Big Day Out

Yesterday, Logan had a big day out.

First up was the first coffee group for our ante-natal class, meeting at the Peppermill in Porirua. Four of the six babies born to the group so far were there (with their mums, obviously) as well as one other dad; Ann-Marie from the Mana Parents Centre; and five of the still-pregnant mums. It was entertaining watching the mums who'd had their babies swapping labour stories, and the mums-in-waiting cringe and want to move to another table!

It was good catching up with everyone, and we got some good advice from Daxa on relieving wind, as her son Taj has been having much the same problem as Logan.

After the coffee group, we popped into Baby Factory and Babycity to get some more prem clothes, as Logan only fits the smallest of the newborn clothes we have for him.

We then went to the supermarket. We were going to pop in to North City Plaza and see if our friend Margaret was at work, but while we were talking to another dad from the ante-natal class that we bumped into in the carpark, Margaret spotted us as she came out for lunch and ran over to say hello.

We've tried the advice from Daxa, from Juliette's Aunt Carol (who used to be a midwife), and from the Baby Whisperer DVD and we seem to be getting on top of Logan's wind problem. He certainly seems to be more comfortable, thank God!

We gave Logan a bath last night, but we had the water a little too cool for him (regardless of what the bath thermometer said). He went in the shower with Juliette this afternoon, and loves it!

He's snoozing now, and seems quite content. We noticed yesterday that he looked a lot less uncomfortable when we took some layers off him. Perhaps he's like his parents and prefers cooler temperatures...

1 week old today!!

Our little Logie Bear is 1 week old today!!! The time has gone by so quickly!



You are a pretty good baby and the biggest issue we have is with wind - poor wee thing, though we do seem to be making some in-roads with that.

You were very unsettled after your last feed early this morning and your wonderful Dada stayed up with you while I got some much needed sleep - I am so very lucky with both of my boys!

The midwife came again today - her second visit - and is very pleased with you...the most awesome news of all is that you now weigh 2840g (with a singlet and nappy on - but the midwife says they should weigh no more than 40g). Dada and Mummy are so please with this as it is more than your birth weight of 2690g (you had dropped to 2510g on day 4 and then up to 2550g on day 5 when you were discharged from the Special Care Baby Unit at Hutt Hospital) and means that you are getting enough milk and doing really well :o)

Oh and your cord dropped off today - we think you may have an "outie".

Well best go, we have your Aunty Miranda, Uncle Andrew and Connor arriving for a visit any minute now.

Day 6/7

Logan's home now (came home on Saturday afternoon, with a brief stop in Churton Park to meet one of his great-grand-mothers). It's a relief to have mum ad son home, and not to be dashing backwards and forwards over Haywards.

The first night was a bit of a bear: we'd get up, change him, feed him, settle him, go back to bed -- and get an hour or two of sleep before having to get up again, so when family from Greytown arrived to visit, we must've seemed like the living dead! Still, his feeds are a bit further apart now, so we're hoping (fingers crossed!) that he's settling down. He was really good on Sunday morning, with his cousins Hamish, Amelia and Samantha (well, second cousins, technically) getting a look, and the community midwife turning up to check-up on him. Pretty much slept all the way through

The dogs were all excited to meet him, especially Merlin. They tend to whine a bit if he starts crying, but otherwise have slobbered him at every opportunity.

Day 2

Mum and baby continue to thrive. Logan's feeding well now, having had a slight issue of falling asleep while feeding yesterday. But today, he was waking up and demanding to be fed (not much use when Dad was the only one in the room at the time!).

Whoops

Ah, the best laid plans of mice and man aft gang agly.

Juliette had been complaining of back pain since Sunday afternoon, but we'd put it down to Logan being posterior position, or possibly his head banging on Juliette's bladder. At 8:30 pm last night, just as we were sitting down to eat dinner and watch The Mentalist, Juliette thought she needed to go to the loo, so she rushed to the bathroom. Shortly thereafter followed a quick discussion on what pee looked and smelt like, followed by the conclusion that it wasn't pee that was leaking out of Juliette. We called the delivery suite at Hutt Hospital, advising that Juliette was having this discharge but no contractions.

The nurse, Helen, told us to come in any way. Pretty much as soon as we'd hung up the phone, Juliette experienced her first contraction.

We managed to get packed up and on our way across Haywoods by 9 pm, arriving at Hutt Hospital by 9:30. Juliette got bundled into delivery room 4, where Helen confirmed that Juliette was in labour. Meera, who was already at the hospital delivering another baby, confirmed that Juliette was in labour, and 3 cm dilated.

By 10, just as Meera was about to go, Juliette was 4 cm dilated. By 11 -- just an hour later -- she was 8 cm dilated. This baby was coming!

At 1:30 am this morning (17 November 2009), Logan Stuart Anderton was born, weighing in at 2.69 kg (5 lb 15 oz). If you're keeping track, that's only five hours after Juliette's waters broke. After a quick snuggle, the paediatrician wasn't happy with Logan's breathing. Because he was premature (3 weeks 3 days before his due date of 11 December) and the labour was so fast, his lungs were still wet, and he was having to really work to breathe.

Logan was whisked into neo-nates, and had tubes put in his nose (to supply extra O2 and increase the pressure in his lungs, making it easier to breather) and throat (to remove excess 02 from his stomach), as well as an IV line to provide glucose. I didn't get a chance to hold him, and he was nil by mouth so Juliette couldn't feed him.

I finally went home around 5 am, after getting Juliette tucked in for the night. Got home at 5:30 am, gave the dogs breakfast and crashed until I called work at 8 am to advise that I wasn't coming in due to our son's early arrival. I got back to the hospital to find that Logan was now breathing well on his own, but was still in an incubator in neo-nates.

He's had two good feeds from Juliette now, and I've had a chance to hold him. I've even changed his nappy once (which is one more time than Juliette!). Mother and baby are doing well, and I'll be back to the hospital tomorrow afternoon to see them both.

Logan, meet the world. The world, meet Logan.

Latest specialist check up

We saw Meera today and she reassured us that she is happy with your size especially as you have been putting weight on consistently from her measurements....so now Mummy feels a little better as even though the scan technician said the size issue was not to a worrying degree as you will discover Mummy does have a tendency to worry about things just a little :o)

Mummy has been feeling sore in her pelvic region and lower back though and Meera says this is because you are descending in the pelvic area....just don't do this too quickly Chickling as you still need a little more cooking (well Mummy would prefer you had a little more anyway).

We will see Meera again in another week so it will be interesting to note any changes.

Last week of work for Mummy, only 4 sleeps left (not that she is counting lol).

4 weeks left!!

Well it's been a while since Mummy wrote an update so I thought I had better do so.

Lots has been happening as usual lol.

Specialist check up and scan
As per Daddy's entry (below) we saw Meera on Monday and she asked us to get a more detailed scan which we did yesterday. Scan results are all good - the blood flow from the placenta to you (via the umbilical cord) is good and everything looks well - Mummy and Daddy saw for themselves that you are definitely a boy!! The only worry is that you are little on the small side for your dates at 2.4kg but the scan technician said not worryingly so (17th percentile). We will see Meera again on Monday so will ask her thoughts then too. It was lovely to see another detailed scan again but no great images for upload though - will just have to wait until you pop out! The technician did say you were chewing on your umbilical cord though - well gumming it given you have no teeth yet :o)

Breastfeeding classes
We had our two breastfeeding class sessions at Wellington Hospital on Monday 2nd and 9th November. The instructor, Penny Wyatt, was just amazing - so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Even Daddy thought that the classes were good value and very informative - we just have to wait for you to arrive now so that we can have some live practice!

We would definitely recommend the classes to any first time parents (prior to birth) and Penny is also part of the Mamalicious Team so you can go to the classes via them as well.

Antenatal classes
We had our last antenatal class on Tuesday and had a shared supper. Again definitely something we would recommend to parents - so informative and such a wonderful relaxed atmosphere. Mummy has decided to also enrol for Baby and You classes once you arrive and we have our first coffee group meeting on Wednesday 25 November at 10.30am.

Hypnobirthing classes
These finished up a couple of weekends ago and again we found them good value - though we are a bit "classed out" so to speak!! The most helpful thing I think we have learnt is the breathing and relaxing techniques :o)

Our very last course/class that we are doing is on 1 December and that is CPR for Babies and Toddlers!

Work
7 more sleeps to go until I finish!! Not that I am counting of course lol. Mummy is getting a little sore now (I think because you are head butting my bladder you cheeky monkey) and can not sleep as well so I am definitely ready to finish work next Friday (20th November).

Baby Shower
Aunty Flop threw a baby shower for Mummy and you last weekend and it was lovely. Everyone was so generous and it was nice to catch up with lots of people at the same time! Aunty Flop did a great job organising it so you will have to give her lots of cuddles when you arrive :o)

Your room
We haven't made as much progress here as Mummy would like - perhaps all those classes lol...Mummy also tends to need naps over the weekend for some reason! We have managed to start sorting out your clothes and we should be able to get the majority of things sorted out this weekend so watch this space for an update and more pictures!

Well I think that is everything that has been happening to date...whew!! Best go and get a few other jobs done before I need to head off to work - did I mention 7 sleeps to go!

Lots of love, Mummy

More news

Today was a bit hectic. We had to leave work early and dash out to Lower Hutt for an appointment with Dr Sood at 3:45, then come back into Welly for the second breastfeeding class at 6:00.

Baby's all good, still got a strong heartbeat, though Meera had some problems doing a proper scan on her dinky little machine, so we're going to the lab in town for scans on a real machine.