The beginning of Adventures in Babywearing

Since before our son was born, I knew I wanted to babywear. The convenience and developmental benefits are amazing. With two dogs, taking them and a stroller for a quick walk around the block seemed a little more daunting than I thought I could handle. At least for the first little while.

I was lucky enough to be given a lot of different wraps prior to Gabriel's birth. I received a Moby wrap, 2 custom made Babyhawk Mei Tais (shorter straps) and a ring sling. I purchased a woven and was given an Ergo from a baby shower.

After the first week home, I tried the Moby for the first time. I couldn't walk very far yet, but I wanted to see if I was strong enough to wear him and go down the block. The amount of fabric that makes up the Moby is a little daunting. I watched a few youtube videos and followed the instructions on the website and had no issues tying it on and getting Gabriel in. A little slow to get everything on and situated, but I did it.
We took our first walk as a family!

I can't wait to start wearing Gabriel more and get out of the house with the dogs. We may not go far yet, but being hands free will be so nice. 

Gabriel!

Been a while since I've posted! We've been busy!
Our little one made an appearance at 40 weeks and 2 days. We have a son, Gabriel.

Here is our story:
Thursday morning, May 8, I had an OB appointment and got a cervix check. There was absolutely no indication of Gabriel coming soon. I was closed, thick but soft, same as the week before. I had an appointment for acupressure at 3 that afternoon and thought I might as well go anyway, the relaxation would be nice even if my body wasn't ready for labour yet.
My mom had been staying with us for the week and decided to go home Thursday after my appointment.
Gilles got home from work around 5, we ate supper then took the dogs for a walk around 7pm. While we were walking I had to stop a couple times for what I thought may be contractions. They weren't painful, but definitely required no movement.
Around 8pm they were regular and coming faster than I thought they should be for early labour. We called our doula around 10pm when they were consistently 3 minutes apart and lasting 30 to 40 seconds to the peak. She suggested I get in the bath and see if that calms things down. It didn't, they stayed right around the same so we called our doula again and she came to the house around 11:30pm
At 2am Friday morning, we headed to the hospital because I had a bearing down feeling and the contractions were still consistent at 2.5 - 3 minutes apart.
They took me right into a delivery room because I was bearing down and grunting when we got there. They checked me and I was only at 3cm. They told me I needed to stop my body for trying to push or I would cause my cervix to swell. That was enough for me to concentrate really hard stopping.
After getting in the room I used the shower and birth ball a ton.
I sat on the ball and leaned my head on the bed. I picked a spot on the moveable tray the nurse was using and used it to concentrate. When that wasn't working anymore, we put the ball in the shower and Gilles and our doula swapped holding the shower head on my back and feeding me bites of granola bar and water. Apparently I smashed my face into the steel safety bars in the shower with every contraction. I thought I was placing my head. I didn't know this until a couple days later when I commented my forehead hurt.

My water finally broke while on the ball leaning on the bed around 6am.
The contractions were coming faster and harder. I asked to use the gas after they checked me at 8am and said I was 7cm. After using it for a while I was checked again and still at 7cm. The gas didn't do much for the pain, but it forced me to breathe through each contraction and relax. After a couple hours of what we think was transition, I was done and asked for the epidural. This was not our plan, but I believe there would be no way I would have been able to deliver Gabriel without getting a little rest. The Dr (whom I'd met before) suggested that the epidural would also speed things along at that point.
I was a champ sitting through the contractions while the epidural went in. It numbed my right side first so I spent a lot of time on my left side. I was able to have a nap and so was Gilles. They got me to turn on my right side, but Gabriel's heart rate dropped so they kept me on my left side. Our doula and Gilles both gave me a neck massage while I was laying there resting which felt like heaven!
I hadn't been able to go to the bathroom during the transition phase or while having the epidural for whatever reason, so they had to drain my bladder twice with a catheter. That helped move things along with the pressure from my bladder gone.

They checked me again at 12pm and I was 10cm. Baby was at 0 station so they let me be to see if baby would come further down with contractions. At 12:45 they checked again and baby had moved slightly. I started pushing. I first pushed on my side with my leg up in a hold. I would pull my knee up to my shoulder with every push. I didn't feel like that was working enough so I asked to squat. That was a fail, since my legs were numb. Since I was on my back, we propped me up with pillows and I was able to pull my legs back with every push. After an hour he was almost out. They used a very small vacuum to assist and he was born! Such a relief! The feeling of his head going through and then his shoulders was amazing.

We did delayed cord clamping and skin to skin immediately. He breastfed right away, was very alert and then did skin to skin on Gilles. Gilles said he just looked at him the entire time. Our doula got me tea and toast with jam on it. Delicious!

I had a small 2nd degree tear that needed some stitching. And what the Dr described as road rash on my labia. They put stitches in and said told me they would dissolve in the next week or 2.

We were moved to a recovery room (shared) around 5pm and given supper.

Gabriel was born May 9, 2014 at 2:53pm.
Weight: 6 lbs 6 oz
Length: 20 inches

39 Weeks

How Far Along: 39 Weeks.

Baby Size: Watermelon

Symptoms: Sore, aching back. Hip soreness and SI joint pain. Lots of "lightning crotch". Bébé seems to be adjusting itself to move down.

Weight Gain: 23 lbs.

Sleep: This week was rough. I was either too hot, too cold, or just couldn't get comfortable. Definitely getting harder to roll over and get out of bed

Best Moment of the Week: The nursery being done. Piano being done. But the best part: I finished all the courses for my Natural Nutrition Diploma. I still have a lot of work to do in terms of case studies and studying for my final late this year, but I reached my goal of having the courses done before baby.

Worst Moment of the Week: The annoyance of pain. It's not really painful, just makes me move much slower.

Any cravings or aversions: Nothing I'm craving or have an aversion to. Just food. I just want to eat.

Wedding ring on or off: Finding it easier not to wear them unless I'm going out of the house.

Belly button In or Out: Out

What I'm looking forward to: Having my body back and being able to sleep more comfortably. I definitely am looking forward to not bumping my belly into things

What I miss: Sleeping comfortably.

Emotions: Definitely feeling like it's time. I will miss my belly and feeling baby move inside, but it's time. Eviction notice is given ;)

Nursery: Done! Check out my previous blog post for photos

Shopping:  Nothing this week.

To-do: Relax. Enjoy the sunshine.

The Nursery

It's done! A few little things left to add here and there, but it's done. 

We've added a dimmer switch for the overhead light. Blackout curtains and I'm still needing a replacement bulb for my salt rock lamp.

This is my favourite feature. The colours are so bright and it makes the room cheerful
The little owl hamper was a gift from Auntie L

Spoiled with stuffies already. 

Gilles restained this glider. It used to be a light wood and now it matches the furniture.
The shelf beside it (hidden a little) he also did in a dark stain. 

38 Weeks

How Far Along: 38 Weeks. Today is the day our doulas are officially on call for us. Yikes!

Baby Size: Pumpkin or Watermelon

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks all the time, but especially after walking. Cramping especially after walking. Sore hips that get worse with the zinger pelvic pain. Get tired quickly. Lots of pelvic pressure, like a heavy feeling. Said this week: "I feel like my pelvis is being pushed apart"

Weight Gain: 21 lbs.

Sleep: Not getting up as often, or maybe I'm just used to it now. I have noticed that my hips and shoulders are getting sore and that's what wakes me up now so I have to switch sides. Definitely feeling warmer at night.

Best Moment of the Week: Gilles being more attentive. After walking with me for a couple days this long weekend and seeing how tired I get during the day, he's started to get me things rather than me getting up for them. Offering to help with hip pain, cross things off MY to-do list. It's been awesome. He's starting to look a little like "omg this baby is coming soon" which is so cute. I think it's starting to really hit home for him now.
Other best thing was the King Crab legs we had for dinner Friday. I ate an entire one to myself and if Gilles hadn't eaten his it would have been mine lol.

Worst Moment of the Week: The annoyance of "you haven't had your baby?" and "you must be so ready". I'm 38 weeks folks. And if you're on the list, you'll know when baby is here. Otherwise you can wait to find out with the rest of the world.

Any cravings or aversions: I'm a continuous eating machine. I want to eat everything. Gilles laughed all weekend because after every episode of TV we watched I got up and got something else to eat. Ate an epic turkey dinner for Easter. Kept eating whatever was around me until it was cleared.
Still loving my nightly fudgesicle. I ran out and had DQ one night. NOT the same. Went the next day and bought another box.

Wedding ring on or off: Finding it easier not to wear them unless I'm going out of the house.

Belly button In or Out: Out

What I'm looking forward to: Holding this baby in my arms.
I had a dream bébé was sleeping on my chest in an adorable orange striped onesie. Rather than wake baby up, I tied a Baby Hawk around him/her and was able to get up and walk around.

What I miss: Sleeping comfortably.

Emotions: Feeling like something has changed. My body feels different now and I feel emotionally like this is the "in-between" Not like labour is imminent, but like my body is now in that last stage of preparations. Love trusting my body knows what it's doing. I feel like I've reached the point of waiting and it's exactly what I should be doing now.

Nursery: The dimmer switch is in for the light.

Shopping:  Didn't shop this week at all for baby. My mom gave us a pair of Padraig slippers for bébé for Easter. They are adorable!
Ended up going to Costco and buying tons of meat. I made 8 freezer meals so far and have another 6 to make this weekend. We are going to be stocked up! 

To-do: One more assignment and one more test. Then I'm officially done my courses. I'm hoping to be done by Friday.

37 Weeks

How Far Along: 37 Weeks. According to the Canadian definitions, I'm considered "full term". The US has changed theirs to consider me "early term". Either way. I'm happy if bébé stays in there until at least 39 weeks. The more brain, lung and immune system development the better.
21 Days to go. Seems like such a short time left.

Baby Size: Winter Melon

Symptoms: Phases of nesting, high energy and being tired and in need of relaxation. I'm taking the high energy days to get stuff done and allowing my body to rest on the others. It's frustrating, but I figure there is a biological reason for the shifts.
Lots of pelvic pressure, braxton hicks (some that make me feel nauseous) and period-like cramping.

Weight Gain: 21 lbs.

Sleep: Woke up once this week at 4am STARVING. Got up, ate, went back to bed and slept. I hate waking up hungry.

Best Moment of the Week: Getting a sneak peek at our maternity photos. I can't wait to see the rest of them. We had them done by Amber Holt Photography. She is amazing and I'm so excited for her to do our newborn photos as well. The number of props and outfits she has is crazy!
Gilles is feeling my belly more since you can actually see limbs sticking out. Love it!

Worst Moment of the Week: Having a couple more of those days where I'm super low energy and can't function much. 

Any cravings or aversions: Subway

Wedding ring on or off: Finding it easier not to wear them unless I'm going out of the house.

Belly button In or Out: Out

What I'm looking forward to: 

What I miss: Walking at a good pace

Emotions: Feeling like I'm exactly where we should be. I had an overwhelming sense of "I love my life" this week. Very satisfying. I'm finally done piano lessons now so I feel like I can finally give my full attention to studying and feeling ready.

Nursery: Liner for my diaper pail came in. Bassinet mattress came in. Got another glider from my oldest sister for the basement.

Shopping: Bought arnica for after labour. Calendula oil to make some padsicles. Rockin' Green detergent for my cloth diapers. Diaper pail liner.

To-do: Almost finished my last test. Hoping to have it done by next week!

Why the rush?

I'm in a group online and I'm starting to see a trend. Moms to be are so excited and uncomfortable they want to have their baby RIGHT NOW. Some of these ladies are less than what is considered Early Term (37 - 39 weeks) and definitely not Full Term. They are now considering 39 weeks to be Full Term, and 41 - 42 Late Term in case you thought 37 weeks was it.

I get that we're uncomfortable. I get that we're excited. I'm right there with you. Pregnancy is 40 weeks for a reason. The average is actually 41 weeks and 3 days. Our babies are still developing up until the time they start labour. Let me repeat that last part - THEY START LABOUR. Not you. Babies come when they are ready. Sometimes that fits our schedule, most of the time it doesn't. Sometimes it doesn't fit the medical schedule either and we're "overdue". When they are early for whatever reason - sometimes it's in our control, most times it's not - there are higher risks of problems arising (not saying it always happens but the risks are greater). Lungs aren't developed properly, the immune system isn't finished, breastfeeding can be more of a challenge and the list goes on. Why wish that for your baby just to ease your comfort? Suck it up.

There are definitely things like exercise, teas, massage, etc that can help labour, but they won't start anything unless your body (read: baby) is ready. This may be me being naive as a first time mom and not having reached 40 weeks yet. I am uncomfortable and I know it will get more uncomfortable as the weeks go by. My comfort will mean nothing and seem incredibly selfish if bébé is born and has problems somehow. It's not about you anymore.

I'm a firm believer that my body and baby know what their doing. I believe that when it's time, it's time. Am I going to book an acupressure appointment for 40 weeks and a few days? Absolutely. Am I going to book it at 37 weeks? No.
Will I ask to be induced medically or have a membrane sweep at 38 weeks? No. I don't think that intervening early is necessary. It opens you and baby up for complications, higher risks and infection and issues after birth. Could intervention be something I consider when I'm nearing 42 weeks? Possibly, but that's another conversation at a later date if it's needed.

Let your bébé bake. They will arrive when they are suppose to. And if you're late according to the medical system, there's a whole different conversation to have at that point.