Tuesday, June 9, 2009
All About Carter
I decided to use this picture post to tell you all a little more about our son! We were very blessed to have a pretty easy baby...which is good for us amateur parents!! Carter loves to sleep. He rarely cries unless he needs something: basically, either he needs a diaper change, food, or he's cold. He loves to be held but is just as content being put down, especially in his bouncer. He eats well, although lately he will eat for about 5 minutes then fall asleep, much to the dismay of Mom! Carter loves to be swaddled and it helps him go to sleep quickly, but he also loves to have his hands free! As soon as we un-swaddle him he immediately brings his hands up to his face and flails his skinny little arms. I'm not sure he realizes they're attached to his body yet. He's not too picky...he'll take any pacifier (when he's in the mood), and can even hold them to his mouth with his hands a bit. He is also doing well feeding from a bottle (Mom has discovered pumping!) He does not spit up much, which his parents are grateful for. He does this cute little stretching thing, too, where he throws his arms up, throws his head back, and grimaces. It's adorable and makes us laugh! He also tends to make this funny honking sound...mom's not too sure about that and has made a mental note of the sound to ask the pediatrician about tomorrow. Overall he's a very happy baby and we love him to death! Here are some pictures from the last 2 days.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Mommy's perspective
So I thought I'd finally get myself on here and write about my experience so far. Being a mom is amazing! The labor process actually wasn't too bad for me. I had a good epidural and it worked well for most of the time. When it wasn't working, all they really had to do was adjust it and I was happy again. It was a long night + 1/2 a day at the hospital being induced, but sooo worth it! When I was finally 10 cm they let me labor a little bit more because the doctors really wanted my uterus to do most of the work and didn't want me to push too much. My doctor did let me push for a while, and said I was a great pusher but his head was just too big for the opening. They ended up using a vacuum to get him out and it happened really quick! Unfortunately I tore really bad...they call it a 4th degree tear and if you don't know what that means, ask me later as some people probably don't want to know :) I can't even explain how amazing it was when Carter came out!! The last few moments of labor were pretty intense, and then he was out! I had the most intense emotional bubble burst and couldn't stop crying, and neither could Tyler. Suddenly it was all real and we had this beautiful little human who we'd made! Childbirth truly is a miracle...it was the most amazing moment of my life. After the birth I was wheeled to the OR for 1 1/2 hours to get my tear repaired, and Tyler got to spend some good bonding time with Carter. The epidural started to wear off soon after and the pain from that tear was worse than anything I have ever experienced!!
We spent the rest of our stay in the hospital getting to know our baby, trying to learn how to breastfeed, and handling the pain. Carter and I have gotten breastfeeding down pretty well, but I am really raw from it. My milk finally came in late last night and it seems to help fill him up at least. I never knew feeding would be so difficult, though! I've tried a ton of different things to help, and some help but it's still pretty rough. It's been a hard process and hopefully will just get easier and less painful. Between the pain from my tear (which is still insanely intense!), the breastfeeding, and the lack of sleep, it's been difficult being a new mom. I think I could deal with things much better if I weren't in so much pain. But this little boy is worth it and every time I look at him I remember that.
Tyler and I have also been trying to deal with the lack of sleep. Carter sleeps a lot during the day but at night he's awake. Tyler has been great getting up with him a lot and I have mostly just had to deal with the feedings every couple of hours. We help each other out and take turns sleeping and taking care of the boy. What an adjustment parenthood is!! We've both commented about how hard it would be to do this without help and I know I am so grateful for Tyler for helping me out so much. He's a great dad and a great husband and I don't know what I'd do without him! Hopefully we'll continue to adjust and things will eventually get a little easier.
I also realized Tyler didn't post many pictures on here so I'll have to add some more!
last pregnancy picture...9 months and in the hospital to be induced!
They just told me I was 9 1/2 cm and about ready to deliver!
The original weight of 6 lb 0 oz, later amended to 6 lb 8 oz
We spent the rest of our stay in the hospital getting to know our baby, trying to learn how to breastfeed, and handling the pain. Carter and I have gotten breastfeeding down pretty well, but I am really raw from it. My milk finally came in late last night and it seems to help fill him up at least. I never knew feeding would be so difficult, though! I've tried a ton of different things to help, and some help but it's still pretty rough. It's been a hard process and hopefully will just get easier and less painful. Between the pain from my tear (which is still insanely intense!), the breastfeeding, and the lack of sleep, it's been difficult being a new mom. I think I could deal with things much better if I weren't in so much pain. But this little boy is worth it and every time I look at him I remember that.
Tyler and I have also been trying to deal with the lack of sleep. Carter sleeps a lot during the day but at night he's awake. Tyler has been great getting up with him a lot and I have mostly just had to deal with the feedings every couple of hours. We help each other out and take turns sleeping and taking care of the boy. What an adjustment parenthood is!! We've both commented about how hard it would be to do this without help and I know I am so grateful for Tyler for helping me out so much. He's a great dad and a great husband and I don't know what I'd do without him! Hopefully we'll continue to adjust and things will eventually get a little easier.
I also realized Tyler didn't post many pictures on here so I'll have to add some more!
last pregnancy picture...9 months and in the hospital to be induced!
They just told me I was 9 1/2 cm and about ready to deliver!
The original weight of 6 lb 0 oz, later amended to 6 lb 8 oz
Sunday, June 7, 2009
We're Home!
We all made it home from the hospital Saturday evening. The first night at home went okay, Mom and Dad didn't get much sleep, but Carter did fine. He seems very content to sleep all day and be awake at night. The good thing is he doesn't cry much when he is awake. Mom and Dad have been taking turns watching Carter and taking naps today. Mom is doing okay, she has pain off and on from the birth and breastfeeding, but she is in good spirits and loves her baby. The hospital sent a home health nurse by our apartment today to check on Carter and JoAnne. Its part of a program that the county has. The nurse said Carter is doing well and that we are doing a good job of taking care of him.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Correction!
We have learned today that apparently there was a problem with the scale when they weighed Carter for the first time. They think maybe the scale wasn't zeroed properly. He has been weighed a couple times since his first weigh and the doctors are now saying he was probably 6 lbs 8 oz when he was born!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Carter is Born!
Carter Daniel Wallo was born on June 4, 2009 at 3:53pm PST at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. Carter weighed 6lbs .07 oz and was 19.5 inches long at birth. Labor went very well for both Mom and Carter. Unfortunately Mom tore a lot upon delivery, but is now recovering okay. Carter is doing well and learning how to eat. He already knows how to sleep very well and has had to be woken up to eat.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)