Week 36.....

The last part of this pregnancy going on and on and on. I had a 35.5 week appointment last week and the babies head is engaged not a typical thing for pregnancy 3. Usually a baby of a "multi" mother (ie the second and subsequent pregnancies) will not engage until the week prior to birth or even when the cervix is dilated. My midwife mentioned that if I has a pushing sensation in my bottom that it was a better idea to ring the ambulance and have the baby on the bathroom floor rather than in the car. I relayed this message to Michael who became white and exclaimed "oh please don't do that!". It is not in my birth plan but I am not too worried about delivering at home.
So with a head neatly tucked into my pelvis I find myself waddling like a duck but on the up side my tummy has dropped a little putting less pressure on my diaphragm. Felix and Matilda are super cute kissing the baby as well as myself and they seem to be really excited about the idea of his/her arrival. I plan to pack my suitcase this week and be ready to go but in the back of my mind I assume that I will be blogging about being pregnant for another 4, 5 or even 6 weeks!

Tummy Bug- 32.5 weeks pregnant

It is not a normal thing to be 32 weeks pregnant and really sick. Our poor baby lived through 24 hours of me vomitting. Each time the involuntary spasism emptied my stomach the baby kick and squirmed as if he/she wanted to escape. Too early baby I would say, you need a few more weeks to cook. I called the hospital and was told that if I did not hold down water for 24 hours ie vomitted one more time I would need to come in for an IV to rehydrate. I didn't panic but the idea of going to hospital certainly gave me a focus "not to vomitt". I have emerged this morning feeling better but now wiped out and very tired. The baby has settled down too- most likely exhused from all the wild sounds and sensations.

I needed to check the calender...............

I am 22 weeks and 1 day pregnant. I keep forgetting and have to check the calender. Thankfully we are half way through the term so my face to face teaching is only for another 5 weeks as I am getting incredibly tired teaching every day till the end of term. I finally seem to be teaching the way I imagined from the beginning, teaching is a learning skill and I have certainly learnt an incredible amount. I am starting to waddle and get tired very quickly. My osteopath has suggested to start swimming so this week while the children are at their swimming lessons I will swim rather than watch them. The baby is head up so my bladder and kidneys get a good kicking 3-4 times daily. Although there is still weeks to go we are starting to get together birth plan #3 and contingency plans for all the possibilities of who, when and where. Felix has expressed that it is time for another boy...

The chickens are girls, Zucchini is a girl and 2 of the guinea pigs are girls. GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS everywhere. We need another boy.

We will just all need to wait and see.

Twins

Off for a routine appointment today at the Birth Center. I mention that I am feeling pretty tired and still sick when I get over tired. The midwife jokes "have we ruled out twins?" I laugh it off "no I am sure I have one baby in there. My blood pressure is perfect. Wonderful I know I will be out of here in 5 minutes. The student midwife measures my fundal height and looks a little confused. The next midwife measures and also looks somewhat bemused. "just hang on a minute I want to get another midwifes opinion.... Great I think something is wrong. " After the 3rd measurement I find out I am measuring 24/25 cm rather than 20 cm. I am 5 weeks bigger than I statistically should be.

I still feel sure there is one baby in there and express this. They have a feel around and don't " feel lots of arms and legs" which is promising but babies can hide and just to make sure they want me to get an ultrasound right away. I smile there I was thinking I wouldn't have an ultrasound this pregnancy and off I was going to get one! At this point I text Michael and mention I am having a scan for twins- He does not laugh but gulp!

I was little nervous waiting for the ultrasound but kept playing over in my head all the reasons why this was a normal one baby pregnancy. Within 10 seconds of the scan my beliefs were confirms- just one baby. A very healthy slightly larger milewski/alexander baby happy floating around in a healthy uterus. Not big enough to change out due date which was fortunate and the measuring 5 weeks over....... My placenta. The amazing organ which is to keep my baby alive and growing is located at the top slight left hand side of the uterus and hence is bulking up my measurements.

I would cope with twins but having one baby at a time is our ideal picture at this stage. Michael and I enjoyed a cafe lunch to celebrate our one healthy baby and discuss names...............

Matilda's Birth Story

On the day I was due (30/7/06) with my second child I waddled off to the acupunturest/ naturopath to start the "induction" processes. I had come so close to being induced with Felix, 2 years prior, that I was taking any chances. My naturopath Chris was great. It was almost relaxing having some fine needles placed into key pressure points around my body. He also prescribed some homeopaths to take if contractions began to help to strengthen them. That night I had some mild contractions but they disapated by morning. Unlike my first pregnancy, I was unable to rest much while running around with 2 year old Felix. To my surprise I had managed to continue to breastfeed throughout the pregnancy. He was having very short feeds and was getting colostrum. I was looking forward to seeing Felix's response to my milk flow when the baby arrived. Each night after my accupunture I got contractions but only a few- each time they started I would get out of bed- unable to sleep for a couple of hours. By the time I was 9 days over due you can imagine I was very tired.

I was preparing breakfast- It is Sunday morning. 8:39am I get a sharp but short contraction- ooohh I remember this pain. The contractions I had been having during the evenings were definately pre-labour- this contraction hurt 8:51am another short and sharp contraction- wow this seems fast only 12 mins apart but it was only 10 sec long. These regular short sharp contractions continue for the next 2 or so hours until 11:30am. I took the dogs, Michael and Felix for a walk and still 10 sec contractions 10 minutes apart. I called the birthing centre- so say I would call them when we wanted to come in.

I called Mum- and asked her to come and spend the rest of the day and night with us- just in case we needed to go to hospital- but I was sure we would be in for a long night!

They continue to be very regular but so short. Mum arrived and we had dinner. Michael took Felix for a walk and they pop off to bed at 8pm. I am in for a busy night so I watch some TV, try to relax. Mum and I have wonderful chats till 10pm. I sat on gym ball and rolled my way through the pain. Just after 10 Mum decided to go to sleep. I can't sleep. I have a few contractions by myself and get a little worried. I don't want to be alone. I want someone to talk too. I want to hold someones hand.

I try to get my husband up- man he is a heavy sleeper. I get him up and Mum too and decide to have a bath. I hop in the bath and in minutes don't want to be in there. We ring the hospital- they say it is up to me. I love the birth centre but hate them at the same time. I want to know when it is time to leave.

Michael and I decided to go- even to just have a check up. My contrations are still 10 sec long 10 minutes apart. I start to get emotional and worry I might never see Felix again. I get mum to promise that she will look after him. I can't decide- Mum and Michael say to go I 'm not sure. We leave home at 23.30. The car trip was fine- we chatted the entire trip- still 10 sec contractions but now 25 min apart- this might be on all night- when will the contrations get longer I kept thinking?

We arrive at the Hospital at 23:50. I feel right- I can have my baby here- I think to myself. 5 contractions and 5 minutes later we arrive at Room 2 at Birthing centre. I announce I need to go to the toilet. Later my midwife said she thought I was in transition when I so boldly announced my requirements. She was right.

It is midnight. Michael goes back to car to get our suitcase and check me in. I try to lye on my back to have some monitoring done. I can can't lye still. I keep jumping to my feet and moving moving moving.
12:05 My midwife suggests I take my pants off. I take all my clothes off and lean over the bed. Michael arrives back in our room. He is taken back- "why is Sarah naked? It is a bit early for that isn't it?"12:08 I let go and push. My birth plan had expressed that I wanted to guild my baby out myself but when asked I say I don't want to. 2 contractions and 2 minutes after beginning to push the waters break and my babies head is out.
12:10 My baby starts talking to me and 2 minutes later at 12:12 on 28th August 2006 my beloved daughter Matilda Jane Milewska is born.

My second natural birth- this time without any gas. The love you feel throughout your body is amazing after a natural birth. Oxytocin pumps through your body at the level you will ever experience- thankfully I could feel it from head to toe. Oxytocin is the love hormone and suffice to say I feel in love with my daughter the moment I heard her talk. I love you Matilda. Happy Birthday.