Unfolding Dreams

First Breastfeeding I would like to say breastfeeding came easily or naturally, but it didn't. It required a lot of work and determination. I had moments of doubt and struggled with my baby having a poor latch for the first few weeks. When my first baby was born, we were visited by the lactation consultant in the hospital who helped adjust baby and put her to the breast. It seemed like my daughter was nursing fine. Then we were discharged 24 hours later and something changed. My baby no longer seemed to be nursing fine. Whenever she latched onto the breast it hurt. Sometimes she would do an "angry" cry so much that she wouldn't even latch onto the breast. Other times, she seemed to be nursing fine, but then starting crying as if she wasn't getting enough food. At first we worried this maybe gas or colic. We took her to her pediatrician where we discovered she lost 12% of her weight and the normal amount was up to 10%. (Later I would read articles that talk abou...

Hospital Birth: Vaginal Birth Medicated With An Epidural Pre-Labor: 2 Hours With the Bloody Show Active Labor & Delivery: 5 hours Total Time: 7 hours First Labor & Delivery My goal was to have a vaginal birth medicated with an epidural. I mostly wanted the epidural, because I was worried about being in pain for a long time and for first time moms I always heard of mostly long labors. The thought of being in pain for 12, 24, or more hours was unimaginable, so I wanted pain relief options. When they started checking me at 36 weeks, I stayed around 1-1.5 cm for a few weeks. At my last appointment, I was 2.5 cm and I had my membranes stripped. The day of my due date I went to labor and delivery feeling irregular contractions.  After walking around for an hour with my husband, the contractions became more irregular. It was determined that my contractions, although painful were Braxton Hicks contractions and I was not in labor. The next day at 40 weeks and 1 day, I was bro...

First Pregnancy  (40 weeks and 2 days) I carried my first child to 40 weeks and 2 days. Overall, it was a healthy and uncomplicated pregnancy. Materials I used to help prepare for pregnancy and birth Book : What to Expect When You Are Expecting Childbirth Class : 8 hrs in 1 day through hospital taught by a Registered Nurse Television (Discovery / TLC) : A Baby Story, Deliver Me, Birthday, Babies - Special Delivery Pregnancy-Related Discomforts I had nausea and vomiting from 8-16 weeks before it tapered off. I was put on anti-nausea medicine for several weeks during the first trimester. I didn't feel it helped.  I did have two urinary tract infections and a prolapsed cervix. I also had a yeast infection caused by the antibiotic for the urinary tract infection. I  was put on preventive medicine after my second urinary tract infection until about 38 weeks. I would get constant acid reflux at night, a few times I had a nosebleed or some bl...

Pregnancy # 1: Positive Pregnancy Test on February 11, 2010 Pregnancy Suspicions :  The only reason I suspected, I might be pregnant,  was because my period was late. Even though at some point earlier I took a pregnancy test that was negative.  What likely happened is I tested too early, since I was not tracking ovulation. This prompted me to wait another week, and then test when the period still did not come. Testing :   I tested after I missed my period on February 11, 2010.  I confirmed my pregnancy with a blue dye home pregnancy test around 5 weeks of pregnancy. Prior to taking the blue dye home pregnancy test, I had taken two dollar store pink dye home pregnancy tests. All were positive.  Signs & Symptoms : Before we found out, I felt fatigued all the time. I also would have bleeding gums more than normal. A smaller sign  I remember was that when I would weigh myself I had fluctuating weight. The sca...