Our little girl, Bronwyn Elizabeth Roscoe Barr, was born October 29!!
She is just like her daddy: totally chill and gorgeous.
We had a very speedy beautiful natural labour and delivery at home, but once she arrived mom and baby had to take a ride to BC Women’s.
For as-yet-unknown reasons my placenta detached early and my body knew I needed to get sweet little B out fast - there was no pre-labour prep: strong contractions started 2min apart, 1min in duration, and she was born 10hrs later, not breathing and I lost over a litre of blood.
Our incredible midwives from Pacific Midwifery resuscitated her while my rockstar birth partner, Mr. Barr, calmly called 911.
By the time paramedics loaded us into the ambulance we were both stable.
We stayed at the hospital overnight for monitoring, and have been home together, our little foursome with Charlie dog, just recuperating and bonding in bed.
Mom and baby just had another home visit from midwife and are both doing GREAT.
We are so in love with this little person, having her feels PERFECT. 💕💕💕💕
Nurse, burp, change, bath, swaddle, cuddle, nap, repeat. Monotonous but MAGICAL.
NOVEMBER 17, 2017 - Mr. Barr went back to work yesterday 😭 but Bronwyn and I have been managing pretty well - except for one meltdown (equal parts me and her) yesterday afternoon, when she had a fussy inconsolable couple of hours. Today, after another minimal sleep night (but progress in figuring out her various cries), we slept all morning and then went for a little walk with her wrap to get lunch. Now, more napping. 😴 .
Sleep deprivation is a real bitch!
I think it's my greatest struggle so far as a new parent. Sleep, one of #TheLifeDelicious 5 pillars of wellness, drastically affects the other 4: Mindset, Movement, Nutrition and Connection.
Sleep deprivation messes with your mind, depletes your energy so you don't feel like moving your body, puts your appetite hormones out of balance so you crave sugary carbs (and nothing healthy), and hurts your connection to yourself (you don't feel like yourself, you feel like a terrible version of yourself) and others (you act like an impatient, unkind version of yourself).
In a recent Maclean's magazine article titled, "Yes, sleep deprivation is torture", the author says, "Medical science has demonstrated over and over that there is serious physical and mental harm caused by sleep deprivation."
In fact, the CIA authorized sleep deprivation for up to 180 hours (7.5 days) but later reduced the threshold to 48 hours (2 days), stating that sleep deprivation over 48 hours would now be considered an “enhanced interrogation technique.”
So if you, like me, have experienced this "enhanced interrogation technique" and felt completely unable to cope, I feel you. It's awful.
Get/accept help so you can have naps with earplugs and tune out your (looked-after-by-someone-else) screaming baby for at least 90-minute intervals. The change in outlook I have after these brief periods of reprieve is massive.
NOVEMBER 13, 2017 - Our first family photo!! We had an exceptionally good (considering) sleep, great breakfast, and awesome power walk today. I can’t believe how much Charlie dog has changed since Bronwyn joined us - he’s great off leash but not so great on leash... until now! He walks with his nose right at the back wheel of her stroller like a total champ. Oh happy days!!
Walkies!! Every day. Rain or shine. (Mostly rain.)
Movement is one of #TheLifeDelicious 5 pillars of wellness - an essential daily ritual no matter how big or small.
At 14 days postpartum I’m only just starting to go for short brisk walks, but I’ve been incorporating some form of movement since day 1, starting with pelvic floor and core exercises, and around day 7 I added some postural exercises like standing and sitting cat/cow, shoulder blade squeezes and chest stretches. Even though it takes extra mental and physical energy at first, and I’m next-level-exhausted, I want to train my body to be in proper alignment during the MANY hours I’m spending breastfeeding. These little movements take just minutes and have a huge positive impact on my energy and attitude.
Grateful for our amazing midwives at Pacific Midwifery!!
And grateful Bronwyn and I got a gold star at our day 17 postpartum checkup 😊
We’re so lucky in B.C. to have midwifery care covered. Did you know you can give birth at home under the care of TWO midwives, who bring everything you’d need in case of an emergency - so you can feel safe to labour and deliver in the quiet, peaceful sanctuary of your own home. Even though we had to go to the hospital after Bronwyn was born, it was an amazing experience to labour and deliver at home.
JANUARY 5, 2018 - Bronwyn, just chillin with Light Up Birdie and Giggle Dog, when… she turns her head... to see Charlie dog being very naughty! #tummytime
JANUARY 15, 2018 - How has 11 weeks gone by both so fast and so slow?! Bronwyn is so much like her daddy, from the way she carefully observes the world around her and her gorgeous smile to how much she loves her sleep! I’m so grateful for this amazing little lady and the opportunity to be a parenting team with the amazing Mr. Barr. 💕❤️💕
JANUARY 19, 2018 - I call Bronwyn “the most pleasant girl in the world” because she’s just so darn pleasant! Morning Bronwyn is especially delightful as she’s full of smiles after a good night’s sleep and dives into her breakfast with great enthusiasm and happy moans (just like her mom). Golly, I love her!!! #11weeks