Liam - Week 1

Date/Week: December 29; week 1 

My Total weight gain/loss: -19.4

His Stats: 7.06lbs (+8oz since 12/25); 20" (+1.5" since 12/22)

Milestones: First Doctor's Appointment on 12/30; Newborn Photo Shoot on 12/30

Developmental Progress: Liam has a pretty strong neck already. He's also getting better with his focus and following objects.

How do I feel about my body: I'm back in my regular clothes. My scar looks pretty good location-wise. I really would like to do some yoga because I really need a good stretch.

Sleep: He sleeps a lot during the day and in 1.5 to 2 hour spurts at night. Yesterday he slept most of the day and was up playing almost all night!

Energy level: I have quite a way to go to get back to 100% but I am fine with that thus far.

Exercise: walking around the house

Thoughts and Feelings? A bit overwhelmed. A lot in love. We both can't believe that Liam is here after all of these years of wanting to have children. 

What I am looking forward to: Looking at planning Liam's Christening for the end of February.

Introducing Liam..

Here are a few pictures from the last few days...

New Arrival

Liam Rórdán Klaus was born at 14:02 Bermuda time on Wednesday, December 22 and appears to be a happy & healthy boy. For those who like statistics, he was 6lbs 15.9oz and 18.5". 

Week 37

Date/Week: December 22; week 37 (C/S today!!!)

Total weight gain/loss: 30 lbs

Milestones: We're Full-Term I am pretty psyched that we have managed to make it to 37 weeks, are at home for the procedure and will be meeting the sprog today! We had our pre-op on Monday so today we just have to check in at 11am and surgery is scheduled for the afternoon. I am more than a little nervous and excited.

Physical Progress: Sproglet has dropped a lot. During the non-stress test on Monday we had the same midwife from last week and she was amazed at how much lower he was - a good 3-4 inches from last Wednesday. It made walking over the last few days interesting. 

Symptoms: feet and calf cramps; heartburn; nausea; fatigue; braxton-hicks contractions (about 15 minutes apart); back pain; tight skin

How do I feel about my body: I personally feel pretty good. I indulged in waxing on Saturday and a pedicure, massage and reiki on Sunday. It was great and I felt wonderful afterwards. 

Food cravings/aversions: nothing this week - I am looking forward to cassava pie and other goodies though...

Sleep: I've been back to getting up every two hours. Surprisingly, I managed to get a relatively full night's sleep last night considering how nervous I was/am. I wonder how much sleep I'll get tonight...

Energy level: With my schedule cut back thanks to the holidays, it has been a good week for getting things done. I worked through to yesterday, Christmas shopping and wrapping s done and the house is ready for the season... nice!

Exercise: walking; stretching.

Baby Movement: He has been really active in the last week. He hates the sensors used for the non-stress test. He kept moving them. Still, it was fascinating to watch him move in relationship to his heart rate. His regular movements have continued to be somewhat uncomfortable as he moved down and stretched out. I have been paying a lot of attention to the movement though since it'll be over soon and I don't know if I will ever feel such sensations ever again.

Thoughts and Feelings? I've been pretty calm this week considering each day was getting us closer to today. I've had a few crazy moments but generally I've been ok. I didn't even have a panic attack during pre-op on Monday - or after pre-op! Last night I was a bit high strung. I am good at the moment and hope this continues through the day. IN any case, our lies change today and it is weird to realise that in everything we've been doing this morning.

What I am looking forward to: We're having a baby today!!!!!

Getting Ready...

Sunday was crazy. We went to church and then Aidan had to fix the water pump while I made goodies for Aidan's grandfather's open house. We thought we had some time to relax but I found out that my pedicure was actually scheduled 1.5 hours earlier than I had in my calendar. So I missed the open house... but the spa was great. It was the best (and cheapest) pedicure I've had. I then spent a few hours just relaxing - reading Hello magazine, eating finger sandwiches and drinking tea. I then had my mother-to-be massage with reiki and it was fabulous. You know what - it is the BEST way to prepare for delivery. I loved it!!!

Today was pre-op day. We went to the hospital at 8.30am and I started the morning with blood tests. I then went to a very busy maternity ward for a NST, followed by meetings with the anaestologist and the on call doctor. I also had to go and have an ECG since I have a heart murmur and then back to maternity to sign forms, etc. So after almost 3 hours, I was able to leave and got to see Aidan play at Fort Hamilton for last Skirling Ceremony of the Year. So now we wait... they won't tell me the time of the surgery until tomorrow evening! In the meantime, I need to drink lots of water and also have to take my asthma medicine in the interim. So we're on the downward slope... Looks like I will make full-term!

Interesting Day...

My OB appointment resulted in me being sent over to the hospital today for a non-stress test (NST) since my blood pressure was elevated. Boy, that was close because they almost kept me in there. My blood pressure was still up but the midwife told my doctor that she thought it was anxiety related and that since I'm back in on Monday morning for my pre-admission NST that I should be allowed to go home. Thank God, he agreed!

Aidan is upset at himself because he got stuck in 3 meetings, missed the OB appointment and believes my anxiety was partially due to him not being there. In any case, he was there for the NST which was more critical since that took place at the hospital. He's finding a replacement to play next Monday for a lunchtime performance he's scheduled to do since my next NST is earlier that morning and who knows whether they'll let me out next time...

As for the soon-to-be sprog, he's doing well. Heartrate and movement are excellent. He's measuring as full-term so everyone is pretty happy about that. He hated the monitors though for the NST - spent most of his time moving them around... 

I've booked my massage for Sunday! I think after today, I deserve it!

36 Weeks

Date/Week: December 15; week 36 (1 week (7 days) to C/S)

Total weight gain/loss: +1.5 (30 lbs total)

Milestones: Week 36!!!!! We've made it to 9 months!!! I can't tell you how overjoyed we are at this milestone. As I sat in our kitchen eating breakfast, I couldn't help but be so grateful to be at home and not overseas in a hospital! Talk about an amazing Christmas present ... and the rest of the present arrives in 7 days!

Physical Progress: I am very self conscious about my belly at the moment as it has gotten bigger (and a bit lower) this week. So yes, I am waddling in earnest... which some poeople I know have been calling cute (yeah, right ). What is funny is that I wore some nice black maternity under the belly jeans and had to wear a belly band because they kept falling down - my hips and butt haven't shared in this growth phase...

Symptoms: feet and calf cramps; heartburn; nausea; fatigue; braxton-hicks contractions (about 25-30 minutes apart); tight skin

How do I feel about my body: I'm feeling good as we're on the home stretch. I will admit that I've been reading up on post-natal fitness and am looking forward to the mom and baby yoga classes in the new year (plus I will definitely do water aerobics again when I can)

Food cravings/aversions: strawberries and Elizabeth Shaw Mint Crisps

Sleep: I thought getting up every two hours was bad... until it turned into getting up every hour. I definitely took the weekend to play catch up on lost rest...

Energy level: I've been better than I thought I would be. It must be adrenaline related to the Christmas season. Either that or the knowledge that we'll be meeting our sprog soon!

Exercise: walking; prenatal yoga, stretching.

Baby Movement: Am I bad for loving it when he sleeps??? He loves to move and as cute as it is to watch, I swear he's trying to get out via my right side. At night, Aidan gets him to settle down when he puts his hand on my stomach - I assume it's the warmth. I hope that is something that will continue when he is out. I will admit though that I will miss the movement somewhat - particularly the hiccups. Since I am not sure that I will ever experience this again, I've been trying to savor the moments - usually until it gets a bit too painful (thank goodness for sesame massage oil).

Thoughts and Feelings? I had a bit of a panic attack last night. As excited as I am for the most phenomenal Christmas present that I have ever received, it requires a hospital stay and needles. I had been trying to tell myself that I was concerned about not being home for Christmas. Well, that's the least of it - I know we'll celebrate Christmas whenever I get home. I am more concerned about getting in there and my blood pressure going up because I am freaked out and them not wanting to let me go anywhere until it goes down... that'll be an interesting wait. And yes, I don't want to be alone in the evening. Thinking about last year's surgery last week, Aidan was so integral to getting me through that night last Dec 9th into the morning of the 10th - and believe me, I was pretty high strung about getting out when the morning dawned. I am hoping and praying that next week will bring only a fraction of the anxiety I usually have since I'll be focused on the sprog... please let it be that way...

What I am looking forward to: Finishing up the nursery; Spa day on the Dec 19; Meeting our sprog next week.