Checking in from the other side! I went into labor just after midnight on Friday, Feb 5 (somehow, the day I had chosen as my duedate, even though I wasn’t due until the 9th) and, after being in denial most of the day, finishing up some work, stopping off at Target for contact lens cleaner, then a trip to the barn to make sure my girl had her grain and supplements all set for me to not be there for a bit, and a trip to the feed store to get two 50 lb bags of grain – clearly, I was in denial as to these sort-of-regular contractions all day. I finally got home around 6:30 or so and could not sit down, I was so restless. Took a shower and finally started focusing on what was happening around 7ish. Doula came, we labored at home for a while, went to the hospital about 10:30, I was 8 cm at check in, and baby boy was born just after 3 am on February 6.
Dressage and pilates (which I took up once I couldn’t ride anymore) were instrumental in keeping my core strong and the nurses were seriously impressed at how quickly I pushed that kiddo out. If you’re familiar with pilates, the exercise on the cadillac where you put your feet against the poles and roll the bar forward using your core only was the one that, to me, most mimicked the pushing muscles. Highly recommend. In actuality, I was very impatient and eager for it to be overwith. I did end up going no drugs (though I definitely fell off the wagon at about 9.5 cm and demanded they either pull the baby out or give me an epidural, but I think the very fact that I was able to have a full conversation proved that I was fine without it. And, at that point, it would have driven me nuts to wait for the drugs to be hooked up etc.
That moment when they hand you the baby is seriously the most real moment ever. Makes everything worthwhile.
What I have learned since:
Baby owners are equal to horse owners in their attention to discharge. DH and I are literally still keeping track of wet and dirty diapers and how many feedings little one gets. I have found the diapers with the wetness indicator are immeasurably helpful in this respect. Hospital used Huggies, we had Pampers Swaddlers and Honest at home. I reordered the Pampers and kinda hate the Honest ones only because they do not have the wetness indicator and they run a bit bigger than the Huggies and Pampers. LO was 6lb, 14oz and 19inches long, so pretty average all around, but the Honest NB are a bit wide for him still.
Use the hospital lactation consultants as much as possible. One bad latch can seriously cause days of pain. We came home from the hospital on Monday. On Tuesday night I was in tears because my nipples were so sore. The pediatrician showed me how to kinda shove baby (in a gentle way) onto the nipple and keep his head there to get a deep latch. From that point, I immediately felt much better. I think I was getting the good latch, but not holding his head on enough so he would back off a bit. Of course, there’s definitely a bit of a break in period too.
Also I have both the mother nature nipple creme and the lanolin creme - much prefer the lanolin. Put it on before you shower to protect chapped nipples. Also, I found the some breast milk and air time helped heal sore nipples too. I think I just let those ladies hang out all day one day and that was a turning point in soreness as well.
Happiest Baby on the Block - watched this with hubby and it really gave DH the confidence to calm the baby. Highly recommend. I bought the DVD used off half.com. A friend gave me the book, but I haven’t had a chance to read it. DVD is an hour long and much easier.
LO is a good sleeper, but he’s up basically every 2 hours at night to eat. He does do a longer nap, usually in the afternoon, but I would love to merge that into nighttime.
CRTX - what’s your secret? Did LO start to sleep longer at night as he got a bit older? We are only at 10 days now and I know if they sleep too long they could get dehydrated, but I think 2 weeks is another milestone where things change. I figure I’ll talk to pediatrician about it, but I would love to get on track for sleeping mostly through the night by 6 weeks.
Glad everyone is doing well, though, enjoy your babies 