DRF week one

We did it! 

Somehow the three of us have made it to the other side of D's first week of life. 

Night one was by far the hardest. We hit a few unexpected road bumps. Our breast pump was broken, so Daddy had to b-line it to the shops before closing time for a new one. D was fed a lot of formula in hospital and was still getting the hang of breast feeding until last night really. So a breast pump was absolutely necessary. We didn't have our breast feeding/bottle feeding tools and sanitisation plans in place. We simply didn't plan on any bottle feeding, big mistake. Expect the unexpected with a newborn. Nothing will go perfectly. We had food in the freezer, but thought "oh no, we'll have time to cook something". NO!!! Our dinner came around 10pm, oh well. Thankfully, I had prepared lactation cookies ahead of time and we had plenty of apples/other snackies. 

Each night has slowly, but surely improved. Probably getting 1-2 hours extra of broken sleep. D does phenomenal during the day. He feeds and sleeps with absolutely no troubles. Night time is a bit trickier. He likes to feed a bit more like every 1-2 hours. Which doesn't leave much time to sleep for breast feeing Mummy.

Today we forged a plan. We have him taking naps in his bassinet, instead of downstairs with us and lots of noise. We've downloaded whale noises and we'll sleep with a night light on tonight. He'll let us know if this cuts the mustard.

MILESTONES:

-First night at home!

-Several smiles and one precious giggle while dreaming following a feed on night 4.

-No more nipple shields and regular feeds from Mummy.

-Spewed/pissed/shat on Daddy in a 5 minute span.

-Spewed on Mummy hours later.

-Several wee's in the free air.

-First bath at home was precious on night 4.

-First walk on day 1 at home.

-First family outing on day 4.

-Two family walks on day 5.

-Daddy showed me how to hoop on day 6.

-Day 7 first tummy time!

-First proper full feed on day 7!
-Umbilical cord fell off!

First walk!

First family outing for coffee at the beach.

First time hooping with Dad and pep talks for his chances in the Olympics 2036 .

Milk moustache.

Aloha! Mummy & Daddy were married in Hawaii. 

This pillow was a gift from Daddy to Mummy.

Day 7. Oh what a week. Duncan later wee'd all over this outfit.

Soooo many pictures. Our next child (if/when) is going to hate us.

Baby Boy Forsyth

Our birth story.

Early in the wee hours of August 9th, 2016 I began to notice an unfamiliar feeling. Daddy was fast asleep and I thought better of waking him until I knew I wasn't feeling something silly like indigestion. I walked around the house for about thirty minutes and realised something was well and truly happening with baby and I. I woke Daddy, and thus began our journey into early labour.

From approximately 1am until nearly 4am we stayed home while I could manage the increasing contraction pain. Paul attached the TENS machine to my low back and I did some rocking in front of the heater on the fit ball. This really did help. I was afraid I wouldn't cope with intensifying contractions in the car without the fit ball, so we headed towards the hospital. 

We stayed in the assessment ward for between 30 and 40 minutes until I was progressed enough to be considered in "active labour". Once in active labour I continued on with the TENS machine, fit ball, and nitrous oxide for natural pain relief. I was introduced to a lovely midwife who helped keep me calm, and teach me how to breath through a contraction. After a few hours her shift ended and another midwife along with student midwife were put in charge of my care. We continued on with natural pain relief. Daddy put on music for us. The playlist included: Bon Iver, Prince, Frank Ocean, Florence and the Machine, TLC, Salt n Pepa, and Local Natives. The music also helped an immense amount. Every so often I could sing along with the music and fight through a contraction. It took another several hours to progress far enough to begin pushing. At approximately the last 2 hours or so of labour another midwife took over for lunch breaks and helped take care of me. She was an absolute godsend. I needed her to keep me calm, we simply clicked and I'm so grateful that she delivered our boy. After 14 hours of labour I was finally able to push. Pushing was by far the hardest part of the experience. It only just clicked today that I wasn't in sync entirely with how I was meant to push. But we powered through it. I pushed for one hour and finally met the second most handsome man in my world, Duncan Robert Forsyth. He was born at 4:04pm on August 9th, 2016. He weighed in at 3.47kg and measured 50cm long.

Unfortunately, what we didn't know and couldn't know is that Duncan was in some great distress towards the end of my labour. All the monitors were reading completely normal (normal for something traumatic like labour). Once Duncan was out in the world he didn't quite realise how to take his first breath. Luckily for us the head midwife in charge was there at that moment. She well and truly took charge. She insisted on cutting the cord, and getting Duncan onto oxygen. Once on oxygen he was able to get a breath in. But we weren't out of the woods.

In the meantime it was my turn to still push out the placenta. Daddy was by my side. Though, I blacked that part out. I was more preoccupied with pushing and catching glimpses of my poor bub across the room. 

Once he got in a couple of good breaths he was brought back to me for a kiss and whisked off to special care. Everyone who was available to help did so. Paul went with. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He didn't want to leave me, but I needed him to be with Duncan. He looked back at me several times asking for reassurance. I insisted he go. I may have spotted a tear in his eye. I was stuck in the delivery room awaiting my own post delivery requirements. That took about two hours. After I was sorted I was wheeled to special care to meet Duncan again and join Daddy. We got in some skin to skin (finally), and I was encouraged to head to bed, as he would be in very capable hands. I did so, and got just enough sleep to be there for Duncan in the early morning again. The special care team got Duncan right and gave him all the extra TLC required to transition safely into life in the real world. Over the next three days several tests were run. Lots of bloods, some antibiotics, an IV drip of fluids. Virtually everything came back negative. There was no real answer to his sudden hiccup. We are blessed beyond measure to have been in the care of such a great team. Everyone was so professional. They kept Paul and I educated about his progress. They were respectful to the emotional reactions on our part and ultimately they got our boy safe and sound.

We're now onto day two at home after three days in the special care nursery. Duncan is an absolute champion. He's feeding regularly, and sleeping like a boss. Mummy and Daddy are still rocking nearly 0-10 hours of sleep over the last five days, but that's okay. We are a team. We're working together to keep him fed, clean and sleeping. Daddy is taking care of both of us with the strength of a king. I couldn't have found or married a more amazing man. I feel so honoured to be his wife, and the mother of his beautiful boy. 

With all that said, we had a slightly scary start. But we are the lucky ones. Our boy is still here with us. He's giving us strength, and I wouldn't change a single thing.

Baby Shower(s)

We recently welcomed the third trimester of pregnancy. I can not believe how fast time flies. If pregnancy has gone this quick the next 18 years are going to be nuts! 

We were lucky enough to have some very special people throw us some un-conventional baby shower(s) a 'virtual baby shower' and a 'baby shower in a box'. I was also treated to a surprise high tea to celebrate the bub.

First, was our 'virtual baby shower'. My best friend Katie, my sister Molly and my Mom joined forces to get some ideas together for how to make this all work. Invitations were mailed out, and loved ones were encouraged to join in on the fun. Katie sent us a few extra mementos to make the day even more special.

We set up a little corner in the nursery, and got started.

 

He'll have his first flight at about two months old 

(depending on when he shows up)! 

Thanks Auntie Katie and Uncle Evan! 

Thanks Aunt Roxy, Khali and Ellie! 

Thanks, Auntie Ness!

Thanks, Auntie Steen!

Cupcakin'!

After all the gift opening I was straight into leggings!

Next up was our Baby Shower in a Box. 

Hosted by some dear friends and former co-workers: Julie, Amber and Mara.

There were decorations, games, prizes and gifts!

After we decorated the cozy little corner we started up the games! 

Naturally I won both games, because I'm the HBIC.

One prize was delicious caribou!

(If you're not from Minnesota you wouldn't understand). 

 Note the cat to human resemblance.
Perf card, Mara.

Pee Pee tee pee! So funny and so damn practical!

So many gorgeous Minnesota themed goodies!

At 37 weeks (full term) my gorgeous girls here in Melbourne, Roxy, Megan and Juliet surprised me with High Tea at the Langham hotel to celebrate the little man to be!

We had a wonderful time stuffing our faces and laughing a lot.

The girls also gifted us with the sweetest bundle of clothes, toys and other adorable essentials. 

To top it all off I turned 30 a couple weeks ago! This bundle of joy has been the greatest gift I could ask for. However, his Daddy and some very sweet loved ones sure helped to make my day extra special.

Needless to say we're feeling very loved and can't wait to meet the little dude. In just another couple days I'll have my due date. He may or may not show up on time or take after his Mumma and be fashionably late. Either way, it's been an amazing journey already.