Home at last!

Our first video at home!

5th week

Our precious little man is one month old & already has a best friend! For 36 weeks gestation he sure has a strong hold on that soothie!!

4 weeks ago today...

It's very hard to believe that 4 weeks ago today Alexandre was born and our new journey began. It's also very hard to believe that he would be doing so amazingly well so soon after seeing him the first time with all his tubes & wires & 'stuff'. He is feeding so well, taking mostly bottles, and very alert during his awake times. I am getting very excited & anxious about his homecoming which I'm thinking may be thte end of the month. But there are many factors that decide when he is discharged so we still live day to day.

Baba arrived Tuesday and we have been so happy to have her. Charles is back flying today after almost 5 weeks of being away to support me and baby. We finally made some baby item purchases yesterday as I have always felt it too early to buy earlier on. It still feels somewhat odd to have baby stuff in the apartment. But soon Alexandre will be here to use that baby stuff and it will all seem right!

New bed

Alexandre has made another big change! Last night he was moved out of his isolette and into a cot. He has been able to maintain his temperature so far & if he continues to do so this will be his 'home' for the next few weeks until he comes to his real home. It is much easier to 'handle' him in his cot compared to the isolette but he seems more vulnerable & small in his new bed! Today he weighed in at 1852grams... that's 4lb and just a little over an ounce.

Milestone today!

Alexandre reached 4 lbs today!! 1825g to be exact. He's doing well off his IV therapy and seems to be tolerating his new formula so far. He does have 'occult' blood in his stools, meaning digested blood from his upper GI tract, so hopefully this new formula remedies that. We had good visits with him today; I visited from about 8:30am until 12:3opm, went for lunch with Charles and then returned for his 3:00pm feeding & cuddle time. We are going to the Matthew Good concert tonight only because I bought the tickets months ago thinking I'd still be pregnant!! Despite all the nurses telling me not to feel guilty & to have a good time, it's still difficult to do so.

Big Day!

Alexandre is doing very well & as of today he is solely dependent on feedings for nutrition as his central line was removed! So, his only 'wires' now are to monitor his heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation. He gained another ounce today, putting him at 3lb. 14oz. He's taking about 30ml per feeding (the amount slowly increases everday) mostly by gavage (tube feeding) but will take 2 bottles a day, usually by Mom or Dad.

Warning.... the following video has scenes of nudity and some large amounts of poo, viewers discretion is advised!!

Burping Session!

Alexandre is so patient with Mom's nervous attempts at burping!!

Bottlefeed Session

Our precious early arrival

Alexandre Samuel Brochu was born September 8th at 2:32pm weighing 1487 grams and measuring 38cm long. At just 31 weeks gestation he surprised Mom & Dad but he is definitely coping much better than us!!

This video is Alexandre at 5 days old cuddling for the first time with Mom.

29 week update

Your baby now weighs around 2.5 pounds / 1.1 kilograms and measures about 15 inches / 38 centimetres from head to toe. In boys, testicles descend from near the kidneys through the groin en route to the scrotum. In girls, the clitoris is relatively prominent because it's not yet covered by the still-small labia. These will grow to cover it in the last few weeks before birth. Your baby's head is getting bigger, and brain growth is very rapid at this time. Nearly all babies react to sound by 30 weeks. Your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during the third trimester. You'll need plenty of protein, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and calcium (about 200 milligrams is deposited in your baby's skeleton every day), so eat foods rich in these nutrients. The skeleton hardens even more and the brain, muscles, and lungs continue to mature.



We are off to Quebec tomorrow after the 'a-okay' from my doctor. Besides my blood pressure being borderline high everything is fine; the baby's heart rate was 148bpm, my fundus height is normal and baby is moving quite a bit. My weight was a shocker but I'm not dwelling on it as I know there's still more to add! Even Charles was surprised. I told him to be careful as I could really smother him while he sleeps, mistaking him for one of my pillows! He wouldn't stand a chance.

Kimberly Beckham

That's right! I left on the 15th for a 4 day pairing and little did I know that my life would change on my return. As it turns out, Kim decided to get a hair cut Victoria Beckham style. Next thing I know, we are getting phone calls from everybody, my soccer games on tuesdays are followed by more people. As for me, I still have my faux-hawk cut, which gives me the earlier David Beckam look. Too bad that my soccer skills are as good as a 9 yrs old.

Otherwise, things are good. The doctor's appointment today went well, nothing abnormal beside a blood pressure that's borderline to high, but that could be a result of my increasing presence at home.

Charles

Is there a trucker in the house?

This picture better describes how I feel with all my guts pressed up against my diaphragm! I cannot stress how much I am burping... ick. Even the cat thinks I'm rude! I spent all day yesterday either on the couch or in front of the computer as I was not feeling well; just a bad stomach and no energy. I did my prenatal yoga this morning and feel better but my stomach still feels off. I can't see this feeling going away until after baby is born!

28 week update

Seen that pouch underneath the left side of the uterus? Yeah, that's the bladder and the reason why I'm off to the toilet every 15 minutes!

You're in the home stretch. The third trimester typically starts at week 29 and lasts until week 40 and sometimes even beyond. (Don't worry -- 42 weeks is the maximum! After that, a woman usually is induced to give birth.) Most women gain an average of 11 pounds/ 5 kilograms during this trimester. By this week, your baby weighs nearly 2.3 pounds/ a little over 1 kilograms and may measure 14.8 inches/ 38 centimetres from top to toe. At about this time, your baby can open his eyes and turn his head in utero if he notices a continuous, bright light shining from the outside. His fat layers are forming and his fingernails appear.





By the 7th month, her key organs are already developed: The nervous system has matured to the point that it controls respiratory functions and body temperature, the lungs would be capable of breathing if she were to be born at this point. Her movements are more organized, and her muscles stronger. She exercises by kicking and stretching. Calcium is being stored and fetal bones are hardening.

I have been well but feeling the effects of carrying a growing being in my belly. I am so thankful that I am not working and can rest whenever I feel I need to. Because I never sleep through the night anymore, it's great to be able to lay down during the day. I think my greatest struggle has been the drastic change to my activities. I watch runners enjoying their workout on the pathways and feel twinges of envy and listen to Charles wake up early to meet others for a long day hike while I fall back asleep. I have been walking but only very short distances; I find once I am fatigued my belly becomes quite sore and it feels like the baby is going to fall out! Very strange sensation. I try to do my yoga every other day but have yet to get back into the pool (I stopped when I was put on bed rest). I think I just need a good kick in the bum but it would be nice to have a pool buddy.

Trouble already!

Charles on Cascade Mountain in Banff on Sunday... surrounded by thunderstorms

I have been experiencing a very sharp pain intermittently in my left upper abdomen for the past four days. At first I thought it was just 'growing' pains and tried to massage it out. It doesn't happen too often but when it wakes me in the middle of the night, it becomes an issue! So, I went to the doctors yesterday and she said it is probably the baby's foot. She felt my uterus and listened to the heart beat and determined that the baby's back is along my right side, head down with limbs pointing towards my left side. It probably is a boy then, taking after Charles already!

27 week update

Your baby now weighs nearly 2 pounds/ 875 grams and measures 14.5 inches/ 36.6 centimetres from head to toe. Her eyes open and close, she sleeps and wakes at regular intervals and she may suck a finger or thumb. Sweet dreams, little baby! Some experts believe that babies begin to dream by the 28th week. What do they dream about? No one knows for certain but the brain is active this week as well. The characteristic grooves on the brain's surface start to appear and more brain tissue develops. Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of the hiccups, which are common this week and throughout the pregnancy. Your baby has them but is breathing in amniotic fluid rather than air. A paper bag can't cure her hiccups, obviously, but an episode usually lasts only momentarily. The sensation for you may be strange but not unpleasant. Since your uterus is now up near your rib cage, you may now find yourself short of breath if you haven't already. Starting now and continuing through the last three months of pregnancy, you may be plagued by leg cramps, hemorrhoids, varicose veins and an itchy abdomen.

Good news

I had my doctors appointment this evening to recheck my blood pressure and it is back to normal after 5 days of bed rest. My blood tests were all normal, too, so it is very good news. Charles joined me on this visit, his first, and quite liked the doctor. We all agreed that it would be best that I do not return to work and while I don't have to adhere to strict bed rest, I should take things very, very easy. I will return in 2 weeks to recheck my pressures. Being the person that I am, I'm sure I'll be checking it myself a few times a week just for peace of mind. Work has been notified (literally within minutes after my appointment!) and now the flood of paper work begins. Once that is done, I will thoroughly enjoy my time at home and away from the stress of work.

26 week update

3 weeks ago in Vancouver

Measuring your baby from top to toe with his legs extended, he is about 14 inches/35.6 centimetres. He weighs a little more than 1.6 pounds/ 760 grams. Your baby's eyes begin to open around now. Response to sound grows more consistent toward the end of the seventh month, when the network of nerves to the ear is complete. He also continues to take small breaths and although he's only breathing in water and not air, it's still good practice for when he's born. Since your baby is now growing so fast, and brain development is so intense at this stage, your nutrition is very important.

I've also read that baby may be turning itself around to the head down position already. I can't imagine being upside down for 14 weeks! Since being on bed rest the baby has been very active. Yesterday, I had very funny sensations for quite awhile at the front of my uterus and wonder if that was baby turning around. He/she tried to wake me up several times early this morning, but I won, sleeping until 9:30!

It's just day 2 of bed rest & I'm a little restless. Unfortunately, the temperature has been back up to 32 degrees again making the apartment icky. I've read quite a bit, mostly about birthing with some 'light' Stephen King reading in between. Charles returned home yesterday afternoon and has been very supportive. He just got back from Sears after purchasing a stroller & car seat and is now making me lunch! I'm so very lucky.

Bed rest it is...

More of this now!

I had an unfortunately stressful doctors appointment today which requires me to adhere to bed rest until Tuesday. My blood pressure is higher than normal and my doctor is concerned. I went for more blood tests, to check my electrolytes and liver enzymes, and have to return to the doctors on Tuesday for a recheck.

I am to be on the couch or in bed, only to get up to go to the bathroom or get something to eat. Also, all salt & sugar has to be cut from my diet (no Starbucks!). He warned that if my pressure is not back to normal on Tuesday, I will have to leave work effective immediately. Work is really the least of my concerns at the moment.

Thankfully my book order from amazon.ca arrived yesterday, so I'm stocked up and ready to lounge. I think the cat will appreciate having me around. I wish I could teach her to massage my feet for the days Charles is away!

25 week update

Apparently I've been busy as I haven't sat at the computer for awhile! All is well with us. The baby moves about at different times throughout the day, but mostly at night when I am trying to sleep. It is a very unique & special feeling. We purchased our first baby item, a play yard, yesterday. Charles & I are both overwhelmed by the assortment of various baby items and plan to sit down soon and do some research before spending more money!

Work has been very busy, so I look forward to my mat leave which will start August 13. All I can do during my rotations is work, come home, lay on the couch, eat and go to bed. My first day or two off is spent relaxing & trying to reduce the swelling in my fat feet.

We enjoyed a visit from Kris, Shendah, Kieran & Aiden this past week! It was their first visit since I moved to Calgary and we were very busy. The boys enjoyed the zoo and the dinosaur museum in Drumheller. On the last day the 'big' boys enjoyed a very early morning round of golf while the girls relaxed in an air conditioned mall!

Our next exciting visit is from Charles' parents this weekend. His Mom visited just after finding out I was pregnant but his father has not visited since Charles & I started dating so it will be a fun time.

Our little one is doing some neat things... when I poke my belly, he/she will sometimes respond and apparently he/she will double in weight over the next 4 weeks - yikes!

We had an amazing time in Nova Scotia and enjoyed all the precious time we had together. As my vigorous hiking days are put on hold, we did a lot of sightseeing and as much walking as I could muster. We would love to return someday to tackle all the hiking trails with baby! I was pleasantly surprised with Halifax; it is a quaint city with character and of course the harbour front adds to its charm. Charles informed me today, though, that it unfortunately has one of the highest crime rates in Canada. Probably has something to do with all the French living there!! Just kidding, of course.

After 2 weeks of relaxation we are both back to work & reality. After my last rotation I have decided to take my maternity leave as early as possible, which is 12 weeks before my due date. So as of August 13th I am free, free of all the chaos & stress of the crazy vet hospital!! Too many hours on my feet without breaks, late lunches and job hazards are not worth the risk to my health or the baby's.

Now that we are at 23 weeks things are becoming more real. For the past 2 weeks I have been feeling baby move and am starting to enjoy the quiet times I have to share with the baby. Besides the ever present fatigue, I am now enjoying sausage feet! I can no longer fit into any of my shoes and will live in flip-flops from now on.

Charles & I are trying to decide what childbirth classes to take as we have to register soon. I just want to know how to get the job done without drugs and have Charles prepared as much as possible so he doesn't end up on the floor!