're just tossing the idea around. We'd probably move to Southern Ontario. Near London probably on the East side (Toronto side), which would only be an hour and a bit from my parents' place (babysitting! just kidding mom...), as well as near an awesome University for when I decide to go back for grad school. The only thing we really need to look into is work. There is a great huge hospital in London that is a tertiary level of care in obstetrics so if I could get work there that would be amazing, there are also a few community hospitals around which would be just as much fun to work at! I'm not sure what they have in terms of Carpentry work, but it could be a good opportunity for my cute cuddly husband to go back to school because the cost of living is so much less in that area. Regardless there is A LOT to consider.

Well that I believe is everything in a nut shell. Thanks for taking the time to read! Next post (which wont take 2 weeks to do, I promise) will include pictures of our destroyed backyard, the new beautiful deck AND probably/possibly belly pictures as it really is getting HUGE!

Take care all,
Thanks for reading,

Beth

Breech Baby. (26 weeks aka 6 months!)

Well not actually breech. It's more in a transverse lie/breech position. Baby likes moving back and forth between the two positions. So sometimes Eric and I feel baby's kicking on the right side of my stomach and other times more in the pelvis area. It's actually really funny because the only places I haven't felt baby kick is up near my ribs (yet) or on the entire left side of my body (that's because his/her head mostly hangs out there)

If you read my last post, I nearly died working 4 night shifts in a row. Since then things have been lots smoother and I'm very grateful for that. I'm getting lots of sleep and even getting some things accomplished around the house. My goals right now: Sell the dining room set (It's just SO huge for our house); find the perfect fruit bowl; register for some classes (ballet, organic gardening, quilting class...); re-register for flight school (although I may not start that until the fall when we have a routine with baby); scope out which university courses I'm going to take in the fall; start picking up the things I need for baby (there's been a lull); and most importantly make a short list of baby names. The other night Eric and I stayed up late scouring the internet, books and movies for names that we liked and we do have a list now. A very, very, very long list. With names I can't stand, and names Eric can't stand. And a few names we both really LOVE. Last night at work I was leaving work with one of the girls I work with and she had had 2 names when she was pregnant. One for a boy, and one for a girl. And she didn't tell a SOUL. And her reasoning was that she and her husband liked the names and that's what matter, so she didn't want to be influenced by anyone else's opinion of the name so she just decided not to tell anyone. So, although I have let my choice of first choice of a girl's name slip a couple of times (so there are a few of you out there that know what my choice would be) Eric and I are going to keep it to ourselves until the baby is here.

We've also decided that we're not going to actually decorate the nursery until the baby is here (which means it may never get done.. but I'm sure with the help of family after the baby is born it will happen). By waiting we don't need to "settle" on any gender neutral items when we both have preferred either boy or girl specific stuff. We're going to buy / I'm (as in Beth is) going to build the bassinet. So you know, here's hoping that it's sturdy. And we're going to keep the bassinet in our bedroom for the first little while. That way we can continue to use the guest bedroom / soon to be nursery as a guest bedroom for the first few weeks following baby's arrival.

Anyway I think that's pretty much everything. Oh I'm 6 months today (woooooooo hooo) I have 3 months and a week until we'll have a little bundle of joy. Assuming 1) baby isn't early and 2) baby isn't late. If it's anything like it's mother it will be here at 41+3 days (aka induction day) or if it's like it's father, I'm going to assume a good 15 days before the due date (as he's 15 minutes early to EVERYTHING.)

Oh and here are a couple of baby pictures at 6 months. We took them today!

And one of my cute dog who loves to shred kleenex (as you'll see from the picture)


Thanks Everyone for reading!!

Until next time, Take care!

Beth

Sleep Deprivation Training (too tired to calculate gestation)

Hey everyone.

I think I'm dying.

Like seriously I feel like death.

Death that is really really tired.

I'm not sick. I don't have a cold, a sore throat, or any symptoms of being ill.

I'm just dying.

My last week as been non-stop craziness. Mostly just with work. Well really only just with work and than my crazy hormonal emotions on top of that. Before I go anything further I would like to say I have not been crazy hormonal in this pregnancy at all. I'm not a crazy hormonal person. I don't have crazy mood swings like a lot of women do. And I'm not just saying this to "toot" my on horn. You can ask Eric. If I'm pissed off it's because I genuinely have a reason to be. I don't just jump down peoples' throats for the hell of it and I don't get all "silent treatment-y" because I feel like it. The one sort of hormonal thing that I think freaks Eric out is animals. I have a tendency to cry in pet stores (the ones that actually sell pets) or cry when there are ads about animal rights. He's more or less accepted this and quite often when I feel too emotional to go into a pet store (likes yesterday) he'll go in for me and "check-in" to make sure that all of the animals are okay. Okay, so maybe I am hormonal, but not the crazy psychotic woman hormonal - which I hope NEVER to be.

Anyway, back to work. For those of you who have facebook, I updated my status several times this week about making it through my killer 4 night shifts (at 12 hours each) and even before the night shift madness begun I had an eight (which was extended to 9) hour shift to get the ball rolling. So I did some stupid amount of hours in a 5 day span that mostly were between the hours of 1930-0730. Normally that would be okay. 4 night shifts.. no problem. WELL that is before Eric and I got the great idea of me growing a baby. Which by all definitions of the word parasite, is really technically a parasite. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE our little parasite. But it is a parasite. So shift one was fine until the last 10 minutes of my shift. When my natural childbirth patient who had been 4 cm dilated (you want to get to 10cm) decided to get grunty. She was re-examined and was found to be 10cm. The baby was having pretty decent decelerations in the heart rate so the doctor slapped a vacuum on the baby's head and out came baby. Literally a minute before I was supposed to leave to go home. Thank goodness I could give my report off within 10 minutes and would just need to catch up on all of the charting involved with having a baby (which there is A LOT) so sat at the desk and started charting. That was until they decided to call a code 333 (Obstetrical Emergency - aka Emergency C-section - aka Splash n' Slash). That was fine. I volunteered to stay at the desk and man the desk while I finished my charting. Really the baby would be out in 5 minutes and things would resume to normal. NOPE. Next a patient rings, she's a breech 25-weeker who has been contracting for sometime and rings to say she thinks she broke her water. Go into the room, pull back the sheets and there are handfuls and handfuls of clots. Sooo I ring out for her "real" nurse and say "I think there may be an issue" needless to say that baby delivered within the 5 minutes it took them to deliver the baby in the OR - the difference? One had doctors and the NICU team, one had every other Labour and Delivery nurse who wasn't in the C-section present. Luckily with the skill and talent of one of our nurses that baby was delivered (full on breech) and ran down the hallway by another nurse to the NICU. Needless to say I knew the next 4 shifts could possibly kill me when the first shift started off like that. Within an hour that night we had 4 babies delivered and although I left around midnight I really don't think it slowed down much....

I find it hard to tell stories about nursing because they are such interesting (and sometimes gory) stories that I have to limit the content that I am letting the world in on because of confidentiality laws. So there are so many more details that would paint such a better picture of that night, but I have a fear of stepping out of bounds and losing my license.

So Nights 1, 2 and 4 were absolutely crazy. I'm pretty sure Night 3 was crazy too, I remember having an awesome natural childbirth delivery. The couple was such an amazing team and they had a BEAUTIFUL baby. But besides that - it's really all a blur. Night 2 was really hard beause a 24 weeker came in with bulging membranes and wanted a termination. That was difficult to swallow because just the day before I made 24 weeks and looked at it has a HUGE milestone. It meant my baby can live. She wanted to terminate while she "still could" because she did want a preemie baby. And to be honest, I DO understand what she's saying. I really really do and I'm not going to judge her for saying it or give her anything but the best nursing care that I can, BUT I am just so grateful to be at the point were my baby could live - two polar views.

March has been our busiest month by far. In January and February they were canceling nurses, this month (and I'm full time) I've been called to come in on ALMOST everyone of my days off if only for a 4 hour shift. It's all of the "summer-loving" babies as well as the people who took 6-8 months to get pregnant and decided to "start trying" in January. Also the people who know they're super fertile and wanted a spring baby. And don't forget about the oopses.

I want to establish I am not just whining, really I'm not. I LOVE night shifts. They're my favourite. BUT 4 in a row is rough on the body AND our next door neighbour (aka the people we share a wall with) are building a new deck. So bang bang bang and SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSsssssssssssssssssssss (saw sound) and more bang bang bang. So I was averaging 5.5 hours of sleep before my lovely 12 hour shifts. Which are all over with (for now).

Anyway, thanks for listening to me vent. I didn't really tell you much about baby. He/she is moving around TONS and you know those sappy movies where one person puts their hand on one side of a glass window and the other person puts there hand "on top of" that persons hand. Well I think baby and I were doing that but through uterus, and fat and skin instead of a glass window. I would poke baby and he or she would poke back. It was really endearing. Minus that it was happening at 430am when I would have liked to be asleep. Oh well. Like the title says I'm in sleep deprivation training. I will (at some point in time) post more pictures of my growing belly. Which is looking less like mine day by day. I still am impressed that when I step on the scale I'm not seeing some huge number that I'm not used to. Assuming a stick to a pound a week until a deliver I'll end up somewhere around/under 150lbs. But there are still 15 weeks left.. anything is possible! AHH only 15 weeks. Better get back to preparing....

Thanks all for reading!!

Take care,
Beth

I can do it.. I can do it... I can do it... (23 weeks and 6 days)

Hello everyone!

So I'm sorry I've been a terrible blogger. I haven't really been contributing to my blog for one main silly reason: Eric and I have yet to take belly pictures. Well I guess that isn't ENTIRELY true. We spent one evening taking a couple and then we spent more time taking pictures of him mocking my belly pictures. AKA: him standing there blowing out his stomach pretending to be pregnant. It was quite the enjoyable night, but I didn't like any of the pictures. So last night my sister Jill and I were talking and she said I should send her a picture so I took one in the bathroom with my iphone and felt like it turned out relatively okay, so here is my belly (at 23 weeks and 5 days):


And a picture of Eric at about 22 weeks:


As you can see he's carrying a little higher than I am...

As some of you may or may not know that with the amazing advancements of medicine and technology babies can live outside of the womb as early as 24weeks, this is known as the age of viability. Don't get me wrong, I would really like my baby to stay in until 37 weeks (any time after that I'm willing to have this baby!) BUT it's a little reassuring to know that in 2 days my baby would be able to survive outside of my uterus with the appropriate medical care.

Anyway, moving forward. This past week Eric and I did our "spring cleaning". Washed all of the linens, vacuumed the whole house, cleaned the bathrooms, purged. Did all of those fun things and labeled it Spring Cleaning. We also bought a new front load high efficiency energy star washer and a new front load steam dryer. I LOVE THEM BOTH. I've probably done more laundry in the last 5 days than I had in the 3 months leading up to this purchase. On Sunday, following raking the yard and doing some more fun and interesting housework, Eric and I decided it was time to assemble the current baby items we have at our place (stroller, car seat, playyard). So we spent Sunday afternoon fighting with baby stuff to get it all assembled nicely and by the end we were successful. I know how my car seat clips into my stroller and how to attach the bassinet and change table feature on to the playpen. And both Eric and I feel competent in being able to remove and replace the car seat in the car. The crib is pretty much ready to go, it's really just a matter of assembling it, but we don't have anywhere to put a fully assembled crib (at least not yet as for the time being we still need to use the guest bedroom as a guest bedroom!) so we'll be holding off on finishing that project. HOWEVER, it just means we're going to start the next one: dresser/change table. I'm pretty excited about this one because I will move it up to the "nursery" as soon as it is completed so I can get the drawers all filled up and ready to go! We're still gathering things, but have slowed down our pace a little bit. Cory, my mother-in-law, picked up the baby swing for us in pretty much the nick of time! The pattern Eric and I have chosen has been discontinued and there were only a handful left in North America. The next things we're looking at are diapers (we've decide to do cloth during the day and disposable at night.) I have a pattern for cloth diapers and my mom and I are going to sew a handful; however, I also intend on purchasing some tried and tested ones. Eric and I are still trying to decide on a theme for the Nursery. I really was like an animal theme, but Eric has mostly vetoed that. So who knows. I think it'll just be a matter of looking around and finding something that we love. There is this bajillion dollar rug that I adore that I would love to make the "centre piece" of the room, but like I previously stated it's a bazillion dollars. This is it: (yes more animals, but I LOVE animals so what are you expecting??)


The "designer" is called Oopsy Daisy and I love the simple art work for children, that not too complex designs. I thought if we could get this we could get simple bedding in one or two colours and than decorate the room with paintings of the animals in the rug. Eric likes the idea too, but the actual rug may be out of our price range.

Well I KNOW there was so much more I wanted to include in this post, but I can't remember any of it for the life of me (placenta brain). SoooOOoo I'm just going to take off. I promise not to go 3 weeks without blogging again! Only 16(ish) more to go and Eric and I will have a little bundle of joy to show off to the blogosphere. I'm SO excited!!!

Take care,
Thanks for reading.

All gold stars! (20+6)

I had another doctor's appointment today and everything with baby received gold stars:

IPS (checks for chromosomal issues such as monosomies or trisomies and other issues): GOLD STAR! - came back negative!
Morphology (the ultrasound between 18weeks-20weeks, picks up chromosomal issues the IPS may have missed AS WELL as any growth issues baby has): GOLD STAR - baby has a bladder, 2 kidneys, stomach, heart (with everything where it belongs and blood flowing in the right direction!), nasal bone, brain, 5 fingers on each hand, and 5 toes on each foot, oh and femur. And although we didn't find out the gender, the genitals were where they belong as well (aparently!)
Heart Rate: GOLD STAR - 150's!
Growth: GOLD STAR- 69th percentile, as per ultrasound and my fundus is 22cm (I think)
Movement: GOLD STAR- especially between the hours of 10pm-midnight.
Not trying to break it's way out yet (aka, contractions, bleeding, rupturing my membranes/breaking my water): GOLD STAR - although during the ultrasound it seemed like baby was trying to dig it's way through my placenta...

So check, check, check. Everything was clear with baby. And on my end:
Urine dip (for protein, white blood cells etc): GOLD STAR!
Blood Pressure: GOLD STAR! (well for me, it may not be a gold star for everyone though... it is a little low)
Weight Gain: GOLD STAR! - finally gaining some weight!
Baby Bump: GOLD STAR! - It's definitely there now. Much more challenging to hide, still fitting into my jeans.. with the button done up... It wont be much longer.

Sorry if that's too much information (like the urine dip) BUT for those people curious as to what goes on at the prenatal check ups it's definitely nothing to be afraid of! Anyway, I also LOVE my nurse and doctor. Shout out to Franky and Dr. Attie. If you are pregnant and in Ottawa I would highly recommend Dr. Attie's office. The staff there are super super friendly. And Franky is pretty much a rockstar. As for Dr Attie, she has a bright smile, she's full of information and also has a good sense of humour. She's a great obstetrician!

Well that is pretty much a full on baby update. Besides work driving me crazy I don't have much to talk about! Things are good. Oh I bought a baby girl outfit... THIS DOES NOT MEAN I'M HAVING A GIRL. We have NO clue what the sex is. We weren't told and don't plan on finding out. BUT I was in Children's Place trying to get an idea of how to decorate the baby's room - I was really hoping they would have crib bedding sets (which they didn't) Anyway then this dress just spoke to me. So did the cute pink matching shoes... Luckily Eric really liked the outfit too. But, AUGH-I spent another hour trying to choose a boy's outfit so that I wasn't leaving only with a girl's outfit but all of the boy stuff was a bit heavier (more for Spring rather than Summer) So I will return and find a boy outfit when the seasons change and they have their more Summery stuff. I'll also pick up bathing suit stuff at that time. The boardshorts were stinking cute and there were little rash guards too. I told myself I was allowed buying 1 outfit for a girl and 1 outfit for a boy before they were born so that it could be there "going home outfit". Regardless, I need to reign in the shopping a little bit. I keep being told to go out and pick up what I need after the baby shower or after people give their gifts, but if you know me at all you'll know that the nursery will be sitting pretty and ready for a baby in it by the end of May at the latest (and I'm due mid July). And the drawers will be stocked with cloth diapers, and bottles will be cleaned and ready to go. Any baby clothes I have will have been washed, ironed and in their rightful home. I just can't help it. I like having everything ready. There is way too much unexpected out there that the stuff that you can be prepared for, I like to be. AND it will let me just focus on gardening, landscaping. The things I can't do now because it's too cold/early I can do then, because everything for baby will be set up. Maybe next blog post I'll tell you all about the "list".

Anyway, I shared WAY too much of my neurotic side with the internet today. So I'm going to just leave it all at everyone thinking I'm a bit nutty! And hopefully I can redeem myself a little bit in the next post (where I will ACTUALLY include the most recent ultrasound pictures; as well as some baby bump pictures!)

Take care blogging world!
Thanks for reading!

Birthday weekend and halfway there! (20 weeks!)

Hello All!!

This past weekend was my birthday weekend - I turned 24 on Sunday. It was a spectacular birthday weekend. Saturday Eric and I worked on the crib for a little bit, we did a little bit of light shopping, bought cupcakes from Isobel's (which I have wanted for way too long) and went out with a group of friends to watch the Olympics and do some dancing, although no dancing was actually done. Also on Saturday my parents sent me an "Edible Arrangement" that had chocolate covered banana, apple, strawberries as well as some not chocolate covered pineapple, grapes, strawberries and cantaloupe. It was really really delicious:






Then on Sunday (my actual birthday) we took our crazy puppy Pabloe to the dog park with two friends and their dogs, opened presents - which I was really happy with my - a gorgeous purse from my mother-in-law; and a spa package for pretty much everything (pedicure, manicure, facial and massage) from Eric! And then we tied off a really great day with take out Thai food (my fave when I can't eat sushi) and cuddled and watched the hockey game... the very very disappointing hockey game. All in all a pretty low key weekend. But I must be getting old or something because it really was perfect.

Other exciting things from the week: Eric felt the baby move!! I wasn't sure how long it would take him to feel it because I have an anterior placenta, but lo and behold Eric felt it move! Also, I am now 20 weeks! So assuming I'm not super early, or super late, I have about 20 weeks left before Eric and I will have a third member to our family. It's pretty amazing!! It also means I've been trying to buckle down more on getting things ready. It hasn't been super successful, but I'm working on it!! The crib is on hold right now until Eric finishes a math course that he has been working on, so that will be resumed sometime in a month or two. I'm still trying to decide on a theme! I found a coordinated crib bedding set that I LOVE, but it isn't organic.. and I'm a little crazy and would like the bedding to be organic (avoid all of those chemicals and pesticides) Anyway, we'll see what I'm able to find! I'm open to any theme suggestions for the nursery!!

Well I am going to take off! Thanks for reading!!
Take care!

Ultrasounds!! (19+1)

Hey everyone!!

Today Eric and I went in for our morphology/18-20 week ultrasound. It was a pretty awesome experience and our sonographer was really great! She talked us through everything and explained everything she was doing and the baby parts to us. So far everything looks pretty bang on! We decided not to find out the sex, although we both made guesses (which we didn't tell her to confirm or not confirm.) My ONLY complaint about her is that she only gave us 2 pictures and last time I got 5!! I was a little bummed about that, but at least I know everything is okay and both pictures are stinking cute... I'll post them in the next blog because Eric is asleep already and I don't feel like fooling around with scanner. Anyway, everything is looking pretty good I'll probably drag Eric out "baby stuff" shopping this weekend as it's my Birthday and I'm allowed.

Oh that note, the crib is coming along nicely, a little slower than I hoped, but I can't complain because my wonderful husband is the one doing ALL of the work. I was a little worried about being around all the saw dust without a mask, and lo and behold we don't have any masks. Now it's been stained (with a stain that has No VOCs) but I still hate taking that chance. It is going to be stained a second time and then all assembled and then voila I'll more or less have a crib. The probably right now is that the room that will be the nursery is currently being used as a spare room, which I would like to leave it that way for a few weeks/months as we are still most likely having family out to visit over the next few months... BUT ALL I WANT TO DO IS EMPTY THAT ROOM AND START BABY-IZING IT. It's really ridiculous how much I want to decorate it. I still haven't come up with a theme, although I don't want the room to "theme-y" and need to change it in 2 years, realistically I hope we've moved in 2 years. I also don't want however we decorate the room to affect resale value of the house. Right now it's a nice colour and I plan to keep it that colour. I've thought about doing an animal theme, either safari or enchanted forest; nursery rhymes (this one is become my mom bought Eric and I a Jim Shore decoration for our baby quite awhile ago, before we were even starting to try, she saw it at worked and loved it and it is really stinking cute; polka dots and stripes, although I think this would be pretty boring, and; around the world theme - this is because I found this BEAUTIFUL rug that I love by Oopsy Daisy that is called "Our World" and it is gorgeous, and way out of my budget (for a rug) Eric more or less said I could have the rug or I could feed the baby - it was my decision. I'm going with feeding the baby. But really it is a gorgeous rug. So, if anyone has any suggestions I would gladly take them. Think gender neutral too! Any links are greatly appreciated.

Anyway, as the second trimester progresses so does my appetite and I am going to go eat something. Oh and everyone will be happy to know I've returned to prepregnancy weight (as I had lost a lot of weight before) and my jeans are starting to feel quite uncomfortable for extended periods of times. Yes people, I have a bump, one which I'll post a picture of with the ultrasound pictures maybe tomorrow!

Take care everyone,
Thanks for reading!!