One Month Old!

His due date is still 8 days away, but our little boy turned one month old today! As you can see fron the photos, Ian likes a pacifier more than Nadia ever did. He doesn't need a pacifier when he's being held (at least by me anyhow), but the pacifier is most helpful when he's in the swing. Yesterday he spent a few daytime hours in the swing and his crib, which was a big improvement. Last night he slept in his crib (on the boppy) from 9pm to 4:30am (not including the times I was nursing him during those hours). He was in bed with us from 4:30-6:15am. Ian didn't have any formula yesterday, but maybe that's not a good thing as he still only weighs 5lb 14.5oz. I cried when I saw that number on the scale as it means he only has gained 1/2 ounce over the past 5 days. Not Good. I'm still waiting to hear back from the lactation specialists. The sleeper he's wearing in preemie size. It's a bit small on him in terms of the length, but most newborn size (and of course all 0-3 month size) clothes are still way too big for him. I'm waiting until newborn size clothes fit him before we go to Sears for his first photos.

I really am struggling with the nighttime feedings. I didn't get any naps yesterday, and I think that was part of the problem. Everytime he woke me up to nurse him, I felt like my head was going to explode it was pounding so badly.  I thought about having the neighbor watch Nadia for 2 hours a day so I could take a nap each day, but that would cost $50 a week. I feel like a wimp. Most moms must handle the sleep deprivation better than I do. Most nights with Ian are better than they were with Nadia when she was this age, but rarely getting a nap during the day is making it harder for me. Thankfully, I did get a little bit of sleep during the day today.

Nadia got up at 6:15, which was earlier than she had the last few days even though yesterday she only had one very short (30 min) nap due to the shot appointment interrupting her nap schedule. She didn't take a morning nap again today; I think that nap is definitely history. She was fussy yesterday after her shot, but today it doesn't seem to be affecting her. Her afternoon nap was 90 minutes today. I hope it lengthens now that it's her only nap.

In light of Ian being one month old today, I'm going to write more about our time in the hospital (things I don't think I've shared yet). My OB had said that if I went into labor, the c-section would take place within an hour of my arrival at the hospital. So I was surprised when they told me they were going to try to wait four days. I didn't know you could wait that long after your water had broken. However, we didn't think I'd make it that long. I thought that by choosing to have a c/s I'd avoid being in labor, but I was in labor for many hours before they finally checked me. I kept telling the nurses that I could feel that his head was really low and the contractions were very painful, but because I wasn't bleeding (????), they didn't request a doctor to check me. When they finally checked, he was at station 0 (the doctor said "his head is right there!"), and I was 5cm dilated. I had to push for one hour (when I was already 10cm dilated) to get Nadia from station -2 to 0. It also took hours to go from 5 to 8cm with Nadia, but it only took 15 minutes with Ian. Since they didn't take me seriously, even though we had been at the hospital for over 12 hours, it turned into another rushed c/s (although thankfully there was still time for a spinal whereas I had general anesthesia with Nadia). They were doing things like putting in the catheter while I was having very painful contractions. Not Fun. Of course I felt much better once the spinal kicked in.

Because they expected me to be in the hospital several days before I gave birth, I wasn't given a private room like I was last time. My first roommate, Shannon, was really nice, but I wasn't keen on having other people (she had a steady stream of visitors) in the room while I was in labor. Shannon gave birth to twin girls (from IVF) at 28 weeks. She didn't even know she was in labor when she was already 10cm. She thought she just had gas pains, lol! My second roommate had been hospitalized for one month for preterm labor (she was about to hit 28 weeks and then would be transferred to a hospital closer to her home). One thing that amused me was when my mom said it felt like we were at the SPCA with how often I was asked about having my tubes tied, birth control, etc. I didn't have them tied. I highly doubt I'll ever be pregnant again, but if I am and I experience preterm labor for the 3rd time, I hope they take me seriously for the 1st time. I wish they had given me the steroid shot at 33w. The fetal fibronectin test might be accurate 98% of the time, but it wasn't for me as I gave birth 9 days later when the test predicted I wouldn't give birth for at least 2 more weeks. Ian probably wouldn't have had RDS if I had been given the shot. I even asked the OB to see me 2 days before I had Ian, but he said I should just wait 4 more days for my scheduled appointment. I gave birth 2 days before that 34w appointment.

Well it's all water under the bridge now. Our sweet little gift from God is at home with us. What a miracle it is that we now have two beautiful children! Thank you, Lord!!!! He's so small that it feels like I'm a child playing with her baby doll. Except my dolls never woke me up at 1am or 3am, LOL.