April 23rd

Wow. Time flies! But some days it seems to go so slowly... I am in week 23. Lately I have been having trouble breathing. It's like I can never catch my breath. I found out my placenta is anterior so I don't feel a lot of movements. What I do feel from time to time is his little foot pushing out the bottom under my placenta. It's so strange because with my other pregnancies I felt the girls moving all over the place. To just feel tiny kicks and pushes from one foot in a very small and always the same place on my tummy is quite strange. Already we are fighting for space...and he is not that big yet! I like to sleep on my side with my leg up. He does not like my leg to be on my stomach. When he is not comfortable boy do you know it!! It may only be one foot that I feel, but he sure makes sure I know he's not happy in there! He won't stop with the persistent kick, kick, kick until I move my leg back down. But then, I am not comfortable.... They bumped up my due date a few days because I am measuring big. Not looking forward to being big and uncomfortable in the heat of summer. I plan to spend many days at the beach! Ok, signing off now. Don't forget to take my poll! Thanks.

June 5th, 2007

Finally made it to the home stretch... 3rd trimester yipee!

I know I resemble nothing of the picture I posted (for now)... that was me with my DH, pre pregnancy...it was (is?) my favourite dress and although I can't squeeze it past my knees anymore I thought it would give me an ego boost to see it since I can't wear it...

Pregnancy wise, things are good.Aside from the extra weight I feel amazing!Sometimes, I forget I am pregnant - I have zero symptoms!A drastic change from the first trimester....

Baby is active almost all the time.He gets up at 11am and 11pm, like clockwork every day.I wonder if that will stick?

I went to my daughters school fun fair and had my belly covered in henna.If you ever get the chance you should try it - it looks real pretty!

Ok, that's it girls... back to work for me.

Ok ladies, here's my story....

Wednesday morning my water broke, quite comically in front of my husband who was shocked to say the least! But no contractions followed. I was supposed to see my midwife for a regular appointment at 12:30 that afternoon. I went a bit earlier and found I was 2cm dialated. Not very encouraging since I was 2cm for about a week, but I was 80% effaced.

She suggested some walking so my hubby and I hit Square One. I had to stop frequently to change pads as my water kept gushing and I had many contractions throughout our trip but nothing to really get excited about, to say this is it. We headed towards lakeshore and walked around there too. Still nothing. I would have a contraction, then another, then none for an hour. We decided to go back home to try and get a nap. I slept between contractions and requests for popsicles (from the girls) for about 2hrs. At 8pm, the 12 hour mark, still no real labour. My midwife and I started to discuss our options and what would happen when (if) we hit the 24hr mark. It seemed very discouraging.

At 9:30 I had 6 contractions, all 3 minutes apart. Was this it? My sweet Keonna got out her "counteractions" book and started timing. I called my midwife and she suggested I come in to the hospital. On the way, my contractions stopped. A quick check - still 2cm! She stretched me to 3 and said let's see what happens....

At 11ish still 3cm....

Stretched to 4.....

1:17am...still 4 cm.

My contractions were all over the board. Some intense, some not so much. Kevin was bored. The midwife was sleepy. It looked like we might go home.

Then....

2am -3am......4 to 10cm in about an hour.

Ok, now things are moving....

VBAC protocol states that I had to have continuous fetal monitoring, but the midwife was great about letting me get into whatever position felt good. I liked the rocking motion of the birthing ball, felt really good almost downward dog with Kevin pushing my hips together to relieve the intense back contractions I was having, but much preferred the coolness of the bathroom with the stability of the toilet under me.

Baby was sunny side up and presenting with his head at an odd angle. It made for a very long and difficult pushing stage. His head just wouldn't slip under the bone. My midwife was trying to reposition him, but he kept moving back into the position he liked....

So, just to recap in case you weren't paying attention, I was having contractions that were too short (20-30 seconds in duration) to really be effective, my midwife had her hand up my who-ha trying to reposition a baby who was dancing around like it was Mardi Gras....it was crazy!

Finally, we moved to the birthing stool. I was sitting on top of the bed, on the stool, like some amazon princess warrior women. I had a mirror placed in front of me and both midwives and Kevin were around me, supporting my legs and calling out encouragement.

I was trying to pull Kevins hand, but instead of giving me the resistance I wanted, he very softly tried to hold and rub my hand. He was distracted by the head which was very visible in the mirror, but still sliding back up between contractions. I wasn't able to articulate that I needed something to grab and just by chance managed to grab the midwifes hand and when I pulled, she pulled back. It was this crazy tug of war, with me visualizing that I was one of those wooden women that are carved on the front of boats. Each surge was a wave, I was finally in control and able to make progress.

4:47am - Mr. Man makes his arrival. It was amazing to see and feel every sensation. I held him on my chest which was the one thing I missed with my other children. I was in love. It was instant. The pain was over immediately.

Baby had wet lung and spent some time in the special care nursery, and I had to have an emergency D&C because the IUD was not expelled. It decided to mock me instead! Ha ha...baby's out, I'm still here....(I mean really, give it up already, you lost the battle and the war!!) but that's another story....

We are home, doing well and loving every minute together. I am blissfully happy and so glad that this little surprise has come into my life.

And yes, Syce comes from the dream....

First name is Kiivyn, pronounced KEY-VIN.

He's lovely.

Shawnda