It is April already! Time is really flying by with all the happenings. So first and most importantly we welcomed our baby girl to the world on the 16th of February. I cannot compare giving birth in NZ to giving birth in the states since she is my first, but my experience here was great. I called the midwife when I had 3 contractions in 10 minutes (it took a day and a half with two sleepless nights to get to that point) and she had us meet her at the hospital at 1:30 am. We got a room and she stayed with us in it with her and her assistant (an apprenticing midwife). The only hospital staff members I saw were the nurses at delivery and the guy who did my epidural. My midwife delivered her at 7:31 am... our baby is perfect :) They do an hour of skin to skin time immediately after birth (before cleaning or weighing... she came out and went right on my chest... cord still attached and all) This was an amazing bonding experience, and then she was taken to get weighed and cleaned and checked out after an hour. During that time I got cleaned up and something to eat which gave Brandon some bonding time. I stayed at the hospital for 2 nights. It was so close to the water that there were seagulls hanging outside my window. The baby stayed with me in my room the whole time (no nurseries like in the movies). That was a little tough from a sleeping point of view but I would not want it any other way :)
After that we had my parents come to NZ to visit us... especially the new baby. We went all over to show them where we live and I got help taking out the baby to some of our favorite spots. I am nursing her and NZ is not shy at all about nursing in public... I still cover up, but I notice many people dont and I get a lot of loving glances from other mothers when I do feed her out in public. I also have not been to the parent rooms in the states, but the only here are fantastic. Rooms for nursing with big comfy chairs and multiple changing tables with sinks between and bottle heaters. Even short toilets for the little ones who are learning in some. I was very impressed.
I was glad to have my parents in town to go through some of the many 'firsts'. Being far from home is very difficult. I am finding support though with my mommies coffee group. We meet once a week and talk about successes and failures of being a first time mom. We started going to a wiggle and rhyme class too which is a class for babies to listen to music and do little movements to.
The midwife came to our house for weekly check ups for the first 6 weeks too... very nice to not have to go into the doctor to get her weighed and checked.
Then in March we had a set of Brandon's parents come to visit. I was starting to get a hang of baby's schedule so we were able to go out as tourists again. They also took a trip down to Tongariro national park to do a 12 mile hike. Baby and I didnt make it there, but Brandon went with them and they made it through the whole 12 miles. It went up an active volcano just south of lake Taupo. They said it was no joke and pretty difficult to do. The day after their hike we had our baby baptized. It was another great visit.
That brings us to April. Easter is just around the corner, Brandon register for the marathon again, we are meeting with the Plunket nurse every other week, and we are trying to find things to do around here since it is getting cold and we have baby with us.... maybe bowling :)
