Thursday 25 August 2011

Life with baby

My world has definitely changed. I don't feel like the same person anymore. Not in a negative way... Just in a different way. I'm no longer Just Carolyn, wife of Matt. I am now MOM! Or, as the running joke in my family, MA (it's how Noah cries... Maaaaa, Maaaaa!) I feel a huge responsibility to care for this little boy and he comes first in everything I do. My showers have become shorter, makeup is less important and sleep comes second to all his needs. I'm not complaining either... I actually enjoy feeling as needed as I am. And even when I am beyond frustrated with him, the second I look at him my heart melts and I can't get over how cute he is. There are times when I want nothing more then for him to go to sleep. But then when he is sleeping I miss holding him and have to convince myself to leave him be. I am trying to enjoy every moment with him because I feel like he is already growing up so fast! It seems like I just had him yesterday and he's already 10 days old. Before I know it he'll be a year old, ahhhhh! Anyways, to summarize, I'm really loving my life right now. It is absolutely the hardest job ever, but it's also the most rewarding. I love my little family. I feel lucky to have an amazing Husband, supportive family and friends and a well behaved baby boy.

God has truly blessed us.

Thursday 18 August 2011

Ah, labour - Noah Benjamin Bechard has arrived!

So I made it to Candices wedding - JUST. I am so thankful that Noah decided to wait until the wedding reception to start the action so that I could be there.

Yes, I said he waited until the wedding reception, as in I was in labour during the wedding reception. Thankfully though, my contractions were only 20 minutes apart at that point and I was able to hide my discomfort (for the most part - there were a few ladies who were aware of what was going on.) The wedding ended at 9pm and by the time I got home at 10pm, my contractions were coming every 4-6 minutes and starting to get painful.

I could probably write an incredibly long detailed blog about everything that went down, but im going to try and keep it as compact as I can. Many of you are aware that I had a very, very long labour. 46 hours start to finish to be exact. It took me 36 hours just to get to 5 cm. You may say thats a good thing, because going to 5 cm isnt as painful as 5-10... but bear in mind that I was unable to sleep for any of that. Also, I had just spent the entire day on my feet at a wedding and been up since 7am. I was EXHAUSTED. Thankfully I had an amazing mother and husband who stayed awake with me pretty much the entire time.

I was admitted to the hospital Monday morning at 200am (5cm) and requested my epidural straight away with the hope of being able to get some sleep.I had to wait an hour and a half to get it because he was in surgery, but once he was there he was awesome and cracked jokes with me the entire time. Totally put me at ease. The epidural worked initially and my bottom half was nice and numb... but unfortunitly once I hit 7cm I started to get back labour. For those of you who dont know... epidurals DONT USUALLY WORK with back labour. So I felt EVERYTHING. At least now I know that I have fully experienced labour and managed to survive; so it IS doable! Of course... next time I will totally opt for the epidural again in hopes that back labour was a once in a lifetime experience haha.

They decided to break my water to speed things up and within an hour or two I was complete. May I just add here that my delievery staff were incredible. They were unbelievably supportive and with me every step of the way. I had 2 nurses, an intern and a doctor with me when I began to push. Apperently I was a good pusher and was making fast progress until they discovered that Noahs head was turned to the side instead of down. Totally explained the back labour, but he started to get stuck. They had to put a heart rate monitor on his head because with each contractions his heart rate would drop. Kind of scary, but they assured me that he was totally fine and it always came back up after. In the end they had to use the vacuum to turn his head to the side. Once they did that I was able to push him right out ... (with his elbow up at his head might I add!!!) ... all 9 pounds and 22 inches of him at 1:29 in the afternoon. No one could believe how big he was.

As hard and long as my labour was, I feel very blessed that he is a happy and healthy boy. He took right to breastfeeding within an hour of being born and gave us 6 hours of straight sleep our first night at the hospital. My recovery has been pretty smooth too. Despite being weak and tired, im healing fast. Managed to only get 4 stitches! Matts home from work for the week which is a huge help and were trying to adjust to our new life. Have to admit that I am kind of dreading once he goes back to work next week - but I know I have alot of supportive family and friends around who are more then willing to help out.

Thank you all for your many prayers and congrats over the past couple of days. We are so excited for you all to meet our little man!



Wednesday 10 August 2011

Are you still pregnant?

Yes.
I am.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Now that we have the million dollar question out of the way ill let you know how things are going.

I had my last doctors appointment today. I havent had much change since last weeks appointment, although this isnt surprising considering I cant really change anymore without actively giving birth. Baby is still at zero station, im dialated a few cm and there is nothing stopping him from making his entrance into the world. My Doctor did a second membrane sweep which was much more invasive this time but with better results (dont think you really want to know the details.) My uterus wasnt impressed with what she was doing and started contracting right away which is a good sign. "Hes very sensative," she says. Been having contractions on and off all afternoon but nothing regular. Once again, the hope is that this will jump start things in the next 24- 48 hours.

If not... I have my ultrasound and non-stress test scheduled for Monday morning. They will be checking for fluid levels, babies size, heartbeat and any other signs that may suggest that baby should be born sooner then later. If thats the case, I will be heading straight to the hospital on Monday to be induced. However, if it looks like he is quite safe and comfortable on the inside I will have to wait until Thursday morning to be induced. Thats 8 days from now.

Thank you to all for being supportive, saying prayers and sending me positive messages throughout the day. Some days I feel very frustrated and emotional and the last thing I want to hear are comments that come across negative in any way. But we really do appreciate that so many of you are also anxiously awaiting the arrival of our baby :)

Ill keep you posted.



Friday 5 August 2011

Okay baby, time to be born.

I know I have brought this on myself. I should have listened to all of you who said I shouldnt expect to have this baby before my due date. It sure would have made things easier. Lesson learned! But in my defense, its hard to hear from all of my doctors that I will go early only to have it not happen.

Tomorrow is my due date. Im actually feeling pretty good considering I am almost 40 weeks pregnant. Matt and I have been going out for 30 minutes walks each evening and I have been really enjoying them. They hurt, but it feels good to get some fresh air and excercise. My energy levels are pretty good considering where I am at and apart from having to back into the car to sit I feel fairly mobile and comfortable. Its almost like my body has just accepted that I will be pregnant forever and this is just the way it is. My brain says otherwise of course.

I have definitely made alot of progress over the past couple of days which is encouraging. At my doctors appointment on Wednesday I was dialated enough to have a membrane sweep done which I was very happy about. For those of you who dont know what that is, its where the doctor thins out your water and it can help to induce labour. At the risk of being too graphic can we just say that I lost the things that needed to be lost in order for labour to get going? I know all you mothers out there know what I am talking about haha. I also had contractions this morning from 130am - 830am that were coming every 3 minutes. Thats actually really close together, but since I wasnt in major pain I just waited for it to intensify or stall out before doing anything. Sure enough... baby decided he wasnt going to go with the flow and they stopped. Its crazy to me that his head can be so low and that I can have contractions for so long AND already be dialated and not go into active labour. For whatever reason he has decided that he is quite comfortable in my belly. He must know something I dont.

I have my final doctors appointment next Wednesday (if I make it to that... fingers crossed I dont) If I am still pregnant I will also be getting an ultrasound done to monitor fluid levels, babies size, etc. to set up an induction date. I could be induced anywhere from 7-12 days after my due date, so we are looking at anywhere from August 13-18. Seems like really far away, but I guess in reality it means I wont be pregnant for more then 13 days from now. That sure puts things in perspective!

Wow, weve come a long way people! Thanks for the support! Oh boy... is our life about to change in the next two weeks!


Was this really 10 months ago??