Half a year after giving birth

Wow, I haven’t blogged in ages but I have good excuses:

  1. We moved on September 26 and I was packing packing packing before
  2. my bubby is on parental leave for two months
  3. We moved so I am unpacking unpacking unpacking 🙂

Our baby boy was a good boy the whole move. Sometimes it was hard for me to stop what I was doing to take care of my baby and bring him to bed at around 18:00. I’m used to working until something is done but with a baby the baby’s priorities come first.
We moved into a bigger place on the ground floor. It is so much easier for us now, no more carrying the stroller into the basement, no more carrying the baby and groceries up 50 stairs. It’s a very kids-friendly neighborhood.

Quinn is doing great, he’s such a good boy. Right now he’s growing his first tooth!
He rolled over once, on October 10th 2015, he turned 6 months on October 1st and my little family spent the lovely day in the mountains. On October 2nd I started feeding him his first mush – sweet potatoes. In week two he got parsnip and now in week #3 I give him potatoes, carrots and beef. He wears the size 68/74 now, diaper size is still #3.

I totally forgot about my 5 and 6 months after giving birth blog posts. All I can say, my belly is still there but I do fit into most of my old pants now, even though some are still a bit tight. I just quit the gym in my old hometown and am planning on joining the gym in my new hometown in November. I can’t wait to get back on working out yet I haven’t missed it the last few weeks because I was just too busy with the move.

Now I’m mainly busy getting the new place organized and looking for new furniture to buy 🙂 We are buying a cherry laurel this week to plant in the garden before the first snow is coming. Our two gardens are very small but yet, they have been so much work already. I’m looking forward to next spring so that the bigger garden/terrace can get fixed up.

I hope to keep on blogging more regularly soon but I guess there’s always a longer or shorter slack period on some blogs.

3 months after my c-section

So here I am, writing a postpartum blog post three months after Quinn was born. I noted a lot of things in my calendar just so that I don’t forget when I write this blog post. Life isn’t the way it used to be (well, really?) but having this little baby, to hear him cry, to see him smile, to hear him babble around – all those things just make you realize once more: you have a baby, you’re a mom, the baby needs you because he is real! And that’s an amazing feeling.

Let’s start with April Fool’s Day, Quinn’s birthday. The day I had the very much unplanned and very spontaneous c-section. I didn’t mind the operation, while all the nurses etc. were getting things ready for the section I thought “wow, I’m going to have a c-section in a few minutes, that’s kinda exciting and an experience not every woman shares”, I was excited and also relieved to know my baby-boy will have no problems getting stuck or whatsoever in the birth canal.
Anyway, the c-section itself wasn’t scary, it didn’t hurt (although I did almost faint when my organs went back to their old place or whatever that feeling was I had after they got Quinn out) and the recovery was very fast.
I did curse the c-section that day and the day after because of all the pain, especially when I had to get up and said things like “how could a woman have a section voluntary?!” But two days after I felt so much better (also thanks to painkillers) and the recovery went quite well.
Of course it wasn’t the best feeling when the nurses pushed into your belly to see how big/small the uterus has gotten and the cut also hurt, but day after day everything got better.

Now my scar is still hard and I massage it at times, my belly is still bigger than before my pregnancy but it vanishes slowly, very slowly. Three weeks after the operation I started lifting heavier things again (like the baby’s car seat and the stroller) and started doing things with my son alone and not being dependent on my bubby. That’s probably the thing that bothered me most on the section – not being allowed to carry heavy things. This and the pain I had whilst peeing from the bladder catheter. That pain stayed a few weeks.

The bleeding (oh the bleeding) stopped after 9,5 weeks! “They” say normally you don’t have lochia for so long after a c-section but oh well. I bled every day for 9,5 weeks, sometimes stronger, sometimes just a few drops. The day my OB checked me (almost 6 weeks after giving birth) my period started! Fresh red blood came and my OB saw that my ovary was “working”. That first period lasted around 3,5 weeks.
Oh great I thought, that’s something I could have lived without for another year or so. On the other side though I was happy to see that my body, in that respect, is back to normal.
During that time I used lady diapers, extra long and thick pads (the huge ones from the hospital are the best) and seeing my scar didn’t heal that good in one place I didn’t even wear normal undies for a loooong time, I wore the net-panties you get in the hospital. Very sexy.
Just one week after my lochia stopped and 33 days after my first period after Quinn’s birth I got my second period. And I could finally use tampons! It started very strong but only for around two days, then it got weaker day by day.

Breastfeeding worked good from day one (now, don’t believe you can’t get pregnant when you breastfeed because bam – your period can start any minute). It’s a great feeling to see how my body can nourish my baby boy and I’m very happy that it works so well. I didn’t read anything about it and I didn’t take a class and just trusted my womanly instincts.
It did hurt a bit in the beginning and I only let Quinn drink on each side for a few less minutes so that my nipples don’t get infected. The weeks after the birth the first ten sucks from Quinn really hurt (my body was quite tense and if my bubby asked me something during that time he had to wait 10-20 seconds for me to answer, until the pain was over). I don’t remember when the pain stopped, maybe three weeks after giving birth.

Three months after giving birth I still do not fit into my regular pants. My belly is still there but I also didn’t only gain on my belly but also my legs *ehem*. Seeing I was pregnant in the winter I had to buy new summer shorts and I had to buy them in maternity-style. Ouch!
I started training my pelvic floor after six weeks and am still doing it two to three times a week. I’ll probably keep doing it until mid July. That’s an advantage of the section – I don’t have problems with incontinence.
I started working out after 8 weeks and try to go to the gym 2-3 times a week to lift weights and do cardio. I lift very less weight but make more repetitions and NOT the belly. Doing sit-ups etc. will have to wait a few months.
I started my pregnancy with 49kg, my normal weight when working out is 50-51kg and now I weigh 53kg. So, I’d like to lose 2-3kg this year which hopefully should be doable.

My postpartum emotions have treated me quite well. All in all I only cried twice, once when I watched How I met your mother and Lily gave birth and once when Quinn just didn’t stop crying. Oh well, and of course there have been (and still are) many many times where I look at my baby boy and just spread tears of joy. Luckily I’m not that exhausted from the nights, I just try to keep Quinn and me in bed until I’m fully ready to get up. Doesn’t work always but most of the time.

How much do I weigh: 52,1 kg (+3,1 kg from my before pregnancy weight – my goal is to reach 50 kg)
How much does Quinn weigh: around 6,2 kg
Belly size: My belly takes its time… 3monthsafterc-section
Sleep: Soso. Quinn definitely has a day-night rhythm, sometimes he comes every two hours, sometimes every three. Yesterday he came after almost 8 hours for the first time (I fed him at 18:15 and he came at around 2am)
Maternity clothes: Still wearing the shorts/pants 🙁
Miss anything: Wearing nice tops who don’t show my belly
Looking forward to: Every new day with Quinn
(Best) happenings: Quinn discovered his hands and his voice and is kicking his legs like crazy. He got his first vaccination which he recovered from quickly.
Sports: Started again with jogging and lifting weight and ruined my knee from too much jogging. So now I’ve paused for a week, now the knee is better, thank god! Seeing it’s super hot this week I might skip the gym and just go for long walks in the morning.

2 months after my c-section

How far along: 2 monts after Quinn’s birth
How much do I weigh: 53,1 kg (+4,3 kg from my before pregnancy weight – my goal is to reach 50 kg)
How much does Quinn weigh: around 5,3 kg
Belly size: looking better than a month ago

Belly 8 weeks after c-section
Belly 8 weeks after c-section

Sleep: Quinn is hungry every 2,5 – 4 hours. He luckily falls asleep right after I feed him and me too. He drinks 5 to 10 minutes. He’s quite fitful at night which sometimes makes it hard for me to sleep. There are nights where he’ll come after 6 hours for the first time 🙂
Symptoms: Lochia, still! Big belly
Maternity clothes: I still wear my smallest pants which I wore in the very beginning of my pregnancy. I also bought some maternity shorts. I’m not trying to fit into my old pants yet, I first have to lose some weight
Miss anything: Not really
Looking forward to: Working out, I can start NOW 🙂
(Best) happenings:

  • Quinn’s doctor appointment went very well, everything is good and he peed on the doctor 😀
  • He’s smiling lots which is the best thing ever, he smiled on May 2nd 2015 for the first time.
  • At 7 weeks Q. decided he wants to go to bed in the evening rather than staying on the couch with us. So now I try putting him to bed around 19:30. I once fed him and put him to bed at 22:00 and he slept 6 hours until 4:00. Amazing!
  • I had my OB appointment and everything looks good. I’m allowed to start working out again 8 weeks after the birth.
  • I started back-formation at 6 weeks
  • He won’t take the bottle, we are trying to train him. He also doesn’t take a pacifier. I stick it into his mouth when he’s cranky and it calms him, but it falls out if I don’t hold it.

Sports: Going for walks with Quinn. I started my back-formation which I’m doing 2-3 times a week for 40 minutes (with a dvd), my course starts in the beginning of June and I’m planning on doing back-formation until mid/end July.
Now, at 8 weeks I’m allowed to start working out again, my OB said it’s ok now. It feels good to be at the gym again but it’s also so nice to come back home to my baby boy and see how happy he is to see me 😀

1 month after my C-Section

I’ll just continue this from my weekly baby bump posts to weekly/monthly post-baby bump birth bump posts (whaat?!)

How far along: 1 month after Quinn’s birth
How much do I weigh: 53,7 kg (that’s around +4 kg from my before pregnancy weight and 8,5 kg I lost)
How much does Quinn weigh: 4230g (gained 1kg in 4 weeks)
Belly size: Taking much longer for the uterus to go back after a c-section. It’s a weird feeling to have a bump seeing I cannot pull my belly in.

Belly 4 weeks after c-section
Belly 4 weeks after c-section

Sleep: Quinn wants to be fed every two to three (sometimes longer) hours, yesterday I fed him at 23:00, then 2:00, 4:30, 7:00. I’m normally awake between 30 and 60 minutes then
Symptoms: Lochia, big belly, my infected area on the scar is a bit itchy and the trouser waistband rubs it which is not that comfortable, short of sleep some days
Maternity clothes: I wear my smallest pants which I wore in the very beginning of my pregnancy. I have to see if I fit into my normal pants, probably not seeing my thighs got fatter as well. UPDATE: No, not at all, they really don’t fit at all.
Miss anything: Kinda miss feeling comfortable in my body and buying clothes in my actual size (and not maternity summer clothes) but that’s clear that it takes a few months to reach your old size (for most moms)
Looking forward to: Going to the gym again and getting my body in shape, also looking forward to meeting Quinn’s pediatrician next week. I hope I/we like him.
Best happenings this week:

  • Quinn’s cord fell off
  • We went into a store for the first time
  • I breast fed in public for the first time, not as easy as I thought
  • Quinn is more awake and we get to play

Sports: Going for walks with Quinn

Quinn 3 weeks old

Quinns weight: 3820 g on Monday (gained 600 g since birth)
My weight: 53,8 kg (-0,5 kg from last week)
Lochia: Still there, not a lot though.
Belly: still present, giving my uterus a daily massage
Old clothes: Don’t fit at all. My pants – no chance!

His favorite spot to sleep in his cousin Emmy's clothes
His favorite spot to sleep in his cousin Emmy’s clothes

Things going on:

  • The umbilical cord fell of on Monday, April 20th
  • He sleeps in our bed
  • When he dreams, he mostly screams or cries for two seconds, but sometimes he laughs out loud which is the cutest thing
  • He’s got a sore butt 🙁
  • He doesn’t like a pacifier
  • He loves going for walks and always sleeps
  • He got Baby acne on his cheeks. One is worse than the other

Quinn 2 weeks old

Quinns weight: 3540 g (gained 320 g since birth)
My weight: 54,3 kg (-0,5 kg from last week)

Quinn 2 weeks old
Quinn 2 weeks old

Lochia: Still there, not a lot though.
Quinn loves this week:

  • Being more active
  • Looking around
  • Going for walks

Mom loves:

  • when Quinn yawns
  • looking at Quinn while he’s sleeping
  • singing to Quinn
  • the sounds Quinn makes
  • touching Quinn
  • having Quinn on my chest
  • sleeping next to Quinn in our bed
  • touching and looking at his little feet and hands