Anniversary photo shoot- Recreated wedding pictures

This post is going to be really short and sweet, but I saw something like this on Pinterest a while back about a couple copying pictures from their wedding during their pregnancy and knew I wanted to do that. Well, we didn't get that chance because I wasn't pregnant during our anniversary (darn the timing), but I happen to think these came out even cuter! Here is our look alike photo shoot with Myles as our little bouquet!

3 Months Old

I can't believe three months have come and gone since the birth of our little man! I know everyone says it, but it really does go by extremely fast when you're not paying attention.  So far, this has been my favorite month for a few reasons: Myles is passing some exciting milestones, we have a new breastfeeding relationship (that isn't making me cry), and I'm no longer exhausted all the time and finally feel like I'm getting somewhat of a routine together.

Myles is getting more and more in-tune with his body and realizes that he can control his hands and fingers.  Since then, his fingers (and sometimes his whole fist) have been in his mouth! So far, he hasn't been the thumb-sucking type, he's the opposite...most of the time all four fingers, excluding his thumb will be in his mouth. Even in the middle of the night, while swaddled, he becomes a little Houdini managing to get his hand out, just so he can suck on his fingers.

Swaddled and got his hand out to suck on his fingers

Which brings me to my next milestone he's reached, being swaddled. About a week before his three month mark, we transitioned him into his crib instead of being in the bassinet right beside my bed. After a few nights of him doing perfectly fine in the crib, we decided not to swaddle him at night to try and get him used to sleeping this way. He's come very close to rolling over, and we know that at that point he can no longer be swaddled, so this is our way of slowing weaning him off of the swaddle (I would like to mention, that naps during the day he hasn't been swaddled for a few weeks now). Night #1 without a swaddle...awesome! His first stretch of sleep was six hours, then every three hours after that to eat, and up for the day at 8:00 a.m. We did it again the next night, and it went just as good. So, weaning him off the swaddle and transitioning him to his crib went much smoother than we envisioned, but we'll take it!

This kid and his smiles...I'm in LOVE! This has been a big step this month, of whenever we talk or sing to him, he responds with one of these beautiful smiles! He's such a happy baby, and I love that we can get him to smile like this. It's amazing!

Another exciting thing that happened this month is a change to our breastfeeding/pumping relationship. If you've read my previous month post Two Months In! I had a rough start to breastfeeding, and ended up pumping exclusively for a while, then needing to supplement because he wasn't getting the nutrition he needed from my breast milk alone. So one day, right around the three month mark, I was home with him and needed to pump. I also knew he was going to be hungry soon, so I had a decision to make: pump and risk him crying out of hunger, or try to latch him on early before he was super fussy and get frustrated because he wasn't used to being latched on to my breast. I chose the latter. And guess what...it was a breeze! He latched on right away, calmly might I add, and didn't get upset when it took a little longer to get the milk than a bottle would give. It was amazing! Not only did he latch on correctly on my left, but I switched him over to my right and he did it again! There must have been so much oxytocin flowing through my body and through the milk because I was so happy, that he felt it too. It was great! Since then we've been breastfeeding one feeding a day, and I'm pumping for him the rest of the time. I'm only doing this because I'm not sure my supply is up yet from his sucking, but it's also giving my nipples a slower transition back to what it's like to have him latched on, which is what I need in order to get myself to continue down this path. We'll see how it goes!

This month I'm seeing a huge change in his routine, and it's really allowing me to get things done around the house. When he's up for the day around 8:00 a.m. I'll feed him, then he's awake and content lying on the bed with me while I pump. I'll keep him entertained by talking, singing, or reading to him and he's happy just being there with me. Next we'll go downstairs and I'll put him in the play yard with the piano mat (as seen in this post Our Newborn Must-Haves) while I put a load of laundry in the wash, make myself something to eat, and soak the bottles from the night before. Right around the time that gets done, he's had enough play time and is ready for his first nap. Sometimes I'll rock him to sleep while he's in my arms, other times I'll put him in his glider and he falls right asleep. Nap times are now on average forty minutes to one hour in length which is great! No more twenty minute naps. During this time I'll get my laundry into the dryer and possibly start another load (if I'm doing our cloth diapers this day I'll put them out in the sun on a rack), finish my breakfast, and wash/sanitize the bottles. And the routine continues into the night time with other chores in-between. Some days I'm even able to get a nap in while he's sleeping! 

This month has shown the most growth in him, and I'm loving all of his new abilities! We even heard his first laugh the other day before mass...such a beautiful sound! (You can see video's here Myles' laugh and Myles trying to talk)

-Heather Ortiz, new mama

The reason I became a Mom

"First comes love

Then comes marriage

Then comes the baby in the baby carriage"

That's what you're supposed to do right?

That's not the reason I became a mom. Come to think of it, there's no one reason why I wanted to be a mom. It's not like I sat around one day thinking life could get better, let's make a baby! No. Not for me anyway. Here's my story on why I became a mom. 

For as long as I can remember, when I was a little girl I played with dolls, played "house", and in every single play session there was a mom for the baby. Of course there was a mom! I grew up in a very stable, functional, loving family and always knew that one day I would have babies and become a mom. It wasn't forced on me, it just seemed like the natural thing to do. 

As I got older and knew that Jorge and I were going to get married, early on in the relationship I had to know that he wanted a family. He said yes and that's all I needed to know at the time. 

In college I would doodle on some notebook pages my "timeline" of when I wanted to get engaged, get married, buy a house, and then have a baby. It was all mapped out. Simple right?

In reality, it's not that easy! After three years of marriage Jorge and I had a few serious talks about starting a family and all that came with it. I had already done research on my part about pregnancy do's and don'ts, info on labor, midwives and all that time thinking I was totally ready for when the time came. But until then, it was just an idea. It wasn't anything concrete I fully wrapped my head around. It was just a concept that wasn't set into motion yet, and as soon as we got close to our metaphorical "starting line" one thing came to mind..."oh my gosh, shit just got real". 

Every month as I stood there holding onto a pregnancy stick, it was a surreal moment that could change our lives forever! At this point, it still wasn't real. During these months I gradually understood the true reasons why I wanted to become a mom. 

I didn't become a mom just because it seemed like the natural thing to do. It wasn't because Jorge and I both talked about it years prior, or because we were married and financially stable. I didn't become a mom because I would regret it years down the road, or because I wouldn't have someone to take care of us when we're ninety years old (God willing). It wasn't because all my other friends or family were having babies, or because they were asking (and asking, and asking) when we were going to have a baby. No. 

I became a mom because I understood the value of what it's like to have unconditional love. I knew 100% in my heart that I'm married to the most wonderful husband who would make an amazing father. I knew that by creating such a perfectly beautiful human being together is a testament for our commitment and love for each other. Our marriage is as strong as ever, and we were always on the same page when it came to making huge life-changing decisions. I would've never agreed to bringing a child into this world had it been any different. 

I became a mom because I wanted to share my love by nurturing and caring for someone for the rest of my life. 

I became a mom because I believe in God, and believe that every single child is a blessing from above. Having a miracle like that, is like no other. 

Becoming a mom has changed my life for the better, and having Jorge beside me through all of this just makes me realize how much I love him, and how truly blessed we are. It's not about "playing house" and fulfilling a role. It's about really understanding the value of a child, and the most amazing role you can ever become. 

That's why I became a mom. 

-Heather Ortiz 

Our Newborn must-haves

There are so many products out there today all trying to sell you on the idea that you NEED their product. Well on the most part you don't. What you really need is diapers, a place for baby to sleep, clothes appropriate for season, and lots of love! 

But if you're like me, and like having all the cool new gadgets and gimmicks for baby, here are some things that I really thought were either necessary or extremely helpful with a newborn. 

1. Swaddle-Me by Summer Infant

We originally didn't register or purchase any of these. We received these as a gift about a week before Myles was born. Great gift! 

The first week or so we swaddled Myles in a blanket, but after that he was a little Houdini and was always able to get his arms out! Then we tried these and voila! He felt snug and secure and started sleeping much better! We only use them at night, and won't be using them once he can roll over, but for a newborn it's perfect!

2. Aden & Anais Muslin Blankets

We love these blankets! These are the ones we use to swaddle during the day, lay on top of him in the car seat, or put down on the bed/sofa underneath him. The lightweight fabric is very breatheable so he doesn't get sweaty, and they are extra big so you never run out of fabric when swaddling. 

3. Cloud B Sleep Giraffe

This sound machine has worked for us perfectly. The giraffe is super cute, and comes with a smaller plush toy to play with. It comes with eight sounds (four nature sounds and four lullabies) and has two different sleep timers built in. Right now it's hanging on the end of the cradle but will make the move with him to the crib when it comes time. 

4. Snuza Monitor by Levana

This was the best purchase ever! This little monitor clips right on to the top of his diaper pressed against his belly. We call this his Life Alert. If he doesn't breathe in 15 seconds it will vibrate to try and stimulate him, and if after that there is still no movement a loud alarm will go off to alert us. It has been such an amazing little device that gives me piece of mind in the middle of the night. I totally recommend this product. We found it on Amazon. 

5. Wipes warmer

This is not a necessity for everyone, but for us it made a huge difference. In the beginning we were using disposable wipes directly out of the package and he hated his diaper changes. Then, we started using the warmer and guess what...no more complaining! He learned real quick that they were no longer cold and uncomfortable, and just relaxed. We now use cloth wipes with our own homemade solution and roll them up in the warmer...we love them, and think he does too!

6. Glider 

This is the glider we purchased, but really any glider that you like will do the trick. There have been times that I'm trying to get Myles to calm down and nothing else works, and as soon as I get in the glider and rock (pretty hard I might add) he slowly rocks right to sleep. We use it for feedings, story time, and to soothe him. Definitely a must have.

7. Mittens

This may seem obvious to many, but I'm just going to reiterate how necessary this is. They're completely necessary unless you don't mind scratches all over your babies' beautiful little face. Their nails are so sharp, and grow very quickly. We've cut Myles' nails at least five times now and it doesn't look like the growing is slowing down anytime soon. Just get them, it's worth it. 

8. Cradle or Bassinet

Any type of cradle, bassinet, or co-sleeper that sits right beside your bed is the key. I LOVE being able to get up and  just bed over to pick him up in the middle of the night without walking over to the crib. We have a cradle (as pictured) and also really like that it rocks side to side. This has helped him go back to sleep easier in the middle of the night and all I have to do is reach over and give it a little nudge without getting out of bed. (The cradle we have is actually the same one my mom used for both me and my sister. Very nice to be able to use something sentimental to the family.)

9. Wrap/carrier

This is our DIY moby wrap. We went downtown, found a Jersey Knit fabric we liked, bought 5.5 yards, and made a few cuts. That's it! It has been a lifesaver when none of the housework is getting done and he won't let me put him down for long. It's great to be able and have both hands free to do whatever you need to do! 

10.  Piano play mat with mirror

So remember how I mentioned Myles doesn't like to be put down or be alone for long? That was until we bought this! We lay this inside of his play yard and he is entertained for a good thirty minutes. He loves staring at himself in the mirror and kicking away at the piano keys that play different songs. It's great! Don't worry about buying it too young either, the sooner the better. Plus, it can be used for tummy time on the floor, piano comes apart and can be played on the floor when baby can sit up on his/her own and then used as a travel toy. So far so good, but it's one of his favorite things to do and I recommend it!

There you have it, my top ten things I definitely love and recommend for your newborn. I'm sure some of these are very preferential depending on the baby, but all I can say is how they've worked for us! Good luck and congratulations on your beautiful new baby!

-Heather Ortiz, new mama

Two months in!

As a new mom one of the most common phrases you will hear from seasoned moms will be "don't worry, it will get better!" Now, not trying to be insensitive but that's not exactly what we want to hear. Sure, you would think that hearing it will get better would be reassuring, but due to hormones and sleep deprivation I didn't want to hear that. I wanted to hear, "don't worry, things will get better NOW"! I don't need the future, I don't need to hear how awesome it's going to be later, I want awesome now. I want all the pain from labor to subside, and start living my life with my baby. Nope. That's not what happens. It's tough, very tough. Here's my edition of A Life with a Newborn and my recovery process. Enjoy!

Our baby is no longer considered a newborn and officially an infant. How in the world did time go by so quickly! Oh I remember...sleep deprivation and delusions made the first month kinda fuzzy, but now that we're in the second month I feel like we can finally get a grip on what our life is now going to be like. But before I jump ahead and get into our new routine let's start from the beginning of Myles' life and my recovery.

Now, throughout this I may doing some bullet points because they are common issues women go through and some I may talk about, there's really no method to my madness.

Breastfeeding:

- Myles was born with a tongue tie which the midwife told us right away, but since he was born out of the hospital they couldn't correct it right then and there.

- Had him latch anyway. I thought the latch was fine for the first few days when he was getting just the colostrum because I really didn't feel bad. I thought I was very lucky that breastfeeding came naturally and we were off to a great start. Then my milk came in on day three. Awesome I thought! Wrong. It was then that I realized that his latch was off, and milk would be flowing out of his mouth. This is also when my nipples were so cracked and bleeding due to him only sucking on my nipples the first few days, that the pain started. And man was it painful! I tried soaking/bathing them in breastmilk after a feeding and putting plenty of lanolin cream and it was just very painful. Due to this new toe curling pain and me crying every single time he tried latching on I started using the nipple shield to help the nipples heal. It was better than direct, but still extremely painful. I felt defeated. 

- Something to note about Myles. He gives absolutely NO warning when he's hungry. In the first few days he was so sleepy and tired it was really difficult trying to wake him up to eat. After that, he was eating anywhere from 2-3 hours apart. But when he woke up he was hungry and there was NO down time. He went from a sleeping angel to screaming like he was dying from hunger! This also made our breastfeeding relationship a little more difficult because I would try and get a good latch over and over again, and in the meantime I'm in so much pain physically and emotionally because he would get so frustrated and hearing him cry like that was seriously breaking my heart.

- Mastitis, aka new-mamas-haven't-been-through-enough-laboring-and-delivering-a-human-being-so-let's-give-them-more-shit-to-deal-with-itis. Uhhhh, seriously! First of all, I never even knew this was a thing. I obviously didn't do enough research on breastfeeding and possible complications that may arise because this is such a common issue women deal with! So on day four, I start feeling like I was getting a fever. I took my temperature with Myles' new fancy 2 second reading thermometer and it said 97.7. Okay, no fever. Must just be hormones and body adjusting. I take a nap. Woke up feeling really sick and knew I had a fever. Chills, achy, dizzy, and hot at the same time. Took it again and it still said 97.7. Got out our regular thermometer and it read 103.2! Stupid baby gimmicks that obviously don't work (not assuring by the way). Called Simona and she wrote the prescription and I began taking that. Fever went up to as high as 104, and I felt so helpless. Not only that, but trying to pump the infection out of the clogged duct was extremely painful. I was using heat packs, standing under the hot water in the shower trying to massage, but what ended up doing the trick is Jorge massaging it right before I pumped. It took about 3-4 days to finally feel better, but it was one of the most painful things I've ever felt.

- Took Myles to a specialist about the tongue tie and she was crazy. She told us that he would have to be put under anesthesia and it has to be done in the operating room! Are you crazy lady!? I'm not putting my newborn baby under that type of procedure. Forget it. So we got a second opinion from an awesome doctor out in Santa Monica who did it right then and there. No drugs or anesthesia, just a quick snip, pressure with gauze under tongue for a minute then he drank from the bottle right away. It bled just a little, and he slept for most of the rest of the day but after that he was great and learning how to use his tongue.

- Tried breastfeeding again after tongue tie was snipped and he had time to heal a bit (I'd been pumping during this time). We did a few sessions where I kept having him re-latch but overall it felt okay. But once again, that toe-curling pain came back and he was not latching correctly in the middle of the night. I couldn't handle him crying out of frustration and hunger anymore, and I was just an emotional wreck and physically in so much pain. I decided it wasn't in the cards for me as much as I really wanted to breastfeed and have that connection with him. 

- Which brings us to now. I'm pumping every 3-4 hours which can be very exhausting, especially in the middle of the night when I'm up for two hours (feeding Myles, burping him, putting back to sleep, then pumping) and then get one hour of sleep before he's up again to eat! It's okay though, it's worth the effort. I am supplementing as well though. He wasn't getting enough nutrients from just my breastmilk so we've had him on a 50/50 feeding with half breastmilk and half formula meant for "supplementation for breastfeeding moms". Let me just say, as much as I wanted him exclusively on breastmilk I had to decide what was right for him and this is what he needed. In the end, that's all that matters. I needed to let go of all of my expectations and know I'm doing what's right for us, and I'm okay with that.

- Nipples are still very sensitive! If I get the chance I let them air out before putting a shirt on, but any friction under the shirt or breast pads cause some pain. Can't wait til that goes away!

Recovery down there:

- I had a pretty difficult recovery considering I didn't have anything major happen, I just underestimated (once again) how much my body went through during labor and delivering Myles.

- I had a slight tear on my labia which made everything down there feel extremely swollen and I was unable to really feel myself getting better. Every time I sat down to pee I felt I was stretching the skin apart and it was never going to get back to normal.

- Still have a lot of pelvic pressure pain when I go pee. Simona says I should go see a chiropractor to get an adjustment and make sure my pelvic bone is aligned. I've yet to go but definitely need to.

- They say since my labor and pushing took a long amount of time my recovery might be a little longer too, but at my last appointment they checked me and said everything looks to be fine and back in position, I just don't feel that yet.

Recommendations:

These are just some of the items I needed and totally recommend for any new mom, just in case!

- Frozen pads with witch hazel (I just picked out the largest ones possible and put witch hazel on them, and placed them in the freezer. These felt amazing while I was still swollen.)

 - Tucks Witch hazel pads

 - Squirt bottle with water while peeing

 - Always brand wet wipes for restroom (this made me feel clean after using the restroom since I couldn't use toilet paper).

 - Depends/diapers- sounds funny but I felt like they were extremely helpful and easy. At least until the bleeding stops.

 - Lanolin or some type of nipple cream

 - Nipple shield (just in case)

 - Body Oil- I have the Burt's Bees Mama Bee body oil and like it. Jorge used this to massage my back, legs, whatever ached! It was nice having.

 - Boppy or any type of breastfeeding pillow, whether it's used during breastfeeding or bottle feeding, it helps.

 - Insulated cup for water (I always have ice in my water). I like the Tervis cups from Bed Bath & Beyond since the ice doesn't melt right away. Always, always, always drink at least one glass during breastfeeding!

Working out:

I've yet to get back to exercising but plan on starting slowly but surely. All I can suggest for others is to take it easy and really listen to how your body feels. My body isn't back to normal yet. I can feel comfortable walking right now but not more than that. I'll get into it eventually, but all I can recommend is to start when you feel like it and listen to your body. Everyone recovers differently. Just because Heidi Klum gave birth and a few weeks later walked the Victoria's Secret fashion show does not mean you can put yourself/your body through that. Don't get wrapped up in all the hype with Pinterest blogs saying how they were back to pre-pregnancy weight in one month! Give yourself time to relax (as much as possible) and enjoy your newborn. Just my two cents!

Sleep:

In the beginning sleep was very difficult for me, not Myles. He slept, ate every three hours, had his diaper changed, then slept some more. That's all he did. You would think with that kind of schedule I would be feeling great. Well I wasn't. 

The first week or so was kind of crazy. Since we were home from day 1, we had visitors over constantly. Because I'm not wanting to come off as some bitchy, lazy, unappreciative person, I was saying I was always up for visitors. Now I know. Next baby (no plans on this for a long time right now) I will say absolutely no visitors unless they're there to make some food, clean the house, or something (I'm hoping this deters visitors in itself)! Note: this probably won't happen, but right now still feeling the way I do, I can say anything I want. Ha. Anyway, back to my soap box. People came over to visit Myles. That means me trying to look acceptable with actual clothes on instead of pajamas, makeup done, and having some energy to try and act super excited they're there. See how I come off as a bitchy lazy person? Yeah me too.

Well, to sum it up, I was exhausted. I spent days in labor with four hours of sleep. My body was deserving of some down time and it didn't get it. I should also mention we had to take Myles to the hospital two consecutive days in a row the day he was born for some blood tests to check for jaundice. He was fine. But that meant actual effort in my part to get up and go out each day. I was bitter that I wasn't getting the "sleep when he sleeps" crap and do you know what happens when a new mom doesn't get that? You get a hormonal, crying, over sensitive about everything mom. Not good for baby, not good for mom, and definitely not good for your sweet, caring husband who is trying to understand why you're crying over a picture that wasn't taken. Seriously, it happened.

Point of the story. Be alone! If people ask when they can come see the baby just nicely say you aren't having visitors just yet to have a special family bonding time. Most human beings will understand, if not oh well. They didn't just have a baby! No baby...no opinion! If they ask if you need help with anything, let them! You will feel so much better in the end. Trust me!

Our routine (most days):

Our day now goes a little something like this...(2 month mark)

- Wake up around 8ish. This is usually the time after he eats and doesn't want to go back into his bassinet. He wants to be held and have interaction with us.

- he eats every three hours right now, and on average eats 4oz of combined breastmilk and formula.

- Naps depend on the following circumstances. If he's held, he naps about 3-4 times a day for about 1.5-2 hours! If we try and put him down for a nap (swaddled in a blanket) he takes about 5 naps, but are on average only 20 minutes long. We really need him to get better at napping by himself, it's making chores very difficult to get done.

- Bath around 9:30, followed by a massage, swaddle, and last meal for the day. Note: he hates getting out of the bath. He cries the entire time we're massaging him (trying to calm him down) and dressing him for bed. He calms down to eat, and wears himself out so much he usually falls asleep while we burp him. And then he's down for the night! We've had a stretch of sleep as long as 7 hours up to now, but on average is 5-6 hours for the first stretch of sleep, and every 3 hours after that.

Special note for the dad's:

Give her some flowers or chocolates or anything that makes her happy every once in a while! She may be an emotional roller coaster like I was, and just being there, supporting her, helping out as much as possible means you're doing an amazing job also. But every once in a while a little reminder that you appreciate all she's done for you and is still doing for your baby is much appreciated. Trust me! Also, if she's breastfeeding get up and be the one getting her a glass of water in the middle of the night, ask if she needs a snack or back rub, and make sure she's eating enough during the day to keep up her supply! Is she's pumping and bottle feeding like we are, take turns on the night shifts so you both have enough sanity during the day to get through it smoothly! A sleep deprived mama is no good for anyone, trust me!

I have to say, Jorge was/has been a HUGE help. He really has been my rock. The first month he was able to take off work and stay home with the baby. He was there awake and holding my hand during those nights when I was trying to breastfeed and crying like a baby. He was there asking if he could get anything for me anytime of day. He helped me out of bed when I was still very sore and recovering. Not only was he doing everything possible for me and Myles, but he also did something more important than any other, and that was emotional support.

As mentioned before I was a hormonal mess, and he was there to listen to my thoughts, calm my fears, encourage when I was giving up, and reminding me how much he loves me. All of this was truly priceless, and I know how blessed I am to have him in my life.

I personally would also like to thank my Mom, Dad, and sister. We are very fortunate right now to be living with my parents while we're in the process of building out home. I honestly don't know what I would've (and still would) do without them. My mom washes and sanitizes all of his bottles everyday, and my Dad and sister are always on hand to help feed Myles or carry him when he won't let me put him down and I need to get things done! It seriously takes an army to raise a little one and I'm very lucky to have family around that want to help.

That's it for now, I'm sure I'll remember more about my recovery or things that helped me feel (a little more) back to normal. Congratulations to all the new mamas out there and soon to be moms. It is such a wonderful little blessing full of unconditional love like you've never experienced! 

P.S. "It gets better..."

-Heather Ortiz, new mama

Myles' Birth Story

Here it is! It's only taken me seven weeks to write, but for anyone interested here is Myles' birth story.

FYI- This story may be too much info for some, and maybe graphic I don't know. But don't say you weren't warned!

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Lost plug and had bloody show at 3:30 am and started getting menstrual cramp type contractions at 4 am. Told Jorge around 6 am what was happening but that nothing was strong, so I fell back asleep. I later found out that he wasn't able to fall back asleep and texted his family that things were getting started (he told them my water had broken, it hadn't). To be clear, I did feel (not hear) a "pop" of some sort that I assumed would've been the amniotic sac breaking because when I got up from the bed liquid and the bloody mucous came out. It wasn't a lot, but as a first timer I wasn't sure. 

Went out to the mall for some last minute necessities that were on the checklist from Simona (our midwife), then went over to his parents house for carne asada for Mexican Mother's Day. No progression, and contractions were very spread out and I was able to go about my day.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Continued with contractions but weren't very strong and not consistent at all. Went to noon mass and then went out to eat with my family and grandma at Bj's to celebrate Mother's Day. Very hot outside that day, but was nice having one more outing before the baby which could be any day now. The rest of the day was just very relaxing. Came home and changed into comfy clothes, did some cleaning and laundry and no progression once again.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Officially 39 full weeks. Went in for the midwife appointment and she checked my progress. I was 1cm dilated, 50% effaced, -1 station.

They said it could be one day or one week, but was guessing things would start moving along in the next two days. Mom and I went shopping to fulfill the "What to bring to the birth center" list. We spent a few hours walking around Walmart, and I had to stop a few times once contractions were going, but still nothing very strong. 

Tuesday: May 12, 2014

Nothing really happened all day. Still had contractions but not strong enough to stop talking through them. My mom and I made another shopping run to Costco, but nothing else happened during the day.

Here we go! In bed by 10pm, and contractions started getting very consistent while lying down. Had to wake up Jorge and we stayed up all night/morning timing contractions and he helped me breathe through them. This was the first time that the contractions started getting very uncomfortable and I was unable to talk through them now. I was averaging 4-7 minutes apart. We texted Jeanette (our wonderful doula) and she planned on coming over in the morning.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

9:30am -  When Jeanette arrived she assessed me upon arrival.  Waves (contractions) ranging from 3-9 minutes apart.  Mucus plug still being released at this point, every other time I sat down to pee some would show. She did some positioning and rebozo sifting through some contractions which felt okay, wasn't uncomfortable at all.  After some time laboring she advised both me and Jorge to try and rest if possible. 

From here on out are Jeanette's notes because my memory is all over the place! 

9:50am - Mother resting.  Left side positioning. Monitoring contractions. 

Contractions during rest: 5-12 minute intervals. 2-3min length. (Heather- since Tuesday night, whenever I was lying on my left side, I felt like I wasn't getting a break in between contractions, and they were just one on top of the other. Nonstop. I couldn't stay in that position, it was too uncomfortable and painful.)

11:25am - Woke up from nap.  Used restroom.  Mucus plug light, still releasing. Light lunch (peanut butter and jelly sandwich/watermelon.)  Using a 24oz tumbler to measure water intake. Light walking around neighborhood after lunch. Timed 3 contractions 6 minutes apart.

Active contrations subsiding slowly after 3:30pm. Check FHR (average 138) (Heather- I took a shower sometime around here because I thought it would help me relax. Well it did a little too well. It seriously stalled my contractions.)

Friends and family started to arrive.  Rebozo sifting was done.

8:45pm - Quick assessment done before leaving client's home.

*** Pain scale average DAY 1 :5-6/10***

(Heather- At this point I was feeling very discouraged that the contractions had slowed down so much and were no longer consistent. I really had the feeling that the baby was coming today.)

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Went to bed around 10ish and once again around 10:30, contractions started up as soon as I was lying down. Consistent and stronger. Jorge was planning to go to work, so I held off waking him up until I was sure they would stay consistent, and they did. We were up and I was laboring on the birthing ball, leaning against the couch, and hanging onto Jorge while standing. We knew Jeanette had work at 4:00am so emailed her the update, she said she was coming back over. Here are her notes again:

(RECIEVED EMAIL FROM Jorge REGARDING PREVIOUS CONTRACTIONS @ 2:50am)

3:20am - Recieved call from Jorge, Client had 3 contractions during conversation lasting what seems to be 1.5-2 mins.

4:30am- Assessment upon arrival. Waves ranging 2-5 minutes apart. 2-3 mins in length.

(Heather- I know there's a big gap in time here where it may seem like not a lot was going on. Well it was. I was having seriously strong contractions and laboring in different positions and trying different things to ease the pain.)

10:10am - Called and updated midwife about client progress.  Midwife has then informed me that she will be arriving to do a home visit/check between 12:30pm and 1pm.

(NOTE:  Contractions seem to be more frequent once client changes into a different labor position.  Legs starting to feel tired and achy due to this.  Reverse squat positioning (toilet) most uncomfortable, but was able to labor in this position for at least 20 minutes) (Heather- this position sucked. I didn't feel like I was able to be there for twenty minutes, looking back I felt like I was only there maybe five minutes at most. Starting to get delirious at this point!)

 

1:45pm - CNM arrived.  Both parents did assessment in the privacy of their room.  Nurse midwife proceeded to break the amniotic sac due to bulging, and was also able to administer enema during check.  Advised parents to come by birthing center at 5pm to check progress. (Heather- I was dilated to 4cm at this point. After she broke my water, the contractions seriously picked up. Closer and stronger. I definitely underestimated the power and strength of what contractions would feel like!)

(Using 24 oz tumbler for water. At least 12 oz of BLUE gatorade with ice was consumed. Light lunch of Miso soup and steamed white rice.)

(Heather was able to go into a warm shower twice today)

4:40pm - Left for birthing center.  Contractions are between 2-4 minutes.  Very uncomfortable positioning during car ride. (Heather- VERY UNCOMFORTABLE!)

5:05pm - Vaginal assessment upon arrival. 100% effaced, 4-5cmD.  CNM suggested for us to go back and labor at home for a few more hours and to come back at 8pm.  Heather did not want to be at home, and felt like she was able to concentrate better at birthing center and requested to stay. (Heather- At this point, I really did not want to do another car ride and felt that if I left again I wouldn't progress. I thought maybe being in that environment it would help me focus and labor better. After all, I had barely dilated only 1/2cm in three hours!)

7:30pm - 8cmD.  Allowed for Heather to labor in the birthing tub. (Water temp between 93 & 94 degrees). (Heather- I really thought being in the tub was going to help ease the pain, and it really did nothing for me. It didn't make anything worse, but I almost felt helpless in the tub because I couldn't find a comfortable position during the contractions and felt like they were in control of my body, and I was just along for the ride. I was never really able to just give in and let my body do it's thing, I wish I was able to.)

Progression in tub, but CNM advised to get up and out and labor outside of tub. CNM also advised for client to try using restroom to release bladder.  Waited about 30mins after med was given to help release urine before doing quick catheter insertion. (I believe it was sometime around this point that Simona saw that there was still a lip if my cervix that wasn't letting me dilate fully. So on one of the contractions she had me push a little and she manually pushed it back...that hurt!)

9:30pm : Practice and active pushing. (Heather- FINALLY! I really felt like once the pushing started I felt like I was getting somewhere. Not only did it relieve the pain of the contractions, but I really felt like this was the final leg of the race and I could see the finish line!)

10:45pm :  CNM advised for Heather not to bear down anymore and just to rest. (Heather- They said she left for me to rest for 10 minutes...I heard 30! I was lying on my right side and tried to rest. Through the contractions I wouldn't push hard, but I still needed to counter the contraction pain so a little pushing felt okay. They told me afterwards that between each contraction I would fall asleep and start snoring! I don't snore! Lol, but I honestly didn't know I fell asleep at all, I was exhausted and it was coming up to over two whole days of labor with maybe 3-4 hours of sleep.)

11:20pm:  H.O.  can not find comfortable positioning during rest period and request to just continue active pushing (on bed).

NOTE:  Heather did very well progressing labor and pushing on her back with wide legs.  We tried getting into an all fours position and she stated that she didn't feel this position was doing anything for her. (Heather- It honestly was the best position for me. I expected going into labor and trying the squatting position, on the birthing stool, and all fours but none of those felt comfortable or like they were working. The bed was just the most comfortable for me.)

Friday, May 16, 2014

12:20am - After recieving a sudden burst of energy, baby was starting to come way down and was able to stay down. Very progressive pushing.  After crowning, nurse asked Heather if she would like to move into tub or stay on bed.  Heather was ready to deliver on bed, but CNM assured her that she would be able to make it into the tub before baby was born.  Heather and birth team were able to safely transfer from bed to birthing tub. 

(Back to my own notes)

This was it! Before getting into the tub everyone mentioned that they could see tons of hair on the baby! I could just picture it. So they had me reach down and touch the top of his head. As soon as I did, I was so ready to get him out and meet him already!  While transferring to the tub I honestly felt like his head was already out. I somehow got into the tub and maybe four pushes later he was out. I definitely felt that ring of fire everyone talks about, but instead of letting his head stay there I kept pushing as hard as I could so it wouldn't last long! Once his head was out Simona (our midwife) unwrapped the cord that was around his neck, and with the next push he was out and she picked him up, did a few pats on the back to stimulate him and placed him directly on my chest! 

Right then and there the pain subsided and here was this little miracle we had been waiting for. It wasn't until one minute after he was on my chest that we looked to see if he was a boy or a girl, and it was a boy! After a few minutes they clamped the cord and Jorge made the cut to separate mama and baby. After that, they had Jorge take off his shirt so they can do skin to skin contact with the baby as I was getting out of the tub. I was walked over into the exam room where it took an hour to deliver the placenta (which they said was huge). I began to nurse him right away, but didn't last long because he fell asleep after maybe five minutes. I had a slight tear in my labia (I didn't feel a thing) but she stitched and cleaned me up before heading back to the birth suite. 

Back in the room they had cleaned up the tub/bed and they had me sit up and eat some food while our family came in to see him. Let me tell you, they were all super nice and excited and didn't say anything about how I looked...I was a MESS! OMG. I hadn't seen myself in the mirror until I got home (3 hours later) and can't believe how swollen my face was, and bloodshot my eyes were. I was exhausted, and it showed! 

Well like I said, three hours later I was ready to go home (now 4 am) and finally get some rest with this beautiful new angel. I was overcome with emotions (those damn hormones stuck with me for a while. Two weeks at least), but I was excited to hold him in my arms and start this new journey. Right then and there, I was also just excited to be able to sleep...and sleep I did, for about two hours until he was hungry ;)

I know this story is super long, and I'm sure I left out so many details of labor and who was there helping me. All through the days family and friends were there to help me any way they could  (massage, get food for me, etc.). All of that was much appreciated. I was seriously delirious and may have forgotten most of labor now, but know there was a lot involved in helping me cope! And for all of that I say THANK YOU! 

All in all, it was such a memorable experience. It was definitely the hardest, most painful time in my life, but by far the most rewarding. I was able to have a drug-free, natural water birth and wouldn't have changed my choices about how I wanted to deliver. I do want to mention that about three times that I can remember) I held on to Jorge and just broke down saying I couldn't do it anymore. I was exhausted and just about ready to give up. Jeannette and I had a safe word that meant I couldn't do it anymore and that I wanted to transfer to the hospital. I clearly remember the last time I almost gave in. She looked me directly in the eyes and asked "what do you want to do? We know what's right across the street. But what do you really want?" Well I wanted a water birth, and I wanted to do it naturally. I was then focused once again and ready to make it to the finish line (by the way, the metaphor where they tell you childbirth is like a marathon is totally accurate. I'm sure during that race I would want to give up a few times before hearing some encouragement and believing in yourself once again to make it to the finish!) 

Myles is a very healthy, alert, and amazing baby. Worth every single ounce of pain I experienced. Overall grateful for having the opportunity to have a child, and a healthy one at that. Now looking forward to all we have to experience in the future!

-Heather Ortiz, new mama

Week 39

And so it begins! Week 39 has brought us the most interesting week for updates by far! 

(Following information will be a little TMI for some, but here are the details)

Saturday morning, 5/10/14, at 3:30 in the morning I woke up to a "pop" like sensation with a hard kick from the baby. As I got up I had a feeling something was going to come out of me so I grabbed a towel and out came the first part of my mucous plug along with my bloody show. I went down to the restroom and out came more (some is still coming out almost every time I go to the restroom FYI- 5/12/14).

Around 4:00 am contractions started. I knew these were different than the Braxton Hicks I had been feeling precious weeks, these felt like menstrual cramps. That morning I told Jorge around 6:00 am what was going on and he immediately alerted family! (Kinda jumped the gun, but at least they know it's started).

So here we are, after our appointment on Monday morning with some updates for you!

* 1cm dilated

* 50% effaced

* -1 Station

* Cervix facing towards the back a little bit (will move forward on it's own)

* Contractions are pretty consistent and are around 4-5:30 minutes apart lasting anywhere from 1-1:45 minutes in length.

Simona seems to think we might be delivering in the next few days so we'll keep you updated!

Crib and decor is all ready for Little Foot!

I'll be posting this as soon as things get really close...it's almost time!

For reference: Monday morning baby was at -1 Station

For reference: Monday morning cervix was 50% effaced and dilated 1cm

-Heather Ortiz, mama to be