It appears that Sophie has mastered the art of the quarter roll. Lying on her back, she throws her arm down over her tummy and rolls onto her side. She has being doing this for ages. Well, ages in the life of a 3 week old, which would be about 2 weeks. Until last night though, she always ended up right back on her back as she came up just a wee bit short of fully being on her side.
I lay her on the sofa as I always do, and went to get her sleeper off the other sofa. And then I heard the dreaded sound. THUNK. Followed by a second of silence and then the loudest scream I have heard out of her yet. When I turned around she was on her tummy on the floor. Yikes.
I think that all of my children have fallen off the couch at one time or another. But never at 3 weeks. Needless to say I was feeling terrible. She stopped crying the moment I picked her up and for the next two hours, everytime she fell asleep I would get all worried and eventually wake her up. I thought about calling the Healthy Beginnings number, but decided that I was being a complete eejit. When I took her up to bed I had a hard time falling asleep and kept touching her stomach to make sure she was breathing. She woke up at 3.30 and I was so happy she was alright that I wasn't even bothered by the fact that she woke up and hour and half earlier than normal. She ate and went back to sleep and I kept her in my arms. When she woke up at 7.30 I fed her while lying in bed, the first time she has done that. And that is the second best thing about breast feeding...not having to get up to feed. We then had a lovely lie in until 9.30 when Saoirse woke up.
She has been fine all day, no problems for her fall. It was our first Britney Spears moment with many to follow I am sure.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Monday, August 28, 2006
A little thing that freaks me out
I think she was 6 days old in this picture. I thought I would be so great at remembering the dates and whatnot but since I am currently lucky I remember the names of all four children (but not necessarily calling the right child by the right name) the chances of actually remembering dates is slim to none. The date is set on the camera, but I have no idea how to retrieve it. So I just think she was 6 days old. But she could have been 7, as her one week photos immediately follow this one. Ack! Tis driving me crazy! Must figure out camera.
But on to what freaks me out.
Sophie falls asleep in my arms. Like most mothers, I am sure, sometimes I just sit and stare at her. Sometimes, though, I read. It is the only chance I get these days. She quite often opens her eyes a wee bit and I watch her eyeballs roll back in her head. I know all babies do this, I assume that we all do it in our sleep. But it totally freaks me out. To the point where I make sure the phone is near by so that if I have to call 911 I can do it quickly.
Stupid? Yes. Irrational? Totally.
In my head I know she is fine. But every single time she does it I think of a girl I was friendly with years ago. She had a little boy, Matthew, back in October of 1998. I visited with her in the hospital the evening of the day he was born. She was eager to get home the next day as they had a 2 year old daughter she was missing. I said that I would take every moment they would let me stay. That's just me, I think, I rather enjoy being in the hospital. Excluding the fact that youget no sleep it's actually rather peaceful.
She went home the day after Matthew was born and all was fine. The next morning, at around 7.30, when he was exactly 48 hours old, she was holding him in her arms when his eyes rolled back in his head. I can not remember what else happened to him for her to know there was something wrong, there might have been something, there might not have. I only remember her saying "His eyes rolled right back in his head" as we talked on the phone, both of us crying. She called her husband, they called an ambulance, they tried to revive him on the kitchen table. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. I often wonder if he would have survived had they still been in the hospital.
Anyway, this is what I think of everytime I see Sophie's eyes start to roll. I know it's not going to happen to us, but I can't help thinking it. And every time she closes her eyes, and continues on with her steady (and somewhat noisy) breathing, I myself breathe a sigh of relief.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Time flies
This has not been the best week. I'd forgotten how hard it is with two babies, let's all be thankful I am not the mother of twins because chances are I would be on the psych ward right about now. I honestly don't know how those mums do it. And, yes, the dads too. I am not trying to be gender biased here, but I'll assume most dads are out at work and the mums are at home.
Sophie has decided that she is no longer willing to sleep on her own, in the cot right next to the bed. She'll go half the night, but once 3 or 4 hits and she wakes up, she ends up falling back to sleep in in my arms. Which equals two not so skinny adults, one toddler who kicks her father in the back all night and a two week old baby in the bed. Not so much fun really.
We are both suffering from a lack of a good nights sleep and unfortunately we seem to take it out on one another. I wish we were one of those couples that never said a nasty word to one another. Although I'd not trade him for the world. I just have to learn to brush off the bad moods. His and mine.
I had my home help in on Wednesday. She took Saoirse and Taylor out and Sophie and I slept for 3 hours. It was fantastic! She's due to come two times next week. She says she will make meals, so I might take her up on that. I may have said before that there is nothing I hate more than cooking. She was quite nice, it seems like an interesting job, she works with all sort of people; from seniors to new mothers to child welfare cases. I was starting to wonder if there was another reason as to why she was visiting me, other than c-section/toddler scenario; perhaps the maternity ward had actually charted my minor breakdown? Who knows. Anyway, she visits teen mums, new immigrants and drug addicted mums among others. It wasn't until she said something about a teacher "like you" (as in the c-section/toddler scenario) that I realized I was not being watched for some massive case of post partum depression or something. Hmmm...perhaps they should be watching out for a massive case of paranoia.
Sophie had her 2 week check up yesterday. She weighed 8lbs 8oz at it, which I think is a bit high as she did not have a new nappy on, and there was probably a bit of weight to the one she was in. She was marked as a healthy 2 week old, and won't need to be seen until a week after her 2 month shots. She wasn't officially discharged from the hospital, or so I had thought. Usually a doctor will come in and talk to you, and all of the others were checked out by a doctor in my presence, but Sophie was looked at by a resident while she was in the nursery I assume and he did not come in to talk to me. I didn't know this until the doctor showed me her chart. I was a bit pissed off about it, not to talk to the mother seems not a great way to practice pediatric medicine. Taylor had hip dysplasia and had to wear a Pavlik harness for a few months. It was caught at that first check by the doctor and if I had been more together on that last day in the hospital I would have questioned why I had not seen a doctor in regards to Sophie. I guess I can finally throw that harness away, I have saved it all these years in case I ever had another baby with dysplasia and now there is no need for it. It was $130 11 years ago, I hate to think of what it would cost now.
Blah...I have gone on, haven't I?
On to the cute...Saoirse seems to think that since everyone else can pick Sophie up, she must be able to as well. Right now she is content to just put her hands on either side of her while someone else does the actual picking up but today she did manage to pull her down the sofa a wee bit so it looks like we'll be keeping a close on her. Sophie is the queen of the dirty looks, I am trying to get a picture of it, but have not managed thus far. She furrows her brow and just stares at you, I wonder what goes through her head. Today she looked directly at Liam when he talked to her. She had to lift her head and roll her eyes up to do it, as she was lying in my arms and he was at my side. It was very sweet. And that's about it for cuteness this week, other than that there's a lot of crying and pooping.
She's a pleasure though.
Sleeping, and not in my arms!
A comparison with Cookie Monster, Saoirse's big sister gift. Either he's very big or she's very tiny.
Sophie has decided that she is no longer willing to sleep on her own, in the cot right next to the bed. She'll go half the night, but once 3 or 4 hits and she wakes up, she ends up falling back to sleep in in my arms. Which equals two not so skinny adults, one toddler who kicks her father in the back all night and a two week old baby in the bed. Not so much fun really.
We are both suffering from a lack of a good nights sleep and unfortunately we seem to take it out on one another. I wish we were one of those couples that never said a nasty word to one another. Although I'd not trade him for the world. I just have to learn to brush off the bad moods. His and mine.
I had my home help in on Wednesday. She took Saoirse and Taylor out and Sophie and I slept for 3 hours. It was fantastic! She's due to come two times next week. She says she will make meals, so I might take her up on that. I may have said before that there is nothing I hate more than cooking. She was quite nice, it seems like an interesting job, she works with all sort of people; from seniors to new mothers to child welfare cases. I was starting to wonder if there was another reason as to why she was visiting me, other than c-section/toddler scenario; perhaps the maternity ward had actually charted my minor breakdown? Who knows. Anyway, she visits teen mums, new immigrants and drug addicted mums among others. It wasn't until she said something about a teacher "like you" (as in the c-section/toddler scenario) that I realized I was not being watched for some massive case of post partum depression or something. Hmmm...perhaps they should be watching out for a massive case of paranoia.
Sophie had her 2 week check up yesterday. She weighed 8lbs 8oz at it, which I think is a bit high as she did not have a new nappy on, and there was probably a bit of weight to the one she was in. She was marked as a healthy 2 week old, and won't need to be seen until a week after her 2 month shots. She wasn't officially discharged from the hospital, or so I had thought. Usually a doctor will come in and talk to you, and all of the others were checked out by a doctor in my presence, but Sophie was looked at by a resident while she was in the nursery I assume and he did not come in to talk to me. I didn't know this until the doctor showed me her chart. I was a bit pissed off about it, not to talk to the mother seems not a great way to practice pediatric medicine. Taylor had hip dysplasia and had to wear a Pavlik harness for a few months. It was caught at that first check by the doctor and if I had been more together on that last day in the hospital I would have questioned why I had not seen a doctor in regards to Sophie. I guess I can finally throw that harness away, I have saved it all these years in case I ever had another baby with dysplasia and now there is no need for it. It was $130 11 years ago, I hate to think of what it would cost now.
Blah...I have gone on, haven't I?
On to the cute...Saoirse seems to think that since everyone else can pick Sophie up, she must be able to as well. Right now she is content to just put her hands on either side of her while someone else does the actual picking up but today she did manage to pull her down the sofa a wee bit so it looks like we'll be keeping a close on her. Sophie is the queen of the dirty looks, I am trying to get a picture of it, but have not managed thus far. She furrows her brow and just stares at you, I wonder what goes through her head. Today she looked directly at Liam when he talked to her. She had to lift her head and roll her eyes up to do it, as she was lying in my arms and he was at my side. It was very sweet. And that's about it for cuteness this week, other than that there's a lot of crying and pooping.
She's a pleasure though.
Sleeping, and not in my arms!
A comparison with Cookie Monster, Saoirse's big sister gift. Either he's very big or she's very tiny.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Weight and See
I took Sophie and Saoirse over to the health clinic about 6 blocks away from our house. They have a program for newborns called "Weight and See" which you can use until the baby is 8 weeks old. They weigh them, obviously, and help you out with breastfeeding or whatever. Sophie weighed 8lbs at birth and was 7lbs 9oz at 3 days. Today, at 12 days, she is 8lbs 3oz. They were pleased with this as they expect them to be at birth weight by 10 days. I had no questions about breastfeeding, although she still doesn't have the perfect latch, but it isn't hurting and obviously she is gaining.
I booked her shots on my way out. They are scheduled for October 11th. Poor baby, I feel for her already. I was going to have Saoirse weighed as well as I think she has suddenly put on a lot of weight but that could simply be because she seems giant compared to Sophie. Needless to say, she was in no mood to be weighed.
I am supposed to be having someone come out to the house for 3 hours tomorrow afternoon. This is another program offered by Capital Health. Because I had a c-section and have a toddler at home I am entitled to 15 hours home help. They will come out and clean or watch your kids. I don't know why I said yes, I am not one for making converstaion with strangers, plus as I pointed out to her I would have to have my house clean prior to her arrival, not have her do it. She said "We don't like to see a clean house, then we know you've been doing too much." My main floor is fine, God forbid if she were to go upstairs where not one of the four bedrooms is completely unpacked. So I really have nothing for her to do. I don't want her doing my laundry, Saoirse would not stay alone with her so that I could nap (and I would LOVE a nap) and I have nothing else to be done. I don't have a number to cancel it though.
Other than that, all is well with the baby, she is actually sleeping on her own which is astounding as most of this week she will only sleep near me during the day. Mostly doing well at night, slept from 9-4 last night and again from 4.30-8.
I booked her shots on my way out. They are scheduled for October 11th. Poor baby, I feel for her already. I was going to have Saoirse weighed as well as I think she has suddenly put on a lot of weight but that could simply be because she seems giant compared to Sophie. Needless to say, she was in no mood to be weighed.
I am supposed to be having someone come out to the house for 3 hours tomorrow afternoon. This is another program offered by Capital Health. Because I had a c-section and have a toddler at home I am entitled to 15 hours home help. They will come out and clean or watch your kids. I don't know why I said yes, I am not one for making converstaion with strangers, plus as I pointed out to her I would have to have my house clean prior to her arrival, not have her do it. She said "We don't like to see a clean house, then we know you've been doing too much." My main floor is fine, God forbid if she were to go upstairs where not one of the four bedrooms is completely unpacked. So I really have nothing for her to do. I don't want her doing my laundry, Saoirse would not stay alone with her so that I could nap (and I would LOVE a nap) and I have nothing else to be done. I don't have a number to cancel it though.
Other than that, all is well with the baby, she is actually sleeping on her own which is astounding as most of this week she will only sleep near me during the day. Mostly doing well at night, slept from 9-4 last night and again from 4.30-8.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Loving Sophie
It's been a week. I have fallen madly in love. There were moments throughout this pregnancy when I wondered if I would resent her because the timing seemed so terrible. I wondered if either William or I could love her as much as Saoirse. There is a Family Circus strip from years and years ago where a woman asks the mum how she divides her love amongst four children and she says "I don't divide it. I multiply it." How very true this is. I can not imagine my life without her. And I'm even glad she's a girl.
I do wish we had called her Aisling though, or Caoimhe, or something that did not start with an S because I am constantly caling her Saoirse. The poor girl will have a complex. Plus the whole name is so very, very English. Which pleases my mother to no end. And should pacify my grandfather somewhat when he finally finds out about this as yet unknown of eighth great grandchild.
I'm thrilled with how well the others have taken to her, especially Saoirse. We expected a lot of jealousy but she has been pretty good. She always gives Sophie a kiss and hug when she goes out or up to bed. She is still Daddy's girl though and we will have to see if she lets Sophie join that club.
To our lovely Sophie....happy 1 week birthday. We look forward to the next 51, and all the weeks after that.
The first picture is at one day old.
The second is Sophie at 3 days with a comparison picture of Saoirse at 4 days old. See how much bigger Saoirse was in the face?
The third was at 6 days, they both fell asleep on the sofa and were looking pretty freaking cute. And yea, I know the sofa's a piece of crap. Ignore it. I am aiming for leather, which is at least washable.
I do wish we had called her Aisling though, or Caoimhe, or something that did not start with an S because I am constantly caling her Saoirse. The poor girl will have a complex. Plus the whole name is so very, very English. Which pleases my mother to no end. And should pacify my grandfather somewhat when he finally finds out about this as yet unknown of eighth great grandchild.
I'm thrilled with how well the others have taken to her, especially Saoirse. We expected a lot of jealousy but she has been pretty good. She always gives Sophie a kiss and hug when she goes out or up to bed. She is still Daddy's girl though and we will have to see if she lets Sophie join that club.
To our lovely Sophie....happy 1 week birthday. We look forward to the next 51, and all the weeks after that.
The first picture is at one day old.
The second is Sophie at 3 days with a comparison picture of Saoirse at 4 days old. See how much bigger Saoirse was in the face?
The third was at 6 days, they both fell asleep on the sofa and were looking pretty freaking cute. And yea, I know the sofa's a piece of crap. Ignore it. I am aiming for leather, which is at least washable.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
My baby does the hokey pokey
Well, alright, Sophie doesn't do the hokey pokey. You might get Saoirse to put her left foot in or something and she will definitely shake it all about. What Sophie can do, though, is get up on all fours while lying on her tummy.
What she can also do, and what quite thrills her very tired mummy, is sleep through the night. Yes, my daughter slept through the night at 4 days old. She slept from 10-5, woke up for a feed and nappy change and was back asleep by 5.30 and did not wake up until 8.45.
I have probably cursed myself for saying this. Other than the first night when she was awake from 2 until 6am she has been a pretty good sleeper, but really she is only 5 days old and 4 good nights might mean nothing. But still, I'll take that 7 hours. She fell asleep at 9 tonight so here's hoping she goes until at least 4.
My three girls.
I find it a little hard to believe I am actually posting a pic of myself, there's something about letting the real you be seen that is a wee bit nervewracking. Of course, if I were a skinny wee thing I'd be sticking photos of myself up on a daily basis. Anyway, this is the first picture of all three of my girls together. I have a few taken of all 6 of us but either I look like total shite (yep, worse than that!) or Liam has his lips pursed like he is some rapper. Awful.
Crap, I just previewed this and I really do look like a fat slob. With massive bags under my eyes which are even worse now, since I have officially slept only 15 of the last 117 hours. I pray to God I normally look a bit better than this. Rather, a lot. Ah feck it. When I come to my senses I may delete this post, but for the moment I'm saying the girls look cuter than I look shite.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
So English it's frightening
Sophie Victoria Lily arrived at 11.29 am on Thursday, August 10th. She's quite lovely but I am her mother and therefore honourbound to say that. But even if she wasn't mine I'd still say it. She's the image of a newborn Saoirse, just leaner and with more hair. She's 8 lbs. and 20". When they held her up I said how tiny she was, I figured she only weighed about 6 lbs. The moment they pulled her head out she started screaming and has done so quite often since. I asked for a dummy as she sucked for 4 solid hours from 2-6 am the first night and then again from 11.30-3 on the 11th. It helped, as she slept way better. I did not. I figure I have slept 9 of the last 88 hours. So needless to say I am fairly miserable at the moment. I spent an hour crying at the hospital and they wanted me to stay another night because of it. Ah no thank you. I am sure that the health nurse will bring it up when she comes by tomorrow. I have much more to post about the whole experience but will leave it for another day.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Almost here
It is almost 5am. I think I slept less than 3 hours tonight. I will have a shower shortly and then wake up William.
Although I am no longer dreading today I am still not happy with the decision to have her today. I will always wonder if she would have arrived on her own time if we had waited another week. Probably not. Though it seems I can get pregnant easily enough it appears that my body has a big X on it when it comes to giving birth. Oh well.
I have to be at the hospital by 7 and my surgery is scheduled for 9.30. So in 5 hours I will have another daughter. Who I think we actually have a name for. One thing I was not at all prepared for was that my catheter will be inserted before I receive the epidural. Um, yikes. My friend tells me it is uncomfortable, but not painful. With my negative pain tolerance it is essentially one in the same. I have watched old ladies scream during the procedure and that's what will go through my head.
My friend Shelley called the hospital last night to find out who the NICU nurse scheduled for my surgery is. She says I have a very nice nurse, and she asked that they put down that I am her friend. Hey, I'll take anything I can get. It always helps to know people and to know that they will keep an extra eye on the baby should it be needed is a great thing. Of course, she should be fine. I would have loved to have had Shelley be the one who was there, but crappy timing...she's on holidays. Her cell phone bill will be mad, she's been calling everyday to find out what's going on.
Anyway, better shower! God, I'm nervous.
Although I am no longer dreading today I am still not happy with the decision to have her today. I will always wonder if she would have arrived on her own time if we had waited another week. Probably not. Though it seems I can get pregnant easily enough it appears that my body has a big X on it when it comes to giving birth. Oh well.
I have to be at the hospital by 7 and my surgery is scheduled for 9.30. So in 5 hours I will have another daughter. Who I think we actually have a name for. One thing I was not at all prepared for was that my catheter will be inserted before I receive the epidural. Um, yikes. My friend tells me it is uncomfortable, but not painful. With my negative pain tolerance it is essentially one in the same. I have watched old ladies scream during the procedure and that's what will go through my head.
My friend Shelley called the hospital last night to find out who the NICU nurse scheduled for my surgery is. She says I have a very nice nurse, and she asked that they put down that I am her friend. Hey, I'll take anything I can get. It always helps to know people and to know that they will keep an extra eye on the baby should it be needed is a great thing. Of course, she should be fine. I would have loved to have had Shelley be the one who was there, but crappy timing...she's on holidays. Her cell phone bill will be mad, she's been calling everyday to find out what's going on.
Anyway, better shower! God, I'm nervous.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Birth Day: 10 August, 2006
I had my doctor's appointment today. I gained a pound and a half. I don't know what my blood pressure is...this new girl tells you nothing. I could check my papers but that would mean walking all the way over to the front door and my bag.
Wait, that's what 11 year old daughters are for. 128/72. Nothing to worry about. I am sure it is sky high at the moment as the rest of the appointment totally stressed me out.
William came with me today, along with Saoirse. He thought she looked sad as he left the house. He's a sucker for a pouty lip apparently.
So I see the doctor. Baby has not moved a bit, cervix is still pretty much closed up.
"I really think we should induce, Emma."
"I'd really like to wait."
"The longer you wait the more difficult the labour will be, the more likely you will end up with another cesarean."
The same conversation we have had the last few weeks.
I look at William. No support there, I am sure he can't wait until my pregnancy whinging is over. "Let's do it."
"Do I have to be induced? Can't I just have the section?"
She'll have to see how busy they are at the hospital she says.
I was to get dressed and wait in the waiting room.
Right away she tells me it's currently scheduled for Friday. This is not a terrible thing. It will be Saoirse's 21st month birthday. I have to fill out some forms.
As I am filling them out she comes over to say that it will be the Thursday. She fills it on my form. 10-08-06. "That's interesting." she says. Sure, I guess whatever you can take.
I am devastated. I said to William that if he hadn't of been there I think I could have said let's wait another week.
Why didn't I? This is my life and my body and if I want to wait until I am 12 days overdue to give birth can't I? The baby is healthy, still active, I don't think she is the concern.
I will tell you why. I am a wimp. I am afraid of authority figures. I should have said no.
All I want to do is cry.
Wait, that's what 11 year old daughters are for. 128/72. Nothing to worry about. I am sure it is sky high at the moment as the rest of the appointment totally stressed me out.
William came with me today, along with Saoirse. He thought she looked sad as he left the house. He's a sucker for a pouty lip apparently.
So I see the doctor. Baby has not moved a bit, cervix is still pretty much closed up.
"I really think we should induce, Emma."
"I'd really like to wait."
"The longer you wait the more difficult the labour will be, the more likely you will end up with another cesarean."
The same conversation we have had the last few weeks.
I look at William. No support there, I am sure he can't wait until my pregnancy whinging is over. "Let's do it."
"Do I have to be induced? Can't I just have the section?"
She'll have to see how busy they are at the hospital she says.
I was to get dressed and wait in the waiting room.
Right away she tells me it's currently scheduled for Friday. This is not a terrible thing. It will be Saoirse's 21st month birthday. I have to fill out some forms.
As I am filling them out she comes over to say that it will be the Thursday. She fills it on my form. 10-08-06. "That's interesting." she says. Sure, I guess whatever you can take.
I am devastated. I said to William that if he hadn't of been there I think I could have said let's wait another week.
Why didn't I? This is my life and my body and if I want to wait until I am 12 days overdue to give birth can't I? The baby is healthy, still active, I don't think she is the concern.
I will tell you why. I am a wimp. I am afraid of authority figures. I should have said no.
All I want to do is cry.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Still no baby
It's true. There is not a baby. It appears no baby has any intentions of arriving. Perhaps this pregnancy is a figment of my imagination.
The chafing however is not.
As my stomach has grown slightly larger than normal (read hugely larger) and my boobs, never perky at the best, have gotten slightly bigger it appears that boobs and stomach have decided to meet and hang out together. My skin is not enjoying this meeting of body parts at all. My bras are in revolt and are refusing to allow me to wear them. Unless it's absolutely necessary and I have to go out in public. Although wearing one yesterday was such a terrible experience that I took it off as discreetly as humanly possible in the middle of a croweded park.
So I am begging this baby to arrive soon so that my stomach can go back to its somewhat flabby state, but at least it will be away from my breasts.
Plus I'd kind of like to see her.
The chafing however is not.
As my stomach has grown slightly larger than normal (read hugely larger) and my boobs, never perky at the best, have gotten slightly bigger it appears that boobs and stomach have decided to meet and hang out together. My skin is not enjoying this meeting of body parts at all. My bras are in revolt and are refusing to allow me to wear them. Unless it's absolutely necessary and I have to go out in public. Although wearing one yesterday was such a terrible experience that I took it off as discreetly as humanly possible in the middle of a croweded park.
So I am begging this baby to arrive soon so that my stomach can go back to its somewhat flabby state, but at least it will be away from my breasts.
Plus I'd kind of like to see her.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Thursday, August 03, 2006
The biggest myth of all: Childbearing hips
Pre or post pregnancy you might say this about me:
a)Look at that voluptuous girl with the lovely childbearing hips; or
b)Look at that fat bitch.
Yes, I am a fat girl. I openly admit it, though I do find the word voluptuous much more appealing. Because although I may be slightly overweight I do have a very hourglass figure. My only blessing I suppose. Minus the tummy that has carried four children.
Growing up, even when I was thin* I had hips. My aunt used to say what a breeze it would be when it came to giving birth. Hah! I think childbearing hips were meant only to keep that child comfortable in utero for as long as humanly possible. As in 40+ weeks. Why would any baby want to leave the roomy nest my hips provide? Foolish that would be.
I actually was starting to believe this child might decide to arrive completely of her own volition. I have been having painful contractions and great difficulty moving once I am in bed. I don't recall either happening before and why not assume any difference during the pregnancy may lead to a different sort of birth? In fact I am so desperate for any difference that I am going to reveal something that I would never normally talk about. Cover your eyes if you don't want to hear about my bodily functions people. I have, for the last 2 days, been the queen of bowel movements. Constantly going. Tis terrible. Wondering if this was some sort of sign I looked it up on the handy internet and I came across some British site. It took me a while to find because in England apparently a bowel movement is called a bowel motion. Anyway, it said that it is often one of the first signs of natural labour as the cervix and part of the bowel share common nerves. So as the cervix becomes more active the bowel is stimulated causing faster movement of food and and more frequent, looser bowel movements. Now aren't you thrilled to know all that about me? My doctor said it could also be a sign of the head dropping further into the cervix, but not necessarily that I am about to go into labour.
The doctor's appointment was alright today, a longish wait as when I got there she had just left to go to a delivery. I read 2 magazines...Chatelaine and Macleans. Both from June, so not terribly outdated. My blood pressure was 122/78, not bad at all and I gained half a pound. When I got into the room the doctor came in before I even had my pants off. I am sure I looked like an eejit going down to cover up, as really she has seen mine and many others many, many times. I have gone from measuring 39 to 37, and the baby has dropped to -2 station. I might even reach 0 by next week. I am 1 cm dilated. She asked if I still wanted to wait and I said yes. I was not at all ready to go into the hospital tomorrow morning. I haven't even packed a bag. She wanted to see me either next Tuesday or Wednesday, a sign to me that she will be suggesting induction for Thursday or Friday if the wee miss has not yet arrived.
In my current frame of mind (which, granted, can change at any given second) I am willing to wait this child out for another 15 days.
Oh my god, in 15 days I will have a child. Yikes. At a maximum I mean. August 18th is baby's deadline. Who knows though? I could go into actual, real labour with broken waters and all tonight.
Or not.
a)Look at that voluptuous girl with the lovely childbearing hips; or
b)Look at that fat bitch.
Yes, I am a fat girl. I openly admit it, though I do find the word voluptuous much more appealing. Because although I may be slightly overweight I do have a very hourglass figure. My only blessing I suppose. Minus the tummy that has carried four children.
Growing up, even when I was thin* I had hips. My aunt used to say what a breeze it would be when it came to giving birth. Hah! I think childbearing hips were meant only to keep that child comfortable in utero for as long as humanly possible. As in 40+ weeks. Why would any baby want to leave the roomy nest my hips provide? Foolish that would be.
I actually was starting to believe this child might decide to arrive completely of her own volition. I have been having painful contractions and great difficulty moving once I am in bed. I don't recall either happening before and why not assume any difference during the pregnancy may lead to a different sort of birth? In fact I am so desperate for any difference that I am going to reveal something that I would never normally talk about. Cover your eyes if you don't want to hear about my bodily functions people. I have, for the last 2 days, been the queen of bowel movements. Constantly going. Tis terrible. Wondering if this was some sort of sign I looked it up on the handy internet and I came across some British site. It took me a while to find because in England apparently a bowel movement is called a bowel motion. Anyway, it said that it is often one of the first signs of natural labour as the cervix and part of the bowel share common nerves. So as the cervix becomes more active the bowel is stimulated causing faster movement of food and and more frequent, looser bowel movements. Now aren't you thrilled to know all that about me? My doctor said it could also be a sign of the head dropping further into the cervix, but not necessarily that I am about to go into labour.
The doctor's appointment was alright today, a longish wait as when I got there she had just left to go to a delivery. I read 2 magazines...Chatelaine and Macleans. Both from June, so not terribly outdated. My blood pressure was 122/78, not bad at all and I gained half a pound. When I got into the room the doctor came in before I even had my pants off. I am sure I looked like an eejit going down to cover up, as really she has seen mine and many others many, many times. I have gone from measuring 39 to 37, and the baby has dropped to -2 station. I might even reach 0 by next week. I am 1 cm dilated. She asked if I still wanted to wait and I said yes. I was not at all ready to go into the hospital tomorrow morning. I haven't even packed a bag. She wanted to see me either next Tuesday or Wednesday, a sign to me that she will be suggesting induction for Thursday or Friday if the wee miss has not yet arrived.
In my current frame of mind (which, granted, can change at any given second) I am willing to wait this child out for another 15 days.
Oh my god, in 15 days I will have a child. Yikes. At a maximum I mean. August 18th is baby's deadline. Who knows though? I could go into actual, real labour with broken waters and all tonight.
Or not.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
The worst week ever
All is well with baby, just so you know. We moved last weekend, it has been a week from hell. I will probably blog about it over at the other site, but not until I am a little less pissed off. I was getting over it, but today was my move out and that started it anew. So it's been a stressful week. However, I did learn that I have some great friends. And some horrid enemies, apparently.
My last doctor's appointment was Tuesday. I have lost 6 lbs. My uterus was measuring 39 weeks and the baby was at minus 1 and a fingertip dilated. It'll never arrive on its own. My doctor said that I can wait if I want, she was feeling generous. With the amount of stuff we still needed to do in both the old and new places, it was best to wait. No rush at all, baby.
I had contractions from 3.30 on Thursday until about 4.30am. They were regular for a while, every 20 minutes or so, but then started going crazy...every 5...then 45...15...25...10. Braxton Hicks, then, not much you can do. They have just started again in the last little bit, so I'll time them and see. It would be very nice to go into labour on my own, but I don't see it happening.
I am trying to convince William to see if he can feel the baby's head, I am going for all the cheap thrills I can get. He's not biting so far. There's not much of anything going on to be honest, which has me in a bit of a funk.
I don't see the doctor again until Thursday, which is only 3 days away from my due date. I guess the receptionist was to busy fighting on the phone with her boyfriend to pay attention to the fact that I said one week, not 9 days, but whatever. I was to tired after waiting for an hour and a half to argue the point.
If it weren't for the fact that our dressers are still in the garage and I don't know where three quarters of the baby's clothes are, I'd call my doctor tonight and ask for an induction or the section.
I am so very, very, very done.
My last doctor's appointment was Tuesday. I have lost 6 lbs. My uterus was measuring 39 weeks and the baby was at minus 1 and a fingertip dilated. It'll never arrive on its own. My doctor said that I can wait if I want, she was feeling generous. With the amount of stuff we still needed to do in both the old and new places, it was best to wait. No rush at all, baby.
I had contractions from 3.30 on Thursday until about 4.30am. They were regular for a while, every 20 minutes or so, but then started going crazy...every 5...then 45...15...25...10. Braxton Hicks, then, not much you can do. They have just started again in the last little bit, so I'll time them and see. It would be very nice to go into labour on my own, but I don't see it happening.
I am trying to convince William to see if he can feel the baby's head, I am going for all the cheap thrills I can get. He's not biting so far. There's not much of anything going on to be honest, which has me in a bit of a funk.
I don't see the doctor again until Thursday, which is only 3 days away from my due date. I guess the receptionist was to busy fighting on the phone with her boyfriend to pay attention to the fact that I said one week, not 9 days, but whatever. I was to tired after waiting for an hour and a half to argue the point.
If it weren't for the fact that our dressers are still in the garage and I don't know where three quarters of the baby's clothes are, I'd call my doctor tonight and ask for an induction or the section.
I am so very, very, very done.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Whinge, whingier, whingiest...
...oh, who is the Queen of Whinging?
Why me of course.
I am sick, sick as a dog. I have been since Thursday. I have, of all bloody things, undiagnosed smoker's hacking cough. Which is sort of funny, seeing as a cigarette has never crossed these pristine lips.
So tell me why I sound as though I have emphysma and am going to hack up a lung any moment? Why is it that I wake up between 3.30 and 4 every single morning to cough up phlegm which feels as though it is shreding my throats to bits? And why is it that when I cough I pee myself? And why, oh why, can I not fall back asleep after I have blown my nose for 10 minutes, peed some more, and coughed up enough phlegm to make an old barrel chested man jealous and changed my pajamas? Is it because the moment I lie down the whole process begins again? It might have something to do with it. And because I have discovered that it is impossible to clear your throat and cough quietly I end up getting up so I don't wake up the other two in the bed. I slept an extra half hour this morning, from 7.30- 8.00 and then Saoirse was up. And so was I as I had a shit load of packing to do. Did I do it? No, not really...I put most of it off until this evening.
I had my 37 week appointment today, I left Saoirse at home with Taylor; it was rather pleasant having that hour to myself. HA...how said is that? Anyway, she sort of freaked me out. She said "You're okay for this week, but we'll see what happens next week." By the time that sank in she was gone. I'm very slow on the uptake. I think she was saying that I might want to consider being induced next week. Soooooo against my plans. First off, I will be in the midst of both cleaning this house and unpacking the new one. Second, I don't want to be induced. As my mother very sensibly pointed out however, I am not sleeping and I am a bit of a miserable bitch. Not that she called me a miserable bitch, but she hinted. My doctor said that the longer I go, the harder the labour will be. I suppose labour is meant to be hard and there is a reason women often choose drugs. I did tell her that I don't want to be induced and if it's late I want a section. Wimp? Yes I am.
Gained 3 lbs this week. That's what I get for bragging about losing the previous weeks. My uterus is measuring 38 weeks still, so that means no change since week 34. Odd. Baby is at -2, cervix is closed tight. You see, if it was up to my body the baby would stay there forever more.
Back next Tuesday, the day after moving day. I may just say "Rip it out now."
Why me of course.
I am sick, sick as a dog. I have been since Thursday. I have, of all bloody things, undiagnosed smoker's hacking cough. Which is sort of funny, seeing as a cigarette has never crossed these pristine lips.
So tell me why I sound as though I have emphysma and am going to hack up a lung any moment? Why is it that I wake up between 3.30 and 4 every single morning to cough up phlegm which feels as though it is shreding my throats to bits? And why is it that when I cough I pee myself? And why, oh why, can I not fall back asleep after I have blown my nose for 10 minutes, peed some more, and coughed up enough phlegm to make an old barrel chested man jealous and changed my pajamas? Is it because the moment I lie down the whole process begins again? It might have something to do with it. And because I have discovered that it is impossible to clear your throat and cough quietly I end up getting up so I don't wake up the other two in the bed. I slept an extra half hour this morning, from 7.30- 8.00 and then Saoirse was up. And so was I as I had a shit load of packing to do. Did I do it? No, not really...I put most of it off until this evening.
I had my 37 week appointment today, I left Saoirse at home with Taylor; it was rather pleasant having that hour to myself. HA...how said is that? Anyway, she sort of freaked me out. She said "You're okay for this week, but we'll see what happens next week." By the time that sank in she was gone. I'm very slow on the uptake. I think she was saying that I might want to consider being induced next week. Soooooo against my plans. First off, I will be in the midst of both cleaning this house and unpacking the new one. Second, I don't want to be induced. As my mother very sensibly pointed out however, I am not sleeping and I am a bit of a miserable bitch. Not that she called me a miserable bitch, but she hinted. My doctor said that the longer I go, the harder the labour will be. I suppose labour is meant to be hard and there is a reason women often choose drugs. I did tell her that I don't want to be induced and if it's late I want a section. Wimp? Yes I am.
Gained 3 lbs this week. That's what I get for bragging about losing the previous weeks. My uterus is measuring 38 weeks still, so that means no change since week 34. Odd. Baby is at -2, cervix is closed tight. You see, if it was up to my body the baby would stay there forever more.
Back next Tuesday, the day after moving day. I may just say "Rip it out now."
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
36 week appointment
# weeks pregnant: 36 and 2 days
Weight lost: 1 lb
Current weight: Not quite as high as I thought, but too high to admit to you all just how fat I am. Just a note that I started this pregnancy out weighing 10lbs MORE than I did at 9 months pregnant with Saoirse. Sad, sad, sad.
Total weight gain thus far: 10 lbs, minus 3 lost = 7 lbs.
Blood pressure: 132/68
Uterus measuring: 38 (same as 2 weeks ago)
Test results: negative for Group B Strep.
So the baby has dropped. None of my others had dropped by this point so this is a pleasant surprise. The doctor estimates about 8lbs, but I am leaning more towards 9. We will see. Back again next Tuesday.
It has been a totally crappy week. I am pretty sure I have hemorrhoids, which would be another first. I was too embarassed to ask her to check. Packing and trying to keep the house at any level of cleanliness is almost impossible, and the whole move has both William and I stressed out and snapping at each other constantly. Ah well, hopefully the move will go well and we can enjoy the last few weeks of this pregnancy. Which I have decided will definitely be my last. I can not do this again.
We will have her by August 18th at the latest. Because I don't want to be induced I am hoping to go into labour before the 2 weeks are up. However, because my 42 weeks falls on a Sunday and because my doctor only does scheduled sections on Thursday and Fridays, I would have the section at 12 days post 40 weeks. I really don't want to go over the 42 weeks, after reading up on it, there is potentially alot that could go wrong.
Weight lost: 1 lb
Current weight: Not quite as high as I thought, but too high to admit to you all just how fat I am. Just a note that I started this pregnancy out weighing 10lbs MORE than I did at 9 months pregnant with Saoirse. Sad, sad, sad.
Total weight gain thus far: 10 lbs, minus 3 lost = 7 lbs.
Blood pressure: 132/68
Uterus measuring: 38 (same as 2 weeks ago)
Test results: negative for Group B Strep.
So the baby has dropped. None of my others had dropped by this point so this is a pleasant surprise. The doctor estimates about 8lbs, but I am leaning more towards 9. We will see. Back again next Tuesday.
It has been a totally crappy week. I am pretty sure I have hemorrhoids, which would be another first. I was too embarassed to ask her to check. Packing and trying to keep the house at any level of cleanliness is almost impossible, and the whole move has both William and I stressed out and snapping at each other constantly. Ah well, hopefully the move will go well and we can enjoy the last few weeks of this pregnancy. Which I have decided will definitely be my last. I can not do this again.
We will have her by August 18th at the latest. Because I don't want to be induced I am hoping to go into labour before the 2 weeks are up. However, because my 42 weeks falls on a Sunday and because my doctor only does scheduled sections on Thursday and Fridays, I would have the section at 12 days post 40 weeks. I really don't want to go over the 42 weeks, after reading up on it, there is potentially alot that could go wrong.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Maternity leave benefits
Happy days!
I once wrote that I was worried about how small my EI payments would be, as I had only worked 8 months between Saoirse and this baby. I was hoping for between $200-250 every 2 weeks.
Last Thursday I checked my bank account and there was a deposit of $238. So that was OK, pretty much right in the middle of what I was hoping to get. Enough to pay 4 bills a month and with the other incomes coming in, we should have an extra $1000 per month. (Reality of course, is totally different and somehow that extra money seems to disappear, mostly spent on foolish purhases, most often by myself.)
Yesterday I received an EI statement benefit, and that payment of $238 was only a weekly one! So really I am due $476 or so every 2 weeks. This is a great thing, as if I can stop spending money we could actually bank $1500 a month. It will never happen but the thought is nice.
Again, I have lucked out with my EI payments as even $400 every 2 weeks is more than I would have made at work in months like October and November when sometimes I could go with a shift only once a pay period. So although to most people this is a very small amount for me it works out very well. Who can complain about getting paid to stay home with two lovely little girls? Not I.
There are days I am very grateful to live in Canada.
I once wrote that I was worried about how small my EI payments would be, as I had only worked 8 months between Saoirse and this baby. I was hoping for between $200-250 every 2 weeks.
Last Thursday I checked my bank account and there was a deposit of $238. So that was OK, pretty much right in the middle of what I was hoping to get. Enough to pay 4 bills a month and with the other incomes coming in, we should have an extra $1000 per month. (Reality of course, is totally different and somehow that extra money seems to disappear, mostly spent on foolish purhases, most often by myself.)
Yesterday I received an EI statement benefit, and that payment of $238 was only a weekly one! So really I am due $476 or so every 2 weeks. This is a great thing, as if I can stop spending money we could actually bank $1500 a month. It will never happen but the thought is nice.
Again, I have lucked out with my EI payments as even $400 every 2 weeks is more than I would have made at work in months like October and November when sometimes I could go with a shift only once a pay period. So although to most people this is a very small amount for me it works out very well. Who can complain about getting paid to stay home with two lovely little girls? Not I.
There are days I am very grateful to live in Canada.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
She so never said she was going to do that
Number of weeks pregnant: 34 and 2 days
Uterus measuring: 38
Blood pressure: 142/66
Weight gained: Nada, zip, zero
Weight lost: 2 lbs! Happy days! I wonder why I can't do that when I'm not pregnant.
Cervix: closed, closed, closed
Questions asked: None, I really don't have any
Today was my first "pants down" visit as the NA calls it. The doctor measured, probed and did the cervix check. She then did a swab. I wasn't thinking about it and then all of a sudden up my bum it went! I forgot all about this. It was done I am sure at my first appointment, when she actually told me what she was doing, but today was a bit of a shocker. Frankly, I like someone to tell me that something is about to enter my arse. The element of surprise is not always pleasing. As it was I was feeling very gassy so in reality she is extremely lucky I didn't fart in her face. I don't know what it is about last trimester gas, but it is most definitely not pleasing to the nose.
She asked if I still wanted to try vaginally and I said "Ach, I don't know, I change my mind everyday." And I do. What I do not want is an induction. If she does go more than 2 weeks late than I will opt for a section. I am not willing to be induced, go through 16 hours of labour and then be told that I need the section. Of course, I do realize that I could go into labour on my own and still end up with a section but somehow that doesn't seem as bad.
Anyway, back in 2 weeks. No sign of an ultrasound unless I'm measuring more than 40 weeks I assume.
Totally unrelated but just to share some of my pain and misery, since I'm sure you've come to expect it, but we are in the midst of a mini heat wave. I don't know how much warmer it is when you are pregnant but we were expected to break a record of 32.7 and I am quite sure it happened and my pregnant self registered it as at least 40. Blech. Warmer than Cancun today it was. I am hot, sweaty, sticky and stinky to be quite frank. I'd be happy with a nice 23.
Uterus measuring: 38
Blood pressure: 142/66
Weight gained: Nada, zip, zero
Weight lost: 2 lbs! Happy days! I wonder why I can't do that when I'm not pregnant.
Cervix: closed, closed, closed
Questions asked: None, I really don't have any
Today was my first "pants down" visit as the NA calls it. The doctor measured, probed and did the cervix check. She then did a swab. I wasn't thinking about it and then all of a sudden up my bum it went! I forgot all about this. It was done I am sure at my first appointment, when she actually told me what she was doing, but today was a bit of a shocker. Frankly, I like someone to tell me that something is about to enter my arse. The element of surprise is not always pleasing. As it was I was feeling very gassy so in reality she is extremely lucky I didn't fart in her face. I don't know what it is about last trimester gas, but it is most definitely not pleasing to the nose.
She asked if I still wanted to try vaginally and I said "Ach, I don't know, I change my mind everyday." And I do. What I do not want is an induction. If she does go more than 2 weeks late than I will opt for a section. I am not willing to be induced, go through 16 hours of labour and then be told that I need the section. Of course, I do realize that I could go into labour on my own and still end up with a section but somehow that doesn't seem as bad.
Anyway, back in 2 weeks. No sign of an ultrasound unless I'm measuring more than 40 weeks I assume.
Totally unrelated but just to share some of my pain and misery, since I'm sure you've come to expect it, but we are in the midst of a mini heat wave. I don't know how much warmer it is when you are pregnant but we were expected to break a record of 32.7 and I am quite sure it happened and my pregnant self registered it as at least 40. Blech. Warmer than Cancun today it was. I am hot, sweaty, sticky and stinky to be quite frank. I'd be happy with a nice 23.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
34 is a lovely number
We've made it to 34 weeks, and I would say that anytime this baby is ready so is her mother.
Minus the fact that I am not ready for the big move, but whatever, it just means I will be very dependant on my mother's help in packing and cleaning. It would probably be for the best really, as she and William together would just throw everything away, leaving me no option about being indecisive and keeping toys that are now 11 years old. I kept alot of stuff after Taylor and Liam thinking that if I ever had another baby I might want to use it. Here's the reality...there are not many outfits that were cute in 1995 that are still cute now. Except for the lovely blue knit Gap sweater that I even put Liam in. Only once, then I realized that clothes really are not gender neutral. As for toys, Saoirse will get plenty of her own dolls and cars and whatnot. Though I am glad I kept most of Taylor and Liam's books, because books are bloody expensive now and at the time I had a 30% discount. Anyway, my point was that should baby arrive early my mum and William will just throw all my crap away. Of which I have alot.
Things are going very well, with the exception of my desire to take afternoon naps and the fact that I can not lie on my back for even a minute without an attack of sciatica on my left side. Massage has been recommended and if it weren't for the fact that my fat arse would have to be touched I might actually consider it. I don't want to hear anyone puking into a bucket because they are forced to touch my bum.
Doctor's appointment on Tuesday so talk then.
Minus the fact that I am not ready for the big move, but whatever, it just means I will be very dependant on my mother's help in packing and cleaning. It would probably be for the best really, as she and William together would just throw everything away, leaving me no option about being indecisive and keeping toys that are now 11 years old. I kept alot of stuff after Taylor and Liam thinking that if I ever had another baby I might want to use it. Here's the reality...there are not many outfits that were cute in 1995 that are still cute now. Except for the lovely blue knit Gap sweater that I even put Liam in. Only once, then I realized that clothes really are not gender neutral. As for toys, Saoirse will get plenty of her own dolls and cars and whatnot. Though I am glad I kept most of Taylor and Liam's books, because books are bloody expensive now and at the time I had a 30% discount. Anyway, my point was that should baby arrive early my mum and William will just throw all my crap away. Of which I have alot.
Things are going very well, with the exception of my desire to take afternoon naps and the fact that I can not lie on my back for even a minute without an attack of sciatica on my left side. Massage has been recommended and if it weren't for the fact that my fat arse would have to be touched I might actually consider it. I don't want to hear anyone puking into a bucket because they are forced to touch my bum.
Doctor's appointment on Tuesday so talk then.
Monday, June 19, 2006
I forgot to say...
When I wrote the last post about my doctor waiting to see about the baby's size before deciding on potential methods of delivery I asked if that meant I was going to have an ultrasound.
"Ah, we'll see."
Huh? How exactly are we going to decide the size of this child? Are we going to go with a guess-timate? It is not that I do not entirely trust her word, she's 2 for 3 with my lot but the one that was wrong was way wrong.
For Taylor she said high 7s, low 8s. She was 7lbs 15oz so not a bad guess. Saoirse she was pretty dead on..high 8s she says and the baby was 8 lbs 14.
But Liam...well, she said high 7s and he was 9lbs 9 oz. Now I know that's nothing for some people (high 10s for Devynn's little guy) but as I have a negative 6 pain tolerance I am not wishing for a baby so big. Even though they are the most adorable things ever.
Liam was actually my easiest birth, but this has nothing to do with what I am writing this post about.
What I am writing about is ultrasounds. Now I know that there are an awful lot of people who legitimately need many ultrasounds. But I am amazed by the amount of blogs I read where they seem to be going for an u/s every week or two, just to see the baby. In a way I wish I could do that too, but I would worry about the side effects. I think I would rather know that the baby is healthy and leave it at that, with a nice picture for my scrapbook. That being said, I do want one more ultrasound with this baby as I actually think my dates might be off and she really might be due in July.
I mean absolutely no offense to those people who have had multiple ultrasounds, I suppose the right to do so is one of the joys of being in the United States and though there might be pay as you go places here, I certainly don't know of them. When I was pregnant with Taylor I was told that I would only get one ultrasound unless there was something wrong. They wouldn't even tell me what she was and that I will totally blame on Americans. The tech said "Too many Americans sue when the baby arrives as the opposite sex so we aren't allowed to tell." With Liam I had two, the second was because in the first his head appeared to be shaped like a lemon (picture if you will Stewie from the Family Guy, which is exactly what I pictured and that was pre-Family Guy.) I think I wrote about that in the other blog. I had two again with Saoirse, and her second was because in the first they discovered she only had a 2 vessel cord so they needed to see how her kidneys were developing.
I don't regret the fact that I only had one with Taylor, she was totally worth the wait. Still, it was nice to see Liam and Saoirse at two different times. And it certainly won't kill me if I don't get to see the baby once more before she arrives. It's not like it would actually help me decide on a name.
"Ah, we'll see."
Huh? How exactly are we going to decide the size of this child? Are we going to go with a guess-timate? It is not that I do not entirely trust her word, she's 2 for 3 with my lot but the one that was wrong was way wrong.
For Taylor she said high 7s, low 8s. She was 7lbs 15oz so not a bad guess. Saoirse she was pretty dead on..high 8s she says and the baby was 8 lbs 14.
But Liam...well, she said high 7s and he was 9lbs 9 oz. Now I know that's nothing for some people (high 10s for Devynn's little guy) but as I have a negative 6 pain tolerance I am not wishing for a baby so big. Even though they are the most adorable things ever.
Liam was actually my easiest birth, but this has nothing to do with what I am writing this post about.
What I am writing about is ultrasounds. Now I know that there are an awful lot of people who legitimately need many ultrasounds. But I am amazed by the amount of blogs I read where they seem to be going for an u/s every week or two, just to see the baby. In a way I wish I could do that too, but I would worry about the side effects. I think I would rather know that the baby is healthy and leave it at that, with a nice picture for my scrapbook. That being said, I do want one more ultrasound with this baby as I actually think my dates might be off and she really might be due in July.
I mean absolutely no offense to those people who have had multiple ultrasounds, I suppose the right to do so is one of the joys of being in the United States and though there might be pay as you go places here, I certainly don't know of them. When I was pregnant with Taylor I was told that I would only get one ultrasound unless there was something wrong. They wouldn't even tell me what she was and that I will totally blame on Americans. The tech said "Too many Americans sue when the baby arrives as the opposite sex so we aren't allowed to tell." With Liam I had two, the second was because in the first his head appeared to be shaped like a lemon (picture if you will Stewie from the Family Guy, which is exactly what I pictured and that was pre-Family Guy.) I think I wrote about that in the other blog. I had two again with Saoirse, and her second was because in the first they discovered she only had a 2 vessel cord so they needed to see how her kidneys were developing.
I don't regret the fact that I only had one with Taylor, she was totally worth the wait. Still, it was nice to see Liam and Saoirse at two different times. And it certainly won't kill me if I don't get to see the baby once more before she arrives. It's not like it would actually help me decide on a name.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
