How it happened

So, I thought it might be time to share a little more of my 'birth story'. To be honest, there isn't really much to tell, but never mind. I'm not sure if it's the same for every mum out there, but in the weeks after delivery, I keep playing it over and over in my mind. It feels good to talk or write about it.

Okay, where to begin? Lainey was born on a Friday. The Wednesday just before, I had my regular doctor appointment (39 weeks) and he stated that I was about 2.5 cm dilated, and that he would be happy to induce me on Saturday if I liked. I agreed, but we didn't arrange a time. He told me to call the office on Friday and set it up. I was a bit scared of being induced, and decided to spend the next couple of days doing things that might help it all along.

On Thursday morning, Luke and I went for a nice long walk! I still had a few things to do around the house, so I did those. We went out for dinner as a family, I think we knew it would be the last time for a while. All through this (and the several days previous) I was having irregular and far apart Braxton-Hicks, but nothing at all painful.

We went to bed at about midnight, and around 1am I woke up with a painful contraction. A short time later, another one. Then another. I got up to go and find my watch so I could time them. In the kitchen, my water broke! It was time to go to the hospital! We called our wonderful neighbours and asked them to come up and sleep up here so we could leave Luke in bed. We're so grateful that they came and helped us out.

At the hospital, whilst checking in, the contractions started to get worse, but they still weren't all that bad. They put me in a room and a few minutes later they checked on me and said I was about 6cm dilated. I got my IV line put in and hooked up to the monitors. The next part is kind of a blur. I think they checked me again a few minutes later and said I was about 8cm. And then, it's almost like no time passed, before the doctor was there, saying I was ready. All at once, I needed to push, and they told me not to, because they weren't quite ready yet. Luckily I didn't have to wait long, and two pushes later, Lainey was born.

I feel really lucky to have had such a smooth experience. Both of my babies have been born without pain-relief drugs, and I have to say, it was a lot easier this time around! Lainey came out looking perfect and sweet (I sort of thought she looked like a little gnome at first...) Trev was able to get home before Luke woke up, which was a blessing.

Thanks to all the nurses and doctors who helped in the hospital, we were really pleased with the whole thing! And we love our new little family member :-)

Crazy

Well, what can I say? Life suddenly got very busy around here. I never knew what a big transition it would be to go from one to two. Still, we're surviving. There are good days and bad days, of course, but I'm happy to say that the bad days are becoming rarer, while the good days are more the 'norm' now.

Trev is still quite busy with school and work. He has just 5 weeks left until school's out for summer...we can't wait.

Lainey is a good baby. She's very content, especially if she's being held. But that's okay- I love holding my babies! I admit it is a little tricky sometimes to keep both of them happy, but I am using my front pack baby carrier quite a lot so that I can play with Luke and hold Lainey at the same time (and talk on the phone, do the dishes, fold laundry...)

We're waiting for nice weather to come. It's definitely spring-like at the moment. We get one or two days of warm weather, followed by snow. But we get outside when we can and make the most of it.

It might be hard but when I look at these two, it's all worth it.

Inspirations

There are so many talented people out there. And many of them are extremely generous and willing to share their ideas, successes, and even instructions for how to create similar results. I have been spending quite a lot of time browsing blogs and websites, searching for ideas.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to collect these ideas and create a plan for myself, of the things that I really want to try. There's so much out there, that really you have to control yourself and not get carried away thinking you are going to try everything!

One blog that has given me a kick start in the baby clothes department is having a giveaway. http://kinzieskreations.blogspot.com/2009/03/100th-post-giveaway.html. This girl is talented. She just makes things without a pattern and they always turn out good. She has a little girl and some of the clothes she's made for her are so funky and cute.

Warning...

I have a feeling that my next few posts will be pretty much all baby clothes. I am finding snatches of time here and there, but not much, so it's quite slow progress. Here's a dress that I started ages ago and just finished last week. Lainey wore it to church and looked sweet. The pattern says to make buttonholes, but I used snap fasteners and just sewed the buttons on for decoration. I'm a bit scared of buttonholes, I think!

And here's Lainey in her trousers, looking all chilled out in the sink

Lainey

Lainey May is here! She arrived 20th February 2009 at 3.37am, after a mere 2 and a half hours of labour!

Lainey weighed 8lbs 2oz and was 20.5 inches long. She is so lovely and we adore her! I will come back with details when I have the time.