thisiskylie

And Then There Were Three...

Or four, if you count the practice peanut, Coco the crazy puppy.

Well, it's taken me well over a week to write about the birth of Isabella, but to be expected as a new mum I guess.  I'm not sure I even remember too much of it.  It's true what they say - the trauma of labour is forgotten the minute you get your baby home.

Introducing Isabella

Born Wednesday, 8th March, weighing a healthy 8lb 4 oz. We're all home - healthy and ecstatically happy.

It's happening

Well, sort of.

My waters broke today.  Unfortunately, it wasn't the gushing kind, but only a constant trickle, which we found out later at the hospital generally means it's the hind waters.  These are the waters behind the baby (ie at the top of my belly near my ribs rather than the bottom).  It usually means the baby isn't in a position to apply enough pressure to break the water at the head of the cervix.  It also means that there is not enough stimulus to get contractions going.  Apparently, when hind waters break, you're unlikely to go into labour naturally.

Anyway, after the usual CTG trace monitoring and internal exams, we were sent home to wait for 24 hours.  If labour starts naturally in that time, then we're off.  If it doesn't start by Wednesday morning, I'll be admitted to hospital and induced.  This is because once the waters break, there is a chance the baby could catch an infection within 24 hours.  I'll need to be attached to an antibiotic drip as well.

Not exactly how we would have liked it, but we're still hoping it will all happen naturally.  Today's plans involve lots of walking and bouncing on my fitness ball !

Either way, by the end of the week, we'll have finally met the little peanut!

Bugaboo

Bugaboo
Originally uploaded by thisiskylie.

Stood Up

For the last nine months, we've had a very important meeting in our calendars for today.  But we were unceremoniously stood up!

Yes, the baby still has not decided to enter the world just yet.  In spite of spending four hours at the hospital.  We went in for the standard 40 week check, where we were expecting just to be told what happens next.  Finally, after waiting over an hour, we got called in to the midwife and doc.  After mentioning that the peanut hasn't been moving as much lately, I was given a CTG scan to monitor the fetal heartrate and fetal movements, just in case.  Usually, this should just take half an hour, in which you have two belts each with sonic sensors strapped to your belly while you sit in a hospital bed and wait for the readout.  It gets kinda uncomfortable.  Unfortunately, during the first trace, there was a single variance that meant I had to stay on the trace for another hour.  The peanut's basal (average) heart rate was measuring at about 140 beats per minute, but at one point dropped to just 70.  It didn't happen again throughout the 90 minute trace.

As is the way with pregnancies, the variance seemed to be a bit of a mystery.  So we had to wait around while the midwife called the doctor.  The plan then was to give me an internal exam to check the effacement of the cervix.  If it was relaxed (ie. ready for labour) they were going to admit me that afternoon and induce me!  I have to say, I had a bit of a mild panic at that.  My first thought was 'but I haven't even had lunch yet', quickly followed by 'I can't believe it but I'm just not ready to have the baby today'!  I was all prepared to argue in favour of waiting for it to happen naturally, given that it was only a single blip and I and the baby seemed to be in perfect health.

However, the exam showed that the neck of the cervix hadn't relaxed yet, so the doc wanted to send me in for a scan just to make sure.  At this point the doc and midwife had a bit of a discussion, as apparently scans aren't given once a woman goes to term.  So we had to wait around again while the doctor checked the next step with the consultant.

In the end, after four hours, and over £8 in parking fees, the midwife checked with the doctor who checked with the consultant who agreed that we could go home and continue as normal.  Yay!

One Day to Launch

And we're all ready to go!  Like, now!

So, tomorrow is the day the peanut is 'scheduled' to arrive.  Can't see any stork on the horizon though.  I think this ones going to hibernate a little longer.  I'm not getting any signs just yet that it might want to make an appearance.

In the meantime, we've been trying to keep busy.  It's hard not to think or talk about baby, baby, baby though.  But the mother has arrived from Australia, which is nice.  There were tears at Heathrow.  And then more tears (tantrums?) as it took a day for her to start dispensing the advice and declaring that, despite the fact that A and I feel like we have hordes of gear, we are just 'not prepared enough'.  I suspect this was an excuse to go on a little bit of a baby shopping expedition (like you need an excuse).  We've also been catching up with friends; had family around for a Sunday lunch; and waddled around the Orchid festival at Kew Gardens.

And storing up the zzz's for the eventual arrival...

Nursery

39 weeks

Had the 39 week midwife appointment today, at the hospital (because normal midwife is all booked up on her one day a week that she works) and it was a complete waste of time.  The midwife didn't seem to know what the f**k she was doing, and at one stage asked me if I needed a 40 week appointment.  Um, like I know!  I have no idea, but given that THAT'S D-DAY, you would think so?!  Maybe it's just late pregnancy grumps...

So anyway, we're in the home stretch now, and I'm starting to think about hurrying the labour along a little bit.  But, the thing that really annoys me is that all of the things they say you should do are actually the last things in the world you feel like doing!  Curry gives me huge heartburn and I can't sleep for days; why would I want to eat tart old pineapple (which is the only kind I've ever found over here) when pregnancy gives me the perfect excuse to indulge in, say, cakes; copious amounts of sex, let's not even go there, but I feel far from sexy in the maternity gear and waddling over to A isn't exactly 'come-hither'-like or a sexy saunter; and walking for miles is impossible, although I can waddle for a few minutes.  Actually, I can see how the walking helps, because every time I waddle anywhere, I do get serious Braxton hicks.

Off to go for a walk now...

Single Digits

Not that I'm counting down the days or anything, but we're now down in the SINGLE DIGITS - only eight days until the peanut is due!  Feels like I've been pregnant forever, so it's hard to believe that it's now imminent.

So, I've been spending my last few days of freedom - apparently the birth of the peanut signals the end of life as I know it, according to every bit of advice I've received so far (can you say schadenfreude?) - spending a wee bit of time pampering myself, with a haircut and colour, a french manicure and an eyelash tint.  I had tried to book the FTB and I into a spa hotel for the night, but in February in middle England this is actually impossible.  Who knew?!  The hotels were easy to find, but every single spa treatment slot is booked.  Must be the rush trying to get rid of that English winter pallour.

I've got my hospital bag mostly packed.  There are some nasties in there, but this is what I've got so far:  a Molton Brown travel bag with all the essential bathing / beauty products; a pack of truly hideous maternity nightgowns; a pack of even scarier disposable maternity undies (which I may replace with some cheapo but nicer value packs from M&S); a small pack breast pads; nipple cream; one nursing bra; a pack of pads, just ordinary extra heavy (maternity ones are double the price which is ridiculous); tea tree oil and tea tree lotion; arnica tablets;  maternity TENS machine; mini IPod and IPod travel speakers; one nursing T-shirt; a few muslins; some antiseptic wipes (these were suggested by the NCT teacher to wipe down the hospital room as they can apparently be a bit dirty - nice).  Plus the assorted odds and sods that I'll try to remember to throw in on the day, like book, magazine (like I'll be reading, but one can hope), make up and hair paraphenalia; phone charger, camera, spare change of clothes, etc. 

For the peanut, I've packed a set of five babygro's; 'A Star is Born' babygro (couldn't resist); mittens; beanie; a pair of socks; a couple of vests; one going home outfit (yet to be decided); woollen blanket; fleece blanket; one snow suit; grooming kit; nappies; little bottle of organic olive oil; cotton wool balls; and one little soft toy (yet to to be decided).

Have I forgotten anything?  The kitchen sink, perhaps...

All bets are on

With only 10 days to go, it's time to let me know what you think:  boy or girl / early, on time or overdue ?  Personally, I think the peanut is going to be bang on time (wishful thinking perhaps) and that it will be a boy.  This is what I think today anyway, it may very well change tomorrow.  The FTB thinks that it will be late, and that it will be a boy.  A number of other people, including family and friends and completely unknown randoms at the shops, have all offered their home spun wisdom based on a load of apparently unconnected facts such as the size of the bump etc.  And now it's your turn!

So, following some old wives tales,  to help with your guesstimate, here are a few things that may apparently make all the difference:

The bump is kinda round and kinda wide.  It's not all out front, like a football, but it's not all spread out to my bum, hips, thighs etc either.  I've probably been carrying high more than low throughout the pregnancy.

I have not put on any (much) weight around my butt area, but my chest has expanded three cup sizes (yeah).

The FTB has not put on any weight either, and has in fact lost a bit of weight (must be all that DIY and running around after a pregnant wife).

I haven't had puffy hands or feet, but in the last week or so I have developed that ruddy, puffy pregnancy face.

The things I have been craving this pregnancy have included: hot chips, all the time, with everything, even breakfast;  cheese;  oranges, apples, and bananas;  jammie wagon wheels;  Diet Coke;  lots of ice; and lots of salt.

The things I have lost my taste for have included:  tea;  honey;  and crisps.

I haven't developed any acne during the pregnancy, and my skin is still healthy with maybe some winter pallour.

The rate of hair growth has remained basically the same, as has the condition and growth of my nails.

The baby gets a bout of the hiccups for about half an hour every day, sometimes even a couple of times a day.

Believe it or not, these things can apparently indicate the gender of the peanut!  So go on then, place your bet in the comments and we shall see in 10 days or so ! ...