After a very long 40 weeks, we finally got to meet Ella on the 1st February!
The stats on Ella:
- born at 9:55pm.
- weight: 7lb 10oz, or 3465 grams
- length: 52cm
- head circumference: 35cm
With two boys that made their way into the world very quickly, we were pretty much on standby, suitcase packed and in the car at all times and the birth suite numbers not quite memorised, but always close at hand! Ella didn’t disappoint – we arrived at the hospital at 8:06pm… In time to walk straight into a birthing suite! All I can say about the next hour and a bit – the gas is good! :)
While uneventful for the most part, in the last half an hour before she was born, her heart rate was dropping quite a bit, getting as low as 92 and the midwives were giving her only a limited time to continue along as she was. Oh, and they confiscated my gas thingy… This I was not happy about at all! Thankfully, she arrived quickly and we just missed out on going down the path of alternative birth plans… Much like what we went through with Owen. Watching more people come into the birthing suite was an all too familiar situation, even though Owen is now 4 and a half!
Ella didn’t cry but looked around the room at all the faces with those huge eyes – I’m assuming she was in shock over what she had just been through! I’m sure there is a very good reason none of us can remember being born…! She was checked over by the pediatrician and given the all clear but for a small amount of fluid on her lungs. As to the heart rate dropping, the pediatrician put it down to her speedy entry into the world, so nothing to worry about.
Her first night was spent in the nursery, with the nurses keeping a watch over her while she continued to get rid of the excess fluid in her lungs, and I was supposedly having a decent night of rest without the responsibility of a newborn right beside my bed. That didn’t happen, of course. I spent the night just waiting for sleep to come my way… and it did not! Probably because I was waiting all night for them to bring her back to me for a feed. This also did not happen, until 6am! I guess all the excitement wore her out :)
I had initially thought that I would stay as long as possible in hospital, you know, to have a holiday of sorts before going home to the reality of three kids under 5, but all the hospital noises and other babies crying (and some new mothers) left us both sleep deprived and sick of living in the hospital – after only 24 hours! Since we both got the approval to be discharged, and seeing as though Ella wasn’t a first child, we were allowed to go home on Wednesday afternoon.
first sleep at home
Needless to say, Wednesday night was a peaceful (and sleep filled) one for all of us. There’s nothing like sleeping in your own bed. And there is nothing like a newborn who is very good to her parents, only waking twice a night for a short feed, nappy update and then back to the business of sleeping!
And how are the Big Brothers dealing with having a little sister? They think she is hilarious, and Owen wants her to be awake constantly so he can talk to her. Try explaining to an impatient four year old that a sleeping baby is a good thing!!! Reuben continues to “pat” her, like any one year old would – hard! We have had to separate their car seats and put Owen in the middle so as Ella doesn’t end up with “pat marks” all over her head! All in all, she is fitting in easily and well with the rest of the Harvey’s.
The hardest thing at the moment: Getting three kids in and out of their car seats in under 20 minutes!
The most frequent question I have been asked since we have been home: What’s it like having three? Great, actually! However, Owen being that little bit older is really good. He can help out quite a bit and isn’t too old to not want to – yet! Reuben dealing with not being the baby anymore was our main concern before Ella was born, but he has taken Ella in his stride and other than the “patting” and a little bit of whining (which could have something to do with two pesky teeth that are trying to push through) he’s doing great too. Ella is an easy baby (so far) which has really helped to keep things pretty normal around our house and I think that has helped the boys out a lot.
Reuben pointing out her eyes
So we think we will keep her. She’s a little bit cute and I can’t wait until she shows us her smile. In the meantime, I am trying to adsorb all that baby-ness while I can!
The Ladies have a Birthday Deal.
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