December 1998
I am a little disappointed that I am still pregnant, I was hoping the baby would be born in November so that his birthday wouldn't get mixed up with Christmas. However I am feeling great and thoroughly enjoying getting ready for Christmas with Matthew. Sometimes I even find myself forgetting that I'm pregnant! There haven't been any signs that I'm going to go into labour yet, I'm hardly even having any Braxton Hicks contractions.
I volenteered to be a Patient for some final year Medical student exams, which was really interesting. Four students got to examine my baby - just like a routine antenatal checkup. The first was really confident and did really well, and the others were nervous and missed quite a few points, but I found it interesting to hear them talking through the examination points. It also meant that I was examined by a senior midwife and consultant obstetrician - in order that they could verify what the students said! I found out that my placenta is lying in front of my baby, which is probably why I haven't felt so much movement, rather than because this baby is less active. It also explanes why most of the kicks I do feel are in my back. They did find protein in my urine, and my blood pressure is higher than it has been, but not "high" at 110/80. I have considerable water retention first thing in the morning, which goes after an hour: apparently this is normal... anyway I have been told to get another check up in three days to be sure I am ok: At this appointment I was given the all clear.
My due date has come and gone, over all I am not suprised, and now I can be confident that with every day there is a greater and greater chance I will go into labour. Of course I am now worrying that I may have to be induced again too, but I wll try not to dwell on that. I am looking forward to giving birth to my new baby, I am a little scared but much less so than last time because I know I got through it before and I feel I can handle the same again - although I am hoping the second time will be easier. My only concern is that the baby has a tendancy to roll, and I hope he doesn't go into a posteria position during labour. My midwife has said that even if he does I should be ok, given that I had Matthew relatively easily for a first labour. I finally went into labour during the night of the 9-10 December, and met my beautiful daughter three days "late".
Amber:
Week 1. After a brilliant birth, Amber had her first feed in the delivery room within an
hour - she latched on perfectly and fed for at least 20 mins. A good omen I hope! She
then slept for most of the rest of the day. In her first few days I noticed that her routine
continued to follow our daily pattern from before she was born, feeding about four hourly
with napping and wakeful periods during the morning. Sleeping all afternoon, when I used to
do my chores or take Matthew out, and then she wakes up about 10 O'Clock... the time when I
would sit down and relax, and she would kick. We had two terrable nights when she didn't
settle back to sleep until 4am, but thats partly why I had stayed in hospital! I also
wanted to stay in until I felt comfortable with breastfeeding , and it is going well, Amber
latches on alright most of the time but I have sore nipples from when she gets it wrong. I
just kept remembering what I had learned from trying to feed Matthew: No matter how sore
your nipples are breastfeeding does not hurt when the baby is latched on correctly.
The other reason I stayed in hospital was because I had been so ill after Matthew was born,
and on day four it hit me this time too. I recognised the early warning signs, but was ill
with fever spikes for 48 hours or so. I was tested for everything under the sun and put on
antebiotics, but everything came back negative. It seems this is just my body's way of
reacting to giving birth. I left hospital on Wednesday evening... what a week!
Week 2. When amber was born, and the midwife said "its a girl", I was really pleased and
two things went through my mind, firsly we had "a little princess", and secondly that I
wouldn't have to spend the first few weeks worrying about Amber being sick like Matthew with
pyloric stenosis... but I have ended up worrying anyway. It is uncommon in girls, but Amber
has been violently sick several times, and I can't help wondering. I have told the midwife and they are keeping a close eye on her. Other than that she is settling down and fits in very well with our routine. I am finding having two babies fairly easy; I have no specific things to do and we just take each day as it comes. Amber is going to sleep fairly easily in her cot, I am finding that swaddling her in a blanket really helps. The breastfeeding is becoming second nature, and I fed her lying in bed for the first time.
Week 3. After a very easy week last week I have been getting fever spikes again this week. I seem to remember this going on for over a month when I had Matthew. I just have to lie down with Amber, feed her, drink lots and try to keep cool whilst I sit it out. The fever is lasting for less time now, usually about 12 hours.
We got to show Amber off to some of our friends on Christmas eve, when we had upto 10 Adults and three children come to visit.
Christmas Day! It is a real joy to have Amber this Christmas, although of course She doesn't have a clue. We asked everyone for "girly" things for her for Christmas and she has received lots of really pretty clothes which I am looking forward to putting her in!
On Boxing day Karls parents and Nan came to meet Amber for the first time, and then on the 28th we went down south to my parents to show her off to the rest of my family too! Luckily Amber slept for the whole four hour journey.
 My pregnancy, November 1998 |
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 Amber, January 1998 |
| Matthew, December 1998 |
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