Seriously if you are male, please do us both a favor and stop reading now. This post is about my breast feeding experience, and I'd rather believe that only ladies are reading it.
So today was the hardest one so far. Anna Love DID.NOT.SLEEP last night. She wasn't crying or fussy. No not at all. She was nursing. ALL NIGHT! I would think she was done and try to lay her down, but she instantly started acting hungry again. I'm determined to make this my best nursing experience yet, and so I want to really feed on demand and often. So I nursed her. At times I thought about what an amazing experience I was having. Other times all I could think about was sleep!
Since I mentioned it, let's talk about breast feeding. I've had some successes and some failures in this area, and hopefully I've learned from both. So far this experience is off to a good start. I think we've got a good latch. My supply is good. She seems to be nursing like a champ. I'm letting her stay at the breast as long as she wants (this is new for me). It really seems to be going well. Except one thing....and this one thing has happened with both my good experiences and my bad. IT HURTS!!!!!!! It hurts BAD!!! Really it's just one side that hurts. I say that I have a good side and a bad side, and it's been true every time. The good side is always good, and the bad side is always bad. I'm not sure why that is the case, but it's true. The good news is that as far as I can remember the bad side gets better in a few weeks, and then both sides are good and the pain goes away. Oh how I can't wait for that to happen!! Right now, it takes every bit of strength, determination, and courage I have to let her latch on to my bad side. At times I think that I'd rather jump off a cliff of throw myself onto a sword or something. Today I literally had to go into a room all by myself to nurse her on the bad side so that I could suffer in peace and quiet. Then when she latched on, I'd close my eyes tight, and pray like crazy. The pain gets better after about a minute of her sucking, but it doesn't go away all together. I wish I could remember for sure how long this lasted with the others. I think about 6 weeks, but today a friend suggested that maybe it only last a few days. Oh be right, Jamie!! Please be right!
Just a couple of notes about my past experiences...I've always struggled with supply issues. I mean seriously struggled. This time I started taking a supplement several days before Anna Love was born. I'm hoping that will help. I've always had pain. I've typically tried to put all my babies on a schedule, nursing or not. As I mentioned, I'm doing that differently this time. Finally, I've tried to get all my babies to use a pacifier. We are still planning to use a pacifier with Anna Love, but we are using it differently. I don't want to use the paci to delay a feeding or hold her off until the next scheduled feeding. BUT if she has just fed, and I'm convinced she just wants to suck, or we are driving, of I just cannot get to her in that very moment, then we are still offering the paci.
So that's the scoop on our breast feeding experience. My goal is to nurse exclusively, no bottles or formula, for at least one year. Now having said that, bottles and formula have saved me and my some of my other babies in the past. I'm not opposed to going that route if we need to do so. I don't feel any shame it that, and I don't condemn others who have used bottles or formula. I'm just sharing my goal for me and Anna Love.
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Monday, February 10, 2014
Crazy Times
I can't believe that I've not posted an update. I had such good intentions. After my last update, things were so very busy the rest of that day and really every day since that I just have not been able to sit down and write.
Just in case there's anyone who hasn't heard, Anna Love did arrive a few hours after that last update. It was an incredible, amazing, beautiful, perfect delivery, and I've been working on writing it all down. Hopefully I will be ready to share the story very soon. Until then, here's a pic to hold you over. This picture was taken as I was getting my first look at my girl!! God is so good!!
Just in case there's anyone who hasn't heard, Anna Love did arrive a few hours after that last update. It was an incredible, amazing, beautiful, perfect delivery, and I've been working on writing it all down. Hopefully I will be ready to share the story very soon. Until then, here's a pic to hold you over. This picture was taken as I was getting my first look at my girl!! God is so good!!
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
9:30 AM Update
Well it's never dull. After my last early morning update I rested for a little while then got up and took a shower. I felt really good on my feet, but as soon as I got back in bed my contractions got HARD! I knew that the doc would be in any minute, and I knew that he would check me and most likely break my water. I was pretty concerned about how painful that would be especially since I was already hurting. So I talked to my nurse, Amy, about my options. I was still only 2 cm dilated so she suggested me getting some IV pain medication. I've never had IV pain med during delivery so I was a little hesitant, but we talked through it and agreed it was the best option.
Soooooo as soon as she started pushing the meds in the IV, I started to feel dizzy and sick. Maybe I'll tell the longer version later, but the short version is that I had a pretty negative reaction to the medicine...think hallucinations. It took probably 2 hours to recover. I had just received the medicine and was feeling bad, but wasn't in full blown bad reaction mode when Dr. C came in. He did go ahead and check me and broke my water. He did not start Pitocin as planned because I was already seriously contracting. I don't remember much about him being in my room. It was pretty crazy.
Feeling much better now. Will try to give a new update as soon as I can.
Soooooo as soon as she started pushing the meds in the IV, I started to feel dizzy and sick. Maybe I'll tell the longer version later, but the short version is that I had a pretty negative reaction to the medicine...think hallucinations. It took probably 2 hours to recover. I had just received the medicine and was feeling bad, but wasn't in full blown bad reaction mode when Dr. C came in. He did go ahead and check me and broke my water. He did not start Pitocin as planned because I was already seriously contracting. I don't remember much about him being in my room. It was pretty crazy.
Feeling much better now. Will try to give a new update as soon as I can.
4:00 AM Update
SOOOOOOO.....it's Love Bug's big day!!!!!!!!!! I slept from around midnight until just a few minutes ago when Mrs. Amy came in to check on me. Hopefully I'll catch another couple of hours before things get busy in here! Wesley has been sawing logs!!! I mean I bet he's disturbing the other patients with his snoring!! Ha, ha!!
OK just because I like to document these things, here's the latest updates:
I'm still about the same. 2 cm, but an easier 2 and 80% effaced. I just got another dose of Cytotec. I've been having regular contractions through the night, not unbearable, just enough that we did discuss when we might should start talking epidural. ;) I know that all you natural girls are cringing right now, but this mama does not want to deal with too much pain. I've been exposed to my fair share of pain and have been told I have a high threshold for it, but I'm just not going to accept it if I have another option. SO I'm sure that in a few more hours, I'll be meeting Mr. Anesthesiologist!!
I'm expecting Dr. C to drop in sometime between 6-7 AM. I'm expecting the real fun to get here after he's been in to check on me and crank things up. The grandmothers will arrive a little bit after that time, and I'm also expecting a sweet new friend to make her debut with a camera!!
Guess that's it for now!!
Love to all!
Jennifer
OK just because I like to document these things, here's the latest updates:
I'm still about the same. 2 cm, but an easier 2 and 80% effaced. I just got another dose of Cytotec. I've been having regular contractions through the night, not unbearable, just enough that we did discuss when we might should start talking epidural. ;) I know that all you natural girls are cringing right now, but this mama does not want to deal with too much pain. I've been exposed to my fair share of pain and have been told I have a high threshold for it, but I'm just not going to accept it if I have another option. SO I'm sure that in a few more hours, I'll be meeting Mr. Anesthesiologist!!
I'm expecting Dr. C to drop in sometime between 6-7 AM. I'm expecting the real fun to get here after he's been in to check on me and crank things up. The grandmothers will arrive a little bit after that time, and I'm also expecting a sweet new friend to make her debut with a camera!!
Guess that's it for now!!
Love to all!
Jennifer
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Finally at the hospital
Well it's about 11:30 PM on Tuesday night. After a wild and crazy day yesterday and today and major shifts and adjustments, we are finally here and have begun the process to meet our Love Bug!!! I've got so many stories that I could share about the past few days. It's been off the hook crazy at our house. Excited kids. House full of grandparents. Sugar and soda. Cards and board games. Phones ringing off the hook with questions galore!! Wild I tell you!!! Wesley and I got into the car to drive BY OURSELVES to the hospital and we just looked at each other and took a deep breath, sighed, laughed, and almost cried!! I think we were delirious!! Anyway we are here now, and we just can't wait!!!
Speaking of parties, the party started up immediately upon arrival. We were greeted by a familiar face, a nurse who helped care for me during both Bella Peace and Elizabeth's births! She remembered me and we shared some big laughs!! Then the nurse that was assigned to my care for the night is one that almost delivered Elizabeth when Dr. C got tied up with another delivery. Again more reminiscing and laughs!! So cool!!
Now things are all quiet. The party is on hold for now while we wait with eagerness, anticipation, and some fear and anxiety. We've been around long enough to know better than to take these experiences too lightly or for granted. New life is precious and delicate and fragile. So as we wait, we pray!!
Here's some details just for my remembrance...I came in at 80% effaced and 2 cm dilated. They gave me one cytotec tablet at around 9 PM. I started having regular contractions immediately, but I have been having contractions for DAYS especially when I was on my back.
My prediction is that we will have a baby in our arms by lunch time!! I'd love to hear your predictions!! Also feel free to make your weight and length guesses. The ultrasound yesterday guessed Anna Love to be 8 lbs 1 oz which could be +/- 1 lb.
Oh and just for the sake of documentation, it's been a mild day temperature wise. We were able to get outside a little bit today before the wind and rain set in. It's extremely windy now. Temperature is probably about 50 degrees and it's raining cats and dogs.
One final unrelated note, we have 2 different people who are near and dear to us who will be receiving medical results tomorrow. Both around the 10 AM hour. If you think of it, pray for good results for them too.
Good Night!
Jennifer
Speaking of parties, the party started up immediately upon arrival. We were greeted by a familiar face, a nurse who helped care for me during both Bella Peace and Elizabeth's births! She remembered me and we shared some big laughs!! Then the nurse that was assigned to my care for the night is one that almost delivered Elizabeth when Dr. C got tied up with another delivery. Again more reminiscing and laughs!! So cool!!
Now things are all quiet. The party is on hold for now while we wait with eagerness, anticipation, and some fear and anxiety. We've been around long enough to know better than to take these experiences too lightly or for granted. New life is precious and delicate and fragile. So as we wait, we pray!!
Here's some details just for my remembrance...I came in at 80% effaced and 2 cm dilated. They gave me one cytotec tablet at around 9 PM. I started having regular contractions immediately, but I have been having contractions for DAYS especially when I was on my back.
My prediction is that we will have a baby in our arms by lunch time!! I'd love to hear your predictions!! Also feel free to make your weight and length guesses. The ultrasound yesterday guessed Anna Love to be 8 lbs 1 oz which could be +/- 1 lb.
Oh and just for the sake of documentation, it's been a mild day temperature wise. We were able to get outside a little bit today before the wind and rain set in. It's extremely windy now. Temperature is probably about 50 degrees and it's raining cats and dogs.
One final unrelated note, we have 2 different people who are near and dear to us who will be receiving medical results tomorrow. Both around the 10 AM hour. If you think of it, pray for good results for them too.
Good Night!
Jennifer
Monday, February 3, 2014
Change in plans
So I'm a little disappointed or should I say a lot disappointed. The plans changed today. Here's an update...
We had a firm plan that was set last Monday. If I did not go into labor on my own before today I would be induced on Tuesday (tomorrow). The only question was whether or not my doctor would bring me in tonight or early tomorrow morning (Tuesday). That would be determined at my appointment today based on my progress. So I went to my appointment today and everything looked so great. I had not made a lot of change in progress since last week, but that sometimes happens with me. He still thinks I'm a great candidate for induction, and we are expecting everything to go really smoothly. But the numbers that really count could not have been better...measurements, cord, fluid, position, everything.
Anna Love looks to have only gained about 2 ozs, and I didn't gain anything at all which is truly a miracle considering I was at a retreat this weekend!! My doc was super impressed...and I think a bit relieved, because this was really good news for him. Apparently not all of his patients are doing quite as good as me, so all of a sudden his schedule has become slam packed for tomorrow. He told me that he felt like his case load for tomorrow was just too busy to add me to the schedule, and since my numbers looked so great he felt really good about waiting one more day.
Honestly I totally understand this, and I'm not upset about having to wait one more day. It just seriously messes up a lot of our plans. At this point, one of my besties who was planning to be in the delivery room to take pictures most likely will not be able to make it. She has another, very important commitment on Wednesday. Another sad thing about this change is that another bestie who had planned to be here tomorrow (Tuesday) cannot be here on Wednesday. She had made very special, secret, surprise plans to drive 6 hours to be here with me tomorrow. I had no idea that she was coming until today when the plan changed.
There are a few other details that have been turned upside down too. So bummed!!! Dr. C did tell me that if I go on my own we will work it out, and honestly I'm still really, really hoping and praying that it comes together for Anna Love to be born tomorrow. This has definitely been a curve ball, and as I've already said I'm super disappointed. BUT I'm trying hard to speak truth to myself. I know that these details are trivial in the big scheme of things. I know that God is for me. His plan is good...better than my plan. He had Anna Love's birthday planned since before the beginning of time. I just have to trust Him. I know these things. I also know that He cares about the little things, so that is why I'm still asking Him to work out the little details that have been upset by the change in plan.
Here's a Beth Moore quote that is helping me with my disappointment tonight...
My God is huge, and my God is able. If I don't get what I ask Him for, I know I'll get something bigger.
I'd appreciate your prayers most especially for the big things, but feel free to lift up the little things too.
Blessings to all!
Jennifer
We had a firm plan that was set last Monday. If I did not go into labor on my own before today I would be induced on Tuesday (tomorrow). The only question was whether or not my doctor would bring me in tonight or early tomorrow morning (Tuesday). That would be determined at my appointment today based on my progress. So I went to my appointment today and everything looked so great. I had not made a lot of change in progress since last week, but that sometimes happens with me. He still thinks I'm a great candidate for induction, and we are expecting everything to go really smoothly. But the numbers that really count could not have been better...measurements, cord, fluid, position, everything.
Anna Love looks to have only gained about 2 ozs, and I didn't gain anything at all which is truly a miracle considering I was at a retreat this weekend!! My doc was super impressed...and I think a bit relieved, because this was really good news for him. Apparently not all of his patients are doing quite as good as me, so all of a sudden his schedule has become slam packed for tomorrow. He told me that he felt like his case load for tomorrow was just too busy to add me to the schedule, and since my numbers looked so great he felt really good about waiting one more day.
Honestly I totally understand this, and I'm not upset about having to wait one more day. It just seriously messes up a lot of our plans. At this point, one of my besties who was planning to be in the delivery room to take pictures most likely will not be able to make it. She has another, very important commitment on Wednesday. Another sad thing about this change is that another bestie who had planned to be here tomorrow (Tuesday) cannot be here on Wednesday. She had made very special, secret, surprise plans to drive 6 hours to be here with me tomorrow. I had no idea that she was coming until today when the plan changed.
There are a few other details that have been turned upside down too. So bummed!!! Dr. C did tell me that if I go on my own we will work it out, and honestly I'm still really, really hoping and praying that it comes together for Anna Love to be born tomorrow. This has definitely been a curve ball, and as I've already said I'm super disappointed. BUT I'm trying hard to speak truth to myself. I know that these details are trivial in the big scheme of things. I know that God is for me. His plan is good...better than my plan. He had Anna Love's birthday planned since before the beginning of time. I just have to trust Him. I know these things. I also know that He cares about the little things, so that is why I'm still asking Him to work out the little details that have been upset by the change in plan.
Here's a Beth Moore quote that is helping me with my disappointment tonight...
My God is huge, and my God is able. If I don't get what I ask Him for, I know I'll get something bigger.
I'd appreciate your prayers most especially for the big things, but feel free to lift up the little things too.
Blessings to all!
Jennifer
40 Weeks Today!!
Well I'm up, so I thought I might as well do something with my time. Blogging sounded like a good plan. :)
So I'm 40 weeks today!! Based on the fact that only about 5% of women deliver on their actual due date, I'm not really expecting today to be the day, however we know that it will be very, very soon!!
The Lord has been so gracious to have already answered many, many prayers regarding this pregnancy. Big prayers and little prayers...He's heard them all!! I'm so very grateful. One of those answered prayers includes the fact that I was very fortunate to get to attend a local retreat for homeschool mom's this past weekend. I wasn't sure if I'd get to go or not, but Anna Love stayed put, and I didn't miss any of it!! I even felt incredible the entire time I was there! Here's a cool picture that my very precious friend took this weekend while at the retreat.
Another answered prayer is that we made it into February. None of my kiddo share a birthday month, and we thought it would be fun to continue that tradition. Luke is January, Anna Love will be February, Grace has April, Bella Peace claims May, Elizabeth has September, and Mary Ruth takes October. So fun!! Of course these prayers fall into the "small" category. The biggies include mommy and Anna Love have been healthy and safe thus far. This still ranks top on the list as we finish out these final hours. In addition to praying for safety, we are praying for a fast and easy delivery and for Anna Love to be a "good size" baby...not too, too big and not too small. We are praying for nursing to go well and for me to have a good milk supply. We are praying that Anna Love will be an content baby and that she will have a calm, pleasant spirit.
We are so thankful that Grandmother has arrived at our house and will be here for the birth and first few days thereafter. We are still praying for Grandma to make it safe when the time comes. As of now, it looks all of our childcare for the other kiddos is in place. This is always a big concern of mine. I want to relax and know that my other kiddos are being well cared for when I am in the hospital. And finally, Lord willing, I will have the privilege of having a friend in the delivery room to document the big event!!
Like I said, I do realize that some of these things are insignificant, but the beautiful thing is that God cares for all our concerns. Nothing is too big or too small with God. He loves us so much. He is for us!! I also know that His plan is far better than mine so I can take comfort in the fact that even if things don't all come together in the way in which I have desired, He is worthy of my praise!!
I have a doc appt later today and we will make final decisions regarding the induction plan. I'll try to post an update.
Blessings to all!
Jennifer
So I'm 40 weeks today!! Based on the fact that only about 5% of women deliver on their actual due date, I'm not really expecting today to be the day, however we know that it will be very, very soon!!
The Lord has been so gracious to have already answered many, many prayers regarding this pregnancy. Big prayers and little prayers...He's heard them all!! I'm so very grateful. One of those answered prayers includes the fact that I was very fortunate to get to attend a local retreat for homeschool mom's this past weekend. I wasn't sure if I'd get to go or not, but Anna Love stayed put, and I didn't miss any of it!! I even felt incredible the entire time I was there! Here's a cool picture that my very precious friend took this weekend while at the retreat.
Another answered prayer is that we made it into February. None of my kiddo share a birthday month, and we thought it would be fun to continue that tradition. Luke is January, Anna Love will be February, Grace has April, Bella Peace claims May, Elizabeth has September, and Mary Ruth takes October. So fun!! Of course these prayers fall into the "small" category. The biggies include mommy and Anna Love have been healthy and safe thus far. This still ranks top on the list as we finish out these final hours. In addition to praying for safety, we are praying for a fast and easy delivery and for Anna Love to be a "good size" baby...not too, too big and not too small. We are praying for nursing to go well and for me to have a good milk supply. We are praying that Anna Love will be an content baby and that she will have a calm, pleasant spirit.
We are so thankful that Grandmother has arrived at our house and will be here for the birth and first few days thereafter. We are still praying for Grandma to make it safe when the time comes. As of now, it looks all of our childcare for the other kiddos is in place. This is always a big concern of mine. I want to relax and know that my other kiddos are being well cared for when I am in the hospital. And finally, Lord willing, I will have the privilege of having a friend in the delivery room to document the big event!!
Like I said, I do realize that some of these things are insignificant, but the beautiful thing is that God cares for all our concerns. Nothing is too big or too small with God. He loves us so much. He is for us!! I also know that His plan is far better than mine so I can take comfort in the fact that even if things don't all come together in the way in which I have desired, He is worthy of my praise!!
I have a doc appt later today and we will make final decisions regarding the induction plan. I'll try to post an update.
Blessings to all!
Jennifer
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