The Worries of Motherhood

I learned pretty early on in my pregnancy that motherhood was going to be full of worries. There are so many unknowns when you are pregnant, and I once thought to myself, "If I can just get him here then I won't worry so much." Immediately the absurdity of that thought hit me and I realized that the worries would only multiply once my son was no longer safely snuggled in my tummy. And it's true - of course Liam will never be safer than he was before he was born, and there are so many things that I'm unsure of as a new mother. I try very hard not to overreact and be ridiculous with my concerns but I'm sure to veteran mothers I would be hilarious. For example, we have spent so much time in this first month worrying over getting enough sleep and getting the baby to sleep at night. Last night he slept for six hours straight - and at 6 am when he had not woken up to feed, I promptly sat upright in bed in panic and rushed into the nursery to wake and feed my slumbering son, pleading with Brian to assure me that he was all right. The baby was fine, of course, and in the end I was thankful for the rest, but in the moment I was terrified!

Along this line, I've been thinking a lot lately about routines and schedules. We've pretty much let Liam control every bit of our time up to this point (as if we've had a choice) but I'm starting back to work very soon and I'm considering the need for a more predictable routine. I'm really not sure how much of a routine a 4 week old baby can be expected to have, but I'm freaking out a little about trying to work and care for him too. In some ways I have an ideal job with being able to work at home and stay at home with him, but at the same time I'm paid based on how much I produce and I'm questioning how much work I'm going to be able to actually get done with my baby needing to be fed and changed and soothed, etc. So I'm asking you all, especially those of you reading who have children (but I'll take any advice I can get!), what tips do you have for making life a little more routine with a baby?

I suppose I've rambled on enough for now. Until the next nap time!!!

Lindsay

Three weeks already!!

I can't believe our baby boy is 3 weeks old already. Thank goodness for baby slings, because I'm finally getting a chance to post an update. Liam is (thankfully) asleep while attached snugly to my chest. The past 3 weeks have moved by so quickly, but at the same time his birth seems like an eternity ago. He's growing so much already!! I spend most of my time breastfeeding, day and night, but at least he's sleeping in decent stretches between feedings. The first four nights at home were insane - nothing could have prepared me for dealing with zero sleep and the "baby blues" at the same time. Poor Brian had to deal with both Liam and I sobbing uncontrollably on several occasions!! That seems to have passed now and I have mastered the ability to fall asleep instantly whenever I get the opportunity. I also have learned to eat all meals very quickly with only one hand, too - he has the uncanny ability to start wailing right when I put the first bite of food in my mouth!! What a sense of humor our son is developing! Speaking of..time for lunch. Here are a few more pictures for you all!

Lindsay

Liam David Gregory Samples

Our precious baby boy has finally arrived!!! He is named for Brian's dad David and my dad Greg, and we added the Liam so he would have a special name all his own. It's the Irish form of William, so that reflects some of his heritage as well. Here are some pictures!!!

Naked baby!!

Daddy's boy...

For those of you who have not heard it, here's the story of little Liam's birth:

As I mentioned above, I went in for my labor to be induced on Thursday. I began the Pitocin (the medication that starts contractions) at around 6:30 a.m. By lunch time the contractions were getting pretty intense and I requested just a little pain medication in my IV, which would be safe for the baby, last about 2 hours, and help me wait a little longer before receiving an epidural. I had planned on the epidural because typically induced labor is much more intense because of the medication. At around 1 p.m. I requested to get started on the epidural. I had to be given IV fluids for 30 minutes before the injection could be done, and my nurse instructed all of the family that it would be about 4-5 hours longer before I gave birth and told them all to go get some lunch, including Brian. I lay in bed waiting for the anesthesiologist to arrive, and things suddenly began to get very VERY intense. My pain medication from earlier had completely worn off. I was in some pretty fierce pain, and I realized that I was actually falling completely asleep between contractions, which is actually a sign of the transition phase of labor. My nurse came into the room to tell me that the anesthesiologist would be there very soon, took one look at me, and decided immediately to check my progress. I got out the words, "I need to.." and she said, "Push? Oh!!" While she was checking me, thank goodness Brian came back in, because I had progressed from 4.5 cm to 9 cm dilated in 45 minutes. Almost immediately I was at 10 cm and the nurse told me that an epidural would be pointless because I was ready to deliver the baby right then. With Brian and the nurse at my side, I pushed for just about an hour and our beautiful son was born!! My doctor helped just a little with the vacuum, which I had been completely against beforehand. My the time she suggested this however I was getting exhausted and was happy for the assistance once she assured me that it would not harm Liam at all. He turned out to weigh 6 pounds and 10 ounces, which is much less than we all expected, including my doctor. But thank goodness for that, because I cannot imagine giving birth to an 8 or 9 pound baby with no pain medication whatsoever!!! I'm still shocked at how quickly everything happened and how it all turned out, but very thankful too. He's healthy and that's what matters most!! I honestly am glad that labor did not take hours and hours, and I think I'd do it all again without the medication (except for the transition phase which was so tough). I have been warned as well that with our next baby I had better get to the hospital immediately or I might not make it in time!

I get to go home in the morning and then life with our baby begins in earnest. I'm looking forward to being back in comfortable surroundings but just a little nervous about having this tiny little thing to care for all on our own.

Thanks to all of my dear friends and family for all of your prayers and words of encouragement. It's great to know that Liam is surrounded by people who care for him so much!!!

Love to you all..time to go feed my baby!!

Lindsay