Little miss Leona's birth story

Really long winded - but I am sure you guys have come to expect that by now, knowing me~

[Recap of this and this post to start things off:


Saturday April 23rd after our 40W+ doctor's visit where we got to know her heart beat was strong, amniotic fluid ok, that she was still super low in my pelvis (as she had been for several weeks already) and that some braxton hicks were going on (though most times I wouldn't notice them), we had lunch in the neighborhood with an insurance lady to discuss Leona's future insurance plan. During lunch I suddenly noticed I was having noticeable contractions, and after timing them for half an hour they were consistently around 3-4 min apart. By this time I was done dessert, and mentioned to Judge that perhaps we should wrap things up and get going, just in case (shocked looks on both Judge and insurance lady's faces).


I got up to use the restroom - and the contractions slowed apart to about 6-7 min as they had been during the monitoring at the doctor's office. We decided to head back to the birthing center anyhow, as the doctor had asked us to go do a penicillin skin test (I was GBS positive and would need antibiotics during labor for the safety of Leona). [Turned out I was a bit allergic~ Never knew before]. And then we headed home.


There was no further birthing-time action that afternoon, evening, night, or next morning, so we decided to go mountain cruising. 'Just in case' we kicked into gear we did the cruising in the car (which, by the way, is not even a fraction as wonderful as scooter cruising - but still invigorating and refreshing to see all the lush greenness). During the drive home I felt some kicks towards the left-front of my stomach and I was worried she had moved further around (she had previously been left posterior forever, then the day before switched to right posterior).]

And here we go:

We ended up going to bed a bit late on Sunday the 24th - 12:30am (so technically April 25th), and I decided to do two hypnobabies tracks - two I had been doing regularly for a while: 'Baby come OUT' and 'Visualize your birth'. In the visualization track I always envisioned the birthing time to start at night, with a lot of dilating contractions going on during my sleep, and waking up around 5am or so and then us heading out around 6am, arriving at the birthing center at 6 or so cm dilated (but not having any internal exams done), would walk along the stone path with stone-wall waterfall and gazebo with Judge and when a contraction occurred would 'slow dance' through it with him, after a while would head in and jump in the tub, and a total of 4 hours after arriving (so that the antibiotics could kick in) Leona would be born.

During the 'baby come OUT' track we are asked to feel that baby is ready to be born. During the previous couple weeks of doing the track I had never really felt this one fully, but that night I truly felt it.

So, at around 2am I finally went to sleep for reals. 3am I woke up because of contractions that were giving me discomfort in my back. After a couple of these that were not so far apart I decided to get up and go downstairs to track them on the computer. After about 45 min they were consistently about 7 min apart, and the intensity was strong all along. I texted my doula "Pressure waves every 7 min or so, the kind I have to concentrate for. Powerful back cramping...kind of toe curling." She called me a bit later and asked if we wanted to head up to the birthing center to beat morning traffic. I thought that sounded like a good idea, and woke Judge up.

We were in the car around 4:20 am, and the contractions got closer together (around 4-5 min apart) during the 40 min drive - where we got to enjoy the sky-lightening that comes with day-break.

When we arrived at the birth center around 5 am I was first monitored (flat on back with bands around belly). Contractions were not as strong for most of them except one which felt like the ones I'd been having up until then - and that was off the chart (the chart only goes up to 100...). I also ended up having an internal exam as it was a choice between that and more frequent 'band' monitoring. Using hypnobabies skills the internal wasn't uncomfortable at all. Pleasantly surprised. Also measured at 3 cm dilation - not the 6 I had visualized, but enough that they felt I was in my birthing time and let me check in.

Then a marathon of contractions started, where the majority of them were off-the-charters at around 130 or so and other than powerful cramping in my back (not the sacrum area but rather in a band between the top of my hip-bones) I didn't feel any discomfort. I wasn't prepared for the back cramping though - had never visualized dealing with it in my preparation, and was worried it was due to Leona having turned around a bit the preceding days.

It was this worry that i feel 'did me in', allowing the pressure to kind of immobilized me, and instead of being able to walk around and change positions a lot I was on the birthing ball, with Angie (my doula) providing counter pressure on my back and Judge helping me with my hypnobabies' cues, and them switching places once in a while.

I am certain though that without Angie, Judge and hypnobabies I would have quickly lost it.

After a couple of hours of these powerful contractions I felt like I wanted to get in the tub. The birthing center has a rule you have to be 4 cm dilated to get in, so we did another internal and I was sure I'd be at 6 cm by then. I mean - hours and hours of off the charters, right?

But alas, I was still at 3! This is why internals can be bad...quite disheartening. A while later (accurate time-line totally not known) we did another one and I was finally at 4 cm, and so they took 10 min to sterilize the tub, and then we had to monitor Leona's heartbeat through contractions to ensure it didn't dip.

Unfortunately it did dip a few times (though I'm not sure if it was because I moved or whatnot) and so there was no tub action for me. Instead Angie took out her TENS machine and hooked me up to that to help with the back-pressure. (It actually intensified things for me, but in a way that made them more comfortable. Interesting.)

At one point I threw up and when got back on the birth-ball had the shakes. Judge was super worried, and asked if this was normal, and I told him if we were lucky this was me going through transition and things would get busy soon and baby girl would be born. I was hyped! Angie said she had been thinking the same thing. We were not to be so close to the finish line yet though. When the nurse came in and we asked her to do an internal (I think we asked for one - a lot of things are fuzzy for me) and I was only at 5 cm. Ah, the tricks and turns of birthing times.

So the marathon continued as before.

It was only Angie and Judge and I in the LDR as I had requested limited coming and goings. The nurses would only come in to check Leona's heart-beat once in a while - sometimes hooked up kind, sometimes with a hand-held doppler. I was so thankful for how they just let us be in our zone. Seriously.

At one point my doctor came in to check on me, and we did an ultrasound and found that Leona had moved back to left posterior. Somehow this knowledge helped with the back cramping (shows a lot of it is in our heads~~). It didn't eliminate it completely, but not uncomfortable to the point of needing so much concentration.

Finally at one point when I was 7 cm dilated I decided to lay propped on the the bed as Angie said she thought I was far enough along that Leona wouldn't slip to anterior. This allowed me to finally use the 'release' cue and go fully and deeply into relaxation, hypnosis and hypnoanesthesia. It helped immensely with reducing the power of the back cramping that was still there - but I still needed Judge or Angie, as I needed one of my legs propped up as I had it bent in order to be in a better birthing position.

Throughout the birthing process I went through three 'transitions' - vomiting and the shakes. Though the first two times weren't "the ones", I totally didn't mind them as I knew they were helping me dilate.

Then, finally, I was in the last few cm of dilation. By this time it must have been around 7 pm or so. Having only had 1 hour sleep the night before, off the chart contractions for about 16 hours, no food, and most of my liquids coming up again, one can safely say I was exhausted. Judge no less so, as he had only eaten a small thing, and had stood by my side the whole time very worried about me - and Angie as exhausted as well as she had not left my side either.

So I got into a self-supported position on the bed, Judge lay down on the couch, and Angie rested a bit while keeping a watchful eye on me, and Judge and I both napped. Though I woke up during most of the powerful contractions, I was so peaceful that Angie thought I slept through them all. This, which is supposed to be the more intense part of birthing time, was for me my restful, battery-charging, most comfortable time.

After a couple hours (perhaps around 9pm?) I was 'stuck' at 9.5 cm, and decided to have the nurse manually rupture my membranes to see if we could finish this journey up sooner rather than later. When the nurse came in to check my dilation, I think she must have touched the amniotic sack and intentionally or accidentally ruptured the membranes as she had said she was first going to just check, but in any event my waters finally broke.

I had planned to just 'breath' Leona down and out, but I got powerful bearing down urges, and so - well, still breathed her down, but also pushed with my breaths, kneeling on the floor supporting myself on the bed and tub, using the positions I had learned helped relax the perinium and lower muscles the most (learned from the Pink Kit - quite interesting information in there!). There was no discomfort or pain, just a lot of effort.

The nurses would check her progress once in a while, as well as often check her heart-rate. When she had about 3 cm to go I got on the toilet to work through some contractions, and I felt her head with my fingers. I couldn't believe it was my little baby!

Finally it was time to call in my doctor for the catching of the bebe. I removed the gown as I felt it was just in the way, and found the best position was kneeling on the floor on both knees, supporting myself on the bed (so I was still as vertical as possible) [later Angie asked the doctor if she had assisted in this type of birthing position before - she had never].

I decided this had gone on long enough and it was time for Leona to come out, so I pushed both during the bearing down contractions and between them. My doctor tried to help a couple times (stretch my perinium or something) and I quickly told her 'no' and she thankfully backed off. Angie kept encouraging me with my progress ('silver dollar', egg sized - shown with fingers) but I was instead rather "what? that's it!?" :P

Finally I felt if I just pushed a few more times strongly she'd come out, so I did. There was just a bit of stinging, and suddenly out she slipped. It was 11:01pm and she later measured at 3400g and 51cm long.

The nurses passed her through my legs so I could hold her, and then I was to climb back on the bed to birth the placenta. A nurse held Leona so I could climb up, but wasn't used to the umbilical cord still being uncut so I had to quickly remind her that Leona was still attached to me and couldn't move that far away from me! She then slowed her movement so I could catch up, and once I was on the bed Leona was placed on my chest.

The plan was to wait until the umbilical cord stopped pulsating and then cut it, but she was gurgling amniotic fluid after being suctioned with the bulb so the doctor clamped it and handed me the scissors and I got to cut her cord (Judge has a thing about belly buttons, as well about blood, so there's no way he could do the honors hehe).

The doctor then started to make like she was going to help with my placenta, so I reminded her that I wanted it to come out naturally. After Leona was suctioned more thoroughly she started the breast-crawl as I birthed the placenta.

I ended up having some minor first degree tearing that was stitched up, and then Judge and I were left alone to enjoy our new family member.

Throughout the 20 hours of labor I have to admit there were a few times where I felt it was just taking too long. I was too exhausted. Not to a point I wanted to give up, but frustrated and perhaps on the verge of break-down. I know Judge was worried and thinking I was in a lot of pain sometimes as I would become a little stressed when I felt a contraction starting, needing them to help me through it using the cues. Without them - and hypnobabies and the pink kit - I know I would not have been able to handle it, but with them it was just strong, manageable discomfort at times.

So though the birth did not go exactly as planned - much (*much*) longer, not getting to be in the birthing tub at any time, the back cramping not being something I had expected, plus I lost a bit too much blood, along with the other minor necessary adjustments from my birth-plan - I consider it to have been the right birth for us.

I am not sure why it needed to be so long, as she was pretty much engaged from the start I think and my contractions were so strong as well, but perhaps it helped get more liquid and meconium out of her lungs.

The week that followed as Leona was sent to NICU in the early morn is left for the next post. Thankfully the week passed, and we are now home and healthy and enjoying the life that is feed, sleep, feed, sleep.

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i am ready

Sunday. April 24th. Five days past our estimated date of arrival. Not yet technically overdue I know. I still have 1 week and 2 days until that would be the case. However, I am ready. Ready for this 'imminent' birthing time that is currently lacking any signs of happening.

Today we cleaned out a bit more of Judge's stuff from his - our - room at his parents' place, and did some of the final furniture rearrangements, and unpacked a lot of the baby stuff that we will be needing the first month after she's born. Feels good!

I was hoping to be done our sit-a-month before my mom arrives (May 20th) as the assumption would be both me and bebe would be a bit more awake to hang out as well as do a tiny tiny bit of travelling (we want to take her to Taichung and Tainan on a two-night three-day trip or so...to show her Feng Chia University where we met, meet my good friends there, and eat some good eats that I miss...and feed the squirrels and birds on campus, and in Tainan we want to visit and share with her our favorite city, hopefully catch some temple parades, and of course eat some more of our favorite eats - sushi, hongkongese goodness, hotpot, and more! - and meet some friends too of course).

But, looks like sit-a-month will be completed at our apartment by my mom *grin*. Now I'm just hoping she decides to make an appearance before mother's day (May 8th), not only so I can celebrate my first mother's day with a baby 'outside' but especially because my mom leaves on June 9th, and in order to keep some peace it is preferable that no trip is taken prior to completing sit-a-month~~.

Thankfully there's not too much stress in me about it all though, as my mom's purpose for coming isn't to travel and explore and experience Taiwan but rather to be with the three of us during this fresh-new time. That means if we don't get that tiny trip in, it's ok, there is always next time.

So I am focusing on trying to get baby girl back in optimal birthing position again, just as she has been all the way up until two days ago, and relaxing, and not being impatient. I'd logically and technically and truly rather she come when she is ready than too early, as I believe that makes a huge difference for the smoothness of how things go once she's on this side of the womb. But - I am also very ready for her to be ready ;P

[Taken today on our car-cruise into the mountains.]

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feeling like things are imminent...esque at least

Today we went in for our first over-40 check-in (we're at 40 weeks and 4 days). We drove up and after peeing on a stick (not so easy any more, but it IS easier than peeing in a cup!), weighing in (at a whopping 2.7kg more than last week~ noticed some extra water-logging the past few days so I'm going with that), and checking blood pressure, it was time for the ultrasound (where she measured actually a tiny bit less than last week - ultrasounds are oh-so accurate :P).

Yesterday I noticed she had switched sides - her kicks and punches were on my left now, and the ultrasound confirmed this. Boo - but not as boo as if she had switched to breach! I'm assuming it's because I haven't been walking so much this past week, but rather just laying around nursing a cold as well as frontal pelvic pain, and a lot of the laying during the night is on my right side because sometimes I just really need to switch it up.

Anyhow, after the ultrasound, as we are over 40 weeks, I had to do 15 min of bebe-heart-rate monitoring where I was required to lay on my back with my legs flat. What the heck! I got a pillow and blanket behind me, and once the nurse left Judge jacked the head of the bed up a bit, so at least it was a tad more comfortable. All was fine and I measured as having contractions at 6-7 min apart - that I could actually feel~ Exciting! (I had been feeling them yesterday as well).

Leaving, the front desk nurse didn't book us for next weeks appointment so I had to ask her to - and she was surprised ("Didn't the doctor tell you when you need to go in?"). It still isn't common here for people to go past 40 weeks and definitely not past 41 weeks without scheduling an induction and/or c-section, and next week we'll be 41W+4. Thankfully we're with the birthing center doctors and thus as long as heart-rate is good, amniotic fluids are good, size is good (which is debatable in my eyes but luckily we won't have to have that debate) then it seems my doctor is not yet putting pressure on us to go in for an induction. Yay!

We then went for lunch and met with an insurance sales person who was to explain their system for us to consider for me and our bebe - and I realized the contractions were suddenly coming a lot closer and getting stronger. I started timing them and they were 3-4 min apart. Not yay. I hadn't put our birthing bag in the car yet, and hadn't brought our camera~! After half an hour of timing, I mentioned to Judge that it may be best to finish up and head out - either home to pick up the stuff or to the birthing center maybe as we were still in the neighborhood. Judge: O.O

After getting up though and walking to the car, they spread back out to 6-7 min apart. So we decided to go to the birthing center anyhow but just to do the penecillin skin test (ends up I'm a bit allergic to it - who knew!) and we got to peek in through the window on all the fresh babies in there. Ack - so cute!

And now we're home. Still just braxton hicks going on - but today made me feel like there was progress at least, with them being so close apart as well as me actually feeling them finally. Looks like we may be having a baby soon - and if not *soon* then I'm still assuming within the next two weeks at least ;P


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cracked pelvis

So, for the last while, basically the one and only pregnancy discomfort I've been having is pelvic pain (that, and some groinal ligament pain when baby girl punches some kind of nerve once in a while). It occurs when I'm lifting my foot to put on my shoe or pants, tossing from one side to the other when laying down, standing up or shifting positions, and sometimes when walking. And sometimes there's a clicking sound (when walking up stairs or tossing). I've kind of just ignored it, kept movements slow when necessary, and done stretches and other kinds of slow, simple exercises.

Last night however, there was a *huge* cracking/popping sound when I gently and slowly heaved myself from my right to left side, and the next time I got up to visit the loo - lo-and-behold no pain! It was just like, you know how sometimes your back is a bit off, and you stretch this way and that and it pops and feels much better, or sometimes you need to crack your fingers or toes and once you do its bliss? Same-same!

This comfort lasted until a bit into the morn...and now the stretching discomfort is back. Boo.

Other than that I've been filling my days with editing work (thankfully a few cases came in at the beginning of this week - I'm hoping to get in my self-set 'quota' [of earnings] for April before baby girl arrives). And keeping up with housecleaning. And sewing stuff. And resting. And enjoying mornings and early afternoons with Judge as he's on little-nights this week again (little-nights are *seriously* great!).

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makeover

So, Judge's room at his parents house hasn't really ever been his room (imho) as there's this huge display case/shelves/cupboards along one of the long walls filled with ceramic sample figurines from way, way, WAY back in the day when his parents used to have a factory painting these bitties.

And he hasn't lived there for the past 7 years really (since going into university) so there's also a lot of other stuff being stored in there - along with his old stuffs.

AND this is Taiwan - so the paint on two of the walls is moldy.

This past weekend however we started the renovation process. Started off by taking away HEAPS of comic books to give away. Today a painter came over to assess how much it will cost to repaint the three walls and ceiling of our room - as well as his parents' bedroom. Judge's mom is bringing paint-color samples over tonight so we can choose the color. She is also going to be packing away all the figurines - and thus the display case will be perfect to put all the baby clothes and some of our clothes and our books and the cupboards perfect for storing tons of our stuff too. YAY.

Also going to be removing two table-sets and putting in two big tables in an L-shape where one can be my craft table!

And last but not least we're getting in a maybe 10 cm mattress for the bed (king-size) so that we can sleep on a bit more softness than there is right now (being pregnant I can't sleep there any more because it hurts my hips too much).

Didn't take any pictures of the mess it was before, but will most definitely be taking pictures once it's all done and has been transformed into 'our space' - which hopefully will be within a week or so! Want it ready for when baby girl decides to arrive, as that is where I'll be doing sit-a-month.

PS. Am at 38 weeks today. Last check-up on Saturday she was 2.8kg (based on ultrasound measurements which can be quite off, I know). Everything else is in good form, as am I - for the most part at least ;)

And also enjoying not working - and not even editing these last two days - so I've been scooting around doing errands and cruising, seeing as my scooting days are numbered (boooo).


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revving up

Yesterday we went in for our 36 week check-in down here (meaning not the hospital and doctor we are going to birth with). Since Judge is on little-nights all this week (Saturday through Friday, 4:30pm until 12:30am or whenever he can leave...so sometime between 1 and 3 am usually) we had an afternoon appointment.

First, some stats, before I get into the whole debacle of it all:

Baby girl is still head-down, back to my left front, feet kicking out my right side and often up at my ribs (trying to get between my ribs and my skin most times it feels like). As per usual her face was covered by her arms and kind of squeezed down in a corner of my pelvis so we didn't get a good shot of it. She measured at 2565g, amniotic fluid great, heartbeat great. So basically: everything great! Yay :D


Now back to the story:

Once again, it was a miserable experience, waiting around forever - a total of about 1 hour and 50 min of waiting, interspersed with 5 to 10 min of ultrasound and doctor. Oh, and about 5 min of a nurse going over a sheet explaining when and under what circumstances we should leave for the hospital, and what we should bring - as well as a sheet to sign that we want baby-in-rooming. She wanted us to sign it then and there, and I asked here what was written - as there were about 20 points on it. "It's basically that you agree you want the baby to board with you 24/7" (shove pen at me again). I told her I would like to read over it first - as it is a habit of mine to know what exactly I am signing. She seemed to not see the point, but humored me - left the sheet with us to hand to her when we saw the doctor. Most of it was what I'm wanting, but it also included a point that baby will be taken to the baby-holding-station once a day for a bath and other check-ups and procedures. This I am not comfortable with, but since we're not planning on giving birth there I just put under the PS spot that I wanted to bathe her myself (they had to check to ensure this was ok...).

Once we got in to see the doctor she asked if we were going to do the b-strep test, and I realized I had totally forgotten she had told us last time to decide if we were going to do it or not, so had not yet looked into what it was all about. Instead of taking 30 sec or a min to explain what it was about, she just gave us the sheet explaining it (in Chinese) and showed me a little exasperatedly where to look in my mother-handbook (where a tiny paragraph is written in English and she had put a check-mark last time) and then said we could do it next week if we decided we wanted to.

She also gave us some handouts regarding whooping cough (so I can decide if I will get the shot or not), birth-preference-sheet to tick-off some items, and a sheet listing newborn procedures/shots for us to look over and decide which we were going to do. And again emphasized she thought it best we reconsider going up to Taipei to give birth as it is so far away so if something should happen it's best to be at a hospital close by.

I left feeling I had been bulldozed over somehow. The birth preferences were kind of ok - but still left me with a bad taste in my mouth (nine items: enema or not, shaving of pubic hair or not, automatic IV or not, will be stuck in bed the whole time or not, will not take a shower or can, no food or drink - or yes, continuous fetal monitoring or intermittent, lay on back to give birth or can choose other positions if wish, and automatic snipping of perineum or doctor considers situation first and decides if it is necessary).

The thought of going back to this hospital for more check-ups and the b strep test (meaning we'd have to go back at least 2 more times - once for the test and once for the results), and potentially giving birth there if for whatever reason we won't make it all the way to Taipei, just made me feel miserable.

So, after talking with Judge we've decided we're dropping this place like there's no tomorrow and will drive up to Taipei for all the rest of our check-ins - even though this means Judge will be more exhausted as we will be heading up every weekend until baby-girl's born.

This decision lifted a whole bundle of stress from me, knowing we will no longer be faced with the rush, pressure and uncomfortable potential-birthing-environment-and-procedures. So today I booked us for an appointment this Sunday with Our Doctor.

I also finally started preparing our place this morning - setting up a few shelve-spots for baby-stuff and washed a load of clothes, cloth diaper inserts, and receiving blankets. Once these are dry I can put together our hospital bags, and start putting together the stuff we'll take to my mother-in-law's for the sit-a-month; still have another load of laundry to do - mostly clothe diapers and inserts. Also still have to set up that space over at MILs, but for me, getting our place ready is more important right now.

Our place really is a bit small - or perhaps our stuff is a bit much and our place is a bit small, so some rearranging is most definitely necessary.

As I sit here I find it kind of exciting though - looking around at all the tiny clothes hanging up to dry. She's almost here!

I know most of you have seen this already, but I'm just so darn pleased with it so here it is again:

It was my 'story of us' 2011 postcard that I initially made for my mom for her birthday, and then felt came together too nicely so sent it off to a few other family peoples as well.

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met my birth doctor today

Today we drove up and had our first visit with the doctor that will deliver our baby girl, after which we stopped by the birthing center where she'll be born.

I have to say, the experience was so very extremely different than it has been seeing my regular pregnancy doctor down here. Sure, the drive was over 1 hr longer than we usually have to do. Sure, we couldn't find parking too close so had to walk a few blocks (this clinic is not where we'll give birth though, so no biggy). But not only was the wait amazingly shorter (despite the fact our doctor got called away for a quick surgery upstairs!), but the consultation was amazingly more comfortable as well.

Has all to do with the philosophy of the birthing center. I went over my birth preferences with the doctor, and she was 100% ok with all of my raised points, of which many are options/standard at the birthing center, while my doctor down here has said we'd have to sign waivers, or that this-that-or-the-other is hospital policy, and always makes me feel like we're in a total rush and there's no time to discuss and my requests are unreasonable sometimes (or unmedical at the least) - that I would not be willing to listen to her even if it was a medical emergency, etc.

Our birth-doctor however was calm, encouraging, understanding, and the only tiny item was it seems she's not too familiar with using hypnosis during child-birth, but it doesn't phase me at the least (I have Judge and Angie - my doula). AND she did our ultrasound herself.

At the birthing center we got to sit down with a nurse and I got to ask her what the standard procedures are for checking in, during delivery, and after. I know I could have just asked Angie since she's helped with births there tons of times and is familiar with everything and all the procedures, but I wanted to hear it more from the nurses' perspectives, so that I could know more what points I wanted to go over with Angie and set up a 'game plan' (though most often the nurses just leave the couple alone except for some check-ins and monitorings until Angie goes and gets them, as they're used to working together).

From the visit I learned that the points that I will be asking Angie for special help and advocacy about are limiting internal checks to zero or one (why internal exams are unnecessary - this wasn't the original link I wanted to give, but I can't find the other really good one at the moment), figuring out how to deal with the intermittent fetal monitoring (nurse said 30 min per hour..I'd like 20 min max, and if possible to be mobile), and that I don't want them telling me when and how hard to push. The rest are all options in the standard tick-and-submit birth plans they provide to us - including items I haven't even specified on my preferences (ie music and scents). Super impressed!

At the birth center we also got to see three freshly born bebes resting in the baby-holding area - so super tiny and cute.

After the birth center we had lunch with Judge's best bud from his military days, and then we picked up a sleek 2nd hand pack-and-play for cheap.

All in a Taipei's day-trip.


Here're my birth preferences - most of which would have to be a fight or signed wavers at a regular hospital:

General Environment

·        I would like my labor room to be quiet and calm

·        I would prefer no overhead ‘spot-lights’ (if necessary, handheld spotlighting preferred)

·        Please refrain from references to pain

·        Please direct questions to Judge (my husband) or Angie (my doula) or wait until between birthing waves to address me

Labor/Delivery

·        I wish to have continuous labor support from Judge (my husband) and Angie (my doula)

·        I wish to walk, move around, and change positions throughout my labor, and determine what the best position to labor and deliver in is

·        I wish to not be administered an IV unless medically necessary

·        I wish to eat and drink as desired during labor

·        Please conduct intermittent monitoring only, no more frequently than every 20 minutes per hour

·        Please perform exams or procedures only with my permission

·        I do not wish to have internal exams unless there is a medical reason

·        I intend to avoid all* interventions unless there is a medical reason and assurance that they are safer than the low-tech alternative or doing nothing

·        Please do not offer medications or labor augmentation

Delivery

·        I wish to direct my own pushing – no counting or commanding

·        No routine episiotomy – we will use warm compresses and/or olive oil

·        Cord cutting AFTER the cord has stopped pulsating only

·        Placenta to be expelled by me on my own (no cord traction or manual removal)

Post-Delivery Wishes

·       No mouth or nose suction unless medically required

·        Immediate skin-to-skin contact

·        No rough rubbing/’get baby to cry’ handling unless medically required

·        No routine pit administered to me

·        Baby not to leave us unless medically urgent and discussed with us

·        I plan on feeding baby breast milk only

·        Vit K and prophylactic eye ointment to be done after initial bonding time, when requested by me (a gentle reminder is welcome if I for some reason forget~)

·        Heel stick preferably performed at around 48 hrs after birth

·        Baby to be bathed (in room with me) only after requested by me

*Including but not limited to:

·        Stripping of membranes

·        Manual breaking of waters

·        Pitocin or other labor/contraction inducing drugs (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd stage labor)

·        Episiotomy

·        C-section

·        Tummy pressure

·        Managed 3^rd stage labor (i.e., cord traction)

As I will complete the tick-and-submit birthplan as well, I will be including NO for having an enema administered and being shaved (both of which are standard procedures in regular hospitals here, as are epistomies and most of the other items on my 'including but not limited to' list; including the very small item of that if there is not 1cm dilation progress per hour they will suggest a c-section due to 'failure to progress' - I got the hand-out about this at my last doctor's visit down here).

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at 7.5 months

It’s interesting. I don’t feel pregnant. As in, I thought I’d feel all heavy due to a big protruding belly and be off kilter, but I don’t notice my belly when I’m out and about at all. Except when I look down, or catch my reflection, or of course when baby girl moves (something she does a lot by the way…sometimes when I do kick-counts it takes me all of 1 min to get to 10). But that is noticing *her* more than the grandioseness of the belly.

[aforementioned grandioseness straight home from work]

The only real impact I feel pregnancy wise – besides getting up at night for a potty run – is that for the last little while I’ve been having a bit of pain down in the pelvic area when I stand up and when I walk. I believe it is the loosening of ligaments and pelvis et al and don’t mind it much. I am doing stretches, pelvic tucks, ‘hula’ circles, continuing to do my 30-45 min lunch walks (time depends on my energy and my comfort walking…distance is the same each time…in fact today it took me 50 min~~) etc., but it’s still pretty persistent, and usually intensifies in the afternoons after staid walks, perhaps because I don’t stretch when I get back to the office.

I also, for the first time, am careful about my posture. Of course for the past while I’ve already not been sleeping on my back, due to the whole baby-pressure-on-blood-supply to her and my legs, but there’s more to it than that. Having good posture when I’m sitting and standing during pregnancy is not only for my own regular good, but also important in terms of baby’s position (!). Makes total sense but just hadn’t thought about it: Gravity. Baby’s head is the heaviest, then her back, so if I have good posture and don’t slouch backwards when I’m sitting – but rather am kind of in a forward lean where my belly hangs out, then she should naturally get into a good position. Nifty! So ever since I found out about this, I no longer slouch in sofas and chairs and seats and and and. I miss slouching.

Another thing, I’m no longer quite sure about Braxton Hicks contractions. I realized I had them once in a while a month or more ago when we were at the doctor’s doing an ultrasound and I was laying down and my tummy was like a tight basketball. After that I noticed it again once in a while, usually only if I was laying down, once or twice by looking in the mirror, but lately I haven’t noticed any at all. I don’t think it means I’m not having them though, because that would be odd.

Overall, at 7.5 months I’m still overwhelmingly enjoying this journey! And savoring the scooter-driving freedom I still have, as well as these last few weeks of being – relatively – completely self-centered and the ease of life it provides. Judge and I want to head out and about? Easy-peasy, just up and go. Want to play mahjong during the Chinese new year’s eve after-dinner family gathering? We both can, whole-heartedly. Want to stay out a bit late? Not a problem. Not that we aren’t excited about the change that is coming, but I do think it’s important to savor our time right now as well. Just too bad Judge has had to fall into the Taiwanese work-rhythm of 9 pm (or later) home-comings.

[keeping me company with warbles while I wait for Judge]

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gestational diabetes

Yesterday we went to the doctors for our check-up and GD results.

I don't think I mentioned that I didn't pass the first GD test (did I?), but in any event I had to go in for the 'extended' test.

Now, unfortunately the test itself didn't run too smoothly. My doctor had forgotten to give me the slip for requesting the test, and so when I arrived at 8am and was ready to go - having not eaten or drunk anything since going to bed the previous night, I was shut down. I had to either schedule an appointment and come back to see my regular doctor so she could prescribe the test, or had to go in to a doctor that was currently seeing pregnant women. At first i was going to choose the first option, but after getting two intersections away from the hospital I decided to turn around since I had already taken the time and effort to come over and prep for the test.

So I went down to the pregnancy-check-section and stood in line waiting for them to start taking patients' line-numbers (usually around 8:30 but this time not until 8:45). Suddenly I started feeling really hot, sweating, felt like I was going to throw up, and feeling like I was going to faint, all in one. Thankfully that was just 2 or 3 min before they started the line up, so I was able to stand it out. Have no idea what that was all about (perhaps the lack of food and water, and my annoyance over the situation?).

I then had to do do a 'proper' pregnancy check rather than a sit-down-and-get-the-test-slip: The urine check, the weigh-in, the blood-pressure check, and the ultrasound. Needless to say I was a grumpy lass by this time (though I tried keeping a smile on when talking to the nurses...not toooo successfully~~). Before jumping in for the ultrasound a nurse gave me the test-slip and said I could go up and take the first blood-test (which is done pre-sugar-water). Went upstairs, and the blood-taking station said I had to pay first. Went to pay, and the pay-station said she needed my national insurance card. So down I went to the pregnancy-check-station, got the card from the nurse, went and paid, got the first blood drawn, and downed 100mL of pure sugar water. By now I was a SUPER happy camper (hah!), and feeling quite ill from the sugar water.

After the ultrasound and some waiting, the doctor (who I have seen before and do not like) went through the motions of asking me how I'm feeling etc, and said I had to watch what I ate so I don't gain weight too quickly (arg!), and that was it. I went outside for a walk and a sit in the sun during each wait between blood draws (1 hr, 2 hrs and 3 hrs after drinking the sugar water), after which I could finally go home. To celebrate (?) and perhaps out of 'trass' as we say in Norwegian (out of spite?) I had me a McDonnald's lunch, with orange juice and fries.

The awesome, amazingly wonderful news is I passed all 4 blood-tests! Not even a-one was over its limit. Very, VERY happy about this, as I have never been one to count and focus on what I eat, but rather just be 'generally healthy' (or 'generally unhealthy' when the urge arises).

So some stats from yesterday: Baby-girl measured in at 1619g and 31W and 1 day (which seems just about right, surprisingly enough, considering ultrasounds have a large margin of error). She was also head down, her back to my front, so basically in the pefect position. Placenta looks healthy, amniotic fluid the right amount, the umbilical cord not wrapped around her neck. All in all a great check-in. AND it only took 1 hr from me checking in and us leaving (usually takes almost 2 hrs), and could have been even faster if Judge had made it to the hospital earlier (I held off on the ultrasound until he got there). That's because yesterday was the first full moon of the first month in this year (lunarly), which is a holiday where you should eat dinner with the family - and especially eat sweet or savory mochi-esque-ball soup. Which meant that there were almost no pregnant ladies hanging around for a check-up.

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flipped?

Every night when I lay me down to sleep on my left side, baby-girl gets busy. Her activity seems to increase proportionately with the amount of relaxation I do. I know this is the norm and I really enjoy every time I feel her move throughout the day and night, and when she gets like this I will provide counter-pressure or just watch the belly bubble and roll.

Last night was no exception. In fact, it was hightened. I was listening to my hypnobabies 'Depening' track, and had to put my light-switch into 'center'* so I could get a huge smile and put my hand on my belly and feel the insane sticking-out of little feet. She has been positioned head down, back to the front-left side of my belly since forever it seems, and so I'm used to the spot where her feet will kick out. It was only when the bumps started to move in rolls down my left side that I realized she was perhaps flipping - and that is something I would like to avoid.

[* One of the tools in HBabies is a lightswitch you create at the nape of your neck. When you turn it off, your whole body goes completely limp and into instant deep relaxation and hypnosis, with a strong hypnoanesthesia coursing through you from top o the head to tip of the toes. You can switch it to 'center' and will still have the relaxation and hypnosis, and hypnoanesthesia in the trunk of your body basically, but it allows you to move around...walk, talk, laugh, take a potty break etc., which is helpful between pressure-waves during the birthing process.]

So I got up onto all fours to try to stop the progress. I think I may have been a bit late in reacting though, so before sleep I had had a little talk with her explaining I want her to move back into head-down, back to the front-left of my belly. Unfortunately her movements were in all new places the rest of the evening and from 5am onwards as well, though and by the time I got up at 6:45 it seemed some of the movement was back in place where it should be - just not as strong as her previous activity so I'm not sure yet if it is her feet still (again) or some other part of her.

I guess this is one of the benefits of getting an ultrasound at each check-up! This Thursday, when we go and get the 2nd level gestational-diabetes test results (didn't pass first round - uber boooooo...sugar water is gross~!!!) we will know how she's positioned in there. Until then I will continue with the 'spinning babies' techniques, which I already try to do (the 'self' ones) daily.

[Taken today - 7 months (31 weeks)]

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hypnobabies

Back when I was around 14 or 16 weeks pregnant or so, I started researching prenatal courses. Basically, my sister-in-law had taken a Hypnobirthing class (Morgan method) in Taipei last year in preparation for her birth, and she felt it was invaluable.

I was planning on signing us up for it as well, but first started out doing some online research to learn more about it. There is only one Hypnobirthing instructor in all of Taiwan at the moment, so we’d have to set off five weekends to head up to Taipei on Saturdays for an afternoon, something Judge wasn’t too ecstatic about as he has to work one or two weekends a month (so he’d miss at least two classes), and if not working wants to bum around and rest and just go on short adventures etc. to recharge his batteries. Plus it’s a bit pricey, but we were ok with that as we felt it’d be worth it (and when I say ‘we’ here I mean ‘I’ and Judge was ok going along with my decision :P).

Anyhow, through my research I found there is another hypnosis for birth course (well, several) out there, and there was one – Hypnobabies – which had raving reviews and raving comparisons in terms of its benefits when compared with the Morgan method. The comparisons that really got me sold were those of moms who had used both methods, and a birthing instructor who had taught first one (and used it) and then found it wasn’t all she was hoping for for her and her students, and that Hypnobabies was a lot closer to that.

So my focus shifted to researching Hypnobabies, and I ended up buying the home-study kit. Started the program at 19 weeks pregnant, and have been doing it faithfully since then on a drawn out schedule since I started so early. I have to say it is quite superb! So good in fact that we won’t be taking any other prenatal classes (besides going through some stuff from the Pink Kit, which I also bought and a lot of it seems really good as well), and I feel confident that I will have a wonderful birthing experience.

Another ‘foreign mom’ in Taipei purchased another home-study kit, Hypno4Birth (cheaper than Hypnobabies), and we swapped material so we could check each other’s courses out, and I have to say Hypnobabies is also leagues better than the Hypno4Birth course…in my opinion at least.

I’ve also lent the material to the Morgan method instructor in Taipei for her to check out, and at the end of this month I will head up for a free prenatal yoga class with her (get a class free as I didn’t take her offer for chipping in on the HBabies material), and we will discuss the three courses and what we think about them – strengths, weaknesses, etc. Pretty fun!

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parenting

It hasn't even started and yet I find myself overwhelmed sometimes. Not most times, just sometimes. I mean, there's so much to look into and investigate and think through and figure out. I know a lot of it will fall into place as things roll along, but some things I do believe you need to think through and plan for.

Like buying stuff in preparation for baby's arrival. The list I had before still holds, but it's when it gets into the details that it gets murky. Thus I will continue to postpone the details for another day ;)

And then there's the whole vaccine issue that warrants research. This is somewhere it gets overwhelming. I know for sure some of them we will not get - chicken pox is one of these, catching the pox is a right of passage ... of sorts - while others I think we will be getting. My thing is I want to be *informed*, make informed decisions. Not just do or not do based on the doctor or what others are doing. I think that's the most important thing for me - if I decide to vaccinate fully, partially or not at all, that it is a researched and well thought through decision based on my family's circumstances.

A lot of stuff I feel I've settled on already, like natural birth or not, breastfeeding or not, co-sleeping or not (these were all non-choices of sorts, as in I already pretty much had my mind set on what I want), pacifier or not, gadgets or not, type of carrier(s) to get, stroller or not (actually I guess it's more a question of when to get it really - most likely when we're Norway bound), how to discipline (time outs or not, spanking or not, corporal punishment or not...again some of these are obvious non-choices for me ;P), etc.

Some of it has to do with our space - we don't have much of it so choices are made for us through that. Some of it has to do with parenting philosophies, and a lot of it has to do with research (of which parenting philosophies does fall into I guess, because man there's a wide range out there...but of course what seems to make sense to me falls into quite a narrow range it seems).

To be honest, my biggest worry - and perhaps my only true worry when it comes down to it - is how to deal with the 'older generation' (our 'elders' or rather 'those of the older generation in the family') and their input as well as actions.

I have to admit I am very accustomed to getting to live my life the way I choose. Sure my parents have provided input and feedback and ideas and suggestions and opinions, but 99.9% of it tends to be supportive of my decisions, and never do they talk to me me in a manner and tone that holds a 'this is what you will do' kind of non-discussionness.

I am starting to feel quite strongly about certain parenting practices that I am and am not comfortable with. And it just so happens that several that I am not comfortable with are common practice here. I'm sure several of them are common many places, and things many of you have faced in your respective nooks and crannies around the globe. I need to learn to face these with a smile. With firmness, but with a calm smile none-the-less. I have never been good at confrontations and disagreements though, they always make me uncomfortable and tongue-tied and fast-hearted. And in a situation where it is expected I listen to my elders, it makes it all the harder.

These are issues my fellow Taiwanese mom's face as well, and struggle with often. So I know it is not just me. Somehow it doesn't make me feel much better about it all. Thick skin is what I need to grow myself I believe. Thick skin so I can pull of a calm-heart and smile while holding my ground where I feel it's necessary - and wisdom and insight to realize where it is ok to take a step back not care or stress about whatever is rubbing me the wrong way.


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baby shower

[Written day of - 11/1/16~ Wanted to add pictures - but it's been a while so I'll just add a picture I took and add more later when I get my hands on them]

Yesterday we were going to clean the apartment and buy all the ingredients for today's baby shower that we hosted at our place but that was arranged by four of my good friends. They were quite excited about it (as was I, but that's a given) as they have only seen baby-showers in movies, so this was their chance to participate and throw one nonetheless.

Ended up just washing the bathroom and putting some clothes away, and then we didn't have time for the rest as we had thought we would as we had a huge dinner with a friend who's back from the states for winter break (with him and the rest of that gang)...after stuffing ourselves at the all you can eat bbq we went out for tea (sit-in bubble tea...well, and other tea, but most of us had bubble tea). After that it was just home to digest and rest.

So today, after sleeping in in a major way, it was off to the races. Went to the local supermarket, bought what could be bought there (meat for nachos, eggs and milk for waffles, etc), went home and cut up the veggies for the dip, fried up the (home-made) taco-mix meat, mixed the waffle batter, cleaned the downstairs, headed out the door to Costco to buy nacho chips, sour cream, cheese and salsa, picked up the girls from the train station, and then home we went.

The afternoon was filled with food (first nachos and veggies'n'dip), then present openings - super sweet card where I got mistey eyed (didn't think the girls noticed but found out I was way obvious apparently) and just the most thoughtful presents with the most professional introductions and explanations. They had arranged the gifts into a sweet towered cake (or tower of pisa hehe), and then it was waffle and fresh brewed tea time.

I have to say I was super happy it was so casual and relaxed, as I often find myself a bit uncomfortable at party-games. So their absence was quite appreciated by me (I had actually kind of secretly worried about this).

Just a most perfect and wonderful afternoon, leaving me feeling super warm and sweet - and stuffed beyond comprehension. The girls, however, after getting dropped off down-town by Judge, went on for a big hot-pot dinner. Impressive!

[The tea-and-waffle time.]

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cold

It has been cold forever it seems (with no letup in sight yet...and mind you this cold is colder than Norway cold, as there is no heating that can make the house comfortable - and no heating at work - and no heating in the car...well, I think cars do have heating, but I don't have a car, just a scooter...which I normally love but not on cold days when it's raining - did however buy rain-shoe covers! But now I'm rambling).

And yesterday morning I could feel that I should stay in bed all day, but there was a Norway gathering up in Taipei - each and every gathering I've known about previously I've never gone to due to schedules clashing or being sick or whatever reason. This time Judge had to work all weekend, but I so wanted to go up and meet everyone. So, I went against my gut (or perhaps for my gut - Norwegian waffles, home-made goats cheese as well as store bought Norwegian brown (goat's) cheese and 'yellow' cheese, home-made plum jam, home-grown mint tea - and other wonderful goodies, not to mention a great mix of Norwegian-Taiwanese company).

[Borrowed picture from another happy participant: Geir, our welcoming host (the 'husband' half of our wonderful hosts) - a Norwegian born and raised in Taiwan, me, and Tzuyu, a friend I met a couple years ago who went on 1 year exchange to Norway years before that...and who can supply me with Norwegian words when I forget O.O]

[Borrowed pic: JingYue (the 'wife' half of our hosts) and I chatting it up]

[Borrowed pic: representative of where I stood almost all evening - see the near-empty waffle tray in front of me? And my big belly? Yes, those missing waffles are in there~]

Came home beat, and by the time I was in bed (30 min later) my throat was itchy. Short and long of it was I left work early again today, went to the doctor so I could get a doctor's note (otherwise I don't get sick-pay), and have been in bed ever since. Plan on being in bed tomorrow too. Yay!

Though sometimes the nose gets so clogged I can't swallow (seriously), what makes up for it all is baby-girl's activity. She's turned breach this last week, so I have her little fists punching out to the left, her legs kicking out to the right, sometimes going on for about 20 minutes or so, with little taps to full-on jabs and pushes and rolls.

Tomorrow we're at 26 weeks - Thursday we're at 6 months. Time is flying! And yet going so slow. We currently have all the diapers we will be needing (perhaps...cloth at least, but we'll have to see how our mix-matched set works out for us in actual co-ordinated use-and-wash-and-dry~). Other than that - well, that's all we have so far, besides two or three outfits, a teether, and cutest mittens ever (all gifts).

Life is generally grand - at least when I get to stay in bed ;)


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it's a ... :D

So, throughout this pregnancy I've been pretty sure we're having a boy. Just had a feeling he was a boy. I knew perhaps the feeling was just because we had already decided on a boy's name, easy-peasy-as-pie to find it.

And I know the ease of choosing a name was because I had spent a long time putting together a list of great boys names for Judge's sister's son at the beginning of this year, with all my favorite names. My number one name that I didn't put on the list at first could have been for a girl or a boy, but in Norwegian it doesn't work so well...used similarly to 'damn'...so I put it on the list in the end.

Anyhow, when we got pregnant and I short-listed the favorite names to really premium ones and read them to Judge, it was an easy pick - there was one that kind of just popped out.

In terms of girls names I've spent LOTS of time searching and thinking as well, but just haven't landed even close to one; I think that is why I felt like we were having a boy.

And then yesterday I did the first session of hypnobabies, where we're supposed to go into relaxation, and part of it is 'meeting our little one'. After the session I realized suddenly the whole time during the 'hanging out together' our little one had been a daughter. Hmmm, interesting.

This morning we went for our 'around 20 weeks' check-up, and the ultrasoundist asked if we knew if we were having a boy or a girl yet. We said we didn't know. She kept moving around trying to get a clear picture, and then asked if we wanted to know. I looked at the monitor and said "We're having a girl!" I had seen the tell-tale 3 white lines (side-note: felt quite the bout of self-satisfaction for having been able to understand what the monitor was showing myself and not have to be told hehe).

EXCITING! Taking a bit to get used to thinking of bebe as a girl though ;P

first times

This evening I looked down at my tummy and saw it was lopsided for the first time ever - right side was sticking out a tad bit more than the left.

Touched it - and right was harder than left. So yes, wasn't just my eyes playing tricks on me - Baby was chillaxin over there, and bumping around once in a while which could be felt outside as well as inside. Yay!

So, when Judge came home I had him put his palm on Baby, and after a bit he felt Baby move too, for his very first time. It was very slight - and if I hadn't said "Right there!! Did you feel it?" he would have thought it was a stomach rumble or an irregular heart-beat :P

Very exciting!

[Belly at 18 weeks]

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first breastfeeding meeting

The town's health center (?) called me on Friday asking if I was available to come to the monthly breastfeeding meeting on Saturday morning. They had gotten my number from Judge who had stopped by their office a while back to ask about reimbursement for pregnancy checkups (pre-health insurance reinstatement).

All in all it was us and two other foreign mom's who showed up, both China-Chinese, but we were told there's usually a lot more moms there. The meeting was pretty great. Basically first just discussing questions and problems mom's may have about breastfeeding, and then going over some material on a specific topic that had already been prepared for that day (this time it was on storing and re-heating expressed milk). I'm not sure if the fact that Judge was there made them a bit uncomfortable at first, but I mentioned later that I hope he can come to most of them with me (as long as he's not on weekend-shift) because I think it is great for both of us if he can learn and gain a good understanding of all this along with me.

One mom had just given birth 52 days ago (to a bebe only 2300g or so~!...couldn't tell at all that she's just given birth, she was as thin as the next thin Taiwanese girl), and has had quite the adventure with breastfeeding so far. Basically she had no knowledge about it, and doing everything by the book - but opposite because she hasn't 'read the book'. It was pretty impressive.

The teacher was an amazingly comfortable person, who has been teaching about breastfeeding for the past 10 years, breastfed her own kids way past the 'norm', and runs a baby-daycare really close to where I lived last year. She facilitates the gathering not in an 'educating' manner but rather very much sharing, allowing us to answer each others questions if we have any thoughts or experiences. If she has a different opinion, she won't say the other mom is wrong per say, but rather give her opinion and advice. Though on some points she did flat out say that the new mom was wrong...with a shocked-laugh kind of manner (not offensive at all).

I think participating in these meetings will help Judge and I a lot. It allows us to gain nuggets of wisdom without having to sift through information overload online, and allows us to bring up any breastfeeding related questions we may have related or unrelated to the focus of discussion. Not that I haven't already done my homework, and most of our questions I am sure could be answered by a quick search (though again, the search itself is quick, while the going-through-the-search-findings takes time), but being with people live is quite wonderful!

And it allows us to meet other moms in the neighborhood/town, and I think a large portion if not all are foreigners (not sure if this is mainly set up for foreign spouses/moms...I think it is~ ).

Fun.

[I know. No pictures. Not even unrelated ones. It is a blogging-sin. I will try and get my act in gear soonest.]


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baby prep

So, trying to figure out where (and how) to give birth, which doctor to have, how to do sit-a-month (center, 'auntie' at home, or mother-in-law?), and all that jazz can sometimes be overwhelming. Then there is cloth vs desposable diapers (and what type of cloth), what type of carrier or sling or wrap. Seriously, sometimes all the options can be more difficult than helpful (where have we seen that before? Oh yeah, in life plans XD).

And then what to prepare for when baby comes, considering also lack of space and wanting to stay simple and low budget. With my own musings and input from a fellow due-in-april mama friend, I have come up with this list:

Before baby is born:

• To get (some used if possible – Taipei baby-swap here we come!)
• Baby mattress (and comforter?)
• Breast pump, nursing pads, a couple of bottles
• Thermometer, nail clipper, nose booger sucker
• Sunscreen
• Baby shampoo / soap and lotion / ointments
• Baby bathtub seat (I think we actually have access to one already)
• Consider our storage and buy storage bins if necessary, for:
• Clothes
• Blankets, cloths, towels, washcloths etc
• Wipes, ointments, etc
• Toys
• Infant car seat
• Cloth diapers (no clue what kind yet)

• To make or get used or new (again, baby-swap may end up being a treasure trove!)
• Baby blankets, burp cloths, swaddling cloths/’bags’
• Baby carrier sling/wrap
• Mattress sheets (including waterproof)
• Clothes
• Onesies
• Socks
• 0-3 months baby caps
• 0-3 months one-piece pajamas with feet
• "Blanket nighties"
• Other clothes up to 6 months
• Sun hats
• Bibs for drooling and spit up
• A few ‘toys’
• Baby towels and washcloths
• Diaper bag with changing pad

For later needs (purchases/makes) (some perhaps needed around when we go to Norway if current plan ends up being 'the one'):

• Bibs for eating (plastic kind) (can also make)
• Teething chew toys
• Other toys (much can make)
• Pajamas, onesies, and other clothes up to 18 months (some can make)
• Outerwear and shoes
• Perhaps a hipster seat (or whatever it’s called...like a carrier but just a seat)
• Stroller
• (Playpen for ‘safe area’?)

Ah, yes, this is how I spent this morning at work ;)

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