Feed me now!

I have figured out how to use this. Here is a picture of George from a week ago, holding his bottle. I am so tired I have sent Al and George shopping so I can sleep for an hour. Maybe the car journey will send him to sleep.

St George's Day

Czechs generally have their forename chosen from an official list. Each name is associated with a day of the year, so that everyone has a nameday, which is like a mini birthday you share with your namesakes. George is not a Czech name, so perhaps George will want to celebrate his name day today on 23rd April every year. Alternatively, April 24th is the name day for Jiri, the equivalent of George in Czech. Its possible to make every name sound Czech by making it into a diminuitive. Little George would be Georgik - pronounced George-eek, which will do for now.

George's eye is much better now, but he is still proving hard to feed. The health visitor came today for the first time, and he is now 3.9kg so he is putting on weight. Tomorrow, it will be 3 weeks since he was born. In 6 months he should be about 7-8kg.

Monster

George is being a bit of a monster at the moment - feeding more frequently and getting pretty inconsolable during the day. The doctor gave us some different drugs for his conjunctivitis which seem to be working better. Tomorrow we'll see the other 4 couples from the antenatal class and their babies for the first time.

More family

This bluebell wood is close to our house - we stuck George in a sling and he seemed happy.

We went on a trip to see my Gran - apparently now a real silver surfer with a little help from my Aunt. I'm convinced that the relative George looks most like is Jana's youngest brother in a suit above - but a couple of people have said George has the same squashed nose as me - thanks!

Family

The weather has been great and we have had lots of visitors - so no time to update this. Here are Jana's parents taking George for his first walk & my dad in the hospital. If I search hard enough I can find a photo somewhere where George has his eyes open.

Eating Sleeping and the rest

I got some statistics from various family members. My mum's first labour took 33 hours. Janas mums took over 24 - so Jana got off lightly. Jana found out after having George that her dad had a birth weight of 5kg, again a lucky escape. Birth weights of babies never meant anything to me until I saw this average sized 3.5kg baby. How anyone can deliver a 5kg baby and then decide to have another is beyond me.

At this point, George mainly sleeps when people come around. When he does open his eyes, its normally a bit of a squint. In the morning when we are most tired, he's happy to sleep then especially if he gets a bit of a cuddle.

Aunts and shoplifting

My Aunt and my sister arrive and George does his "face like he's chewing a wasp" impression. A little earlier - we hit the supermarket, and almost walk out of the store with an un-paid-for Grapefruit lurking in the pram. I spot it and turn it in wondering how long it will be before he's grabbing at the sweets at the checkout. Mainly George sleeps during the day, saving up his energy so he can wail during the night. I'm not able to think of anything that will compensate my closest next door neighbour for the sleep loss.

Little animal

George is not that easy to get in an out of his Giraffe suit. You'd think with him being too small for it, it would be easy. He also scratches his face when he gets stroppy if he doesn't get his food fast enough. I cut his nails but they seem to grow back fast. We go to the hospital to the feeding clinic for some more advice.

Getting home

22 hours after the birth - Grandad and Grandma arrive in the hospital for a flying visit. George is quiet as the effects of the Pethidine linger. Then, an hour later we check out of the hospital and that evening all hell breaks loose

In the red corner at 3.5kg

George gets weighed. He's not a great fan of being naked, so he's happy to get into his first set of clothes. George has a quick feed and Jana checks in with Babicka (Granny) and the family.

George arrives

An hour after we arrive, the midwives change shifts and we meet the new midwife Sylvia who stays with us until the end of her shift.
After about 4 hours with Jana in a daze, the Pethidine is wearing off - its about 6pm, and Jana asks if she can have another injection. Its too late for any more painkillers, and the second stage of labour is upon Jana. As the second stage starts, Sylvia starts to become more forceful. She reassures us with the instructions, and regular heartbeat checks. An hour later after some hard work, George arrives - 6:58pm Tuesday 3rd April 2007. I cut the cord, George is given a wipe, and he gets half a minute skin to skin contact with Jana before being whisked off to a cot, so that the placenta can be delivered, which follows shortly afterwards. There is a great sense of relief that everything has gone smoothly.

At the hospital

Jana mistakes the labour pains that start early in the morning for the practice contractions, so she sends me off to work as normal. At 11am, she is concerned about what we later discover is the show and calls me, so we drive to hospital, just delaying long enough to sign for a big parcel that arrives as we leave the house.

By the time we get to the hospital, the contractions are stronger, but still not realising the labour has started we park in the regular place and the 5 minute walk to the maternity unit takes about 30 minutes. The midwife examines Jana saying that she is 6cm dilated already, so I go back to pick up the bag while some more checks are done. Jana is moved to a delivery room. She gets comfortable on the gas and air, and later on a Pethidine injection.

One week to go

Its Easter Sunday - 5 days after George was born, and I've struggled to send out photos to family and friends, so here is plan B - a blog with plenty of photos and not many words. First I have to jump back a couple of weeks to before George is born.

These are from a week or so before George's birth. The bump is less visible than people expect, and every time anyone mentions this Jana becomes nervous. The midwife has some concerns based on the measurements she takes, so we go to hospital for the pulse to be taken, and then again the next day for a scan.