Mason and I are a little tired this morning because we have been up since 4:30am watching the royal wedding! Everything is going well with our new little family. We have been coming much more comfortable with living with a newborn. Mason has definitely "woken up" since we hit our due date, and is much more awake and not shy about letting us know if he needs something. He likes to be awake in the morning, early evening, and between 10 and midnight. We are trying to get him to sleep a little better at night. He sleeps for 3 to 3 1/2 hours at night, which is still exhausting, but we are surprisingly getting used to it! I know that no one will believe us, but Mason rolled over twice this week! He rolled from his tummy to his back during tummy time. I don't think he realized what he did or how he did it, but it was exciting! He just got rocking and rolled himself over.
I took Mason to breastfeeding group on Tuesday at the hospital, and he weighed in at 9lbs 2.7oz! I couldn't believe it! That boy just eats and eats! I know you cannot overfeed a breastfed baby, but wow! We were defintely the overachievers in class. He feeds so well and efficiently (getting around 3oz per feeding) and was much bigger and more alert than all of the other babies in class :)
Everything is going well with me. The stress and fatigue of the past 3 weeks is starting to catch up with me, and I am much more tired during the day. I find it frustrating not being able to get any housework done, and I am trying to live with the fact that the floors may be dirty and the bed may not get made. All of the rain and two dogs with muddy paws hasn't helped my cause. But, I did fit into a pair of pre-pregnancy jeans which made me very happy.
Mike is also doing well, and he has really embraced his role as a new dad. He holds Mason all evening and is extremely good at calming him down. He does seem to be handling the loss of sleep much better than me!
Well that is all for now...I will try to keep the blog updated as much as possible!
April 29, 2011
April 17, 2011
Home for one week
So, we have been home with Mason for a little over one week! It has been fun and challenging all at the same time. He is starting to have definite periods of sleep and awake. He doesn't seem to have his days and nights mixed up too much, but sometimes at 9 or 10 at night he decides to be really awake. Mike and I have been getting some sleep (only 2 to 3 hours at a time), but it's been much appreciated. Mason usually gets up only 2 times a night, and last night he gave us a 4 hour stretch between feedings!
He has been sleeping in our room since we have been home, but are attempting to transtion him to his crib. He wouldn't lay down in there when we first got home because I think it just seemed a little too big, but since he is more comfortable here (and sleeping better) we are going to give it a try. He currently is taking his first nap in there as we speak! This should be an interesting transition, but we would really like to have him sleeping in his nursery.
All else is well with the Drew family! Mike is back at work and seems to be handling the lack of sleep fine, and I am feeling more and more comfortable home with the baby. I am feeling so much better since the delivery and am anxious to get back to being active again. We have been going for short walks, but hopefully we can go a little longer in the weeks to come. I have not been cleared to give running a shot until 6 weeks postpartum, so only 4.5 weeks to go!
He has been sleeping in our room since we have been home, but are attempting to transtion him to his crib. He wouldn't lay down in there when we first got home because I think it just seemed a little too big, but since he is more comfortable here (and sleeping better) we are going to give it a try. He currently is taking his first nap in there as we speak! This should be an interesting transition, but we would really like to have him sleeping in his nursery.
All else is well with the Drew family! Mike is back at work and seems to be handling the lack of sleep fine, and I am feeling more and more comfortable home with the baby. I am feeling so much better since the delivery and am anxious to get back to being active again. We have been going for short walks, but hopefully we can go a little longer in the weeks to come. I have not been cleared to give running a shot until 6 weeks postpartum, so only 4.5 weeks to go!
April 13, 2011
Mason is 6 days old...
So we have been home with Mason for a few days and it has been a learning process for the whole family. Mason loves to be cuddled all of the time, and he loves his swing, but the minute we lay him down in his crib or bassinet, he is a screaming fool. That has been very fun at night! Mike has become an expert swaddler, which has helped him calm down at night. We are up every 2 to 2 1/2 hours at night to feed and change him, which is pretty good all things considered. Last night, Mason started to pee through his diaper and sleeper every time he woke up to feed. After going through all of the sheets and sleepers we had last night, we are trying to find a solution to this little problem.
Other than that, he has been absolutely wonderful. We have been able to take him out for walks, and he has been letting us get some stuff done around the house. I still cannot believe he is ours and we get to keep him. I still can't stop staring at him, is that normal?
Mike goes back to work tomorrow, so wish him luck! He is going to be a very tired new dad, and mom isn't quite sure how to handle Mason all day without him, but luckily my mom will be here for the first few days to lend a helping hand!
Other than that, he has been absolutely wonderful. We have been able to take him out for walks, and he has been letting us get some stuff done around the house. I still cannot believe he is ours and we get to keep him. I still can't stop staring at him, is that normal?
Mike goes back to work tomorrow, so wish him luck! He is going to be a very tired new dad, and mom isn't quite sure how to handle Mason all day without him, but luckily my mom will be here for the first few days to lend a helping hand!
April 10, 2011
Mason is finally home!
So I haven't been able to update for a few days because we have been a little busy. On April 7th, 2011 at 11:36am, we brought Mason Michael Drew into the world. He was 7lbs, 2oz and 20.5 inches long. I had been laboring on and off for several days before we actually got going. I had kept having contractions, but nothing created a pattern or lasted for more than a few hours. That all changed on Wednesday. I had been feeling pretty crummy for a few days (sick to my stomach, no appetitie, crampy, crabby), but on Wednesday it kept getting worse and worse. I worked all day, but by the end of the day I could hardly concentrate on my job. It took every bit of energy I had not to bite my patient's heads off. Finally one of the cardiologists I work with pulled me aside and asked me what was wrong. I complained about how much my back hurt, about how I was having contractions pretty frequently, and about how I couldn't eat. She told me I was in labor and should call my OB and get checked. I called our doula Katy, and she thought this was it also. After a frantic phone call to Mike, who left work and made it to the hospital in record time, I went in to the OB office to get checked. My regular doctor wasn't there, but the doctor who checked me said I hadn't changed too much (3cm, 80% effaced), but he was moving down and my water was bulging (gross, I know). She sent me to the hospital to be observed.
Mike, Katy and I spend the next 2 hours in triage getting monitored. They were coming about 5 to 7 minutes apart, but I still wasn't making any changes so I got sent home. Katy came to our house and helped me get through the contraction and relax (they were now coming 4 minutes apart), but we weren't going back to the hospital until we knew it was the "real thing". We finally fell asleep about 11:30, but I was woken up at 1:30 with strong contractions coming between 2 and 3 minutes apart. I tried to relax, but after about 30 minutes I couldn't stand to keep laying down and I got Mike up. I got into the shower and they got stronger and stronger. Mike called Katy and the on call Dr. and we went into the hospital again at about 3:30am. In triage, they said I may have progressed a half a centimeter, and the doctor wasn't going to keep me again! I was getting upset because I was in so much pain, but nothing was happening! So, stubborn as I am, we stayed for another 2.5 hours laboring to see if we could get things going. Katy and I (while Mike slept in triage) walked the maternity ward getting the contractions going. They were 2 minutes apart and getting stronger. Finally my doctor arrived at around 6am and came to see me in triage. He checked me and I was only 4cm...that's it! But he knew me and my history, and saw how uncomfortable I was. He knew I was in good labor, but because Mason was posterior (face up) he wasn't putting enough pressure on my cervix. He decided to break my water to get this going.
Finally we got a room at 7am and he broke my water at 7:40am. Then the contractions started coming hard. I was having back labor because of his position (which was awful), but we kept walking the halls and laboring on the ball. I had decided to go natural and I am very stubborn! The pain was intense, but manageable. With the help of our fabulous doula Katy and my wonderful husband, I was able to make it through. They did counterpressure, helped me breathe, and did all of the comfort measures to help me get through. Two hours later, I got checked and I had made it to 6 cm! Then about 20 minutes later, Katy wanted me to get checked again because the contractions were changing. They were really strong and not just in my back, but everywhere. I was feeling nauseated and hot, but starting to shake. They were harder to get through. I was at 7cm and starting to go through transition. That stage of labor was the hardest by far. My doctor came to check on me and knew it wasn't going to be long because of how fast I was progressing. Mason was still posterior so he wanted me to lay down on my side to get him to turn around. I had not been laying down at all during labor, and when I got on the bed, the contractions were unbearable. I was progressing so fast. In 20 minutes I was at 8.5 to 9cm, but could hardly stand the pain. The doctor was called back asap, and I was almost at 10 cm. I had to do a few more contractions and then I could start to push. That was the point I didn't think I could get through this and was wishing I had pain medicine, but it was too late because he was coming. I stayed in control and did everything I could to get through it. I had an incredible urge to push and wasn't allowed to push yet. It was such an intense pain. Finally I was allowed to push, and it felt so good. After a few hard pushes, the doctor and nurses started to gown up and get everything sterile and I realized that I was pushing well and the baby was coming. After 17 total minutes of pushing, I hear Mike say that the baby was here, and I opened my eyes to Mason getting put in my chest. It was 4 hour after my water was broken. It was the most amazing feeling in the entire world. It was worth all of the pain I had been through. Going natural was the most intense and amazing thing in the entire world. I wouldn't change it for the world. To get to feel every ache and pain needed to bring another human being in the world was such an indescribable feeling. And to see Mason come out absolutely perfect and healthy really confirmed that I made the right descision.
Sorry for the long story, but after 2 days in the hospital, we are finally home with out little boy. He is perfect and healthy. No one could believe he was a 37week and 2 day baby. He had no breathing problems, no jaundice, and breastfed like a champion. We could latch him by the 1st day and have had no problems since. He is off the charts with the wet and dirty diapers and my milk came in after 36 hours which is incredible! He is amazing everyone with how well he is doing. He is even letting us sleep for 2-3 hours at a time. I credit all of this to going natural. They only medicine I had the entire hospital stay was some Aleve after childbirth to help with the soreness and cramping associated with breastfeeding. That's it.
I will post some pictures soon. Mike and I are home and so in love with our beautiful son Mason Michael Drew.
Mike, Katy and I spend the next 2 hours in triage getting monitored. They were coming about 5 to 7 minutes apart, but I still wasn't making any changes so I got sent home. Katy came to our house and helped me get through the contraction and relax (they were now coming 4 minutes apart), but we weren't going back to the hospital until we knew it was the "real thing". We finally fell asleep about 11:30, but I was woken up at 1:30 with strong contractions coming between 2 and 3 minutes apart. I tried to relax, but after about 30 minutes I couldn't stand to keep laying down and I got Mike up. I got into the shower and they got stronger and stronger. Mike called Katy and the on call Dr. and we went into the hospital again at about 3:30am. In triage, they said I may have progressed a half a centimeter, and the doctor wasn't going to keep me again! I was getting upset because I was in so much pain, but nothing was happening! So, stubborn as I am, we stayed for another 2.5 hours laboring to see if we could get things going. Katy and I (while Mike slept in triage) walked the maternity ward getting the contractions going. They were 2 minutes apart and getting stronger. Finally my doctor arrived at around 6am and came to see me in triage. He checked me and I was only 4cm...that's it! But he knew me and my history, and saw how uncomfortable I was. He knew I was in good labor, but because Mason was posterior (face up) he wasn't putting enough pressure on my cervix. He decided to break my water to get this going.
Finally we got a room at 7am and he broke my water at 7:40am. Then the contractions started coming hard. I was having back labor because of his position (which was awful), but we kept walking the halls and laboring on the ball. I had decided to go natural and I am very stubborn! The pain was intense, but manageable. With the help of our fabulous doula Katy and my wonderful husband, I was able to make it through. They did counterpressure, helped me breathe, and did all of the comfort measures to help me get through. Two hours later, I got checked and I had made it to 6 cm! Then about 20 minutes later, Katy wanted me to get checked again because the contractions were changing. They were really strong and not just in my back, but everywhere. I was feeling nauseated and hot, but starting to shake. They were harder to get through. I was at 7cm and starting to go through transition. That stage of labor was the hardest by far. My doctor came to check on me and knew it wasn't going to be long because of how fast I was progressing. Mason was still posterior so he wanted me to lay down on my side to get him to turn around. I had not been laying down at all during labor, and when I got on the bed, the contractions were unbearable. I was progressing so fast. In 20 minutes I was at 8.5 to 9cm, but could hardly stand the pain. The doctor was called back asap, and I was almost at 10 cm. I had to do a few more contractions and then I could start to push. That was the point I didn't think I could get through this and was wishing I had pain medicine, but it was too late because he was coming. I stayed in control and did everything I could to get through it. I had an incredible urge to push and wasn't allowed to push yet. It was such an intense pain. Finally I was allowed to push, and it felt so good. After a few hard pushes, the doctor and nurses started to gown up and get everything sterile and I realized that I was pushing well and the baby was coming. After 17 total minutes of pushing, I hear Mike say that the baby was here, and I opened my eyes to Mason getting put in my chest. It was 4 hour after my water was broken. It was the most amazing feeling in the entire world. It was worth all of the pain I had been through. Going natural was the most intense and amazing thing in the entire world. I wouldn't change it for the world. To get to feel every ache and pain needed to bring another human being in the world was such an indescribable feeling. And to see Mason come out absolutely perfect and healthy really confirmed that I made the right descision.
Sorry for the long story, but after 2 days in the hospital, we are finally home with out little boy. He is perfect and healthy. No one could believe he was a 37week and 2 day baby. He had no breathing problems, no jaundice, and breastfed like a champion. We could latch him by the 1st day and have had no problems since. He is off the charts with the wet and dirty diapers and my milk came in after 36 hours which is incredible! He is amazing everyone with how well he is doing. He is even letting us sleep for 2-3 hours at a time. I credit all of this to going natural. They only medicine I had the entire hospital stay was some Aleve after childbirth to help with the soreness and cramping associated with breastfeeding. That's it.
I will post some pictures soon. Mike and I are home and so in love with our beautiful son Mason Michael Drew.
April 4, 2011
almost 37 weeks!
We made it! We will be at 37 weeks in a matter of hours, so even if labor started now, he will be considered full-term. I am still having a lot of contractions, but nothing has become regular or very painful. We had a little bit of a scare on Saturday. I was having a lot of cramping and back pain, then I started having contractions that were coming 10 minutes apart for 2 1/2 hours! Then everything just stopped. So we are now just waiting for things to start back up again. I keep hearing that it could be any day...but it is hard to not know if you are going to make it through the evening, night, work day (etc). Mike and I have been living out of our hospital bags in anticipation of going into labor. Hopefully he will come sometime soon because he is driving his Mom and Dad crazy with anticipation!
April 1, 2011
36.5 weeks
I made it through the first week back at work. It was an adjustment, but I realized how much I missed being around people all day and keeping busy.
We had another doctor's appointment today, and I am not 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced! That is crazy! It really could be any day. We are still keeping our fingers crossed that we can make it until next Tuesday (37 weeks), but if he came now we would be okay. It is just unreal to think that we will be parents in a matter of days (or maybe weeks). We are excited and anxious for his arrival. While we have his nursery ready, his carseats installed, and our bags packed, we sill aren't sure we are ready for this whole parenting thing. I guess it will be trial by fire!
We are planning on taking it easy and getting our rest this weekend while we watch basketball! Go Butler!
We had another doctor's appointment today, and I am not 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced! That is crazy! It really could be any day. We are still keeping our fingers crossed that we can make it until next Tuesday (37 weeks), but if he came now we would be okay. It is just unreal to think that we will be parents in a matter of days (or maybe weeks). We are excited and anxious for his arrival. While we have his nursery ready, his carseats installed, and our bags packed, we sill aren't sure we are ready for this whole parenting thing. I guess it will be trial by fire!
We are planning on taking it easy and getting our rest this weekend while we watch basketball! Go Butler!
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