Wow, I've been so buzy with this whole parenting thing a whole month has gone by! 
We've been doing well so far, and baby Sasha is doing well. He is a happy baby and doesn't fuss too much, although he does spit up a lot so I'm thinking of checking for reflux. We're co-sleeping, babywearing, and EBF on demand. I'm loving all of it. The furkids are very affectionate and worry when he cries (which thankfully is not too often).
This is what he looked like when we brought him home from the birth center
http://img51.imageshack.us/i/tinysashabc.jpg/
He was so tiny he was getting lost in his clothes - 6lbs 11 oz.
http://img51.imageshack.us/i/sashahome1w.jpg/
Little newborn Sasha sleeping on my bed - he's probably only 5 or 6 hours old at that point.
after the first sponge bath
http://img51.imageshack.us/i/sashamonkey.jpg/
and this was when he was about 2 weeks old - going to eat mommy.
http://img51.imageshack.us/i/eatmommy.jpg/
http://img51.imageshack.us/i/sashasweet.jpg/
Here's an abridged version of his birth story
Sasha arrived 2 days before his EDD - without much warning at all.
We had a fun but crazy new year's week with a wedding, visiting
guests and holding an impromptu dinner for the extended family on friday.
DH's relatives left early saturday and we spent the weekend recovering
and returning to our routine. I had no idea that anything was about to
happen quite yet. On Sunday night I was hit with a cleaning urge - I guess
I was nesting. We were heading off to bed around 1am and suddenly I
started having contractions about 5-7 minutes apart, I got into bed,
managed to time about 4 of these and suddenly my water broke with a very
dramatic effect (think Niagara, not a trickle). We were on!
The midwife on call wanted me to wait at home
until my contractions were intense and 3 minutes apart for 1 hour. The
moment I hung up the phone my contractions have picked up and and hour
later I was calling in again. In the meantime appropriately marked the end
of the 9th months of morning sickness by throwing up spectacularly.
We arrived at the birth
center at 4:30 am. I was already at 7 centimeters - yay!
I labored in the birth tub for a while, getting out periodically. The contractions were very intense, but the coping techniques I learned in the birth class worked, and we were doing ok. Sasha's HB was strong and there was no sign of meconium anywhere (yay!)
DH was fabulous throughout and sensed perfectly how much
space I needed during contractions so he would either hold me close or
back off without me having to ask. He even tolerated having his fingers
crushed (poor guy). The midwives were great as well, checking in on me and
the baby without making me feel crowded.
Transition was over very fast (thankfully) and I was ready to start pushing sometime before 7am.
The pushing stage went slower because I was afraid of tearing, and was
getting pretty tired (I actually took a few contractions as breaks), and I
do distinctly remember asking the midwife to pull him out by the ears (I
was only half joking) but finally at 9:28 am Sasha arrived bright red and
hollering and landed on my chest. DH had an option to catch him, but he
realized that I needed him more at that moment as he helped me push our
little peanut out. Baby's apgar score was 9, and after he calmed out we
tried our first feeding (I had a little bit of a problem at getting him to
suckle at first, but we got the hang of it) Sasha was tiny at 6 lbs 11 oz,
and 19.5 inches and he is getting lost in most of his newborn clothes.
So, in the end, I had a beautiful birth experience, but I couldn't have
done it without everybody's help. Firstly, Sasha had done all the work
from his side. He spared me from back labor by turning anterior quickly
and never showed signs of distress letting me focus on myself insead of
worrying about him. Secondly DH was encouraging and calm (even as he
was freaking out internally) and his support made me stop panicking and
gave me the strength to cope. And finally, my midwife team
was amazing! They cared for me in a calm and competent manner and I felt
like I was never stuck, and I was safe with them. So everybody worked as a
great team, and we were resting at home at 2pm the same day. The furry
kids were very excited about their new sibling and our middle one is
already trying to become a backup mom for him watching everything I do and
giving him little nuzzles. I am just beginning the strange new
journey into motherhood and I am loving every moment of it! Oh, and it
feels great not to throw up anymore.
We've been doing well so far, and baby Sasha is doing well. He is a happy baby and doesn't fuss too much, although he does spit up a lot so I'm thinking of checking for reflux. We're co-sleeping, babywearing, and EBF on demand. I'm loving all of it. The furkids are very affectionate and worry when he cries (which thankfully is not too often).
This is what he looked like when we brought him home from the birth center
http://img51.imageshack.us/i/tinysashabc.jpg/
He was so tiny he was getting lost in his clothes - 6lbs 11 oz.
http://img51.imageshack.us/i/sashahome1w.jpg/
Little newborn Sasha sleeping on my bed - he's probably only 5 or 6 hours old at that point.
after the first sponge bath
http://img51.imageshack.us/i/sashamonkey.jpg/
and this was when he was about 2 weeks old - going to eat mommy.
http://img51.imageshack.us/i/eatmommy.jpg/
http://img51.imageshack.us/i/sashasweet.jpg/
Here's an abridged version of his birth story
Sasha arrived 2 days before his EDD - without much warning at all.
We had a fun but crazy new year's week with a wedding, visiting
guests and holding an impromptu dinner for the extended family on friday.
DH's relatives left early saturday and we spent the weekend recovering
and returning to our routine. I had no idea that anything was about to
happen quite yet. On Sunday night I was hit with a cleaning urge - I guess
I was nesting. We were heading off to bed around 1am and suddenly I
started having contractions about 5-7 minutes apart, I got into bed,
managed to time about 4 of these and suddenly my water broke with a very
dramatic effect (think Niagara, not a trickle). We were on!
The midwife on call wanted me to wait at home
until my contractions were intense and 3 minutes apart for 1 hour. The
moment I hung up the phone my contractions have picked up and and hour
later I was calling in again. In the meantime appropriately marked the end
of the 9th months of morning sickness by throwing up spectacularly.
We arrived at the birth
center at 4:30 am. I was already at 7 centimeters - yay!
I labored in the birth tub for a while, getting out periodically. The contractions were very intense, but the coping techniques I learned in the birth class worked, and we were doing ok. Sasha's HB was strong and there was no sign of meconium anywhere (yay!)
DH was fabulous throughout and sensed perfectly how much
space I needed during contractions so he would either hold me close or
back off without me having to ask. He even tolerated having his fingers
crushed (poor guy). The midwives were great as well, checking in on me and
the baby without making me feel crowded.
Transition was over very fast (thankfully) and I was ready to start pushing sometime before 7am.
The pushing stage went slower because I was afraid of tearing, and was
getting pretty tired (I actually took a few contractions as breaks), and I
do distinctly remember asking the midwife to pull him out by the ears (I
was only half joking) but finally at 9:28 am Sasha arrived bright red and
hollering and landed on my chest. DH had an option to catch him, but he
realized that I needed him more at that moment as he helped me push our
little peanut out. Baby's apgar score was 9, and after he calmed out we
tried our first feeding (I had a little bit of a problem at getting him to
suckle at first, but we got the hang of it) Sasha was tiny at 6 lbs 11 oz,
and 19.5 inches and he is getting lost in most of his newborn clothes.
So, in the end, I had a beautiful birth experience, but I couldn't have
done it without everybody's help. Firstly, Sasha had done all the work
from his side. He spared me from back labor by turning anterior quickly
and never showed signs of distress letting me focus on myself insead of
worrying about him. Secondly DH was encouraging and calm (even as he
was freaking out internally) and his support made me stop panicking and
gave me the strength to cope. And finally, my midwife team
was amazing! They cared for me in a calm and competent manner and I felt
like I was never stuck, and I was safe with them. So everybody worked as a
great team, and we were resting at home at 2pm the same day. The furry
kids were very excited about their new sibling and our middle one is
already trying to become a backup mom for him watching everything I do and
giving him little nuzzles. I am just beginning the strange new
journey into motherhood and I am loving every moment of it! Oh, and it
feels great not to throw up anymore.
