Good day!

I took Draven and Brandon to Mother and Toddler group today. When we got back, Draven was tired and wanted a nap (yeay!! It usually wears him out!). This was around 1pm.

So I figured Brandon would probably wake up now. So I laid him down in his crib next to my bed and he stayed asleep... hmmm?!

So I jumped into bed right away! He started to stir, so I figured "here we go!" But then he went back off to sleep again. Next thing I know... It's 3:45pm!! AHHH wonderful!!

I fed Brandon and gave Draven a snack and started on dinner - PERFECT afternoon!

A few pics of both boys in the early days

Draven


Brandon


Draven


Brandon (and an older Draven)


And I've shown these before but here they are again...

Draven


Brandon (same outfit... 2.5 years on lol)

10 days old

He's 7lbs 11oz already!


He was 7lbs 7oz at birth, then on day 5 he was 7lbs 9oz. We're now on day 10. The midwife said he's gaining nicely

Back from NICU

I wimped out As soon as they wouldn't let me hold him and told me blood would be taken from his hand, I started to cry. My sister stayed with him for me. She said he didn't cry at all though, until it was over. He was asleep when she came into the waiting room with him.

It's always harder on us, right?!

Brandon's midwife at the birth

I wanted to get her a gift or something, I didn't last time with Draven, because I felt she deserved a fist in her face more than chocolates!

But my midwife this time was wonderful! And as I'm going to the hospital anyway today with Brandon, I'm going to send her some chocolates and a thank you card. I truely believe if it wasn't for how calm and instructive she was, I would've torn or something giving birth like I did last time. She really did make this a wonderful experience for me.

I'm going to include this picture of her and Brandon in the card

Not happy :(

Brandon's off to the special baby unit to have his blood checked for his Thyroid, due to me having Hyperthyrioidsm. I'm hoping his thyroid is normal.

Does anyone know how they take blood from a baby? My sister said she'll hold him for me, I can't watch

I'm ok with needles etc, but he's my baby!!!

Scary scary moment!

When I went to bed!

Shane had tucked Brandon in for me while I stayed up to pump. I checked on him in his crib next to our bed and all I could see were blankets... So I checked our bed thinking surely he hasn't put him to bed with us... no, still can't see Brandon.

So I put my hand in his crib and I feel his tiny body under the blankets!!! He had the blanket up over his head entirely!! I almost DIED then and there!!! THANK GOD he was ok and breathing fine etc!!! I dread to think if I'd stayed up any later!!

I got into bed and freaked out on Shane about being careful how he lays him down of a night!
It's not his fault though, he wasn't to know.

I'm just so glad he's ok, what a scary moment! I couldn't wait for him to wake up for a feed so I could cuddle him!!!

Brandon is ONE week old!

Brandon's Birth Story

What a week!

I went into hospital on 9th Feb 2009 to be induced via the prostine pessery (a tablet inserted through the vagina to get labour going). They inserted the pessery not long after I arrived. They could've used a tea bag method which is for a cervix that's not ready for labour yet and works slowly over a 24 hour period (whatever that is) but decided since my cervix was soft, I'd be ok for the pessery instead - how wrong they were!

Nothing happened. They wanted to insert another one later on that night at around 11pm. But Shane was home by then and I didn't want a repeat of last time. After the 2nd pessery in the same day with Draven, I went into hard labour FAST and Shane got there 9 minutes before he was born! So I declined until the next day.

Tuesday, 10th Feb, they inserted another one at around 10am. Still nothing happened.

Wednesday, 11th Feb. They insert another one. They said I'm now 1cm dilated, but my cervix is still long and not effaced at all. They said until the baby's head drops down, I won't dilated as the baby's offering no pressure yet to make the cervix effaced. (it's all sounding like a waste of time to me!). They want to break my waters but can't because my cervix is too long.

Thursday, 12th Feb. I'm still dilated 1cm and not effaced - it's not working! A new doctor decides she can break my waters with pain meds. I asked them to try one last pessery as it could be the one to make me dilate more (I can only have 4, so I said we may as well try the 4th and see). So in goes a 4th pessery - the final attempt!

Friday, 13th Feb. They come over to try to break my waters hoping I've dilated some more, if not, a c-section is on the cards.
I've dilated to 2cm's! So they CAN now break my waters, although my cervix is STILL long! He's just not ready! I wished they'd just send me home and allow me to finish my pregnancy in peace!

So they try to break my waters. It's AGONY! I don't know if it's because I'd had daily internals, sometimes more than once, or if it's because my cervix is still long. The doctor asked me if I wanted her to stop, so I said yes. I was crying, kicking and screaming, it REALLY hurt! So the bitch said "ok I'll have you booked for a c-section today" I said "no you won't". And thankfully the midwife suggested having me on the labour ward with some Nitrous Oxide to help me manage the pain while they break my waters. Thankfully she agreed and so did I.

At 1:11pm my waters were finally broken!! I sobbed like a baby in sheer relief! The midwife stroked my arm and told me to let it all out. I'd had a LOT of built up tension, and I cried LOUDLY!

I started to get very mild tightenings soon after. They gradually over time got stronger which I loved as it gave me time to absorb the labour. Draven's labour was such a shock to me, and came on so suddenly and strong, it was nice this time to have a slow build up. I breathed through them and was eventually given some gas and air (Nitrous Oxide). The midwife was really cool and said you don't get much free on the NHS so enjoy it while you can lol. AND WE DID!! She left us alone in the room a lot of the time as things were going so smoothly, and as the contractions weren't that bad, I was getting quite the buzz from the gas and air, and so was Shane!! lol We've never laughed so much, you wouldn't have believed I was in labour!!

Shane went out and got me some lasagna for dinner which I sat and ate between contractions lol. I kept it down too as things were finally on their way! Previous to that I'd only kept one meal down since Saturday!!

They decided to put a drip in me (like pitocin, but it's called something else) to increase the contractions.
Then there were complications. Brandon's heart started to drop dramatically. It was 60 something. The midwife was really concerned, I could see it in her face, she was trying to hide it from me so I wouldn't panic, but I knew something was wrong and I did panic! I told them to stop the drip (even though it had barely started). They wanted to put a monitor on his head, but the doctor couldn't get to his head and by which time his heart had gone back to normal - thank God!! I was 5cm's dilated by now.

By now I'd been asking for an epidural with each contraction. The midwife didn't want me to have one as I'd been coping so well knowing I was halfway there, so she decided to check me and see how far dilated I was. She looked pissed off and then said "you need the epidural!" So I asked why and she said I wasn't at 5, I was only 2.5cm's! Different fingers I guess??

So the epi guy came in and gave me a run down of what it is. I had the mobile epi, and I could still feel everything. But eventually the pain in my tummy stopped, they then decided to start the drip again as I had the epi now for pain.
This was 9pm, and then there was a staff turn around, so I was introduced to another midwife. A lady called Charlotte who was so young! She was wonderful though and talked me through everything.

She topped up my epi (I didn't know it could wear off within 45 mins!) at 11pm. It didn't seem to work? Maybe it wasn't strong enough? Or the contractions were REALLY strong that I could feel them again? I really don't know, but I could feel pain now.
I'm not sure what time it was but she said she was going to top it up again. I told her I could feel pressure down there (but I had a lot anyway throughout the labour), so she said she'll check and see how far I am now etc before topping up (damn! I should've kept my mouth shut!! lol After last time, I didn't want to feel him come out!).

To everyone's surprise, she said his head was just sitting and waiting in the birth canal!!! I almost panicked - I'd be able to feel myself tear! Convinced I would.

So she told me whenever I'm ready to push. I puffed on the gas and air, shut my eyes and pushed! It didn't feel right to me, so I got up onto my knees and turned to face the wall and leaned over the back of the bed with the gas and air.

Now it felt right. I pushed, and could feel him moving down. There was no pain down there, just pressure, it was SO DIFFERENT to last time! The midwife was amazing and talked me through what to do telling me I'm doing great etc. Then I felt his head come out - no burning sensation or anything! She asked me to stop pushing and to breathe him out slowly. Then she said whenever I'm ready, one last push and he'll be here! So I did, and there he was at 00:04am on Valentine's day, 2009!! Brandon Ash Conway, born, FINALLY!!
He weighed 7lbs, 7oz. 20.9 inches long, head cicumfrence was 13.4 inches.
I felt everything, but it wasn't sore at the end, it was truly wonderful! No screaming, nothing! I just grunted a little as I pushed lol.
I was in active labour for 2 hours and 50 minutes and pushed for 14 minutes (same as Draven).

It was so lovely to have Shane there with me the whole time too, it really made a world of difference.

He'd pooped a little whilst inside me, so we had to stay in for 24 hours for observation. So I was finally allowed home on Sunday, 15th February.

What a week!

Baby Brandon pics

I can't stop kissing him!

He's delish!!!

Although I'd rather be sleeping right now, I must admit!

YEAY Brandon!!

He had his 5 day heel prick test today (awww I HATE that!) and they weighed him and he's gained 2oz! I've never heard of a baby gaining weight in the 1st week! lol

He's now 7lbs 9oz!

Not much bigger than our remote control!

My little Twins!

Draven in his Little Roo outfit


Brandon (taken today) in that same Little Roo outfit (you can tell it's almost 3 years old now lol)

Cord gone already!

I'm so happy!! I hate those things hanging on there by a clip - they make me so nervous!

It started smelling yesterday in the night and I was worried it was infected. The midwife came out today and said it looked fine and that sometimes they do start to smell before they fall off and told me it's almost off now anyway and that another day or 2 and it'll be gone.

Then I go to change him earlier and it's gone! But literally gone, I couldn't find it

Then I found it in his vest. I've had to keep it as my mum has Draven's in her jewlery box so she wants Brandon's too - sicko!

I'm FINALLY home!

Here's some details in a nut shell:

I was induced daily since Monday via the prostine pessery, but nothing happened. After 4 they consider it a failed induction so I almost had a c-section but luckilly I was dilated enough so they broke my waters on Friday and I started to contract almost straight away AT LAST!
7lbs 7oz
LOTS of hair!
3 hours (established) labour (11 hours since waters broke)
Nice clean vaginally delivery - no tearing!! YEAY!!!
Born at 00:04, 14th February 2009

It took forever to get me going, but once I was on my way it all went very smoothly (he just wasn't ready, bless him)

I can't believe it's all over!! I'm now just a REALLY happy mother of two beautiful boys! SO IN LOVE!!

Belly pics, from 8 weeks to birth! (pregnant with Brandon)

8 weeks!



11 Weeks





12 weeks







13 weeks





14 weeks





15 Weeks







16 Weeks




Downward view lol

17 Weeks







18 Weeks






Here's one this week with a face lol

19 Weeks







20 Weeks


I love Lucky Charms!! lol

21 Weeks




I need new clothes, there's a hole in my pit! lol



22 Weeks

23 Weeks







24 Weeks

25 Weeks







26 Weeks

27 Weeks

28 Weeks

29 Weeks







30 Weeks






Downward view (EGG Shaped!! lol)

31 Weeks....

32 Weeks....

33 Weeks....

34 Weeks....

35 Weeks....

36 Weeks....

37 Weeks....






....38 Weeks....

39 weeks

I took loads because it's my LAST lot!!! There's a couple of birds eye views lol

39 weeks on 14th February 2009, 00:04am...

It's finally over!!!
..