Catchup time!!

Well, Miss Kat will be five months old on Sunday, which of course doesn't seem possible. But I realized that I never shared my birth story.
On Sunday May 19th my wonderful husband and I were sitting watching tv. (A Firefly marathon to be exact, which is funny because when we were just friends many years ago, I introduced him to the series.) anyway at about 12:30 I started to feel mild cramps, as I waited and watched for an hour, I realized they were 5 minutes apart consistently. After an hour of quietly observing this I told my husband. And we started timing tracking in earnest.
As a first time mom, I had been told to go to the hospital when my contractions were five minutes apart for 2 hours. Which they had been but were still really mild. We decided to call the nurse on duty at my mid wife's office and see what she suggested. She asked when my last appointment was and how effaced/dilated I was at that time. I told her what my midwife had told me and she told me to go in as the worst that would happen is they would check me and send me home (not true the worst that could happen is they could make me walk around for six hours to progress labor then decide it wasn't progressing fast enough, THEN send me home. Did I mention how painful standing/walking became in my last two weeks of pregnancy? I was later diagnosed with SPD, Symphysis pubis dysfunction, which explains why I was in so much pain.) we were brought up to triage immediately when they found out I was 38weeks 5days and having contractions. They kept us walking and monitored until about 11:30 at night and then sent us home. They tried to offer me "something for the pain" so I could get some sleep but part of why I wanted to have natural child birth is so my daughter's system didn't get junked up before she even took a breath so I said no. I cried that they were sending me home after progressing my labor to where I was now in pain. We drove the half hour home from the hospital each bump in the road making me wince or moan, I climbed the stairs to our apartment mad lay on the daybed in our living room my pelvis so sore from all the walking that the thought of getting undressed made me weak. I lay there for an hour until the contractions got too bad, I was moaning through them my crappy downstairs neighbors actually banged on the ceiling to complain about the noise. (As I type this they are apparently having a huge bash in front of their apartment as they do almost every Friday night and have woken Miss Kat on more than one ocassion so I really don't feel too badly) I couldn't take it anymore and told my hubby to take me back. By the time we got there and they examined me they said I had progressed enough to be admitted i.e.this time we wouldn't be leaving without baby in the car seat.
They wheeled me to the L&D room with the tub. After the nurse took my vitals etc my midwife came in and we started to fill the tub for me to labor in, because of my BMI I wouldn't be allowed to deliver in the tub but I could labor in there to a point. Upon entering the tub, everything changed, my pelvic pain went away, back pain eased and my poor swollen ankles didn't hurt anymore all that hurt were the contractions and I still had about five minutes between each...I think. We had stopped counting as it was the intensity which was changing. So I was in the tub at about 4:30am I would say and just waiting for progression. At about 6:30 I told the nurse I wanted to be checked and she got the midwife who after checking and seeing meager progress recommended we break my waters. This she said would make it progress but would also make it much more "intense". I wasn't sure what to do so my husband and I looked to her for guidance, she said faster would be better at this point. (She knew my desires for as few interventions as possible and had been guiding us on that path since we had come in earlier in the day.) we agreed and they broke my bag of waters at about 7am by 7:30 I felt the urge to push. I told the nurse at the peak of one of my contractions that I wanted to push, they had already sent for a midwife to check me again as the contractions had become much more intense, I expected her to tell me to wait until I had been examined as pushing prematurely can do more harm than good but she smiled at me and told me "then push sweetie, your body knows what it's doing" I almost cried, I just got ready typing it.
So I started pushing at 7:30ishAM on May 20th. An hour later my midwife had to leave as her shift had ended an hour before, the new midwife suggested changing positions and going potty to help me get things going further. By 9:15 they could see the head but it kept disappearing. I was worried all this banging against the pubic bone etc was getting to be too much for my co laborer but Miss Kat's heartbeat was still strong and steady, finally I refused to stop pushing until she crowned, then that hurt so badly (they call it a "ring of fire" for a reason, that I pushed harder still and she was here! They placed her greyish little body on me and she looked at me and started to let out a wail. I looked into her amazing little face and started to sing the lulaby I had started singing to her in the womb. Once she recognized that it was like she knew me, and everything was okay. She latched just a tiny bit before they gave her to James so I could be stitched up. I barely noticed delivering the placenta. After James went out to fill his mom, brother, and brother's girlfriend in on how things were progressing they bathed her and did all the tests etc. I kept staring at my beautiful little girl. I kept telling her how proud I was of her and what a wonderful job she did. I mean labor is hard from our perspective but imagine it from theirs and she didn't have a bunch of people there helping her.
We finally got a room and the family that were there could come in to see her, they all held and loved on her until she needed to eat again which in the early days was A LOT. The hospital kept us for 48 hours as her jaundice rating was pretty high. I was hoping when my milk came in it would clear it up. (And it did)
She was born at 9:33AM on May 20th 2013 weighing 8lbs 10oz and 20 1/2 inches long.
Looking back five months later and at about 15lbs and 24 inches and she still seems so tiny to me but also still just as amazing.
Next time we will discuss the never ending teething which we have been experiencing for over a month now.
Ciao for now~
marymontmama

One handed life

Well, Miss Kat has arrived and is almost a month old at this point.
Labor is hard, no surprise there, and I can only imagine how scary and difficult it was for her.
It's been BUSY!!!! I am currently trying to type one handed while she naps in my other arm, hoping she doesn't kick and send the iPad flying.(she is still a figiter)
She is so amazing, and I keep expecting someone to show up and say that we have had her long enough.
She is starting to stir, I think it may be nursing time again.
Ciao for now~
marymontmama

Tic tic tic

Well, our midwife is back and we have been working on getting Kat here with natural methods. (All approved by our CNM). When we went for our appointment I was 2cm dilated and 30% effaced and the midwife said she would be "very, VERY surprised" if we went to 40 weeks. We will be too. Especially because I was woken up twice last night with irregular (but actual, not Braxton Hicks) contractions. So we stalled but are hoping it won't be much longer.
Maybe by Monday we will have a new Montgomery. :)

Gotta go brew some more Raspberry Leaf Tea now.

Ciao for now~
marymontmama

Shifting

Woke up today and noticed that things are changing. Miss Kat is definitely moving into her starting position. My babybump is about 5 inches lower than it was last night. (I know that can happen weeks before baby is actually ready to make her appearance but am hopeful that it marks forward progression.)

I always thought that women were ready to be done being pregnant because of the discomfort, that comes along with it, (and believe me the tips of my swollen toes to the ache in my sciatic back and down to my extremely temperamental bladder are ready) but it is also just that I can't wait any longer. She is so cool and amazing and funny and I haven't gotten to meet her yet. We play games where I chase her little feet around my tummy or I pat and she pokes/kicks at where I patted, etc but I can't really snuggle her and I so want to. I look at her cosleeper next to our bed and long for her to be snuggled in it breathing softly. I just can't wait for this adventure to really start and I know it is going to go by so quickly once it does.

We are almost all ready for her, I still have to get my pre-admit paperwork faxed to the hospital and pack a bag for us all but other than that and a few more items which I am going to be handwashing for her but that she won't need right away, we are almost all ready for her. (for the first couple of months anyway, haven't gotten the wraps yet for the next size of the diapers we are using)
gDiapers - disposable diapers from gDiapers are biodegradable diapers.
Amazing product super company and her environmental footprint will be the same as it will be for the rest of her life. Pretty cool if you ask me.If you don't feel like going to the site, they are reusable cloth diaper wraps with reusable washable plastic liners which you then put flushable, biodegradable inserts into. No 5,000 year waste in landfills, and not a ton of hot water/energy used washing cloth diapers. Same amount of water and waste as mommy and daddy use (just more often each day). The product itself is something I am in love with the concept of but then they go and make it adorable too which just adds to the appeal, and they are so amazing to their employees and a truly family friendly company I just want to give them my business.

Okay, enough singing the praises of the diaper company, I am really biding my time until next Friday when my nurse midwife gets back from Tanzinia and then I think I am going to try almost every old wives tale there is to get this ball rolling. (almost, some of that stuff is just plain nuts!) But just really can't wait, and am concerned if they think she is too big when we get the next ultrasound that they are going to want to induce or do a c-section anyway. We will just have to wait and see what Miss Kat decides, let's just hope she doesn't decide to come 2 weeks late and only with induction like her mommy did.

I have also been following the FlyLady website to get the apartment decluttered and more ready for baby. So happy with how it is going, just got to keep it up at this point and then once she is born I will hopefully be able to do more. (not at first obviously but we shall see) It's very difficult to clean when you can't really bend over...I know you wouldn't think it would be but yeah, there is quite a bit of bending involved in cleaning. I am loving having my house "company ready" all the time. It's not perfect mind you, one of my aunts who is particularly fanatical about cleaning would probably still get the vapors upon entering but we feel it is cozy and much cleaner. And I love not having to try to scramble around getting things either hidden or "cleaned" before people show up. If someone were to just drop by I wouldn't be embarrassed, and I can't tell you what a load off of my mind that is.

Anyway, I guess that is all for today except that I may not have mentioned lately that the LOML is the most amazing man ever and I am so grateful for the SUPER DUPER DADDY that I know he is going to be!

Ciao for now~
marymontmama

36 Weeks!?

Had our appointment today and discussed the ultrasound with one of the regular CNMs. She recommends it, as does the Dr of the practice. We were in the 90th percentile for size (estimate) at the last ultrasound. So we are having another one on the 13th of May.

This week changes are afoot, and my foots are achangin'. My legs and feet are SWOLLEN! My hands are too a little but that doesn't bother me as much because they don't hurt as badly as my feet and legs. So, I am trying to elevate them (easier said than done at 8 months pregnant).
My belly is also getting much bigger, my sister came to visit on Monday of this past week and when she came over again on Sunday she noticed how much bigger I had gotten. (Sometimes it almost seems like I can feel it growing)
I now truly look very pregnant; which leads me to something else, people do not have the same consideration for pregnant women that they once did. I have people nearly run into me with their cars as they can't be bothered to wait until I am clear of the way to pull into parking spots, people cut me off with their carriages in grocery stores, and I can't tell you how many doors I have had dropped on me lately (ie the person ducks in quickly without touching the door so it shuts in my face). This is frustrating, I know that these people don't know me but what the heck?! I don't treat anyone that way let alone someone who is obviously having a hard time getting around.
I guess that's all for now except-
ONLY 4 MORE WEEKS!!!!!!
Ciao for now~
marymontmama

Catch up time

Okay, I have been really bad about keeping up my blog, I know. I am going to try to get better now that everything is nearly ready for her arrival.

I have been having some pretty bad sciatic pain, and hip pain as well, but other than that, heartburn and getting worn out super fast everything is great!

The 3D ultrasound didn't work out as someone wouldn't move her hands out of her face. We did get another ultrasound just recently because the CNM who is covering for our regular CNM wanted to make sure Kat was head down. I thought it was silly to do this early as she could still turn, either way, but we never usually pass up the chance to see our baby girl so we did it. According to the measurements taken the tech said she is 6.7lbs (keep in mind however these measurements can vary greatly from actual baby weight). This week and last she was supposed to gain about a pound and then 1/2 of a pound per week until her due date. This means she could be over 10lbs at birth. The fill in nurse midwife,let's call her "Marge" wanted me to schedule another ultrasound for 13 days before my due date "to check baby's weight" I have so far declined to do so. My midwife will be back the first week in May and I will talk to her about it then. Marge is the first midwife I have ever met who makes me feel like pregnancy is a medical issue (read illness) to be dealt with, not a natural and joyous thing to be experienced. Sufficed to say, I do not care for her. Besides, the last time I went in she was WAY too rough when checking to see if Kat had descended, still ache and today is day 13 after that appointment.

We have completed all of our birth and baby care classes that we were scheduled to take and feel pretty confident about most if it. We are really hoping that even though the LOML is starting a new job they will let him have the time off while we are in the hospital at least.

We had our baby shower and have almost everything we need for her, still need to get risers for the cosleeper we have so it is level with our bed, the next sizes in the ecofriendly diapers we are using, a grooming/health kit for her, baby gate, and nursing stool, but other than those few things we are pretty ready.

I am nesting, but don't have the energy or ability I would like to get things done. Bending has become very difficult, and I also can't lift anything too heavy.(bags of trash, laundry, furniture that needs shifting) It is really frustrating, but my sister and niece came over a few days ago and helped me get a BIG part of the cleaning and prep done. I know once everything is ready I will get even more impatient for her to arrive. Today, when the LOML leaves for work, I am going to finish the kitchen and hopefully get laundry put up and maybe wash the windows if its nice and I don't get too chicken on the step ladder. :) I have a bit more besides that to get done but, it catches up to me pretty quickly so I don't want to task myself with too much more than I can handle or will be frustrated with myself for not accomplishing tasks.
I guess that pretty much catches you up to speed....I think but what do I know I have "pregnancy brain" or as my sister calls it "placental brain drain".
I will blog more soon.
Ciao for now~
marymontmama

We get to peek at the fidgety baby in 4 days!!!

So, part of the study we are participating in is a free 3D ultrasound! (Which we get on Monday)
We are so excited to get to peek at Miss Kat! Two of the women I know who are expecting have had there babies (both boys) and brought them home. They are filling my Facebook feed with pictures (not to mention all of the ones I already had coming in) and I gotta say, I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET MY LITTLE GIRL!
I am getting so impatient and yet it still sometimes doesn't seem real to me. Then she kicks me in the spleen and oh yeah, I know it's real.
Speaking of which, this is the movingest, shakingest, and kickiest baby ever. I have been around a few pregnant women in my day and have never seen the kind of tummy motion I do on a fairly regular basis. As I am typing this she is doing her Rockette impression. It is pretty amazing though, and great that her daddy can finally be in on all the hustling, and bustling she has been up to. As a matter of fact, he came home from work the other morning,(he works third shift)and she was in a particularly active state. He felt her kicking him in the side then he had his arm draped over me and she either felt it was an invasion of her space or just felt like letting him know she was there. He moved his arm up from where it had been hoping she would approve and she started even harder there. Which made him very happy, and me happy too.(feeling it is great but sharing it is better.
This is such an amazing experience, and she is teaching us so much about her, ourselves and each other.
Haven't been able to shake the illness I have had for about a month now. Have an appointment with the CNM on Friday and will talk to her about it then.
Ciao for now~
marymontmama

Birthday post

Yesterday was my birthday, I turned 38. It is my last birthday without Kat!
The LOML said I should post, not sure why other than I have been being very lax again but anyway, here goes.
I have been sick all week, gotta love the weakened pregnant immune system. Because of this I haven't gotten much done. This has been. UBER frustrating as I was finally feeling human again and was starting to get the nest.. er apartment ready for Miss Kat.
I am finally feeling better again and can start getting things squared away. The only things that I can't do alone is anything involving moving furniture or heavy lifting. My back is already screaming at me for normal day to day stuff.
We finished registering and are super excited to get things set up for our beautiful little love.
The LOML and I have been noticing adorable babies everywhere lately! But know for certain our own is going to be cutest by far. We get our 3D ultrasound (free because of the study we are participating in) on February 25th. Hopefully Miss Kat will have put on some fat by then.
I guess that's all for now. I begin my assault on the living room on Monday, wish me luck.
Ciao for now ~
marymontmama

21 weeks already??? Only 21 weeks?!

21 weeks today. We get another ultrasound tomorrow.
Miss Kat has been moving like a maniac, she stomps more than kicks too. She always moves when daddy talks to her, he has started reading her stories.
I am so excited! She is amazing to me now, I can only imagine how mind blowing she will be when she actually arrives.
Last Dr's appointment they took my blood for the quad screening for chromosomal abnormalities, and if it comes back elevated they will want to do an intensive diagnostic ultrasound. I am blown away by some of the things I have read on message boards...one woman was encouraging amniocentesis to another because after 3 miscarriages she and her husband had one because he "couldn't handle parenting a special needs child" and thus they would be able to terminate if there was something "wrong" with the fetus.
Their were "no problems" so her mind was put at ease. She felt this would be the case for everyone. I really hate being judgmental but having already lost 3 babies I don't understand how someone could get to this point in pregnancy and decide that this wasn't the "right" baby. I feel her squirming around in there while I am writing this, she hears daddy's voice and starts dancing, we love her beyond reason and she hasn't taken her first breath yet. I just don't understand it,there is nothing that could be "wrong" Miss Kat that could change that love and desire to be her mommy.
I am however super impatient for her to arrive. Can't wait to see who she will be, and love her so much no matter who that turns out to be.
Guess that's all for now, Miss Kat stomps her approval.(I think she is hoping for a snack)
Ciao for now~
marymontmama

It's a.......

Right, sorry to leave you hanging like that. The holidays are always such a crazy time.
We learned at the ultrasound that Miss Kathleen Carmella will be joining our family in May, and the LOML always insists on adding, possibly June.
We are very excited to be able to refer to our beloved "Bean" by her proper name, we will be calling her Kat for short.
I am still super dizzy which the nurse midwife assured me is normal and the last time I had my blood pressure taken it was 106 over 62 so yeah I guess it's understandable that there would be some lightheaded ness.
We bought Kat an outfit to come home from the hospital in for Christmas, and my sister (whose youngest is going to be a teenager soon found some adorable hand-me-downs in her daughter's doll clothes. Which of course made me cry. Being older and everyone else in the family having babies at the "normal" age, I thought no one would have any hand-me-downs left for Miss Kat. Makes me glad my niece has her mom's save EVERYTHING mentality.
We have an appointment with the nurse midwife on Thursday and will probably be scheduled for our next ultrasound, and I believe we will get the quad screen done on this visit.
We also need to find out about birthing classes, we want to take them in February I believe,although that seems pretty early to me. We shall see.
I think that's all, except I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday and wish you all great joy and many blessings in the year ahead!
Ciao for now~
marymontmama


Ps almost forgot, my resolution is to make sure to feed Miss Kat at least 3 times a day, which will be much easier to remember when she can remind me herself, during the second half of the year. :)