Breastfeeding & a Good Sucker!

We've been having breastfeeding drama lately. I never knew there was so much to breastfeeding that needed to be worked out to make it completely successful. Ethan latched on right after he was born no problem and was born with a really good suck. So strong in fact that he sucks a little too hard.
This may seem a little too personal, but I'll try to keep it light. We headed into see the nurse practioner and lactation consultant on Monday for his 4 day appointment only to learn that he had lost 12% of his body weight since birth. We were told that we would have to supplement with 1 oz pumped breastmilk or formula after each feeding. Meanwhile, Ethan had already gone to town destroying my nipples because of his powerful suck and because he wasn't latched on properly. I was a little concerned, but hopeful that we would fix everything and he would gain weight.
We came back the next day for a weigh in and another appointment with the lactation consultant. He had gained 6 oz in the last 24 hours. We were really happy and figured he would continue to gain really well and be at his birth weight soon. He was doing so well that we then were told to supplement every other feeding and come back on Friday when he was 8 days old.
On Friday, he had only gained another 1/2 oz in 3 days. I was discouraged and getting a little more concerned. The lactation consultant reassured me that he was gaining weight just slower than we had hoped for. He looked very healthy and we had nothing to worry about. I had been feeding him with a nipple shield to let my nipples heal for the 3 days prior and they were finally healed so I could go ahead and nurse without it.
Unfortunately, by this last Monday he had completely destroyed my nipples again and they were worse. We waited for an appointment on Wednesday and when he was weighed it showed he had only gained 3/4 oz in 5 days. I started crying in the doctor's office because I felt so responsible and guilty. Again, I was reassured that we could still fix this and that he was still gaining weight, just not as fast as we had hoped.
I was advised to stop nursing to give my nipples a chance to heal again, pump every 3 hours and feed him with formula and the pumped milk. It was very sad to think that I wouldn't be nursing him for 5 whole days. I was told that he wouldn't have a problem going back to the breast. It appears that my son does not care where he gets his food...he just wants it. He evidently doesn't suck correctly and this is common with many newborn boys. We were told it's not to late to train him and that boys just take longer to figure it out. We'll start suck training early next week and hopefully be back to the breast soon. We are 24 hours into this new arrangement and I do like that Ken can do more feedings and Ethan eats faster with a bottle than from the breast so I sleep more. Ken does not sleep better because he actually has to get up now to feed him while I pump. Luckily, I have a ton of milk and pump what Ethan needs to eat at each meal.
I have no doubt that we will go back to weigh him in the morning and he will have gained a few ounces and by Monday he'll have gained much more. It's nice to be able to see how much he's getting from the bottle.
I have to keep reminding myself that even if breastfeeding doesn't work out, that my son is happy and healthy. We have a very good baby who sleeps at least one 4 hour block during the night and who sleeps in his own bed. Even when he wasn't getting enough to eat, he was still happy (as long as he could suck on something).

He's finally here!

Ethan Alan Dean was born on February 18th at 1159PM weighing 8 lbs, 9 oz and measuring 20 3/4 inches long. We are both doing fine. He is 12 days old today! I can't believe how fast time as flown by already. He looks different every day. Sometimes I just stare at him sleeping and start crying because I just can't believe that he's finally here and I'm lucky enough to be his mom. I'm sure that's part hormones out of whack and part real emotion. People told me that I would fall in love with my baby the moment he was born. I felt attached to him when he was born but I don't think I truly fell in love with him until he was a couple days old. I love being a mom! It's especially been more enjoyable now that we have gotten to know each other better and gotten into somewhat of a routine.
We had an interesting 48 hours before Ethan came. Here's the short story (sort of) because it's really easy to make it into a really really long one. I started seeing signs that labor was going to start soon about 72 hours before I gave me birth. 48 hours before my contractions were 8-10 minutes apart, but I could sleep through them for the most part. By about 36 hours before, they were 6-7 minutes apart and we walked every few hours to keep them going. We were both getting excited and anxious to get to the hospital, but knew we had to wait until they were 3-5 minutes apart for 2 hours. After having dinner with my parents on Wednesday night (a little more than 24 hours before his arrival), we headed home and the contractions became more painful and 5-6 minutes apart. I wanted to stay up and keep walking around the house to get them closer together so we could go to the hospital. At 11pm we gave up and tried to go to sleep. Even while lying down the contractions were 7 minutes apart and so painful I couldn't sleep. After an hour, crying and freaking myself out, I got home and they immediately went to 4 minutes apart. We waited the two hours to make sure they were consistent and headed to the hospital.
When we arrived at Labor & Delivery they said I was 3cm dilated, but that the contractions had begun to space out. They decided to admit me and have me walk. At this point, I had not slept in 24 hours and while walking was falling asleep. The nurse told me to get into bed and sleep. 2 hours later they had started the Pitocin and gradually we made more and more progress. Then it was time for the epidural at 5cm.
The first epidural didn't completely take. I could still move my toes and legs, but had some numbness. They pushed it over and it worked a little better, but finally they had to replace it. The first one was very uncomfortable and painful to have put in, so I was afraid of the second one. Thank God, after praying with my mom I felt nothing. This epidural finally took and I passed out and slept for a couple hours. When I woke up I was 8 1/2 to 9cm dilated, but Ethan was still high up, so we waited. At 10pm the midwife came in and they said it was time to push.
After 2 hours of pushing and only getting his little cone out, I guess I turned to my sister and said, "I'm done!" and gave a huge push and all of him came out just in time to be born on the 18th. Unfortunately, I tore really badly (3rd degree). I was completely out of it and scared to hold him on my own, for fear of dropping him. My eyes were rolling into the back of my head because I was so tired.
Thankfully, he was perfect and healthy and even scored a 9/10 on his APGAR test. I'll post more about the last week later.
My recovery has been difficult. I couldn't get out of bed for 24 hours after he was born and had a hard time walking for 2-3 days and it started getting easier after that. Ken has been so wonderful! He took such good care of Ethan and me. We joke that I was probably more work than Ethan those first few days. I'm still on pain meds and hopefully will be off of them soon. Life is good!

Belly Shots - 39 weeks and 4 days

I've been just a little busy lately, but wanted to post the pictures that my friend, Lauren took a week before Ethan came. I'm really glad that we took the time to take pictures of my belly as big as it was because it's hard to believe that it was ever that big now. Thank goodness it goes down fairly fast after birth. But, more about all that in my next post. Enjoy the pictures! Thanks, Lauren!

Still waiting...

39 weeks.

No baby yet! It's funny how a few days ago everyone started asking if he's here yet! Nope, we'll let you know ;)

Ken & I are very ready for Ethan to come already. The house is ready, we just need a baby. I keep making guesses as to when he'll arrive, but I'm wrong. My body is definitely getting there, but since I've never had a baby I have no idea how close I am. I've had some contractions, but nothing regular. Sometimes they are a couple days apart and other times I've had 3 thirty minutes apart. At my 38 week doctor's appointment last week the doctor said that Ethan was at a -3 station, so at the top of the birth canal, and he was dropping, but had a ways to go. I think he's made progress since then or maybe that's just wishful thinking. She also said she believes he'll be between 7 and 8 lbs at birth if he comes on his due date. She thinks he'll be here on the 15th or a few days after. Luckily, my doctor's office automatically schedules an induction between 41 and 42 weeks at the 40 week appointment if they don't see significant progress. At least that way we'll know there's an end in sight. I really hope we don't have to be induced because I'd like to go into labor on my own and with induction there's more of a chance of a c-section being needed.

Unless I'm late this will probably be my last post until he arrives. Keep your fingers crossed that he's not late.

We're getting close!

I'm about 37 1/2 weeks pregnant now and ready to go! Time is standing still and now that I'm off work it's even slower. I'm bored. It's nice to be able to make my own schedule, but when the schedule involves television and a nap it gets boring really quickly. I'm told that I should enjoy this boredom because I will never be bored again. Lately, I've been trying to make some plans for each day and to hopefully get out of the house. One day I went to Starbucks & Kohl's and today I met up with my dad for lunch.

The baby is still moving a lot! His movements are not as jerky as they were before since he's getting wedged more and more. He's still headdown and still enjoys spending half of the day with his butt under my right rib, which is really uncomfortable. I've been having a harder time sleeping at night, but it's nice that I can take a nap in the afternoons.

We finally finished Ethan's room this last weekend. My sister, mom and I finished getting the house ready on Saturday by putting receiving blankets, diapers, wipes, etc in Ethan's room, my bedroom, and downstairs. My sister also put together a diaper bag & nursing baskets for upstairs and downstairs. We cleaned all the infant toys and put them in toy baskets and then got started on finishing his room.

We got his bedding from Goore's and its been on his bed for the last week or two. We're still waiting for his matching nightlight and lamp & shade. Other than that the last thing to be done in his room is to put up the poem about little boys above his changing table, another picture frame and a sports shelf to the right of his changing table. Here are the pictures of his room. Ethan's daddy is very proud of the room.

Ken's Forty-Niner Way sign is now Ethan's

His bed with a little monkey.

The co-sleeper is set up next to our bed. Just needs a baby ;)

Ethan's take home from the hospital outfit. Courtesy of his dad.

Ella has been very into baby Ethan (Eaton as she says). We ask her where he is and she will pull up my shirt, lower my bellybands and give him kisses on my bellybutton. I think she actually thinks he is my bellybutton. She looked at me confused last week when I told her he was going to come out soon to play. I'm pretty sure she is going to be all over him when he comes out.

Hopefully, I'll get one more post in before he comes, but if not you'll see pictures of Ethan soon! Only 19 days to go!

26 days and counting...

We're getting closer to E-Day as Ken's been calling it. We've been really busy the last few weeks. A week and a half ago, my sister, mom, and mother-in-law gave me a wonderful baby shower! I couldn't believe how generous people were. The only problem Little Man will have is helping Mommy pick out an outfit in the morning. He has, no joke, forty to fifty 0-3 month short sleeved onesies and about 50 blankets. Many of the things we have were hand-me-downs, but he still managed to get more really cute clothes.

I can't believe how much bigger I've gotten. My belly continues to grow out and not side to side. I look like I have a basketball or a watermelon under my shirt. I've officially gained 33 lbs.

Ken and I went to the Dr. today for my 36 week appointment. Ethan is headdown, with his butt just under my right ribs, and his back downward to my left. The only position I can guess is that he's hanging with his head down and his back all along my front. Whatever floats your boat, son!Dr. says that it looks like he is about 6 1/2 lbs right now, and if I make it to 40 weeks he will most likely be between 8 and 8 1/2 lbs at birth. It is quite uncomfortable when I sleep because he seems to like that position during the night. It's getting harder to sleep on my side and I have to get up 4-5 times a night to go to bathroom now. I'm already feeling really tired, but thank goodness, I am now off of work.

My last day of work was Friday. It was very sad to leave. Surprisingly, I didn't cry all the way home like I originally thought I would. I've got plans to go pick up a kid or two at the Weaver's over the next week or two.

Ethan's room is almost done. We put his bedding on his bed a couple days ago. It is so stinking cute! I'll take a picture of his room once my sister, mom and I get the last few things done this coming weekend. I'm getting really excited as the days get closer and closer. I can't wait to see my beautiful baby boy's face.

49 days to go!

49 days to go! Everyday I feel a variety of emotions about the birth of Ethan. For the most part, I'm really excited and it feels like it'll never come. Because we are so close I also feel a lot of anxiety over getting everything ready and I think I'm in shock that he'll actually be here in 7 weeks. Despite all the excitement, I also worry that something will happen to him between now and then. I know my fears are out there and the chances are very very slim that he will wrap himself up in his umbilical cord or that his heart will just stop. I think part of these fears comes from losing a baby before. The dream of finally becoming a mom is so close and I can't wait to see Ethan's little face. It makes my eyes well up with tears just to imagine those first few moments with my son.
He still seems to be growing normally. At my 32 week appointment, I measured a week behind, which was irritating since I measured a week ahead just 3 weeks before. It's all still within what's normal, but, of course, I freaked out and worried that he'd stopped growing. I have a feeling this worrying will never stop even when he is here. There will be another set of worries. He was head down as of my last appointment and I think he's stayed that way. My doctor said that the chances of him turning around again are slim since it's getting packed in there. He should be about 4 1/2 lbs by now and 16 or 17 inches long. Supposedly, he will gain 1/2 lb a week from now until delivery.

Almost 33 weeks (Christmas Day!)

My belly is huge! I didn't think my belly button could come out anymore, but it has. I have had a vertical line above and below my belly button for about a month. It's really cool to see the things that they talk about in books happening to me.


In the next couple weeks I'll post pictures of his room. It's still a work in progress. His clothes are washed and put away. His crib & dresser are up and ready to go. We still have a few things to do, but I'll post pictures when we're finished.