baby well visit

We had Chlobug's baby well visit last thrus. She had to get her first needles and I was so nervous. I hated watching Monkey get them done and wasn't looking forward to getting Chlobug started. I have to say it is a pain in the butt dragging two kids anywhere in the middle of winter, especially when one is a toddler so you have to carry her as well. The stroller would have been a pain in the butt just to put Monkey in it for a few minutes. This was almost like when we took both of them to the furniture store! Not FUN at all since we were there so long and waiting for them to approve us buying a bedroom set. Mental note on that one - get a babysitter! Anyways,  my winter jacket still doesn't fit properly either so having to carry the baby car seat and a diaper bag with a jacket that doesn't do up really is annoying.

When we first got there we saw the nurse first who weighed and measured her. She even asked me if I was okay with getting the vaccinations which I thought was awesome. We have no problems with them since we think it is good for her to be vaccinated. There were two needles and the first dosage of that one medicine that a few years ago was not fully covered. We had to get her to drink that one though. Chris took care of that and held her during the needles. Monkey was happier then anything watching toopy and binoo on youtube. She didn't even glance around when Chlobug started crying due to her vaccinations lol. That actually was a relief since it might have been even more stressful for me. Chloe is a trooper she cried for a few minutes and that was it even though she had a needle in each leg poor thing. I had made some formula so Chris fed her some of that afterwards and she was content. Then the only thing I was nervous about was if she reacted in anyway to the shots (which she didn't thankfully). I also managed to get a few bottles of infant Tylenol which is nice since I didn't have to go out and purchase any. We didn't need to use any anyways which was good, but it is always nice to have some in the house just in case.

After that the Doctor came in to check her, listened to her lungs and heart. We talked about a few things that I was worried/curious about. Her hands and feet looking mottled from time to time and her eyelids turning red. He said that was nothing to worry about and just due to an immature system.

We also talked about depression and post partum depression at length. I felt stupid as shit mentioning it but I knew I needed to. I hate taking medicine though so I opted to see if it gets better before trying to take something for it. It never was always everyday but it gets annoying after awhile. I also  seemed to fear that something bad would happen in certain spots of the house (mostly near the stairs) and I would avoid those areas or be very cautious if I need to go near them. I also had fears of accidentally pouring hot water for tea on either of them when I am pouring some for myself. Or knocking a pot of boiling water on either of them. The stupid thing is any of what I mentioned above I would never do. It is not something I think about as I am doing it for example pouring myself tea. I wouldn't be holding Chlobug while I was doing that or have Monkey in the kitchen with me when I was doing that or boiling water on the stove for food. These fears are all happening during nursing Chlobug in the chair. It is so stupid and frustrating to sit there and worry about something that would never happen because I would never put either of them in that situation! My imagination is just picking the worst case scenario of what could happen at home and it gets frustrating because I sit there and worry about it!

 

Chlobug's next appointment is in 2 months (early April) so I will see how I am between that time to see if I need to try meds or talk to someone. It is surprising to me since that appointment I have had depression or things like that everyday. I never realized how often or whatever so I might give something a try. I sometimes am sitting on the couch nursing her and I feel nothing it sucks. Or I feel emty inside or angry or stressed about fixable stuff. UGH. At least the doctor was reassuring that this is pretty normal especially since I did just have a second baby.

So Saturday comes along when our nice new bedroom set is to be delivered. It is and they set it up. It is awesome I love it! I love how big it is, how nice it is and how comfy the mattress is!! I was so looking forward to sleeping in it as well. I was worried about bringing Chlobug to bed and nursing her due to a very brand new mattress and off gassing. We decided that I could still nurse lying down but watch TV to keep myself awake and return her to her cradle when I was done. Well then I walked into the bedroom and it stunk of new furniture/whatever it was painted with. This freaked me out and stressed me out. We argued a lot, I looked it up online and did not feel comfortable having Chlobug in there. We opened both windows wide open and circulated the air from the furnace and hoped that it would get rid of the smell. So we didn't sleep in our new bed yet :( She has been sleeping in the playpen and us on a mattress on the living room floor. I also placed vineger in the room and some baking soda to hopefully take the smell away. Today (mon) it still smells but not as bad I don't think.

Yesterday I had so many solutions going through my head like we would have to put Chlobug in Monkey's room and I would have to go get her and nurse her in the hallway or in the front room or we would have to lock the cats in the basement (which we did the last two nights and they spent the night banging on the door and meowing :( ) and leave our door open and have her cradle just outside our doorway in the hallway. I have no idea what we are going to do! I just want to sleep in our new bed DAMMIT!

off to the hospital again..and the doctor..

(written 22/03/2013)

We went to see the lactation consultant at the hospital today. I really did not want to have to go and was sort of angry that I was just there the day before! This time I had to walk all the way up by myself and I was only 3 days after giving birth. That wasn't really fun but at least mom was still down so she watched the monkey. We also had to go to the doctors to get chlobug checked out which also was not fun either.

Anyways the consultant really helped me. She suggested using a simple sns system that did sort of what the nurse the day before did. This time it was a tube that was attached to a syringe. She just sucked up some formula (although she said of course I could use expressed milk as well but since I didn't have any with me we just used that) so we got the baby to latch then she slipped it into her mouth and every time she stopped nursing she pushed the plunger and then the baby would start eating again. I was so amazed! I couldn't help but think why the hell the other consultant that was at the hospital before not suggest this to me with monkey? This not only helped her to keep eating and thus not having to fight with her for hours on end at feeding time (which was really exhausting with monkey) but also stimulated my body to know that it needed to produce more milk. She said that we probably would only need to do that for a few days until she wasn't as sleepy as she was.

 

She also answered my question on how to know if you have a good latch. I mean I knew to look for the flanged lips but I hated that everything stated to get as much of the tissue in as possible. That always confused me because how do you know you have enough? She answered me but I had to specifically ask her that as long as the lips are flanged it is all good. I knew that if I hadn't asked again in a more direct fashion like that I would be at home worry constantly that she wasn't getting the proper amount or whatever. She gave us the simple sns kit and we were on our way. I felt like this time that nursing had to be better and I was totally confident but at the same time I didn't know if I wanted to do this. I set myself a goal of 6 weeks again first and see how it went.

Then we were off to the doctor. Everything was fine here. I really wish I could find where I wrote down how much she weighed. I need to find that because I know I have it somewhere along with her other measurements

Doc appointment and other rambles..

I had another doctors appointment yesterday (mon) he had my results back from the strep B swab thing I had to do a week before at the last one. It came out neg so that is one less thing to worry about. This appointment went okay. Nothing worrying me and everything seems to be normal. It was a long wait though which sucked. We got there and the whole place was full! So that and monkey not wanting to sit still made it a tad bit stressful for me. I am glad that my weight seems to have stopped rising. It's around 218 I think. Ugh I hate even thinking about that number or looking at it but it is what it is and when this baby is born I can start to lose the weight. (ha it was hard for me to even admit that in my blog!)

I am starting to get more and more anxious since I have no idea what labour coming on naturally feels like. We asked him when is a good time to go to the hospital and he said when contractions get to be about 7 mins apart it is sometimes a good time to go in. The sucky part is that monkey will have to come with us but I think if I start to feel contractions I can call mom and hopefully someone will be able to come up before I have to go to the hospital. For the last few weeks, off and on, I have been having menstrual like cramps. Although it seems like there are more of them this past week and more like braxton hicks contractions. It feels so weird when my stomach gets so hard. I guess I better get as much sleep as I can now because soon I will have none and no time to nap unless Chris is home.

Monkey is as cute as ever. Her sayings now include 'oh no!' 'I see it' (she normally says this and points to the lights), and 'lets go see (grandma, grandpa etc)'. I just love her to death. She is getting so big and she constantly wants me to read to her which is awesome but I have to say I do get tired of reading the same book over and over but I am happy that she takes an interest in reading!

The saturday that just past we took her to the mall to get pictures with Santa! It was his first day being there and that is definitely the time to go since there was hardly a line up. She sat on him without any freak outs although she wouldn't look at the camera to much. But the photo we got of her is cute! We get to get the Christmas photos we had done at Walmart next week sometime.

I think at my next appointment which is next Thurs he is going to check to see if I am dilated at all and he may be doing that sweep thing. Which I am not looking forward to since it was not the funnest the last time. I am so ready to not be pregnant but at the same time I don't want to go through all that again! AHhh at least we have baby names now though. The baby is still so freaking active and today especially. There can't be to much room left in there since it sort of is uncomfortable when the baby stretches or kicks or punches or whatever the baby is doing. I can't wait to find out if it's a boy or girl though!! So exciting.

Catch Up.

I really need to start journaling more often. I am already at 26ish weeks prego and I feel like I barely have time to journal let alone update my blog online. I feel bad about it since I journaled a lot when I was carrying monkey. I guess that is the way it goes when you have a second child.

I had a doctors appointment on the 31st of Aug (last Friday) He had my results back from my blood and glucose test. Everything seemed fine so that was relief. He said the enzymes in my liver were fine as well (the last time I asked if it was normal to be so freaking itchy during pregnancy and I guess sometimes it can be caused by something in the liver). I'm glad that turned out okay. I asked about my ultrasound results and they STILL haven't gotten them yet. Seriously! I am already worried that my technician sucked and I want reassurance that everything is really okay. The baby is moving around a lot though so that's good.

It's funny though that this time around pregnancy doesn't seem as bad. There are certain things that are worse though like I had morning sickness this time around and it sucked especially when I had to watch monkey during the day. I also am finding that I don't have to get up every two minutes after I go to bed to use the washroom like I did the first time around, unless of course I drink a huge glass of water just before I go to sleep. I also haven't gained as much as I did the last time (50ish with monkey) but I am sitting at 22 pounds this time around. Although I started 25 pounds heavier this time around. I don't know if it's either because every pregnancy is different or it's because I really don't have to much time to think about it. I mean monkey keeps me busy during the day, then it's off to work, then home to sleep. Regardless though the time is going by fast, even though at work it seems to drag and I am starting to freak out about labour again!

 I only gained 4 pounds since the last time I was there which is a pound a week which is good. He said the baby's heart beat was at 130. I guess everything is going alright. I did have two concerns this time though. One was the incredible exhaustion I feel during the day. I only get maybe 7 hours of sleep a night if I'm lucky and it is broken. I get up with monkey and an hour later I am ready to crash but can't. I have been off and on lately taking a nap when she does just to get a few extra z's but most often I have to wake myself up before I am ready to and get ready for work or because monkey woke up that sometimes its not even worth trying to nap. Then I feel the same thing at work off and on but I can't nap there. He suggested that on top of my prenatal to take extra iron once or twice a day and nap when I can if I can and see if that helps.

Today I have been better. I didn't sleep that well last night since it was sort of muggy and I had gas stuck in my chest but finally I passed out. I kind of dozed in the morning until monkey woke up and I did feel sleepy around 10 but it wasn't to bad. Right not I feel okay as well. I hope that the extra iron is helping though because if not it's only going to get worse as my belly gets bigger!

The other thing that I was worried about was the fluttery jerky movements in my stomach near the bottom. He said not to worry and that at this point any movement is good. He said it could just be the baby in it's motions or whatever. He said he had one person describe it as having a seizure. I was actually thinking the same thing but didn't want to explain it that way). He said that he told her that he didn't think that was possible and not to worry. That made me feel better and looking it up online it seems a lot of people have the same feelings. It's nice to know that I am not the only one.

Monkey is becoming a little parrot repeating what we say. It's freaking cute though. She can't get the words exactly but we know what she is saying so we really have to be careful what we say around her. It's hard sometimes but I really don't want her to start saying something bad because it slipped from one of us because that will be the word that she says ALL the time.

I also just came off of a week of holidays and I don't want to go back! I'm dreading it but I have only 6-7 weeks left. I am going to try for a 7th week if I can because this time around I want a private room. I don't care the cost because last time I hated not being in a private room. So if I can work that week it would be good since it's like 200ish a day and our insurance doesn't cover any of it. It may be expensive but it will be worth it for me anyways. I will feel more comfortable and so will the people that come and visit in the hospital. It was really awkward the last time. The count down is on now though! I have to keep thinking only 1.5 months left, and am trying to take it a week at a time. This week is a short week with only 4 days. I can do it! I just have to keep saying that to myself!

ALSO my Mom and sister and my niece were over last Monday and I found out that my neice is going to have a baby. So I am going to be a Great Aunt for the first time!!! She is only about a month so far and will probably be due around my birthday. It is going to be so weird that our babies will almost be the same age! I am so excited for her. I still can't believe it though!

Doc appointment

Today I had my final doc appointment with my family Doc. Well that was only because I couldn't get into the OBGYN until the first week in August. Anyways today when we went there I was sort of grumpy because all prior visits I only saw the nurse who checked my blood pressure, urine and weight. Today though he had a in training nurse practitioner with him and she actually used the doplar to listen to the heart beat! So I FINALLY got to hear it. I was so excited when she told me to get up on the table.  I had my ultrasound yesterday and saw the it was beating but that was about it. So I was super happy to hear it. She said that the beat was about 150. According to the old wives tale does that make it a boy? I'm also carrying this one much higher since my belly is sticking wayyy out! I have already been in mat clothes for awhile now as apposed to with monkey where I was just telling work at this point that I was preggers. Albeit I was 30 pounds lighter when I conceived Monkey then with baby bean #2. Still it was super exciting to hear the little ones heart beat! So that was a relief. She also measured me and said it measured around 19-20 weeks. She didn't seem concerned and said that that was normal for around where I am at. So that is good. I am 21 weeks 3 days. So pretty close.

Also to my delight and surprise when we were heading over there Monkey just started saying MOMMY repetitively in the backseat! Sooo freaking cute! So happy she finally is saying it. She has been saying daddy for a long time now. I love that little girl so much. It's so hard to go to work every night! I miss her so much and worry about sometime happening to her when I am not there. I hate to think what I am going to be like when she is older! I just have to keep thinking 3 months until I am off at least for a year. I don't think I want to go back to work after the year is up, not until they are both in school at least but it depends on the money situation. Maybe if I needed to and did not want to work full time I could always find a part time job or something. That is too far in the future to think about right now I am just trying to get through the last months of work! Its' so freaking hot in there and I am so tired all the time. Heat and tiredness makes for a long night. Today is supposed to be the worst to. Chance of thunderstorms all day and night, temps that feel like over 40 yuck! I can't wait until summer is over and I can hide under my sweater again!

15 month needle

Monkey had her 15 month vaccine today. Thankfully I was reading and checking off the development list when she started giving it to her. I did look up when monkey started to cry. It's so horrible seeing her in pain :( but after a few sucks on a sucker and some milk she was okay. I'm so glad that Chris was the one to hold onto her when she gave it. He said after that it seemed like she had to push really hard to get it in the back of her arm. The next vaccine is in 3 more months :( To think I will have to go through this again with the new little one.

She also weighed her and she weighed in at 10.8kg which is 23.8 pounds. I still need to measure her length though since the nurse didn't do that. She also gave us a bottle of infant Tylenol and Advil which surprised me and a coupon for $3 bucks off another bottle of liquid infant Tylenol.

I have a friend who is a month ahead of me in her pregnancy and I was shocked when she told me that after talking to a friend of hers and doing her own research she was not going to vaccinate her child. I have mixed feelings about that and frankly I was shocked that there was even the option or that people actually don't! I always thought it was mandatory for your child to go to school. She said that she is hesitant in telling people because it is controversial and while I'm still not sure I agree with her. I'll still be vaccinating my second baby and any other children that me and Chris have.

So now I am curious, have any of you decided against vaccination? What made you decide against it? What are your thoughts on to vaccinate or to not?

Doctor's appointment (baby#2)

I had my last doctors appointment with my family doctor today. I saw the nurse first who checked my blood pressure and urine. Everything was fine. She also went through my blood work and said everything looked good but they found that I would need a booster shot after the baby is born because I am not protected against Rubella or one of those. I can't remember exactly which one it was.  I found that shocking since why wouldn't they have found that in my blood the last time I was pregnant? I guess different testing place since the last time I still had my family doctor back home until we found this one here. Good they found it I guess. Other then that everything was good. I then went to another room and talked to my doctor. He just basically asked if I had any concerns and told me that just do what you feel you can and don't do anything you feel you shouldn't. I had asked him about overheating and lifting since I do some lifting at work (although I avoid it when I can) and now that its getting to be summer temperatures it's getting insanely hot in there!. He reassured me that I would be fine.

We also asked him about Monkey since I noticed that her smaller toes are starting to curl a bit, but she seems to walk okay. She isn't walking on her tip toes or anything. I was just worried it was because she walks around without shoes on most of the time. Can you believe that the weekend before we did try to find her some runners at Walmart but they had none in her size! The rest were all sandals or dress shoes. I was looking for sturdy soles without open toes because she does seem to trip on her sandals sometimes. He wasn't concerned about them and said that don't let anyone talk you into getting expensive shoes for your child because they say you need them. We also asked him about her head and ear scratching. I was afraid that she had an ear infection but recently she started scratching her head more as well. She always seemed to be picking at her ears but it's more scratching the backs of them. He said she has a bit of eczema and to try using aveeno baby soap and to dab a bit of 1% cortisone creme on any bad spots (I think it was that) and to put petroleum jelly on the backs of her ears after a bath to help lock in moisture so her skin doesn't dry out. I have noticed that she still seems to have scales on her head. So I have to research how to help that I guess. At least her hair covers them up since they look horrid and are like a yellowy colour.

I am disappointed again that he didn't use the doppler to listen for the heart beat. I am getting anxious to hear the baby's heart to know that the little tyke or tykes are okay or alive even. He is sending my files over to the ob-gyn that I had before so hopefully they call soon so I know when I go in again. I'm assuming it won't be for another month. I do have my ultra sound next month so I can't wait for that. LOL for some reason I have myself convinced I am having twins even though I really don't see why I think that. Maybe cause I was showing earlier then my last although I have read that you do show faster the second time then your first. Either way I just want reassurance that the baby is okay! I can't wait to feel movements but have felt nothing yet.

My doctor said he should rethink when he refers patients to the ob-gyn since they get to do all the fun stuff (listen to the heart, measure the uterus). lol I am so glad we found this doctor because both me and Chris really like him. 

Mommy Paranoia

Yesterday I was seriously worried about Monkeys breathing pattern. I don't know if she does this at night because I am not with her all the time but she was doing this during her nap yesterday. I've noticed this before though but I am not with her for her full nap all the time so I don't know how often it occurs. Anyways, I nursed her to sleep around 1pm yesterday and she did her normal waking up 20-30 minutes after she fell asleep and since I was still in there with her I just nursed her back to sleep again to see if I could prolong her nap. She dropped off to lala land within five minutes. Since I nurse her to sleep for naps in our bed I just stayed there as well for some mommy relaxation time but noticed that her breathing was really fast and quick, she paused anywhere from 2-6 seconds randomly then either took a big breath, breathed in a bunch of really quick and sharp breathes or made a noise that startled her into breathing again. (well maybe those two happened at the same time) She even started to twitch and her arms go flying, also sometimes when she paused in her breathing it would cause her to startle awake and she would get all cranky. If I wasn't there she would have woken up completely. This is maybe why she doesn't sleep too long for naps and keeps waking up so soon after she falls asleep. I know periodic breathing is normal before 6 months but she is almost 7months old. I was so worried that something would happen to her before this morning when I called the doctors office. It really is freaky to watch her. I wish I had the camera with me so I could film it to show Chris (and potentially the doctor) so he would know exactly what I am talking about. I know I worry to much but this was really alarming me!

No websites are helpful either since they all talk about newborns or babies under 6 months. Nothing tells me what is normal for a 7 month old and how they breathe while asleep and go through the different phases. I can't compare her breathing rhythm to adults since our lungs are fully developed while hers are not. I have to say I was totally scared yesterday.

So this morning I called and made an appointment to see the doctor. Thankfully I called when I did since they are only in the office until noon on Friday. I got an appointment at 11:15 am. We took her in and he checked her out while I described what was going on. He said that he was not worried and that it was probably due to the immaturity still of her systems and organs and that she probably could have some form of sleep apnea but will probably outgrow it. He did a really good job at reassuring me and not making me feel like an paranoid first time mom. I love our Doctor! I just have to say though witnessing the way she was the day before was really freaky. This could also explain why she is always rubbing her eyes even after she gets 3ish hours of naps a day. Sleep apnea prevents you from getting good quality sleep so you don't feel rested during the day. Hopefully she out grows it and her sleep will be better and she might actually take a decent amount of nap time instead of waking up after 30 minutes. It's so hard to know with little ones if she is just a short napper or if this is causing her to wake up before she wants to or what. Like the doctor said by the fourth baby nothing will phase you, not like the first one who you watch like a hawk because you are new to everything. (I just have to add for any family that may be reading this I do not plan on having four kids ;)

So now I feel sooo much better and not so freaked out. He watched her for a while and said she is breathing fine and she is not struggling for air and to him she looks like a nice healthy baby who was born full term and has no health issues. I know I am still going to worry but I'm her mommy and it's my job. :) I'm glad we went though, it puts my mind at ease so now we can enjoy the weekend, well except it's calling for cold and rainy weather. Not so good.