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 =).

34 weeks + 3 days - At home resting

It's nice that I don't have to go back to work anymore. Now it's just waiting for this little one to arrive. He does big rolls now and some pretty intense kicks. He takes up quite a bit of room and his feet seem to have taken up permanent residence under my rib cage. Turning over in bed has become quite the chore and I'm often tired. It's probably due to the little guy growing and my lack of good quality sleep. I seem to nap a lot these days. It feels so good to lie down. My joints are aching and my lower back around my tail bone pop's when I walk. It's a strange sensation.

I've been reading a lot about painless childbirth. There are some interesting theories in there. The theory goes that when the mother is scared it tenses muscles up and slows the birth process down and because the body is fighting itself it causes pain. The uterus has no nerves in it. They say that childbirth shouldn't be painful as it's part of the natural process. I like the idea of it but I guess I'll just have to wait and see. I've written my birth plan and have asked to use the tub to help alleviate discomfort. There's only one in the hospital so I hope I can get it. I can always use the shower as there's one of those in every room. There's only a few weeks left so I'm sort of mentally preparing myself. When Anna came it was a surprise and I found myself semi-panicking and I'd like to avoid that the second time around if at all possible.

I've been getting lots of practice contractions. Some of them strong enough to wake me up at night. I just keep telling the little guy that he can't come out yet because he's too little. He has to get a little bit bigger. I'll be 35 weeks on the 12th. Anna was born at 36 weeks so you do the math. I have my next appointment on the 13th and a doctors appointment on the 19th. With Anna I never did make it to that last doctors appointment. I'm curious to see how things will go this time :) Anna keeps asking when the baby will come out. I'm a bit boring of a mommy since I can't lift her or run and kick the ball like I used to. I've told her when the baby comes out and my tummy goes away I can lift her and play like I used to. I do look forward to sleeping on my back and tummy again.

33 weeks 3 days - No more work

Well, I've made it to the last day of work. I'm all done. I've cleaned out my desk and taken all my personal stuff home. What a relief to know that I won't have to go back and I can relax at home before the new baby arrives.

On the left is me at 33 weeks and 2 days or so. I had a prenatal appointment today. I've gained very little weight in the last 2 weeks. The baby seems to be growing well. The nurse said we'll need to keep an eye on how the baby is doing as the heartbeat was a little slow this morning as well but the nurse thought that maybe it was just because the baby was sleeping. I go back again in another 2 weeks and they'll measure me again. I've gained very little weight over all. I've gained 10 Kg (22 lbs) over all. I'm a little stiff in the hips and walking is getting a little difficult. Envision a great big duck and that about covers it. I'm in the home stretch though.

I've been home all week alone with Anna. JP has been in a city called Nokia delivering water with the army reserves and getting some army training. The city of Nokia's water treatment plant really messed up and mixed the raw sewage with the clean water. Hundreds of people got serious stomach problems from drinking the contaminated water. The water plant has been trying to fix the problem and clean the water for the past 2 months. They can finally shower in it but they still have to boil it before they can drink it. The army has been distributing clean water to those who need it. JP got called up for reserve duty. He likes it and it's a good thing to do so why not. It's strange to be without him for so long. JP's dad has been shoveling snow for me and sometimes heating the fireplace. JP's parents have been awfully kind. Anna and I will go there on Sunday to visit and Anna is going to stay the night so I can have one night's break without anyone in the house but me. It's a rare treat so I'm going to enjoy it. JP comes back on Monday night but I'm not sure when exactly. The picture on the right is of Anna. She's been wondering where daddy is and asks almost daily when daddy is coming home. I'm sure she'll be overjoyed when he comes home. I'll be happy too. I miss him when he's gone.