Andrea's first week on earth....

Emotions are flowing. The smell of baby. Sibling love. Big sister Lovisa. Sore nipples. Breastfeeding.

Happiness. Stress over all the practical things I have to do before we leave. Tears. Laughter. Sleepless nights. Walks with the sibling trolley. Feeling rich. Breastfeeding.

Playing with Lovisa. Yelling at Lovisa. Laughing with Lovisa. Cuddling with Lovisa. Breastfeeding.

Andrea's sleeping. Looking peaceful. Poop diapers. Baby vomit everywhere. Coffee. Breastfeeding.

 
Love.

Andrea Kristina's delivery 2011-04-22

With regular contractions 5-6 minutes apart we decided to go to the delivery at around 2 am, Friday morning. My sister came over to sleep with Lovisa, who was deep asleep and had no idea what was going on. We took a cab to the Karlskoga hospital's delivery ward. We were excited but I was a bit worried that I only would be open about 1 cm and stuck in the latency phase, like last time with Lovisa... So I was really pleased to hear from the wonderful mid-wife that I was open 4 cm! That means I'm at least in the active phase! The mid-wife suggested acupuncture for the contraction pain in my stomach so she put needles in my stomach for the pain, one needle on the side of the foot to help the cervix to vanish (yes, GO AWAY!!!) and one on top of my head, for relaxation. So there I was, looking like a hedgehog.

 Hard to see, but the lower part of my stomach is filled with needles

Just above my ankle is the needle that is suppose to help the cervix disappear 

Unfortunately my contractions became weaker and appeared further apart. At 6 am I was still only open 4 cm and the contractions only appeared every 10 minutes. It felt a bit hopeless. We tried to walk in some stairs but it didn't help much. At 7 am I was still only open 4 cm and the contractions still 10 min apart. The mid-wife suggested that we should go home and try to rest and wait for the contractions to start again, I was probably still in the latency phase 4 cm open! God, I hate the latency phase!!! It felt hopeless, but home we went and when I stepped in to the hallway the contractions started to feel stronger again! I tried to rest but the contractions were a bit to painful so instead I took a warm shower and we had a nice breakfast. Around 12 am the contractions were about 4 minutes apart and pretty strong so we took the same cab, with the same driver (!) back to the delivery. 

Now I was 6-7 cm open and full with hope when the mid-wife declared that this time they wouldn't send me home! TENS machine on maximum, heating pillow on my belly and Lamaze breathing! We took another walk to really get the contractions going and had a nice ice cream in the sun outside the hospital. It took a while to eat it, breathing through the contractions, but it went down!

Coffee and cookies sitting on a fitness ball with heating pillow on my belly and TENS machine on my back at maximum

Another mid-wife took over at 3 pm and it felt bloody nerve wracking when she examined me and declared it was still at 6-7 cm. Nothing had happened for 3 hours! My god this baby is really stubborn! We decided to break the water to get things moving. With a big diaper the water came in big floods making poor H to wipe up amniotic fluid from the floor, my legs and shoes... And the contractions! Now we're talking pain! Things were really happening down there, I could feel it! H was really excellent when the contractions started to be heavy. He cooled me down with wet towels, massaged my back, let me squeeze his hand as hard as I wanted (I'm pretty strong!) and giving me encouraging comments. I finally realized I needed something more than my breathing and started with the laughing gas. Thank god for the laughing gas! Even though it doesn't make the pain go away it makes the whole thing a bit easier... I also got acupuncture for the burning pain in my back and on the side of my legs and it really helped!  

I was in the bed, on my knees, leaning over the head of the bed (which was raised) when I felt a big pressure down and an urge to push. H got the mid-wife and finally! I was almost open 10 cm and the baby's head was almost down. This was around 7 pm so I had many hours of contractions behind me. I wanted to give birth in the squatting position on the floor with H behind me, giving me support. This position, however, didn't work. The contractions once again got weaker and the urge to push disappeared. We moved to the bed, me on my knees leaning over the raised head of the bed. The mid-wife wasn't pleased with the decreasing contractions so she said she would go out and get a oxytocin drip to trigger the contractions. My uterus was probably tired after almost 2 days with contractions. I felt a big "No" coming up inside me, when she said the word drip, and when I had the next contraction I pushed so my eyes almost popped out of my head. The mid-wife was impressed, the baby was coming out! One more big push and I almost felt like bursting, the head was out and under the next contraction the little slippery body came out. She landed in the bed between my legs. It was an unreal feeling. So much pain and so many contraction and there she was. All blue and white, not pretty at all, but the most beautiful and loved baby in the whole world! Andréa Kristina Bouma. 

H is cutting the umbilical cord

The first breastfeeding, only minutes old...

The reward, swedish "fika"

Skin to skin with papa

4 girls and 1 boy was born the 22th of April at Karlskoga hospital

Lovisa's first meeting with her little sister - love!

Tired but happy!

Hungry!

Happy!

Me and my Dolly Parton boobs

On our way home!

Andréa and me stayed 3 days at the delivery ward and it was so great. I got a chance to recuperate and to start the breastfeeding. H and Lovisa visited during the days. I would like to thank the amazing staff, if I ever will have another baby (no, we're NOT planning another one, but you never know) I want to have it at Karlskoga Hospital! They rock!

Finally some PAIN!!!

+ 8 days and yes, you read right. I've been having contractions since last night. At first they where not very frequent, maybe 2-4 per hour. Right now we're up to about 8 contractions per hour, about a minute long and 6-12 minutes apart. It's exciting! I hope it's going to progress so we can go to the delivery tonight. Just talked to them and they thought we could stay at home a bit longer if I can handle the pain, so hear I am counting contractions and breathing Lamaze... Hi, hi, hi...
I haven't slept for a long time and I tried to rest during the day but it's hard when you have contractions and my expectations are rising... We just put Lovisa to sleep and my sister is "stand-by".

Keep your fingers crossed for more painful contractions and a fast delivery if we ever get there!!!

One week overdue...

+ 7 days and no baby yet. Curry, sex, long walks, nipple stimulation, rest, champagne and massage - GET THE MESSAGE!!!

I called the delivery this morning and said I was worried about the baby. The midwife wasn't that impressed by my whining and explained that they will do a control when I'm in week 41+ 6 days. Then I got a bit pissed off, if your worried and one week overdue you should be welcome to do a control to see that your baby is fine! Therefore I lied a "little bit" and said that the baby moved less than usual. It's not really moving less, but I noticed a change in it's moving pattern. The midwife then said that of course we're welcome for a control. They did a CTG registration (control of the baby's heart and my contractions) and controlled my blood pressure and urine. Everything was normal, the baby is doing good. So, it's only to be patient and WAIT!!!

OK, OK, OK, I'm waiting!!! And slowly going INSANE!!!

Full moon my ass!

Didn't help to bring this baby out... Today I had curry for lunch AND supper, lets hope that I don't get the diarrhea if we go to the delivery... Well, I actually had some contractions beginning after lunch. They're not that regular and not that painful but it feels so good to feel that SOMETHING is going on inside. Lets just hope for the very best - MORE PAIN :)!!! I also walked a lot today and my sciatic is worse than ever and I'm really tired.

Lovisa is already starting to show jealousy tendencies, here she stole the baby blanket from the delivery bag and is sitting in the baby car seat.

 Mammas big baby!

Going to get a message now and then try to have some rest... Keep your fingers crossed that this baby's coming soon! VERY SOON!

What is this baby doing???

OK, full moon, a glass of champagne, sex, massage and nipple stimulation. Nada, nothing, rien, ingenting! Not even a few painful contractions. Is this a joke? Am I really in week 40+5? Hey, baby girl! Get the message and get out of my womb!!! No, seriously, I'm starting to think she has moved in permanently. 

The best thing today - the first ice cream in the sun and an evening walk without zipping the jacket.

Lovisa's first ice cream ever!

Another night with a full moon apparently. Better try to get some sleep, or rest I should say, sleep is not what I would call it... 

+ 4 days...

I'm a ticking bomb both mentally and physically. The worst part is not knowing. Is it going to start in 1 hour or 1 week? Nobody knows. Early Friday morning I thought it was something going on, I had almost regular contractions for 2 hours but then it disappeared. 

I know I'm suppose to keep calm, rest a lot and eat good but it's starting to be hard. Family and friends are asking everyday "Is something happening? Do you feel anything?" and I don't know what to answer anymore. Of course I feel something - I'm as pregnant as you get! But if the delivery was starting i wouldn't be talking to them would I? 

So H and I tried some of the advice we got from you. He gave me a foot massage, although it turns out we have different opinion what a foot massage really is. H thinks it's rubbing lotion on my feet for 5 minutes and I think it takes a little more effort to give a good massage... Well, nothing happened. We also tried sex, nothing happened after that either, although it's a pretty nice way to spend your time while waiting :). Now I have a bottle of champagne in the fridge, we'll see just how desperate I'll get... STUBBORN BABY COME OUT NOW!!!! Mummy, daddy and Lovisa is waiting!

Lovisa is in a strange mood regarding her eating, just to bug me a bit more... Some days she doesn't want to eat anything, while other days she eats like she hadn't seen food for a week. One supper she decided just to have green peas so she had a big bowl of them. The day after she pooped 5 times. And she's a real pain to change now a days, she rolls around like a snake and can't be still for 5 seconds....

 Icecream and fresh berries always goes down...

Pancakes with cream and raspberries always goes down to, she wont starve that's for sure!

+ 1 day and counting...

Uak! I hate to be late. And now I'm really late. If I go by the Swedish due date, 13/4, I'm 1 day late now. And I refuse to go anther 10 as I did with Lovisa. Wonder if this baby cares that I refuse? Seems like my womb is a really comfy place. So, yes, I think I'm entitled to whine a bit. Visited the mid-wife tuesday morning and she booked an appointment at the delivery in 2 weeks (!) for an "over due control". 2 BLODY WEEKS! Forget that!

Now I got some more agonizing symptoms, feels like somebody stabs me with a knife in my butt and on the inside of my thighs every now and then. Really uncomfortable.

So pretty, please with sugar on top do any of you have serious tips to get the delivery started? I'm thinking about drinking a glass of champagne and have crazy sex but I don't now... To daring? Tomorrow we're probably going to take Lovisa to the amusement parc, maybe I'll try one of the merry-go-round and start the contraction that way...

Last (?) belly pictures!

Here are the promised pictures of my belly in week 40! Due date is right now. Tomorrow morning I have a mid-wife appointment, hopefully my last one. 

 Still high, I thought it was lower...

 I really try not to carry her to much... It adds another 14 kg to my +10 kg...

Looks almost like a "fake" stomach that I attached to my own...

Now time for "en unge i minuten" on TV, a Swedish documentary from a delivery ward, I can't help it, I have to watch!

Still no baby!

And the actual due date is here! Well, in Canada they said the 10th of April, in Sweden the 13th of April so I could still be on time. It's ironic really, in other situations I'm always very punctual but when it comes to giving birth, something that is beyond my control, it seems like my destiny is to be late... I'm starting to feel really uncomfortable. Today I had cramps in my toes several times, I strained my inner thigh when I tried to take a little to long step. I feel heavy, fat and immobile. But tomorrow we're going to take the hopefully last picture of my bursting stomach - promise! Although it's not so fun when you feel like a bursting, fat, hormonal cow... I have a area, just above the belly button, that is really sore, I don't remember having that when I was pregnant with Lovisa and it's really annoying. It's so sore that I almost scream if anyone touch it and with Lovisa all around me it's impossible to keep her away from the part of my body that is bulging out the most... I sleep really bad and is very tired most of the day.

I have more contractions, especially when I walk or do something strain full. I also have a bigger pressure down my pelvis and I think my belly have "fallen down" a bit... So, hopefully some symptoms that the delivery actually is going to take place in a close future!

So what so I do while waiting? A nice thing that all the pregnancy sites and papers advice you to do when you get closer to the big day is to load your body with carbohydrates so you easier get threw the ruff delivery. You could say that I taken this advice seriously so now it's a lot of cinnamonrolls, "semlor" (a swedish delicacy which basically is a wheat bread with cardamum stuffed with whipped cream and marzipan), chips with dip, icecream with chocolatsauce and so on... 

And of course, Lovisa takes a lot of my time and makes me forget that I'm to pregnant for my own good. She is such a burst of energy right now and is talking, fixing and playing like crazy! Here are a few things she did this weekend:

 Tasted her first "semla". Do I need to say she liked it??!

 Tryed on pappa's shoes.

Enjoyed her favourite TV-show, "In the night garden"

Today we found my old dolly stroller from mum's store and my old doll "Martin". It was a big success

 She took  "Martin" for numerous of walks

"Bye, bye" she sais and takes of!

Now, I'm going to get H to give me a massage. Yes, my back is really sore to!

One week to go and no baby yet!

I'm slowly starting to be a bit inpatient... I'm starting to feel really heavy and immobile. The stomach isn't huge but it certainly feels that way. I'm also starting to be a bit nervous that I will go over time several weeks, making everybody wait... My mum that moved out so we can live in her apartment and H that is trying to work very remote and has to return as soon as possible to Canada...  But hey, I can't force her out. I just have to like the situation. Now that I have Lovisa I'm realizing just how pregnant I am, I can't just lift her and swing her around as before. And I'm so slow! Everything takes forever!

I don't have that many signs that the delivery is happening anytime soon... The baby is really wild during the evenings and early nights and I have more pressure down my pelvis, but no real contractions... A bit of a dull ache in my back and stomach sometimes but nothing that feels alarming... So come on and give me some painful contractions!

I promise to take some new belly pictures in week 40 - I'm really in week 40! Wow!!!

It's a wonderful world...

Oh, they're finally here and it's just amazing! Saturday was an emotional day and it all went so well! Me, my dad and his wife went to the airport all feeling excited and elated. The plain landed on time and they came out after about 30 minutes. When I approached Lovisa she was sitting in the pram watching all the people. She saw me and looked shocked and surprised. I took her out of the pram and in my arms and for a short moment I thought she was going to cry. I couldn't hold my tears back of course but I tried not to bawl. It took a few seconds and then I got the best hug I ever had and from there it was just like we never been apart. 

 She's grown so much, her face is all different!

On our way from the airport and I just couldn't stop looking at her...

The first night she woke up at midnight and was really upset and cried. She wanted us both with her, that was the only way to make her less upset. Finally we were all three lying in my mum's 105 cm wide bed, me very pregnant, Hubert like a worm all around us and Lovisa, finally falling asleep... Now, it's all about "mamma, mamma!" and I really don't mind at the moment. Let's just see how complicated it's going to get when her sister arrives...

TOMORROW

Is my waiting hopefully over! keep your fingers crossed that all the storms, volcanic eruptions, technical problems and cancelled flights stays away!!! I'm wondering how the first meeting with Lovisa is going to be. Is she going to run in to my arms, screaming "mamma!", like in a movie or is she going to be a bit shy and cautious? I think it's a greater risk for the later scenario. Oh, as long as they arrive safe I'm going to be so happy!

See you tomorrow!

And yes, seeing H is gong to be wonderful to of course! I didn't talk about it much but it has worried me a bit that I would go in to labor and be forced to have this baby alone. It's such a relief that he's going to be by my side (with this said I hope nothing will happen during the next 24 hours, that would be somewhat surprising). Oh, I'm tingling of expectation for tomorrow!