Thank-you!!

[allana]

Thank-you all for your lovely comments!

Parenthood is fantastic... so far. I think we're in for an interesting night as (a) we had a very quiet one last night and (b) my milk has come in. Feeding a very young baby from breasts which have as much give as a football isn't my idea of fun, and Lucas wasn't impressed either. Still, we got there in the end; two hours after we started. Hopefully he got enough to have four hours sleep....

I'll write properly about labour at some point, but it was very quick once we reached hospital. We got there at about 2030, was found to be three cm dilated--I should really have been sent home but I looked far too pathetic--and I gave birth at 2320. The scary thing was that the midwife didn't think that I would progress that fast, so when I made her check at 2319, Lucas's head, shoulders and arms were already out! So, officially my second stage of labour was recorded as one minute with no medical pain relief. I think I'll be very proud of that for a long time to come. Pride cometh before a fall though--I have an awful tear and a shitload of stitches.

Dave was an utter star and I'm so glad that he decided that he wanted to be my birth partner. I barely heard a word that the midwife said so he repeated everything, breathed with me and stopped me from tensing up and giving myself even more pain when each contraction hit. A shiny, shiny star of the highest order. He's been doing loads of nappies to give me the chance to catch up on sleep, too!

Anyway, I should sleep before it's time for nappies/boobies once more.

Comments

[feelforfaith.livejournal.com]

Yay for short labor :D. Sounds like you all are doing just great--I spent most of my first night at home overwhelmed with "How am I supposed to do this?" in between Jake's short naps.

Hugs for the whole family.

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

On the whole we are doing great. I had an attack of baby blues in the middle of the night when Lucas just kept bouncing off my boob as it was so engorged, but I feel much better this morning. He's had a huge breakfast and has a nice clean bottom and I hardly had to wake Dave for any help :)

[stonefinder.livejournal.com]

Wow! I must have missed this when I was away. Congratulations Ang! And I'm glad it went so well, all things considered.

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

Thanks Rhi! Hope you had a good time :)

[arrys-girlie.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're home and Spe..I mean Lucas gave you a quiet first night. Really glad to hear about the short labor, I have to admit when I saw the size of him (even never having had one) I winced. Hard. Kudos to Dave, and I hope you enjoy every moment of the new discoveries you three will make as you become a family, bonds growing and guiding you through each new adventure, whatever they may be.

Again, congrats. And all the best.

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

We both keep referring to him as Speck on occasion; I think that's one nickname that'll stick for a few years. Still, he always listens very closely to the story behind it whenever I trot it out :)

WRT his size... I think my huge hips played a big part in labour. I should stop moaning about not being able to find pretty clothes and start thanking my lucky stars ;)

Thanks very much for your kind words!

[evaine.livejournal.com]

You're BOTH stars, Mummy and Dad! It's not my place, but I'm proud of both of you! *grin*

And sleep is good. Sleep is very good!

When Lucas wants out, he wants OUT. *LOL* I'm so happy for all three of you.

*snuggles Lucas*

*Huge hugs for Mum and Dad*

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

Sleep is good :) I actually had some! It was a big surprise to see 0830 on my watch when he first whinged this morning.

I'm very proud of us, too. We're making a really, really good team so far. What's especially good is that we're learning from Lucas and from each other, so each day is better than the last.

I wish you could come round and see him! He'd love his Auntie Ev!

[madandy.livejournal.com]

Still rather you than me, hun! *Laughs*

But huge hugs anyway - and I hope he's a good sleeper and that boobs settle down!

Hugs to Dave too. He's a good 'un!

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Andy! My boobs have a hot--well, cold--date with a chilled flannel in a bit, so hopefully it'll feel less like a bonfire in my bra very soon. I'm told that this is the worst day and that things get better from here... so fingers crossed :)

[screwthedaisies.livejournal.com]

They do!

[kraftpistole.livejournal.com]

[is mystified by labour]

He just started popping out...? Just like that?

[sends over pillows galore]

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

No, he didn't just pop out :) I didn't realise for a little while that I was pushing and when I did, I didn't think that I was actually pushing him. I thought that I'd started pushing too early and when I began to feel lots of pressure I got convinced that I was doing myself an injury, but I still couldn't stop.

It seems as though me popping him out so quickly, after barely being in active labour, is quite a novelty. We saw another 12 (or so) members of staff after delivery and every single one of them knew the story and were amazed by it. I can only imagine that Carolie stepped out of our room and said, "OMG! She went from 3 to 10 in how long?!?"

[scotchy024.livejournal.com]

Whoa! NO ANESTHETIC? NO EPIDURAL? YOU are a true champion, Ang. My hat goes off to you. Good luck with the nursing. Just, whatever you do, don't give up. Most moms give up within the first week. I promise your nips will toughen up and it won't be painful, and it's such a rewarding experience that it's worth going through the initial discomfort...and scabs...and bras in the refrigerator...and... never mind. (Although, if you do give up, I will support you there too. ;-) Oh, and don't be surprised if Lucas wakes up every two hours. That's what we had over here when K was a pup.

I'm so happy for you!

Now REST!

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

Heh, thanks Jeri!

I am so, so pleased to have avoided an epidural/spinal/Cs etc. I was due to be induced on Monday and I'm willing to bet that I would probably have ended up with a section if I hadn't popped him out early. The stitches I have will heal so much quicker than staples would.

As predicted, we did have a pretty shitty night, but he woke up hungry at 0830 and had a huuuge feed with a nappy change in the middle, so I'm feeling like a half-decent mum. I'm planning to contact a few feeding counsellors today so that I can get a better handle on things. Alas, Lucas likes his sleep so I often have to wake him up for feeds and those ones always end up being hard. The feeds that he does wake himself up for are an absolute dream, though.

Anyway, he's asleep again now, so I'm going to go and have breakfast.

[bella-cheval.livejournal.com]

Awww...I'm so glad to hear Lucas made it into the world so speedily and that save for the tear, all went well. He's a gorgeous baby!

Big kudos to Dave as well for being Super Dad too!! I'll bet he's still walking on air.

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

Heh. I must admit that neither of us have had the walking on air feeling. We're both still shellshocked that he came out so flipping fast :P

We are, however, blissfully happy and Lucas seems to be too!

[bella-cheval.livejournal.com]

Yayness!

I had to restrain from buying a Metallica onesie and a Leppard onesie the other day, LOL! I can see Lucas all cute, lying there and throwin' the horns :)

[kelpierocks.livejournal.com]

Congratulations again to all three of you. You're all champs in my book! I hope Lucas settles into a smooth sleep/eat routine soon. Hugs and love!

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

I don't hold out much hope of a routine for a few weeks/months, but if I can conquer feeding then I'll be very, very, very happy indeed.

Thanks for the well wishes!!

[dreammonkey.livejournal.com]

Awwww - what a great husband you have :D
And huzzah for short labours! I hope when my time comes, it's short... (Assuming there is a time of course!)

*Hewge hugs!*

[dreammonkey.livejournal.com]

P.S. Lovely name too :)

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

Are you back in civilization yet? Dave left you voicemail on Sunday night--I clean forgot that you wouldn't be able to pick up on the rig :(

And yes, he's fab! Both of them are :D

[silentinflames.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad to hear it went so quick and overall well. :)

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Brigitte! I hope that everything keeps going in this direction for a few years :)

[silicondreams.livejournal.com]

Four hours sleep! The first night home! Not even me, otherwise the quietest baby in the world. Seems like you got a good deal. ;) And wow, that was fast.

Big congrats once again to the both of you, and a very light kiss to Lucas!

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

I was being optimistic based on the 1st night home (this was his second)). In reality he got about one and a half hours before complaining. Loudly. And then we were up and down for most of the night, with loads of tears and stuff.

This morning seems to be much calmer. Fingers crossed for tonight!

[screwthedaisies.livejournal.com]

I'm glad labor went so quickly for you. :)

This is all very exciting. :)

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Heather! It's exciting and a bit scary--half the time I don't have a clue what I'm doing, but I suppose that's half the fun of it :)

[screwthedaisies.livejournal.com]

It is half the fun of it!

My mother missed out on the fun of finding your way through it on your own because she and my father were living my grandmother for my first two years, and my grandmother knew 'just how' everything should be done. My mom said she had a lot more fun with my brother when he was a baby.