Desmond's Birth Reflections

I'm siting here feeding Des and watching 16 And Pregnant. I don't know how these young teenagers go through the process, it was hard enough married and 25 and only working when I wanted to (substitute teacher).

I cried through the end of the one where the girl gave the baby up for adoption, not because of that so much as the fact that the boyfriend wanted to keep it and they didn't have any way to make it an option. It was totally the right decision to give the baby up, but the family was fighting in the delivery room and there was so much stress through the pregnancy. I was really happy with how the delivery room was for me.

We got there at 6 AM, broke my water at about 8 AM, got contractions going in the jacuzzi tub within about 1 1/2 hr or so and after two doses of the IV drug that dulls the top of the sharpest pain, it was time to push. At 2:05 PM, there he was. It went so fast. I was already 4 cm dialated going in and having lots of "practice" contractions. It's hard to imagine that next time is supposed to go even faster. He was a week overdue, hopefully the next one will NOT do that!

Desmond has been such a good baby. He had good Apgar scores and latched well. He slept more at night than most newborns because he was so big at birth (9.43 lbs). He doesn't cry much, only when he's mad or has a wet or dirty diaper.

Now, at 8 weeks tomorrow, he loves bathes, and is up to sleeping 5 hrs in a row at night, once in a while even longer. He can stay awake for 3 or 4 hours in a row and be happy the whole time. He can occupy himself for awhile playing so I don't have to feel bad leaving him to himself so I can wash dishes or do laundry. It's quite encouraging.

I don't have to worry about working and nursing. I plan to make it to 6 months and then we'll see what going on work-wise. I really want to go back to subbing, but I don't want to be trying to pump at school, it'd be pretty impossible. So I'm hoping to pump enough to freeze that he can still be getting breast milk after I'm done nursing. I bought a new breast pump but haven't attacked it yet. I think using the old one sporadically is what caused the painful clogged milk ducts. Since I quit pumping I've been fine. But if I want to wean at 6 months I'm going to have to go back to pumping so I have enough saved up.