This morning while Clint was helping me get Ian ready, he was trying to laugh and smile for us! It was so cute, it just melted our hearts. That boy sure is getting us wrapped around his little tiny fingers!
Ian went to the peditrician this morning. He is doing great; he is now up to 11 pounds 10 1/2 ounces and 24 inches long. He also is gaining more ability to lift and control his head, and he can even push up on his little legs if you hold him. He had to get his first shots today, though, two in each leg. He got some lidocaine that kept him from feeling the needle stick, but it still hurt him when the vaccine went in. He cried something awful, poor little thing! :(
Today and again tomorrow the day care center has to close early because the church they rent space from is removing the steeple for needed repairs. So Ian came up to my office at 1 pm and stayed the rest of the day with me. He is also going to have to stay with me all week week after next, when the day care center is closed for employee training. I've been bringing some supplies up to the office with me for this kind of situation.
Ten things I never thought I would have in my office at work:
package of diapers
baby blanket
can of formula
bottle
baby wipes
spare baby socks
spare baby onesie
rattle
changing pad
sore nipple ointment
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
High Maintenance Ian
The past couple of weeks have been pretty rough. The good thing is that Ian is sleeping a little better at night---although we still can't get him to sleep in his crib at night. But at least he will sleep in 3-5 hours increments if one of us sleeps next to him on one of the beds.
The downside is that he no longer sleeps much during the day, and cries every time I put him down (whether he's asleep or awake), which means I can't get anything done at all. Lots of days I don't even get a chance to get dressed or wash myself up until Clint comes home for lunch and takes over for me for a few minutes.
I don't know how much longer I can take not ever being able to get a few minutes to myself. I hate to say it, but I am starting to look forward to going back to work and having Ian in daycare. At least there he will *have* to learn to sleep in a crib by himself, and I won't have to be the bad guy who makes him do it. And I will get some "adult" time.
Otherwise, he is healthy, gaining weight, and getting cuter all the time. I just look forward to him getting just a tad more independent and less fussy!
The downside is that he no longer sleeps much during the day, and cries every time I put him down (whether he's asleep or awake), which means I can't get anything done at all. Lots of days I don't even get a chance to get dressed or wash myself up until Clint comes home for lunch and takes over for me for a few minutes.
I don't know how much longer I can take not ever being able to get a few minutes to myself. I hate to say it, but I am starting to look forward to going back to work and having Ian in daycare. At least there he will *have* to learn to sleep in a crib by himself, and I won't have to be the bad guy who makes him do it. And I will get some "adult" time.
Otherwise, he is healthy, gaining weight, and getting cuter all the time. I just look forward to him getting just a tad more independent and less fussy!
Sunday, July 11, 2004
Milestones
I am typing this with one hand while I hold Ian's bottle---he's sitting in his carrier on the piano bench, which I dragged over next to the computer---so excuse any typos.
At his latest pediatrician appt, Ian was up to 7 lbs 12 1/2 oz! That's 10 oz in eight days! So, the pediatrician feels he has turned the corner, and his next appt isn't for another month. He also said the jaundice is gone and won't be back, and that he basically looks great and we should keep up the good work. So, yay!
Icould actually tell he has gotten bigger, because his newborn clothes are starting to get tight on him and some of his 0-3 month clothes actually fit. He's still so skinny around the middle that none of his pants fit, though---not even a pair of preemie ones we bought! Clint says he was a scrawny kid until he turned 18 and stopped gaining height, so maybe Ian will be like that, too. As long as the pediatrician is happy with his weight, I'm not going to worry about it.
He still isn't smiling regularly, although you can see he is trying to. The little corners of his mouth will go up when he's content and we talk to him, but he doesn't quite have the muscle control to pull it off yet. He is very alert and interested in his surroundings, though. He watches people's face, the ceiling fan in the living room, and he has a little board with black and white developmental pictures in his crib that he can look at for a long time.
Still isn't sleeping through the night, though---we're lucky if we can get four or five hours at a stretch. He just gets very hungry and fussy between the hours of midnight and 4-5 am. Although, he did have one glorious night a couple of days ago where he slept for almost eight hours straight. I thought I had died and done to heaven! :)
At his latest pediatrician appt, Ian was up to 7 lbs 12 1/2 oz! That's 10 oz in eight days! So, the pediatrician feels he has turned the corner, and his next appt isn't for another month. He also said the jaundice is gone and won't be back, and that he basically looks great and we should keep up the good work. So, yay!
Icould actually tell he has gotten bigger, because his newborn clothes are starting to get tight on him and some of his 0-3 month clothes actually fit. He's still so skinny around the middle that none of his pants fit, though---not even a pair of preemie ones we bought! Clint says he was a scrawny kid until he turned 18 and stopped gaining height, so maybe Ian will be like that, too. As long as the pediatrician is happy with his weight, I'm not going to worry about it.
He still isn't smiling regularly, although you can see he is trying to. The little corners of his mouth will go up when he's content and we talk to him, but he doesn't quite have the muscle control to pull it off yet. He is very alert and interested in his surroundings, though. He watches people's face, the ceiling fan in the living room, and he has a little board with black and white developmental pictures in his crib that he can look at for a long time.
Still isn't sleeping through the night, though---we're lucky if we can get four or five hours at a stretch. He just gets very hungry and fussy between the hours of midnight and 4-5 am. Although, he did have one glorious night a couple of days ago where he slept for almost eight hours straight. I thought I had died and done to heaven! :)
Saturday, July 03, 2004
Ian update
Warning: breastfeeding details ahead!
After spending the second week of his life on a "bili-blanket" (fortunately, the hospital had a portable one we could take home with us, so he didn't have to be hospitalized), Ian pretty much seemed to have his jaundice beat. His bilirubin levels went down to half their highest level, and only the very corners of his eyes show any yellow any more.
By the start of week three, we also seemed to be right on track with the breastfeeding. He was latching on like an old pro, and I had gotten to where I could hold him to my breast with one hand, and still walk around the house and do stuff with my other hand. We were also enjoying nighttime feeding, with him sleeping next to me, and me being able to just latch him on in the middle of the night if he cried. For three wonderful days, I breastfed him exclusively, with no formula supplementation.
Then, last Friday at his pediatrician appointment, although he had gained weight, he was still 4 1/2 ounces below his birth weight. The doctor told me it looked like I wasn't producing enough milk, and we needed to start supplementing him with formula twice a day. We took his picture for his birth announcement on Saturday, and looking at it, I realized for the first time how thin he looked. About this time, it started to hurt when he latched on. I realize now that he was so hungry he had just been attacking my breasts; but since I have some nerve damage from having a breast reduction, I didn't notice this until the damage was done, and I had this terrible radiating pain to the point where I dreaded nursing him. We called the lactation consultant, who sent out a lady from La Leche League. We tried to get him latched on right, but at this point I hurt so bad nothing worked. She said I looked blistered, and I should give him a couple of days off, so I could heal. We bought some bottle nipples that are supposed to be resemble breast nipples and avoid nipple confusion, and I kept pumping with the little mini-pump my sister-in-law loaned me, all the time wondering if I should just wean him or if I should invest in a hospital grade pump ($250+) and do whatever it took to get my milk supplies up.
The first night he couldn't nurse at night, Ian screamed, grabbed at me, and made it almost impossible for me to even hold him (especially since I hurt, and he kept grabbing me). He was so angry, because he could smell me and my milk, but he couldn't have any! Then, the next day, I got my first migraine since I got pregnant, and couldn't feed him for another three headachy days because I had migraine medicine in my system. I began to think maybe breastfeeding was doomed, but kept pumping so my milk wouldn't dry up. I cried a lot of tears about not being able to breastfeed him---he just liked it so much, and it was much easier on his system than the formula (he didn't poop the whole time he was on formula alone).
Finally, after three days the drug cleared my system, and when I still couldn't get Ian latched on without pain, I made an appointment with the hospital lactation consultant. I was thinking maybe the best I could hope for was going to be pumping breastmilk to feed him by bottle. But, she got him latched on for me, and I have been nursing him for the past couple of days without problems. She did say we needed to continue with the formula in addition to breast milk, just to keep his weight gain on track (he gained about three times as much weight with supplement as with breast milk alone), but he is doing great so far, no "nipple confusion" between breast and bottle, and just a very happy camper to be able to have his "magical boobie" again. The lactation consultant said I was doing great, and I am just very happy that he is getting as much breast milk as I can give him. And yes, he is "regular" again (amazing how obsessed you can get about another human being's bodily functions when you're a mother)!
For anyone out there struggling with breastfeeding or contemplating breastfeeding for their baby---don't be discouraged if it is harder than you expected. As I talk to other women who have had kids, I realize that breast *milk* may be natural, but breast feeding is more than a little tricky. You have to be persistent, make lots of use of the resources that are available to you, and resolve not to feel like a failure if you have to use the bottle to get your little one fed (after all, *that* is the main point!)
After spending the second week of his life on a "bili-blanket" (fortunately, the hospital had a portable one we could take home with us, so he didn't have to be hospitalized), Ian pretty much seemed to have his jaundice beat. His bilirubin levels went down to half their highest level, and only the very corners of his eyes show any yellow any more.
By the start of week three, we also seemed to be right on track with the breastfeeding. He was latching on like an old pro, and I had gotten to where I could hold him to my breast with one hand, and still walk around the house and do stuff with my other hand. We were also enjoying nighttime feeding, with him sleeping next to me, and me being able to just latch him on in the middle of the night if he cried. For three wonderful days, I breastfed him exclusively, with no formula supplementation.
Then, last Friday at his pediatrician appointment, although he had gained weight, he was still 4 1/2 ounces below his birth weight. The doctor told me it looked like I wasn't producing enough milk, and we needed to start supplementing him with formula twice a day. We took his picture for his birth announcement on Saturday, and looking at it, I realized for the first time how thin he looked. About this time, it started to hurt when he latched on. I realize now that he was so hungry he had just been attacking my breasts; but since I have some nerve damage from having a breast reduction, I didn't notice this until the damage was done, and I had this terrible radiating pain to the point where I dreaded nursing him. We called the lactation consultant, who sent out a lady from La Leche League. We tried to get him latched on right, but at this point I hurt so bad nothing worked. She said I looked blistered, and I should give him a couple of days off, so I could heal. We bought some bottle nipples that are supposed to be resemble breast nipples and avoid nipple confusion, and I kept pumping with the little mini-pump my sister-in-law loaned me, all the time wondering if I should just wean him or if I should invest in a hospital grade pump ($250+) and do whatever it took to get my milk supplies up.
The first night he couldn't nurse at night, Ian screamed, grabbed at me, and made it almost impossible for me to even hold him (especially since I hurt, and he kept grabbing me). He was so angry, because he could smell me and my milk, but he couldn't have any! Then, the next day, I got my first migraine since I got pregnant, and couldn't feed him for another three headachy days because I had migraine medicine in my system. I began to think maybe breastfeeding was doomed, but kept pumping so my milk wouldn't dry up. I cried a lot of tears about not being able to breastfeed him---he just liked it so much, and it was much easier on his system than the formula (he didn't poop the whole time he was on formula alone).
Finally, after three days the drug cleared my system, and when I still couldn't get Ian latched on without pain, I made an appointment with the hospital lactation consultant. I was thinking maybe the best I could hope for was going to be pumping breastmilk to feed him by bottle. But, she got him latched on for me, and I have been nursing him for the past couple of days without problems. She did say we needed to continue with the formula in addition to breast milk, just to keep his weight gain on track (he gained about three times as much weight with supplement as with breast milk alone), but he is doing great so far, no "nipple confusion" between breast and bottle, and just a very happy camper to be able to have his "magical boobie" again. The lactation consultant said I was doing great, and I am just very happy that he is getting as much breast milk as I can give him. And yes, he is "regular" again (amazing how obsessed you can get about another human being's bodily functions when you're a mother)!
For anyone out there struggling with breastfeeding or contemplating breastfeeding for their baby---don't be discouraged if it is harder than you expected. As I talk to other women who have had kids, I realize that breast *milk* may be natural, but breast feeding is more than a little tricky. You have to be persistent, make lots of use of the resources that are available to you, and resolve not to feel like a failure if you have to use the bottle to get your little one fed (after all, *that* is the main point!)
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Ian's birth story
Republished from Kathy's blog, Tuesday, June 15th:
Sorry about leaving everyone hanging, but being the mother of a newborn isn't very conducive to long posts, so I had to work on this over several days. Ian is doing well. He has had a few little problems, including jaundice (probably from being born a little bit preterm) and losing a little more weight than normal after birth. But he is getting back on track on both counts---it's just taking a lot of work on our parts, because he has been requiring daily lab tests and dr appts, sleeping on a "bili-blanket," and feedings every two hour around the clock. Hence my not posting sooner!
I went into labor Tuesday morning (June 8th). I had to go to the bathroom as usual around 5 am or so, then when I went back to bed I couldn't fall back asleep. So I started to waddle back to the bathroom to start getting ready for work, and suddenly realized my panties felt somewhat wet. I took off my panties when I got to the bathroom and saw that they were soaked through and pink! I hollered at Clint that I thought my water broke, he jumped up out of bed, we called the hospital, and they said I better come in. We spent a frantic fifteen minutes that felt like an hour gathering all our stuff up, shut up the house and drove to the hospital.
When we got there, they put us in an antepartum room and a nurse tested the fluid and confirmed that, yes, it was amniotic fluid. I wasn't really feeling contractions, but we settled in to wait for the doctor. In the meantime we both called our mothers (in GA and NC), who immediately started packing up and got on the road for VA. About or five hours later, my contractions still hadn't really started; I'd have one or two weak ones in a row, and then they'd taper off. I tried walking the halls, taking a bath, etc., even singing, to try to get things going, but none of it seemed to help, so they had to start me on IV pitocin.
The pitocin got the contractions coming on a more regular basis. Unfortunately, I had "back labor" (baby's face forwards instead of facing the back), so the contractions were very painful. I finally reached "transition"---where strong contractions make the cervix dilate fully in preparation for the baby coming out---and just got stuck there for hours (this phase is supposed to last about 45 minutes). After the first hour, I asked for IV drugs, but all they did was make me groggy without relieving the pain. After two hours, I finally asked for an intrathecal (spinal injection). The doctor had a lot of trouble getting the needle in, in part because my contractions were so hard, but also because at this point I wasn't able to tell my left from my right and so I couldn't tell him where I felt the needle. When he finally did get it in, it helped somewhat.
But then my cervix just wouldn't dilate the last bit. Finally one of the nurses was able to just push it back the rest of the way while I pushed during contractions. The doctor came back to look at me, and said I was fully dilated, but that he didn't think I was going to be able to push the baby out by myself because his position was bad. He decided they were going to have to use suction to get him out. I asked if I would have to have an episiotomy, and he said "probably." He said he was thinking the baby was pretty big.
So, he put got the baby's head hooked up to the suction cup and when my next contraction came they told me to push. I can't describe the pain; I felt like I was being torn apart, and I started screaming my lungs out. When the contraction passed, they told me I couldn't scream like that, because I couldn't push when I was screaming. So I kept trying for a while, then finally I said, "I can't do this! It hurts too much!"
"Then you're going to have to have a C-section," the doctor said.
Clint said, "You have to try a few more times, Honey. I can see the baby's head! He's almost out."
So I gave three more pushes, each time thinking I couldn't go stand it any longer, and on the third push, Ian came out and they put him on my stomach for a minute for me to see. Suddenly all my pain didn't seem to matter. Clint cut the cord, then all too quickly they took Ian away from me, because they were worried about him after the rough time he'd had getting into the world. After a few minutes I asked if he was all right, and they said it looked like it. They told us his weight and height---he was a long skinny little thing, not a strapping ten pounder like I was expecting. I guess the reason my belly had looked so huge was because he was so long and I am so short-waisted that he just had to sort of double up on himself.
Once I was sure Ian was okay, I looked around the delivery room at everyone and said, "That sucked!" I just had no idea it was as going to be so painful. The doctor laughed and told me I'd had a pretty rough labor. He delivered the placenta, and then he said he was going to have to stitch me up. He said I hadn't had to have an episiotomy, but that I had gotten pretty torn up on the inside from the suction. I didn't even feel the stitches, and I think I had a lot because I kept seeing him take those little fishhook needles they use out of the sterile packages. All I could think about was getting to hold Ian again.
We stayed in the hospital for two days then went home. My mom stayed with us for a few days before she had to go back and teach a class, and Clint's mom stayed for a week and a half. Because Ian came so early the baby room was in a shambles and we didn't have a lot of stuff we needed, so in between feedings, diaper changings, and visits to the doctor, we have been making trips to WalMart, ordering stuff online and generally trying to get things organized.
Having a baby is just the coolest thing ever! And we think Ian is just the greatest little guy! He is a really pretty baby---big blue eyes, full lips, lots of dark hair, and a nice complexion in spite of a little bit of jaundice. He also has a mind of his own already; he just seems to want to do everything his own way. He has already turned over on his stomach once, he has a strong grip and can push *hard* with his little legs. He loves to watch people's faces, too. I am breastfeeding, but we are also having to supplement a little with formula, more because he is a little lazy about suckling at certain times of day than for milk supply issues. He gets about 75% breastmilk, which I think is pretty darn good considering I had a radical breast reduction six years ago and wasn't expecting to be able to breastfeed at all. The cool part about the formula is that Clint gets to feed him a little bit, which is a chance for him to bond with the baby in that way, too.
Speaking of which , Clint is soooo cute with the baby! He is the proudest father you ever saw, and little Ian will fall asleep in his arms or lying beside him just as well as he will do for me.
I could say lots more about our little man, but I'm sure I'll be posting so much about him in the days to come that you'll be sick of hearing it, so I'll stop here for now. Hoping to have some pictures up soon.
Sorry about leaving everyone hanging, but being the mother of a newborn isn't very conducive to long posts, so I had to work on this over several days. Ian is doing well. He has had a few little problems, including jaundice (probably from being born a little bit preterm) and losing a little more weight than normal after birth. But he is getting back on track on both counts---it's just taking a lot of work on our parts, because he has been requiring daily lab tests and dr appts, sleeping on a "bili-blanket," and feedings every two hour around the clock. Hence my not posting sooner!
I went into labor Tuesday morning (June 8th). I had to go to the bathroom as usual around 5 am or so, then when I went back to bed I couldn't fall back asleep. So I started to waddle back to the bathroom to start getting ready for work, and suddenly realized my panties felt somewhat wet. I took off my panties when I got to the bathroom and saw that they were soaked through and pink! I hollered at Clint that I thought my water broke, he jumped up out of bed, we called the hospital, and they said I better come in. We spent a frantic fifteen minutes that felt like an hour gathering all our stuff up, shut up the house and drove to the hospital.
When we got there, they put us in an antepartum room and a nurse tested the fluid and confirmed that, yes, it was amniotic fluid. I wasn't really feeling contractions, but we settled in to wait for the doctor. In the meantime we both called our mothers (in GA and NC), who immediately started packing up and got on the road for VA. About or five hours later, my contractions still hadn't really started; I'd have one or two weak ones in a row, and then they'd taper off. I tried walking the halls, taking a bath, etc., even singing, to try to get things going, but none of it seemed to help, so they had to start me on IV pitocin.
The pitocin got the contractions coming on a more regular basis. Unfortunately, I had "back labor" (baby's face forwards instead of facing the back), so the contractions were very painful. I finally reached "transition"---where strong contractions make the cervix dilate fully in preparation for the baby coming out---and just got stuck there for hours (this phase is supposed to last about 45 minutes). After the first hour, I asked for IV drugs, but all they did was make me groggy without relieving the pain. After two hours, I finally asked for an intrathecal (spinal injection). The doctor had a lot of trouble getting the needle in, in part because my contractions were so hard, but also because at this point I wasn't able to tell my left from my right and so I couldn't tell him where I felt the needle. When he finally did get it in, it helped somewhat.
But then my cervix just wouldn't dilate the last bit. Finally one of the nurses was able to just push it back the rest of the way while I pushed during contractions. The doctor came back to look at me, and said I was fully dilated, but that he didn't think I was going to be able to push the baby out by myself because his position was bad. He decided they were going to have to use suction to get him out. I asked if I would have to have an episiotomy, and he said "probably." He said he was thinking the baby was pretty big.
So, he put got the baby's head hooked up to the suction cup and when my next contraction came they told me to push. I can't describe the pain; I felt like I was being torn apart, and I started screaming my lungs out. When the contraction passed, they told me I couldn't scream like that, because I couldn't push when I was screaming. So I kept trying for a while, then finally I said, "I can't do this! It hurts too much!"
"Then you're going to have to have a C-section," the doctor said.
Clint said, "You have to try a few more times, Honey. I can see the baby's head! He's almost out."
So I gave three more pushes, each time thinking I couldn't go stand it any longer, and on the third push, Ian came out and they put him on my stomach for a minute for me to see. Suddenly all my pain didn't seem to matter. Clint cut the cord, then all too quickly they took Ian away from me, because they were worried about him after the rough time he'd had getting into the world. After a few minutes I asked if he was all right, and they said it looked like it. They told us his weight and height---he was a long skinny little thing, not a strapping ten pounder like I was expecting. I guess the reason my belly had looked so huge was because he was so long and I am so short-waisted that he just had to sort of double up on himself.
Once I was sure Ian was okay, I looked around the delivery room at everyone and said, "That sucked!" I just had no idea it was as going to be so painful. The doctor laughed and told me I'd had a pretty rough labor. He delivered the placenta, and then he said he was going to have to stitch me up. He said I hadn't had to have an episiotomy, but that I had gotten pretty torn up on the inside from the suction. I didn't even feel the stitches, and I think I had a lot because I kept seeing him take those little fishhook needles they use out of the sterile packages. All I could think about was getting to hold Ian again.
We stayed in the hospital for two days then went home. My mom stayed with us for a few days before she had to go back and teach a class, and Clint's mom stayed for a week and a half. Because Ian came so early the baby room was in a shambles and we didn't have a lot of stuff we needed, so in between feedings, diaper changings, and visits to the doctor, we have been making trips to WalMart, ordering stuff online and generally trying to get things organized.
Having a baby is just the coolest thing ever! And we think Ian is just the greatest little guy! He is a really pretty baby---big blue eyes, full lips, lots of dark hair, and a nice complexion in spite of a little bit of jaundice. He also has a mind of his own already; he just seems to want to do everything his own way. He has already turned over on his stomach once, he has a strong grip and can push *hard* with his little legs. He loves to watch people's faces, too. I am breastfeeding, but we are also having to supplement a little with formula, more because he is a little lazy about suckling at certain times of day than for milk supply issues. He gets about 75% breastmilk, which I think is pretty darn good considering I had a radical breast reduction six years ago and wasn't expecting to be able to breastfeed at all. The cool part about the formula is that Clint gets to feed him a little bit, which is a chance for him to bond with the baby in that way, too.
Speaking of which , Clint is soooo cute with the baby! He is the proudest father you ever saw, and little Ian will fall asleep in his arms or lying beside him just as well as he will do for me.
I could say lots more about our little man, but I'm sure I'll be posting so much about him in the days to come that you'll be sick of hearing it, so I'll stop here for now. Hoping to have some pictures up soon.
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Presenting...
Ian Thomas McGuire, in his world premiere
Weighs in at 6 lb. 14 oz.
Stands (okay, LAYS) at 22 in.
Born June 8, 2004 at 10:57 pm
Proud papa: Clint McGuire
Exhausted (after 16 hrs. of labor, can you blame her?)
mama: Kathy McGuire
Photos and stories to come!!!
Weighs in at 6 lb. 14 oz.
Stands (okay, LAYS) at 22 in.
Born June 8, 2004 at 10:57 pm
Proud papa: Clint McGuire
Exhausted (after 16 hrs. of labor, can you blame her?)
mama: Kathy McGuire
Photos and stories to come!!!
Thursday, June 03, 2004
A little late night excitement
We had some pregnancy-related (as opposed to kidney-stone-related; I'll let Clint tell *that* story) excitement last night, when I woke up around 3 am screaming in pain. I think it was either a bad Braxton-Hicks contraction or ligament pain, because after I tinkled and had a glass of water it went away after about 20 minutes and I was able to fall back asleep. We had a scary moment, though, when I saw water on the bathroom floor and thought my water had broken---it turned out Clint had been so nervous when he was running to get me a glass of water that he had spilled some of it!
This morning we have noticed that the baby seems to be a little lower than before, so maybe that is what was going on last night. If so, it won't be long now. Hope it's not before next week, since my doctor's out of town this week, and he's the only OB in the county...
This morning we have noticed that the baby seems to be a little lower than before, so maybe that is what was going on last night. If so, it won't be long now. Hope it's not before next week, since my doctor's out of town this week, and he's the only OB in the county...
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