The Eagle has Landed!

So apologies first up for being sooo long between updates!! Baby Ashton has arrived and with Christmas, my birthday and having Peter home I just haven't had the chance to jump on properly!!

Ok so hopefully I can get my birth story in before Peter needs the computer then I can come on and update the rest!

So where to start:

To begin with I had 2 stretch and sweeps in an attempt to get labour started. The first one I started losing my plug but not much else then the second one when I was 4 days past my due date I feel really kicked things off!! It felt a lot more uncomfy and I felt she really gave it a good sweep!

So that was on the Monday! Wednesday morning I woke up at 6am with what was definitely contractions. They were stronger than BH but not getting any stronger or closer together! They remained 6-8 minutes apart the whooolllee day!! IT was frustrating because I spent the whole day wondering if it was going to go forward or fizzle out into nothing! I'd been booked in for an induction on Monday the 27th but I really wanted bubba out before xmas!!

I woke up at about 2am on Thursday 23/12 with much stronger pains but tried to get some more sleep! 4am I woke up in much more pain and they were coming on about 4-5 minutes apart! I got up, had some panadol and a heat pack. No luck...it still hurt so I jumped in the shower and still no luck!! It hurt!! When they say you;ll definitely know the difference between BH and the real deal they aren't kidding!!

Woke mum and Peter up to say it's time to go to the hospital! By this stage I could barely walk through the contractions and would just have to stand bent over on the spot stamping my foot on the floor!!

Got to the hospital at about 6am. They put the monitor on me, and did an internal at about 8am - still only 1cm dialated!! I was not impressed as I was in a lot of pain!! They decided to send me home but as I had an appointment booked with the midwife for 9.30 that morning they got me in early! They wanted to do a fluid check to make sure all was good around the baby!! So during the scan I had 3 morevery painful contractions! The midwife thought she should probably do another internal to check before sending me home so this time only an hour later I was 3cm! YAY things were moving!! But I still went home with some panadeine forte and some sleeping tablets!

Got home about 9.30am hopped straight into bed...this lasted an hour until the pain was UNBEARABLE!! So back in the car we went! Got to the hospital and back into the delivery suite where the midwife suggested I have a bath which soothed the pain for a little while! Was nice and peaceful just lying in there with DP sitting next to me! But after 45 minutes (which I thought was only 15 minutes) the contractions were too painful and I had to get out! So back to the room we go and I'm asking for the gas!! Again...unless you timed it right didn't do much as it takes a bit to kick in! Plus it made me want to throw up so that was horrible!! I needed something stronger - there was no way I could imagine walking through them or anything like they suggest! The pain was all in my back and even being on all fours it HURT!!!!!

I was the loudest on the ward by far but I just didn't care! I just wanted the pain to stop!! So I got the pethidine (Slowly working my way through each level of painkiller!!) But again.... the pain was ridiculous!! Until eventually I just yelled out wanting an epidural! I have no idea what time it was as time has no meaning by this stage!!

So they moved me into another room and gave me the epidural! I was so out of it by this stage I could barely hold my head up! Peter was holding me still but unfortunately the sight of the needle made him queasie so the dr's suggested he lie down for a little while!! As soon as that epi was in I was a whole new person!! I managed to get some sleep and then had a sense of humour about it all!!

Eventually the midwife broke my waters for me and when feeling for the head let me know he had quite a bit of hair!! hehe

So the time came when she decided it was time to push! They turned down the epi so I could feel some sensation so I knew when I was having a contraction but not having any pain! So we watched the monitor - cx came on - I pushed and pushed and pushed! This went on for over 2 hours of just pushing my hardest (all the while being paranoid about pointless things like pooing or bursting blood vessells in my eyes! hehe) Eventually he had moved down but not enough and they were getting concerned about bubs heart rate!! Dr John appeared decked out in his plastic apron and gumboots!! Legs up in stirrups (definitely not one of my finer moments in life!!) Vaccuum attached and I pushed and they pulled.... BAM!! Vaccuum pops off and blood goes EVERYWHERE!! Talk about scary! So they decided forceps was necessary! By this stage there were 2 midwives, my ob and then the paed needed to be in as well so I was getting a little scared!! Fortunately I felt nothing!! So with one big push from me and a pull from the forceps baby Ashton was brought into the world! Turns out the little guy had turned posterior and no one had picked it up - hence why the labour was sooo painful as it was all in my back and also why he didn't want to budge!!!

So they pulled him out, put him on my chest and the monkey pooed all over me! AWESOME!! haha But then they had to whisk him away to check him as he was cold (fortunately he was crying though so I knew he was breathing!!) He was fine though!

They gave him to me to cuddle but after about 5 minutes I needed to throw up so eventually after it had all settled down I gave him a breastfeed and he was awesome at it!!!!

So happy to have my little man in the world!!

2 days til Due Date!!

Ok so I know I know I've beem totally and mega slack with the blog!! But there hasn't really been a lot happening in the pregnancy department...just rolling along!! BUT alas I find myself 2 days out from my due date!!

Had my final OB appointment this morning where he performed a stretch and sweep of the cervix! I was a little bit worried as people had said it could be painful but my cervix must have been nice and soft coz besides it being slightly uncomfortable it was absolutely fine! Some people are opposed to them but I was of the theory- between papsmears, the d&c, internal ultrasounds I have had a fair share of people making me uncomfy in there and this could prove beneficial to get bub moving!! So now we wait!

Think I had a small leak of waters yesterday after my nap - either that or I wee'd myself a bit (likely) but after some research it seems like a small leak! So FX things are happening! Have been having A LOT of BH that last few days - lots yesterday! Thought I woke up with a CX in the middle of the night as I woke up and the pain was all through my lower back as well! But I'm of the mind that if it is contractions they will wake me up more and more so I don't get too excited! I'm actually fairly rational about it all at the moment! Like when something new happens I don't jump up thinking 'this is it' but just that 'well at least my body is recognising this and hopefully will kick into gear soon'! So I try and just go with the flow!

If he decided xmas day is his birthday then so be it! That's the way the world turns - as Dr John said at least the hospital is pretty much empty so the chances of having a room to myself or with one other person instead of 4 are a lot higher!

So we wait! I am happy with how I am carrying so far aswell! Sleep is the only comlaint I have! I am now at the point where I need to sleep upright on my back because if I sleep on my side I get pelvic pain and NOW I also get cramps in my hips from the weight of my belly! So if I DO sleep on my side I'm now surrounded by pillows - between the legs, under the belly, behind me and also sleeping with my head on 3 pillows!!

I will be sad when this pregnancy is over as I will miss feeling little man in there - it's like that stage of a relationship when everything is still a possibility and the world is your oyster and and you can imagine everything.... because until bubs comes I can imagine what life i going to be like with our little guy..so once he is here then reality will kick in and I'm sure it is better than anything I have ever imagined!

So there you go.... up to date with where I am at...hopefully next time I post I will have little man! But I promise I won't leave it too long!!!

Getting Impatient!

So almost at 37 weeks and am actually getting really really impatient! A lot more than I thought I would! I think because the November SWB girls have all got their little bundles and surprisingly heaps of people due in December have also popped and i feel like I have so long to go!!

I know realistically its not that far away but I think I am just anxious to get this little guy out so i know he will be here for xmas!!

Been feeling pretty good the last couple of days - if it weren't for my belly I would swear I would forget i was pregnant - that and the constant reminder with alien like movements happening! He currently has the hiccups and it's just annoying! He gets them like 4 times a day minimum!! So it gets a bit monotonous!!

Had an ob appointment this morning - they go weekly from this point!! EEP! But everything is great! BP is normal, Fundal height measuring only a few days behind and his heartbeat sounds nice and strong! Dr John seems to think that whilst he's not a small bub he is definitely not a whopper! He doesn't think he'll be close to 9 pounds which is very reassuring! Mind you - Peter's mum had told him he was HUGE when I looked at his baby book the other day he was only 7p 9oz!! So not a big bubba at all!! Silly woman!!

Been getting an achey belly lately - like I need to do a bowel movement but I don;t need too (like sorry if tmi but i'm going pretty regularly so it's not like I'm blocked up) so I'm wondering if thats good signs! Also the general period like pain (which was  a stark reminder that i will be going back to getting AF soon! BOO)!!

Dr John also said he was engaged but just didn't say how much! But I was happy that little man has figured out which way the exit is and will hopefully start to make his way down soon enough!!

Well that;s it from me for now - it is just about nap time for me now!!

New Aches and Pains!

Yep I'm in pain! And it's not fun!! Starting about lunchtime yesterday I've just had this stomache ache which is quite painful and really uncomfy! Seems to be worse today though!! I'm not happy with this new pain as if it is something I'm going to have to deal with for 4 more weeks I will not be happy!!


I've been in bed all morning just trying to rest and take it easy! Seems ok when I wander around slowly but I need to rest very regularly! GRrrr!!! It's not contraction pain though as it is very very constant! I have had some low lying period like pain but its constant not coming and going so i'm not worried about it being early labour yet!


I tried sitting under the shower and having a bath last night and it worked for the time I was in the water but the minute I hopped out it was back! So I had an early night last night as bed was the only place I was comfortable! I had a pretty good sleep though so thats always good!!


I'm not worried about little man as he has been moving like a crazy person today so that's always reassuring! He's definitely dropped though as he has been giving my cervix/bladder some serious sucker punches yesterday and today which are new also! I swear I will wee myself by the end of this! hahaha Such a glamorous time!!


In all of this though as long as it means my body is heading in the right direction I will have to suck it up!! But seriously.... if I'm being a sook about this I can only imagine what I'm going to be like when the real thing starts!!!

Babyshower!

So a super busy weekend and my babyshower is done!! Kinda sad really but was sooo worth it!!

After a little meltdown last week about feeling let down by friends etc. I feel a lot better! Friday night was busy busy with Peter and I hitting the supermarket and then finally getting home to start making salads etc. so that was a big night! Then Saturday Peter and I up early again so we could get to the Butcher to grab some meat, then he's off to cricket so I spent 2 hours cleaning the house (which i'd spent 2 weeks cleaning already) so then finally the girls decided to arrive and they actually were really helpful and helped make some Mars Bar slice, Rum Balls etc. Saturday night I was home but Peter was out so I spent the night chatting to my parents who were looking after my nieces (6y and 4m) and my nephew (5y) so that was entertaining!!

Sunday - the big day - up early again with finishing the cooking, another trip up to the supermarket, setting up the decorations and so it goes on and on and on - before even getting out of bed I was sooo over the day already! Especially knowing I wasn't going to get my nana nap!! haha But then once I was ready and people started to arrive it really turned into SUCH a fantastic day! Virtually everyone I invited turned up plus about 20 boys from the cricket club showed up for Peter so including kids we are talking about over 40 people! It was insane!! I was not expecting it at all!!

Then the presents! Little man is such a spoilt and lucky boy already - with so many people around who are so excited about his arrival! Everyone was so generous! The boys were invited to a BBQ so obviously no one expected presents but the girls that came were just crazy generous!!

That's just them all bunched up but hidden within those bags is soo much stuff!! I have to go through it properly today and write down who gave little man what and then send out Thank You notes to everyone!! Just crazy!! I feel very blessed to have so many people around us that really care!!

So all in all the day went off without a hitch (Even the weather which was disgustingly wet on Saturday managed to behave and no rain and even though it was overcast it wasn't cold) so I'm so happy with how it all went! BUT today I am exhausted! I've only been up an hour and a half and am just about ready to head back to bed for a short nap!!

Pelvic pain is making sleeping very annoying - i'm ok laying in one spot but if I try to roll over it hurts soo much! BUt thats the worst of it so I can't complain too much! I just simply can not believe how close it all is!! EEEEPPP!!!!!!

35 weeks 1 day!

Well I know i've been terribly slack on updating but there really hasn't been a lot going on from this end!! We are just waiting waiting waiting!!

Been on Maternity leave for 2 weeks now and am still not bored! Have managed to conquer the everest of cleaning though so I feel good about that - I'm not nesting yet so I didn't enjoy the cleaning one bit! But it had to be done for my baby shower on Sunday! IT is done now and I have plenty of time to keep it clean!!

Also I got my text books and first assignment for my Personal Training course on Monday so have spent about an hour and a half every day on that! I want to get the first 2 assignments + my first aid certificate done by christmas as that will have me completed certificate III so then after christmas I can focus on getting my cert IV done! I start my 8 week prac component on 11th Feb (providing all goes normally on the birth side of things) so then by Aprilish I should be fully qulaified along with my sister! I'm pretty excited about it!! Figure it is a great way to earn income around bubs and Peter without needing to worry about childcare or babysitters!!

On the pregnancy side of things - we have finished up our antenatal classes! Was a bit sad really! I really enjoyed them! We had a great group of people and always left laughing! But the couple we got along with the best had the same due date - would laugh if we ended up in hospital together!! haha Bubs has seriously got the pointiest limbs on the planet! I've changed his name from Reggie to Limby because I am constantly getting a foot there, or a knee there! It can be painful because it takes me by surprise! But always a reassurance that's for sure! I will so miss this side of it all!!

Umm...(TMI) but I think bub dropped a bit overnight/this morning as I was getting some period like pain (very dull though) and then when I was out at morning tea I got some stabby pains on the cervix and then when I went to the toilet I had leaked a bit - enough to go through to my pants! :( So I've had a pad on today - just a normal one and it seems it was probably just a bit of wee (isn't pregnancy just a sexy experience) and a bit of discharge which has definitely amped up! But I've been getting the period pain off and on again this afternoon so I'm just watching it and keeping an eye on it! I also had a teensy bit of spotting a few days ago (and we hadn't DTD or anything) but nothing since so as I said, just keeping an eye on it! Bubs has been a moving machine still so I'm not stressing about him!!

Belly shots:

 Taken earlier today! As you can see I have one stretch mark on that side and the other side I have one that is identical plus one more!! But touch wood I've done alright to only have those ones! Can't complain about weight gain or anything as I have literally put on the bare minimum of what I need to - bubs is already 2.5kg so that plus fluid and stuff I'm not stressing too much about it at all! Plus from behind I still don't look pregnant so I can't complain about that! Though regardless of how big/little you are you can't avoid the waddle!! haha

Have to say though I have become a lot more comfortable with my body since being pregnant! Like I could stroll around in the nude all day these days (I don't but I could) whereas before I never would have and I look at photos of pre baby now and wonder why I had issues!! I was so silly! If I can get back to what I was I will be so happy! haha So definitely happy with how it is all going!

Did my measurements the other day and I've only put on 3cm on my belly since about 30 weeks and my thighs have stayed the same as at the start! So again - my wefforts in maintaining exercise throughout the pregnancy has paid off! I'm trying to walk every day plus I'm still going swimming once a week!!

Umm..a massive shout out to the first of our SWB girls to pop - Kim and Lambchops!! Both welcoming their little men yesterday!!! Lachlan and Ollie are such lucky boys to have you ladies as their mums!! Can't wait to see a pic of Lachlan but Ollie - that photo is just beautiful! I'm so proud of you ladies!!!!!

Materinty Leave!

Ok so I'm 3 days in to Maternity leave but with it having just been Cup Weekend today is really my first real day at home alone!! So I've managed to get Reggie's room tidy and everything put away. Everytime I finally get the room clean my sister's come round with more stuff so it's gradually been building til I could not longer find a spot on the floor. Plus I still hadn't gotten around to putting all his clothes away. I've spacebagged the size 00 and 0 clothes for storage (but still easy access), the 0000 I'm just keeping the tub that I have them sorted into as I can't see us needing them for too long and then the 000 are in his chest of drawers! He is certainly a baby with a lot of clothes already!!

I've also managed 3 loads of washing as well! I've only been managing to get things done with rest breaks as I'm so tired all the time still!! But definitely starting to make progress in the whole cleaning thing!! Tomorrow will be our bedroom and dining room (providing I get the kitchen done today) so then the whole place will basically be clean! YAY then I can work on maintaining that AND organising inside cupboards etc! Still waiting for the nesting to really hit me so I can go nuts!!

Been feeling a bit odd lately which has made me worry a bit too much about premature labour! Sorry if TMI here but I've basically had loose bowel movements and then yesterday was so achey and sore and tired and just felt crap! Then last night was having sooo many braxton hicks I was starting to freak out a little bit! But then I feel better today, braxton hicks haven't really been around much today though when I went to the toilet before and wiped (yep still a notorious checker) there was a teensy bit of blood.... I've not been to the toilet since but that basically put an end to any housekeeping I had been doing as I felt it was best to err on the side of the caution and have been on the couch for the last 2.5hours. If there is more when I go to the toilet again I will phone the midwives but for now it was only a teensy speck - still enough to freak me out a little bit though!!

Had our scan on Monday night and saw our amazing little boy (and yes confirmed yet again that he is still a he!! Everything is still perfect in there - placenta still functioning, waters still intact etc. After being measured he was measuring 2 days ahead at about 2.3kgs (5p 1oz) so looking at something in the 8p range which is good so far! Nice to know he isn't a giant baby!! haha

So the one on the left is basically him to a T - just as in our 28 week scan he knew we wanted pics so put his hands on his face again! But you can see in this one the little grin he has going on like he knew what he was doing!!!

The one on the right is the only profile we could get which makes his nose look bigger than it appeared on the screen! But he is still our little man and the images we were seeing on the screen were just amazing! It was sooo good to see our little guy again!

He is still head down which is great news! And he flips side to side when he feels like it! He has found my ribs for real now so I'm constantly getting kicked in the ribs as he is generally stretching his legs straight out in front so it was only a matter of time til he found them!!

Anyways..enough from me and the little guy! 5th and second last antenatal class tonight..will be interesting tonight - talking breastfeeding etc.!!!