Blueberry's Birthday Part II

*This blog entry is for my own purpose to preserve all the great memory when my blueberry was born. As always, I have some thoughts and opinions about certain things and here's the part where I praise or bitch about some things and people.

TB

My husband, the love of my life before my son arrived, is still the love of my life. He has been extremely supportive, helpful, loving, caring and wonderfully involved in the process throughout pregnancy and until the day blueberry was born. I am not bragging but I really do not think any of any woman in the world has a better husband than mine. The only way you will know is to make him your husband, but sorry, I am not sorry, he is mine.

I do not think I could ever do this without him. He was so nervous on the arrival that he forgot to pack a couple things in the due date bag - this would have never happened in our household. He just dose not forget things. And then the lack of sleep totally caught up as it got close to the delivery time. However, he was holding himself up for me and the baby.

He asked me last night if I saw him cut the umbilical cord. I was so surprised and happy. Surprised because he didn't want to cut the cord before; happy because I love the idea he did. That's the kind of experience I wanted him to take home with forever and ever. That's the privilege of a proud dad.

I am not sure if he cried but I am sure he was just as emotional as I was, and this time, he showed so much of it. He told me how he was so worried that things could go wrong during L&D to me and/or the baby and he couldn't imagine if that ever happened. But then he said "this is also the reason why I chose this hospital because they are the best."

Our family is big now - there are three of us. Hey TB, we might need to consider moving to a bigger apartment soon! :)

Hospital

I like my hospital because I love love and love the nursing staff and doctors. My first hand experience with them has been wonderful and I could not praise them more. They take so great care of moms and babies and even though I didn't get to get a private room (because it is first come first serve basis and remember, there was a "baby rush" the day I delivered?), I didn't feel the experience is being discounted. One night of private room is $750. I spent 2 nights there, that'd be a nice handbag. So yeah, I choose a handbag any day over my own comfort.

If you know where I deliver and if you are going to deliver there soon, please note that the Chanel bag is in back-ordered since Christmas. You need to call them back for one. They check names to see who gets it or not so you should still be able to get one. I need to call them soon too.

Miles was in the CCN (Continuous Care Nursery) for both nights because of the anti-biotic. I thought I missed the opportunity rooming in with the baby but it turned out to be a wonderful thing. I got to catch up on my sleep and I only needed to go into the nursery whenever they call me in for feedings. The nurses were all very good at coaching me how to breastfeed and Miles and I got to learn the tricks together which was a lot of fun, even though I got really frustrated not being able to produce any milk while in the hospital. I think I cried twice because I thought I was starving my son. I think Miles liked staying there, he was in an incubator and he loved that it was so warm and cozy.

I will give this hospital a 4.5 stars. The half star off was for the Chanel bag I have not got.

Epidural

I thought about going natural without intervention in the beginning. I changed my mind soon after that. I never got my ears pierced for the same reason - my pain tolerance is not high, actually, low. The school of thought about how going natural without an intervention will compromise the bonding between the mom and the baby is a total bullshit. The fact is that epidural is safe for the baby and that's all I need to know to make a decision.

Like I said, I am a selfish person. Why would I want to go through hell just to have a baby? OK FINE! I will go through hell for Miles for sure, but that's only after I met him.

I appreciated some friends' advice against epidural and tried convincing me to watch videos and read books about it so that I will not go with an epidural. No offense but I respect your decision and I do not need a lecture on how much pain I should endure or not. If there would be no pain giving birth, that's the route I'd take. End of discussion.

And because of epidural, Miles might really get a chance to have siblings.

Again, I 100% respect (though don't understand) but don't even really applaud anyone's decision not having an epidural. If you did it, great. I wouldn't think it's the most courageous act in the world, I only think it's silly. And if you are still very gun-ho about not having an epidural, I'd be interested to see if you really pull through. Best luck and hope you do pull through. Better not jinx.

By the way, the only video I watched was the birthing video played at the class and it prepared me very well already and I decided then I do not need to watch anymore videos.

Lamaze and all the techniques to relief pain

The childbirth class we took during pregnancy was a 6-hr class that covers everything. That said, it did cover Lamaze but probably for about 30-45 minutes. The rest is all about practice at home. So we did practice a lot, sometimes as a joke because the breathing technique just feels funny to me. For a while, TB and I did "he-he-hu" for fun whenever we were bored.

Let me tell me, Lamaze did shit for me. It didn't work for me at all.

I did using breathing technique to get me through contractions but not Lamaze. It's my own breathing technique that worked for me. I ditched Lamaze and did whatever felt the most natural when it came to breathing and it was the best way to do it for myself because I know my body and my own rhytm the best. Just like how I breathe through a heavy lower body training and cardio exercise, I coached myself breathing through contractions.

And then there is massage. All the books will say bring a massage ball and massage oil. Let the partner massage you to get you through pain and all while having contractions or in between contractions to relief the tension.

What happened to me was, when contractions hit or in between contractions, I just wanted to be left alone. I did not want my body to be touch in any ways. TB didn't even need to massage me which he didn't mind at all.

I did take several hot shower before hospital and in between hospital runs. Hot shower was the only thing that did the trick to relax myself and relieve pain.

My suggestion is that, do whatever makes you the most comfortable. The books are not always correct to predict your situations.

Birthday

We originally thought Miles would arrive on 1/4. TB and I were not very keen on that idea and secretly hoping that he wouldn't be born on the 4th because there was a "4" in it. Don't get me wrong, I am sure 1/4 is a good day if it's your birthday, but we are Chinese, we are superstitious. And based on this year's Farmer's Calender - the Chinese calendar that gives your prediction of the fortune or things to do and not do every day, 1/4 was not all that great. What can you do? In the end we just said to ourselves that baby will pick his own birthday and we are OK with it.

Not only did he not pick 1/4, he came out before 4 o'clock in the morning (3:58). TB was very proud of our little man for picking a great day and time for his birthday.




DearJulie