TTC

Trying To Conceive... Three little words that can strike fear in the heart of any couple. Did you know that 1 in 10 Australian couples will have trouble getting pregnant despite 12 months of trying? How about the fact that a healthy 30 year old woman, whose partner is also healthy, has about a 20% chance of conceiving during any given month? It seems for some the process of falling pregnant is simple while for others it can be a long and emotional journey. I always thought I would be in the later group....

I have suffered with endometriosis, ovarian cysts and dysmenorrhea for as long as I can remember and was told by numerous physicians that the road to being a mumma was going to be a long one. Luke and I knew we wanted little Rampling's but had decided we would travel before starting a family. On a regular check up with my GP the topic of family came up and I was told due to my age and "issues" we should start trying soon or accept we may not have children. I remember leaving the appointment filled with overwhelming guilt that I was the reason we were going to have to reassess our plans, scared I wouldn't be able to fall pregnant and angry that my body might not work the way it should. Fast forward a few months and imagine our surprise when we fell after our first month of trying! I remember the morning I discovered I was pregnant like it was yesterday. Luke and I had been at Bunnings the day before and I was so nauseous I nearly vomited my mandatory Bunnings sausage sizzle all over the paint desk (surely I couldn't be pregnant). I did the test first thing the next morning but I was so sure I wouldn't be pregnant I actually forgot to check it. It wasn't till I went to throw it in the bin before going to work that I saw it, the double line!!! No, surely not, it must be a mistake. I proceeded to take three more tests all of which show the same impossible result... Positive! I still didn't believe I was pregnant until we were in my GPs office with the results of my blood test, and to say the three of us were in shock is an understatement! Instantly all the guilt, fear and anger that I had felt the last time I was sitting in that chair was replaced with pure joy and excitement.

I would love to hear your story.... How long were you trying before you to fell pregnant? Did you need assistance? How did you feel when you found out you were expecting?

Love, Elle.

One Of Those Mornings...

I did have a different topic in mind to talk about today but something happened this morning and it got me thinking. I hope I am not alone when I tell you about our morning, I am picturing all the organised mummas shaking their head "tisk tisk" as I write this.

So this morning Audrey and I had planned to meet our dear friend for a coffee, something I had been looking forward to for weeks. Tash is one of those friends you can spend five minutes or five hours with and the catch up never seems long enough. We can talk of life, love, food, wine and bounce ideas of the world off one another. Anyway, when you have a child, getting out the door changes from pottering about the house listening to music to total chaos. And our morning went a little something like this....

Audrey woke up late (not that I am complaining), but that meant she had her morning nap late which put us behind. I text Tash "Can we make it 11am not 10.30am?". As I dress her I reach for a white all-in-one to put under her outfit and remember I forgot to hang them on the line, they are still in the washing machine from yesterday afternoon. I make do and grab a 00 praying I can squeeze her ever growing body into it. Success!! Now where are her gold shoes, I know she wore them on Wednesday but where are they? I finish dressing her and feed her some veges before having a shower (which I should have done while she was having a nap but I opted to have a cheeky little kip myself). As I run around trying to get myself ready I realise I haven't used the baby bag in a while (cr@p)! Nappies - check. Wipes - check. Nappy bags - check. Chu chu - check. Bibs - check. Snacks - check. Change of clothes - check. Extra jumper - check. Toys - check. Bottle (mmmm when did she last have a bottle?) throw one in just in case - check. I proceed to get ready and go to put my fave new t-shirt on only to find a spew stain on the sleeve, how did that get there? No worries, I grab my back up but it needs to be ironed. We manage to get out the door and as I turn to lock it I see my house resembles the local tip, meh I'll deal with it when we get back. We make our way down to Shellharbour, the day is beautiful so I open the windows and pump a bit of Triple J, I turn to see Audrey smiling in the back and the chaos of the morning is forgotten. As I am getting out of the car I pop the boot and go to get the pram, where is the pram?? I can picture it sitting in our living room, oh well looks like Audrey will be sitting on my lap!

Please tell me you all have days like these? I wish I was one of those mummas whose house was perfect and everything in its place. I wish my clothes were always ironed and ready to go, I wish I had the mind to pre-pack bags and get things ready the night before. I really wish I remembered necessary items like a pram, but then I guess life wouldn't be as fun....

Love,  Elle.

Slow Down Mumma...

Something for all us Mummas to think about:


slow down mummy, there is no need to rush,
slow down mummy, what is all the fuss?
slow down mummy, make yourself a cup tea.
slow down mummy, come spend some time with me.
slow down mummy, let’s pull boots on for a walk,
let’s kick at piles of leaves, and smile and laugh and talk.
slow down mummy, you look ever so tired,
come sit and snuggle under the duvet, and rest with me a while.
slow down mummy, those dirty dishes can wait,
slow down mummy, let’s have some fun - bake a cake!
slow down mummy, I know you work a lot,
but sometimes mummy, it’s nice when you just stop.
sit with us a minute,
and listen to our day,
spend a cherished moment,
because our childhood won’t stay!

-R. Knight

Birth Choices?

Audrey May Rampling was born at 3.57am on Saturday 5th November 2011. My labour was, in my mind, perfect. My waters broke while in hospital just after midnight and before my husband could arrive from our house 20 minutes away I was already in established labour. My midwife, who had been with us on our journey for the last nine months, knew of my hopes for a natural water birth and quickly prepared the bath. The room was dim, there was soothing music in the background and for the most of it, it was just Luke and I. When it was time a mere four pushes later my beautiful daughter was in my arms. I know I am lucky, I had the birth most women dream of and I am forever thankful.

I guess my question is why was I so blessed? Why did I get to experience the labour I 'chose' while others are not so lucky? When you are pregnant regardless of your decision to go with an obstretician, midwife or shared care you are asked about your birth plan. It is discussed at length on more than one appointment. Would you like pain relief? Who would you like to be in the room with you? Will you labour at home and at what stage would you like to make your way to hospital? Will you elect to have a scheduled caesarian??? But what if you don't get a say? After talking to many mothers after the birth of my daughter I started to think, when it comes to labour do we really have a choice or has it already been made for us? A dear (and very brave) friend of mine once described her birthing experience as writing her birth plan then someone getting it confused and thinking it was everything she didn't want. Another friend described her labour as the most horrific experience of her life. Both of these women love their children and are amazing mothers but what made their experience so different to mine? As mentioned in a previous post I am a planner and my labour was no different. I pictured my waters breaking, the excited drive to hospital, getting into my 'birthing clothes' and using all the techniques I had learnt to work with my body and deliver my baby naturally. Now apart from the birthing outfit that was thrown into a corner 15 minutes in, the rest was pretty much as I imagined and to be honest I don't know how I would have coped had it not.

So my advice to anyone who is pregnant... Know what you are comfortable with, talk to your partner about it and express this to your carer but try not to 'expect' or over plan. However your baby comes into this world one thing can almost be guaranteed, the second they are placed in your arms it all disappears and all that matters is the little person who has just joined your family.

Love, Elle.