Australia Day was Perfect

This year Australia Day was just about perfect. I'm not in a position right now to think very hard about anything, so I didn't think about invasions, refugees or sickening nationalism. Instead I thought about what makes us Australian. We invited a bunch of people, some we hang out with a lot and others that we're just getting to know, tided up the backyard a bit and had a BBQ.  Andrew and I were is a silly mood when we went shopping, so we had blue, red and white plates, cups and plastic cutlery. We still have a lot of spare disposable plates cups and cutlery! We also got streamers and Andrew flung them around, and hung an Australian flag from the carport.

Andrew wore his blue chesty bonds, and I wore an Australian singlet and the same shorts I wear every year - mainly because they are comfortable. We ate Sao biscuits with Vegemite, tomato and cheese, with little Australian Flags on top, and Fairy Bread [which is uniquely Australian did you know?] and enjoyed the company of our friends. After the BBQ lunch we had a pav [pavolva originated in NZ but we like nicking stuff off NZ- its like a national pastime], which went down a treat.

Aussie Pride Pav

Proper Aussie Bogan Wear

Addie eating the dirt in our carport - as you do.

Addie wearing Nannie's silly hat

An unflattering picture of Tiny and I having an Aussie snooze

Chalk and Cheese

Forgive me. I'll be writing about my girls a bit for a while. What can I say? They are my life right now and I'm so gosh-darn proud of producing them - even though I've really had quite little to do with it. DNA, happy coincidences and divine intervention have really been the main players to date.

Tiny is coming up to 2 weeks old. 2 weeks of breathing, snorting, pooing, wriggling and looking around at this big world. We have a long way to go, but I feel like I'm starting to get to know her - and let me tell you, Clementine and Adelaide may have the same parents but they are nothing alike.

Addie kicked more in the womb, Tiny wriggled. As a newborn Addie threw her arms and legs around, but Tiny actually covers distance by wriggling forwards on her belly and sideways on her back/side. Tiny is dark, Addie is a light ginger with blue eyes. Addie was born with epidural drugs in her system and I was so exhausted, feeling sick and awful that though I cried tears of joy and relief when she was pulled from me, that I couldn't breastfeed her on my own until the next day. Tiny was born completely drug free, placed directly on my chest and fed immediately.  I felt an intense passion and connectedness with Addie right from the beginning, but a slower but no less deep love for Tiny that grows every moment.

Tiny sleeps apart from me quite happily. Addie could never sleep apart from me - nor I from her. [I can't sleep as well away from Tiny, so when I need sleep, she still comes with me]. My milk came in slowly, painfully and reluctantly with Addie. This time it has come in sufficiency and almost "on time" and even very well for someone with small infrastructure and a PPH. Addie fed 1-2 hourly, and was awake for up to 10 hours at a time as a matter of course, Tiny feeds at greater intervals [except when she needs to cluster feed which is normal anyway] and sleeps they day away.

Addie looked at the world with great excitement, eager to see everything. Tiny looks straight at you, and into you, drinking in what she sees with intensity and insight [at least thats how it seems].

Chalk- Addie

Cheese - Clementine

I find myself worried that there is something wrong with Tiny because of the ways in which she is different to Addie.  Its impossible not to compare them. I'm so grateful that she is more relaxed and "easier" than her sister, and I'm curious to watch as she develops and we learn her strengths, weaknesses and character. I'm glad that she's not Addie - I have two beautiful but quite different daughters who will each teach me different things and contribute to this world in their own way. How blessed am I?

Anatomy of a Sister

Two girls. Sisters. My Daughters. Miracles.

Clementine's Birth Story in Brief

I find it incredible to believe that today marks 1 week since Clementine was born. In fact at this very time last sunday I was at the hospital, listening to her heartbeat on the monitor as our bodies worked together to birth her. I have more that I want to say about the birth, and I'm in the process of writing a more considered, but much longer version of events complete with my thoughts, emotions and reflections. For now however, for those who want details and a 
snapshot of how it all went down, here it is.

Just an hour old

I woke Sunday morning with the same cramps that I'd had all the previous day, but this time they turned into contractions around 7:30 and were intense and regular soon after that. We took Addie to her babysitter's and got to the hospital about 9:30am. We found that the OB whom I'd seen that week and was supportive of a VBAC was still working and the midwife that I felt really comfortable with was to be our primary midwife. We we very relieved!!


 At that point I was 4cm dilated [this means early but progressing well]. 20 min later I asked for the portable fetal scalp monitor [I had to be monitored continuously for the VBAC] which broke my waters. They were meconium stained but OB was satisfied that it was an older stain and that baby was ok. At that point I was 6cm [2 cm in 20 min, very impressive!] I stayed on the bed, on my side and listened to the heartrate. I used my HypnoBirthing breathing, as well as some pictures and quotes that I'd put together earlier to focus on what I was doing and to remind myself that I could do this. I repeated that phrase so many times like a mantra "I can do this!". During each contraction I thought I was a bit crazy for thinking I could do it without pain relief and between contractions I forgot :) I mostly zoned out during the in between times. 


After a while I could feel movement as the cord on the fetal scalp monitor moved, first rotating [as Tiny moved into anterior position] and then down as she started moving through the birth canal. I began to feel the need to push through contractions, and told Andrew who passed it onto the midwife. She said "good" and watched to see what I would do. I asked if there was a way to make the pushing more effective, and she convinced me to lie on my back, inclined and pull my own legs back as I pushed. It felt good [I mean it felt effective and I was happy to use that position]. The midwife  asked if she could guard my perineum [I wanted to say, no thanks, let me tear apart, lol] and discussed the delivery details, like "do you want to see baby's head in a mirror" and 'do you want baby delivered onto your chest". I said yes to both and watched as Tiny crowned. It seemed to stay in the one spot after many contractions, and finally they said "we need to get her out soon". I noticed a lot of blood and they said I'd torn up top, and that I probably needed an episiotomy. I agreed because the pain where it was tearing upwards was like none other, and I was a bit scared of how far it would go. They did the cut as I did the next contraction [I think] and Tiny SHOT out like a speeding, gooey bullet! I had a crying baby on my chest before I could even comprehend what had just happened. We had a wonderful hour of feeding while the placenta was delivered [that felt weird!] I was stitched [owch] and we thought that was it. 


I got up for a shower, said 'I feel a bit dizzy' and they shoved me into a chair as I went unconscious. I woke up and they were apologizing for having to give me a sternum rub, but I have no recollection of it [apparently it really hurts so good for bringing around the unconscious]. Andrew was quietly freaking out. Blood was pouring out and it was all quite dramatic. Lots of fuss was made, they got me on the bed, with oxygen and bags of fluid in both arms. The OB came back in and discovered that the bleeding wasn't from the uterus, but from the upper tear. She restitched it [OMG talk about excruciating] and said that I had torn into the nerve tissue [hence the pain in stitching] ripping open blood vessels. So lots of "I'm sorry" from the midwives & OB [not like they'd done this], fluid, blood transfusion and strict instructions not to move.


I don't really care that the last bit happened. I asked for a natural birth and that is what I got. PostPartum Hemorrhage happens and I'm just glad that we're all ok. Clementine was born peacefully, without medication in her system and fed right from the start. What more could I ask for? It was the perfect birth and I'm so grateful!! Oh and get this - the midwife described my birthing as very RELAXING and Andrew admitted that he fell asleep during one point in the 3 hours we were at the hospital - the midwife also almost fell asleep!! Me - I was too busy to notice a thing.



[Yep... thats the brief version.]

At home with Dad

Tab thinks she's clever for having a baby.

Introducing to the world, 

Clementine Audrey Schultz

A little sister for Addie!

Born 9/1/2011 at 1.05pm after a 5.5 hr labour [VBAC]

Weight 3.2kgs [7 pound 4 oz]

Head circumference 33cm

Length 52cm

We love her!