Allouette Has Arrived!

Well it all started Friday the 18th around 8pm, at which time my usual braxton hicks contractions turned into what you would call 'real contractions'. At first they were coming around 25 minutes apart, so I figured I had plenty of time before the real show would begin. I was unfortunately up all of Friday evening due to both the excitement of the contractions as well as the new level of pain.

By Saturday morning the contractions were 10 minutes apart and so I called into the birth center to let them know what was taking place. They said to keep up the good work, get as much sleep as possible and call back when they were 5 minutes apart. Unfortunately a few hours later they were back up to 25 minutes apart and I began to worry that it might continue this way for days!

By Saturday evening the contractions were back to 10 minutes apart and by 1am we were closer to 6-7 minutes apart. Up to this point, my hypno-birthing training was working pretty well along with hours spent sitting in the shower or in a warm bath, thank goodness for a quick recovering hot water tank!

By 6am on Sunday morning, my contractions were 3-6 minutes apart and I was beginning to question my desire for a natural birth. Thankfully, we were finally at a point to head into the birth center and by the time we arrived, close to 6:30am my contractions were coming on pretty quickly and the need to begin pushing was also starting to kick-in.

Upon arriving they discovered I was 6 cm dilated and 100% effaced, thanks goodness! The midwife on-call, Sarah, began to fill the birthing tub and by 8am I was happily in the birthing tub working through the last few hours of labor. Around 9am I began the 'pushing phase' of labor and Allouette arrived at 10:01am on Sunday, February 20th, 2011.

There were a few hick-ups along the way, and unfortunately I have to tell you that all of my pre-birth work on hypno-birthing only took me so far. By the time Allouette was about to make her debut, I could have punched the hypno-birthing author in the face, given the chance. But looking back on it, I am so very thankful we decided to birth at the birthing center and that I took the scary leap into natural childbirth.

I really can't believe that I did it.

Allouette stayed right on my chest until around noon, during these two hours she had her first chance to breastfeed and cuddle. We were eating our celebratory meal around 12:30, the three of us took a little nap and by around 3pm I was up taking a shower and giving Allouette a mini sponge bath. We made it back home around 6pm.

She is one incredible little baby girl. So far she mainly sleeps and then has these moments of perfect clarity where she will just look at you with big blue/grey eyes, it is hard to believe she is only a day old. I keep looking at her, completely in awe that she is actually mine and that we get to keep her.

Photos from her first 24 hours:

 (Three hours after birth)

 (8am Monday morning, not yet a full day old)

(Knocked out after her first pediatrician appointment)

Organized!

This weekend was all about installing shelves. Hooray for my incredibly wonderful husband who battled through uncooperative walls and annoying hinges!

As a result, Allouette's shelf is now in place as well as a few in the guest bedroom to house my art supplies.

Feels good to be organized!

Week 39+

Five more days until this baby is due....Dear Allouette, please come on time, the sooner the better!

Week 38+

Here we are at week 38 plus a few days. I also had my midwife appointment today and everything is right on track. Allouette's heart rate was in the 130s, slowing down as we get to the end. I am measuring 37.5 which is now slightly smaller than I should be, shocking considering how large I am feeling.

Additionally, her nursery is pretty close to being complete for the moment. All we are missing is this little red shutter-shelf that is currently drying prior to being hung up above her crib. I would ideally like to get the carpet in her room cleaned prior to her arrival, but as our time is rather limited, I figure it is not really a priority.

There you have it.

My midwife feels like this little girl could arrive at any time, my dad is guessing the 15th and my mom is guessing the 28th (how rude). I figure she will come when she is ready and I am just hoping it is in the next week or so.

Diaper Bags

Yes, to appease my husband who has been asking me to pack him a diaper bag for a few weeks now, I can officially say that I have now packed two diaper bags. I got a checklist online and hope that I have everything I might need.

Calling all you mothers out there, let me know if there is something I should be packing that isn't currently on my list:

•6 diapers

•Baby wipes
•Plastic baggies for soiled clothing and diapers.

•Extra blankets

•Tissues

•Baby bibs

•Burp cloths
•A hat for sun or cold

•Baby toys, books, rattles, etc.

•Pacifiers

•An extra outfit or two for the baby

Thanks!

Week 37+ a few days...

Here we are at week 37, plus a few days. I am officially considered 'full term' and now able to birth at the birth center as long as this little girl makes her debut before I hit 42 weeks.

Things are definitely moving forward, Allouette is moving down, down, down and my Braxton Hicks are beginning to occur on a regular basis. All in all everything is great and we have absolutely no complaints!

We completed our final series of birthing classes last night and after almost 20 odd classes to prepare for her arrival I am feeling very excited and prepared to tackle whatever may come.

I was reminded on Sunday by an acquaintance at church of what an absolute miracle this little girl is. After spending so much time in 'pregnancy mode' I have forgotten how much we have been blessed. I have forgotten that we were told the chances of having our own baby were less than 1% and here we are, so close to having her in our arms and I am in complete awe at how very blessed we are.

Life is really very incredible.