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21-4-2008 - 21 April

My mood while writing this blog: ok

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Hi all

Not had much of an opportunity to sit and write, always busy with kids-there is 3 of them and now this one almost ready to join us. Strange thing is although it is the 4th I am still nervous about the whole birthing process. More so now as I know what to expect. The first 2 babies were natural with epidural--what a joy!!! You are told to push and you do so without feeling any pain. Not the last one though. He decided to arrive so quickly that there was no time for pain relief. And I will not lie---it is painful--and no, you do not forget. But having said that, I am repeating the process and having another one so perhaps it wasn't as bad after all!!! and the results far outweigh any pain or discomfort that we go through. This has been a very good pregnancy, better than the 3rd. I have not gained much weight- 7 Kg (I think that is about 16 pounds). The major discomfort has been the sinuses when I sleep, my mouth feels like a dry piece of toast and have to get up every hour to drink water, which dominoes to needing the loo every hour as well. Considering how much I get up at night I do not feel tired during the day. Perhaps body getting ready for all those long nights. I am generally a very heavy sleeper. When kids get up at night it is my husband that hears them, not me, so I'm surprised at the frequent disruptions and still feeling OK.

With my first baby, my waters broke, more of a slow trickle and 30 min later the contractions started. I thought I had wet myself but then contractions started at 10 min then they progressed rapidly to 3 min. And that is where they stayed until birth. The whole thing took 13 hours. Half way through I was exhausted and asked for the epidural. I also remember shivering uncontrollably. I am not sure if it was part of the transition or the epidural. The rest was a joy ! I could lie down, doze on and off and eventually it was time to push. I was told when to push and what to do. All I remeber is my Dr telling me to push asif for a poo!!!--we use the same muscles!!! I did have an episiotomy and 4 stitches-that was the only discomfort for a week or so. The breastfeeding was the hardest part. I hated it. There was this burning sensation everytime the milk came down (let down reflex). I dreaded every feed for 4 months. My son wanted boob every 1.5 hours --so I thought --for those 4 months. What he really wanted was a dummy. He had reflux and Jaundice, and those early days were passed in a walking daze. No wonder we forget about the birth. Second baby, things got easier. Pregnancy was harder as there was baby to attend to plus work, so that whole senario took a lot out of me. The birth was quicker. Had mild text book contractions during the day, every 20 min, getting closer to 10 min. When they were taking my breadth away we rushed to the clinic. I opted for the epidural and delivered with no stitches. Baby 2 is a girl, she fed wonderfully, like I said a text book baby.

Finally the 3rd baby- 4 years later arrived. The pregnancy was much harder, nausea, heartburn, tiredness etc. Instead of arriving earlier as they say subsequenct pregnancies go, he arrived at 40 weeks. BUT his arrival was rapid, asif he decided 40 weeks was enough lets get out pronto. Midnight I was sleeping, when I woke with this rush to get to the toilet. I thought it was a tummy bug. My tummy emptied and withing 10 minutes cramps started, thinking that it was part of the tummy bug. But these cramps were coming in rushes every 3 min. I woke hubby up and we left for hospital immediately. I got to the labour ward to find out that I was already 9 cm dilated all within an hour. I asked for the epidural but there was no time, they rushed me to the delivery room and told me not to push as dr was not there. After 3 pushes my little boy was out. A full 3.2 kg round little angel. It sounds so simple now but I remember feeling my body was spliting appart. it is hard work, pushing this little thing out. The part after, where the nurses push on the stomach to get rid of any clots, has stuck in my mind as been the most painful. Something nobody tells you. I am 5 feet tall so I need to stretch quite a bit to get baby out. The whole process was over in 2 hours beginning to end, so I have nothing to complain about. He was a dream child. Fed like a pro--did not need burping, and managed to feed until 13 months. I also learned that overfeeding can cause more problems as baby lands up with colic and pains ie feeding on demand! This time I fed every 3/4 hours for 5/10 min each side. What I did not know with my first is that babies do not always cry just for a feed. My first one I use to feed every time he cried thinking he was hungry. This led to overfeeding, discomfort and constant waking up. This time round I understood that when baby was not happy he was probably too warm, or cold, or wet nappy or tried to eliminate other discomforts before feeding all the time, and it worked like a dream. I could even breastfeed while sleeping so never missed an moment of sleep. I can only pray this one will be the same. Another trick I learned was to express into a bottle at the same time I was feeding with my free breast. This way, I would full a bottle whilst feeding baby on the one side. The let down reflux works much better when baby is suckling. The filled bottles I would use when I had to go out.

This time I have been warned it could go even quicker so have to keep blankets in the car, all the emergency numbers on me and not to travel further than home and the hospital and never on my own. If I do not make it to hospital I must just wrap baby close to my body, leave umbilical cord attached, wrap a blanket and call emergency services. Now, how am I not suppose to not feel nervous? when this baby could be a DIY job?

Well I'll let you all know what happens, and hopefully soon.

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