Drastic changes are taking place

Do I need to say more?
I am so excited!! >

Becoming a mum for the second time

The biggest transition made is becoming a mum.
The biggest transition made is becoming a mum of two..
The biggest transition made is becoming a mum of three…
The biggest transition……… You get my point!

 

 

Becoming a second time mum for me was scary.
‘What will Alex thing, how will this affect our family life, how will this all work out’

 

 

Giving birth was amaaazing, honestly, I kid you not, it was actually good (read more about that journey here)
Taking home baby was longed for, breastfeeding was pretty easy and Alex loved giving Logan cuddles.

 

So how did my life change? What actually changed?

 

 

Well for starters I stopped listening to all the magazines and ‘experts’ that tell you how to raise your child.
I have tuned in to my intuition allot more and ask for advice in a small group of friends who have similar ideas in upbringing.

 

I carry Logan around in the awesome Beco Soleil (product review coming soon!)  each day and rarely have him in a buggy.
I can’t tell you how disconnected I feel from him when I put him in there.

We’ve also proudly breastfed in public.
Something I never did with Alex, I was scared of people staring, having an opinion and the need to express it (we’ve all read the horror stories)
But as Logan flat-out refuses expressed bottles we have no other choice then to feed, whenever, wherever.

First time was pretty awkward, in a small waiting room of the Dutch embassy filled with people (talking about taking the plunge!)

Second time, the natural history museum, they do have pretty awesome feeding rooms with comfortable chairs.

And the third time in a kids café (café with separated area for toddlers and babies to play) that was pretty interesting as quite a few kids were curious as to what I was doing.

All these times I can honestly say, I have never felt judged, I might not have always felt comfortable but I did it with confident!

 

Last but not least, I enjoy it as much as I can this time.
Of course I enjoyed Alex being little too, don’t get me wrong, but this time its different.
There is no rush, or excitement towards seeing the next step of development, there is just now.
Being here in the present together, enjoying each other, having those cuddles when he wants it.
Laying next to each other and just babbling over nothing and just looking at his reactions.

 

 

 
I think every child being born into a family makes a big change.
You learn something new every time around, you change the things you’ve done the first time on the second time.
You set your mistakes straight and make new ones along the road.

Our battle with the famous guidelines

Baby should do….. Baby should follow….
But above all, all babies are different.

These are just guidelines they say.
Take it with a grain of salt they say.

 
Then why on earth do I have someone coming out to me every single month to weigh my baby?
When my baby is doing just fine.
He is happy, he is moving and rolling back to front and babbles to join whenever he can.

 

 

You see, Logan has stopped gaining weight as fast as he did when he was smaller.
You know, when he didn’t move as much? When he was happy just laying there or being held in my arms.
Does it make sense to you? That he isn’t gaining as much now as he did then?
Because it does to me.

 

 

‘I think if by next month he still isn’t gaining as rapid as before we should consider weaning’
NO! My baby will be 5 months by then, I will not wean at 5 months so he can follow your guideline that is only a guideline!

 

 

In all honesty, if I did not know better I would doubt myself and I would wonder if me breastfeeding my baby is the best option.
I would start to doubt if it was filling him enough, I would consider to combine feed.
That is what winds me up the most, if I did put full trust in these so called ‘healthvisitors’  I would not be confident to breastfeed anymore, and that is something that should never happen!

 

He is still gaining weight which is most important and after talking to loads of other mums that fully breastfeed e-ve-ry single baby has a drop of centile between the 3rd and 4th month but yet they still try to tell me how to raise my child?!

I will not wean because you think he should be weaned, I will wean when my son gives me the indication that he is ready.
I will not wean because your guideline says he isn’t following it to the dot and I will not wean the way you think I should.

 
And still despite me showing you the evidence of breastfed babies, you still give counter advice.

4 months and 2 days forward in time.

Wherefore art thou time?

Well that first sentence got written 27 minutes ago.
In the mean time Logan woke up, screamed blue murder because he is teething and still tired.

Ten minutes later and he is crying again..

Do you see my problems trying to blog yet?

To be continued..

The placenta and stuff..

placenta -pləˈsɛntə –
noun: placenta; plural noun: placentae; plural noun: placentas

a flattened circular organ in the uterus of pregnant eutherian mammals, nourishing and maintaining the fetus through the umbilical cord.

 

 

Giving birth to my placenta was a whole different cookie then giving birth to my son.
It lasted long, the contractions were murder and I couldn’t hold my son through the pain.
I was offered gas and air to help me through, but hee I did the whole birth without drugs, why start now?
I remember thinking that surely this part would not take long. It couldn’t be that painful?!
But damn me was it.. I asked daddy to take his son as I really had to grab the floor beneath me so I did not scream blue murder.
Once pushed out there it was.. This ugly blob of an organ that fed and held my child alive inside me for 9 months.
The only organ that can be grown from nothing and a vital part in pregnancy.

 

 

 

Can you guess what this post is about?
I think you can.. But if you don’t, let me shock you about the world of placentophagy (mamals eating placenta)

 

 

 

OMG, I am one of those weird people who ate their placenta!!

 

 

 

After we came home I prepared myself for the challenge ahead.
handling my placenta wasn’t as easy I as read about.. The sack surrounding your placenta is difficult to remove and cutting it really took a few deep breaths. It helped me allot that it was cold and not the warm, freshly delivered version.
I don’t think I would be able to have done that.

 

 

I have done allot of reading about this and as much as you find people reporting the benefits about placenta consumption you will also find just as much about the disgust and negatives over placenta consumption.
What ever you would join is up to you, this is not going to be a post of me drumming the benefits into your head.
merely my experience of it all

 

 

 

With my first born I lost myself. I do not know if this is because he was my first born, because my hormones went on a emotional rollercoaster, because I was sleep deprived, because I was overwhelmed etc etc.
There could be a million reasons as to why and reading that the placenta could possible help with it, why not try it?
Why not? That is if you have the balls to swallow.

 

 

 

For a week long I took a generous size frozen placenta blitzed into a smoothie of forest fruits, mango, soy yogurt and water.
You would not be able to guess it was what it was by look or by taste, it tasted like a normal smoothie.
My hormones did not go into overdrive.
My milk came in on the second night.
My energy levels were up despite sleepless nights and days.
My bloodless was limited.
My uterus shrunk back in a speed that will double you in pain but it was over in a matter of days.

 

As for Logan, he thrived. He didn’t loose any weight in his first few days (or ever) he gained!
I am not saying this is because of my placenta consumption, but he sure did great and I was and still am proud over that, so why not mention it, right?

Our birth story

In the early hours of December 23rd (02.50) I was woken for my usual midnight toilet visit.
For the past few days I have been wishing and hoping to wake up whilst my waters broke, knowing time was there.

 

Nothing.. Nothing but some tightening’s, Braxton hicks?
Hmm.. They were a bit more intense than they have been.
So for the sake of it I got my contraction timer out on my phone.
5 minutes apart and lasting 20sec from the start it gave me an alert to start moving to the hospital.

 

After a lot of talking the other half still wasn’t comfortable with a home birth.
He felt nervous about it even after a lot of research, therefore I decided a hospital water birth it would be.
As there is nothing worse than a birthing partner who is panicking.

 

After about half an hour the time of the contractions now lasted 30 seconds.
Time to wake up my partner (his mother was staying with us to watch over Alex)
‘Are you sure it’s time’ he said half asleep.
‘Yes, really! Time to call your uncle, I have to call the hospital to let them know we are coming’

 

I called the hospital and got asked if I could wait any longer at home.
I told her I felt it really was time and would feel more comfortable if someone could check me over, if it was not progressing I would be happy to return home.
‘Ok, come on in then’

 

As I was getting ready I assumed he called his uncle who now was on his way.
Guess again.. This didn’t happen.. He was to drowsy to understand what was happening.
‘Do you want me to call a cab now?’ he said whilst I was breathing away using the hypno birthing technique and breathing in the clary sage oil.
‘Yes! We need to leave now!’

Around 4am the cab driver arrived and my contractions were getting allot more intense.
As I wriggled around in the front seat, trying my best to suppress the need to moan loudly I started to rethink my birthplan.
Maybe a drug-free birth wasn’t such a great idea after all.

 

As we arrived to the hospital we had to walk the longest walk ever to the birthing suite.
I had to stop every 2 minutes and stopped being quiet. Moaning loudly helped me get through the pain and in all honesty, I didn’t feel like I had a lot of control over it.
As we got to the front desk the midwife kindly requested a wee sample to make sure everything was ok.
In the toilet I went.
Pee, ok.. Just pee in the pot like you’ve been doing allot during your pregnancy.. Just pee.
Oh come on! How difficult is it to Aaaaaaaah! Don’t pee, don’t pee! Trying to pee gives me intense contractions!
Ok.. One more try, come try, it’s ok, maybe it wont come now. Aaaaaaaaaaaah! Ok, no pee!

 

 

I came back out of the toilet without my sample and told her I couldn’t do it.
She said it was ok, hop on the table and see how far along you are.
Damn another contraction.. Breath.. Breath… You can do this..
As she wriggled her fingers about I kind of yelled at her saying ‘screw the birthplan, give me my epidural!!’
In the back of my mind a little voice said ‘this might well be the transition stage before your about to push’
‘I’m sorry my darling, it’s too late for an epidural, your 8cm, we have to move you to the delivery room’

 

I got in a wheelchair and rolled down to the delivery room.
‘Do you want to get back on the bed?’
As I stood up from the wheelchair a big pop happened and my waters were everywhere.
With that I had the ever so intense feeling to push.
Nope.. I’m not getting on that bed anytime soon. On my knees on the floor felt good, I’m not moving.
‘Ok, if you’re not getting on the bed let me get some mats to put on the floor and a chair you can hang over’
(Now that is some good midwifery)
As I pushed my partner had to try his best to keep the chair in its place.
I felt babies head nearly pop out but he shot back in by the end of my contraction.
That feeling I really did not want to feel again!
‘Push with your next contraction!’
‘Now gentle.. Gentle.. Your going too fast!’
‘His head is out, breath! Don’t push yet!’

 

Too late..

There he was.. My little baby boy, born at 4.55am 2 hours and 5 minutes after my first contraction that woke me up.
We stayed connected until the cord stopped pulsing which is when daddy cut the cord through.

He is perfect. He is mine. He is called Logan and we love him ever so dearly.

 

It was a sacred time, all of it.
No drugs, not even gas and air.

 

 

On my next blog; birthing the placenta and what happened did after.

Here to announce the birth of..

Mr Logan.

 

It sure has been a long time, see it as my maternity leave of wordpress!
And bare with me, as this too is a very short post.
You see, I need a shower and in a house with a toddler who goes to nursery from 1-4 and a on-demand breastfed baby, taking a shower takes planning and the need to drop everything when the time is right.

 

 

I will try my very best to write my birth story by tomorrow but I thought it was about time to give you all a head’s up that we are doing just fine.

 

It still amazes me that we went from a great pregnancy

a few days before birth, and the day of the birth, what a drop!

 

To this amazing little boy, that makes me smile every single day

 

Is it weird to say I miss being pregnant? That he is growing up too fast already.
Despite being 7 weeks old today I miss the newborn he was not long ago.
It doesn’t help that he grows allot faster then what Alex did and several of my friends have fallen pregnant.
Shake it off, can’t be broody just yet, shake it off!

 

Shower time, shower time! Eeek, right, I have so much to tell in my upcoming blogs, from eating my placenta (yes I did it!) recovery after birth, getting Alex used to Logan, sharing attention, Alex going to school, our everyday life and how it has affected the relationship with my partner.

39+1 – the final stretch

Sigh…
I know baby will be here soon, can that soon be today please??

All of Wednesday night I’ve had Braxton hicks, practised breathing, called the mother in law to be prepared to come over if it continues and at 10 in the morning it stopped.
Not just a bit, no it stopped completely! Not even a twinge or cramp!
Damn was I disappointed throughout that day and felt ever so down yesterday..

Today I am better, I had a decent night sleep (let’s face it, being heavily pregnant never gives a good night sleep!) and even if it’s Friday the 13th (seriously, I could not care less) I am happy to say I’m having some period pains, which is a hell of allot better than nothing.

I had my midwife over yesterday and baby has (finally) started to engage though only 4/5 palpable, not much but again, better than nothing. Keeping focussed on the positives here!

39 weeks

 

Anyhow, I am knackered! The clock strikes 3 and I am so ready for bed.
Of course this is not an option with a toddler toddling about, then when I have had my dinner and Alex is in bed I am wide awake.
What is up with that?! Seriously!

What else is there to say? I’m ready.. Christmas has been organised, presents are wrapped, baby clothes are all washed, my bags are packed and now we wait..
Oh doesn’t it do your head in btw to get them messages of people you barely talk to, asking if baby has arrived yet or if there are any signs?
Try starting with ‘How are you doing’ it’s allot more thoughtful and actually sounds a bit more genuine instead of just being nosey.
And what is it with people saying; try to catch as much rest as you can/sleep when you can. You obviously have never been pregnant!
Nesting, toddler, uncomfortable in the same position, do I need to say more???

haha sorry for the small rant, hormones, what can I say?

38 weeks pregnant – and boredom strikes..

The nesting started a while back, the ‘baby room’ is ready (not sure what the point is considering baby will be in our room for at least 6months+) everything is washed, my bags are packed, our son is prepared, we have back-up people, we have a plan.
And now we wait…

 

And wait…

 

I am fully aware that 38+1 is not that far yet, I still need to reach the 40 but boy does time go slow all the sudden..
As in my previous pregnancy I have been drinking the all-time famous raspberry leaf tea (bleh!) from 35 weeks to help strengthen the pelvic and uterine muscles.
I have at least 3 cups a day, now I’m in the final stretch and since recently third trimester tea, oh boy is that gorgeous in flavour in comparison! The subtle mint is really nice especially to have after breakfast.
At first I did think it was a bit of a weak tea but I’ve changed my mind.
Give me this tea anytime above your normal raspberry leaf tea.

 

(Noticed that I haven’t resorted to a moses basket after all? I am in love with the sleepyhead!)

Measuring; 117cm
Symptons; Tired and random Braxton Hicks through out most nights..
Cravings; Does a warm bath count?
Movements; Less, space is getting limited but still regular and allot more intense.
Mummy buys; Bought myself a gorgeous piece of jersey fabric, stitched the ends together and made an infinity breastfeeding scarf 🙂 see how to here!

So what else has been happening?
I promised to do an update about why exactly I am bringing a coolbox to the hospital with me.
As most can guess I am not planning to have a nice cold drink during labour.. Really, I am not..
I do however plan on taking my placenta home with me.
Whaaaaat?! Is she crazy?
Yes, yes I am. I am crazy enough to wash it at home, take of the membrane (sack) and cut it in pieces not to encapsulate..
Nope, to go one step further and have daily raw smoothies for a week.
Not to worry, it’s not just one big bloody fleshy mess! Haha
It will be combined with frozen summer fruits, mango, yogurt, apple juice and oats, yum!
Yes my intention is not to taste the actual placenta, I might be crazy but not that mad.
The benefits are worth a shot, why not try it?
Why not try to have your milk let down sooner? Why not try to give yourself a bit more energy after all your blood loss and gain the iron back? Why not try to avoid pnd much more? Why not give it a shot?
I know what some people might think and if you asked me 5 years ago I would have said that it is disgusting.

But lets face it.. Have you ever eaten something containing gelatine?
You know like jello, any kind of gummy sweet, pop-tarts, mentos, candy corn (the list goes on).
You do realise your eating loads of rest of animals? Bones, skin etc..

35 weeks and my (incomplete) hospital bag..

35+2.. Wow.. Time does go fast on the final stretch!
I’ve finally done it though, I’ve packed the all famous hospital bag.
Whether you decide to have a homebirth or a hospital birth, it is always good to be prepared in case something happens.
After all, lets face it, our partners would be in too much panic to listen and pack on the spot.

I’m really not a fan of over packing things, and yes I do admit I forget a thing here and there.
Don’t we all? Isn’t that why we re-pack the famous bag a million times, weeks before we use it?!
So what exactly is in my bag?

 

For mum;
– 4 packs of breast pads
– a whole pack (containing 20) of maternity towels
– 3 big comfy pants, just in case..
– New mama bottom spray (to help you heal and ease going toilet)
– Nursing sleep bra
– Light pj’s (it’s always super warm on a maternity ward, do not pack thick pj’s, winter or summer!)
– Slippers, socks
– Comfortable coming home outfit (let’s face it, your not royal, there won’t be any press, so just be comfortable above all)
– Shampoo, conditioner, hairbrush, lip balm, moisturising cream, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, nipple cream.

For baby
– 2 tiny baby sleepsuits (yes I am hoping for another small baby, I hated having super big sleepsuits for Alex at the time)
– 2 newborn sleepsuits (these are about an inch to 2 inches bigger then tiny baby)
– Soft cuddly trousers
– 2 long sleeve body suits
– 2 hats (thin one for in the hospital and a wintery one) 2 mittens, 1 pair of socks
– Baby blanket
– Snowsuit
– A small pack of nappies
– Baby wipes (I don’t use cotton wool, but I love using these, neutral and skin friendly)
– 3 big muslin cloths

Other important items
– Car seat (very important here, or you will not be allowed to take your baby home)
– Maternity notes, birth plan
– Coolbox (find out why next week!)
– Water
– Quick energy snacks
– Phone charger

That’s my list for now. I say it’s incomplete because I know I will repack, take some things out, add other items, replace brands etc etc etc.
The sanity of a pregnant woman..