D-Day Part 2: "Hello monkey!"

5am: Trevor and I woke up and just lay in bed for a minute realising that in a few hours our baby would be born. I was finally feeling truly excited and was grinning from ear to ear as I got ready for the incredibly short drive to hospital. I didn't have the best night of sleep and it felt like there was pointed pressure on my cervix but I was alert and rested. Wren was wiggly and active from the time I woke up. We chatted about normal stuff as Trev ate breakfast but we were both quietly contemplating the C-section and meeting our little person.
6am: I got to have my one glass of apple juice and it was a quick 2 min drive to Durbanville Mediclinic. We got checked in and strolled into the maternity ward just as all the other moms were having breakfast. I was hungry.

7am: Lots of paperwork! I got one one of those sexy hospital gowns and settled into my bed for the long wait till 9am. The nurse strapped me into the fetal heart rate monitor and still Wren refused to settle. She had a loud case of hiccups while the heart rate monitor was one and I laughed at the sound of her "hic" between the heart beats. Eventually, Dr van Waart checked in looking super chipper at 7:30. The nurse handed her the print out from the heart rate monitor and she told me there was something she wanted me to see. She pointed to the page and said, "There's the baby's heart beat...and those are your contractions. You've started labour."
Yes. Labour. No jokes!
I learnt that pointed pressure I'd felt all night was me going into natural labour. Fortunately, it was still so early that the C-section would be done before it got serious and I didn't even feel the contractions. My doc said that ultimately Wren-Lee had chosen her birth date and would've gotten stuck had we not scheduled the C-section for that morning. God really did look out for us!

9am: After a looooong wait (and me being really hungry!), I was finally wheeled off to the surgical centre. My mom was already at the hospital and waved me off. Trevor was put into scrubs and became my own McSteamy :-) As I was wheeled into the theatre, the theatre nurse looked at me and said, "Erin is that you?" Well, massive surprise, it was Jana Swanepoel, my neighbour for a decade and classmate in high school. I found a friendly face even in the theatre!

Now, it was time for the drugs. The local anaesthetic burned like hell! Whoa! But the spinal block was spectacular! It felt like stars all over my legs and then I couldn't feel anything from my chest down which was rad. Our chosen paediatrician, Dr Willem Smit, came to introduce himself and chatted gadgets with Trev and I as he took pics and my doc started the procedure. Mere seconds after starting she gave the heads up that we'd hear baby's voice pretty soon.
Next thing, she and her assistant are pushing on my abdomen and then...

Heaven...that first cry...that was my baby crying..MY BABY...OUR BABY...Wren-Lee had been born...

And then my doctor held up this little person and I couldn't believe how small she was. I looked at Trevor and just loved him even more when I saw his eyes light up at the sight of his daughter. Beyond that, I cannot describe the intense happiness and love I felt realising she was finally out.

10am: Wren is placed on my chest and stares intensely at Trevor and I. I'm in awe of my child. Then, she and Trev leave and head back to the ward for her measurements and check up with Dr Smit. I'm left chatting to the team in the theatre. Well, I chatted all the way through the procedure LOL!

11am: I finally get taken back to the ward and, much to my surprise, my dad is there. My parents are taking photos of Wren and Trev's having a talk with Dr van Waart. I feel totally fine and was really happy when the nurse finally brings Wren along for her first feed. It's weird but normal at the same time. I still can't believe how small she is. My parents stay and chat for a bit and give Trev a chance to grab some food. They don't stay too long as visiting hours are over and, as they leave, I see a woman with red hair who looks very familiar strolling up the passage. It turned out that she was on old high school mate of mine. Small world!!! Trev comes back and we're left to bask in the happiness of our little bundle.

As for the rest of the day, we just sat back, relaxed and enjoyed our visitors. Wren-Lee got to stay in the room with us for most of the afternoon and evening and I was happy to see friends and family. My brother had the best reaction of all. He visibly melted when he met his niece and my friend Tanya patiently taught him how to hold her properly. It was adorable!

Eventually, it got quiet and I was left with Wren-Lee. As night time settled in and the lights were turned off in the ward, I looked at my daughter and smiled as we sat in the dark together.

D-Day Part 1: "No frikkin way!!!"

The story of Wren-Lee's arrival is pretty darn awesome so I've decided to relay it in parts so you can read it in smaller chunks. Also, I'm writing this 5 weeks down the line and on a 3-4 hour feeding schedule so it gives me time to write in bits and pieces.
Thinking like a mommy :-)

So, from the last post here's what happened:

After a week of lots of walking and doing everything humanly possible to get Wren-Lee to drop, the big appointment day arrived. But, typical of our Drayton drama, Trevor got sick. He ended up at the GP's office at 9am, was diagnosed with a chest infection and put off work for two days. Still, he accompanied me to our appointment with Dr van Waart at noon seeing as it was pretty important.

The doc did what can only be described as the quickest internal exam ever. I was literally on the table for 30 seconds when she said, "Nope, your cervix is ready but your pelvis is too small. We need an ultrasound."

She then showed Trevor how to feel Wren's head and explained that she's was too high up to be born naturally. We did the ultrasound and discovered that her head was 1.5cms too big for my pelvis. And that's when the bomb dropped: "Erin, we're doing a C-section and you're having this baby tomorrow."

WHAAAAAAAT?!?!?!?!? TOMORROW!!!!!! NO.FRIKKIN.WAY!!!

And that's when I started crying. I cried even more when she said that we'd be delivering at 9am...a mere 20 hours from that point. It was just a bit much to take in. My brain was reeling. Trevor was beaming.

Once I was calmer, doc explained the whole procedure and advised us on the admin we'd have to do in preparation for the next day. She assured me again that I had done everything I could but it was time to hand over the reigns and just be a happy mommy when Wren arrived. We ran from her office to the hospital to sort out admission and then I totally broke down in the car, sobbing all the way home. I was in total emotional overload and felt much better once I let it all bubble out.
The next few hours were frantic. I was cleaning, packing, calling the medical aid, calling my beauty therapist for help with hospital questions and generally just trying to orchestrate everything without falling to pieces. Trevor was ordered to rest as much as possible so he could handle the load of responsibility the next day seeing as I'd be out of action.

The rector of our congregation popped in to come pray with us and check that we were okay. I was still running around like a headless chicken when he arrived but felt much better after the prayer.

And then my friends and family did something amazing. They quietly arranged dinner and descended upon the house for an impromptu send off "party". It was a wonderful evening around the dinner table and they even packed the dishwasher and cleaned up afterward! I had to hold back the tears after everyone had left because the house was overflowing with love.

So, once everyone was gone and Trev was in bed, I still took time to double check my suitcase and flat iron my hair. Once in bed, I had a talk with Wren and wept as I told my little girl that this would be our last night sleeping together as one. I assured her that everything would be ok and that we were all excited to meet her.

And with that thought I drifted off to sleep, ready for the biggest day of my life.

Crouch, touch, pause, engage?

This past Monday, I did my very first solo trip to see Dr van Waart. Trevor has been on a training course for the last three days and, unfortunately, he couldn't tag along. Anyhoo, it was a check-up that left me with some mixed emotions.

Here's what's wrong at the moment: Wren-Lee is lying posterior i.e. her face is up instead of down. She hasn't descended yet i.e. she's sitting in the middle of nowhere instead of down in my pelvis. And, to top it all, her umbilical cord is lying around her neck. Surprisingly, the cord is the least of our concerns.

Here's what's right at the moment: She's a healthy little monkey. Her weight is approximately 3kgs. And I'm fine. Well, as fine as I can be under the circumstances.

According to my doc, it definitely sounded like she was descending properly over the last week but, for some reason, repositioned. My waddling and pain were not for nought although it would've been better if she stayed where she was. I've been trying to recall if anything happened between Sunday and Monday morning that could've sent her back up but that's just me over-analyzing again. The doc says we've just got to watch and see what Wren-Lee does. I'm no longer in the driver's seat and she's in charge of her own little ship now. This is difficult for me to accept because a.) I want to be able to do anything and everything possible for this baby and b.) I've wondered if it was something I did that got her into the wrong position.

I could feel she was in the correct position up until Saturday but, for the life of me, can't understand why she not only flipped but also crept back up. Trevor actually has a pretty good theory: Maybe my pelvis is just too small for her.

So, what are the positives here?
Well, my doctor is backing me 100% on giving birth naturally. My pregnancy has had zero complications, Wren-Lee can still be turned and has enough time to descend so those bases are covered. Dr van Waart also has a few tricks she could try to flip and/or get her to engage if we can rule out the need for a C-section. Speaking of which, we're seeing her again this coming Tuesday and I'm praying we can indeed rule out the C-section.

For now, I'm trying to not overthink which is not easy for someone who's mind has no off or mute button. It was a lot of information to take in and there are moments where my feelings on the situation go awry but I'm aware of it and dealing with it. I want her out safely but it's now very real that it might not happen as I'd hoped. That's life. All I can do is keep calm, keep an open mind and do whatever is possible to help her along.

Goodbye work, hello maternity leave!

Much to many people's relief (mine included!), today is my last day at work and I'm finally going on maternity leave. I've spent the last two weeks organising, filing, shredding, archiving and cleaning up e-mails dating back 5 years. If I could drink in celebration I would, but apple juice had to suffice today. Now I can look forward to some R&R before the little monkey arrives :-) 

Physically, I'm getting uncomfortable. She's definitely descending and the pressure on my pelvis increases a little more each day but we're coping well. I'm also getting tired much quicker now. On Wednesday night at church, I was told by a few people that it looks like this baby is coming earlier than we expect. That's ok...as long as she waits until after Tuesday. 

Tomorrow, we've got a massive shopping trip to stock up the kitchen and pick up the last bits and pieces we need. After that, I'm going to spend as much time as possible on my big bum doing very little. Sleep, TV, reading and general slothfulness ala Bruno Mars "Lazy Song" will be the order of the days ahead. Going to rock this maternity leave like a boss! 

Mommy's Valentine

Happy Wellington's Day!!! Yes, that's what I call it: Wellington's Day. Long story.

Because we're not really believers in the whole Valentine's Day hype, Trevor and I have often celebrated the occasion on the day before or sometimes the day after. In fact, we got engaged on 13 February because we chose to do Valentine's Day 24 hours early. This year, we had a check-up with the doc and finally got my paperwork sorted at the hospital - super romantic ha ha ha!

Ok, verdict on the new gynae, Dr van Waart: She is AWESOME!!!! I had every reason to be excited about meeting her and she definitely exceeded my expectations. She's so warm, friendly and easy to trust. The appointment was very relaxed and we got great news. Wren-Lee is in fantastic shape, everything is functioning normally and she's weighing in at approximately 2.6kgs right now. Her calculated weight at due date is around 3.3kgs which is exactly what Dr White calculated it would be as well. She has started lowering down into my pelvis which is why I've recently started getting sharp pains in my lower abdomen. Totally normal, she's just settling into place. She favours lying in the middle or on the left side of the uterus but it's because my placenta is on the right. Her blood and oxygen feed from my placenta is quite strong so I've got the doc's approval to continue sleeping on my back, which is exactly what kiddo likes.

Doc says I'm in good nick and there's nothing for us to worry about. Baby's position and my health indicate that I'll carry to due date. At our next appointment, which is in two weeks, Doc will measure Wren-Lee's head as well as my cervix and calculate if she'll fit. Like she said to us, "If her head can fit in, she can get out." She's also going to check that her head is engaged in the pelvis and will schedule a C-section if either her head is too large for my cervix or she shows no signs of engaging. Doc firmly believes there's no point in delaying the process if we know I can't deliver naturally. I'm ok with that. Getting her out safely is the most important thing.

And so, what did my little star give her mom for Wellington's Day? Well, she made me proud because her heartbeat was so strong, loud and fast that the sound distorted the speaker on the ultrasound machine. Good kid! Her daddy is also spoiling me with a quiet, romantic dinner tonight. We'll be celebrating our love and the new life joining our family.

But, what better gift for Valentine's Day than a gorgeous photograph clearly showing all four chambers of my baby's beautiful, healthy heart :-) Love you my little monkey!

Footsie, footsie...

From Urban Dictionary: 

cankles: (n) A reference to a pair of legs that have no defined end of the calf area as well as no defined beginning of the ankle area. Does not only refer to fatty legs, simply shapeless legs.

As you can see, my left foot is ok-ish. Not too swollen and my ankles still exist. 

On the right, however, is a classic case of the cankle. Terribly unsexy and has rendered all of my shoes useless except one pair - the oh so stylish flip-flop. 

The pic was taken this past Tuesday after work and this was only the beginning of the swelling. About an hour later, I could've been a hobbit of the Shire - short, merry with oversize feet but minus the gross hair. My toes looked like cocktail sausages just waiting for an accompaniment of salad. It was pretty bad. 

After being submerged in the pool for an hour, my feet returned to their normal form. I don't think I have ever been so glad to see my ankles. My face, bum and belly are already rounder than usual. The last thing I need to go spherical are my feet. 

Baby Shower Surprise

Prologue: This post is a little overdue but I was waiting for happy snaps to add in :-) Here we go!

I confess: I was duped. Completely and utterly conned. And it takes a lot to fool me but my mom and friends (and even Trevor!) pulled it off and gave me a surprise baby shower.

I was happily spending time with Tanya when I got a call to come over to my mom's for "cake". Two pregnant chicks aren't going to say no to cake so we jumped in the car. I was pretty confused when I saw all the cars outside the house but figured it was the houseguests, Sandro and Nicci, who invited half the world over seeing as they're visiting from London. It wasn't until Tanya pointed out a sign that said "Baby Shower" that I realised what was happening. And then my brother appeared with the camera...oh boy! 

My mom was waiting at the top of the stairs and I was halfway up when I saw my godmother. I got so excited I literally sprinted up the stairs which isn't a good idea when you're 8 months pregnant and wearing a long maxi dress. Angels must've been with me because I didn't slip and fall and in hindsight it wasn't the smartest move to have done that but I was overwhelmed. Anyhoo, a whole bunch of lovely ladies (and my brother?) were waiting for me. I cried like an idiot and it took a while before I calmed down. The whole scene was just a lot to take in.

My godmother, best surprise ever!

The afternoon was exactly what I'd hoped for. The guests were relaxed and I was happy to see so many of my friends meeting other friends and getting along. It was wonderful to walk around and chat to everybody and we tucked into some yummy food. Gosh, I'm really blessed to have such awesome people in my life!!!! 

And boy oh boy were there gifts! Lots of gifts! It completely filled the boot of the car and we had gifts packed onto the back seat as well! Our little monkey is kitted out with toiletries, diapers and clothes for a good few months and it takes a massive load of Trev and I which is a blessing in and of itself.

Yup, we're teaching her to pray from the get go!

Personalised gift bag - very cool! 

My friend had these awesome "science geek" vests made especially for Wren :-) 

Now, about my brother being there. It's odd for a guy to be at a baby shower especially when he's the only male  in attendance. Every now and then, Lyle surprises me with his thoughtfulness and this was one of those times. He asked to be at the baby shower because he'd never been to one before and, as my only sibling, he wanted to be present for a big moment in my life as a sign of support. The ladies enjoyed having him around and he said he had fun. 

I have to say a massive thank you to my mom and her team of helpers. It was quite a group effort and one that extended quite far geographically. Nicci helped my mom plan the event from London and brought some of the decorations from the UK. My aunt sent napkins and other decorations from Pretoria. Natalie handled all the invitations and RSVPs in her highly pregnant condition. And even Lara, stationed in Robertson, chipped in with help and supplied wine which was made by her talented wine-maker husband. Sandro insists that he was the MVP of the team because he made the call that got me to the house and he came all the way from London for that call. Honestly, Trevor had one of the most difficult jobs because he knew exactly what was going on and had to keep me clueless. That is particularly tough for a guy who can't even keep my birthday present a secret because he gets so excited. 

Anyhoo, I'm deeply grateful to my mom for all her hard work. Organising a baby shower is no mean feat and she did a stellar job. Also, she didn't cry which was pretty awesome LOL! 

I only got home close to midnight so I had a look at the mountain of gifts in Wren's room the next morning before accepting that the day before wasn't a dream. Every time she wears one of her little outfits or we use a product that was given as a gift, I'll remember that it came from someone special at a very special party. 

Thank you all!! Much love for all of you!!!!