May 13, 2014

Eli William Bowling's First Weeks

Our way out of the NICU, your first car ride.
This is proof you were tiny at one point.
Tummy time, it was not your favorite.
The shoes did fit, if you were wondering ;).
Moms DIY Shirt
First Bath, he is already a stud!
My Cuddle Bug, the moment where I feel so content.
My Little Babe.
That sums it up... just add poo to that.
My first few weeks were a little hectic. You think you got it all prepared, everything is clean, nursery set, laundry done, diapers stacked, meals set.... Below are a few lessons I had to learn that I want to pass on to other moms.
  •  Get sleep before you go in to delivery if you can, because it is true you will no longer have the option to nap whenever. 
  • Don't wash all of your babies clothes. Eli didn't fit into most of his newborn clothes and I washed everything. 
  • Allow people to help or ask for help! I did everything myself. The very next day after being home I was in the emergency here for more. 
  • Start off with a routine feeding, changing etc. Babies love to have a pattern, the thrive on it and it will save you time in the end to rest. After every feeding I changed him, it takes a lot of energy to eat so make sure you change him after he is full. He will also be more relaxed. 
  • Cut out all of the "small stuff". I found out the hard way. I was pumping, breastfeeding, bottle feeding and at the end I had to start all over again leaving me with no sleep here is more of what I went through. 
  • Buy loads of bottles if you are using them. We only had a few I did a lot of washing and having to sanitize, sterilize, and merging milk, time is so valuable and it goes by so fast. Now I just wash them at the end of the day or as needed. "Cut the small stuff", it adds up!
  • Know there are resources out there to help. A nurse was able to come over and assist me with anything I needed, support groups, lactationist, etc. 
  • This is time for you and your baby! If things don't get done around the house etc. its not going any where!! Don't be a super mom!

There was a lot of pressures on building a routine, breastfeeding, staying awake, having everyone sanitize and everything else unexpected it was overwhelming. I found that if its not fitting into you bonding with baby get rid of it. Mothers instinct is nothing you can teach!!!!

Eli- you on the other hand were wonderful. From the first day in the NECU you were so calm, they told us just wait, well I'm still waiting... I knew from the beginning you were like mom, laid back and peaceful.
With those long nights, tears & no sleep I just have to gaze down at you and I feel so content and at peace.

This is just my personal experience up until now. I looked forward to reading on other mom advice. I hope this helps with other mom-to-be.


May 5, 2014

Introducing Little Baby Fig

Eli William Bowling arrived into this world



Or should we say Eli William Bowling!!!
Born : 5.2.2014
Weight : 8lb 1oz
Height : 21in

May 2, 2014

Baby E and Delivery

Eli William Bowling has arrived. After a long fight/ 24+ hour delivery on Sunday afternoon at 1:22pm, weighting a huge 8.1lbs at 21in. He was so culm right out of delivery.
Due to me having Gestational Diabetes Eli had to stay in the NICU. His sugar was low and they had to monitor him. They expected him to have to stay in the NICU another week after we were home. This little guy it tough and loves to eat. He ended up coming home with us!!!



Where do I start.
My pregnancy and delivery is deffinatly something to be talked about, well thats what the nurses were saying when they found out I had a blog. They couldn't wait to see pictures and hear about how little Eli was doing.

I have never felt so taken care of as when I did while I was in the hands of Spectrum Health Family Birthplace staff. I could never imagine how they do this every day, they made me feel so special and unique. I will update the names on who took care of us to come*.

Lets start where I left off here. I had not 1 but 2 very uncommon pregnancy conditions Obstetric Cholestasis and Gestational Diabetes. While I was pregnant I remember thinking this is going by so slow. The pains, the itchiness, sleepless nights, feeling uncomfortable in your own body, weight gain, not being able to bend over, shortness of breath, another symptom another week, feeling like your constantly tired, feeling stuck, wrestles, bloated, heartburn, emotionally not stable, unbelievable cravings, and thats the tip of it. But looking back it really did go by fast. Honestly, I get it now why women are so much stronger. Even today looking back yup I did that!!! All that!!!
Towards the end you just want it to pass. They gave us 9 months because another month we would have go nuts. I would have to say I feel the same about child birth. You don't think about what your body just went through for that long. I would do it all the exact same if I had to.

My Delivery: I had a birth plan set and it was important to me to stick with it. Everything else through my pregnancy was exactly what I didn't expect or I had unexacting conditions. I felt like this was something I really wanted to experience and embrace. This was such a special moment in my life and I wanted to know I had control over it. It was my first and I was being induced and I knew it was going to be long road. I wanted popsicles, a tub, and most of all to be natural.

For the first 17 hours I did it natural. They gave me Oxytocin to start my contractions and keep them going. During that time they Ruptured my membrane and this triggered my water to break.
At this point from not sleeping from Obstetric Cholestasis and being up in the nights before and the intense amount of pain, I couldn't keep my eyes open. My body was convulsing, shivering, I had intense back labor. Eli was not getting any closer. They gave me an epidermal. It is amazing on how one point you are watching and FEELING your contractions and another laying in bed just watching them on the monitor not feeling a darn thing. It also was the freakiest weirdest thing I had ever felt, I didn't want anyone touching my bottom half fear of them breaking something and I would never know.
That was shortly lived. As I started to feel the pain again I was able to push stronger my body was at it again. Shaking uncontrollably and to add to it the back pain was so bad to counteract the pain someones full body weight and strength had to be pushing on the center of my back. The pain was so bad I was getting sick and I never get sick!
With all of that pushing Eli did not want to come out. I couldn't keep my eyes open I was a mess.
I had to have a C-Section. I was devastated and terrified.
I then brook down. It was so important to me to be able to hold Eli and bond with him those first few seconds, I needed to!!
That was is with in minutes I signed a paper, behind a sheet, cut open and I had my baby in my arms.
That was all that mattered. He was here safe and healthy.
I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. My Dr made that happen. I would not change a single thing.

Eli arrived 24 hours in the delivery room.
Due to my Gestational Diabetes he had to go straight to the NICU.

Reflecting back the next day. I could not believe what I had been through. Not to mention 9 months of completely giving up myself and body.
We did it, you and I Eli

I ready the pain a mother feels while giving birth is similar to 20 bones getting fractured at a time. A human body an only bear half that.





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May 1, 2014

38 Weeks 5 Days Its Time!!

Here you are 38w 5d & ready to come out! 
Here you are 38w 5d & ready to come out!
Here you are 38w 5d & ready to come out!

As you can see my blood test came back this morning and I do have Obstetric Cholestasis or OC. The danger is not so much in mom, yet the intense itching all over is overwhelming at points leaving me awake at nights exhausted. The main concern with OC is our little one. Usually they would monitor me just as they are doing for my Gestational Diabetes, but having both and being full-term Dr. Klyn has decided to induce my labor.

Wow wowowow!! This is the day!!! My baby is going to be here. Little E, Little Baby Fig, My little man....

On this morning I got the call. My first though I get to sleep on my stomach, kidding. No but really I was asked to come in soon, I asked to come in at 1pm so I could "prep myself", double check my packing, take a bath, and paint my nails ya know. Your dad was gone for work in Holland so I told him to stay finish up while I was getting ready. I couldn't believe it my little wiggly worm who I hold every night and watch kick is actually going to be here.

How far along? 
38week 5days

Total weight gain?
My max weight was 175 week. I think I gained 5-8lbs my last week.

Maternity clothes?
At this point I will have to start a whole new wardrobe after baby... No more black and white or flats.

Stretch marks?
Some, nothing really noticeable.

Sleep?
Cholestasis has taken over I am itching all over all the time. Sleep.... I have no idea what the meaning is.

Best moment this week?
I am ready to meet you!!!!! The call this morning!!!

Miss anything?
Nothing at all!!

Movement?
Soon to be in my hands!!!

Food cravings?
Nope!

Gender?
Baby E is on his way!!!

Labour signs?
Only hours now...Eeeek

Symptoms?
At this point my main symptoms are Gestational Diabetes & Cholestasis.

Belly button in or out?
Its ready to go back in.

Happy or moody most of the time?
Over the Moon!!!!

Looking forward to?
My Little E!!!



Keep in-touch for upcoming post....
Little Baby Figs name reveal....
Our First & More to come....
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