The day in the life of Mom and Gustave - Week 3

Tuesday, Some random day in October... very close to Samhain I can figure...


0001 Neil is with baby downstairs on the couch

0230 Neil returns with baby Gus, reports he's been sleeping, they both have been

0235 Baby needs to be fed, but I hate to wake him up from his pack n' play.. I have a bad feeling...

0300 Gus eats but is wide awake now, we try walking, feeding more, turning him on his side, playing lullabys.. nothing. He's awake and gas is making him uncomfortable. Lots of spit up! Is this normal??

0400 I start to get weepy. He's spitting up everything I keep giving him but he keeps coming back for more????? Neil holds wee man for a few minutes before giving him back to me to feed.

0500 Neil needs sleep - he returns to bed as he actually has to go to work in a few hours.

0600 Gus is about asleep, so I bring him to bed, he sleeps better - I suppose because the bed is soft and I am wrapped around him keeping him warm.

0630 I am asleep, Neil is off to work... in a sleepy state I ask myself did little man just poop or poot?

0900 Wakey time and time to feed Gus! We get to eating. Change diaper - loaded!

1000 Shower time for me, wipe down for Gus. Get a plum from downstairs while Gus is calm in his playard... try to get a load of laundry going. I can hear Gus starting to cry... it eats at my soul... I go pick him up.. eww.. he has goo in his eye. Get tissue.. get goo out.. success! He's wide awake though...

1100 Gus in living room to his bassinet, crying, I am trying to slay some ants (we have an ant issue in the house) and working on some breakfast. Change diaper - just pee... Ok forgot I left breakfast out (I did this yesterday to my lunch too)... go back to making my oatmeal.. yum.. pick up Gus.. he's crying...

1115 Diaper change - just pee.... again... he pees a lot..

Try to eat over Gus while holding him. Found a solution.. put him on table, his head on my arm... and he dozes off.. ok.. he likes to be held... understatement! But now I can type on my keyboard too... mmm... little spit up.

Lots of farting again today... last night was same. He seems to have a lot of gas...

Birth Story: Part II: Post Delivery

Our Hospital Stay - (11-13 Oct) Post Delivery.

The hospital stay was a night or two at the motel 6. I had no idea we would be there for three days. We checked in/admitted 10 October around lunch and were not released until 13 October just before lunch. But I must say we were we well taken care of.

So the first night was not much of a night, but we did get a few hours of sleep. The doctors/nurses kept coming in to do vital signs and check ups on me and the baby though. I also had the option for room service during meal times, room service!!

Neil had a couch to sleep on that pulled out and the nurses provided sheets and blankets. The first night was the only night he slept there alone. The hospital bed I had to sleep in was uncomfortable so I snoozed with him and most of the time with the baby - since he (little man) wanted to eat or at least try eating most of the time. Did I mention I was wearing the funky pink hospital gown the whole time? All open in the back to make my check ups and potty breaks easier? I had no modesty!

After the birth, my mom went to the Navy lodge for the night and we settled down for some rest.

12 Oct/Sunday - Neil picked up my mom who got a few hours of shut eye. I am glad she was able to relax and get a bit of rest. She was ecstatic to enjoy the baby during the day and we were able to get some rest. Mom and Neil also went out to get some breakfast treats from a local Madelines... yum yum! I highly recommend knowing eateries in the area of your hospital - send for food if youThe nurses were great too, they helped me getting him breastfeeding. (Definitely request a lactation consultant if you can).

The Mommy Diaper

As for my recovery, swollen feet and ankles, pain in my feet, numb toes, achy back, tired/exhausted/excited!, swollen face (all the edema was from all the fluids they pushed into me during labor), urinary incontinence, hemorrhoids and pain in the nether regions.

For my hoo-haha I was given ice pack sanitary napkins.. yes, the all in one! You pop them just like an instant ice pack and viola, cold huge sanitary napkin, but wait there's more. You put a chux pad (google it) under the pad and in your lovely hospital issued mesh underwear!

Huge oversized pads

Chux pads (like the ones they put under your hiney at the OB/GYN)

Very exciting stuff... what gets better is that every time I peed, I have to use this little water bottle (and I still am) to wash the area up and then recreate the mommy diaper since I normally peed a little on in trying to get to the toilet in a hurry and the mess of the afterbirth. Yup, all the fun stuff of recovery. Just be prepared for taking your time and drink plenty of fluids. And in the words of Harmony Skillman, "take the stool softener". Yes, do it! It will help you pass the poo much easier since you will have hemorrhoids, but don't go too many days with it, I got a bit of diarrhea by the sixth day... so now I am good and will take them as necessary.

So lot's of peeing, some poop, and lots of foot swelling. So as my body started getting rid of the fluids my swelling went down. My face was so puffy too, so was little man's but that I am sure was because he squeezed his way out (or got pulled really).

Urinary Incontinence

I peed myself - advice for new mothers - just after birth, be cautious, go to the bathroom often, use the perineum shower bottle... and just be patient with your body - it's been through a lot.

I didn't make it to the toilet seat about four or six times... Yes I peed on my feet, the seat, myself... I laughed, there was nothing more I could do. Clean it up and try to make it sooner next time.

Food at the Hospital

If someone offers take it! My mom and Neil and a local friend - Lynn Carbone, took care of us so very well. I had french pastries two days and a home cooked meal from Lynn the third day. It was wonderful! The help is underrated, I was able to take naps and get some rest between feedings. Having mom there was helpful. Eat though! You need the energy!
Looking at yourself afterward

I was so curious when I was at the hospital. When I took a shower I took a look at what was left of my body. I suppose I must have lost about 15 pounds during my hospital stay... 7 lb baby, 1-2 placenta... fluids (amniotic fluid, pee). Eh.. not sure, but it's about a week later and I am about 20 lbs lighter than the week before delivery. So must be a good sign! I am loosing weight yeah!! I weighed in at the doctor's yesterday (9 days after deliver) and I was 147 lbs. Ugh.. it's so difficult to look at. So back to the visual. I will have to take a picture too.

My tummy was so squishy just after... it felt like jello. It was so lose, like your grandmother's arms! LOL! Well ok so it was funny and it hung there and it felt strange as I walked around, it seemed to flop around. Walking was challenging, not because of the stitches, but because it just felt like everything was going to fall out from between my legs. I felt shaky and uncomfortable, almost like I had done too many sit ups combined with bad gas! I don't know it just felt odd and had yet not taken any Tylenol or Motrin for any pain (I have not at all actually and they supplied me with both in case I need them). I didn't want to touch down there either, it was just freaky not being able to see it (belly hanging in the way, and generally not being able to bend appropriately yet).

When I got home though I broke out the mirror... umm... yeah... so it was red, duh, I found my three stitches carefully. They ache now! They out right hurt really. Umm... everything was a little messed up and well... oh well, it's healing. Doc said it was fine, and it would heal no problem, he never had a case of someone getting infected or having problems. Lovely right? Well anyways, it's healing and I am sure in a few weeks (6 week follow up) my doc will find it all well.

OK enough about my nether regions.

If you are pregnant, just be prepared, you loose all inhibitions, I used the pot with the door open, I just didn't care, everyone was checking everything out. Every time the nurses came by they would check where my uterus was (to make sure it was shrinking and firmness) and they would check my mommy diaper to see how my bleeding was. My bleeding is fine damn it. It slowed quickly and is not too bad now even (10 days after delivery).

Good News: Everyday the belly is getting smaller! I can't wait till it goes down a bit more and I can see the goodies again!

More in the weeks to come!

A Birth Story: Part I: Gus' Grand Entrance

Here is the story of the last few days of the pregnancy and the birth!

Our last hypnobirthing story was Thursday and it was exciting to meet someone who had successfully used the hypnosis to birth, it truly was. But on the same token I feared that with my mother here as much as I love her, that she would not understand and know enough to be able to support this method. Neil and I had not practiced enough hypnobirthing either, so it was going to be a shot in the dark really if the methods were going to work for us all. My mom flew in Friday night from West Palm Beach, and I was so thankful to see her!

How it started:

Saturday morning 4 am I had my first contraction. I was not sure it was for real, and I figured it was all in my head. I knew I just wanted labor to get started so I figured that every twinge I got I would probably would want to think... "this is it".

So it's now Saturday 10 October - 5 am. I get up to pee - again - and I think it's another contraction but it's not very painful, but it aches a little more than they have in days previous... but still not sure, I go back to bed.

It's 7 am. More peeing, some water starts to leak out of me. I figure this is round two of Monday's false alarm. I tell Neil maybe it's here.. water comes gushing out, I sit on the edge of the bath tub, and water starts coming out a lot... gush once, gush twice, thrice, ok... now we are pretty sure it's my water and it has broken. I must be one of those 8% of cases that water breaks prior to labor starting. Ok shower time! Called the hospital and it was neat to tell them that it was actually my due date! (5% of women go into labor and have their baby on the due date)

So we get cleaned up, get all our stuff and go get some breakfast. We went to Metro Diner on the way there and I had a couple blueberry pancakes, but the contractions were coming, even if they were not painful yet. Go to hospital in Bethesda... the President's hospital!

At Bethesda Naval Medical Center (Hospital):

I was triaged, 4 cm dilated. The baby's heart was monitored as well as my uterine contractions and they also did a quick ultrasound to ensure the baby's head was down. The nurse started an IV when I told them my water broke. I was not leaving the hospital without having this little man! (One the nurses blew out a vein in my arm.. very very bruised still!) But the second 18G needle that went in was set no problem. Did I tell you how lucky I was to poop while we were waiting to be triaged?? Lucky huh?

So about 1130 we were moved to a labor and delivery room (looked like a suite at your local Motel 8 rooms). There was a couch, a rocking chair, a bed for me that had a pull away section, shower, birthing ball... eh.. all good. But here's the thing that drove me nuts... I had to be on the monitor constantly, and I didn't realize the importance until the nurses and doctors kept rushing into the room with urgency and sense of purpose.

I had to be on the monitor all the time! So every time I had to pee, I had to let them know. When I sat on the birthing ball, they couldn't see the monitor.. it just wouldn't work while I was sitting that "way". So that was a pain. I wanted to stand but that was problematic as well. The surges kept coming and I was very comfortable for a while. I started listening to my hypnobirthing recordings a bit too late I think... that and well no one knew about it and my mom just kept telling me about the pain I was about to experience. The unfortunate thing was that the word "pain" was supposed to be off limits! We were not supposed to talk about it, but she did not realize that. My birth plan included that, as well as having the baby be put onto my chest if all goes well. OH well... Mom and Neil went to get some lunch in the cafe of the hospital.

After they returned labor was still moderate and I was easily able to deal with it. Some of the surges really started kicking up around 4 pm and I had to really focus on hypnobirthing. But still, I had distractions that were inevitable. I decided not to call the doula or Crystalene, I wanted privacy... and I didn't realize that I would feel like that, but I was off my birth plan already and I was a bit embarrassed in a sense. I was not doing everything I was supposed to be doing in order to be in the deepest most relaxed state I could be in. Oh well... poop. Oddly enough though looking back I don't remember how it all really went except for the very end. Time flew by and between some of the more serious surges, I was able to sleep and be in a hypnotic state, I listened to my ipod over and over.. the 1812 Overture was a blessing and made me feel perfectly content. I was zoning out... my mother' and husband's presence was comforting but I barely remember them there in some instances. Mom and Neil held my legs up too once I was moved to the bed. I barely remember but it felt so good, and I think I was telling them over and over how good it felt and how great the music was, I think I told my mom and Neil repeatedly. I also barely remember the talking... mom and Neil would be talking but it felt like their conversation was so far away and not in the room. It was awesome in hind sight. I remember the back pain I had too, and how I held the sides of the bed and held myself up for all of my surges. I remember the unbelievable desire to poop for so long and how badly I wanted it to go away. I had wished I could have pooped!

Around what I think was 10 pm I was 8 cm dilated. The anesthesiologist came by and between some erratic contractions (2 mins apart) she read to me the options I had for pain relief and what would happen if there was an emergency and/or c-section. I had to sign that I understood my options.. that was fun...

So I moved towards 9 cm pretty quick but I hung there for a while. One of the doctors kept saying how if I didn't progress they wanted to go to use Pitocin to completely dilate and regulate contractions. I am so glad I stood my ground and told them no. My cervix softened on it's own and to the point that my nurse was certain I was to be able to push through (thank goodness for the nurse - Margaret - she was a blessing).

Pushing and Delivery:

So I was allowed to push - I felt like I could see the finish line! It felt good to push, my contractions were manageable again! It was a warm feeling and I could feel the sensation as his head traversed the birth canal.

The nurse tried to empty my bladder by inserting a catheter into my urethra and that was painful and miserable! Not only that but no pee came out, it was too late basically and all that was successfully done is worsened my post deliver urinary incontinence (I barely made it to the bathroom a couple times during our hospital stay. . . ok, I will level with you, I made it to the bathroom - dropped trow and realized I had already peed on my feet and the floor just before making over the toilet!)

The room was ready in minutes. Absorbent paper was put on the ground and a bag was attached to the bed by my hiney. They poured some stuff onto me iodine or whatever... and i remember how cold it was. Brrr... but it also felt good, guess they had to clean the area up! The doc continued to stretch out my perineum to make it easier I suppose. They dropped the head of my bed a bit so I was leaning back a bit further. The doctors explained to me to grab my legs, push with my abs, and to breath in and hold for 10 during pushing. I did this three times each contraction that came on.

It felt so good to push! We pushed for about an hour or so maybe? Time was so skewed for me. Looking back the pain does not seem so bad, but I also remember looking into Neil's eyes and whispering that it would never be over and how I felt I may not be able to do it. His presence was all I needed.

Mom and Neil told me that they were holding my bum so that the hemorrhoids would not fall out!!! I never realized it.

He's Out! But I am still laying here....

So they take him out, pulling and pushing, there was urgency. He had the cord wrapped around his neck twice. I did not realize it and I just relished in the warm feeling of his exit and the fact that he was in good hands. I saw the female doctor cut his cord, I realized then that something was up, but they moved so quickly and the baby was moving quickly. I trusted them to do what they do best, the female doc that delivered us made me feel at ease, I had seen her a few times over the last few hours. She had an air of confidence and aptitude. She was good at what she did, or at least she had wonderful bed side manners.

I heard Gustave peep... he was not too loud but he was fine. The pediatricians appeared quickly and reported to us that he was fine and they would come by tomorrow to check on him. So he got a little extra attention, not a bad thing. They gave him his vitamin K shot, he didn't say a word. Neil was right there when he was on the warming table. The Corpman did their jobs well.

I was still on the table, one of the newer residents was at the ready holding the umbilical cord where it was still attached to the placenta which was still inside. They were waiting for it to come out. I was given Pitocin to facilitate the dropping of the placenta and shrinking of the uterus. I didn't feel much and then all of a sudden the female doc took over and showed the newer doc how to do it. She gave it a bit of a tug gave my abdomen a really good massage and out it came. No pain really. She put the placenta into a blue rubbermaid bin and inspected it.

Now came clean up. Doc rolled up her chair to inspect my underthings. I was joking with the doctors at this point, we were laughing together, she admired my strength to labor without an epi, I admired her professionalism. I was feeling pretty high on life I suppose that and I was exhausted and sweaty from all the pushing. She found a small tear and got the lidocaine out and injected me in with it to numb me up. That pinched a bit here and there, but then nothing, she gave me three stitches and all done!

Neil brought me my little man, I had been watching him from the bed the whole time while the doctors worked on me. I was so happy.. he was so little, I felt so inept! I just had never held a newborn. The nurse helped me get him to breast feed a little. She helped me put him in the football hold and then in a cross the chest hold. She was so patient. People had filtered out of the room, it was just us and the nurse.

A corpsman came by and gave him a sponge bath, and he got hepatitis B shot and he was given back to Neil. I was so tired. The nurse wanted me to pee prior to leaving the room to our newer cleaner recovery suite. Then we took the walk to suite 8 and settled in. Mom went to stay at the Navy Lodge on post (it was three AM!) and Neil went to get our bags. We brushed, baby was in the bassinet that they provided and he was checked on a few times as was I. Neil slept on the pull out couch that was provided. We kinda slept... everything is so fuzzy looking back!

Ok well you will have to read part II for more!

Tomorrow's EDD!

Whoa, who's that in the reflection???

It's Friday and its the day before our due date and I am home relaxing. I have more or less have been told not to come to to work! H1N1 Flu is going around and there is a scare, but I am missing having a purpose that I am accustomed to.

I decided to get moving early enough to get a cup of coffee at City Dock before the Sailboat show rush in Annapolis (Big boat show!). Everyone was super friendly this morning, lots of good mornings! It was so pleasant. I grabbed the camera and got my white chocolate mocha decaf and a gingerbread muffin that was deee-lish! I sat down, ate, and then took a stroll up Main Street. It was nice and cool out and lots of people getting the day started. It was lovely.

While taking my walk and checking out the windows and the goodies behind the windows, I saw my reflection and its so tough to accept the reflection. I don't totally feel the way I look (well there are moments - like when I can't get off the couch). I had to snap the picture you see above! My belly sticks out so far! I got a couple comments today, and it's fun to say... "well, my due date is tomorrow actually!".

SO for those that don't know, Monday night we had a bit practice run. I went to lunch with Neil and I had a gush of fluid come down while I was on the toilet. It was a bit strange because it was a lot of fluid but not enough to really be my water breaking. But we had read that it can come down a little here and a little there. I kept flowing the rest of the day, so we called Labor and Delivery at Bethesda Naval Hospital and they told us to eat, shower and come in. So we did, we took our time and got there around 2100 and they put me on a monitor and did an internal check. The monitor was neat, but for 30 minutes I had to sit tight, and Gustave kicked the monitor the entire time! It was super cute! Neil was pretty much asleep during the triage, but he did help me get the super complicated gown on, too many snaps!

So the baby was good, but upon checking the fluids, they said that they were not amniotic fluid so they sent us home. So that was good.... it was good to time the trip in the evening and give a practice run... although Neil took us a bit quicker than expected. We made it in 40 minutes! Got some McDonalds afterward since Neil had missed dinner. I nibbled on fries.. mmm.. So we were home in bed by midnight.

So beyond that, just waiting for labor to get going! I suppose I could try some spicy food... did some walking this morning. Hot showers. Eh... we will see I suppose. We are 2 cm dilated 50% effaced, blood pressure is still good (120/70 - higher than previous) - and the doc keeps telling Neil to do "his part" to help get the cervix soft, he giggled. But all is good! Head was down, I hope he stays that way! I keep doing the exercises.

I will be happy when the heart burn is gone! It's terrible! I just am so surprised it's still so bad.

We, Or I guess I had our last Hypnobirthing class last night. I went without Neil so he could finish the tile work in the spare bathroom... but unfortunately not done yet. Maybe today? SO I am hoping that gets done, but Mom will be here tonight so guess she will be sharing our crappy bathroom for a day or so. Maybe I will take mom to the Boat Show or the Green show in D.C.

I just am getting so impatient! I feel so heavy - 167 lbs at my Wednesday visit, ugh. We have another doc's appt next week, but I hope we don't make it to then! I hope!!!!

OK, well enough about baby! Saw a preying mantis when I got home and then took a nap! Hmm... nap! Nice. I guess I needed it cause I slept for 2 hours! OK, time to get the baby room and Halloween decorations going!

1 Week Left to EDD

Yeah we are almost there! I am not sure I could be more uncomfortable at this point! Having this belly is a lot of work and it always seems in the way!

Last week the doctor confirmed 1 cm dilated/20% effaced, so things are moving along as anticipated. This has been such a normal run of the mill pregnancy, I can only hope his birth day will be as "normal" as well! I just can't wait. Every little ache and braxton hicks contraction I keep wondering is this it, is he coming? Last night I had three pretty good braxton hicks but nothing... I just got up to use the head and went back to sleep ((sigh)).

Tonight is the full moon though and they say that there is an increased possibility that your waters can break because of the gravitational pull... but we don't have major tides here so I think Gustave will probably dictate when he comes out! He's the boss now!

Friday at work, omg my colleagues all surprised me good! My Navy division decided to send one of my guys over to me with a "problem" and that I had to meet him at noon. When he came by basically we searched for a place to talk and when we got to the small conference room everyone was there! They had gotten me a cake and some lovely organic gifts for the little man! It was so cute! We sat and enjoyed one another's company over cake! I just was floored, they got us some really sweet things and it was just over the top!!! I am so happy!

But it doesn't end there. Just when I thought the people hated me so and told me I have a manning meeting to go to on Friday 1300... I open the door to the other conference room to find cake and flower and more gifts! I couldn't believe it... (I really didn't think the staff where I work cared for me that much). But it was super sweet... it seemed a little forced which made me uncomfortable, but I felt myself blushing as I walked in. SO had more cake with some lovely folk and got some beautiful clothes - hand knits, the cutest gap outfit ever and a couple Winnie the Pooh outfits sooooo cute! Flowers ... adorning my kitchen.. it's amazing how nice people really can be... when you are pregnant! Haha... it seems there is extra special attention given to pregos... but hey.. here at the end of it all... I know why now... it's tough getting around, coming to work and putting in the long hours wrapping up everything. I have been working 10 hour days trying to just get everything turned over!!! I am a work-a-holic... that's what I have decided.

Think I might go for a walk this morning.. I was waiting for Neil to get up in case he wanted to join me, but oh well... I try to let him sleep in when he can, since he continues to remind me how much he will miss the sleeping when Gustave comes.

So I was going to put a picture of my belly button up... but... upon seeing the photo... I don't think so... it was much cuter in the mirror than in a close up photo! So I will spare you! It's kinda star shaped but not that pretty! Enjoy the week! Next post will hopefully be about a birth day... if not, oh well!