Jonas Davin Has Arrived!

We officially met little Jonas about 14 hours after that last blog entry. A really exciting and powerful event that I will write about later. For now I will say that we are a happy new family and he is beautiful and healthy and it feels like he has been with us alot longer than 4 days. He is so familiar already. He was born easily at 6lbs 14 ounces, peaceful and alert and looking at us with such intensity as we laughed and looked into his clear content eyes.

my mom and me

I just had a bath while first talking to my sister and then my mom. Just chatting, but still sore, only rhythmically now! When I got out I finally timed myself - 3 minutes and then 15 - 20 secs of contraction. Enough to make me stop and relax for a few secs. Called work, was totally unsure - is this real or not, maybe I should just go in and work, maybe its not real yet, maybe just a prelabour/early labour thing. Its hard to know! But it might be hard to be with the kids during those few seconds of contraction. So I guess I will not go in today. I am a little giddy and thinking, ok, what should I do? Pack up and then relax? Or just relax?? Haha, and Jordan is at work today! Of all the days to be at work! My first real contractions...I think? He has been laid off for abit now, but his dad needed him today and they are out in the forest!!!!! I am abit shakey and excited and giddy and in a really happy mood....we'll see!!!

Jordan and his dad

Week 39




Jordan and his mom


me and my dad

Still waiting on the little one to send off some hormonal messages to my body to let me know he's on his way! I had my first internal exam yesterday and the midwife confirmed that he is now at 0 in the pelvic area, meaning fully engaged! I can feel alot of pressure in the pelvic area and my lower back; sometimes sore sometimes not. For the first time in my pregnancy I am craving certain foods....steak, fruit and lots of carbs. This has been going on for about three weeks but its more intense now.
I am abit sore of sitting, so I will write again later.

Week 38

Its been an interesting week. Both Monday and Tuesday I woke at 5AM to stronger contractions where I just got into childs pose and relaxed with some deep breathing until I was able to fall asleep again. Wednesday there was alot of cervical pressure and alot of achiness in my lower back and pelvis with alot of 'braxton hicks'. It was the most uncomfortable yet. Today I was really tired, so I napped alot before I went to work at 2pm. I didn't have any of the sensations I had yesterday. My mom thinks it is prelabour and I agree, the time is near.

My midwife also thought that the baby has dropped another cm, so I am for sure -1 or even 0. She also mentioned that sometimes its good at this point to think about anything that may stall my labour, such as fear or anything going on mentally. I can't say there is any fear, but there are always things that come to mind, like my imaginary list of 'to do's' before baby is born. I am almost complete but there are still a few things, which I have convinced myself could wait until after baby is born. It would be wonderful, if I am truly in a 'prelabour' state, that by the time I am in 'offical' labour, I have effaced and dilated 3 or 4 cms... That could be what is happening now...

Belly Casting Party!

Last weekend Janet hosted a small and intimate belly casting party - which included Lisa, Jill and Linda. We casted (which has to be done really quickly as it dries in minutes), snacked and chatted about all things womanly. OOooh and I was also treated to a nice massage by Linda.

Jill and Lisa sculpting - I couldn't feel a thing, except for the little one kicking against the inside of the hard cast

Hard to believe that the next time I see Lisa I will be a mum! This is truly a very different time in our lives compared to our early twenties when we both lived in Victoria, schooling, dancing at the clubs every weekend....downhill mnt biking at the dump and highlands on bikes that costed more than our cars! haha.

Thanks for the party everyone - now its up to the little one to decide when he is ready to come out and meet us.

Week 37

It's official! We've made it to 'full term'! The midwives came over to Janet and Case's house yesterday to check out our birthing space and check in with us. All is well and we are feeling very prepared and excited to welcome little Guido into the world. I have no regular contractions yet, just stronger Braxton Hicks and achiness in my back/pelvis region. Definitely swollen hands and face and ankles, but nothing at all to complain about. Without any internal exams yet, the midwivse guess through palpating outside around my pelvis how far the head has descended. Yesterday they guessed at -1 according to the pelvic station chart below.




In the evenings after work I can feel the head putting pressure on my cervix which although a little sore, I get very excited! It's slowly happening!

2 more weeks left of work. I decided to work as long as possible so that I would remain busy until the end. We are prepared, the house is ready and there is not much else to do but wait...so I am glad to be at work each day. Other than that I have plenty of time for rest, relaxation and exercise. My last day of work is actually a full day and will include taking kids to the climbing gym and making pizzas...if I have not gone into labour by then, I am sure this will set it off!!!!

Throughout this pregnancy my highlights have always been my midwife visits each month. Now that we are on a weekly visit basis and B Day is coming so quickly, I look forward to these visits more than ever. Jordan has come for several visits, my little 8 year old nephew, Cameron was with me when we heard the heartbeat for the first time and then my parents came for the 35 week visit. In such a casual and comfortable environment, I have never felt rushed. I love to hear the heartbeat, test my own urine, make my own decisions and discuss all the wonderful things going on in my body. I am so amazed and I love my body more than I could have ever thought. Baby conceiving, growing and birthing is to me, the most obvious proof of the inherent mind/body/spiritual connection. From before conception I visualised this journey and called out for this little one to join us. I have shared my body with him for 9 months; I have eaten and exercised in ways I felt were the best for both of us.

We have talked to you and communicated with you throughout all these months and you have always communicated back! You are so active and healthy and I love to feel you move. I love your little feet. I love your little fingers that are always tickling around my pelvis. You have been head down and pointed into my pelvis for so long now. The midwives said you have been very determined-not all babies position themselves into the correct position so early. You do alot of turning still. One morning you will be facing left, hours later you will be facing right. Sometimes you are facing out. I have been working with you on that one - and when I visualise and then get into the cat pose, you always turn around again.

My midwife appointment last week reaffirmed my own feelings that the baby is on his way soon. They said...just hold on 9 more days and you are in the clear for your homebirth. So that has been my focus through all my 'ripe' signs which include:
*colostrum
*more pressure during contractions
*backache/pms cramping
*aching pelvis
*head lowering into pelvis
*weight gain may have leveled off (26lbs)
*slightly higher blood pressure (but still low - I am always low)
*breast swelling...again
*a small amount of 'bloody show' last night.... I think....

So, we have 2 more days and then its up to the little one as to when he wants to make his grand appearance.

dad and I

mom and dad

Week 36

9 months! I have made it but am abit sore now. haha. If I were to go into labour now, I would be able to give birth at Campbell River Hospital, which is our local hospital. After next Thurs I am in the clear for a home birth!

Time has gone by quickly, in a way. My parents came from the Kootenays for a quick visit;

luckily the weather held out and we went for some walks and did some baby shopping

my mom and I

It was nice to visit with them before I have the baby. Next time may not be such a relaxing visit...and I got to show off my big bump!!!

Since they left a week ago, I have been getting irritable with lack of activity and being tired. I also have this cold that has been hanging over me for the past week. I NEVER get sick! I thought it had gone and then wham it kicked me in the butt again on Friday - I woke up with a sore throat again. Luckily I didn't have to work that day! I am grumpy, but Jordan doesn't think so - but I know I am bitter and tired and sore and I don't feel very positive today. So I will just wallow in my grumpiness for today... don't feel sorry for me, I want to be sour at the moment.