Birth Day!

Weston Lewis was born on Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 10:52pm. He weighed in at 7lbs, 13oz and was 19.5 inches long!

All along I had told him I wanted to work through Friday so that my leave wouldn't start until Monday at the earliest. Yes, it was my wishful thinking that he might arrive a bit early. I woke up Friday feeling "funny" and the nurse at my school told me that it was a good sign! Two people that day also told me that the shape of my bump had changed shape. After work I went to the gym and walked on the treadmill for half an hour before heading home to enjoy Friday evening.

Saturday morning I woke up around 6am with contractions that started about 10 minutes apart. Around 8am, they started coming fairly consistently every 5 minutes and after a few hours, I called my midwife, Katherine, to let her know. She said everything sounded like it was progressing smoothly and to call her again when they were 2 - 4 minutes apart. Around 4pm, they were coming every 1 - 3 minutes and getting more intense. Katherine had to drop some things off near Willowbrook for some home visits and she said she would call me back when she was headed to Nativiti unless there was an emergency and then I should call her. She called around 5:20ish and was ready to head to Nativiti to meet us. We arrived around 6:00 and she checked me before we started bringing everything in. I hadn't had an internal since 36 weeks but when she checked me I was 5cm and 90% effaced so we were headed in the right direction.

I labored for the next few hours and was 8cm after about 3 hours. Everyone kept telling me what a great job I was doing. Katherine told me that no one was going to believe that I was having contractions if I kept joking around and laughing. Things definitely got more and more intense as they progressed but I was focused on my breathing and staying relaxed. My mom and Justin were amazing at helping me through things.

A little while after that, I decided I was ready to get in the tub so Katherine filled up the tub while Justing got changed. I labored in the tub with him for a little over an hour. We used the jets for awhile and then I just rested against him as things got more and more intense. Eventually I felt a popping feeling after a contraction and my water had broken! Katherine checked me and I was 9.5cm. Pretty quickly I told Justin he needed to get out of the tub and after 20 minutes of pushing on my hands and knees, Weston made his debut!

The pushing stage was the most intense and the most challenging part for me. At one point I asked if the head was the biggest part that had to come out and apparently amused everyone. I just needed help to focus on the end goal and telling myself that Weston was going to be in my arms soon. Then he was out and crying like crazy!  Justin got to cut the cord though I don't know how he was able to see through the tears he couldn't stop crying! It was amazing to hold Weston and see what he looked like. It was indescribable to finally have him in my arms. He was so perfect and beautiful.

After I held him for awhile, they took him over to the bed in the birthing room to check him over while I finished birthing the placenta and everything that needed to be done. Then I moved to the bed and held him again. We worked on nursing pretty quickly after that. He is definitely a strong sucker. The most challenging part is getting his fingers out of his mouth! My mom held Weston while I got sutured up as I did have some tearing. That was the part that was actually the most stressful for me!

I feel blessed to have been able to have the natural, med-free, complication-free birth that I planned on having. We got discharged about 2.5 hours after Weston was born and go home around 3am on Sunday morning, less than 24 hours after everything began! We truly are blessed by God.

39 weeks!

How far along: 39 weeks and contracting! D-day is a week away but it looks like we may be meeting him pretty soon!

How big is baby: According to the Bump, Weston is about the size of a watermelon from week 37 to birth. Average size is 18.9 - 20.9 inches and 6.2 - 9.2 pounds! He spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which I’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) I worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of my womb, he will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life.

Weight Loss/Gain: Up 32 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Nothing much is very comfortable these days except Justin's t-shirts.

Next appointment: Wednesday, December 8th if we make it that long!

Movement: He was still very active this week. This morning he has been moving although it is definitely slower!

Food cravings:  Sweets! Sweets! Sweets!

Food aversions: Still having the water issue though mixing it with juice works great!

Best Moment this Week: I got to leave early from work on Friday as a holiday gift! That was nice. I headed straight for the treadmill at the gym!

Worst Moment this Week: Returning to work on Monday wore me out and on Tuesday I was horribly exhausted and just felt pretty bad. Luckily, I was feeling much better on Wednesday.

What am I looking forward to: I'm definitely looking forward to going to my next appointment where I will get checked, although as of right now it seems like I may not make it to that appointment! In that case, I'm looking forward to meeting my little boy!

38 weeks!

How far along: 38 weeks and only 14 days until D-day!

How big is baby: According to the Bump, Weston is about the size of a watermelon from week 37 to birth. Average size is 18.9 - 20.9 inches and 6.2 - 9.2 pounds! He spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which I’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) I worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of my womb, he will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life.

Weight Loss/Gain: Up 31 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Nothing much is very comfortable these days except Justin's t-shirts.

Next appointment: Wednesday, December 1st! I didn't have an internal last week, so I'm thinking I will have one this week. I'm also looking forward to getting measured as I was measuring a little small last week.

Movement: He's still moving all around despite the fact he that he doesn't have much room!

Food cravings: Back to the sweets although I really need to focus and not eat everything sweet in sight!

Food aversions: I haven't been in the mood to drink water this week unless it has some juice in it. Although there have been times this week that I'm not hungry at all.

Best Moment this Week: It was nice to have the week off from work to relax a bit.

Worst Moment this Week: I had a few days where I didn't feel well. Thursday I woke up with a bad cough but it seemed to just be a one day thing thankfully! I also didn't eat or drink enough on Friday and ended up in bed with a headache. I definitely have to make sure I'm eating and drinking right now even if I don't feel like it!

What am I looking forward to: Going to my next appointment on Wednesday and getting off work a little early on Friday as a little gift from administration at school!

37 weeks, 2 days

I had my 37 week appointment today and everything seems to be going smoothly. I didn't have an internal today so I don't know if I'm more dilated or effaced. My fundal measurement was 35.5 but my midwife didn't seem concerned. I looked it up on the internet when I got home and found out that near the end of pregnancy measurements depend on a lot of things can vary 1-2 centimeters either way. I also read that if the baby has dropped, the measurement could be smaller as well. I have been measuring right on track through the pregnancy so this was a bit of a change, but since the midwife wasn't concerned, I'm not too concerned either. Weston is still moving around a lot and his head was still down and low. I go back next Wednesday to see how things are going. My midwife did say something about when she thought I might deliver and it was the first time she'd mentioned anything. She said she thinks he'll come right around his due date, so 19 days or so!

We also met with a pediatrician today and really liked her. Weston will need to go in to the pediatrician within 48 hours of birth so it was good to click with the one we met today. We will try her out and hopefully everything will continue to click! The practice is unique in that the doctors are certified in both pediatrics and internal medicine so she could actually see Justin and I too if we like her.

At Nativiti today, I saw a woman from my birthing class and she had her baby with her! I believe she was due right around the time we're due. I got a chance to talk to her before we left and the baby had come early and she actually had to be transferred and ended up having a c-section. But she said everyone was healthy and that is what is so important. I will be praying for them that things continue to go smoothly as they were a very nice couple who had had some difficult times in the past. Thank God that their little girl is healthy even if she did come early!

37 weeks!

How far along: 37 weeks! We are full term!

How big is baby: According to the Bump, Weston is about the size of a watermelon from week 37 to birth. Average size is 18.9 - 20.9 inches and 6.2 - 9.2 pounds! He spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which I’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) I worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of my womb, he will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life.

Weight Loss/Gain: Up 31 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Nothing much is very comfortable these days except Justin's t-shirts.

Next appointment: Monday, November 22nd!

Movement: He's still moving all around despite the fact he that he doesn't have much room!

Food cravings: Back to the sweets although I really need to focus and not eat everything sweet in sight!

Food aversions: I haven't been in the mood to drink water this week unless it has some juice in it.

Best Moment this Week: It was exciting to find out that I was 1cm dilated. Although I could stay that way for weeks, it was just a sign that things are beginning to happen! I also got to attend the Breastfeeding class, just up at the hospital!

Worst Moment this Week: On Sunday, Weston must have been on my sciatic nerve because I had some intense hip and leg pain,

What am I looking forward to: Having this entire week of from work for Thanksgiving break! I'm also looking forward to having a meet and greet with a pediatrician on Monday and going to Nativiti to get checked again!

36 weeks, 3 days

Today I went to my 36 week appointment at Nativiti. I saw Katherine and she measured me and we listened to Weston's heartbeat. Everything is measuring well and he had a nice strong heartbeat. His back is curved along my right side with his legs up near my ribs on the left and his head down. When I labor, I need to labor on my left side, on my hands and knees, or in forward leaning positions to encourage Weston to turn his back towards the front and not towards my back which could end up with back labor. We also discussed my birth plan, including who would be in the room, which room I would prefer, whether or not photos being taken in the room was okay with me, and if Justin wanted to be involved in catching Weston and cutting the cord. It was amazing and exciting to be answering these types of questions! Katherine also checked me internally and I am 1cm dilated this week. My next appointment is Monday so we will see what the news is then! I'm officially going to appointments every week now! We only have 25 days left until December 11th, although I may have given Weston permission to make his debut anytime after December 4th. I'm sure he'll be a very obedient little boy and follow all of my directions on this matter!

36 weeks!

How far along: 36 weeks and 4 weeks until our due date!

How big is baby: According to the Bump, Weston is about the size of a honeydew during weeks 33 - 36. Average size is 17.2 - 18.7 inches and 4.2- 5.8 pounds! His senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through my (extremely) stretched belly, his tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, he can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing lullabies! Growth (at least inside the womb) is starting to slow, and I may notice baby descend into the pelvis at the end of this month.

Weight Loss/Gain: Up 29 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Yep although some things aren't as comfortable as they used to be!

Next appointment: Tuesday, November 16th and then I start going every week!

Movement: He's still moving all around. I wish I could see him and see what he's doing.

Food cravings: I'm trying to focus on keeping my protein intake high and not just eat cookies and cupcakes as they show up at work.

Food aversions: I haven't been in the mood to drink water this week unless it has some juice in it.

Best Moment this Week: I got Weston's baby book in the mail and started working on filling in some of the pages. I splurged on one from Etsy, but I really liked it!

Worst Moment this Week: I was bummed out because our Breastfeeding Class was canceled as we were the only ones registered. I was also sick for most of the week.

What am I looking forward to:I have one more week of work and then I have the entire week of Thanksgiving off! After that, we're headed into December and getting closer to Weston's arrival!