Our Life

As I write this, we are 2 hours away from “1 week old”. Seems like such a short time we were going to the hostpital… getting out of the hospital… getting home… that first sleepless night…

Monday, we had our first Pediatrician’s visit. I really have to give it to Chris’s opinion when she has done research. We found a few Pedi’s in our area, but Chris didn’t just pull one out of a hat or a website, oh no. She called them all. If you did not return her call, yer out. Of the people that returned her call, she asked to speak to the doctor’s directly. Doctor too busy to speak to a new client? yer out. Your office staff may not be the best indicator of you. My doctor, for example, has office people that are a challenge. Once you are in there, he is awesome. So Chris interviewed them, and picked one that matched our values. The interrogation was intense. I will spare you the 10 open-ended questions she asked.

The Pediatrician she chose can most easily be described as a “Hippy”. Corinn has a scab on her head from the Vacume assist attempt, and we were putting Neosporin on it. “I don’t like to use chemicals on the baby unless we have to. Try putting some Tea Tree Oil on it. Its a natural antiseptic, so can help with healing. It also can be applied directly. If you need moisture, use Coconut Oil. Check to see if she is allergic first.” She seemed to be “holistic first, then fall back on medicine if needed”. While the holistic approach can sometimes come of as quackery, she was approaching it purely on a “fewer  man-made chemicals, more natural things”. She was patient, and answered all of our questions, and assured us our first-time-parrent fears are ok. Corinn is doing OK, we are doing OK, if we have any questions please call her.

Corinn has lost some weight, 9Lb3Oz. This is normal, as the baby uses up the stores they put on in the womb. Her sneezes are normal, they are to clear the airways and get everything flowing.  The poop has progressed to the “Gorrin’s Mustard with Sesame Seeds”. I asked what the Sesame Seeds were, but not even modern science knows. This indicates we are surviving off of breast milk. Kinda facinating.

Feeding is coming along. Mom and Baby are getting their teamwork down. She still wants to latch kinda shallow, and bites some. Mom is getting frustrated with these! We have called some family members that did breast feed (a lower amount than you would think!) and the frustrations and fears are all justified, but are really non-issues. It will take time.

The sleepless nights are starting to develop a pattern now. Poop – Cry – boob1 – burp – boob2 – burp – sleep. They are starting to be longer. She feeds longer, she sleeps longer. Long as we watch her for “I’m hungry” signs, we can keep crying to a minimum too. We are all learning.

We were released from the hospital yesterday. It took a little longer than expected, as our nurse, Kathy, was attending to some ladies that were in a lot of pain. We understood.

On the drive home, Chris asked me “does it feel any different, driving with our daughter in the car?”. I responded “I was just thinking about that… did it feel any different… did I drive any different… Nope. I feel like I drive any time we have precious cargo. Turns are gentle, bumps are avoided, not in a hurry…”

We got home, and the dogs were NOT pleased. Chris wanted me to just let them in. The New Father in me said “these dogs are not getting near mom or baby till _I_ feel it is safe, and they are ready”. So, I kept them in the basement with me for a while. Glad I did. Jules, the little female, has a way of saying “HI!” by leaning up against you. She was so excited, she would do that from 10 feet away, almost knocking me over. You stay away from mommy. Sirius was just a spaz. I kinda expected that. Nothing dangerous, mind you, but could knock things over.

The next door neighbor came over with a gift. She said “I was talking with my husband… ‘you know, I haven’t seen the car in over 24 hours… I bet it’s happening!’ and sure enough!” She gave some advice, and empathy.

Gram came by with Enchaladas for dinner. It was miles away from Hospital food, which really has improved since last I remember hospital food. It was nice to not have to cook, or worry where to grab food while leaving mom and baby here alone.

Or first night alone was stressful, though not nearly as much as first 24 hours alone. Chis did awesome, only stressing out and snapping at me after about 3 hours of screaming baby. But, as I told her, yelling at me for what she wants helps me way more than just crying or just yelling “do something!”. I am learning too. Now that I see the things she needs, I try and anticipate. We are starting to function as a team!

Corinn, for all the need she has for the nutrients, is not getting the feeding thing. She is now latching well! Just, after latching, she doesn’t seem to get the right motion to get nourishment. This may also be just a perception thing. I may devise a way to weigh her before and after feeding so mommy knows she is doing well.

I got some pictures up of labor, delivery, and recovery. Nothing graphic in these. Take a look!

There was some pelvic separation from the delivery, so Chris is on 80% bed-rest. So, I will be here with her for a while. If you want to stop by, by all means come visit. Give me a call first, so I can make sure Mother and Baby are up for visitors.

Sorry for the delay. I know, I left a cliff-hanger of a last post. I had things to do!

It’s a girl!

After 47 hours of labor, at 5:57PM on 7/18/2007 – Corinn Ellen Akridge was born to Chris and Cliff Akridge. (hey thats me!)

Weight: 9 pounds, 6 Ounces. 20 3/4 inches long, with a 14 1/4 inch head.

She was born in the normal way, but did need the “salad tongs” to actually get her through and out of the birth canal. Chris is fine. Happy baby is finally here, that we got the latching thing down, and that she no longer has to push.

Thank you everyone, from all of us, to those who said prayers, kept happy thoughts, called or came by. It shows us the support of the family, related and extended, we are bringing our daughter into. We will speak others that we forgot to call or contact, very soon.

A note about some upcoming posts:

This blog is an outlet. As such, I don’t feel a need to censor it. However, I realize there are a few interest levels for information about childbirth. I know this, because I have now been on both sides of the information and the interest. As such, there will be some posts upcoming that are password protected. I will share this password, but you will need to find it, and enter it, in order to read the post. For those that do not want the details of the labor, delivery, and birth, steer clear of them. For those that have been through it and want to see what we went through to get here, go ahead. Or, even if you are just curious. I am not sure what level I am going to share, but if you haven’t been there or have an interest, you probably don’t want to read them.

I will also give some general-consumption details of the time-line of how things went.

And yes, I am writing this post on the Hospital wireless!

We went back to the Midwife @ 4pm. 3 cm. Contractions had stabilized 4-6 min, 90 sec a piece. She sat in the chair again, this time on her side, and same thing: “baby looks wonderful… go home and labor some more.”

The contractions are more on the “OWW!” side, than just “I think that was another one…”

Chris is hangin in there. She has abandoned the bed, and is now doing laps around the kitchen/dining room/den.

Contractions 3-5 min appart, 30-90 sec. long.
730 pm going to hospital, contractions getting really painfull…

So, after the hospital, we get back home. Contractions were spaced 2-8 min apart, and lasting 20-90 seconds. The pain started to spike. We call the OB/GYN. She says we still didn’t need to go to the hostpital, but to go ahead and come to the office.

We went to the OB/GYN at 11-ish… the pain got to a 7, and contractions more frequent. Gotta be near time, right?

At the office, they checked her again. 1.5 cm. Now, for those that need the goal, we are looking for >4 with a final of 10. So, in 6 hours, not much progress. This was frustrating for Chris. 6 hours for a lousy 1/2 cm? “Doing good… gotta keep going honey…”

They sat her in a comfy chair. In spite of its description and percieved allure, was far from comfy for Chris. They hooked her up to the Fetal Heartrate Monitor and the Contract-O-Meter. I don’t know what the units were, but in the hospital she was hitting 10. In the office she spiked it to 34. Proving that this thing was going well past 11.

They sent us home as well, stating to come back @ 4 to check in again. There was a nice pregnant lady at the check-out that said to try back rubs, and kneeling to try and alleviate the “back labor”. You could see the empathy in her face as Chris had a contraction right there.

We are back at the house, surviving contractions.  They have settled into a pattern, at about 2:20 this afternoon. They are about 5 1/2 min apart, and 90 seconds or so in length, with a “fly” in there once and a while.

Focused attention is working slightly for her. Will update as I have time, as this blog is also my catharsis.

Chris started some regular contractions at about 11 PM last night, after I went to bed. I awoke about 2AM to an empty bed, and lights on in the hallway. She was pacing, and smiled… She was having regular contractions, about 5 min apart, and had indications that her water may have broken. She called the midwife, she told us to head to the hospital.

We get to the hospital, get the forms filled out, and get to the little room where Chris is hooked up to monitors. The baby’s heartbeat fills the room with a quick “whirr whirr whirr whirr whirr”. This is the longest I have heard the little one’s heart. The doctor visits are generally short samples, just to get the BPM down. Its quick, about 140-160 depending on where they are in a contraction. It was a little disturbing and, at the same time, humbling. My only role here is support. Contraction, raised heartbeat, relaxation, slowed heartbeat…. doing good Chris… Repeat.

Contractions were still regular and the nurse said Chris was dilated. This was a shocker, as she was NOT yesterday morning at the doctor’s. However, after about an hour, they sent us home. Labor has started, but not far enough to be at the hospital.

Contractions have gone from 5 min apart, to about 10. They are varying in length 30-90 sec. So, we are back home, walking, grimacing, and riding out Early Labor.

I’ll post more later, if I get a chance.

The 12th was the first due-date, estimated by first missed period. The 15th was the second due-date, estimated by the ultrasounds. Today, as I write this, is the 16th. There is a third due-date, that only the baby knows.

Chris went to the doctor today. All is fine, but no new news. They want to do a non-stress test on the baby on Thursday. This, as described, is her sitting in a comfy chair, hooked up to things that monitor the baby. They are looking for regular heartbeat and rhythm. Movement and general baby happiness.  Positive results will be a happy baby, and we will be induced on Monday. If the baby is stressed, the induction may be sooner than Monday.

Chris is into the “GET THIS THING OUT OF ME” stage. The “Plan” has been discussed, and I am ready for “the next, Best thing”.  Bags are packed, next to the door. We now stage for the next milestone.