I Don't Own a Scale

So I dont own a scale. I haven't since I moved out of my moms house in the 90s. Partially because 1) I could not afford one at the time and 2) it would make me constantly obsess about my weight, which is something I did not want to do.

Fast forward 19 years. I still don't own a scale. I can afford one, but now I don't like clutter. And they don't make a modern looking scale to go with the house. And also I have grown out of the need to know if I weigh more or less every morning. I guess, if I took a huge morning dump, I would essentially be 5 pounds lighter. So it made no sense in buying one.

But now, I am curious...

I gained somewhere between 35-40 pounds when I got pregnant. I am sure a lot was water during the last month. My LO weighed only 6.6 when she was born. It has now been almost 4 weeks since the CS. And I have been a breastfeeding beast. I wonder wonder how much I weigh???

After 10 days, my belly shrank. I think I looked 4 months pregnant at that time. By the 2nd week, the swelling in the belly has vanished. By week 3, the upper part of my belly flattened out. And now I am hanging onto thicker love handles and a pouchy lower belly.

I have yet to try on my pre pregnancy jeans. I am not THAT stupid!

I was thinking I would would weigh myself at my 6 week post partum check up. But, if I had to guess, I think I have about 15 pounds to loose. I hope I am right, but I'll never know because my ass is too lazy to buy a scale!

So the breastfeeding thing. I have read it burns 500-600 calories a DAY! This is by far the EASIEST 500 calories I have burned on a daily basis. I would like to continue to EBF for another month.

For one thing, its better for the the LO. For another, I like how the wight is coming off. And another thing...I am too lazy to pump and clean bottles.

When did I get so damn lazy?

All dressed up and ready to hit the town!

A little video from week2. She grows so fast! I think this morning, we will take a little walk to Starbucks for a decaf (so sad) and a little exercise. We'll be using the baby sling since she is still under 8 pounds. Maybe by Wednesday, we can try out the Baby Bjorn.

Week 3- thanks to Kellymom and my two Docs!

So I think I am finally getting the hang of this Witching Hour thing. Luckily for me, I found Kellymom.com and she spills out for me.

In the late evenings, Gigi has been crying and eating at the same time. This makes is especially hard because then she gets all gassy and cries even more. Then her face gets all red and I get frustrated. I'll move from living room to nursery to master bedroom 5 times or more before I can settle her down.

But thanks to Kellymom, I figured out that she is probably pissed off because there is too little milk coming out in the late afternoons, which is common. And then Dr. Sears says that is probably best to hold them more and calm the baby at this time than it is feeding her.

So, I cuddled her more and did more Dr. Sears sugegstions (dimmed lights, made room cooler and cuddled her). She went to sleep and then woke up in about an hour and fed without incident. To put the cherry on top, DH and I watched a DVD last night WITHOUT interruption! And then it gets better! After the movie, I held her again because I heard fussing. After she calmed down, I put her down in her bassinett. Then DH and I crashed on the couch for 1.5 more hours! We have not done that since before the baby!

Oh, wait, it gets even better! So then, its now 1230 am. She hasnt fed since 940 pm. Should I wake her and top her off for the am? So I pick her up and try to feed her. But I fail bc she is out like a light! Then I hear Dr. Garvey's advice...let her sleep longer through the night and dont wake her up.

So, I put her back in her bassinet and go back to my room where I continue to sleep until 230 am! She went 5 hours! WOO HOO!!!

Thank you Kellymom, Dr. Sears and Dr. Garvey!

I'm back!

Sorry about the hiatus. I was getting very impatient waiting for my little girl. It was a busy month. DH quit his job in July after 12 years with the same company in order to embark on a new business of his own. After that happened I needed to step in at his office to assist in any way I could. It was a very welcome distraction, considering I was the LAST person I new this summer to deliver and I was about 1 week over due.

So, here is my birth story....
Here's the birth story Gigi, 6.6 pounds, 19 inches long. 40w6d.

Friday night at 1030, my water breaks. We drive to the hospital and its confirmed that my water did indeed break. Dilation = 0.

I cant go home because the doctors and midwives agree that I lost too much amniotic fluid. I get admitted and by 3 am, I am started on a small pill inserted into my vagina to start labor. By 6 am, I am dilated to 2 cm.

We decide to go on Pitocin by 3 pm with no epidural. By 6 pm I am dilated to 4cm. By 730 pm, I am dilated to 6cm. At midnight, I am still 6cm! And at this point, my hopes of a epi free birth are gone, bc I just cannot handle the pain. I have went 24 hours induced without any relief. Hypnobirthing was no longer possible as I was broken down with no encouragement in sight. At 1 am, I take the epidural and am a new woman. Still at 6 cm, remember this.

By 6 am, my parents are here, my ILs arrived last night (early enough to see me in pain, early enough to score some DIL brownie points). By 830 am, I am almost an 8cm. By Noon, I am 8cm. For some reason, I am just not dilated. My water has now been broken for over 36 hours, putting LO at risk for infection. But because there were NO signs of stress at ALL, I was able to continue with a vaginal birth.

Still at 8cm, the midwives suggest that I turn left to right every hour and up the pitocin to a gradual 30cc/hour. Now keep in mind, you need permission to go over 20 ccs. Its noon. And they increase my pitocin to 30ccs until about 6pm. At that time hopefully, I will be a 9 or even 10cm!!! Yay, baby is on her way.

But by 4 pm, I am still 8cm :(

C Section time. After 44 hours of HARD BACK LABOR, with gradual epidural relief, baby Gigi was born! From wanting a totally natural hypnobirth and vaginal delivery experience, I went in the TOTAL opposite direction.
The pain is in the past and is a distant memory. All I can think about is the new love in my life!

I really tried to go au natural with her. And the bummer is that I did everything during this pregnancy to ensure a fast labor. I was the top in my college swim class this spring. I worked out 2 days at the gym as well. I was stress free and DH and I had a great relationship during the pregnancy. And for what?

My labor was the longest I have ever heard of. But I guess when you think about it, all of that was for something. Gigi lasted almost 2 days with a ruptured sac. And throughout the whole time, her hear rate showed absolutely no signs of distress. She as able to take did not auma and handle it.

We were the talk of the ward. How on earth can someone stick it out so long? the truth was....I knew she was coming either way. I never really reached the point where I wanted to just give up. I gave up when there weren't any more forks in the road.

So, please DH, I think this qualifies me for a push gift even though I technically did not push. I could have given birth 3 times for as long as I was in labor.

Anyway, its now 6 days, since she was born. I spent 5 days at UCLA. I'll post recovery crap after CSection later this week.

ttfn,
SOHW