Delivery, and Carson's 1st Week

What a week! Cory and I are so happy to finally have our sweet baby here with us. The journey has been long and sometimes diffucult but all the weight gain, heartburn, discomfort, fatique, lack of sleep (still ocurring) were well worth it.

The story...
We went to the hospital for our scheduled C-section on Sunday at 7AM. I wasn't able to sleep much the night before, I was awake at 3AM and never went back to sleep. We were prepped for surgery from 7-9AM. I was so nervous during the prep and the surgery, words can not describe it. I was so embarrassed during the prep b/c there are so many people (men included) who are coming in and out of the room, doing their different jobs which included me being on display naked from the waist down. Nothing really hurt during the prep and the surgery, the epidural was very uncomfortable but other than that, everything was easy to endure (until the next day).

The surgery began at 9:08 and Carson was born at 9:21. He weighed 7lbs 10 oz and was 20 inches long. It went very fast, I could only feel a little tugging and pressure at times. There were some menstrual-like cramps at the end, they weren't too bad. And by that time, I was listening to my baby crying so nothing was really bothering me. It was such a surreal moment to see Carson and also to hear him for the first time. Cory got to watch them "pull Carson out" and when Cory told me he was out we both cried like babies ourselves.

We then went to recovery and they ran some tests and bathed Carson beside me where we could see eachother and I could talk to him. I did get sick while in recovery but soon felt better and got to hold Carson.

We were sent to our room and began to see family all day. The first day was actually really easy for me. I had no pain b/c they kept the epidural in for 24 hours; btw epidurals or at least the one I got was not what I expected, I was able to move, lift myself a little, I was not paralyzed (I thought epidurals paralyzed you from the waist down).

That night however, things changed...After 12 hours I was able to get up w/ the help of 2 nurses; words can not describe this pain...but I will try: it was like my uterus was trying to lift a house.

The next day was very hard, they removed the epidural and started me on oral pain meds. The 1st pain med they tried made me sick and dizzy so we had to switch. I was usually fine after I got my pain meds, but it was SO hard and painful to stand up.

It was also hard emotionally because with all of my pain and reaction to meds, I wasn't able to feed Carson when I wanted and Cory had to do most of the work to take care of him at first. I hated feeling so helpless and I just wanted to take care of my baby but I couldn't at times. But it got better.

We got home on Wednesday, and Carson wasn't wanting to sleep by himself, so Cory and I surrendered him to the grandma's so we could get a couple hours of sleep. Then I woke up crying and having bad chills. I had a fever and bad headache. So we called the Dr and he wanted me to come in. Everything was fine, no infection...turns out it was just a fever due to my milk coming in. I felt much better once I got the fever down.

Carson is doing so good and is such a joy to have around, I want to hold him constantly, I have to remind myself to share. He had his 1st Pediatric apt today, and everything looks good.

I will be posting on our family blog from now on, so for updates on us go to www.andtheycallitpuppylove.blogsot.com.

Goodbye pregnancy blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carson's website

Website: http://www.our365.com/NewbornPortraits/BabyDetail.aspx?birthid=ae68c6b9-dc0b-41a5-9122-2e18c588661d

Customer #: 04431273371542

Big Update

I had told everyone that this Dr. apt today would be uneventful...and I couldn't be more wrong. The nurse asked me if I wanted to be checked for signs of labor and I was curious so I said ok. Thank goodness I did, b/c the Dr. discovered that Carson has turned and is a "footling breech". So he mentioned that he could try to manually turn the baby which only has a 30% success rate given how far along I am, that there is not very much amniotic fluid left, and that I have never had children before. So he wants to do a C-section on Sunday, the 2nd. So I get to meet Carson then! I was a little upset and overwhelmed this morning, but am fine with it now. Its just not how I pictured it. I have appointed my sister-in-law, Becca to post pictures on her blog when she comes to visit me in the hospital, so next week keep an eye out for Carson's arrival update and pics on www.asouthernboyandacitygirl.blogspot.com.

Family Baby Shower

This weekend was fun, a few ladies in my family threw me a baby shower, and it was also a bit of a family reunion (I don't get to see my family very often). My immediate family stayed the weekend and we cooked out as well, so needless to say I am exhausted. But it was so nice to see everyone.

I have one more week of work before I begin my leave of abscence. It is getting so hard to just make it through the day...on Friday I worked from home for the 2nd half of the day b/c I just couldn't make myself stay there all day.

Next Dr. apt is on Tuesday, will probably be a quick one since I have had no issues this week and I won't ask him to check me just yet for signs of labor.

Here are some pics from the shower, the ladies did sucha great job, the food was amazing and the decorations were so cute. Carson got a lot of clothes at this shower, so I think we are all set now.

Me with the hostesses: (L to R) Aunt Kay, my cousin Melissa, sister Caroline and SIL Ginger.

We had 2 cakes at this shower, somehow Melissa and Caroline got confused on who was in charge of the cake.....but we all didn't mind!

CAKE #1

CAKE #2

Example of the cute decor:

Dr. Apt; and some DIY Maternity Shots

Dr. Apt was good, Carson's heart rate was 140's as usual, everything else is fine. I asked the Dr. to estimate the baby's weight....and wow, he said he thinks Carson is almost 8 lbs! So I am very interested to see what he turns out to be.

On another note, I had my camera in my purse, so on a whim, I asked my friend Kelly to take some pictures of me outside of my work building. We have a really nice nature trail and picnic area..so we gave it a try. Thanks Kelly, I think we got some good ones!

36 weeks and 3 days, Dr. Apt, and baby products

Went to the Dr. today, met another Dr. in the practice who was very nice, I really liked him as well. Everything is looking good, Carson is still head down and unlikely to turn. The Dr. said I was "In the window" now so he explained what to do when I went into labor. I will be going every week now. This practice doesn't really do internal checks of dilation, effacement, etc...Since they don't induce labor until 42 weeks unless medically needed, there is no need for them to check me unless there are any concerns. They actually said that those manual checks are quite painful before week 38. After that they said they would check if I wanted them to (they said some women want to know, we'll see if I get curious)
I am really hoping that Carson isn't 2 weeks late; I have decided to take the 1st week of August as vacation then begin my maternity leave the next week. I am so tired of working, and when I come home, I am simply good for nothing. It is so hard just to cook dinner, and I can't remember the last time I did the dishes. I still do laundry b/c Cory despises laundry and at least I can sit down to fold clothes.


Ok Candace....I am not a mom yet, and I have little experience with babies (it has actually been 8 years since I have changed a diaper!), but here are a few things that I would recommend.
Oh, I agree w/ Becca about the dreft detergent and the formula dispenser. I have actually been washing our clothes with dreft since the baby will be in contact with our clothes as well, and plus it does smell really good.

I think Candace recommended these bottles a while back, I have not heard anything negative about them yet. I have other friends who use them and I saw many in the refrigerators at daycares I visited. If Carson doesn't like these then I will try Avent.






In the baby care class we went to, they showed us how to swaddle. The nurse there said that the best blankets are these larger flannel ones. I ordered some today, they go up to 24 months. This particular brand is carters and they are buy one get one 1/2 off on babies r us.com. I was also given a miracle blanket so I will be trying that as well.

In this class they also gave us a DVD of soothing techniques for babies, Cory and I have already watched it and I must say that there are things in there I never would have thought to do. The DVD is called the Happiest Baby on the Block. http://www.thehappiestbaby.com/

And now that I do have experience being pregnant here are a few things I recommend for moms to be.

1. Gaucho pants: for me have been great, I use them as lounging/pj pants and lately now that I am so big I have been wearing them to work since they look a little dressier than denim.
2. Pre-natals: I recommend women's one-a-day prenatal. Every Dr. and midwife I have seen said that over the counter pre-natals are fine. And these days they recommend that you have a prenatal that also has DHA. Well the one I was prescribed was about $60 per month, so I asked the pharmacist and did some pricing and this one is the best for me. Its only about $15 for a month, and it has everything I need.
3. And lastly I suggest each pregnant couple take a vacation in the 2nd trimester. I didn't b/c I thought I would need my paid time off for being sick during pregnancy or exhaustion. Now I have a lot of vacation time and am SO burnt out at work.

Dr Apt. 34 wks and 2 days

Nothing special to report. Everything was normal...weight gain, baby HB, and blood pressure, etc...

I got to see one of the Dr.'s this time, and I really liked him - he was very sweet and warm. You can tell he enjoys his job. He made me laugh a lot and put me in a really good mood. Up until this point I had been seeing midwives, and I liked them ok, but would prefer a Dr. deliver the baby.

He did say that the baby's head is down, which is good. And I was wondering but forgot to ask if the baby will rotate anymore, if there is any room for him to go back to the head up position, or if he was just head down at the moment. Guess I will check baby center.