So for the last couple of weeks we have been practicing our rolling! Ethan enjoys his tummy time, but eventually gets sick of being on his tummy so I have been trying to teach him how to roll over to his back. He has been doing pretty good once I get him started with putting his head back.
To help with the teaching I have installed a mirror at the top of his play mat, so when he has tummy time it is facing the mirror, and we practice our rolling while he can see in the mirror what is happening as well!!
So, yesterday we were at Beans and Babes for our Tuesday mommy play date, and I put him on his tummy on the floor and looked up to continue a converstaion with another mommy. Well when I looked back down, Ethan was on his back. Of course I didn't see him do this, but he did it!
Then tonight, James was cleaning up after dinner, I got Ethan into his jammies and put him on his play mat for some tummy time. I was asking James if I mentioned him rolling over yesterday at Beans and Babes, and as I was saying that, I looked down at Ethan and he rolled over all on his own again!
What a big boy! He is growing so much, and learning so many new things it is awesome!!!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
More tasty foods and Learning
So, we have tried a few more foods this past week, including sweet potato, papaya, nectarine, humus, green tea ice cream and mango ice cream, as well as wheat cereal.
This morning when Ethan was having breakfast he was done with the wheat cereal so I gave him some papaya. Of course the 2 items are durastically different in taste as well as colour. So as he wasn't finished the wheat cereal I figured after eating about half the papaya I would try to get him to finish the cereal. Well, he looked at the spoon of wheat cereal and refused to open his mouth. So, I took the cereal off and put more papaya on, and he looked at the spoon and gladly opened his mouth once again. What a little turkey. Too smart for his own good.
Tonight after dinner, as I know he is typically a bit thirsty after eating his meals, and if he has any breastmilk he tends to spit up as he is already full, so we tried a bit of water in a sippy cup. It took him about 10 minutes to figure out the sucking action rather then the chewing and biting, but he eventually got it. He even managed to hold the sippy cup and put it up into his own mouth!
This morning when Ethan was having breakfast he was done with the wheat cereal so I gave him some papaya. Of course the 2 items are durastically different in taste as well as colour. So as he wasn't finished the wheat cereal I figured after eating about half the papaya I would try to get him to finish the cereal. Well, he looked at the spoon of wheat cereal and refused to open his mouth. So, I took the cereal off and put more papaya on, and he looked at the spoon and gladly opened his mouth once again. What a little turkey. Too smart for his own good.
Tonight after dinner, as I know he is typically a bit thirsty after eating his meals, and if he has any breastmilk he tends to spit up as he is already full, so we tried a bit of water in a sippy cup. It took him about 10 minutes to figure out the sucking action rather then the chewing and biting, but he eventually got it. He even managed to hold the sippy cup and put it up into his own mouth!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Yeah for Breast Milk
So, last week on Thursday when we went for Ethan's 4 month check up I mentioned to the Paediatrician that I thought I was having milk supply issues. I was finding that by mid-afternoon Ethan was not satisfied with my milk. He would thrash, punch and fuss any time I tried to latch him and he just wasn't getting enough to eat.
So, of course that is part of what prompted us to start solids with him.
Well, the paediatrician recommended that I try out a medication called Domperidon, which was original made for digestive track health, but one of the side effects was an increase in milk production. How they figured this out beats me, but hey, a bonus for us!!!
Well, it totally is working. Just 5 days after taking the medication Ethan has gained 7 ounces!!! WOOHOO!!!
No more milk supply issues, and a much happier baby!
So, of course that is part of what prompted us to start solids with him.
Well, the paediatrician recommended that I try out a medication called Domperidon, which was original made for digestive track health, but one of the side effects was an increase in milk production. How they figured this out beats me, but hey, a bonus for us!!!
Well, it totally is working. Just 5 days after taking the medication Ethan has gained 7 ounces!!! WOOHOO!!!
No more milk supply issues, and a much happier baby!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Learning
So I am really loving this age with the baby. He is learning so many things these days and it is just great.
Labour Day weekend (1 month ago) he really started to notice his toys and realize that he can hold them in his hands. Now, anything that goes into his hands goes into his mouth. He is starting to see the cause and effect of things as well, especially in his exercauser. He has realized that when he presses certain buttons or toys they make music and he loves it. Any time he hits the toys he looks up in amazement! So cute :D
This week he has started to play with his Sophie the Giraffe. Everyone wonders what it is that makes this toy so 'exciting' for kids. He goes crazy for it, which is just new this week. You give Sophie to him and he gets all excited and bites it and eats it like its going out of style. So cute.
Tonight, when we got home I was preparing Ethan's bath and so I put him sitting down on the floor by my feet. He often sits like this and just uses my legs for support, and every once and a while I will separate my legs a bit to let him sit on his own for the millisecond that he can. Well tonight rather then flopping over he actually stayed sitting. Just totally out of the blue! No flopping sideways, or forwards at all! So amazing; and just unbelievable. He can't sit straight up, but pretty good considering he is only just 4 months old!
Labour Day weekend (1 month ago) he really started to notice his toys and realize that he can hold them in his hands. Now, anything that goes into his hands goes into his mouth. He is starting to see the cause and effect of things as well, especially in his exercauser. He has realized that when he presses certain buttons or toys they make music and he loves it. Any time he hits the toys he looks up in amazement! So cute :D
This week he has started to play with his Sophie the Giraffe. Everyone wonders what it is that makes this toy so 'exciting' for kids. He goes crazy for it, which is just new this week. You give Sophie to him and he gets all excited and bites it and eats it like its going out of style. So cute.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
4 Months Old
So today was Ethan's 4 month check up. It was a few days early, but still close enough.
I was really freaked out about his weight as I thought he had lost weight as I for some reason had it in my head that he was 15.5 lbs at his 2 month visit, but apparently he was only 13.4 lbs. So, I was relieved when I heard that.
So in comparison:
2 months old he was - 13.4 lbs, and 23 inches long
4 months old he is - 15.1 lbs and 26 inches long
He has met all the milestones in which he should and is a happy healthy baby.
I spoke to the doctor about having the baby on solid foods already and he had no issues with it at all. His only question was why I had started him on solids. So, I explained how I found Ethan wasn't satisfied at night with just my milk and that when we would eat dinner he would cry for food. So, the Pediatrician said no worries at all. As long as he is tolerating the food well and seems to be able to eat it well that I could continue on the path that we are going!
He also gave me a prescription for Domperidon to help battle my low milk supply so we are hoping that will help :D
Ethan did really well with his needles today again as well. He cried for just a few seconds, and then once he had some milk he was fine. He slept for the 30 minute drive home and then was in pretty good spirits for the evening. He is such a good boy!
I was really freaked out about his weight as I thought he had lost weight as I for some reason had it in my head that he was 15.5 lbs at his 2 month visit, but apparently he was only 13.4 lbs. So, I was relieved when I heard that.
So in comparison:
2 months old he was - 13.4 lbs, and 23 inches long
4 months old he is - 15.1 lbs and 26 inches long
He has met all the milestones in which he should and is a happy healthy baby.
I spoke to the doctor about having the baby on solid foods already and he had no issues with it at all. His only question was why I had started him on solids. So, I explained how I found Ethan wasn't satisfied at night with just my milk and that when we would eat dinner he would cry for food. So, the Pediatrician said no worries at all. As long as he is tolerating the food well and seems to be able to eat it well that I could continue on the path that we are going!
He also gave me a prescription for Domperidon to help battle my low milk supply so we are hoping that will help :D
Ethan did really well with his needles today again as well. He cried for just a few seconds, and then once he had some milk he was fine. He slept for the 30 minute drive home and then was in pretty good spirits for the evening. He is such a good boy!
Introducing Foods
Well, I know that they say nothing other then breast milk until 6 months, but that has been different in our family.
Ethan started showing a desire for food just before his 3 month birthday. He was watching us eating, and often mimicking our chewing. So after his 3 month mark, I started to give him little tastes of things.
First it was watermelon, then a popsicle, then some honeydew melon, cantelope, and cucumber. We would use the little mesh food bags with fruit to let him chew on them and get all the juices. He loved it. He would actually cry when it was done or taken away.
At around 3.5 months we started to give him other foods when they were on our plate. Things like sweet potato, mashed potato, squash. He loved them.
Ethan got to the point where when ever we ate dinner, he would cry for food. I would try to give him milk, and he would refuse. He wanted food. He wanted what we were eating and that was that. So for the last 2 weeks, he has been getting more then just little tastes. He has been getting a full meal each day for the last week. He has had 2 types of squash, mashed potato, pumpkin, sweet potato, apples, mixed fruit, carrots, peas and rice cereal. He has LOVED them all.
I am making his food, and it so far has been so easy. It has taken a total of maybe an hour to get a freezer full of the above foods! Now, we have a good chunk of his 'first stage' foods and we will easily be able to defrost a meal each day for him.
He is of course still primarily breast fed, and he still likes his milk. He usually has some before he eats and after!
Ethan started showing a desire for food just before his 3 month birthday. He was watching us eating, and often mimicking our chewing. So after his 3 month mark, I started to give him little tastes of things.
First it was watermelon, then a popsicle, then some honeydew melon, cantelope, and cucumber. We would use the little mesh food bags with fruit to let him chew on them and get all the juices. He loved it. He would actually cry when it was done or taken away.
At around 3.5 months we started to give him other foods when they were on our plate. Things like sweet potato, mashed potato, squash. He loved them.
Ethan got to the point where when ever we ate dinner, he would cry for food. I would try to give him milk, and he would refuse. He wanted food. He wanted what we were eating and that was that. So for the last 2 weeks, he has been getting more then just little tastes. He has been getting a full meal each day for the last week. He has had 2 types of squash, mashed potato, pumpkin, sweet potato, apples, mixed fruit, carrots, peas and rice cereal. He has LOVED them all.
I am making his food, and it so far has been so easy. It has taken a total of maybe an hour to get a freezer full of the above foods! Now, we have a good chunk of his 'first stage' foods and we will easily be able to defrost a meal each day for him.
He is of course still primarily breast fed, and he still likes his milk. He usually has some before he eats and after!
The Birth
Its a pretty fun, interesting and non-greusome story!
I was scheduled for a Non-Stress-Test and Ultrasound on Friday June 10th, which was 6 days past my due date. This was to ensure that the baby was ok, his heart was still beating strong and his size was good. As well to check the levels of my amniotic fluid.
I had pushed to have an induction booked for Monday June 13th as they wouldn't do it before I was atleast 41 weeks along in my pregnancy, and they tried to push me to 41weeks + 6days, so which I refused. I was so done being pregnant.
I had planned to go to the hosptial on my own that day, as I didn't want anyone to worry about taking the day off just to sit at the hosptial for tests with me. I would much rather then take a day off when the baby was here. But, my husband insisted on taking it off and coming with me. Which we were of course thankful for after.
So, at 8 am they start the test. The baby doesn't seem to be moving around too much, but his heartbeat is strong. We ended there at 9, and the ultrasound was for 11. So, we went downstairs to the ultrasound and waited around for what seemed like forever. We finally went in for the ultrasound and they said that the doctor in the maternity ward will have the results within the hour. So, up we went to wait in the maternity ward.
During this time I started to really leak a lot of fluid, of which I didn't really think too much about, just thought it was extra discharge or sweat; the unknowing of a first time mom!
Well, we waited and waited and waited, and finally at 3 pm the doctor had the results. The results were, the baby was big, and I had a leak in my amniotic sac, which meant Induciton immediately.
So, at 4 pm I was hooked up to the pitocin and the induction began.... and so did the contractions. Every 2-3 minutes I had a contraction and at first they were pretty small, and as the time went on they got stronger and stronger. Then they started going into my back. I had expected that I would have back labour only because my mom had back labour with all 3 of us girls, but the prenatal class teacher said that back labour was due to the baby being 'sunnyside up', which Ethan wasn't, so I had hoped that I would skip the back labour. No such luck. Man was it painful and uncomfortable.
So, at about 10 pm (6 hours after the induction started), the nurse checked to see my progress. I was 1 cm dialated and no baby in site. They increased the pitocin and the contractions got closer together and stronger.
I had debated on taking the epidural due to a fear that they would put it into the wrong spot and I would end up with spinal headaches which from previous experience I would not heal from properly. Plus due to my back surgery they had to insert the epidural into a higher area then usual, which meant it was a bit more difficult and had a higher rate of failure.
The anesthetist had been warned of my concern and of the situation at the beginning of his shift, so when he came to my room at 11pm he checked my back and said with 90% certianty that he would be successful. So, knowing that I was exhausted, that we had been at the hosptigal since 7:30 that morning, and that I was only 1 cm dialated an hour before, I gave the epidural a try so that I could end the discomfort of the back labour, and hopefully get some sleep before the pushing would begin. Was I ever glad that I took that chance. The epidural went extremely well, and made the night so much better!
At 7 am the next morning, the doctor on duty checked to see my progress once again. He had stated that I was at the highest level of pitocin that they could give and that hopefully things were coming along well. So, guess what ... 1.5 cm's dialated. I had gone no where, and progressed no where. The baby was still not engaged and had no desire at all to come out. So, that doctor said he would let the next doctor know, and that I would likely end up having a c-section.
So, the next doctor came on duty at 7:30 and did her rounds. She came in at 8, checked me and still the same results. She authorized the next dose of pitocin to hopefully help progress things some more, and said that it looked like it would be a c-section, but that she would let me labour for the day as they prefer to give things a good go before going that route. I was not too pleased with that answer as I was so ready to have the baby and meet him and just be able to be done with everything. But there was no sense in arguing or getting upset as the doctor would only do what she wanted to do.
So, at around 9 am they came in once again to check my progress, and once again I had gone no further. I was 2 cm's and it had been 17 hours since my induction.
At about 9:30 my dad left to go and let their dogs out (they arrived at the hosptial the night before expecting that I would deliver in the middle of hte night), and at 9:45 I sent James home to get the items we needed for the rest of the time in the hospital. My mom and sister went with James so that they could drop our car off at home rather then leaving it at the hospital. WHy is this relevant you ask? Well, at 10 am the doctor came in and said 'so, the OR is ready and empty, so lets get this show on the road and deliver this baby'. WHAT??? She had just said we were going to labour for the day ... no one was there with me other then my one sister. James had just left and so had my parents. I can't have this baby now ...OMG!!! The doctor says, well, we do it now or not until tonight as the OR is booked for the rest of the day. She asked how long everyone would be and I said probably about 30 mins. So, she said, ok, lets go get you started and hopefully they will be back in time!!!
I called James and told them to hurry but to drive safe, and into the OR I went.
At 10:30, just as James walked into the OR, the doctor made the first cut. At 10:55 am our son, Ethan Rayne Malyk was born; weighing 9 lbs 5 ounces, and 21 1/4 inches long. He was perfect, and the c-section was awesome!!!
Our little man was so alert and just beautiful. No mis-shaped head from going through the birth canal, no vernon or lanugo all over his body. Just a perfect little boy.
We spent the day visiting with the family and cuddling our baby. He figured out breastfeeding immediately and was doing amazingly!!
The next morning before the doctor went off shift, she came in and gave us the clear to leave that day since we were under mid-wife care.
So we got everything together and we were out of the hospital at 4:30 pm!!! Just 30 hours after the birth!!!
I was scheduled for a Non-Stress-Test and Ultrasound on Friday June 10th, which was 6 days past my due date. This was to ensure that the baby was ok, his heart was still beating strong and his size was good. As well to check the levels of my amniotic fluid.
I had pushed to have an induction booked for Monday June 13th as they wouldn't do it before I was atleast 41 weeks along in my pregnancy, and they tried to push me to 41weeks + 6days, so which I refused. I was so done being pregnant.
I had planned to go to the hosptial on my own that day, as I didn't want anyone to worry about taking the day off just to sit at the hosptial for tests with me. I would much rather then take a day off when the baby was here. But, my husband insisted on taking it off and coming with me. Which we were of course thankful for after.
So, at 8 am they start the test. The baby doesn't seem to be moving around too much, but his heartbeat is strong. We ended there at 9, and the ultrasound was for 11. So, we went downstairs to the ultrasound and waited around for what seemed like forever. We finally went in for the ultrasound and they said that the doctor in the maternity ward will have the results within the hour. So, up we went to wait in the maternity ward.
During this time I started to really leak a lot of fluid, of which I didn't really think too much about, just thought it was extra discharge or sweat; the unknowing of a first time mom!
Well, we waited and waited and waited, and finally at 3 pm the doctor had the results. The results were, the baby was big, and I had a leak in my amniotic sac, which meant Induciton immediately.
So, at 4 pm I was hooked up to the pitocin and the induction began.... and so did the contractions. Every 2-3 minutes I had a contraction and at first they were pretty small, and as the time went on they got stronger and stronger. Then they started going into my back. I had expected that I would have back labour only because my mom had back labour with all 3 of us girls, but the prenatal class teacher said that back labour was due to the baby being 'sunnyside up', which Ethan wasn't, so I had hoped that I would skip the back labour. No such luck. Man was it painful and uncomfortable.
So, at about 10 pm (6 hours after the induction started), the nurse checked to see my progress. I was 1 cm dialated and no baby in site. They increased the pitocin and the contractions got closer together and stronger.
I had debated on taking the epidural due to a fear that they would put it into the wrong spot and I would end up with spinal headaches which from previous experience I would not heal from properly. Plus due to my back surgery they had to insert the epidural into a higher area then usual, which meant it was a bit more difficult and had a higher rate of failure.
The anesthetist had been warned of my concern and of the situation at the beginning of his shift, so when he came to my room at 11pm he checked my back and said with 90% certianty that he would be successful. So, knowing that I was exhausted, that we had been at the hosptigal since 7:30 that morning, and that I was only 1 cm dialated an hour before, I gave the epidural a try so that I could end the discomfort of the back labour, and hopefully get some sleep before the pushing would begin. Was I ever glad that I took that chance. The epidural went extremely well, and made the night so much better!
At 7 am the next morning, the doctor on duty checked to see my progress once again. He had stated that I was at the highest level of pitocin that they could give and that hopefully things were coming along well. So, guess what ... 1.5 cm's dialated. I had gone no where, and progressed no where. The baby was still not engaged and had no desire at all to come out. So, that doctor said he would let the next doctor know, and that I would likely end up having a c-section.
So, the next doctor came on duty at 7:30 and did her rounds. She came in at 8, checked me and still the same results. She authorized the next dose of pitocin to hopefully help progress things some more, and said that it looked like it would be a c-section, but that she would let me labour for the day as they prefer to give things a good go before going that route. I was not too pleased with that answer as I was so ready to have the baby and meet him and just be able to be done with everything. But there was no sense in arguing or getting upset as the doctor would only do what she wanted to do.
So, at around 9 am they came in once again to check my progress, and once again I had gone no further. I was 2 cm's and it had been 17 hours since my induction.
At about 9:30 my dad left to go and let their dogs out (they arrived at the hosptial the night before expecting that I would deliver in the middle of hte night), and at 9:45 I sent James home to get the items we needed for the rest of the time in the hospital. My mom and sister went with James so that they could drop our car off at home rather then leaving it at the hospital. WHy is this relevant you ask? Well, at 10 am the doctor came in and said 'so, the OR is ready and empty, so lets get this show on the road and deliver this baby'. WHAT??? She had just said we were going to labour for the day ... no one was there with me other then my one sister. James had just left and so had my parents. I can't have this baby now ...OMG!!! The doctor says, well, we do it now or not until tonight as the OR is booked for the rest of the day. She asked how long everyone would be and I said probably about 30 mins. So, she said, ok, lets go get you started and hopefully they will be back in time!!!
I called James and told them to hurry but to drive safe, and into the OR I went.
At 10:30, just as James walked into the OR, the doctor made the first cut. At 10:55 am our son, Ethan Rayne Malyk was born; weighing 9 lbs 5 ounces, and 21 1/4 inches long. He was perfect, and the c-section was awesome!!!
Our little man was so alert and just beautiful. No mis-shaped head from going through the birth canal, no vernon or lanugo all over his body. Just a perfect little boy.
We spent the day visiting with the family and cuddling our baby. He figured out breastfeeding immediately and was doing amazingly!!
The next morning before the doctor went off shift, she came in and gave us the clear to leave that day since we were under mid-wife care.
So we got everything together and we were out of the hospital at 4:30 pm!!! Just 30 hours after the birth!!!
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