Alyssa is 2 weeks old today. I feel like she has been a part of our lives forever in a way because she just fits in so well. We went to her 2 weeks baby wellness doctor's appointment yesterday. At 13 days old she weighed 7 lbs 6.4 ozs (25th percentile) and was 19 3/4 inches long (25th percentile). So she is a perfectly proportioned little peanut. They like babies to be back to their birth weight by 2 weeks and she was 6 ounces over her birth weight. She had gained 11 ounces since her 5 day checkup, so 11 ounces in just 8 days. I was worried she wasn't eating enough since theres really no way to tell how much breastfed babies are eating. She eats for a short period of time but both the doctor and lactation consultant said she is just getting so much in that short period. If you look at the one picture in the slideshow (its labeled that she just ate) you can just see the full look on her face. Feeding her is getting better, still a learning process, some days are better than others. We're getting there though.
Friday morning we are leaving FL and making our way to New River, NC. We will drive part way friday and the rest saturday. We are trying to be realistic since we know we will need to stop a lot more considering we will be traveling with a 2 week old. She loves her carseat though and the car so hopefully the drive won't be too bad.
Now that I know she is getting plenty of milk, i think i will be able to get more sleep. I have been fighting her for like an hour everytime she eats and shes on a 3 hr eating schedule so that left me about 1 1/2hour stretches to sleep once i changed her diaper and got back to sleep. Luckily Dave usually takes her once i'm finished feeding her and gets her back to sleep so i can sleep more. But now that I know she just truly is full after 10-15 mintues of eating, i won't have to fight her to eat more so the whole process should take under a 1/2 hour total. Any extra amount of sleep counts. I am not really even that tired still, i get a shower in everyday, and we have plenty of time to do things we want. Dave has been wonderful and has packed the whole house since a lot of my time is consumed with feedings and i'm not supposed to lift anything heavier than Alyssa. I might not make the 3 week post on time since i dont know where we will be this time next week...a hotel still maybe but hopefully we will have found a place by then.
She's getting bigger everyday and is starting to realize she can move around. She is getting pretty squirmy and stretches out a lot now. we just love having her around!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
1 week old!
I can't believe that Alyssa is already a week old. When I was pregnant the weeks were going by so slowly and now that shes here its going by so quickly. She is a great baby overall. She sleeps for 2-3 hour stretches at night, and is usually awake just long enough to eat. She is also getting better about sleeping in her pack and play when she does sleep, and not needing to be held to sleep. Although during the day she still gets held most of the time when she sleeps, but thats just because we can't stand to see her laying there looking so cute :). The breastfeeding is going decent. She has an extremely hard sucking reflex, so you can imagine there is some pain involved at the moment. But we went to a lactation consultant who helped a lot and just told us it usually doesn't feel too good at first. But shes getting plenty full and pooping tons so that means she is getting all that she needs. So overall, its going well too I guess.
At her 5 day checkup everything went well. She hasn't lost much weight from her birth weight (not quite 5 ounces) which is good. She has no traces of jaundice (she never did to begin with though).
As far as my recovery, I am doing really well too. I got a few stitches after the delivery so I haven't been quite as up and about and comfortable as I would like but I'm starting to feel about back to normal. My pre-pregnancy clothes are fitting, though by fitting I mean I can get into my jeans and all but they don't quite have the same fit yet. My weight isn't distributed quite the same as it was yet. I weighed 119 lbs today, 8 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight. Good to be back in the teens. I ended up gaining 24 lbs total.
Dave and I are absolutely LOVING being parents and we both just always want to hold her. We just can't get over how beautiful of a baby the two of us made :). We are not overwhelmed at all.
Besides being a little tired, everything is perfect. We have been out and about with her and just love staring at her. We have been laying low the past few days since the first few were so hectic with dave's winging and all.
I have to go pick up my sweet girl, I can't stand watching her in her swing next to me...I need to go love on her.
At her 5 day checkup everything went well. She hasn't lost much weight from her birth weight (not quite 5 ounces) which is good. She has no traces of jaundice (she never did to begin with though).
As far as my recovery, I am doing really well too. I got a few stitches after the delivery so I haven't been quite as up and about and comfortable as I would like but I'm starting to feel about back to normal. My pre-pregnancy clothes are fitting, though by fitting I mean I can get into my jeans and all but they don't quite have the same fit yet. My weight isn't distributed quite the same as it was yet. I weighed 119 lbs today, 8 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight. Good to be back in the teens. I ended up gaining 24 lbs total.
Dave and I are absolutely LOVING being parents and we both just always want to hold her. We just can't get over how beautiful of a baby the two of us made :). We are not overwhelmed at all.
Besides being a little tired, everything is perfect. We have been out and about with her and just love staring at her. We have been laying low the past few days since the first few were so hectic with dave's winging and all.
I have to go pick up my sweet girl, I can't stand watching her in her swing next to me...I need to go love on her.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Alyssa is here!!!
Wednesday September 10th at 12:44 pm Alyssa Paige Lewis was born! She was 7 lbs 0.4 ounces and was 18 inches long...such a little peanut. She is absolutely perfect and sweet as can be.
At 5 am Wednesday morning Dave and I arrived at the hospital to be induced. I was still 3 cm and 90% effaced when we got there and they started the pitocin around 5:30 am. They raise it in increments of 2 until they get to 20. It was raised to about 13 by 1030, I was having contractions but nothing painful. I felt them but Dave and I were just hanging out playing cards, waiting for the action to start. Most of our morning was spent listening to the lady next door screaming and cursing non-stop. The nurses and doctors kept reassuring us that she wasn't normal. At 1030 they checked me again, still only about 4 cm so they still did not consider me in true labor yet. They decided to break my water and continue to up the pitocin. As soon as they broke my water, I started to feel the contractions but i was still reporting them a 3 or 4 out of 10 on the pain scale. I reported a 5 or so a little before noon. Then at noon, what I would consider pain actually started. I started to have to breathe through the contractions and stop talking during them. By 1215 I was hurting really badly and said I was going to give into the epidural, which I did not want. The reason I was going to give in was because I figured I was still only around 4 cm and was going to be in that level of pain for like 8 hours more (since they told me on average it would take 12-14 hours once I was in true labor). Then like 2 minutes later I told Dave I had to push, I figured I didn't really have to but to get the doctor to come check me anyway. She checked me and to all of our surprise I was 10 cm and Alyssa was already on her way out. I started pushing and the nurses were telling me which pushes were good and which weren't as productive. So after I got the advice I asked the doctor how many more contractions would it be possible to get her out. She said if I did it right, 2. I said okay, it gave me a goal, I did it and got her out at 12:44 pm after 22 minutes of pushing. They had already called anesthesia, didn't have time to call back and cancel, so he showed up after Alyssa born. So it was obviously a little late, which was great since I really wanted all natural. The nurses and doctor said that I made it look really easy and for a first time mom it was incredibly quick. They also told me for my next baby to get to the hospital asap once I have a painful contraction since it went so quickly and make sure I tell my next doctor how quick it was so we could plan and not have the next baby in the car on the way to the hospital. So I'd say I was only in true pain, what I was thinking labor would be like, starting at about 12 and she was born 44 minutes later...so it was not bad at all. I was scared since people say pitocin makes labor so much more painful and the epidural was inevitable, but I did it 100% drug free...no epidural, no iv pains, no local.
Alyssa came out so perfect and didn't really even have a cone head shape since it was so quick. She has tons of dark hair and we're thinking she looks more like Dave, but its hard to tell right now. We got home from the hospital at 1045 am friday and then left for Dave's winging around 1145. We were out all day and she was wonderful. I'll try to keep posting pictures, we already have a million of her!
At 5 am Wednesday morning Dave and I arrived at the hospital to be induced. I was still 3 cm and 90% effaced when we got there and they started the pitocin around 5:30 am. They raise it in increments of 2 until they get to 20. It was raised to about 13 by 1030, I was having contractions but nothing painful. I felt them but Dave and I were just hanging out playing cards, waiting for the action to start. Most of our morning was spent listening to the lady next door screaming and cursing non-stop. The nurses and doctors kept reassuring us that she wasn't normal. At 1030 they checked me again, still only about 4 cm so they still did not consider me in true labor yet. They decided to break my water and continue to up the pitocin. As soon as they broke my water, I started to feel the contractions but i was still reporting them a 3 or 4 out of 10 on the pain scale. I reported a 5 or so a little before noon. Then at noon, what I would consider pain actually started. I started to have to breathe through the contractions and stop talking during them. By 1215 I was hurting really badly and said I was going to give into the epidural, which I did not want. The reason I was going to give in was because I figured I was still only around 4 cm and was going to be in that level of pain for like 8 hours more (since they told me on average it would take 12-14 hours once I was in true labor). Then like 2 minutes later I told Dave I had to push, I figured I didn't really have to but to get the doctor to come check me anyway. She checked me and to all of our surprise I was 10 cm and Alyssa was already on her way out. I started pushing and the nurses were telling me which pushes were good and which weren't as productive. So after I got the advice I asked the doctor how many more contractions would it be possible to get her out. She said if I did it right, 2. I said okay, it gave me a goal, I did it and got her out at 12:44 pm after 22 minutes of pushing. They had already called anesthesia, didn't have time to call back and cancel, so he showed up after Alyssa born. So it was obviously a little late, which was great since I really wanted all natural. The nurses and doctor said that I made it look really easy and for a first time mom it was incredibly quick. They also told me for my next baby to get to the hospital asap once I have a painful contraction since it went so quickly and make sure I tell my next doctor how quick it was so we could plan and not have the next baby in the car on the way to the hospital. So I'd say I was only in true pain, what I was thinking labor would be like, starting at about 12 and she was born 44 minutes later...so it was not bad at all. I was scared since people say pitocin makes labor so much more painful and the epidural was inevitable, but I did it 100% drug free...no epidural, no iv pains, no local.
Alyssa came out so perfect and didn't really even have a cone head shape since it was so quick. She has tons of dark hair and we're thinking she looks more like Dave, but its hard to tell right now. We got home from the hospital at 1045 am friday and then left for Dave's winging around 1145. We were out all day and she was wonderful. I'll try to keep posting pictures, we already have a million of her!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Nothing yet...
No induction this morning. The labor and delivery floor is still too full. My doctor said they are discharging a few women this afternoon so i can probably be induced tomorrow morning at 5 am, but that still isn't a definite. I asked if I could come back tonight after the women were discharged, she said probably not but she'd check and call me back later tonight. I am not going to sleep tonight anyway, just like I didn't last night, so I might as well get this show on the road while I am less sleep deprived. I am 3-4 cm dilated and 90% effaced. My doctor said, again, "I can't believe you haven't had this baby yet". Me neither! I'll update more as I know more...
Monday, September 8, 2008
40 weeks!
so my due date has come...and just about gone. Still no Alyssa.
Dave and I went out on our last pre-baby date. It was nice, just the two of us. When we were out and about today, I was asked numerous times when I'm due. It was pretty crazy answering "today actually!". Although its going to be kind of frustrating tomorrow having to answer "yesterday". We cleaned the house today so we could bring Alyssa home to a nice clean house. We are so completely ready for her!
If i don't post again by tomorrow night, that should mean we are in the hospital getting induced. Hope and Pray we get induced tomorrow after my appointment!
Dave and I went out on our last pre-baby date. It was nice, just the two of us. When we were out and about today, I was asked numerous times when I'm due. It was pretty crazy answering "today actually!". Although its going to be kind of frustrating tomorrow having to answer "yesterday". We cleaned the house today so we could bring Alyssa home to a nice clean house. We are so completely ready for her!
If i don't post again by tomorrow night, that should mean we are in the hospital getting induced. Hope and Pray we get induced tomorrow after my appointment!
Monday, September 1, 2008
39 weeks
only 1 week left (well 6 days technically, every day counts :))! Luckily we did not get evacuated over the weekend like we thought we were going to. I was hoping to go into labor since they say the low pressure of the hurricane can break your water. My doctor actually said they were way busier over the weekend with women in labor than usual but unfortunately the low pressure didn't do anything for me. It actually didn't even rain much here, so the hurricane was very uneventful for us here, which is a good thing i guess.
At todays appointment I was checked again and I progressed a little bit. I am still 2, almost 3, cm dilated but I am now 75% effaced and she has dropped to a 0 station , which is pretty low. I can tell she has dropped lower because I am having some sharp pains from her compressing nerves. My doctor said she definitely thought I would have gone into labor by now so this week she did not make any predictions for the next week. I have an appointment again next Tuesday at 9 am. I will be 40 weeks and 1 day. She said right now from the huge number of patients in labor and delivery that they had to open up another floor of the hospital to house everyone its so busy. And since my induction is elective, versus it needing to be done because of a health risk to me or the baby, that she can only induce me if theres room. She also has to get the induction approved by the OB docs working upstairs that day. So she told us to bring our bags and stuff to the appointment next Tuesday and if theres room upstairs, she will induce me after my appointment. So If i don't post by next Tuesday evening, I am probably being induced...keep your fingers crossed! I am a little disappointed though since I didn't think I was going to have to go past my due date. Now I am just hoping for 40 weeks and 1 day, which i know is only 1 day past my official due date, but like i said earlier in the post...1 day really counts at this point, each day seems like an eternity waiting for her. But if the induction isn't approved or there isn't room it could be even later, and I have no clue how much later. No matter what, they won't let people go past 42 weeks because of health risks to the baby, but i cant wait that long, I might just go crazy.
I still weigh 133 lbs (+22) so I've been the same for a few weeks now. She however is supposedly gaining 0.5 lbs a week...so every day that goes by just means a bigger baby to push out, although probably healthier so its okay I guess.
Just pray for a healthy and "easy" (as can be considering) delivery for us...and soon!
At todays appointment I was checked again and I progressed a little bit. I am still 2, almost 3, cm dilated but I am now 75% effaced and she has dropped to a 0 station , which is pretty low. I can tell she has dropped lower because I am having some sharp pains from her compressing nerves. My doctor said she definitely thought I would have gone into labor by now so this week she did not make any predictions for the next week. I have an appointment again next Tuesday at 9 am. I will be 40 weeks and 1 day. She said right now from the huge number of patients in labor and delivery that they had to open up another floor of the hospital to house everyone its so busy. And since my induction is elective, versus it needing to be done because of a health risk to me or the baby, that she can only induce me if theres room. She also has to get the induction approved by the OB docs working upstairs that day. So she told us to bring our bags and stuff to the appointment next Tuesday and if theres room upstairs, she will induce me after my appointment. So If i don't post by next Tuesday evening, I am probably being induced...keep your fingers crossed! I am a little disappointed though since I didn't think I was going to have to go past my due date. Now I am just hoping for 40 weeks and 1 day, which i know is only 1 day past my official due date, but like i said earlier in the post...1 day really counts at this point, each day seems like an eternity waiting for her. But if the induction isn't approved or there isn't room it could be even later, and I have no clue how much later. No matter what, they won't let people go past 42 weeks because of health risks to the baby, but i cant wait that long, I might just go crazy.
I still weigh 133 lbs (+22) so I've been the same for a few weeks now. She however is supposedly gaining 0.5 lbs a week...so every day that goes by just means a bigger baby to push out, although probably healthier so its okay I guess.
Just pray for a healthy and "easy" (as can be considering) delivery for us...and soon!
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