10 days postpartum - Tired but happy

It's been an interesting first week. So far so good I'd say. Anna is adjusting but does seem a bit mystified by the new arrival. She's regressed a little and wants to be the baby. She sucks on a pacifier and sometimes wants a bottle of milk to drink from. I'm sure it's a phase so if it makes her feel better I let her pretend. I know this is hard on her now but she's so much better off having a sibling.

The picture on the right is me yesterday (9 days postpartum). I actually got into a pair of my pre-pregnancy pants! I've been amazed at how quickly my stomach is shrinking. I have about 4 kg (8 lbs) to lose yet before I get down to my pre-pregnancy weight. With my first pregnancy it took me months to come down to a reasonable weight and I had to work at it. This time the weight seems to be falling off, at least so far.

The only problem I've had since coming home is a horrible kink in my neck and it just doesn't seem to want to go away. It's been 3 days and doesn't show any signs up letting up. I try to keep it warm and keeping my shoulders relaxed but no sign of relief yet. Maybe I can talk the husband into rubbing for me when he comes home.

JP is off to Helsinki tomorrow for business. It will be interesting to see how I handle having both kids by myself. It's a real trial by fire. Everything is an adjustment these days =). Millions of families do it so I'm sure we'll be fine.

One week post partum

I should have put another picture on line. You would not believe how fast I'm shrinking. I haven't been brave enough to try on my old clothes yet but I'm getting there. Maybe I'll wait while JP is at work so he doesn't seem me jumping around trying to squeeze into jeans :). The baby is great. He sleeps so peacefully. He's a little angel. Anna is adjusting and she's taking it very well. We spend lots of time with her and have kept all of the normal things that we do like story time and jumping on the bed and morning snuggles. I'll try to get some pictures on line in the near future.

A new arrival !

On February 24th, 2008 we welcomed a little boy into the world! He was 3260 g (a little over 7 lbs) and was 51 cm (20.1 inches). Labor only lasted a total of 2.5 hours. My water broke at 6am. JP's dad came to get Anna a bit before 8am and we sped off to the hospital. We got there at 8am and by the time I got into my hospital clothes I had to push. The little guy was officially born at 8.26am.

The labor and birth itself was so pleasant and calm! Sure the labor sucked but it was so short. There was no time for any kind of pain relief. It went so quickly that they didn't even have time to monitor the little guys heart rate. I had no machinery attached to me, no tubes, no needles and no intrusion. There was only one mid-wife and she was wonderfully calm. JP was a rock and so calm and he really helped me stay grounded. Hearing his soft calm voice while he stroked my head helped so much. The pushing phase only lasted 15 minutes. I had a teeny little rip that took 2 stitches but nothing else! After the birth they brought us a celebratory breakfast and then left us alone to enjoy our new baby right there in the birthing room. They dimmed the lights for us. They didn't measure or weigh him for about 2 hours. He only cried a bit just after being born and then was calm and looked around and then fell asleep.

The way I felt after the birth I can only describe as fantastic. There was no pain. I got up and had a shower and then walked to my hospital room. JP went home to get some sleep and I had a nap. Our little boy is so calm and chilled out. I've really enjoyed these first few days with him. I never knew that the whole process could be so wonderful :).

My stomach has shrunk so quickly and I'm still so positive. We'll see how it goes when Anna comes home. We'll have her home Friday evening. I thought it would be good if JP and I are both home for Anna's first day getting to know her new brother. That way she can get all the attention she needs. I don't want her to feel left out. She's a very important part of this family and I want her to feel that way. When she came to the hospital to visit she pointed at the baby and asked, "What is it?". I suppose he looks like a doll to her. We'll see how it goes :)

36 weeks + 1 day - I've made it another week

We've made it past 36 weeks so as promised here's a new picture. It's not my most flattering but I was too lazy to take another one. I actually made it to the doctor yesterday. I never did make my second doctors appointment with Anna. Anna was born exactly at 36 weeks.

The doctor did his exam and said that I have some signs of imminent labor and basically that the baby could be born at any time. Interestingly enough he said that when the baby's heart rate begins to slow but is still strong and steady it can be a sign that the baby is readying itself for birth. He told me that if I suspect that I'm in labor to head to the hospital right away. It's all a matter of patience now. JP really wants this baby to be born on the 29th of February. He might just get his wish :).

35 weeks + 6 days

The picture on the right says it all doesn't it? One more week of taking it super easy and then I can go back to doing everything as normal. Tomorrow will be a milestone. I've got a doctors appointment and I'll be 36 weeks along. With Anna I never made it to my doctors appointment as I went into labor.

The little one has slowed its movements a bit and doesn't kick as much as it did. He still moves around. I guess it's just getting tight for space in there. I'm sure when the baby is born I'll think to myself "why oh why did I complain about having nothing to do?"

35 weeks + 4 days - Still baking...

Baby is still a resident so I'm happy. I'd like to keep him in there for another 1.5 weeks. Keeping him in there involves my being extremely bored. Sitting around trying to relax is difficult. Don't get me wrong, I love being able to sleep as much as I want but I can't do anything that I want to. I can't really go out or do too much, otherwise I get contractions that come fairly regularly at 10 minutes apart. That's not a good thing if I want baby to stay inside and grow a little bit more.

I've got my bag packed and all the forms filled out so I'm pretty well prepared. We have yet to bring in the baby bed from the storage but there's really no rush to do that as I'm sure I'll be in hospital with baby for 2 days or so and JP will have all the time in the world to go and set up the bed. Baby's clothes are all washed and so are his sheets so now all we need is the baby :). It might be good to make some food in bulk that can be frozen and heated up but at this point...I think we'll just order take-out if we're all too tired to make food after the little one arrives.

If it's a boy I really like the name Leo but JP's not so sure he likes it. His uncle is named Leo but I really don't care. We rarely see his uncle and the name just sits so well in English and Finnish. It's easy to say and easy to spell. I can't think of how kids would tease the name in English other than maybe Leo Peeo. It's similar what I did with Ian's name. Ian Peein. Ian's my younger brother in case you didn't know. If I make it to 36 weeks I'll post another belly picture in celebration. I'll be 36 weeks so you keep your fingers crossed and I'll keep my legs crossed. *giggle*

35 weeks - last picture?

I've made it to 35 weeks. The little one seems to want to come out. I've been having contractions like crazy and have been ordered to rest. Ideally the baby should bake for another 2 weeks and get a little more weight. The baby has already dropped which means labor can start at any time so I really have to take it easy. Second babies don't usually drop until labor so you get the idea.

On the plus side, nothing will be done to stop labor if it starts. The baby is big enough that they will let things progress as normal but ideally they want a little more weight on the little one. 37 weeks is considered full term and due dates are placed at 40 weeks. The baby is head down and in a good position and pretty low in my pelvis. I thought it was my imagination that the shape of my stomach had changed but I was right. They checked the position of the baby with ultrasound today. It was nice to see the little one and his little head and spine.

The baby has dropped just enough that I've not been getting the usual jabs under the ribs. The baby has been growing fine and is very active. Basically this baby could be born at any time. This could very well be the last belly picture I post before the baby is born. Don't worry, I'll keep writing after the baby is born just to keep you up to date =).