Now that it's been 4 months since Wesley was born, I feel so overwhelmed and like I have so much to write and I don't know where to start! Luckily I started to blog on October 5th but got distracted with something, probably Wesley, and never finished the post. It was fun to read the labor story from my perspective after only 11 days so I will post it now and let you enjoy it too!
So it turns out that I didn't stay pregnant forever! Actually, my ankles aren't swollen and my belly is considerably flatter after only 11 days! People had told me that breastfeeding really helps you with the baby weight, but I didn't think it would happen this fast! I am one happy mommy! I'm still figuring out what I can wear since I despise my maternity shirts (I lived in the same ones for so long and they represent a time when I thought I would always be pregnant), but I'm too busty for my regular shirts that I used to wear. I'm still wearing maternity pants because my hips widened and I don't fit into my size 5s anymore. Not complaining...after all, delivery went quite smoothly thanks to that, but I just need to get some new clothes that fit my new shape. My mom bought me some nursing tops and I am in love with them! I would have never thought to buy a new mom clothes...I mean people bring the baby new clothes and gifts, but the mom needs new clothes too. I also received jewelry from Marlene. These are the little things that make me feel like a human again, not just a mom who is recovering from stitches, has mood swings and a cough, and who is feeding her baby every 2-3 hours on command. I actually feel like a confident woman and am having fun being a mom!
Wesley Charles Spjute was born at 3:28pm on Friday, September 24th. He weighed in at 7lbs 5oz and was 20 inches long, which Adam says is the perfect size fish! By the time he left the hospital Sunday, he was 6 pounds 13 oz (babies lose some weight but should be back to birthweight by 2 weeks). At an appointment on Tuesday the 28th he was 7 pounds 2 oz. Today, one week later....our little stud is a whopping 8 pounds! He gained 14 oz in a week and he's only 11 days old! Average is 7 oz in a week. I guess we got the hang of breastfeeding!
-He's an incredible sleeper-so much that I set alarms to wake up every 2-3 hours to feed him the first couple nights we were home. Ya, it only lasted 2 nights. Then I wised up and took everyone's advice to never wake a sleeping baby. I was nervous he wasn't eating enough, but it looks like we don't need to worry in that category.
-He likes his bink (the ugly green one from the hospital) and it soothes him most of the time.
-He smiles in his sleep, but is otherwise a very serious baby so don't be offended if he doesn't smile for you when you make faces at him.
-He is so snugly and loves to sleep on my chest...or at least I love it when he does =)
-When he's hungry and Adam has him...he still looks for the milk =)
Thursday, the day I thought I would be "forever pregnant," Adam and I rented a movie and during the movie I felt some contractions that were 20, 15, and 30 minutes apart. They were a little stronger than the usual "tight-stomach like I'm doing a sit-up," but weren't uncomfortable. This made us a little nervous and we went through what we would still need to grab if we did go to the hospital. I packed a bag of VHS/DVDs and made sure I knew where my makeup was. Adam grabbed a blanket, snacks, and the camera and we had everything by the door (the carseat/hospital bag were already in the car). We finished our movie, went to bed around midnight and set our alarms for 6:30 so we could leave at 7:30 for my 8am weekly checkup with my Ob/Gyn. Adam got a good night's rest and I was up once every hour with a pretty strong contraction that felt like really bad cramps. I felt like I needed to vomit or go to the bathroom...which makes sense since my stomach was tightening and preparing to get something out.
I stayed awake at 6 and just got in the shower since I figured my alarm would be going off in 30 minutes and I would need that extra time to get ready if these contractions persisted. They did. I felt another one in the shower and they were getting so strong that I had to stop what I was doing and focus on getting through the contraction for the minute that it lasted. They were every 10-15 minutes and by 7:30 I had managed to get dressed, blowdry my hair and put on make-up. I knew I wasn't coming home from this check-up without a baby (or some good pain meds) so I better look good! In the car the contractions were 5 minutes apart and I vomited (Adam had grabbed a bowl...hooray!) and that was the only time I threw up during the pregnancy.
They strapped my belly to a monitor to check the baby's heart rate for 20 mins...this is a non stress test that they do when your baby is over 40 weeks. After 5 minutes and 2 contractions, the nurse called the doctor in to check on me since she probably thought I was making funny noises as I tried to breathe through the contractions and squeeze Adam's hands. By 8:30 the doctor checked me...I was 100% effaced and dilated to 3. She offered to call labor and delivery and admit me or I had the option to walk around outside for a little bit. If they admitted me, I wouldn't be allowed outside and would have to stay on the same floor. My sister told me that they could give epidurals when you get to a 4, so my first question to my doctor was: once they admit me, how soon would I be checked to see if I was a 4. She smiled and said that it was up to her to give the permission and since I was in active labor she would give them permission to give it to me right away. What did I say? Admit me! Let's get this epidural started! Adam helped me walk over, change into my beautiful evening gown, and let me squeeze his hands through the next series of contractions while they started my IV and the epidural. By 9:30 I had the epidural and felt like a princess for the rest of the day!
