26th February 2012.
Today I learned to reach for a toy on my activity mat - it is a penguin which is my favourite, I am still not all that bothered by coloured toys but I am very enthralled by the black and white penguin and by a black and white dog my Auntie-K bought me.
Other than that I mainly just ate all day (from Mummy's boobies.)
Monday, 27 February 2012
Saturday, 25 February 2012
24th February 2012.
Last night I decided to show Mummy that I do actually know how to breastfeed and spent all night attached to her boob - for some reason by 7am she was quite grumpy, can't imagine why!
Anyway because my eye was looking even stickier so the doctor was more important and because I quite obviously didn't need it, Mummy rang the breastfeeding clinic and cancelled our appointment but asked the councellor if we can go in a few weeks to wean me off the shields and on to the nipple.
We went to see Dr. Mackey (that is not her real name but she looks like a Chinese Mr. Mackey out of Southpark and finishes every sentence with "Mmmkay?") and she said my eye is to do with a drainage problem which will sort it's self out and Mummy is to keep on washing my eye with boiled water and squirting breast milk into it - oh the wonders of modern medicine.
Next Mummy went to see a lady and pick up some "real" nappies which we are hiring for the 1st couple of months. Then when we were meant to be at the clinic, Daddy took us to Brewsters for our lunch. We sat in the back bit with all the other screaming children and Mummy and Daddy commented that last time they were there things were very different - that was the day they went for lunch (at the front grown-ups bit!) while waiting for Mummy's results and when they got back to the hospital they refused to let Mummy leave again until I got here. While we were in the restaurant Mummy fed me properly, no problem other than it took me about an hour to finish and all Mummy could eat was the chips and salad, by the time she thought to ask Daddy to cut up her chicken for her she'd filled up on chips so left all her protein and then an hour later was stuffing herself with kingsized snickers bars ... I'll teach her to judge other Mummies who don't get their pre-baby bodies back straight away!!!
In the evening Mummy did something terrible, she got Daddy to feed me a formula bottle before bed just so I'd sleep better!!! Personally I think she should have had a drink of wine and given me breast milk but she said it would for some reason be less frowned upon to feed me sugary cows milk than natural alcoholic Mummy-milk and besides she wanted to get a few bottles ahead in the fridge again so she forwent the wine and pumped her boobies with her new machine which actually takes less time for both boobies than it does for Daddy to make and feed me my bottle.
I had a bath with Mummy in the big bath today and really enjoyed it! Mummy said I can just have all my baths with her now for an easy life and we'll try me in my own bath again once I can hold my own head up.
Last night I decided to show Mummy that I do actually know how to breastfeed and spent all night attached to her boob - for some reason by 7am she was quite grumpy, can't imagine why!
Anyway because my eye was looking even stickier so the doctor was more important and because I quite obviously didn't need it, Mummy rang the breastfeeding clinic and cancelled our appointment but asked the councellor if we can go in a few weeks to wean me off the shields and on to the nipple.
We went to see Dr. Mackey (that is not her real name but she looks like a Chinese Mr. Mackey out of Southpark and finishes every sentence with "Mmmkay?") and she said my eye is to do with a drainage problem which will sort it's self out and Mummy is to keep on washing my eye with boiled water and squirting breast milk into it - oh the wonders of modern medicine.
Next Mummy went to see a lady and pick up some "real" nappies which we are hiring for the 1st couple of months. Then when we were meant to be at the clinic, Daddy took us to Brewsters for our lunch. We sat in the back bit with all the other screaming children and Mummy and Daddy commented that last time they were there things were very different - that was the day they went for lunch (at the front grown-ups bit!) while waiting for Mummy's results and when they got back to the hospital they refused to let Mummy leave again until I got here. While we were in the restaurant Mummy fed me properly, no problem other than it took me about an hour to finish and all Mummy could eat was the chips and salad, by the time she thought to ask Daddy to cut up her chicken for her she'd filled up on chips so left all her protein and then an hour later was stuffing herself with kingsized snickers bars ... I'll teach her to judge other Mummies who don't get their pre-baby bodies back straight away!!!
In the evening Mummy did something terrible, she got Daddy to feed me a formula bottle before bed just so I'd sleep better!!! Personally I think she should have had a drink of wine and given me breast milk but she said it would for some reason be less frowned upon to feed me sugary cows milk than natural alcoholic Mummy-milk and besides she wanted to get a few bottles ahead in the fridge again so she forwent the wine and pumped her boobies with her new machine which actually takes less time for both boobies than it does for Daddy to make and feed me my bottle.
I had a bath with Mummy in the big bath today and really enjoyed it! Mummy said I can just have all my baths with her now for an easy life and we'll try me in my own bath again once I can hold my own head up.
Thursday, 23 February 2012
23rd February 2012.
Today Mummy was finally feeling better so we started the day with a nice long walk, well Mummy said it was nothing compared to before I got inside her tummy but it was 2 miles and certainly the longest she'd ever taken me before.
In the afternoon we went to town and bough the nipple shields Mummy had read about as well as some special bottles which were really expensive (£15 each!!!) but are apparently the only bottle scientifically proven to mimic breastfeeding. I tried them out when we got home and mastered them straight away, Mummy was very impressed because she thought I'd struggle, silly Mummy, I don't struggle with breastfeeding either, I just get frustrated very quickly!
We also spent a lot of money on other things too today, Mummy bought me a new buggy which was £100 but it fits in the boot of the car, will shut Daddy up complaining that my other one is too big and meant Mummy and Daddy were able to walk a lot further today than normal as usually they have to carry me - this is just as well because Daddy had to take the car in for a new tyre and the tracking today so we had to walk from the garage which is a long way from the city.
Finally they bought me a baby gym with animals on - Mummy said she isn't going to spend any more money on me now (apart from the special mirrors so she can see me in my car seat!) because she's not actually sure how she'll pay the rent in 2 weeks, she's just hoping by putting a load of stuff on Ebay tomorrow (including the too big buggy) she'll make enough to scrape by otherwise she might have to ask Nanna for a loan which would be a little embarrassing as Mummy is supposed to be the "grown-up and responsible" one of Nanna's daughters! Anyway the gym was very expensive but Mummy said she's not bought it, it has come out of the money lots of nice people such as my Great-Nanna, Grandma's friends, our next-door neighbour and Nanna's auntie have given me ... I must remind her to write thank you letters for me tomorrow!
When we got home Mummy's pump was waiting for her - 3 days later than expected!!! - she got it all cleaned and sterilised and then used it while Daddy fed me from my fancy new bottles, she said she was very impressed as it only took her 15 minutes to empty both boobs but they were so sore afterwards she had to take paracetamol, Mummy never normally takes tablets! We won't be trying out the new breast shields tonight but it doesn't matter as I have my new bottles and Mummy has managed to get 3 feeds ahead so there is plenty of breast milk in the fridge.
Unfortunately Daddy is in bed already in the spare room, he has a cold coming on. Mummy seems very selfish as she's more worried that I or she will catch it and has hardly given any sympathy to poor Daddy.
Mummy and Nanna had a disagreement tonight, Mummy doesn't like it when people plaster their kids all over Facebook so just put up one picture to show I have arrived and am beautiful, Nanna says that it looks like Mummy is not proud of me. Mummy tried to explain I am a person not an accessory but I don't think Nanna was listening!
Mummy is going to try and get me a doctor's appointment tomorrow as my sticky eye is still no better or might even be worse. We've tried boiled water and breast milk for over a week now, time to turn to the antibiotic drops we think. Also I make funny noises when I sleep, it might just be a weird snore but Mummy would like the doctor to listen to my chest just in case.
Anyway we have another long day tomorrow and as I am back exclusively on breast milk I'll probably have to wake for 2 midnight snacks tonight so I'd better get off to bed.
Today Mummy was finally feeling better so we started the day with a nice long walk, well Mummy said it was nothing compared to before I got inside her tummy but it was 2 miles and certainly the longest she'd ever taken me before.
In the afternoon we went to town and bough the nipple shields Mummy had read about as well as some special bottles which were really expensive (£15 each!!!) but are apparently the only bottle scientifically proven to mimic breastfeeding. I tried them out when we got home and mastered them straight away, Mummy was very impressed because she thought I'd struggle, silly Mummy, I don't struggle with breastfeeding either, I just get frustrated very quickly!
We also spent a lot of money on other things too today, Mummy bought me a new buggy which was £100 but it fits in the boot of the car, will shut Daddy up complaining that my other one is too big and meant Mummy and Daddy were able to walk a lot further today than normal as usually they have to carry me - this is just as well because Daddy had to take the car in for a new tyre and the tracking today so we had to walk from the garage which is a long way from the city.
Finally they bought me a baby gym with animals on - Mummy said she isn't going to spend any more money on me now (apart from the special mirrors so she can see me in my car seat!) because she's not actually sure how she'll pay the rent in 2 weeks, she's just hoping by putting a load of stuff on Ebay tomorrow (including the too big buggy) she'll make enough to scrape by otherwise she might have to ask Nanna for a loan which would be a little embarrassing as Mummy is supposed to be the "grown-up and responsible" one of Nanna's daughters! Anyway the gym was very expensive but Mummy said she's not bought it, it has come out of the money lots of nice people such as my Great-Nanna, Grandma's friends, our next-door neighbour and Nanna's auntie have given me ... I must remind her to write thank you letters for me tomorrow!
When we got home Mummy's pump was waiting for her - 3 days later than expected!!! - she got it all cleaned and sterilised and then used it while Daddy fed me from my fancy new bottles, she said she was very impressed as it only took her 15 minutes to empty both boobs but they were so sore afterwards she had to take paracetamol, Mummy never normally takes tablets! We won't be trying out the new breast shields tonight but it doesn't matter as I have my new bottles and Mummy has managed to get 3 feeds ahead so there is plenty of breast milk in the fridge.
Unfortunately Daddy is in bed already in the spare room, he has a cold coming on. Mummy seems very selfish as she's more worried that I or she will catch it and has hardly given any sympathy to poor Daddy.
Mummy and Nanna had a disagreement tonight, Mummy doesn't like it when people plaster their kids all over Facebook so just put up one picture to show I have arrived and am beautiful, Nanna says that it looks like Mummy is not proud of me. Mummy tried to explain I am a person not an accessory but I don't think Nanna was listening!
Mummy is going to try and get me a doctor's appointment tomorrow as my sticky eye is still no better or might even be worse. We've tried boiled water and breast milk for over a week now, time to turn to the antibiotic drops we think. Also I make funny noises when I sleep, it might just be a weird snore but Mummy would like the doctor to listen to my chest just in case.
Anyway we have another long day tomorrow and as I am back exclusively on breast milk I'll probably have to wake for 2 midnight snacks tonight so I'd better get off to bed.
21st February 2012.
This morning the breast feeding midwife came and with the help of nipple shields got me feeding!!! Mummy was so proud of me, but unfortunately the nipple shields are a little bit too big for my mouth so I have chewed Mummy's nipples to bits and am mixing my breast feeds with bottle feeds of Mummy's milk. We have a breast-feeding clinic to go to on Friday and Mummy says with the help of some new nipple shields (Medela, these will be the 3rd brand she has bought) and the clinic we'll crack it before Daddy goes back to work on Saturday.
In the afternoon we went to the city and registered me, so I am now an official person!
Mummy's new pumping machine is still not here, she's getting quite cross!!!
This morning the breast feeding midwife came and with the help of nipple shields got me feeding!!! Mummy was so proud of me, but unfortunately the nipple shields are a little bit too big for my mouth so I have chewed Mummy's nipples to bits and am mixing my breast feeds with bottle feeds of Mummy's milk. We have a breast-feeding clinic to go to on Friday and Mummy says with the help of some new nipple shields (Medela, these will be the 3rd brand she has bought) and the clinic we'll crack it before Daddy goes back to work on Saturday.
In the afternoon we went to the city and registered me, so I am now an official person!
Mummy's new pumping machine is still not here, she's getting quite cross!!!
Sunday, 19 February 2012
19th February 2012
Today I escaped death by an inch!!! Seriously I did, the big mirror in the sitting room fell off the wall where it has hung for the past 3 and a half years, it landed against my crib which luckily wasn't in it's usual place (if it had been in it's usual place the mirror would have landed on my head.) I got wobbled slightly and the moses basket moved but luckily the stand didn't fall over and I didn't get any glass on me.
I didn't even wake up but Mummy said she'd never been so scared in her whole life.
We went for a little walk in the snow in my pram today -.of course I slept the whole time, well I was just so cozy and I love the bumpy ride.
Also Mummy and Daddy have noticed that all the fat bits I was born with such as my double chins have filled out again and are now actually looking rather podgy so Mummy has said I have had my last formula feed and from now on it's breast milk or nothing. Personally I think she's making a rod for her own back and I have decided to up my intake of breast milk - Mummy's boobies are just about keeping up but all I can say is it's a good job she's got the new milking machine coming tomorrow!!!
Mummy watched her breast feeding DVDs today but they just made her cry because she felt sad and cheated when she saw the other babies getting skin to skin as soon as they were born and she said we'd not have the problems we have if we'd had that time together. Also they didn't teach her anything because she knows the technique she just doesn't know how to make me want to take the breast - it's quite simple though, I just prefer a nice big bottle teat!
Daddy was in a much better mood today, despite Mummy sleeping through my shouts again last night, she's either completely knackered or a bit of a slacker! I think Mummy should get an afternoon nap in order to be a better Mummy at night but I don't know when she'll get the time what with all the milk pumping she is doing at the moment.
Anyway, I'd better go coz Mummy has to pump her boobs again but 1st she needs to give me another bottle she prepared earlier.
18th February 2012.
Last night Mummy slept through my cries and Daddy got up and looked after me, I didn't make him stay up as long as usual but we were still awake between about 2 and 4am and then again a little later for a bit.
Unfortunately that meant Daddy slept until 2pm so I only had Mummy to keep me company and she wasn't all that much fun as she was plugged into her milking machine all the time. When Daddy got up he was very grumpy, I think my fat Mummy and the lack of sleep have got to him.
I had my 1st ever bath today, it lasted less than 10 minutes from start to finish and I screamed the whole way through - I liked having my hair washed but once they unwrapped me from my cozy towel I let them know I was not happy about the situation. I'll put some pictures up when Mummy works out how to get them off Daddy's camera and on to her laptop.
Last night Mummy slept through my cries and Daddy got up and looked after me, I didn't make him stay up as long as usual but we were still awake between about 2 and 4am and then again a little later for a bit.
Unfortunately that meant Daddy slept until 2pm so I only had Mummy to keep me company and she wasn't all that much fun as she was plugged into her milking machine all the time. When Daddy got up he was very grumpy, I think my fat Mummy and the lack of sleep have got to him.
I had my 1st ever bath today, it lasted less than 10 minutes from start to finish and I screamed the whole way through - I liked having my hair washed but once they unwrapped me from my cozy towel I let them know I was not happy about the situation. I'll put some pictures up when Mummy works out how to get them off Daddy's camera and on to her laptop.
Friday, 17 February 2012
17th February 2012.
Last night I went to bed at about half 1 and woke at about 4am and Daddy was in charge of feeding me and doing my nappy and Mummy was supposed to express milk for me but she kept falling asleep on the job! She had tidied the house and put some washing out after Daddy and I went to bed though then pumped even more milk while reading breast pump reviews on line.
Last night I only had Mummy's milk but in the morning I had one formula feed but Mummy wasn't too sad as she said we are getting there. Also I don't like formula as much as Mummy's milk which makes her feel very happy, however I am now refusing point blank to suckle, what is the point? I nuzzle Mummy's boobies but when I try and suck I remember what hard work they are compared to the bottle and give up straight away. Mummy is still putting me on her boobs every feed anyway, we're at a bit of a stalemate Mummy says she won't give up but I'm not so sure!
When the midwife came she was very happy that I have put on more weight and look healthy, Daddy says he can see how I am filling out now. We are going to have a whole weekend as a family with no midwife visits til Monday or possibly even Tuesday now as I am doing so well. The midwife said she was cross with Mummy for getting pre-eclampsia as she was now on call for 9 days solid because she was meant to be at my birth which Mummy had argued and argued for it to be at home, she was only joking though and said she'd be having a drink of wine to celebrate me being healthy and here.
Unfortunately Mummy has some muscle damage to her stomach and her uterus isn't doing exactly what it should so she can't be signed off from the midwife just yet but the bleeding has finally started to reduce and the pain isn't nearly as bad as it was. It is very unlikely we'll be sent back to hospital now.
The midwife has booked Mummy and me into a special class next week at the hospital where they will try and get me to feed directly from Mummy, however she says she can't cope with the pump she has at the moment for that long and has bought a very expensive one from Ebay, this is a top of the range double pump which retails for £299 - Mummy got it for £114.50 so she is very happy and has been told it is coming on Monday. She keeps saying "Only 3 more days to go!" She is also drinking fennel tea which the bossy midwife told her to get and sweetheart stout which the Evil-Midwife (who is really lovely) told her to get - both are disgusting but apparently I am worth it and she will be spouting like a shower head if she has a cup of each every night. If she really does let down that fast I might consider taking the boob after all.
Daddy is doing all the housework and cooking after being out shopping and going to the gym in the city all day - all Mummy has done is write my diary and look at me and play with me ... oh and pump milk out which I guzzle as fast as she pumps.
Last night I went to bed at about half 1 and woke at about 4am and Daddy was in charge of feeding me and doing my nappy and Mummy was supposed to express milk for me but she kept falling asleep on the job! She had tidied the house and put some washing out after Daddy and I went to bed though then pumped even more milk while reading breast pump reviews on line.
Last night I only had Mummy's milk but in the morning I had one formula feed but Mummy wasn't too sad as she said we are getting there. Also I don't like formula as much as Mummy's milk which makes her feel very happy, however I am now refusing point blank to suckle, what is the point? I nuzzle Mummy's boobies but when I try and suck I remember what hard work they are compared to the bottle and give up straight away. Mummy is still putting me on her boobs every feed anyway, we're at a bit of a stalemate Mummy says she won't give up but I'm not so sure!
When the midwife came she was very happy that I have put on more weight and look healthy, Daddy says he can see how I am filling out now. We are going to have a whole weekend as a family with no midwife visits til Monday or possibly even Tuesday now as I am doing so well. The midwife said she was cross with Mummy for getting pre-eclampsia as she was now on call for 9 days solid because she was meant to be at my birth which Mummy had argued and argued for it to be at home, she was only joking though and said she'd be having a drink of wine to celebrate me being healthy and here.
Unfortunately Mummy has some muscle damage to her stomach and her uterus isn't doing exactly what it should so she can't be signed off from the midwife just yet but the bleeding has finally started to reduce and the pain isn't nearly as bad as it was. It is very unlikely we'll be sent back to hospital now.
The midwife has booked Mummy and me into a special class next week at the hospital where they will try and get me to feed directly from Mummy, however she says she can't cope with the pump she has at the moment for that long and has bought a very expensive one from Ebay, this is a top of the range double pump which retails for £299 - Mummy got it for £114.50 so she is very happy and has been told it is coming on Monday. She keeps saying "Only 3 more days to go!" She is also drinking fennel tea which the bossy midwife told her to get and sweetheart stout which the Evil-Midwife (who is really lovely) told her to get - both are disgusting but apparently I am worth it and she will be spouting like a shower head if she has a cup of each every night. If she really does let down that fast I might consider taking the boob after all.
Daddy is doing all the housework and cooking after being out shopping and going to the gym in the city all day - all Mummy has done is write my diary and look at me and play with me ... oh and pump milk out which I guzzle as fast as she pumps.
16th February 2012.
Today is my due date apparently - I don't know what this means but Mummy said that perhaps she'd better tell people I am here now, I have been kept a secret from all but the most important people until today because of Mummy being so tired.
I woke everyone at 7.30 today after 3 and a half hours sleep, Daddy looked wrecked but Mummy kept saying "Thank you" and telling me what a good boy I am, maybe I'll try sleeping at night time again some time.
We have no midwives visiting today, it is our very 1st day together as a proper family with no commitments - Mummy and Daddy seem very pleased about this.
We went for a short walk in my pram, Mummy said she'd been looking forward to it for 8 months, since I was the size of an apple pip. Afterwards we went to visit Mummy's boss who'd bought me a new outfit and a bouncy chair. There was also some gorgeous dungarees hanging on the door today from the landlords and even the postman congratulated Mummy on my arrival.
The rest of the day was spent with Daddy or in my moses basket because Mummy was determined to feed me only her milk and spent almost all day plugged into her pump. In the end Daddy did have to make me one formula bottle but other than that Mummy did it all herself, I was pleased as I don't sick up Mummy's milk.
We stayed up quite late again and I went straight to sleep in my own bed.
Today is my due date apparently - I don't know what this means but Mummy said that perhaps she'd better tell people I am here now, I have been kept a secret from all but the most important people until today because of Mummy being so tired.
I woke everyone at 7.30 today after 3 and a half hours sleep, Daddy looked wrecked but Mummy kept saying "Thank you" and telling me what a good boy I am, maybe I'll try sleeping at night time again some time.
We have no midwives visiting today, it is our very 1st day together as a proper family with no commitments - Mummy and Daddy seem very pleased about this.
We went for a short walk in my pram, Mummy said she'd been looking forward to it for 8 months, since I was the size of an apple pip. Afterwards we went to visit Mummy's boss who'd bought me a new outfit and a bouncy chair. There was also some gorgeous dungarees hanging on the door today from the landlords and even the postman congratulated Mummy on my arrival.
The rest of the day was spent with Daddy or in my moses basket because Mummy was determined to feed me only her milk and spent almost all day plugged into her pump. In the end Daddy did have to make me one formula bottle but other than that Mummy did it all herself, I was pleased as I don't sick up Mummy's milk.
We stayed up quite late again and I went straight to sleep in my own bed.
15th February 2012.
Today Mummy says Evil-Midwife is coming to see us, but her name is actually very misleading and Mummy likes Evil-Midwife best of all, Mummy says she tells the truth and Mummy will do what she says because she trusts her.
I decided to sleep at 7am this morning so Mummy slept with me in her arms for an hour before getting up and starting to pump milk again, when Daddy got up she shouted at him and blamed him for her being so poorly (he didn't learn the things she'd told him so she wouldn't have to give birth on her back which caused all the damage and hence blood loss.) The thing is she knows it takes a very strong person to stand up against healthcare people when they are threatening that if you don't do things their way your wife and child might die, I think it was really the fact she has still not had more than 2 hours sleep in a row for 9 days.
Evil-Midwife let herself into the house while Mummy was crying her eyes out and trying to pump her empty boobs, she gave Mummy a cuddle and asked what was wrong. Mummy said she felt guilty for feeding me nasty sugary cows milk and that she was worried about me so E-M said she'd weigh me 1st to set Mummy's mind at ease.
I had put on 145g since yesterday!!! E-M said I was a fat piggy and I didn't need all that formula any more, just a little top up now and then until Mummy was making enough milk of her own.
E-M didn't touch me once, she even let Mummy put me on the scales which Mummy said was very important. She didn't tell Mummy what to do, just asked where we needed help and then gave it to us, she used a dolly to help show how to feed so Mummy could copy, everyone else pulls me around by my head! However I didn't feel like a drink so did my evil leprechaun impression instead of latching on.
Mummy is no longer calling me a stinky-stump-a-saurus as my umbilical cord finally fell off today, now she calls me her little hobgoblin which Daddy says is cruel but I like it, that's why I pull my leprechaun face!
In the afternoon Daddy made Mummy go to bed and he looked after me, when she came downstairs again she seemed a lot happier and pinker than since Nanna and Granddad were here.
Mummy and Daddy decided to try staying up very late with me, they played trivial pursuits for the 1st time since the night they made me and drank champagne - but they didn't try and make a baby this time! I thought this was a great idea and so I woke up early just before midnight and I was asleep before 4am. I slept in my own bed for the 1st time at night, normally I only go in there in the afternoon and demand to be cuddled all night but I am feeling safer now and can see Mummy right next to me.
Today Mummy says Evil-Midwife is coming to see us, but her name is actually very misleading and Mummy likes Evil-Midwife best of all, Mummy says she tells the truth and Mummy will do what she says because she trusts her.
I decided to sleep at 7am this morning so Mummy slept with me in her arms for an hour before getting up and starting to pump milk again, when Daddy got up she shouted at him and blamed him for her being so poorly (he didn't learn the things she'd told him so she wouldn't have to give birth on her back which caused all the damage and hence blood loss.) The thing is she knows it takes a very strong person to stand up against healthcare people when they are threatening that if you don't do things their way your wife and child might die, I think it was really the fact she has still not had more than 2 hours sleep in a row for 9 days.
Evil-Midwife let herself into the house while Mummy was crying her eyes out and trying to pump her empty boobs, she gave Mummy a cuddle and asked what was wrong. Mummy said she felt guilty for feeding me nasty sugary cows milk and that she was worried about me so E-M said she'd weigh me 1st to set Mummy's mind at ease.
I had put on 145g since yesterday!!! E-M said I was a fat piggy and I didn't need all that formula any more, just a little top up now and then until Mummy was making enough milk of her own.
E-M didn't touch me once, she even let Mummy put me on the scales which Mummy said was very important. She didn't tell Mummy what to do, just asked where we needed help and then gave it to us, she used a dolly to help show how to feed so Mummy could copy, everyone else pulls me around by my head! However I didn't feel like a drink so did my evil leprechaun impression instead of latching on.
Mummy is no longer calling me a stinky-stump-a-saurus as my umbilical cord finally fell off today, now she calls me her little hobgoblin which Daddy says is cruel but I like it, that's why I pull my leprechaun face!
In the afternoon Daddy made Mummy go to bed and he looked after me, when she came downstairs again she seemed a lot happier and pinker than since Nanna and Granddad were here.
Mummy and Daddy decided to try staying up very late with me, they played trivial pursuits for the 1st time since the night they made me and drank champagne - but they didn't try and make a baby this time! I thought this was a great idea and so I woke up early just before midnight and I was asleep before 4am. I slept in my own bed for the 1st time at night, normally I only go in there in the afternoon and demand to be cuddled all night but I am feeling safer now and can see Mummy right next to me.
14th February 2012.
Bossy midwife came again today and was even bossier than before, she also stayed far too long and made us late for the hospital. She said I only put on 10g so she's not too happy but Mummy said "sod her it's not even been 24 hours since the last weigh in" and has decided to ignore her from now on.
Mummy took lots of pictures of my feet today to show me what they looked like when I am big and have perfect straight feet. Last night she spent a lot of time watching youtube videos and reading about talipes, Daddy got very upset because he hadn't really thought about it until he was forced to face up to it, but Mummy said she was really pleased because Stephen Gerrard and a gold medal winning figure skater had feet like mine and look at them now! She cried when she watched the babies on youtube get their casts on but she said it was not nearly as bad as she thought it would be and it would only be a year before we could do fun stuff like swimming and bubble baths.
Then we went to the hospital and everyone thought I was wonderful, all the nurses and doctors kept stopping to see me because it isn't often you see tiny babies like me in the broken bones bit of the hospital. We had to wait ages to see the specialist and while we were waiting Mummy was speaking to a mummy of a little girl who was born with feet like mine. You would never have been able to tell that 2 years ago both her feet were as bad as my worst one (Mummy discovered the other is a bit bent too on Sunday but it wasn't picked up before as it is so slight.) The little girl had special shoes on but they looked just like normal shoes and she only needed to wear her boots with a brace at bedtime, Mummy said she was grateful to the other lady for setting her mind at ease and was so impressed with the beautiful little girl running around like any other 2 year old.
But what a shock when the specialist saw me - he said I didn't even had a clubfoot, I just had positional talipes and all I needed was for Mummy and Daddy to do physiotherapy on me several times a day and in 8 weeks time when I go back to the hospital I should be completely mended!!!
Mummy and Daddy were nearly crying when they left the hospital as they were so happy but they felt guilty because all the other children there were not as lucky as me.
We went to the garden centre with Grandma and Grandpa and then off to Mothercare to buy me a rubber duck for the bath and some bras for Mummy. We went in the nursing lounge where Daddy fed me formula while Mummy pumped out some more milk for my next meal and before we left Mummy hid the box the formula came in deep into the bin under all the cups so no one would see she wasn't feeding me right, she said it is silly but she can't help feeling guilty.
We also bought more nipple shields as I didn't like the ones she bought on Sunday, they were very expensive but I hated them even more as they were too big for my mouth. Mummy says I am a very expensive boy.
Daddy bought Champagne to celebrate my foot but Mummy and Daddy were so exhausted they didn't drink it. Daddy slept in the spare room so he could give Mummy a rest in the morning, Mummy stayed up all night long with me, I decided as she was alone I'd stay up til 7am instead of 5am so she wasn't lonely, she didn't seem to appreciate it and spent most of the night in the sitting room attached to her boob pumping machine and sobbing - some people have no gratitude!
Bossy midwife came again today and was even bossier than before, she also stayed far too long and made us late for the hospital. She said I only put on 10g so she's not too happy but Mummy said "sod her it's not even been 24 hours since the last weigh in" and has decided to ignore her from now on.
Mummy took lots of pictures of my feet today to show me what they looked like when I am big and have perfect straight feet. Last night she spent a lot of time watching youtube videos and reading about talipes, Daddy got very upset because he hadn't really thought about it until he was forced to face up to it, but Mummy said she was really pleased because Stephen Gerrard and a gold medal winning figure skater had feet like mine and look at them now! She cried when she watched the babies on youtube get their casts on but she said it was not nearly as bad as she thought it would be and it would only be a year before we could do fun stuff like swimming and bubble baths.
Then we went to the hospital and everyone thought I was wonderful, all the nurses and doctors kept stopping to see me because it isn't often you see tiny babies like me in the broken bones bit of the hospital. We had to wait ages to see the specialist and while we were waiting Mummy was speaking to a mummy of a little girl who was born with feet like mine. You would never have been able to tell that 2 years ago both her feet were as bad as my worst one (Mummy discovered the other is a bit bent too on Sunday but it wasn't picked up before as it is so slight.) The little girl had special shoes on but they looked just like normal shoes and she only needed to wear her boots with a brace at bedtime, Mummy said she was grateful to the other lady for setting her mind at ease and was so impressed with the beautiful little girl running around like any other 2 year old.
But what a shock when the specialist saw me - he said I didn't even had a clubfoot, I just had positional talipes and all I needed was for Mummy and Daddy to do physiotherapy on me several times a day and in 8 weeks time when I go back to the hospital I should be completely mended!!!
Mummy and Daddy were nearly crying when they left the hospital as they were so happy but they felt guilty because all the other children there were not as lucky as me.
We went to the garden centre with Grandma and Grandpa and then off to Mothercare to buy me a rubber duck for the bath and some bras for Mummy. We went in the nursing lounge where Daddy fed me formula while Mummy pumped out some more milk for my next meal and before we left Mummy hid the box the formula came in deep into the bin under all the cups so no one would see she wasn't feeding me right, she said it is silly but she can't help feeling guilty.
We also bought more nipple shields as I didn't like the ones she bought on Sunday, they were very expensive but I hated them even more as they were too big for my mouth. Mummy says I am a very expensive boy.
Daddy bought Champagne to celebrate my foot but Mummy and Daddy were so exhausted they didn't drink it. Daddy slept in the spare room so he could give Mummy a rest in the morning, Mummy stayed up all night long with me, I decided as she was alone I'd stay up til 7am instead of 5am so she wasn't lonely, she didn't seem to appreciate it and spent most of the night in the sitting room attached to her boob pumping machine and sobbing - some people have no gratitude!
13th February 2012.
Today we got another midwife, this one is a very bossy lady who likes to squeeze Mummy's boobies and takes me off Mummy because she thinks she knows best. Mummy has a very fixed smile on her face and says "yes" a lot, I think Mummy is ignoring all the advice this lady is giving, it is different from what all the other midwives have to say, every single one says the others were wrong and to do things this way or that way. I wee'd on the midwife which made Mummy smile and said it serves her right for taking me off my Mum.
The good news is I have put on 30g so they can't put me in hospital, Mummy says I have to keep having the formula for a few more days as well as the milk she squeezes out, just in case I go down again.
I have perfected a new look, Mummy says it is my Evil Leprechaun look, I screw up my face and rub my hands together in the manner of a Bond Baddie or Mr Burns off the Simpsons. Mummy has taken to calling me a stinky-stump-a-saurus as my umbilical cord smells quite vile, my parents are embarrassed to take my vest off.
I still haven't had a bath, which is sort of weird as Mummy spent nearly all day today crying because she realised that after my casts go on tomorrow I will not ever be able to have a normal bath, this hadn't occurred to anyone before they were just sad I couldn't go swimming like they'd said I would when I was in Mummy's tummy. However Mummy said she had to prioritise and pumping my milk was more important, she is starting to look quite wretched, it has now been 7 nights since she slept for more than 45 minutes in a row.
In fact Mummy is very poorly today, she is a very white colour and has no energy at all, it is mainly blood loss, too many tablets and lack of sleep, I don't care I still decided to play and cry from 1am til 5am because that is what I do!
Today we got another midwife, this one is a very bossy lady who likes to squeeze Mummy's boobies and takes me off Mummy because she thinks she knows best. Mummy has a very fixed smile on her face and says "yes" a lot, I think Mummy is ignoring all the advice this lady is giving, it is different from what all the other midwives have to say, every single one says the others were wrong and to do things this way or that way. I wee'd on the midwife which made Mummy smile and said it serves her right for taking me off my Mum.
The good news is I have put on 30g so they can't put me in hospital, Mummy says I have to keep having the formula for a few more days as well as the milk she squeezes out, just in case I go down again.
I have perfected a new look, Mummy says it is my Evil Leprechaun look, I screw up my face and rub my hands together in the manner of a Bond Baddie or Mr Burns off the Simpsons. Mummy has taken to calling me a stinky-stump-a-saurus as my umbilical cord smells quite vile, my parents are embarrassed to take my vest off.
I still haven't had a bath, which is sort of weird as Mummy spent nearly all day today crying because she realised that after my casts go on tomorrow I will not ever be able to have a normal bath, this hadn't occurred to anyone before they were just sad I couldn't go swimming like they'd said I would when I was in Mummy's tummy. However Mummy said she had to prioritise and pumping my milk was more important, she is starting to look quite wretched, it has now been 7 nights since she slept for more than 45 minutes in a row.
In fact Mummy is very poorly today, she is a very white colour and has no energy at all, it is mainly blood loss, too many tablets and lack of sleep, I don't care I still decided to play and cry from 1am til 5am because that is what I do!
12th February 2012.
The midwife came today when Mummy was sat drinking tea, Nanna was playing with me, Daddy was cooking breakfast and the house was messy and full of people. Mummy said this was good because it showed she was taking the midwife's advice to relax seriously and they couldn't make us go to hospital now.
However when they weighed me I had lost too much weight, Mummy had started expressing last night when I wouldn't feed and had given me her milk in a bottle but the midwife was very strict and said we'd have to go to hospital if Mummy didn't give me formula milk. Mummy told the midwife she was going to do no such thing and would continue squirting her milk out for me so the midwife said she'd be phoning that night and telling the midwife who comes on Monday to pay special attention to me as I was far too thin.
Nanna told Mummy not to worry and that I'd be OK and at 1st Mummy was saying she knew that I'd be fine as I had finally started weeing my nappies since Nanna had showed Mummy how to feed me (I'd only wee'd once in 2 days at the hospital but they said there was nothing to worry about.)
Once Nanna and the rest of my family left though Mummy started to feel very sad and scared and made Daddy drive us to the city for some special sugary cows milk. We got back from my 1st trip to the supermarket at gone 11 o'clock at night and Daddy made and fed me my bottle. Mummy said she had to do some washing but really she was in the kitchen crying and crying, she said it was very sad that she was a bad mummy and couldn't do the one job she was made to do.
Even though I had a full tummy I still decided to stay awake from 1am til 5am, that is my favourite time of day!
The midwife came today when Mummy was sat drinking tea, Nanna was playing with me, Daddy was cooking breakfast and the house was messy and full of people. Mummy said this was good because it showed she was taking the midwife's advice to relax seriously and they couldn't make us go to hospital now.
However when they weighed me I had lost too much weight, Mummy had started expressing last night when I wouldn't feed and had given me her milk in a bottle but the midwife was very strict and said we'd have to go to hospital if Mummy didn't give me formula milk. Mummy told the midwife she was going to do no such thing and would continue squirting her milk out for me so the midwife said she'd be phoning that night and telling the midwife who comes on Monday to pay special attention to me as I was far too thin.
Nanna told Mummy not to worry and that I'd be OK and at 1st Mummy was saying she knew that I'd be fine as I had finally started weeing my nappies since Nanna had showed Mummy how to feed me (I'd only wee'd once in 2 days at the hospital but they said there was nothing to worry about.)
Once Nanna and the rest of my family left though Mummy started to feel very sad and scared and made Daddy drive us to the city for some special sugary cows milk. We got back from my 1st trip to the supermarket at gone 11 o'clock at night and Daddy made and fed me my bottle. Mummy said she had to do some washing but really she was in the kitchen crying and crying, she said it was very sad that she was a bad mummy and couldn't do the one job she was made to do.
Even though I had a full tummy I still decided to stay awake from 1am til 5am, that is my favourite time of day!
11th February 2012.
Today I gave my Mummy the biggest fright of her life, I stopped breathing and went really stiff. This was because I had some amniotic fluid left in my lungs, Mummy turned me upside down and rubbed my back, she shouted at Daddy to go next door and ask the neighbour for help (an ambulance would be no good we are 45 minutes from the city.) Luckily our neighbour was for some reason in our kitchen - my parents never thought to ask why til after she'd gone, apparently it's something to do with living in the country! When the neighbour came up and Mummy thrust me into her arms I gasped and started breathing again.
An hour later the midwife came and said there was nothing to worry about and I would have started breathing again eventually. The midwife also told Mummy off for doing too much and said she had lost more blood than she was meant to and that if she didn't stop doing things and running around we'd have to go back to hospital. that scared Mummy and she sat down but was everso jittery because she said she felt great and wanted to do stuff.
In the afternoon my Nanna, Granddad, Auntie-S, Auntie-H and Auntie-R came to see me, they live over 400 miles away so it was very special that they came. Mummy has another sister Auntie-C but there wasn't room in the car so she stayed behind and I'll meet her next time.
Nanna helped Mummy feed me and we did really well, by 9pm I knew exactly what to do and Mummy said we'd cracked it, which was brilliant! I fed really well because I was starving and by 10pm Mummy was starting to make real milk for me.
Grandma came over in the evening (Grandpa wasn't feeling too good) and we had a bit of a party with all the grown-ups (and Auntie-R) eating Chinese food and drinking champagne and beer. Mummy said I'd get drunk on my milk but she only had a tiny glass of each so I didn't taste it much!
I decided to cry for most of the night because Mummy's boobs went too big and hard and by the time she had squeezed some milk out to help me fit the nipple in my mouth I was too angry to drink very much. Mummy was worried because she said Granddad had to sleep because he had to drive 400 miles in the morning but I didn't care, I just shouted louder.
Today I gave my Mummy the biggest fright of her life, I stopped breathing and went really stiff. This was because I had some amniotic fluid left in my lungs, Mummy turned me upside down and rubbed my back, she shouted at Daddy to go next door and ask the neighbour for help (an ambulance would be no good we are 45 minutes from the city.) Luckily our neighbour was for some reason in our kitchen - my parents never thought to ask why til after she'd gone, apparently it's something to do with living in the country! When the neighbour came up and Mummy thrust me into her arms I gasped and started breathing again.
An hour later the midwife came and said there was nothing to worry about and I would have started breathing again eventually. The midwife also told Mummy off for doing too much and said she had lost more blood than she was meant to and that if she didn't stop doing things and running around we'd have to go back to hospital. that scared Mummy and she sat down but was everso jittery because she said she felt great and wanted to do stuff.
In the afternoon my Nanna, Granddad, Auntie-S, Auntie-H and Auntie-R came to see me, they live over 400 miles away so it was very special that they came. Mummy has another sister Auntie-C but there wasn't room in the car so she stayed behind and I'll meet her next time.
Nanna helped Mummy feed me and we did really well, by 9pm I knew exactly what to do and Mummy said we'd cracked it, which was brilliant! I fed really well because I was starving and by 10pm Mummy was starting to make real milk for me.
Grandma came over in the evening (Grandpa wasn't feeling too good) and we had a bit of a party with all the grown-ups (and Auntie-R) eating Chinese food and drinking champagne and beer. Mummy said I'd get drunk on my milk but she only had a tiny glass of each so I didn't taste it much!
I decided to cry for most of the night because Mummy's boobs went too big and hard and by the time she had squeezed some milk out to help me fit the nipple in my mouth I was too angry to drink very much. Mummy was worried because she said Granddad had to sleep because he had to drive 400 miles in the morning but I didn't care, I just shouted louder.
10th February 2012.
Mainly had quiet day with Mummy and Daddy at the hospital, I don't like the lights at the hospital so I try not to open my eyes unless we go into the day room which is nice and dark.
I'm still not feeding well so Mummy keeps getting the midwives who show us what to do and tell Mummy I am fine and she is worrying for no reason.
I saw a doctor today about my foot, he said I have a talipes and will have to wear a plaster cast for a year or two, I have an appointment with the specialist next Tuesday.
Mummy also saw a doctor this morning, she was very happy as it was Doctor Lim who she said is the only person in the hospital who listens properly to her and Daddy, she said he also made a good job of mending where I came out! Dr. Lim said Mummy is better from the pre-eclampsia and when she asked if we could go home he said if we really wanted to he'd bring our discharge forward a couple of days. This made Mummy really happy.
Eventually when it was dark we left the hospital, I loved the car ride home. Mummy sat in the back with me and I held her hand very tight but I always do that, I can't sleep unless I am holding her hand. We had a look around the house and I saw the pussycats but I wasn't really interested in them and they seemed to know I was important and they weren't allowed near me.
I like home a lot better than the hospital and opened my eyes a lot. I stayed awake from 1am til 5am then I decided to try and have a sleep but only when snuggled up on the big bed with Mummy, my cot attaches to the big bed but I don't like sleeping in there, it's almost as bad as the hospital fishtank!
Mainly had quiet day with Mummy and Daddy at the hospital, I don't like the lights at the hospital so I try not to open my eyes unless we go into the day room which is nice and dark.
I'm still not feeding well so Mummy keeps getting the midwives who show us what to do and tell Mummy I am fine and she is worrying for no reason.
I saw a doctor today about my foot, he said I have a talipes and will have to wear a plaster cast for a year or two, I have an appointment with the specialist next Tuesday.
Mummy also saw a doctor this morning, she was very happy as it was Doctor Lim who she said is the only person in the hospital who listens properly to her and Daddy, she said he also made a good job of mending where I came out! Dr. Lim said Mummy is better from the pre-eclampsia and when she asked if we could go home he said if we really wanted to he'd bring our discharge forward a couple of days. This made Mummy really happy.
Eventually when it was dark we left the hospital, I loved the car ride home. Mummy sat in the back with me and I held her hand very tight but I always do that, I can't sleep unless I am holding her hand. We had a look around the house and I saw the pussycats but I wasn't really interested in them and they seemed to know I was important and they weren't allowed near me.
I like home a lot better than the hospital and opened my eyes a lot. I stayed awake from 1am til 5am then I decided to try and have a sleep but only when snuggled up on the big bed with Mummy, my cot attaches to the big bed but I don't like sleeping in there, it's almost as bad as the hospital fishtank!
9th February 2012 - part 3.
Mummy and I spent our 1st night together bonding, I decided to help her by having 3 dirty nappies before Daddy arrived in the morning just so she'd have done mummy-stuff for me.
I tried to feed but I am awfully impatient and Mummy's nipples are a bit small and flat for my liking so I didn't take much, Mummy tried to tell the midwives but they said I was OK as they kept cutting my feet to check my sugar levels (because of the tablets Mummy had to take before I was born.) Mummy wasn't convinced but decided the midwives must know best.
Throughout the night Mummy kept calling me a name, which wasn't one that had been chosen for me, it had been considered but not seriously, however it seemed to suit me and when she asked Daddy he said it was a perfect name and so that was that.
Eventually in the early hours of the morning (of 10th February) a midwife came and took the catheter and needles out of Mummy and she was finally able to move around and hold me properly, Mummy couldn't sleep even though she'd been awake for 3 days and nights, she just looked at me, cuddled me and told me she couldn't believe how perfect I was. By the time Daddy arrived the next day she said I definitely felt like her baby and she felt like she'd known me forever.
Somehow over that night my red hair turned blonde!
Mummy and I spent our 1st night together bonding, I decided to help her by having 3 dirty nappies before Daddy arrived in the morning just so she'd have done mummy-stuff for me.
I tried to feed but I am awfully impatient and Mummy's nipples are a bit small and flat for my liking so I didn't take much, Mummy tried to tell the midwives but they said I was OK as they kept cutting my feet to check my sugar levels (because of the tablets Mummy had to take before I was born.) Mummy wasn't convinced but decided the midwives must know best.
Throughout the night Mummy kept calling me a name, which wasn't one that had been chosen for me, it had been considered but not seriously, however it seemed to suit me and when she asked Daddy he said it was a perfect name and so that was that.
Eventually in the early hours of the morning (of 10th February) a midwife came and took the catheter and needles out of Mummy and she was finally able to move around and hold me properly, Mummy couldn't sleep even though she'd been awake for 3 days and nights, she just looked at me, cuddled me and told me she couldn't believe how perfect I was. By the time Daddy arrived the next day she said I definitely felt like her baby and she felt like she'd known me forever.
Somehow over that night my red hair turned blonde!
9th February 2012 - part 2.
After I came out the fat midwife with the orange hair was looking at where I came out and said Mummy had a little tear and needed to be sewed up, Mummy was saying "It hurts, it hurts" a lot. When the midwife touched where I came out Mummy screamed and made Daddy take me because she couldn't trust herself to hold me any more with the pain.
The midwife got another few people and they were all looking at where I came out and every time they went near it Mummy screamed and said it was hurting a lot more than having a baby and asked why they were putting things up her bum! Eventually a doctor came and asked what pain relief Mummy had taken and when he was told nothing for the birth and a local anesthetic for the stitches but she was screaming AFTERWARD not when I was coming out the doctor said he'd better have a look. Words like "4th degree tear" and "bowel muscles" were said but Mummy didn't pay much attention coz of the pain, Daddy was too worried about Mummy and in awe of me and I just wanted to have a drink of milk off a boob which I had tried but failed at as Mummy couldn't move for the pain so we didn't really understand what was going on.
Suddenly there was a lot of people and Daddy and I just got left sat on a chair as they took Mummy away (they managed to find an anesthetist - who Mummy told she loved! - a lot quicker than they did when Mummy wanted an epidural!) Daddy and I sat in the room all on our own with blood all over the floor for ages, then they wrapped me up, put me in a fishtank, took us to another room and gave Daddy the cup of coffee and toast Mummy had been dreaming of since she went into the labour room.
I don't think Daddy knew what to do with himself, he looked very worried, eventually just after 12 they wheeled Mummy into the high dependency ward where we were waiting but she looked a lot whiter than last time I saw her and she said she didn't want to hold me because she was all shakey and didn't trust herself when her legs were still asleep, she said she loved me though and asked Daddy to hold me so she could see me and stroke me.
After being put under a special heated blanket Mummy felt a bit better and ate some food, but she was crying as she ate as Daddy had gone somewhere and the midwife fed me my 1st meal of formula milk while all Mummy could do was watch.
Grandma and Grandpa visited in the afternoon, poor Grandpa was already at the hospital getting an operation because he has skin cancer but luckily it was caught early and he should be OK.
Eventually Mummy could feel her legs and her blood pressure was OK so they took her drip out and wheeled us to a different room with lots of other mummies and babies in. Mummy and Daddy spent all evening looking at me and saying how gorgeous I was before Daddy went home again and once again left Mummy feeling sad but also she said very scared because she said I felt like Daddy's baby not hers. She also had a very heavy catheter bag and still had a needle in her wrist from the drip so found it really hard to get out of bed to see me.
After I came out the fat midwife with the orange hair was looking at where I came out and said Mummy had a little tear and needed to be sewed up, Mummy was saying "It hurts, it hurts" a lot. When the midwife touched where I came out Mummy screamed and made Daddy take me because she couldn't trust herself to hold me any more with the pain.
The midwife got another few people and they were all looking at where I came out and every time they went near it Mummy screamed and said it was hurting a lot more than having a baby and asked why they were putting things up her bum! Eventually a doctor came and asked what pain relief Mummy had taken and when he was told nothing for the birth and a local anesthetic for the stitches but she was screaming AFTERWARD not when I was coming out the doctor said he'd better have a look. Words like "4th degree tear" and "bowel muscles" were said but Mummy didn't pay much attention coz of the pain, Daddy was too worried about Mummy and in awe of me and I just wanted to have a drink of milk off a boob which I had tried but failed at as Mummy couldn't move for the pain so we didn't really understand what was going on.
Suddenly there was a lot of people and Daddy and I just got left sat on a chair as they took Mummy away (they managed to find an anesthetist - who Mummy told she loved! - a lot quicker than they did when Mummy wanted an epidural!) Daddy and I sat in the room all on our own with blood all over the floor for ages, then they wrapped me up, put me in a fishtank, took us to another room and gave Daddy the cup of coffee and toast Mummy had been dreaming of since she went into the labour room.
I don't think Daddy knew what to do with himself, he looked very worried, eventually just after 12 they wheeled Mummy into the high dependency ward where we were waiting but she looked a lot whiter than last time I saw her and she said she didn't want to hold me because she was all shakey and didn't trust herself when her legs were still asleep, she said she loved me though and asked Daddy to hold me so she could see me and stroke me.
After being put under a special heated blanket Mummy felt a bit better and ate some food, but she was crying as she ate as Daddy had gone somewhere and the midwife fed me my 1st meal of formula milk while all Mummy could do was watch.
Grandma and Grandpa visited in the afternoon, poor Grandpa was already at the hospital getting an operation because he has skin cancer but luckily it was caught early and he should be OK.
Eventually Mummy could feel her legs and her blood pressure was OK so they took her drip out and wheeled us to a different room with lots of other mummies and babies in. Mummy and Daddy spent all evening looking at me and saying how gorgeous I was before Daddy went home again and once again left Mummy feeling sad but also she said very scared because she said I felt like Daddy's baby not hers. She also had a very heavy catheter bag and still had a needle in her wrist from the drip so found it really hard to get out of bed to see me.
9th February 2012 - part 1.
After the lady made all the water around me disappear Mummy suddenly needed a wee BADLY and kept insisting on being taken off the monitor to go to the toilet but then when she got there nothing happened. The midwife thought Mummy was being awkward because she didn't want to be stuck on a machine sat on a bed but actually I had shifted downwards again and was well and truely in the way. After a while they left Mummy with a bedpan which she said was degrading because they were fed up of her going back and forth without doing a wee, Mummy definitely couldn't do one then. At some point in the next half hour Mummy wee'd all over the bed and she said it was the nicest feeling in the whole world ever!!! I think she meant because of the pain in her bladder stopping and not because she might have got some wee on the midwife who she didn't like.
Then a little while after the water in my space all disappeared I started getting squashed again, only this time it wasn't nice and peaceful with a good hard squash followed by a minute or two's rest, this time I got squeezed for about 3 minutes, 20 seconds of not being squeezed and then squeezed again even harder. Mummy was desperate to get off the bed but the squeezing kept on and on so much she couldn't move and the midwife kept saying she was going to put a drip in Mummy to speed things up - Mummy had her TENS machine up to 50 at this point and was smelling her special flannel with rose and clary sage all the time but they thought because she wasn't taking the gas and air coz it made her feel sick that things weren't happening. Then I moved onto Mummy's bum and she said "The baby's coming!" but no one believed her because it was too quick and they still wouldn't let her move.
Mummy said she could take the pain but not the intensity and was crying saying she wanted an epidural but when they put a drip in her hand she panicked and pulled it out because she said they were tricking her into an induction and she was going to die if the contractions got any closer together and she didn't want to die now she'd got so far. I think perhaps Mummy was a little bit mad at that time because I am sure hospitals don't trick people like that and Mummies don't really die just because babies are coming out! Suddenly the squeezing stopped and Mummy looked at Daddy (who was very quiet!) and started laughing and said - "Oh so that must have been transition! We really will have a baby soon."
At that point the lady who'd been there all along introduced another lady and said she was going home, Mummy said "Hello" but then the squeezing started again and this time it was very different, I was really getting squashed this time going slightly downwards with each squeeze. Mummy said the TENS felt like an elephant kicking her and pulled it off and threw it on the floor and tried to get onto her side as she'd been kneeling on the bed since the fast squashing started. Unfortunately the new midwife was even more old school (or used to dealing with ladies who do as they are told and take their drugs) and would not believe that Mummy had good strong legs and wanted to squat on the floor to try and push me out in the way her body wanted her too and pushed Mummy on to her back and held her leg and told Daddy to hold her other leg and push them. Mummy tried to say the same effect could be achieved by letting her get off the bed but no one listened to her, Mummy said later it was probably because the midwife was very fat and wouldn't have been able to get down to see if Mummy's fanny wasn't at the right height.
It was really hard work after that for me and Mummy, there was a lot of shouting which was not meant to happen, Mummy was held down and her legs were pushed backwards which hurt her and also made her angry that Daddy was being forced to do that to her when he and everyone in the room knew Mummy did not want to lie on her back to have me. After an hour the midwife said Mummy "wasn't progressing fast enough" and said words like "stirrups" and "episiotomy", Mummy knew that these were one step away from forceps and sticking probes in my head which she promised me she wouldn't let them do and so she started to push and push and push and push as hard as she possibly could, usually 4 pushes when I was getting squeezed but also a few more pushes when I wasn't getting squeezed too which hurt a lot - for Mummy and me.
At 8.56 I was born and made a massive cry as soon as I came out. I wasn't allowed to go on Mummy's tummy and they cut my cord immediately even though they had promised that if I cried they would wait to do all those things, eventually after a team of people saw I really was perfect and Mummy knew all along there was nothing wrong they finally put me on her tummy.
After the lady made all the water around me disappear Mummy suddenly needed a wee BADLY and kept insisting on being taken off the monitor to go to the toilet but then when she got there nothing happened. The midwife thought Mummy was being awkward because she didn't want to be stuck on a machine sat on a bed but actually I had shifted downwards again and was well and truely in the way. After a while they left Mummy with a bedpan which she said was degrading because they were fed up of her going back and forth without doing a wee, Mummy definitely couldn't do one then. At some point in the next half hour Mummy wee'd all over the bed and she said it was the nicest feeling in the whole world ever!!! I think she meant because of the pain in her bladder stopping and not because she might have got some wee on the midwife who she didn't like.
Then a little while after the water in my space all disappeared I started getting squashed again, only this time it wasn't nice and peaceful with a good hard squash followed by a minute or two's rest, this time I got squeezed for about 3 minutes, 20 seconds of not being squeezed and then squeezed again even harder. Mummy was desperate to get off the bed but the squeezing kept on and on so much she couldn't move and the midwife kept saying she was going to put a drip in Mummy to speed things up - Mummy had her TENS machine up to 50 at this point and was smelling her special flannel with rose and clary sage all the time but they thought because she wasn't taking the gas and air coz it made her feel sick that things weren't happening. Then I moved onto Mummy's bum and she said "The baby's coming!" but no one believed her because it was too quick and they still wouldn't let her move.
Mummy said she could take the pain but not the intensity and was crying saying she wanted an epidural but when they put a drip in her hand she panicked and pulled it out because she said they were tricking her into an induction and she was going to die if the contractions got any closer together and she didn't want to die now she'd got so far. I think perhaps Mummy was a little bit mad at that time because I am sure hospitals don't trick people like that and Mummies don't really die just because babies are coming out! Suddenly the squeezing stopped and Mummy looked at Daddy (who was very quiet!) and started laughing and said - "Oh so that must have been transition! We really will have a baby soon."
At that point the lady who'd been there all along introduced another lady and said she was going home, Mummy said "Hello" but then the squeezing started again and this time it was very different, I was really getting squashed this time going slightly downwards with each squeeze. Mummy said the TENS felt like an elephant kicking her and pulled it off and threw it on the floor and tried to get onto her side as she'd been kneeling on the bed since the fast squashing started. Unfortunately the new midwife was even more old school (or used to dealing with ladies who do as they are told and take their drugs) and would not believe that Mummy had good strong legs and wanted to squat on the floor to try and push me out in the way her body wanted her too and pushed Mummy on to her back and held her leg and told Daddy to hold her other leg and push them. Mummy tried to say the same effect could be achieved by letting her get off the bed but no one listened to her, Mummy said later it was probably because the midwife was very fat and wouldn't have been able to get down to see if Mummy's fanny wasn't at the right height.
It was really hard work after that for me and Mummy, there was a lot of shouting which was not meant to happen, Mummy was held down and her legs were pushed backwards which hurt her and also made her angry that Daddy was being forced to do that to her when he and everyone in the room knew Mummy did not want to lie on her back to have me. After an hour the midwife said Mummy "wasn't progressing fast enough" and said words like "stirrups" and "episiotomy", Mummy knew that these were one step away from forceps and sticking probes in my head which she promised me she wouldn't let them do and so she started to push and push and push and push as hard as she possibly could, usually 4 pushes when I was getting squeezed but also a few more pushes when I wasn't getting squeezed too which hurt a lot - for Mummy and me.
At 8.56 I was born and made a massive cry as soon as I came out. I wasn't allowed to go on Mummy's tummy and they cut my cord immediately even though they had promised that if I cried they would wait to do all those things, eventually after a team of people saw I really was perfect and Mummy knew all along there was nothing wrong they finally put me on her tummy.
8th February 2012.
I hear Mummy telling Daddy that she has spent all night using visualisations and positive thinking to tell herself and me that I have to be born in hospital so she is going to accept it, and use the power of the mind to kickstart labour. I think it sounds like hippy crap and sure Daddy does too but sure enough a few hours later I find myself getting squashed periodically. Daddy says it might have more to do with Mummy walking up and down stairs all day at hospital, I'm not sure all I know is my head is getting more and more squashed and there's not a lot of room to move now!
By evening time I am getting squashed about once every 5 minutes, I hear Mummy getting upset that she doesn't want inducing and she's going to have me herself without them interfering with her. At 9pm a midwife poked me on the head and told Mummy that she doesn't need inducing because I am going to come really soon anyway - apparently it is 4cm, this is good so we go for another walk up and down the hospital stairs and my head gets jogged down even tighter.
Mummy and Daddy spent until midnight watching Fawlty Towers which made them laugh but then Daddy was made to go home which made Mummy sad again. However Mummy said she was very happy she was going to see me soon and was surprised she wasn't hurting more - though from the zinging I was feeling through her back I'd say her TENS machine was quite high. Mummy was listening to her ipod and said the contractions were once every song - I couldn't hear the music but I was definitely getting very squashed, very regularly!
Unfortunately at 2am there was a new crying baby on the ward and all of a sudden the voices who'd said Mummy was OK to be alone with me decided that actually Mummy and possibly I was in danger and we had to go up to labour ward, we weren't even allowed to wait for Daddy to arrive. Mummy was very angry shouting at a new voice and saying she did not want to be induced and she was fed up of being treated like a piece of meat on a conveyor belt, unfortunately when Mummy got angry the squeezing stopped and after an hour of nothing happening (apart from Mummy shouting and swearing and saying very nasty things about the NHS to the poor lady who was just trying to do her job) they bullied Mummy into having her waters broken, at least Daddy arrived just in time.
I hear Mummy telling Daddy that she has spent all night using visualisations and positive thinking to tell herself and me that I have to be born in hospital so she is going to accept it, and use the power of the mind to kickstart labour. I think it sounds like hippy crap and sure Daddy does too but sure enough a few hours later I find myself getting squashed periodically. Daddy says it might have more to do with Mummy walking up and down stairs all day at hospital, I'm not sure all I know is my head is getting more and more squashed and there's not a lot of room to move now!
By evening time I am getting squashed about once every 5 minutes, I hear Mummy getting upset that she doesn't want inducing and she's going to have me herself without them interfering with her. At 9pm a midwife poked me on the head and told Mummy that she doesn't need inducing because I am going to come really soon anyway - apparently it is 4cm, this is good so we go for another walk up and down the hospital stairs and my head gets jogged down even tighter.
Mummy and Daddy spent until midnight watching Fawlty Towers which made them laugh but then Daddy was made to go home which made Mummy sad again. However Mummy said she was very happy she was going to see me soon and was surprised she wasn't hurting more - though from the zinging I was feeling through her back I'd say her TENS machine was quite high. Mummy was listening to her ipod and said the contractions were once every song - I couldn't hear the music but I was definitely getting very squashed, very regularly!
Unfortunately at 2am there was a new crying baby on the ward and all of a sudden the voices who'd said Mummy was OK to be alone with me decided that actually Mummy and possibly I was in danger and we had to go up to labour ward, we weren't even allowed to wait for Daddy to arrive. Mummy was very angry shouting at a new voice and saying she did not want to be induced and she was fed up of being treated like a piece of meat on a conveyor belt, unfortunately when Mummy got angry the squeezing stopped and after an hour of nothing happening (apart from Mummy shouting and swearing and saying very nasty things about the NHS to the poor lady who was just trying to do her job) they bullied Mummy into having her waters broken, at least Daddy arrived just in time.
7th February 2012.
It seems like things might be changing round here, can't put my finger on it (what is a finger anyway?) but there's a different atmosphere, I can hear Mummy and Daddy talking as normal, but they're definitely not at home. They are speaking a lot quieter to me and I've not had a story for a while. I seem to be being poked in the shoulder and bum by those cold hard lumps a strange voice calls a "monitor" a lot more than the once a week I am used to and I've heard Mummy complaining an awful lot that she doesn't want to be in hospital, she wishes she didn't have stupid pre-eclampsia and she'd been really looking forward to her home-birth. Still in between all the moaning and complaining I think Mummy and Daddy are OK really although Mummy is really sad when Daddy is sent home at 11pm and we don't get any sleep all night because of the terrible racket of babies screaming all night, when I do drop off Mummy wakes me moaning about the "bloody lights being left on" and telling me to please get off her bladder as she is embarrassed to have to walk all the way down the ward to the toilet every 30 minutes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)