Our New Arrival

Well the wait is finally over....

Liam Daniel Reynolds arrived on Saturday, 8 December at 12:38 am. He's a big boy- over 23 inches long and 10lbs, 2 ozs. Below is his first picture...

I wish I could say labour was fun, but they don't call it labour for nothing. My waters broke at 2 am on Friday morning and I was so excited that I took a shower and shaved my legs (which was near impossible) and got all ready to go into hospital. I didn't want to go in too early, so I waited until my contractions were around 5 minutes apart and lasting for over 30 seconds. We went down to hospital at 5:30 am and they admitted me. I was only 1 cm dilated and they transferred me to a ward to wait for me to go into established labour. I'm not sure if it's because I was so exhausted or because I was put onto a post natal ward because they had no room in the antenatal ward, but I laboured there all freakin' day. The pains started to become much much worse around 6:30 and after an examination put me at 3 to 4 cm dilated, I was transferred down to the labour suite. This was a much more relaxed atmosphere. There weren't screaming babies and visitors in and out. I was labouring hard from 8:30 to 11:00 when I was fully dilated and started to push. It took me ages to get this big kid out! Over an hour and a half of pushing!! I used gas and air, which I didn't like and got a shot of pethidine which I don't think worked. By the time I decided on the epidural it was too late, so I had to go it alone! Ollie was brilliant throughout, but I think he's been a bit traumatised from the whole incident. I screamed as though I was being killed. Ugh, it was pretty horrible. But all worth it in the end when our beautiful baby was placed in my arms.

Think he looks massive in this picture... need to not put him in horizontal stripes! And do you love the throw back to John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever??

I had a few complications after the birth because of his size and the size of the placenta. I lost a lot of blood and my hemoglobin levels dropped from 12 to 7. I needed 2 transfusions and I'm still only up to 7.8. They considered giving me another transfusion, but I was so eager to get home. I was on a shared ward with about 7 other women and babies. It was impossible to get much sleep and I think that's really what I need to fully recover. I'm still really weak and haven't gotten my appetite back, but I'm at home with Ollie and our beautiful new son and over the moon!

Proud daddy...

At home with my new man...

Still effing pregnant...

Right, offically over due and not a happy bunny. I had all of these great signs last week, but this kid isn't ready to go anywhere! Each night I would go to bed all optimistic and excited that I'd be woken up with a strong contraction and rush off to the hospital, but each morning I have woken up disappointed and rather pissed off. I'm done! This turkey is ready, but the freakin plastic popper thing hasn't popped up!! UGHHHH!!!!

Breathe. Okay, so I went for reflexology again today and she worked hard on my uterus, cervix and general lady areas- on my feet of course. She did say that a few sessions can help to bring on labour, but I'm not getting my hopes up anymore and set myself up for a let down. I just need to focus on other things. I remember when we started trying to get pregnant at the beginning of the year. I went off alcohol and was eating 9 portions of fruit and veg a day and taking my temperature and plotting my ovulation cycle/ fertility times... made it super sexy for Ollie. I was so disappointed each month when I got my period. Then in March I went to London for a conference, had a good piss up and forgot about it... and then I got pregnant. I guess it's true when they say a watched kettle never boils. I'm going to try and take my mind off of it and maybe that will do the trick!

I'm scheduled for induction this Sunday, 9 December, so baby should be here by this time next week. I really hope s/he decides to make an appearence before then because I'm really not looking forward to induction, but what will be will be.

Hope to post some good news and pictures of our beautiful wee baby soon! Till then...

Ready and waiting...

Well I'm offically 40 weeks. The due date has arrived and there has been a bit of activity. I visited the doctor on Wednesday and when she asked if I would like an internal, I eagerly jumped at the chance. Ouch! Not terribly pleasent, but don't think it will be anything in comparison to what is to come! She said the head was fully engaged and after the internal I was around 1 to 2 cm dilated. She did a scan and the weight was 4.5 kg, which is nearly 10 lbs! I nearly freaked, but she said that it's never an acurate reading at this stage. She did, however, say we'll be having a 9 pounder... not going to be fitting into all of the clothes for much longer!

Last night I bounced around on my ball for a good 10 minutes before bed. Straight after I had to go to the bathroom and had my show. I was so excited. It's totally gross, but I know it is a good sign that things are getting ready down there. I'm just hopeful that the baby will be here before the end of the weekend.

Here's a picture of me at 40 weeks... massive!!

On another note, I have some very sad news to report. Our friends Marguerite and Ruairi were expecting twins in December. We were all so excited to be pregnant together. Marguerite went into labour last Wednesday night and had two wee boys, James and Jack on Thanksgiving day. There were complications and James, the larger of the two was very poorly and put onto a ventilator. Sadly, he passed in his father's arms on Tuesday after his ventilator was turned off. Today was the funeral. I was a bit worried about going because I didn't know how I would react, but I knew it was important to be there for Marguerite and Ruairi. It was the sadest thing I have ever seen. I didn't stop crying the entire service and my heart is broken for them. It was horrible to see the little white coffin and they were both in pieces. But they were supported by at least 100 friends and family that came to be with them on this sad day.

These events make me want to meet our little one even more. Just to hold him or her and make sure s/he is okay. Kiss your children and loved ones tonight and remember how precious our time is with them.

The home stretch

Well I'm entering my last week of pregnancy and I am completely sick and tired of it. I'm trying to stay positive and happy, but to be honest I just want it to be over. I want my body back, even if it's going to be completely different than it was. I long to sleep on my stomach and my back and be able to bend over and touch my toes.

Ollie and I went to see American Gangster (only came out over here) and then for an Indian on Saturday night. I woke up about 4 in the morning with some tummy pains, like period pains and though 'oh my god, this is it'. I was so excited that I was up until 6 am waiting for the next contraction and for them to get quicker and stronger, but no dice. I fell asleep disappointed and woke up for mass in the worst mood. This wasnt' helped by visiting our new house to see that the roof tiles have STILL not been put up. It's the same as it was 3 weeks ago and the other side of the street is progressing more and they're not even supposed to be ready until the end of February!

Anyway, I'm continuing with the spicy foods, getting in some long walks, bouncing like mad on my birthing ball... trying pretty much anything to get this kid out! I was with the midwife on Monday and she says the baby's head is about 2cms above my pelvis, which is good news and indicates engagement is right around the corner. Let that corner be today and that baby be ready on Friday!!

I'm just dying to meet him or her. I want to see what his or her face looks like and dress him or her up in all of the new clothes.

I went on a bit of a re-arranging craze on Monday (must be nesting). I re-organised our room and the spare room to get our mattress out from behind our bed, the crib beside our bed and everything all ready for little one's arrival. Here's a picture of the crib...

...we had to go for something quite small to fit in the room. We don't anticipate our long legged child to be in the crib for more than 3 months, by which time we'll be in our own house and have a proper nursery for him or her.

We also picked up the car seat and a travel cot (pictured below).

The store is holding onto our pram (see picture) until after the baby is born- we have no room for it. The pram matches the car seat (couldn't find our fabric in the pram pictures).

Right, well that's all for now. Hope the next post announces the arrival of our little one!!!

More belly shots

Sorry for the delay on these, but better late then never. I'm getting huge!

36 1/2 weeks...

38 weeks...

33 Weeks

I had a physio appointment today. I have been having rather horrible lower back pain and have started getting pain on the left side of my pelvis. Great appointment- loads of massaging and cold and hot compresses. Totally relaxing. Then I got fit for this gorgeous (sarcasm) back/pelvic support strap. Super sexy (sarcasm again)! I will have Ollie take a picture of me in it- that is if he can withstand the urge to ravish me with it on! Barbara, my physio, said she thought I looked brilliant. I was carrying really well- all to the front, my skin looks brilliant- no marks or stretches and once I was in the support she said 'wow, you've really kept your waist'. I didn't think I had a waist left.

So pregnancy is coming along well, I guess. Heartburn/indigestion is still plaguing me now and then and I'm exhausted most of the time. My feet, legs and hands are still pretty swollen. I'll get pictures up soon of them too. They just look ridiculous. I'm counting down the days until I go off on maternity. I finish on the 30th, taking 2 1/2 weeks of annual leave and then start my maternity 2 weeks early. I'm not back in work until the 2nd of June! Woo-hoo!! I can't wait. I have so much to do before the baby arrives. I’ll need to give a big clean to the room and want to sort through some boxes in the garage. I have 3 assignments for university to complete- I really want to get them out of the way before the baby arrives. This way I’ll only have the 1 exam to study for in January.

I’m keeping up with the pregnancy yoga and have another class tonight. Once I’m on maternity full time, I plan to take a nice long walk each day. We have a large park about 5 minutes walk from the house. I think the fresh air and light exercise will do me all of the good. And I’ve heard it’s the best thing for getting the wee one ready for arrival.

I just can’t wait! I started to get really excited around week 30. And now I know this little person will definitely be with us in less than 9 weeks. They will take me in for induction at 10 days over, but I’m really trying to stay positive that this little one will be sick of having no room and want to get out as soon as possible!

The baby is so active. I mean super active! They say the average is around 10 or 12 periods of movement a day. This kid is on twice as much. I’m sure I would complain if s/he weren’t moving about enough, but this baby is so strong and my ribs so sore! The people at work probably think I’m nuts because I’m always talking to my belly and saying ‘will you please give me some peace!’

Baby is comfortably laying downwards, with his/her head towards the left side of my pelvis and his/her back going up the right side of my belly. A few people commented today that they thought the baby was dropping, but I think I always carried pretty low and feel like I’m a bit higher than before if anything. I don’t know. I just can’t wait to hear the word ‘engaged’ and then I’ll start getting excited.

More Belly Shots

Finally got these downloaded from my camera!

30 weeks

32 1/2 weeks

Loads of growth, eh??