Pregnancy | 39(ish) weeks

Photos taken at 30 weeks

Less than two weeks until her due date and it's about time I documented something about this pregnancy!

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Tips for your two days

Once your baby is born, the clock starts ticking on your 48 hours in the hospital. Some people are anxious to get out of the hospital and check out the moment the doctors and nurses will let them. Others of us like to take advantage of the quiet room, nursery, food prep and clean up, etc.

Having had three babies now and three stays at the hospital, I've come up with a few tips for those of you who are like me and stay at the hospital the full 48 hours. These tips will help make your time in the recovery room more organized, productive, and restful. That's right. Both productive and restful because you can only sleep so much.

Sleep

Having a baby is hard, tiring work, especially if you've had a really long labor. It's hard, tiring work for the baby, too. Take a leaf out of her book and sleep.

Nursery

I didn't want my first baby out of my sight (or Andrew's) even for a moment. I think she went to the nursery once, and not for very long. With Alexa and Barrett, I decided that I needed my sleep and I had a whole slew of very capable, trust-worthy nurses at my fingertips, just waiting for me to send them my baby for a few hours before he got hungry again.

Write

If you've had enough sleep for the moment, spend some time writing down your baby's birth story while you've got some down time and it's all still VERY fresh in your memory.

Thank you!
I'm sure there are people in your life who have recently stepped up to help you out with babysitting or gifts (perhaps from a baby shower?). Write them some thank yous!

Photo op!

If you're feeling up to it, grab your camera and snap some pics! If you have a nice camera, awesome, if not, use your phone. Either way, you're capturing moments.

Drink, relieve, repeat.

The more you drink, the better your milk will flow. The emptier your bladder, the quicker your uterus will shrink back down to size. I didn't learn that until my third baby.

Something you can Depend on

Those mesh panties are... nice... or you could buy and bring some grown-up diapers. Very convenient.

Extra Bag

When I packed my bag for the hospital, I made sure I had all the essentials for after baby. Comfortable clothes, toiletries, etc. but I also packed an extra bag for all the paperwork, diapers, wipes, pacifiers, baby bath sponges, and other stuff they send home with you. Whenever they brought me these things, I would stow them away in my extra bag.

Take everything
If they tell you that you can take it home with you, take it. Diapers, wipes, pacifiers, mesh panties, enormous pads, those blue bed liner things for just in case your pad didn't catch everything... take it all.

Keep your pen handy

I'm not kidding, they bring you SO. MUCH. PAPER WORK. The best thing is to just get that paper work filled out right after they bring it to you.

Visitors
I didn't get many visitors this time around because all of my friends were sick, but my Bishopric came, which was really fun, even though they came right after I had sent my baby to the nursery and gotten all ready for bed! So decide whether or not you want visitors, then tell your potential visitors to call or text before they come so you can be prepared and actually have the baby with you when they come by!

Snuggle. Duh.

You've been waiting nine months to meet this tiny, squishy, soft, warm little person! He won't mind the snuggles one bit, and you deserve it!

To me, those two days in the hospital with your brand new baby are so special and precious. It's almost like a honeymoon in my mind. You spend two days with this brand new little love-of-your-life, just the two of you (or three depending on how much Dad is able to be there), getting to know each other and creating a bond that will last a lifetime. You don't have to worry about making dinner, cleaning up, or even doing your hair and makeup if you don't want to. This time is for you and your baby. Take advantage of it.

Is there anything you would add to this list? Leave a comment below, and thanks for stopping by!

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Barrett's Birth Story: Part II - Stange Sisters meet baby brother

There is nothing like finally meeting the little person you've carried for nine months and holding their little warm bodies against your skin for the very first time. I looked into the face of my beautiful baby boy, absolutely beaming inside.

And then he peed on me.

Haha! I didn't care.

He looked so much like Chelsea to me, but with his own little flair! I think it was mainly the big lips.

Breastfeeding Barrett was a little tricky at first. I tried for a solid 45 minutes or so before he finally latched on. My nurse suggested later that it might have been because of the bruising he sustained on his face from such a speedy delivery. Just about the only thing bad about quick deliveries.

By the time we got into the recovery room, it was past nine, so the girls definitely wouldn't be meeting their new baby brother until the next day.

The meeting between Chelsea, Alexa, and Barrett was one of the sweetest experiences of my life. It was also a little stressful trying to keep Alexa from loving on baby brother too much, but regardless, Andrew and I couldn't stop smiling.

Chelsea wanted to hold Barrett right away and was so sweet with him. "Awwww! Look at his cute wittle toes!" "Isn't he adowable?"

Alexa wanted to kiss his head over and over again, hold him, hug him, poke him, and name all of his body parts as she poked. "NOSE!"

Barrett is so lucky to have two older sisters who love him so much!

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Barrett Stange

He is finally here! After 41 weeks of waiting, our little Barrett finally decided to show up! Not that he had much choice about it since we decided to induce him. He is so perfect and looks so much like his sisters to me. It was pretty apparent from the moment he came out that he got Chelsea's lips!

So, I want to share his birth story, but I don't think I'll have time to get it all written as a blog post today. I'll have to defer that for later, but here's a preview!

My sis-in-law has made it a tradition to arrive within 10 minutes after my babies are born and she didn't disappoint this time either! I'm so glad she is able to come take photos of these precious moments for us!

Can't wait to share how it all went down with you!

Happy Sunday!

Barrett's birth story:

Part I

Part II

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Thoughts on the due date: Baby 3

Ta-da! 40 weeks! Let me tell you how I'm feeling...

Remember that great list of ways to help the last little bit before your due date go by easier? Well, it works. Especially the "keeping yourself busy" part. The last two days stunk because I wasn't doing anything productive. At all. Once I started organizing my craft room and keeping busy, it got easier.

Joanna and Chip Gaines? Thank you for brightening my life every time you come on the screen. I love escaping into the hilarious life and relationship of you two at least once a week.

To schedule an induction, or not to schedule an induction? I'll think about that next week if the babe still hasn't come.

Ya know, Tuesday would be a really great day to have this baby. I could have the baby Tuesday, stay in the hospital for a couple days, and Mom could come Thursday, since she works in the temple on Wednesdays.

I wonder how big he'll be. Will he be about the same size as his sisters or will he be bigger?

Andrew made me feel really good last night when he asked "Hasn't there been a study done that babies who stay in the womb longer are usually better sleepers and less whiny?" Not sure if that's true, but you helped me feel better. I love you, Babe!

Andrew's birthday is next week on the 17th. What shall I get you... Just kidding, I already know what I want to get you. ;)

Whenever I feel a little overwhelmed at meal times trying to serve everyone, I can't help but think, "What am I going to do with three?"

I love that I feel like I've gotten to a point where I have my kids and our life figured out (on time to church every week, spend good quality time with each and they'll be good for me, stick with a routine) and now we're going to throw another little one in the mix. Awesome. Starting over again! It'll be fun.

I love when my girls play nicely together and I can hear their sweet little giggles!

I'm sure I'll miss all the crying and refereeing someday.

Let's plan the newborn shoot! Just need some greenery and maybe a cute little stuffed animal, I think, but what am I going to wear?

Has it really been nearly 5 years since I graduated from college? Time to renew that certification! It might be kind of fun to go back to school for 6 credits!

Oh how I wish Chelsea would like the clothes I buy her. I bought her the CUTEST skirt and shirt last night and she said, "Maybe I'll like it in 100 days."

I am so grateful that I have so many good and kind people in my life! I love you ALL!

Let's get going, baby! We're all excited to meet you! Until then, I'll try to be patient and subdue myself by looking at pictures of  your sisters when they were babies.

^^chelsea^^

^^alexa^^

What a blessing these little babes are! I can NOT wait to find out how this little boy fits in! See you soon little man!

Susan is a birth photographer/videographer serving Mesa, Arizona and surrounding cities including Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, and Tempe. Considering a photographer for your birth? Contact Susan for EDD availability.

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