5 days old!

Monday morning I was really anxious for the call.. but as I found out they were quite busy and had to wait for a call to come in later that day. Finally they said come in for 1pm! I called Rob to come meet me at home. After we registered we went to triage where I had to do another non stress test. After that, they transferred us to a labour and delivery room where the doc broke my water (2:30pm). They said that they usually wait 2 hours for you to start having contractions, otherwise will talk about starting labour with pitocin. I wasn't contracting on my own and was really anxious to get going, so at the 2 hour mark they hooked me up. Rob had left to go home and get some food and say hi to Nicole at this point. Within half an hour I started feeling the contractions kicking in (5:15pm). They got more and more intense, so I asked for the epidural. Rob came back just in time for the intense contractions :) It took a bit longer than I had hoped to get the anesthetist in and get it started, so the nurse turned off my pitocin to lower the intensity as we waited. MUCH better! We really liked that nurse (Jes), she was our favourite the whole time we were at the hospital. I had the epidural by about 7pm, and it didn't take too long to start feeling some relief. I just laid there for an hour or so and updated my parents. Around 8:15pm the nurse examined me (a new nurse), and she said I was fully dilated! No one had checked me since my water being broken (2cm), but was not expecting to be fully dilated at that point! She said we'd wait for me to feel the urge to push, or until 9pm, whichever came first. But at 8:30pm she came back and said we were going to start pushing. She looked and saw the head! I had started feeling a bit of pressure as well. She called the baby nurse and the OB (on call doc.. Dr Farell) first because she thought it would only take one push! It might have, but I really couldn't feel anything so had no idea how to push, I was so numb. It took a few pushes and by 8:39pm he was out! I still didn't feel anything, unlike all the pressure I felt with Nicole. As soon as they took him out I noticed that it was a boy!  They put him on my chest, he was so tiny! Definitely smaller than Nicole. After a few minutes Rob cut his cord and then they weighed him. 6lbs 11oz! Much bigger than expected. His apgar scores were 9 and 9. I didn't tear and my bleeding was controlled so it wasn't long before I was able to start trying to breastfeed. Rob tried to do skin to skin but he kept rooting so he handed him back to me to continue the feed. Around 10:30pm they transferred us to the Mother Baby Unit where we stayed the next day and a half. The nurse had to do hourly checks on him for the next couple hours, so it was hard to get much sleep. My legs were still quite numb from the epidural, so it wasn't until almost midnight I was able to get up on my own to go to the bathroom. Rob originally was going to go home for the night, but I wanted him to stick around until I could get up on my own. By midnight he was too tired and figured it was easier to just stay. We all got some broken sleep between checks and feeds. Luke (not officially named at the time!) slept in the hospital bed/tray most of the night. I was told to wake him every 3 hours for feeds, but he often didn't want to wake and feed and kept falling back to sleep. The next morning, Rob went to get my parents and they came for a visit around 9am. It was nice to socialize a bit since I was stuck in that room for so long. I didn't really feel up to walking too far, and didn't feel presentable either to be in 'public', haha. Rob took them back, had lunch at home then came back. Later that day he brought Nicole in after daycare and visited with her for a while. She had no idea what was happening, and actually kicked his bed while he was in it! Not intentionally trying to kick him or anything, just checking things out I think. Lol. She was hard to entertain since she couldn't touch anything there and wanted to run around. They didn't stay long. Rob dropped her back off and came back after dinner for the night. Again, he hadn't planned on staying that night but with all the driving he had done that day he was tired and didn't want to drive back home! That night was rough. Luke wouldn't settle after a feed, so I kept feeding him more and more, until about 11:30pm I called the nurse in, not sure if he was uncomfortable or what was wrong. She said all this is normal.. even my emotions at the time! She offered to take him to the nursing station to get him to sleep for a bit then bring him back. I graciously accepted. I got a couple hours sleep which was great, then worked on getting him to feed a couple times throughout the night. At his age then (30 hrs?) it was getting important to get his feeds in so I had to be more persistent to wake him. He continued to sleep again most of that next day (21 June). He had his blood taken to check bilirubin levels, then we just had to wait for the results and the hearing test before we could be discharged. It all took awhile, but by about 11am everything was done and we were able to pack up and get discharge. His bili levels were high, so we did have to go back 2 days later to have him checked again. We were hoping that we'd only have that one more check, but had to go back two more days after that (Sat/Sun) until finally he was cleared to stay at home! He was pretty yellow, but he started regaining weight relatively quickly and had lots of input/output which helped him get over it.

39 weeks!

I saw the OB again the day after my last post. She did an exam and said she wanted to induce me. I wasn't too sure about it at first, but she explained. She said my cervix is 'ready'.. my bishop score was 8, which means my cervix has started to thin out, I have dilated to 2 cm and baby has dropped. Baby is small and we don't know why, so since I'll only be a few days from my due date she thinks it's the smart thing to do. She thinks they will only have to break my water and I'll progress from there. Just like last time!! Hopefully that is the case. I'll ask for the epidural right away, lol. No wasting time! So I am booked for Monday, I'll be 39 weeks and 2 days. They should call me that morning and let me know when to show up as they prioritize for the day. Friday I had another NST. This time baby wasn't moving much so she had me stay longer but lie on my side. That helped! Baby started moving around a lot more and I was let go not long after that.  Then I totally just relaxed for the rest of the day, it was nice. I had done so much prep on Thursday after finding out that I'll be induced on Monday so it was nice to relax for my last day while Nicole was at daycare. Weekends are always busier!

My parents will be arriving Sunday night, so they will watch Nicole as needed while we are at the hospital.

It's weird to be able to plan for when we are having the baby, but it worked out that we could give my parents a heads up and so Rob could plan to be off work.

Last day babywearing to daycare while pregnant!

38.5 weeks

I saw the OB the day after my last post. Baby was measuring 15th percentile, so she wanted to redo the ultrasound in 2 weeks to make sure it stays on it's curve. June 7th was the next ultrasound, and the tech said the baby hadn't gained to much and was estimated at 5.5lbs.. 9th percentile. She said blood flow, fluid levels, movement and everything was good so she wasn't too concerned, but that I could go to the hospital if I was worried. I wasn't, so I waited until my OB appt the next morning at 8:30. The doc said she wasn't too worried but wanted to make sure the baby was closely monitored. I had a non stress test the next day (which turned out fine.. they just kept me on a bit longer because baby was being really active). Yesterday I had another ultrasound, but this one was just for blood flow, fluid levels, movement but not growth since it had only been a week.  Everything looked good, and she said the baby was pretty low. The next growth one will be next Wed, and the next non stress test is this Friday. I see the OB again tomorrow morning. Hopefully for the last time in her office!! Oh I did get sick leave, started last Friday. But I had Nicole home that day since daycare was closed, and we had Davin on the weekend so only getting a break these last few days.

37.5 weeks

36.5 weeks

So I had my ultrasound last week.. they estimated the baby at between something like 4lbs 12oz and 4lbs 15 oz, a bit smaller than I would have thought. Hope my dates aren't off! The OB hadn't seen the report when I saw her the next day, so will find out at my appointment tomorrow what she thinks. I had the Group B Strept swab done  as well.. fingers crossed I am negative again otherwise they have to give antibiotics while in labour.


I did have to stay home with Nicole with her pink eye for 2 days, but luckily didn't catch it! She then broke out in hives for a few days, likely a viral reaction to viral pink eye. They didn't seem to bother her and went away on their own (though we did give some Benadryl).


I then got quite sick.. it started with a really sore throat and turned into lots of coughing. So much that one night (22  May) I only got 2 hrs sleep! :( It was horrible. I went to the clinic the next day and the doc gave  me the week off (which was awesome). I still couldn't nap because the reclined position made it worse. Lots of salt water gargle, halls, tea, warm compresses on throat, vicks vapo rub... then when I saw the OB she said I could take Robitussin. I immediately went to get some and it seemed to help! Started getting 6 hrs sleep on occasion. Still not sleeping the best, last night was about 12-6am. I am now in the phlegm in the throat that won't clear stage...grrr.. I got a bit worried about taking Robitussin since I had heard conflicting info, but read some good reputable studies that set my mind at ease.


The baby doesn't actually feel as low as I originally thought a couple weeks ago, which is actually much more comfortable for walking and moving around. I don't have the same pressure and back pain I had with Nicole at this point, however I am also not trying to take lots of walks like I did with her either. No time or energy! Now that we are at Carling we pick her up right after work, do a bit of play, supper, play then bedtime. I'm lucky if I get dishes done in a night, but Rob has been great helping out more with dishes etc throughout this pregnancy.


I have an OB appointment tomorrow, and next Thursday I have another one along with an appointment with the Nurse Practictioner. I'll be almost 38 weeks so hoping I'll get some sick leave. I really need to 'nest' and relax. There is a lot to do around the house and little time these days.


I bought some yarn and I was hoping to crochet a hat for this baby as well, but haven't gotten around to it :(


That's it for now!

34.5 weeks

Since last post, Rob's mom stayed with us for about a month to 'job search' and 'check out the area' in hopes of maybe moving here. It was great for Nicole to spend time with her, and gave us a nice break! She did lots of dishes etc too :)

I had a pelvic floor PT appt and confirmed I have a prolapsed rectum. She said that is the best kind, that is isn't very bad and should go away after having they baby (putting lots of pressure on my abdomen).

Nothing really came from my last OB appt. I have one this afternoon, a growth ultrasound next week (yay!) and then will start weekly appointments with her after that. Work has been fine since I am working at the Carling Campus in Kanata now, so a lot less driving! Not feeling quite as tired at work since I am keeping busier.

33 weeks

I felt like the baby had dropped a bit last weekend, and I was getting lots of movement and cramping. I am definitely not feeling the pressure I had with Nicole at this point in the pregnancy though. This baby is also a lot more vicious. I more often get kicks to the ribs or body parts lodged in places that can be painful for a bit. My weight gain has slowed.. I have been hovering around 140lbs for a few weeks now.

Home with Nicole for pink eye today and yesterday :( Hoping I don't catch it as well.. the joys of daycare!

30 weeks!

10 weeks to go! I am feeling very pregnant these days,  it's getting harder to bend over with my belly in the way. I am about 138 lbs which I think is a bit more than last time, but don't really feel too much bigger. If so, I think it's all in the belly!

I had a weird thing happen on April 2nd... long story short, I have a bit of a prolapsed uterus. I went to sick parade on the Monday, the next day, and the doc was worried that it may have been baby's head! Too early! He didn't see anything though, and baby wasn't even that low he said, I was dilated.. but he gave me a week of bed rest anyway. My sleep had been so horrible lately that I was happy to take it. I didn't go on full bed rest at all.. I still walked to drop off/get Nicole from daycare and do stuff around the house. That Thurs I met with my OB. She laughed and said no, it's not baby! I kinda figured :) She said just don't lift too heavy and try not to get constipated, it should get better once baby moves up and out of the pelvic area. So I did a light upper body workout the next day and felt fine. On Monday I did some legs (squats, deadlifts, lunges), lighter than usual, but felt the symptoms come back :( On Tuesday I got my Pertussis vaccine (to protect baby from Whooping cough in first 2 months, came with Tetanus shot and something else..) my arm was sore for two days! So didn't end up working out the rest of the week, just some physio/walking.

So I have noticed a few differences from my last pregnancy:
- I never had an enjoyable, restful 2nd trimester. I felt tired all the way through :(
- I have a lot more insomnia this time, waking up at 2am and tossing and turning and not really sleeping the rest of the night
- I don't have the linea nigra, the dark line on my belly (yes!!)
- Diastasis recti a lot earlier this time around.. by the 2nd trimester (end 1st maybe?) I noticed it.

We've had a couple of really nice days where we were able to get outside and get to the park. Nicole just LOVES being outside and exploring  - it's a whole new world! It's been great for my mood to get out more, I was really done with winter. Easter this weekend and Rob's mom comes tonight, she is staying for a month. She is debating moving here, so wants to check out the area and see if she could make it work.

Otherwise.. everything is on track this pregnancy. HR has been around 150 bpm, fundal height was 29 cm at 28.5 weeks. I can still walk for maybe 25 min. I walked for that long at lunch hour the other day, then started to feel pressure/had to pee. Seems similar to last time so far.

28.5 weeks

That's it for now!

26 weeks

Oops! Haven't posted in a while. 26 weeks tomorrow..

We had the morphology ultrasound and everything looked good. We didn't find out the gender, so it will be a nice surprise on the big day! IPS results were good as well.

Since last post Nicole celebrated her 1st birthday, and we had another OB appointment at 22 weeks. Rob came to this one so he could meet her. Nothing special, just listened to baby and measured fundal height. She gave me a requisition for the glucose challenge test which I did last week (gross).

Still feeling quite tired.. there were a few days last week I went to bed at 7:30/8pm. Then I've been sick all week.. I don't think I've ever been so stuffed up that I've had such a hard time sleeping. I moved from our room, to the couch on the main floor, to the couch in the basement to find where I could breathe best. Luckily I got some time off work, which is great since I can't take any good drugs while pregnant. Just a nasal spray/halls/tylenol. Much better today so far :)

Almost in the 3rd trimester! I weigh about 134 lbs now, so up 16 lbs since the beginning, a little more than last time :o

That's it for now

25.5 weeks