One Month Stats...

Disclaimer: Sorry Grandmas, no pictures!!

Lauren had her one month well baby check-up today. It was supposed to be next week but we had to move it up after a little thrush scare. I mentioned before that I have been having some major issues with breastfeeding. I became extremely sore after returning from the hospital and things did not improve and kept getting worse. We started seeing a lactation consultant and it was determined that my cracks and sores had turned into a nasty yeast infection. I know that sounds disgusting but it is very common when someone has severe sores where natural yeast from your body can harvest. Anyways...since I have yeast infection in my breasts, it is common from the baby to get it in the mouth (called thrush). Thankfully Lauren did not get it and is still healthy.

Tonight we got to try out the Supplemental Nursing System at our lactation appt. For those that aren't aware, instead of giving the baby a bottle of expressed milk as a supplement, you can attach this tube like thing to your breast with the expressed milk in it so they are still practicing their latch but receiving a little more milk. The system worked great and we are very excited to get to use it in the future instead of bottles since she was sucking them down way to quickly.

This past few days she has been rather fussy and wanting to feed all the time which isn't fun when you have company over. Well, she must have been going through a growth spurt because she went from 7lbs. 11oz. on Sunday to 8lbs. 0.4 ozs. today (that is about 5 ounces in two days). Normal weight gain in 1 ounce per day. Yea Lauren!! We know these measurements are correct because it was the same scale and a naked weight each time. This is pretty exciting for me because she can fit into some of the baby carriers that I have that have a minimum weight of 8lbs. She was around the 35% on weight, 50% on head circumference, and 70% in length.

We go back in one month for her two month check-up!

Weekend of Visitors

This weekend we had a few visitors. My friend Lauren came to visit us on Friday and Bethany and Josh were here Saturday and Sunday. Here is a cute picture while having some burping time with Dad. She likes to sit like this and hold her head up! Look at that little tummy sticking out.


Lauren Page...meet Lauren Paige! We have always liked the name Lauren and it made our choice easier since we have a great friend named Lauren and another great friend named Kelsey Lauren. When trying to decide on a middle name, we tossed around a few family names and Elizabeth and then decided on Paige (the same last name as our friend Lauren).

Take 1...Little Lauren wanted to look out the window

Take 2...Little Lauren trying to jump away
For some reason I completely forgot to take pictures while Bethany and Josh were here, opps!

3 Weeks Old!!!

She is as big as the lovie now!!!...tear, tear

I can't believe she is already 3 weeks old. Last night she only woke up at 11:30pm, 3:30am, and then 7:30am. At her 3:30am feeding I just stared at her thinking that she was growing up in front of my eyes. I don't really like nighttime feedings but it is time that I have with her without any distractions back in her room where we can snuggle together, so I am going to miss them as she gets older. It must mean that she is finally getting enough milk at each feedings because in the past she was getting up about every hour or two to feed. Earlier this week I started taking an herbal supplement called fenugreek that is supposed to increase your supply so it must be doing it's job!!
Earlier this week we went for a little stroll on the Riverwalk here in town and sat by the fountain for a little while watching the older kids play around in the water. In just a few years I am sure we will be chasing Lauren around trying to make sure that she doesn't fall in.

And one more picture...here is our little burrito. Sometimes she gets fussy at night and swings her arms and legs which are hard to wrestle with when I am tired...but swaddling seems to do the trick and she sleeps great afterward.

My Thoughts on Labor

The tub

I said that I would post about my thoughts regarding my labor and birth but am just getting around to doing it now. Going into labor, I had every intention to try and have a natural labor and delivery with no interventions at all. I just couldn't believe it when my water broke after laying down to go to bed and was in denial probably the entire night that my water had actually broke thinking that maybe I just had an accident (haha). With my water breaking around 10pm and feeling no contractions at all by 8am, I knew that I would have to be induced. When your water breaks, most practitioners want to have the baby out in the next 24 hours to reduce the chance of infection. I was induced at 11am the next morning and was just fine with it considering that I was having no contractions and didn't want to have a c-section because things weren't progressing.

By noon, my contractions were pretty consistent and I was already starting to lightly breathe through them. I found a position that worked sitting cross-leg and then rocking back and forth side to side when the contractions were intense. I pretty much sat like this all day with my eyes closed not talking to anyone (poor Kyle and my mom were just sitting there). Around 5 or 6pm (I think) I was checked and just at 5 centimeters which meant that I could get into the tub. I was really excited thinking that this would help relieve some of the pressure since it was so beneficial when I was having braxton hicks at home. I was definitely wrong though and I hated the tub!! I couldn't find a comfortable position and I kept floating to the top which made it hard during contractions. After about thirty minutes, I wanted out! I tried the birthing ball, different positions on the bed, walking to the bathroom and back, sitting on the toilet, standing up, but nothing worked except sitting cross-leg and rocking side to side.

After the tub, I was so exhausted and started to fall asleep between contractions. The midwife told me in one of my appointments that the main reason people get an epidural is because of fatigue and that is definitely what happened. Around 8pm, I told Kyle and my mom that I couldn't stand the contractions anymore and wanted some relief. I think that they were a little shocked that I said that but I had been contemplating it for some time before bringing it up to them. Of course they thought that I wasn't serious and didn't want me to be mad at them later so they kept asking if I was sure. I reassured them that I would not be mad at them. The nurses called the midwife in and she said that she would check me first and then talk about our options. I was only dilated to 6 centimeters which was not as far along as everyone thought that I would be. The midwife said that if I was an 8 she would have persuaded me not to have the epidural but since I was only 6 and feeling so tired she agreed that maybe it was a good idea in order to have enough energy to push. I forgot to mention that Lauren was kicking the contraction and heart rate monitor off my stomach the entire time so nurses were constantly in the room holding my monitors in place which didn't help with getting rest. The epidural didn't hurt at all but it was rough since I had a big contraction while they were putting it in place and you aren't allowed to move at all. Once the epidural was in place, it was instant relief which was amazing! Kyle and my mom came back into the room and I was a whole new person. I actually talked to the nurses and felt good, more like myself. Around 1am, the midwife came back in to check me and I was ready to go. It was difficult to push since I had no sensation and no idea where to direct the pressure of my pushes which could have contributed to a long pushing time (2 hours). Probably the last half an hour of pushing I had sensation back and was able to direct more of my pushing. I found the best positions with the squatting bar. Pushing really wore me out and often I would find myself pretending that I wasn't having a contraction so I could just rest instead of push. Also, after not eating and sleeping for so long, I felt really sick and was throwing up during labor and pushing. I kept telling Kyle that I felt intoxicated and dizzy.

Needless to say, I don't regret any decisions that were made about the induction (midwife choice) or epidural (my choice). I think without the epidural, I would not have had the energy to push. I am glad that I was able to go beyond the 24-hour window after my water had broke and ultimately glad that I did not have to have a c-section. Knowing what the epidural feels like now, I think that it might be difficult to not have another one in the future, especially now that I know how sleep-deprived you get!

To all you mommas out there: do what you need to do to manage the pain and don't feel guilty about it or let anyone else make you feel guilty about it!

Fun Giveaway!

Be sure to check out a giveaway I have going on over at my other blog: Suburban Saving Mama for Earth Baby Organics products. There will be two winners!!!

These products are great for babies and children with sensitive skin because they are hypoallergenic and organic.

2 weeks old!!

Today is my due date...I guess Lauren wanted to come a little earlier! Yesterday she turned two weeks old. Breastfeeding has been a little rough and earlier this week we went to a Lactation Consultant in town to get some things figured out. Lauren had been really fussy and never fully satisfied after her feedings so we learned some new techniques to get a better latch and increase my milk supply. Now we have to pump after all the daytime feedings and then give her the expressed milk if she is still not satisfied. Things must been working great with the plan because she only gained one ounce in her first week of life and then five ounces in her second week. That puts her at 6lbs. 14ozs., almost back to her birth weight of 6lbs. 15oz. Grow baby grow!! Here is our week in pictures:

My two week picture

Grandpa Larry came to visit

I hate baths but Daddy snuggles with me afterward which makes it all better (note the monkey towel courtesy of Grandma Cindy of course).
I found my thumb for a little bit but haven't been able to find it since then
This is my poop face.
Daddy fed me a bottle and I like to lay on his arm like thisGrandma Cindy left on Thursday after staying for two weeks

One Week Old!

I can't believe that Lauren turned one week old yesterday! Our little baby is growing up too fast; it is definitely bittersweet as we can't wait for her to be a little more alert during the day. We decided to take her picture next to her little lovie each week to track her growing progress. She is yawning in this picture, not crying!
Here is her gas smile, we are curious to see if this is how she will actually smile.

Some of our friends from our old small group came over and spoiled Lauren with gifts (a Moby Wrap and a cute little outfit (the same one in her week old photo)). She loves sleeping in the wrap and keeps her mouth wide open. She is definitely a mover and a shaker, always flailing her arms around and kicking those long legs. I should have known from how active she was in-utero. Kyle thinks that she is starting to look more like him so I have decided to have a little photo-guessing contest coming up, so be sure to participate!!

Daddy's Little Girl

Today is Kyle's first day back at work and things are definitely different around here. Daddy and Lauren are attached at the hip and he has the touch when she is crying. I wasn't sure how he would respond to being a Dad but knew he would be great. He definitely exceeded my expectations and changes the majority of diapers and burps her the best!! Not only is he a great dad but a great husband. I had been talking about Edible Arrangements the entire pregnancy and sure enough a REALLY DELICIOUS one was delivered to our house on Monday.

We love you Daddy!!!Lauren had her first appt. on Tuesday. She now weighs 6lbs. 8 oz. which is up two ounces from her discharge weight (6lbs. 6oz.). She is so tiny still! Can't wait until some of her clothes actually fit.

My Beautiful Bow

Dear Andy, Stacy, and Alaina,
Thank you for the beautiful bow!!! Please come back and visit soon.

(Her infamous pout! We love this little baby girl!)

Love,
Little Lauren

Baby Rouse is Here!!!!

I should have known from my urgent nesting/baking extravaganza and recent position change! On Wednesday night about twenty minutes after laying down for bed my water broke. I wasn't exactly sure that my water had broke so I got up and called my mom and the midwife. Of course, my mom decided that it was time for her to start making the commute to Illinois (at 10:30pm). The midwife suggested that I lay back down and go to bed since I was not having any contractions and call her when they started or by 8am if they had not. Of course, I could not fall asleep at all and laid in bed the entire night wide awake. We called the midwife back at 6am and she suggested starting to drive into the city since I was not contracting at all and statistics show that if you don't start contracting six hours after your water has broke, it is not going to happen on its own. We made it to triage around 9:30am and verified that my water had broke. At 11:00am (14 hours after rupture) I was induced with Pitocin and contractions started shortly after. I soon realized how important sleeping the night prior would have been!! Rocking back and forth really helped with the contractions and when I reached 5 centimeters, I was allowed to hop in the tub. I was not a huge fan and only stayed in for about 30 minutes. The water wasn't warm enough and I was soon freezing and shaking. Unfortunately it also didn't help with progressing and I only dilated one centimeter in about four hours. After not sleeping for around 30 hours and not being allowed to eat all day, I requested an epidural around 9:00pm on Thursday night. The midwife agreed that it was probably a good idea since I had been in induced labor for about nine hours and only progressed to six centimeters. The also really want to see you deliver within 24 hours of your water breaking in order to prevent infection. Oh man, that epidural was AMAZING!!! I was finally able to relax and just lay there instead of swaying back and forth in a coma-like state. I quickly progressed to being 100% effaced and 10 centimeters dilated and was able to start pushing around 1:30am. At 3:42 am, Baby Rouse was welcomed into the world, 30 hours after my water breaking!!!

Introducing...

LAUREN PAIGE ROUSE
6 lbs. 15 oz, 2o.5 inches long
Born at 3:42am on Sept. 4th, 2009 at 37 weeks, 6 days
More pictures, my thoughts on labor, and being a mommy later!!

Position Change and 37 week 4 day Picture

Last night I felt a lot of pressure and movement really low so I laid on my back to feel if the baby had moved at all. It feels like the butt is now sticking straight up instead of against my back which is a good sign. Kyle actually felt and said, "I think the baby isn't 'sunny side up' anymore." Yea, my husband actually knows!!

Here is a baby in the 'sunny side up' or occipital posterior position. Usually if a baby is like this it will automatically turn during labor as the head descends but sometimes they are delivered this way. It makes for a longer labor since the head has a harder time working its way through the pelvis.
And...here is the a baby in the occipital anterior position (what we think baby moved to). It could easily move back and forth between now and then but we would be perfectly happy with it staying like this!

We should find out more tomorrow at our 38 week appt. I am contemplating asking to get checked but doubt that I actually will since it isn't the most pleasant experience in the world and sometimes it can induce labor or introduce bacteria up there. Can you see my stretch marks??..boo hoo!

Dear Baby Rouse,

Your lease is officially up this month! Unfortunately, you can not renew it so you need to vacate the premises by the end of the month...preferably 09/09/09 because then daddy would never forget your birthday. Don't worry, you have a nice little room to live in filled with tons of monkeys (thanks to your Grandma Cindy). Please come soon, your mom is getting bored and has sore ribs!