What No One Says Out Loud....First Days Home With Newborn

Hello! It's been a while since I have had time to blog. I don't really know where my days go, I just know that I am SUPER busy taking care of a newborn. The most precious newborn in the world!

Just look at those chubby cheeks!

Having a baby changes EVERYTHING but obviously for the better! And I wouldn't change it for the world, BUT there are some things people should warn you about!!

 

What people don't tell you when your pregnant with your first baby:

 

1. You never have time to shower or brush your teeth or put on makeup and if you do have time I PROMISE your baby isn't very far away (making the process much more complicated than it was before).

2. You always have to wear a bra. I am not a huge fan of the bra but society says we have to wear them in public. If you were to catch me at home pre-baby I was probably bra-less or in a tank top with a built-in-bra. Not anymore sister, these tatas have to be supported 24 hours a day and there is not a chance in hell that you are going to bed without a bra on, PLUS you have a wear breast pads ALL day long unless you want milk all over your clothes....

3. You bleed (like a period but heavier), ya some people talk about it BUT not really. No one tells you for how long or how much. Or that it's normal to gush or have blood clots. Well I am here to tell you, I am sick of wearing pads. I was never a big pad fan, I always opted for tampons....well after baby, tampons are not an option. So just get ready and be prepared. Stock up on your favorite maxi-pads!

4. Your exhausted ALL the time. Like if Camden wakes up every two hours to feed, I am so tired OR if he sleeps four hours straight and then wakes up to feed, I am still tired. Its a lose-lose situation.

5. Most newborns are recommended to eat every 2 hours. So say they eat at 2 then they will eat at 4 and 6 and 8. BUT what people don't tell you...if they eat at 2 o'clock it takes about 45 minutes to an hour to feed, burp, change diaper and so on. So now its three o'clock in the morning, you may get a good hour of sleep in and then it's time to do it ALL over again. No wonder new mommies are so exhausted.

6. Breastfeeding is hard, painful, frustrating, and inconvenient. I am not giving up, I know all of the benefits, and I plan on breastfeeding as long as I can. BUT it's hard and it's exhausting. We have been pretty lucky so far, he latches well, eats well, and is gaining a ton of weight BUT it's still not easy. Breastfeeding is so hard because you are the only one that can feed him (unless you pump). Going out in public is nearly impossible, unless it's a quick trip. And try going somewhere by yourself, forget it. You are the only one that can get up during the night. And even though everything is going great, my boobs still hurts sometimes AND my breast still get engorged....we are going on week 4 people! So to all the mommas out there who breastfeed "YOU ARE AMAZING" and to all those mommas out there that it just didn't work "I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND"!

7. Some days your baby is just off. They may fuss or cry a lot. You can hold them, cuddle them, give them a paci, offer them milk, and cuddle them some more BUT it still doesn't always help. They may have gas or their belly may hurt or they may just be unhappy....either way it sucks.

8. Your still fat, kind of. I have lost most of my baby weight...I am not exactly sure how much because I haven't braved the scale yet. I gained around 32 pounds during my pregnancy and I bet I have lost around 20-25 pounds. BUT your body is not the same. I mean it's common sense seeing that it took 9 months to grow that huge belly, I know it's not going to go back to normal in just three weeks. But everything is a little different: your belly is squishy and your boobs are huge and your hips are just a little wider. Be prepared that somethings might never go back to the way they were before.

Camden's Birth Story

Well after a week and a half at home with my sweet baby boy I am finally sitting down to write his birth story.

Being that this is a birth story it might be a little long and have a little to much TMI for some people, BUT it's a story I will cherish forever and something I never want to forget. 

Camden's birth story starts on Monday, August 5th.

We were scheduled to be induced Monday morning and had to be at the hospital by 4 a.m., so we woke up around 2 o'clock and headed to the hospital at 3 o'clock (because it took us about 45 minutes to get there.)

Once we got to the hospital, they admitted us and we were sent to the labor and delivery wing. After I got hooked up to all the IVs, they checked my cervix (I was already dilated to 3 cm) and started my pitocin. Then we sat and waited. At 7 my OBGYN came in and broke my water. At this point I was still dilated to 3 cm. My doctor was confidant that we would have a baby by lunch, I wasn't as confidant. I knew that since this was my first pregnancy it would probably take longer.
We also went ahead and got an epidural at this point because once my water was broken, I wasn't allowed to leave my bed AND that was the only reason I was waiting.
I had hoped that once my contractions got stronger I would be able to walk around to ease the pain and help labor progress, but my nurses informed me once my water broke I was stuck in bed....
After I received my epidural I felt no pain at all below my waist, it was heaven. Contractions are no joke and I was feeling every one of them up until that point.

Around nine all of our family started arriving and all I could think about was food, I was STARVING, I hadn't had anything to eat since dinner the night before.. Also around this time my nurses checked my cervix again, I was 4 cm dilated. Not much progress, but as least we were improving. Then we sat and waited and talked. My family helped keep my mind off labor and I didn't even notice how long my labor was actually taking....we were up to hour 5 at this point.

Around 11 o'clock I started noticing my contractions more and more. My toes weren't tingly like they were when I first received my epidural and I had a lot of moment in my legs...at one point my nurse even commented on how much I was able to move around.  Then my mother-in-law noticed some water on the floor, only it wasn't water...
Yup, your thinking right, it was my medicine. Somehow my anesthesiologist forgot to hook my epidural medicine into my IV and it was dripping onto the floor instead of in my body. My poor nurse (who I loved) felt terrible and immediately got him back into the room, where he promptly pushed medicine right into my back and started my drip again...this time correctly. About 5 minutes later I was pain free and a happy camper .

Around lunch my doctor recommended that I get monitored internally, they wanted to monitor the baby's heartbeat and to see how strong my contractions were. Because I wasn't progressing as quickly as my doctor's would have liked me to and our little man's heartbeat wasn't cooperating.
His little heartbeat would get really low, sometimes it would drop down into the 100's and then go back up to the 130's.

If my contractions weren't strong enough, that meant more pitocin. If my contractions were strong enough, but not helping me progress we would have to consider a c-section. I didn't want a c-section. I was very adamant about having this baby natural. Since I was already being induced I wanted to a vaginal birth so bad!
So the plan was to monitor me for 45 minutes and then see where we should go from there. Those were the longest 45 minutes of my life, and we just prayed and prayed that I would progress before the doctor came back and checked me again.

At 1 o'clock I got checked again and I was still 4 cm, closer to 5 cm...9 hours of labor and I had only progressed one maybe two cm. My worst fears had come true, my doctor told me we would have to proceed with a c-section and I LOST IT. I had a break down, I couldn't stop crying and my body wouldn't stop shaking. I felt like I had failed my baby, and I was terrified of surgery. Corey was such a trooper because he held it together (at least on the outside) and reassured my everything would be okay.

In what seemed like seconds the prepped me for surgery and wheeled my back to the OR. They asked Corey to get dressed (in precious blue scrubs) and wait outside until they came and got him. Once inside the OR they moved me from one bed to the other, put a drape up at my waist, and made both of my arms stretch out beside me. All the while I was just trying to keep it together and not have a panic attack, I remember trying to distract myself and doing a terrible job of it. After what felt like hours, Corey was finally back by my side and I instantly felt such relief. Corey did such an amazing job of reassuring me, telling me he loved me, and distracting me during the entire operation. I couldn't of made it through without this his love and support.

Before I even realized what was happening the doctors had already started, and I only know that because they told me to get ready for pressure. They said it would feel like an elephant was sitting on my chest, only I never felt the pressure....I was too drugged at this point. Then the doctor yelled "boy, 14:14" and they asked Corey if he wanted to see his son. I remember my doctor telling me, there was no way I would have been able to have him on my own. He head and shoulders were too big, and that we had made the right decision. At this point I was balling my eyes out, everything was okay, our baby boy was here and he was perfectly healthy!

After what felt like forever, Corey brought our precious baby boy over. He wasn't crying at all, he looked so content in his daddy's arms. I am pretty sure I feel in love with that man all over again.
It was the single greatest moment of my entire life.

Camden was finally here, this tiny baby had just came out of me and I couldn't believe how much I loved him already.

His birth didn't got how we prayed and planned for, but I wouln't change it for the world. I will never forget those first few moments of his life. It is a moment in time I will never forget and I am so grateful to Corey and our wonderful nurses that were able to capture it on camera.

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Boy, We Love You More Than You Will Ever Know! 

Third Trimester Must Haves

Well as most of you know our sweet little man has arrived BUT here are some things that helped me get through my final trimester. AND let me tell ya those last couple weeks are rough; one because you are terribly uncomfortable and two because you just want to meet that baby.
Luckily for me I was already out of school on summer vacation, so I didn't have to work through all those aches and pains.

1. Downton Abbey: I was searching through Hulu Plus one day and ran across this show. I remember hearing a lot about it when it first came out but I never caught it from the beginning, and I don't like to start watching a show if I am behind. Well all it took was one episode and I was hooked! It totally got me through those boring days of sitting and WAITING not so patiently for our little man to arrive. 

2. Nike shorts: I lived in these almost every day towards the end of the pregnancy. The only time I actually "got dressed" was if I had to go out in public for a doctor's appointment or to run some errands....then I would promptly come home and put these on again!

3. Corey's t-shirts: What they don't tell you, even your maternity clothes don't fit towards the end of your pregnancy. Soooo you have to get creative and raid your husband's wardrobe.

4. Ice: by the end of my pregnancy I was soo sick of water but you have to keep drinking it to keep you and baby hydrated. The only way I could choke down the recommended amount was to fill a huge cup with crushed ice and water...

5. Chocolate: throughout this entire pregnancy I craved chocolate. Hershey's was my favorite, especially if I put in the freezer first!

6. Pool: every pregnant gals best friend. It makes you feel weightless and bonus you get a tan while enjoying it!

He's Here

Camden Blake Sewell was born at 2:14pm on Monday, August 5th. He weighs 8 pounds and 10 ounces. He is 21 inches long and the most beautiful little man I have ever seen. He has a head full of hair and we made it through our first night with flying colors, I even got some sleep! 

I never knew I could love someone so much, we are so blessed for our little miracle! 

38 Weeks

This week, Baby is the size of a: Pumpkin

How far along?  38 Weeks and 5 Days on Tuesday, July 30…I am a couple of days late on blogging..oops

Total weight gain/loss: I have gained a totally of 31 pounds (a little more than I wanted)

Due date: August 7, 2013 but we are officially being induced on August 5^th

Stretch Marks? Welp, I have three more small ones on my belly (which feels like it’s about to explode)!

Sleep: Sleep is still impossible and incredible more uncomfortable   

Best moment this week: I finally finished the nursery!! Pictures coming soon.

Movement: Still moving like crazy, he loves to kick!  

Food cravings: I am just hungry ALL the time!

Gender:  BOY!

Labor Signs/ Symptoms: Still getting contractions, but nothing consistent. My pelvic region is very sore all the time, it hurts to move, walk, sit….

Belly Button in or out? It’s hanging on for dear life, it’s still an inbetweenie

Wedding Rings on or off?  Off most of the time, but I wore them yesterday.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and EXCITED and so nervous, can’t wait to meet our little man!

What I am looking forward to: D-day we are being induced on Monday!   

Prayer Request: Well it looks like he is completely comfortable and doesn’t want to come anytime soon. So since he weighs so much on the ultrasound, my doctor suggested we go ahead and induce on Monday. Please pray for a safe and uncomplicated labor. I am really nervous about the induction, just praying everything goes smoothly and I don’t have to have c-section.