40 weeks 2 days - Ground Zero

Its time!!! (ok, it was time...I am writing this in hindsight).

I kind of had an idea last night that my contractions were more persistent then they had been in the past.

Overnight I continued having the odd contraction which is a big difference to previous contractions that would stop when I lied down.

In the morning I opted to go with Dwayne to the city early 'just in case'.

I envisioned walking around the mall trying to get these contractions stronger and effective. I never made it to the mall.

Instead we checked into the Sheraton across the street from the hospital where I hung out while Dwayne did some much needed office work.

At about 2pm Dwayne came back to the hotel where I mentioned the contractions were getting stronger though they stopped when I would sit/lay down. But man, if I stood up after sitting I would get a real dozy of a contraction that would last up to 3 minutes.

At around 4pm we headed to the hospital for a check. My contractions were still 'stopping' when I would sit but they were close together, long and strong when standing. Because we were just across the street we figured if they sent us away it was no big deal.

While hooked up to the monitor my contractions once again stalled. Ho humm...looks like we may be sent back. Once the monitor came off they picked up again and man, they were intense (they curled my toes!!). I swear though, the nurses thought I was making it up.

The doc came in to check to see if we were dilated and low and behold...I was 6-7 cm dilated!! Shocking - especially when I could literally stop the contractions just by lying down (until now that is).

We made a quick dash to get me into a room so that I could be doused with antibiotics (recall I'm Strep B positive and need antibiotics).

Literally once my foot was in the room my contractions progress to the point that I wanted to push. But, alas...no pushing...I need the antibiotics first. Quick check...yup 10 cm dilated - but no pushing yet.

Another 45 minutes later we finally got the antibiotics in. FINALLY I can push.

9 minutes of pushing and out SHE came. Its a GIRL!!

She weighted in at 8lbs 9.9 ozs and measuring 55.5 cm (21.85 inches) long.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!!


No name yet. This isn't something that you can decide lightly you know. This poor girl can be scarred for life if you mess this up. So we're going to take our time (ok, ya ya...we've been lazy thinking up names. No need to waste time if you don't know the gender right?? I mean, your only wasting 50% of the effort when you don't know if its a girl or boy).




**Gory Details to follow**

If your still reading this then your obviously ok with the idea that I suffered immense pain.

If you calculate the timing of the above events it pretty much equates to the fact that there was NO TIME for drugs. They did give me (or try to give me) gas...for anyone considering gas...its sucks. Plain and simply. Its this huge nozzle that goes into your mouth and for me, my mouth was as dry as dirt. Not a good combination. Then, when I would try to breath through a strong contraction (the ones that make me wiver in pain) I would breath through my nose rather than my mouth. What a waste of time. About 50% of the contractions I would attempt the gas and the other 50% I just spit it out.

So, in a nut shell...I felt it all. It hurt. But more disturbing was when she came out and I could feel myself tear in each seperate spot. Yup, felt a tear there...oh, another tear there... it goes on.

In the end I tore in 4 places but the doc assured me as far as tears go it wasn't bad. Now, writing this in hindsight (1 week later) tell that to my still sore neather regions that it could have been worse. Yikes. For what its worth...I would do it again and again for this little bundle.

On another note...I also puked during labour. 4 times. I tried to warn them...in fact for a while I was telling Dwayne my stomach wasn't feeling great. He tried to get me to drink juice or other stuff but I kept saying I didn't feel great so no thanks. It didn't help that I had Indian food for lunch. Yummy going down...not so good coming up. Poor little baby girl...her first kiss was from her mom with Indian food puke breath!!

First night with our new bundle was surreal. I simply cannot describe how humbled and in awe of her I am. I only got about an hour of sleep but I wasn't really tired that first night. I just stared at her and touched her as much as possible.

40 weeks

Yup, its August 12, 2009. Today is our official estimated due date (is that an oxymoron?? official estimated??).

We hit (at 1pm today) exactly 40 weeks since conception. What does that mean?? This kid is LATE!

The last week we've had a pretty eventful week. The pregnancy that has been 'easy' got hard for a couple of days. Who knew the sciatic nerve could be so painful. Alas, it only slowed me down for about a day and a half and I'm happy to report that the little one has shifted to a much more comfortable position.

And then there's the hemorrhoids. AHHH...the taboo pregnancy side effect that no one tells you about until its there. Then you hear all about every other women who suffered them too. As you can see I have no problem in talking about them (or 'it' as in my case). Alas, other than one day of pain and a few days of annoyance (and laughter - who knew sitting on a donut pillow would be so damn funny) I've survived and with a bit more humble added into the mix.

So there you have it. Officially this little gaffer is late and I'm going to take that to heart in using it as an excuse from here on it...its not me who's late, its them.

I will be taking a shot of the full term 40 week belly so stay tuned.


Here it is...

Its big, no?? Amazingly enough, I feel pretty darn good. Looking at it I'm amazed that my back hasn't given out!!

38 weeks

Well, its official. Stretch marks have over taken my belly!!!

As of yesterday to be exact. Once again I'm amazed at the changes a women's body goes through during this process.

Yesterday morning I woke up and did my daily belly inspection. Nope, no stretch marks.

At 1 pm I hopped into the shower (yes working from home allows for odd grooming hours) and low and behold I had red marks all along the bottom of my belly. It took place in a matter of hours and not simply one mark popping up a mark at a time (as I would have expected) but a whole slew of them all at once.

By the evening they started to fade already and a part of me thought that maybe it was a heat rash from the extreme heat we've been having (38 degrees indoors and out).

This morning, yup, they're there but ironically not very prominent. Seems the first day the skin doesn't like it much but adjusts accordingly. Still, I have a few weeks to go yet so who knows what they'll look like in the next 14-21 days.

On another note. Anyone who's interested in wondering if the expensive creams work. I'm going to go out on a limb and say no - it truly is genetic.

My mother got them (not sure of the details).
My oldest sister got them around 38 weeks - they arrived 'over night' and were timed with the dropping of my niece. No cream was used
My other sister got them at ~37 weeks. Again, I believe they came on fast and quick. No cream was used.

Me, I got them at exactly 37 weeks and 6 days all the while applying a cream "sworn by a friend" who of course never got a mark. I'm guessing neither did her mother who didn't use cream.

Either way I have worked hard for these badges of honour and even if the cream gave me a few extra weeks of a mark free belly I'll happily sport these marks knowing that they equate to a big and healthy baby growing.

I'll try to get back on for an updated belly shot.

Here goes. Updated late but better late than never.

My belly actually looks quite 'small'. Definitely better hidden with a shirt that doesn't conform to each and every bump.

36 weeks 5 days

The end is nigh!!!

Ok, maybe not but a girl can always hope right???

As I near the magical 37 week mark (the point where the baby is considered full term) I can't help but wish this was finally over.

Not for any other reason than I WANT to know if there will be a healthy, (hopefully happy), crying (yes, I know oxymoron to happy), baby in our arms.

After all, this pregnancy has almost been TOO GOOD. Absolutely NO complications or problems and that in itself causes me more fear than if things were just a bit off kilter. Like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Part of me feels like I've figured out Karma's plan to get my guard down only to kick me when I'm down. But I ain't falling for it!!! ;)

...Ok, so its now 3 days later and I'm finally finishing this post. Oh, and I'm relieved to say that this pregnancy is not longer "perfect" - whew!!

Our last OB appointment I have been confirmed as Strep B positive. Yup, I have a bacteria (Group B Streptococcus to be exact). Though it can make delivery just a tad more complicated, I'm ironically very relieved to have it. It has created that 'bit off kilter' feel that I was looking for to allow me to think that this pregnancy isn't too good to be true. The good thing is I have the best possible strain of Strep B - if there is a 'good' strain.

So what does this mean. Not much. It simply means I'm put on antibiotics for delivery - an IV I think, so while I've been there done that before, it does minimize some of the freedom I would otherwise have if I didn't carry the bacteria (ie no cartwheels down the hospital halls to help speed up labour).

Mmm, not much else to update but here, finally!! is the lone maternity picture we have thus far.

35w 2d

Ha ha, I'm back, with my foot in my mouth. Only 2 days previously I was walking the walk as I didn't have any stretchmarks.

Yesterday we noticed our first stretch mark - right where my naval ring used to be.

Oh well, I think at 35 I'm too old for naval rings anyway - and really, I think the chances of getting a flat enough belly to wear one is no longer an option (as the last 8 years have proven).

Otherwise Dwayne and I did our maternity photos today. We went out to one of the local lakes for some scenic shots (since come on, we know that we're not that exciting to look at thus we need background and atmosphere). It was absolutely beautiful out today and from the few our photographer showed us, the background and area was amazing.

Of course, when we have a few to show we'll share.