Pregnancy

My sister had a baby about three months ago, she did a post on her blog, Managing Mommy’s,  a few days ago that was awesome! It explains what every mom goes through after she has her first baby. Here it is…

Oh, and a big thank you to Kristen for letting me post this on my site! Check out her website ManagingMommys.com and see how she has managed having a baby and getting back to work.

Post Pregnancy Bliss

You’ve just had a baby; you feel a sense of euphoria, you love the way it has changed you and you have accepted your new body and well life is just perfect! …..yeah right! Like Megan mentioned in a comment before, the period after you have a baby isn’t really talked about and guess what, it’s hard and it just plain sucks sometimes! So I want to talk about it! I think there is this idea out there that once your baby is here, everything is supposed to be wonderful, and why wouldn’t it be? You have a sweet, innocent bundle of joy that many people, who maybe aren’t as lucky, envy you for. Babies are a great blessing but there’s a little bad mixed in with all that good. Plus everyone is always telling you to enjoy these times because they grow so fast, which is true, but that doesn’t mean it is all smiles and giggles. There’s a lot of poo, pee and spit up to deal with, let alone feeling like you’re completely crazy because your emotions are worse than when you were pregnant, you might have a hard time breast feeding or choose not to and there’s guilt with that because BREAST FEEDING IS BEST and then every time you turn around you feel like someone is JUDGING your parenting skills and evaluating what kind of a parent you will be. Oh and you’ve just realized those 30 to 60 pounds you’ve gained WASN’T all baby weight! You can’t fit into any clothes, you feel too young to be a mom and even if you can find something to wear to go out and maybe even get a babysitter, well you just might not want to, either you’re too tired or you just plain feel DEPRESSED and want to sit at home and do NOTHING (where’s the spontanaeity?). Yes, I said DEPRESSED! Even if you don’t have to deal with full on post-partum depression, I think every woman feels parts of it after having a baby. It could just be because youre down because you’re frustrated or all of the hormones; nothing you do makes you feel any better and you find yourself staring at a blank wall for who knows how long and getting extremely frustrated every time your sweet baby cries or fusses. You’re supposed to be this super mom you’ve always imagined right? But really most days you don’t even want to get dressed, let alone shower… (or work on losing all that baby weight). Most of this has nothing to do with your baby, yes they can be frustrating sometimes, especially if you have a fussy baby but most of it is because you had the baby and even though the best thing you’ll ever have came out of that and yeah it’s WORTH IT, it’s hard and it takes a while to feel normal and like yourself again. Also, I don’t think I have gained back the 15% of brain cells I lost when I was pregnant… When does that come back? Or does it…?

A few weeks ago I felt like I had no girlfriends and that they were all just so different from me and I think part of me really wanted someone to talk to about it all because it’s kind of a shock. But this last little bit I’ve realized how many AWESOME girlfriends I do have and how many are going through the same thing! I realized that I had isolated myself a little by not making an effort and so I started making more of an effort but mostly I just plain got lucky and have been able to hang out with many of them lately. I don’t have 1 group where we always hangout and do everything together, I have a lot of different girlfriends; single, married, pregnant, married with kids, etc. and they all are great for different things. Some of them I talk to on a regular basis, some I don’t see for years at a time, some I see once a year, some I only see at group gatherings, but I can talk to all of them and it’s never awkward, I love it! Anyways, so lately I have talked to some of them who have had kids recently about different things and was so glad to know they had some of the exact same feelings and struggles! So thanks for listening, sorry I’m a little crazy!

Oh and guess what, I was looking for an image that could maybe back up my theory here, I googled a few different mom and post pregnancy things and they are all showing off the euphoric feeling I talked about… What’s so scary about being honest?

What’s in a name?

Naming a new baby is a huge deal and it is not always easy. I found this way cool website that helps with the process of deciding on a perfect name for a new little one.

It tells you the meanings and origins of names to help you decide. For example I looked up my kids names and this is what I found. The baby girl name “Lexi” is credited as being of Greek origin and means “Protector of Mankind.” And the baby unisex name “Hunter” is credited as being of English origin and means “One Who Hunts.” This information could have been helpful when I was picking the kids names out. Maybe they will grow into their names origins and meanings?

The truth is my husband and I came up with Lexi and Hunters names before we were even married. We went on a long hike and picked out all the names we liked for our kids. Now I just have to look up the meanings of those names and we can decide what to call the rest of our kids!

My sister-in-law, Kristen, is pregnant with her first baby. Her due date was yesterday, but she is still pregnant today. Let me just tell you that it is no fun being over due with a baby. You are so anxious to see your baby and you begin to think that it really is just not possible for your tummy to stretch any more than it already has.

I remember being over due with my baby boy. I went to a presentation my Dad had at his work and ran into an old friend. She asked me when I was due and I had to answer “Yesterday!”

But, don’t worry Kristen you will be holding your baby boy before you know it. In the mean time I thought I would give you a post on what to take to the hospital for labor and delivery. I am sure you have packed your bag and checked and re-checked it, but here is a list anyway! Good luck lil’ sis!

(Kristen, you will notice that Diet Coke is not on the list. I remember how you brought me one after I had my last baby, so thoughtful! I plan on returning the favor to you, so I will bring you one. Us addicts gotta stick together!)

You may want to pack two small bags for the hospital: one for the items you’ll need during labor and another for items that you won’t need until after you give birth. Here’s a list of things that experienced moms recommend packing. You may also want to ask your caregiver, childbirth educator, or doula for tips on what to bring.

For labor

• Your birth plan. (My personal birth plan was based on one thing, the epidural but some Mom’s really have birth plans!)

• Your insurance card and any hospital paperwork you need. (Have your hubby help you with the paperwork. With my first baby I was so nervous going in to be induced that I couldn’t even remember our address!)

• Your eyeglasses, if you need any. Even if you usually wear contacts, you’ll probably need or want to take them out at some point during your stay.

• Toiletries. Include items you might want during labor and your postpartum stay, such as lip balm, a toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, a brush and comb, and makeup, if it’s important to you. Hospitals will have soap, shampoo, and lotion, but you might prefer your own brands. Don’t forget a hair band and barrettes, if you think you might want them.

• A bathrobe, nightgown, slippers, and a couple of pairs of socks. Hospitals provide gowns for you to use during labor and afterward, but most will allow you to wear your own clothes if you prefer. Choose something loose and comfortable that you don’t mind getting ruined.

You’ll need to wear a gown instead of pants so that your practitioner can check your cervix. Choose one that’s either sleeveless or has short, loose sleeves so your blood pressure can be checked easily and so you can slip the gown off without difficulty if you want to change and have an IV in place.

You might also want to bring your own slippers and robe for walking around during the early stages of labor. If you don’t want to risk soiling your robe, you can ask for a second hospital gown to wear as a robe to cover your backside.

• Something light to read, if you’re so inclined. Some hospitals even have VCR or DVD players and movies you can borrow to watch. Check before hand and bring your own movies to watch. (This might be especially helpful if you’re heading to the hospital to be induced and might be there quite a while before you have any serious contractions to deal with.)

• Massage oils or lotions, music, an extra pillow, whatever you need to help you relax. (If you do bring your own pillow, be sure to use a patterned or colorful pillowcase so it doesn’t get mixed up with the hospital’s.) Consider bringing tennis balls or a rolling pin in case you have back labor and need them for massage.

• Talismans, a picture of someone or something you love, anything you find reassuring.

For your partner/labor coach

• Money for parking and change for vending machines.

• A few basic toiletries, such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant.

• A change of clothes.

• Some snacks and something to read during the early stages. (This is very important! The hospital never fed my hubby, if it wasn’t for his brother he would have starved!)

• A camera/video camera with memory card and batteries (or film or tape). Someone has to document the big event! (Note: Not all hospitals allow videotaping of the birth itself, but there’s usually no rule against taping during labor or after the birth.)

• A bathing suit. If your partner wants to take a bath or shower during labor, you may want to jump in with her.

Postpartum

• A fresh nightgown, if you prefer to wear your own.

• Snacks! After many hours of labor, you’re likely to be pretty hungry, and you don’t want to have to rely on the hospital’s food. So bring your own — crackers, fresh or dried fruit, nuts, granola bars, or whatever you think you’ll enjoy.
• A nursing bra, breast pads, and maternity underwear. Chances are, whatever underwear you do wear the first few days will get stained, even with sanitary pads (which the hospital provides).

• Your address book and prepaid phone card or cell phone. After the baby’s born you’ll want to call family and friends to let them know the good news. Some hospitals don’t allow cell phones to be used in the labor and delivery area, so you may want to ask about it ahead of time.

• A going-home outfit. Bring something roomy and easy to get into (believe it or not, you’ll probably still look 5 or 6 months pregnant ) — along with a pair of flat shoes. Careful on the purse you choose to bring too. I remember being so surprised after my first baby when I went to pick up my purse and could barely lift it. So, bring a light one or make your hubby carry your bling-bling heavy purse for you!

For your baby

• An infant car seat. You can’t drive your baby home without one! In fact, you’ll want to have the seat properly installed ahead of time, and you’ll want to know exactly how to correctly buckle in your baby.

• A going-home outfit (one-piece stretchy outfits are easiest) and a snowsuit if it’s very cold. Include a pair of socks or booties if the outfit doesn’t have feet.

• A receiving blanket (a heavy one if the weather’s cold). Take a couple of blankets if you want to use special cute ones to wrap your baby in while you stay at the hospital.

• A cap (although they’ll usually give you one at the hospital)

What not to bring

• Jewelry

• Lots of cash, credit cards, or any other valuables

• Work. Yes, we actually know fast-track types who have sent business e-mails from the hospital room, made work-related phone calls, and reviewed spreadsheets. But we don’t recommend it.

Hope this list is helpful! Happy Birthing Days!

Being a “Baby-Specialist” is a dirty job, but somebody’s gotta do it! I remember how desperate I was to become pregnant with our first child after trying for almost a year with no success. Now a little over 2 years later and 2 kids later, I can look back and realize how naive I was about what being a Mommy entailed. This last week has reminded me of just how tough it can be to be a Mommy.

It started Thursday night (Friday morning)  when I woke up to feed Hunter, our 2 week old, at 3 AM. As soon as Hunter had a clean diaper, had been fed and fallen back to sleep I heard our 18 month old crying in full force. The rest of the night went from getting one kid back to sleep and then hearing the other one waking up again. At about 9 AM I finally got them both to sleep at the same time and we all slept for about an hour and half. When we woke up I was really not feeling very well and it was more than just the lack of sleep. For the past few days, I had been worried that I was having some symptoms that I shouldn’t be since the birth of our little Hunter. Every night I was waking up in cold sweats and I had a fever. I found my hospital discharge form and read that if you experience chills or have a fever you need to contact your doctor. So, I decided I better call my doctor and see what he thought. I talked to a nurse and she told me that the on call doctor wanted to see me right away. This pushed the emotional/post-partum/sleep deprived me over the edge and I started crying and falling apart immediately at the thought of something being wrong with me. My wonderful husband came right home from work and took me to the doctor while my mom watched Lexi (we took Hunter with us). At the doctor we found out my uterus had an infection, lucky for me this could be treated with anti-biotics and pain pills. What a relief! The doctor assured me that I would be feeling much better in just a few days. Saturday actually was a pretty uneventful day… I mean sure my little guy sprayed me couple of times during diaper changes and I was sporting the spit up all down the front of my shirt look, but nothing too messy. Then came Sunday! My husband went hunting, so my little sister, Whitney, came over to spend the night (I say “little”, but she is really 21 years old). Whitney had Hunter all under control, so I took Lexi up to bed. She was in her crib and she would not stop crying. I sat in the rocking chair next to her trying to sing her to sleep, but she would not calm down. Finally, I figured I would have better luck trying to rock her to sleep. I picked her up and sat down in the rocker. About 10 seconds later Lexi was throwing up all over. This poor little girl was sick! Once she stopped I held her tight and surveyed the damage. Everything was covered with puke, the carpet, the walls, the chair, the basket full of blankets, the decorative pillows and anything else that was remotely close to us in the room. Lexi and I were both covered, I just picked her up and we both got right into the shower to clean up. After I had cleaned the two of us up it was on to the bedroom. I was still trying to get the smell out of her room the next day! The days following this have been full of the cutest little snoty nose to wipe and lots of messy exploding diapers to change. Poor little girl, I hate it when she is sick!

Anyway, I was talking to my sister the night Lexi threw up all over me. She was saying that it is really funny that so many women want to be Mommy’s so bad, because really it is a dirty job! Throwing up for 9 months of pregnancy, going through child birth, infections after child birth, poop, pee, lack of sleep, being puked on, and all that other stuff really isn’t very glamorous. Since my sister has yet to have kids I had to remind her that there is a lot of other stuff that makes all the dirty stuff worth it. Seeing my little Hunter’s first smiles this week and hearing my little Lexi call me “Princess Mommy” are just a few of the reason’s why I wouldn’t give up my “Dirty Job” for anything!

He is here! My little baby boy, Hunter, is here! I was induced on Sunday August 17th at 7:30 AM. My doctor came in and broke my water at 8 AM. Then they started the pitocin and I got my heavenly epidural around 11:30. My husband sat with me and we watched the Olympics as I progressed slowly. They kept telling me that we were getting close, but it still took a long time. Around 5:45 PM my doctor came and checked me and told me that we were ready and that the baby was coming. Three contractions, three pushes, and one large episiotomy later my 9 lb. 20.5 inch baby boy was here! He was born at 5:59 PM, so once I was pushing it didn’t take long. He is a very big boy and no one expected him to be this big. Even when I was in labor my nurse felt my tummy and guessed that he would be around 7 lbs.. My doctor and the nurses were all very surprised at his size. Since my first was only 6 lbs. 12 oz., I was shocked too. He is such a cute little guy and I love him so much!

We are home now and recovering well. I am much more sore this time, but he is worth all the pain. In the hospital they kept coming in and pushing on my stomach during recovery… that hurts so bad! I don’t remember it with my first one. Maybe it is harder with your second one. I also don’t remember my uterus contracting while I would nurse with my first one. This time around I sit there and cringe while my baby nurses and my uterus tries to get back to normal. Ouch! He is nursing like he has been practicing for months! And I am feeling the pain there too! But, I have a great remedy for nursing mommies! If you mix a tablespoon of olive oil and one vitamin E tablet it makes the perfect after nursing potion. Just rub it on after you nurse and you will feel much better.

I am loving having a newborn again! My 18 month old daughter is adjusting to it beautifully. I could not be happier about how she has responded to our new addition. Well, off to nurse again… I will post more about the adventures of being a Mommy again soon!

Help! Another day has gone by and still no baby! I feel like if I sneeze he is just going to fall out, but I have tried that and nothing! I have walked and walked and walked. Today I tried swimming. Last night I tried curb walking, where you walk with one foot in the gutter and the other on the curb. I have bounced on the birthing ball. I have drove up into the mountains on bumpy roads. I have eaten large amounts of spicy food. And my husband has been “helping” me regularly! What else can I do to get this baby to come?

Well, here we are 08/13/2008 and still no baby! We went to the doctor on Monday and he will induce me next Monday, 08/18/2008, if Hunter still has not come by then. In the meantime you can find me walking the mall trying to get this baby to come. I didn’t realize how lucky I was to be induced with Lexi 3 days before her due date. My heart goes out to all women everywhere who have gone to their babies due dates or longer, I feel your pain! So, since we are just playing the waiting game here I thought we should open it up to a guessing game for everyone! Make a guess and the winner will get a special treat from me!

When will Hunter come? How much will he weigh? And how tall will he be?

Just to give you an idea of what our babies are like: Lexi was born 3 days before her due date (but I was induced for toxemia), she weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz. and was 18.5 inches long.

Last Thursday my husband took me on what will be one of our last dates before the baby comes. We went to see The Dark Night. Great movie by the way! Well, during the movie I started having contractions. This is my second pregnancy and I was induced with my first one and never had any contractions until I was in the hospital. So, these contractions caught me a little off guard. I was thinking that maybe the creepy Joker part that Heath Ledger played was putting me into labor! Unfortunately the contractions only continued that night and were gone in the morning.

The next day we talked to one of our friends who is due to have her second baby in September. She said that she went to go see The Dark Night and sat next to a lady that was jumping with fright the entire movie. She said that every time this lady would jump she would have a contraction. Eventually she had to lean over to the lady and tell her that she needed to stop jumping or she was going to put her into full on labor.

So, my question to the world out there is; has The Dark Night given anyone else contractions or put anyone into labor?

I went to the Doctor yesterday and told him that I had started having contractions during The Dark Night and he had another theory. He asked me if I was eating popcorn during the movie, which of course I was. What pregnant woman doesn’t crave the saltiness of movie popcorn? Anyway, he said that I was probably a little dehydrated from not getting enough fluids and eating the salty popcorn. Apparently dehydration can cause those annoying “just getting your hopes up” contractions.

Maybe it was Batman? Maybe it was the popcorn? Whatever it was I hope it comes back soon! I am due in 8 days and feeling very ready to have this little guy come out. My husband is a hunter and since the deer hunt opens on the 16th he is very anxious for this baby to get here sooner than later. If anyone out there has some tricks for me to try to get this baby out please let me know!

19 day’s until my baby boy’s due date and I feel like this! My tummy is tight and my belly button is fading fast! Sometimes I just lay back and watch my tummy move in all sorts of directions. My stomach is buldging in random places and turning all sorts of shapes as this baby moves. This little guy is a mover and he likes to keep his Mommy up all night long. Looks like he is just preparing me for the sleepless nights when he is here. I don’t want this baby to come too early, but I am starting to wonder how much more my tummy can stretch!

Yesterday I had my 33 week doctors appointment. I am not exactly sure why, but this pregnancy I have been feeling like I am huge! Maybe it has something to do with it being my 2nd pregnancy. Anyway, everything is going great and baby is baking nicely! My doctor gave me a few tips that I thought I would share, just in case anyone out there is feeling huge like me. He told me to look at my stomach in the morning instead of other times during the day, because it will be smallest in the morning. I checked my tummy out this morning and I really think this is true. With the heat of summer in full force now he also told me to find a swimming pool and enjoy it. He said swimming will help keep swelling down and give you that weightless feeling. Pregnancy is beautiful and getting huge gives you all the more glow! So, if you are pregnant and feeling huge like me get into that maternity swimsuit and take a dip in the pool!