Cecily's first 2 weeks

Cecily has been home with us two weeks now. It is a wonderful and exhausting thing being parents. She makes me feel so loved and I love so much. My emotions surge. The first two weeks have been filled with family and diapers and worries and moments of pure bliss. It is challenging but wonderful.

Cecily Anne Biagini

Cecily Anne Biagini
Born: Monday, October 9, 12:35 a.m.
8 lbs, 12 oz., 21 1/2 inches

She is finally here, and we are in love with our new baby girl. She is a week old today, the pictures above are from day one.

Baby Story: Last Friday I went in to the hospital at 7pm to be induced. After all the preliminary stuff I was finally hooked up to the Pitocin (the drug given to me to induce labor) at 12 am. I was already 2 cm dilated and was having irregular contractions that did not hurt at this point. The contractions were slow starting and took awhile to become "adequate" meaning consistent and within 2 minutes apart. They kept coming at 2-4 mins apart and were progressively starting to get more painful. I had to use the breathing techniques I had learned to stay on top of them. It was frustrating bc I kept being examined by many doctors and someone would say I was 4cm and then someone else would come and say I was only 3 1/2. At around 1pm on Saturday I was only 4 cm dilated but was getting tired of the work required to stay on top of the contractions and asked for my epidural (I was always intending to get one but was hoping to make it to 5 cm first). This definately helped get me rest but I progressed very slowly though the afternoon and evening. At some point I was starting to get pretty ill, my blood pressure dropped and I vomited a few times. I pretty much dozed off and on (as did Greg) through the next day. I disliked all the cords and wires attached to me and I really did not like being so imobile either and having the nurses and Greg having to help me flip from side to side every hour. I did not expect there to be so much pain either since I got the epidural, but there was. As the epidural would run out ( I went through three bags) the pain would start up again and was pretty intense as I reached past the 7cm mark. This was sometime on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday night at 8:15pm, I was ready to push and after 4 hours later I no longer had the strength to continue on my own and was wheeled into the OR to have the help of the vacuum. After one push with the vacuum out she came, all 8 lbs, 12 oz of her. Healthy and soft and pink. Instant love. I didnt even pay attention to all the stitching up that was being done to me (though I must note that it takes a long time for this process, at least it did for me, but I think I had some nasty tears)

Long story short, it was a long process (48 hours) but it is all worth it as she is here in our arms and we can start our life as a new family.

41 weeks-Forever Pregnant?

So yesterday's appointment went ok. It was good in the fact that the non-stress test showed very reassuring results in the way of the baby's state of being in my uterus. I have loads of amniotic fluid which is great and means my placenta is "doing its job". The baby's heartbeat responded well when I was hooked up to the monitors so all is good. Of course this didn't move me up on the induction list, since there is no danger to the baby, but it made me feel good that she is in the safest place she could be right now.

My cervix has started to dilate. But only abt one centimeter. And I had the doctor call the hospital to see if they can get me in sooner for an induction but it seems everyone is having babies like mad right now and I could not get an earlier appointment. So Friday it is. I've been having contractions all the time, just not in any reliable pattern, and they come and go and vary in intensity. Only occasionally do they actually hurt. My back has been bothering me alot tho, and I have felt kind of ill the last two days.

I am not as desperate as I was last week at this time as now I know the baby is thriving and it will only be a few more days before she is here. Everyone is waiting for her and she is taking her good old sweet time. She will probably be sweet but stubborn... just like her daddy.

Still Pregnant-An Update

Yes, I am still pregnant. Went to the Dr.s on Tuesday and was told that there is still no dilation, though my cervix has thinned and softened. I have an appointment to induce a week from tommorrow and will go in on Tuesday for another check up and a non-stress test to make sure the baby is still doing ok.

I was having some contractions this morning but I think its just a whole lot of BH (as in Braxton Hicks). They went away when I lay down and took a nap. So its looking more and more likely that this little girl will be an October baby.

40 weeks-the Big Day

Well today is the 26th, my due date, the date thats been sitting there at the end of this long road. And I am just passing it by it seems. A little frustrating, though not at all uncommon.






Looking back on the pregnancy I would have to say it was enjoyable. I did not experience much morning sickness in the first trimester (though I had many food aversions) I felt relatively energetic and euphoric during the second trimester (besides battling a very demanding schedule at work) and have enjoyed the amazing process this has been. The hardest part has been these final weeks where I have had alot of time to relax but have been impatient and uncomfortable as the space in my abdomen has been squeezed and compressed and sleeping has been hard and I have been in a constant state of waiting. I was going to make a "Best and Worst" list, the best and worst things abt being pregnant from my point of view, but I really have forgotten a whole lot abt the earlier trimesters now. I would say that the best part is feeling the baby move and being able to share this with my husband, and the worst part is the heartburn.

I have a Dr.s appt this afternoon and will find out if there has been any change or any signs that I soon will be making the trip to the hospital. I am just trying to keep my spirits up, keep my mind distracted, and get as much rest as I can. I am very excited, nervous, and happy to start the new chapter of my life with my husband and our growing family.

Belly Journey

Week: 9, 12, 20











Week: 23, 26, 31










Week: 32, 34, 37










Week: 38, 40

39 1/2 weeks

39 weeks, 3 days, 38 pounds....Im still waiting for the big event. Im ready. I have told baby girl this but I guess she isn't listening. I love the special bond we have, her living in my belly and all, but I'm pretty much over that and ready to hold her in my arms and look her in the eyes and ready to put being pregnant behind me and start being a mother.

I have read all my pregnancy books to the last page and watched so many episodes of "A Baby Story" and "Bringing Home Baby" and am super-saturated with knowledge on the subject of birth and baby. My body has been preparing and I have been experiencing some pre-labor contractions and twinges. My bags are packed and waiting.

I think I will not be making any more public appearances. I was walking with Luca yesterday and received some comments from people such as "Are you due any minute? Hope you dont go into labor here!" and, Im not kidding, "Is there only one in there?" Walking is tricky enough on its own. I feel like "Pregnant Woman Walking", shuffling along one step/waddle at a time.

But I am very anxious in a happy way. I am just impatient.

Baby Biagini's Nursery

Here are some pictures of the nursery. I haven't done some final touches such as put up shelving or the artwork, but it is close to complete. I like to just sit in the glider and hold the baby bunny (which I swaddled to practice) and dream about my baby.

38 weeks

Another week has gone by. Slowly I might add. I fill my days with alternating periods of work around the house and rest. Sleeping at night has been a challenge. I seem to be on a strange schedule lately of sleeping abt 4-5 hours at night, getting up very early, and then taking a long nap in the middle of the day. I sometimes get bursts of energy in the evening which is nice bc it is when Greg is home.





My friend Suzanne and her baby Aidan (4 1/2 months) visited last week on their way up to Tahoe. It was very nice to visit with her and get a "sneak peek" at life with a 4 month old baby.


Had a Dr.s appointment on Monday. She checked my cervix and I am not dilated at all but am 50% effaced (thinning of the cervix) So at least there is some action going on! I asked her if she could give me a guesstimate on the size and she said the baby would be most likely between 7 and 71/2 punds. Sounds good to me. She didnt give me any estimation of whether she thought the baby was going to come earlier than the due date, though I feel she just might come sooner than the 26th. As long as I make it past this weekend, it would be preferable as my parents will be moving my brother into college (UC San Diego) this weekend. But, she will come when she is ready and thats all there is to it.

37 weeks-"Full Term"

Yesterday I was officially 37 weeks pregnant which is important bc it is considered the "full term" mark. The baby would no longer be considered pre-term and should be fully developed. She is still continuing to grow in there and should be somewhere around 6-6.5 pounds now. I'll tell you this though, she feels like she weighs abt 20 pounds. Lugging around this belly is getting close to ridiculous.

Yesterday also marked my first day of maternity leave! Exciting and a little hard to believe, that I finally do not have a trillion work related things hanging over my head. It does make me feel a little lost though, especially as I'm home alone (with Luca). Im sure Ill get used to it, and once Baby Girl comes along I will be very busy. Last week my friends at work threw me a baby shower which was lots of fun. I felt only a little sad to know that there will be life continuing on at work which I'll not be a part of. Mostly I feel relieved and with a fresh mind, thinking mostly of the big upcoming event.

So far I've been spending my time doing housework, watching episodes of A Baby Story and Project Runway, taking Luca to the park, snacking, napping, and reading about labor and delivery. I have reached these final chapters in my Pregnancy books, they dont talk much abt being pregnant anymore as that is pretty much old news. Its all about the "next step" now. And I am feeling just about ready.

Labor Day Weekend

A cold and foggy labor day weekend in the city.
Hanging out in GG Park and down at the beach.

36 weeks!

The weeks creep by, sometimes very slowly, but I'm getting there! This is my last week of work which is nice, after this I can focus on doing all the "final touches" to prepare for baby such as getting those last few things (like a crib mattress), lining the dresser drawers, putting away all the darling clothes, hanging pictures on the wall, and cleaning.

Went to the Dr.s on Friday for my check-up and had a sonogram that revealed that Baby Girl is head down now! I was thrilled bc I was getting worried abt that. But there she was. The sonogram was not that revealing of much else tho, I couldnt really get a good look at her bc it is all baby in there now and it is a zoomed in shot of everything. Its hard to make much out. And Greg was disappointed I did not come home with a picture.

On Friday night we went to see Chorus Line at the Curran. As soon as I got there I was feeling a little weird. Kind of crampy and lower back pain and a little nauseous. I was uncomfortable but also worried. I really didnt want to go into labor yet, and I thought this might be some indication that the baby was planning to come early. There were no regular contractions however, but the pain persisted into the night and I frantically read all my baby books to determine what this was. It could be "Pre-Labor" which says it can start occuring up to a month before birth. It hasnt happened again since. I do wonder if I will make it all the way to Sept 26.

We still have not settled on a name. It could be that we go into to this with two or three lined up and make our decision then when we see her. I am getting very excited!

Sonoma Baby Shower Pictures

See below for pictures from the shower my dear friends Cara and Erin threw for Greg & I last Saturday in Sonoma. It was a beautiful day and a fun time to be had for all!

Me & the wonderful hostesses Erin and Cara

Mommy and Daddy to be (and Luca if you look really closely)

Greg trying on some of Baby B's new clothes

Belly Shots: Me (34 weeks pregnant) and Scott (not pregnant)

Pregnancy Photo Shoot

Here are some pictures from the photo shoot we did with our friend Mike Wang, who is a fantastic photographer. It was lots of fun mugging for the camera and showing off my belly in all its roundness.

34 weeks

Well today I am 34 weeks. 6 weeks left. Of course, she could come early right? Since I will be "full term" in 3 weeks. I am not counting on this tho, since it seems to be that most new moms to be go into that 41st week before the baby decides its time to arrive. I imagine the womb must be a wonderful and comforting place.

Baby girl keeps squiriming and wiggling and keeps growing and making my belly bigger and bigger. I am starting to brush up against the steering wheel which is a little alarming and makes driving more challenging. I went in for a checkup last Wednesday and per the Dr's external feel of my abdomen the baby is not yet head down. She did not seem concerned but said she would schedule an ultrasound for my next appointment (a week from this Fri) to see if she has moved into the right spot. I failed to ask "Then what?" (I tend to blank out at the Dr's and forget to ask my questions) But a girl from my labor class said she had the same issue and was going to have another ultrasound and receive a "massage" (the uterine kind) if the baby is still breech. This uterine manipulation tends to move the baby into the right position in abt 50% of the cases. I am hoping baby girl moves head down by next Fri. She is moving alot so I believe she still has adequate room.

On Thursday's labor class we discussed the pain aspect a bit more. We did this exercise where we held fistfulls of ice for one minute and had to practice breathing through the "pain". The ice was very cold and did feel uncomfortable but I have a feeling this in no way compares to the pain of labor. And while I would rather not have a C-section, if it turns out that way it might not be so bad to miss the labor pains.

On Friday we had a photo session with one of our friends Mike who is a great photographer. He took lots and lots of pictures of me and Greg and my belly. They turned out pretty good. I am going to go through them and put together a little file to post on here.

On Saturday my beloved friends Erin and Cara (and Scott) threw Greg and I a couples shower/BBQ that was lots of fun. I will post pictures and details from that on my next Blog entry.

Family Shower July 30, 2006

Me & the Cake

Me, My aunties Michelle and Jennifer, and the pink Bugaboo stroller

Baby Lauren, as she paitiently awaits the birth of her cousin (my baby)

Belly- 32 weeks

Into the 33rd week

32 1/2 weeks pregnant
Weight: Approaching 150# (30# gain)
Pregnancy symptoms: A great feeling of heaviness which makes it harder to do physical things such as housework, going up and down the stairs, walks in the park, etc; Some minor heartburn; and minor back pain. Also, I have a cold which, combined with the pregnancy induced inflamed nasal tissue, and diminishing room in my chest cavity for my lungs, makes for some breathing problems.

Im sorry, do I sound like I'm complaining? Despite all these physical ailments I am getting more and more excited everyday to think I will soon get to meet my little girl.

Had my shower on Sunday (thrown by Greg's aunts Diane and Terry and his sister Krissy). Was lovely and I got all sorts of great stuff (including my pink Bugaboo stroller!) My mother and sister came for a visit which was great. They helped me paint clouds on the nursery ceiling. And Kathleen made brownies (best you will ever taste) which I ate far too many of.

Greg and I went to our first birth preparation class last night. Very interesting. About 11 other couples most of which had due dates close to mine (ranged from Sept 20-Oct 9). It was interesting to see how other women carried their babies and how their bodies looked in comparison. Some it seemed were wider, bellies softer, and it looked as if the baby was more contained within their bodies. And others were more like me, with the round hard belly sticking far out in front of them. I look as if (as my mom puts it) I am smuggling a frozen turkey in my abodomen. We also took a hospital tour which was nice bc I like to know where Im going to go, what the rooms look like, etc. It makes me feel comforted.
I think it was suprising to Greg to learn how long labor can be, and how the first part (early labor) can take place mostly at home. I love what the instructor said about early labor in that you should try to take a nap, or relax, watch TV and eat light snacks. This sounds so peaceful. However, from all those I talk to it does not seem like reality.

Greg and I tried to put the crib together today only to learn that there was something wrong with one of the parts. I almost started crying. Luckily there is another one in stock and they put it together at the store to make sure it was ok. We just have to go exchange it this weekend.

I will post pictures from the shower and nursery pics soon!

Summer Heat

Middle of July....heatwave. The air is hot and still and fragrant of the summer flowers. The ground is hot to the soles of barefeet. People seek out indoor places with air conditioning or flock to the beach in search of relief.

Not the most comfortable position to be in while 31 weeks pregnant. A heat wave has hit No. Cal. and we are unable to stay at our house, in beautiful 80 degree weather in SF by the beach, because we are having our kitchen floors redone (and hardwood re-finished in the nursery) Needed to get done before baby girl's arrival. As such, we are displaced from our house and are hanging out in 100 degree heat up here in Petaluma this weekend. I am currently hiding inside, with two fans, and a "Misty Mate" ( a water bottle with a misting tube) which I use to mist myself with water every 15 minutes. My hands and feet and face are swollen from the pregnancy and heat combo. I would like to go swimming but the thought of squeezing into a bathing suit is not too enticing.

The baby is active as ever, kicking and squirming. She seems to respond to our voices with her movements. She keeps me company as I march through these final months. ( 2 months to go!)

Pregnancy tips from the past

One of the things I have been doing lately is trying to get my house in order and ready for the new baby. Call it nesting if you'd like but it is long overdue! In doing this I stumbled upon an old book that my grandmother had for pregnancy and the new baby. It is titled "Better Homes and Gardens Baby Book", copyright 1946. It is very amusing to read over the tips and procedures for the pregnant woman back then. Here are some highlights:

"Daily Regimen for Normal Pregnancy"
-Arise, brush your teeth, care for your breasts, take a short walk.
-Eat breakfast, go to the toilet. Relax, take your time
-Do your housework
-Eat lunch
-Rest for two hours
-Visit with friends or sit in the yard or on the porch, sewing or reading
-Prepare and eat dinner. If tired, rest before washing the dishes
-Retire by 10:30 pm.

It then has a section titled "If You're a Working Woman"
It says "Your condition will become rather readily apparent by the fifth month. If your appearance is important in your work, you'll want to quit, or arrange to work at home after that"
Though it does say that perhaps obvious pregnancy doesnt matter, and that "employers are much less squeamish about this than they used to be"
Well good thing for that!

This one is my favorite:
"Smoking"
"Moderate smoking seems to do no harm-that is, under 8 or 10 cigarettes a day. If you're a heavy smoker, doctors advise that you cut down, but dont try to quit entirely, as this is an added strain"

Hilarious. Shows you how times do change quite a bit.