June 2010

As I'm typing this, our fairytale son is sleeping next to me in the hospital cot. He is absolutely perfect. I'm sure every mother thinks that and it's probably a bit corny, but he simply is!

Our birth story goes something like this (don't worry, I was passed out for the gory bits, so won't go into that...hahaha).

I woke up at 4am on Monday of excitement. Did a few last minute things to ensure that Chris will survive whilst I'm in hospital. We left for the hospital at 6. I was going to check into a private room, but when we got here, the sister told us that we're the only people here. So we checked into a general ward which, here at Durbanville Medi-Clinic means 2 people/beds in the room. I unpacked and Chris did all the registration and admin bits. Then we waited. My gynea showed up at 07h45 and said that the 08h00 operation had been cancelled, so I'm going in at 8!

They rolled me into the surgery waiting area on the hospital bed and we waited about 15 minutes. Chris went to get his scrubs on and came back looking nervous. I think at that point, he was more nervous than me. My husband is a lot of things, but needles and blood isn't his strong points - he was so brave. The dr came and rolled me into the the surgery room. They made me drink a bitter concuction - not sure what it was and then gave me a spinal epidural. The drugs didn't agree with me, my blood pressure dropped suddenly and I was very naseous - apparently this only happens to like 5% of people...the anethiatist countered it with something else, but I was extremely claustophobic and Chris had to hold my hand to stop me for trying to touch my stomach. At that point, the dr's had already started the surgery, I had no idea. Anyway, I was given oxygen in the end to calm me down and just as I getting calmer, I heard a scream and Alexander Edward Haworth was born. The procedure of getting him out took all of 19 minutes! After that, the anethiatist gave me something which put me out completely. I woke up in the recovery room about 20 minutes later.

Alex's vitals were 3.885kg, 51cm and agpar close to 10.

Chris in the meantime took photos. He said the dr made him walk over to photos of Alex in the weighing scale and he walked passed and saw...well let's just say he's seen me inside out...! He said his knees nearly buckled, but he stuck it out. He did so well.

Anyway, apparently it wasn't as straightforward as it all sounds. Alex has the cord around his neck twice! That could have been the reason why he wasn't dropping. Also they had to use forceps to get him out and that's why there is a little scar on his lip. He's fine though and it's virtually gone. My gynea is my new hero. I am so pleased with him - he of course pretended that nothing happened - the sister who also looked after me in recovery told Chris what had actually happened!

After that, things become a little blurry. They give you so much pain medication (pethadine) - I got an injection every 3 hours. I was fully awake, but it makes you drowsy and feelling like the whole things is an outer body experience - not in a good way though. Especially since your trying to breastfeed and feeling that out-of-it makes you feel like you're not doing right by baby. So the rest of the day sucked. I was bedridden and not allowed to eat (that was probably the worse part...hahaha - I had a drip obviously...). But when I woke up the next day, I was fine. They took out the catheter and the drip. The cut is perfectly in the place where your body naturally bends, so it wasn't painful at all. I got up for the first time at 09h00-ish and even that was fine. My legs felt like I had to learn how to walk for the first time, but it wasn't painful, just felt like new legs if you know what I mean. I had a shower and felt like a new person.

Alex had slept in the nursery but they brought him to me every 4 hours to feed. He latched like a trooper - we're so lucky. I got about 5 hours sleep in total - with him being fed 4 hourly and me getting pethadine (I think it's called that...) every three hours, it was mostly 2 hours uninterrupted, but it was fine. Alex and I bonded more on day 2 - I was feeling less drugged and he stayed in the room with me the whole day. The nurses / sisters are fantastic here. They only come when you ask them to, so I felt empowered to try it myself and felt no shame when calling them in to help me. Alex and I struggled through latching a few times and then a winds / cramps a few times (by the way - telemant drops are the bomb!), but I'm starting to understand when it's a wind, when his hungry and when it's a nappy. It's all a learning curve though!

I took a sleeping pill last night on Dr's orders, Alex was sleeping in the nursery and the nurses brought him to feed. I woke up this morning at 5 with Alex laying next to me in bed. They had latched him during the night and then tucked him in so that it was safe for me and him to lay together. So when I woke up, I had this warm, sleeping, beautiful baby creeping to find my boob and that was the moment I fell totally and completely in love with him. There are no words to explain it so I won't try. But it's awesome.

Anyway...so today I'm feeling on top of the world. I've changed every nappy myself, I've latched him (first time every time!!) all by myself and haven't had to call the nurses once!! It's a good day and I'm expecting bad ones in future, but it was a confidence booster after struggling yesterday. I'm feeling great physically, like I'd say the scar is about 3 out of 10 painful - it's not even painful, it's more that I'm aware of it and when I cough, it's still rather uncomfortable. I can pick Alex up fine and ja, it's all good.

Chris has also been incredible throughout. He is so confident when he does things with Alex - he even changed a nappy today! It simply melts my heart when he holds Alex or when they sit and stare at each other - something Alex loves doing when he is awake. I love my boys so much and I thank God for blessing us with a great experience, a wonderful, healthy son and all these happy endorphines!!!

Anyway, this has turned out to be all gooey and gushey - it was meant to be factual and help me also remember what the experience was like.

Thanks for all the well-wishes and emails and texts and stuff - we really appreciate it.

I don't have any photos here, I'm actually still in hospital and checking out tomorrow. The staff and experience at Durbanville Medi-Clinic has been exceptional and outstanding and all the good descriptive words in the dictionary.

From an obviously elated and perhaps partially drugged first time mommy and daddy,

Chris, Sandra and Alex

Will post a photo later! Thanks for all the good wishes.

Hallo ladies,congrats to all the new arrivals,mrs Sh,Ronel-your babies are beautifull. Nelria lovely photos of lea ans Xen,they are gorgeous.

copy from afrikaans forum.

so De Nys is gebore 14 Junie 2010 om 19:45 te pietersburg medic clinic.
Hy was 50cm lank en het 3.1kg geweeg.
Als het so vinnig gebeur-ek het die dokter 2 uur gesien vir my 38 weke ondesoek,h het toe ges? ek is al 2cm ontsluit,maar baie vrouens loop vir week lank so rond. Op daai staduim het ek net sterk BH gehad,moes die inwendige ondersoek gewees het wat toe als getrigger het.
Ons besluit toe om huistoe te ry en so 15km se ry,s? ek toe vir my man nee ek dink dis kraam pyne ons moet maar terug en iewers in pietersburg gaan slaap. 5 uur is ek toe hospitaal toe,my kontraksies toe so 5min uitmekaar maar draaglik(op daai staduim het ek nog nie gedink ek is werkilik in kraam nie).
Half 6 het my gine gekom en toe my water gebreek,wat vrek seer was.Almal was gelyk op my-bietjie oorweldigend. Na die water gebreek is Toe het die kontraksies baie sterk begin raak,ek het gevra vir epiduraal en die is toe gedoen.
Die epi het dadelik verligting gebring en het nie die kraam proses vertraag nie. Ek het baie vinnig ontsluit en kon 'n vreeslike drukking in my pelvis voel ten spyte van epi.
So 19:20 was ek vol ontsluit en hulle het toe gine gebel om te kom,twee-drie drukke later is hy toe gebore.Ek was gelukkig om sonder episotomie of skeur weg te kom. EK dank die Liewe Vader vir die maklike geboorte en dat De Nys gesond is. Ons is baie dankbaar.
Hy drink baie mooi en sover gaan dit goed met die borsvoeding en almal is rustig. Boetie en sussa baie in hulle skik met die nuwe boetie.

Juandre Nel and Doug are proud parents of baby McKeilagh Georgia weighing in at a healthy 2.87kg's

Just saw this on my facebook, congrats girl.. Wishing you all the best...

ABDOMINAL BINDER AND MATERNITY BRACE

Hey all your gorgeous mom's and mom's-to-be!!

Not sure if you remember the info I added to the forum about the orthepedic braces to help in getting your tummy back post birth or the back braces to wear during pregnancy to help eliviate back pain.

Just wanted to let you know that I will be going on maternity leave from the 9 July 2010, I will however still be avialable on line for an orders or queries. Please note however it will just be a little more difficult to arrange for delivery and all while on maternity leave, with my little girl
needing most of my attention and me not being able to drive for the first few weeks..

If any of you are wanting to order, please try not leave it till last minute as I dont want to leave any of you dissapointed.

Just incase you needed the info again, please find all attached and please feel free to ask me any questions. My email address is larissa@globemail.co.za.

Abdominal Binder


Maternity Brace


I have had some feedback from mommies and mommies-to-be about both the products. They are all loving it and say it is super comfortable. Also the abdominal binder for post pregnancy, really does work.

Hope you have a great holiday tommorow.

Regards

Larissa

072 8073635

Hi all,

Sjoe but it took me long to catch up. Congrats to all the new mommies. All the babies are sooo beautiful!

Just a few more to go!

I still havent gotten to my birth story - have been extremely scatter brained and unable to concentrate and sleep - I think Ill be able to sleep better from tonite - if nt I'll be back in doc offices for some sleeping pills!

Im sooooo inlove - and not only with my news edition - but my entire family - they are all such troopers and so suportive!

We are ALL at home enjoying the holidays and FIFA.

Will chat again wen I can actually put a thought together

hope u all enjoy your little ones and familys - and for those that are still inwaiting - enjoy the rest

ciao
e

Hi Victo - Congratulations and all the very best.

Alex - You are right, I will try and start relaxing now. Baby will come when ready.
Thanks so very much for your help.