Hellobee Boards

@sslm: no glue no stitches - he's recommending polysporin a few times a day, so that's good. I've got iodine on my face though. I think I'll work at home tomorrow and not scare the office.

@tinyperson: Oh man! Glad you're ok. Hope your cut heals quickly! You have enough going on right now!

@TrailRunner: @My Only Sunshine: @YogiRunner: Thanks - I'm still pretty swollen and achey today, but I'm hopeful the swelling goes down soon!

@YogiRunner: I'm only 36 weeks 4 days and am ready for little man to get here!

My husband and two year old both had the stomach flu this weekend. I went from thinking we could get some things checked off the to-do list and have some family time to being the solo parent of a puking toddler while my husband stayed in bed all weekend. Luckily I somehow avoided getting it and they both seem to be on the mend. Time to get back to that to-do list!

Well guys.... I had a busy weekend. Baby J was born at 12:13 am on Sunday!!!

So the story is, Friday at work I noticed some increased watery discharge in my panty liner, and when calling the OB's office towards the end of the day, the RN wanted me to go get checked out at L&D. I work at the hospital I delivered at, so I headed out of work a bit early to see what was up. Turned out not to be amniotic fluid, but my BP's were slightly elevated and I had a small amount of protein in my urine. Since I was 38+4 they decided it was just time to go.

Got a couple of Cervadil doses overnight Friday, then a foley balloon and pitocin started around 10ish Saturday morning with some Fentanyl thrown in for pain relief. My nurse did the hourly foley tugs (yuck), and around 4pm it didn't hurt too much so she pulled a little harder, and POP (OUCH) it came out and I was at 6 cm.

Hubby and I went for a walk around the unit, and within a half hour the contractions became crazy intense from her head suddenly being able to push on my cervix now that the balloon was out. Epidural here I come!!!

I rested for a few hours with the epi in, then later in the evening the pressure down below got crazy intense. The anesthesiologist said if he gave me anymore I wouldn't be able to feel how to push. Oh boy. I got pretty frantic at the end, with the "there is no way I can do this" and "I think I'm going to die" and "someone else needs to get her out" thoughts. My nurse was amazing with the pep talks and got me to just focus on letting the contractions happen, and at 10 pm, I was able to start pushing which helped a lot in the beginning. After 2 hours of pushing, lots of swearing, lots of pep talks, the resident decided I was almost there and grabbed the attending. The attending came in and pinched my perineum (I said "ouch") and she was like, "get anesthesia in here, she can feel everything!". Really? No one else could tell this?!? Anyways, they say "don't push" because they have to set up all the birth stuff, I'm swearing like a sailor, and I think maybe three contractions later I pushed her out. This was, BTW, before anesthesia got the meds in. I could not stop the pushing, I needed to be done. Man, it is exhausting!

So Baby J is a healthy 8 lb 3 oz 20.5 inch little girl, and she is so adorable! I'm so glad she is here!

@rockinghorse: congratulations!

@rockinghorse: congrats!!!

@rockinghorse: congrats

@rockinghorse: Congrats!!!!

@csross217: yay for baby gaining the two ounces and your milk coming in - good milestones!

As far as engorgement goes, I remember hand expressing a bit in a hot shower or bath, just for some relief. For days and nights, I made a point of putting DD in proper clothes when we woke up for the day and then in a sleeper at night time. Plus I started a night time routine within the first week after she was born. Bath, jammies, breastfeed, story, bed. These things helped her understand the shape of day and night, predictable routines, etc.

Sounds like you're doing a great job mama!!

@rockinghorse: congrats to you!!

@csross217: thanks for the "at home" update, glad Baby E is doing well! And good to know what we other FTMs might expect

AFM, uneventful day till about 90 min ago. Contractions started, mild and short but frequent. They're kind of all over the place now (from 2 min to 8 min apart, a few times a full 20 min). I was cooking dinner and got really uncomfortable so asked DH to finish so I could lie down. They're only lasting 30 seconds and not that strong, but I'm on alert!

@YogiRunner: woot! Here you go mama!!! Keep us posted

@Baby Boy Mom: we don't have a name either

Glad to hear DH has stepped up!

@YogiRunner: good luck!!! Can't wait to see an update!!

@csross217: So happy to read your update! To get my daughter's days and nights switched around, we woke her every 2 hours to eat during the day and kept her downstairs in the bright living room during the day. I would also take her outside a few times a day. And then at night we'd keep the lights really low even if she was up. I read somewhere it's supposed to help set their circadian rhythm.

@YogiRunner: aw man I was expecting a birth story!

@YogiRunner: good practice for the big show at least!! it won't be long now!

@Autumnmama79: Ooh, that reminds me that I need to book my appointment.

@Autumnmama79: @tinyperson: @YogiRunner: I'm glad to be in good company. DH says we have a shortlist so it's fine, but I just want to have the feeling of the perfect name and I'm not sure yet.

@TrailRunner: Awesome! We are on the same schedule. I'm crazy though and won't have any checks before labor- don't want to get my hopes up. LOL!

@YogiRunner: Bummer! But at least you know you're getting close!!!

@Autumnmama79: Thanks for the reminder! What's in your gift basket??? I need to do that for the boys too...adding to the to do list..

@rockinghorse: I hope you see this soon...try today undressing the baby and keeping her next to a sunny window. You can take turns with your DH so that you're by the window while feeding, and he can hold her while napping. This natural sunlight treatment is what finally cleared up my LO's jaundice, and once we took it seriously it was just a day or two and we were good! Hang in there- hormones the first two weeks are nutty!

@Baby Boy Mom: Thanks! Just placed her strategically in front of the window!!! It's really overcast today, but it is better than nothing!