I. just. can't. bear. it...
30 January 2006, 19:38
...just how cute she is… Click to enlarge in Gallery
Everything seems to be going well. The SS McG is a voracious milker - my boobs may or may not be about to fall off. And she reached her first milestone today - her first turbo-jet squirt poo. She managed to slime herself, me and half the nursery wall. That’s my girl…
Permanent Link | Comments [4]The SS McG pulls into port!
27 January 2006, 09:43
Well, she’s here. Little Sophia Scout McG.
Here’s a picture of our angel. Isn’t she a delight?
The SS McG Roadshow… Click to enlarge in Gallery
The last few days have been an understandable whirlwind. We’re back at home now after a 3 night stay at the Mercy Hospital in Heidelberg (that I cannot recommend highly enough) and coping with the rigours of new parenthood…
********
The Labour (minus a few gory details)
I went into labour on Saturday evening around 6pm, with what I was sure were mild gas pains. 6 minutes apart. I made it through Iron Chef with coach Kaga’s appeals to “GET IT ON!!!” before finally calling the Birth Centre around 10.30 as I was in a considerable amount of pain. The midwife didn’t sound concerned (they like you stay at home for as long as possible) as apparently I sounded quite lucid but I had a massive contraction just after that made me go “that’s it. we’re going in. this is it baby.”
I’m so glad I did. A mere 4 hours later, at 3.59am, SS McG emerged from her dark home into the waiting hands of Husband. I hadn’t even had a chance to get the second dose of penicillin before she popped out. I’d coped with the whole labour with only gas (I am such a hero, just ask me) but of course, heaved my guts up into a kidney bowl within minutes of the delivery. I don’t remember hearing the midwife say “she’s a girl”, but when they popped her up onto my chest I started shaking with relief and overwhelming emotion. But although I wanted to have her with me, my overriding thought was “when the hell can I sleep?”
Note to self: don’t bother hauling laptop computer into Birthing Centre to use as distraction technique. I’d always thought this an odd suggestion, to bring games/cards whatever to the birth. In retrospect, this was mere folly. By the time I actually got to the suite I could barely stand (although apparently I passed out asleep for a little while between contractions which I don’t remember at all. Who the hell sleeps when there is work to be done?) I’m supposing this is handy when woman is in early stages of labour which I certainly was not.
At the risk of grossing out faithful readers, giving birth in the last stage, (i.e. pushing/delivery) is almost exactly like doing a massive backed-up-for-3-months poo (not that I’ve ever had a poo backed up for that long). It is the god-most uncomfortable sensation in the world, much worse than contractions. By the time I got to that stage I was buggered, but kept shrieking, “I can’t do this, I can’t push anymore. I can’t! I CAN’T!!!!!” I mean, honestly, what choice did I have? Sorry, sweetie, but you’re just gonna have to stay jammed up there ‘cos you’re mum is a big fat lazy defeatist wimp. Sigh.
Sorry to be terrifically smug but the labour was absolutely textbook. Short and sweet (if intense), no painkillers, no episiostomy, no stitches. In fact she came out looking like a caesar baby with barely a blemish.
The Stats
SS weighed in at 6lb 9oz and in total I was in labour for 6 hours 42 minutes. Not bad for a first attempt.
The Aftermath
I haven’t slept a full night since last Friday night. It’s totally worth it, of course, just hard work. I couldn’t sleep after the delivery, although I was advised to as SS would probably sleep for 10 hours or so, but I was so pumped. The impact of what had happened to us hit me sometime late Sunday morning. I woke up from a snooze and SS was sleeping in between Husband and I in bed and I just took one look at her and started bawling. I hadn’t expected to be assaulted with such feelings of love and thankfulness that she was safe and absolutely beautiful (because that couldn’t be only my biased opinion…)
Late Sunday night, the Birthing Centre was so chockers full of women giving birth (read: groaning and wailing their heads off in agony - it really is a sound like no other), we were transferred up to a “Partner Package” in the Maternity Wards. Obscene. Like living it up in a 4 star hotel room with double bed and ensuite so Matt could “room in” for the entire stay. We were taken such good care of - the midwives & night nurses were (I think without exception) excellent, although with different midwives every day and visits from consulting paediatricians and lactation consultations, I got tired of hearing conflicting pieces of “advice” about the way to do various “things”.
Like breastfeeding. It’s fucking hard work, man. I always thought it would be this thing where you knew how much your baby needed and you’d instinctively know what to do and where to put everything, but it isn’t like that AT ALL. Maybe it is for some mums but sure as hell not for me. Never have I felt so much like a prize heiffer with a perpetual case of runny udder. It’s rather alarming.
The fatigue has started to kick in, having to be awake every 3 hours for a (painful at this stage) feed. The weather hasn’t helped. Yesterday was 40 degrees (that’s celsius) in Melbourne and SS was lethargic and sleepy most of the day. Meh.
and the winner is. . . .
Auntie Claire with the closest Baby Tipping tip of Girl born on 22 January, weighing in at 7lb 6oz. Only 10 oz off the pace!
Oh and don’t forget to check out my cheeky monkey’s take on proceedings over at Wrigglepot, and Husband’s at Opinios.
So I think that’s it for me for now. Must. go. to. nap. Zzzzzzzzzz
Permanent Link | Comments [21]Let's get this Bloody Show on the road!
21 January 2006, 08:56
...or on the Bloody Floor as the case may be…
I may (or may not, I really have no idea how this Labour/Pregnancy thing is meant to work) have had a Bloody Show this morning. This term is my hands-down fave pregnancy term of them all… Excuse me love, sorry about all this damn mucous, but I seem to have put on a bloody show!
The “Bloody Show” usually appears with the “Mucous Plug”, an infinitely less satisfying term, but having either doesn’t even indicate that Labour is about to start (which is just bloody great), although generally labour tends to start anytime from 24 hours afterwards (but up to 2 weeks later! I mean, why even bother having one in the first place?). Gah…
Thankfully, am picking up my TENS machine today for use during delivery. I decided I could deal with Labour Pain, but having to deal with my nemesis, HD (Herniated Disc) at the same time was going to be pushing it, and I’m keen to have as few drugs as humanly possible. I’d booked into a TENS workshop at the Hospital on Monday (day before Due Date) which is cutting it v. fine. At least if I do go into Labour, I’ll be in the right place.
In last night’s news, I had the biggest full-on “I want this baby out of my body NOW and why don’t I wake the neighbours while I’m at it” tanty I reckon I’ve ever had.
All day it had been hot and windy and I was frustrated at being at home and I was dropping everything on the floor but not able to pick them up because of Fat Gut in the way and HD was twinging the minute I did anything that wasn’t lying down and around 7.30pm I was starting to get a migraine because I hadn’t eaten and poor Husband gets home and I just LOSE IT!!!
I think MiniMc decided Sod This for a Joke, I’m not hanging around in this Bloody Woman’s body anymore if she’s going to bang on like a wailing Harpie hence the casting out of the Bloody Show. Smart baby this one (again, takes after it’s father…)
Permanent Link | Comments [21]"Another One Bites the Dust" Tipping Table Updates
21 January 2006, 05:00
Tipping Table (by date)
| Tipper’s Name | Boy or girl? | Date of Birth | Weight of MiniMc @ birth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yukiko | Boy | 19 Jan 2006 | 7lb5oz |
| Reika | Girl | 21 Jan 2006 | 7lb |
| Elbhenry | Girl | 22 Jan 2006 | 8lb2oz |
| Claire | Girl | 22 Jan 2006 | 7lb6oz |
| Ferit | Boy | 23 Jan 2006 | 7lb8oz | Andrea | Boy | 23 Jan 2006 | 7lb5oz |
| D203 | Boy | 25 Jan 2006 | 6lb8oz |
| Katie | Girl | 25 Jan 2006 | 7lb4oz |
| Nicole | Girl | 26 Jan 2006 | 6lb |
| Jude | Boy | 26 Jan 2006 | 8lb1oz |
| Sussy | Girl | 28 Jan 2006 | 7lb9oz |
| A&K | Boy | 28 Jan 2006 | 8lb |
| Rin | Girl | 28 Jan 2006 | 8lb2oz |
| Doug | Girl | 29 Jan 2006 | 8lb |
| Gleek | Girl | 30 Jan 2006 | 7lb7oz |
| Sarah | Boy | 31 Jan 2006 | 8lb1oz |
| Jeremy | Boy | 31 Jan 2006 | 8lb |
| Kat | Girl | 1 Feb 2006 | 6lb6oz |
| Mille | Boy | 3 Feb 2006 | 7lb |
| Numine | Boy | 5 Feb 2006 | 8lb3oz |
| Hammy | Girl | 10 Feb 2006 | 7lb3oz |
| Megha | Girl | 12 Feb 2006 | 6lb10oz |
Locked and Loaded
19 January 2006, 12:18
It may not look it from yesterday’s pic, but MiniMc has finally locked and loaded (i.e. “engaged” for you sticklers of medical terminology) which means it’s popped it’s cheeky head down the pelvis and can’t go anywhere but out (out! OUT!)
I’m stoked about this turn of events, as it was changing possies every frikkin’ day. Downside is that moi’s pelvis is very VERY sore and I am definitely waddling. Just call me Mother Duck.
As for the Baby Tipping Comp, well already a couple of tippers (Bogue and Sam) are out of the running! I must say I’m surprised about Bogue, as I was quite convinced he had the powers of enigmatic foresight. Alas, in this case, wrong.
Permanent Link | Comments [5]
