Introducing ... David Rylen Civello

At 40 weeks and 5 days ... David Rylen Civello made his grand entrance at 8:17amPST. He weighed 8lbs 1oz and is 21.75" long. After a long 24 hrs in labor ... his delivery brought on an abundance of love and affection. Mike and I cannot believe he's here and look forward to sharing his growth and progress with everyone.

If you have photos of David, or want to give him some "life advice" ... you can email him at DavidRylenCivello@gmail.com. We welcome all to wish him the best start on his new life and to keep in touch this way.

Here ... I'm about to be admitted to the hospital ... I can't believe my belly got that big. But he did come awfully big!!

David's first photo ... he'd just been bathed by Nurse Debbie (go figure :) ) and his daddy. He's just 36 minutes old.

So comfy with mommy ...

Can you tell they're related?

The first family photo ... and we're on our way home!!!!!!

Keep posted here for updates on his growth and the happenings of the "New Civello Family".

-- danielle & mike

Week 40: Small Pumpkin (weight)

Ok Mr. Futz ... your dad has been ready for almost 2 weeks now for your arrival. I on the other hand have only become anxious in these last waning days. I'm NOT so thrilled with the thought of you staying in there much longer and getting much closer to that 10lb mark (thanks to Mike and my mom for THAT realization at 1am). If you wouldn't mind starting your departure of my womb and arrival into the outside world ... I would be appreciative. I love you ... mommy.

Here we are ... 40 weeks by my mark. After today ... he's officially "late". And everything ... I mean everything is ready for him. On to the update ............

How your baby's growing:

It's hard to say for sure how big your baby will be, but the average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds (a small pumpkin) and is about 20 inches long. His skull bones are not yet fused, which allows them to overlap a bit if it's a snug fit through the birth canal during labor. This so-called "molding" is the reason your baby's noggin may look a little conehead-ish after birth. Rest assured — it's normal and temporary.

How your life's changing:

After months of anticipation, your due date rolls around, and... you're still pregnant. It's a frustrating, but common, situation in which to find yourself. You may not be as late as you think, especially if you're relying solely on a due date calculated from the day of your last period because sometimes women ovulate later than expected. Even with reliable dating, some women have prolonged pregnancies for no apparent reason.

You still have a couple of weeks before you'll be considered "post-term." But to be sure your baby is still thriving, your practitioner will schedule you for testing to keep an eye on her if your pregnancy continues.

You may have a biophysical profile (BPP), which consists of an ultrasound to look at your baby's overall movements, breathing movements (movement of her chest muscles and diaphragm), and muscle tone (whether she opens and closes her hand or extends and then flexes her limbs), as well as the amount of amniotic fluid that surrounds her (important because it's a reflection of how well the placenta is supporting your baby).

Fetal heart rate monitoring (called a nonstress test or NST) will generally be done as well — by itself or as part of the BPP. Or, you may have what's known as a modified BPP, which consists of an NST and an ultrasound to assess the amount of amniotic fluid.

If the fetal testing isn't reassuring — the amniotic fluid level is too low, for example — you'll be induced. If there's a serious, urgent problem, you may have an immediate c-section.

Your practitioner will also check your cervix to see if it's "ripening." Its position, how soft it is, how effaced (thinned out) it is, and how dilated (open) it is can all affect when and how your labor is induced. If you don't go into labor on your own, you'll be induced, usually sometime between 41 and 42 weeks.

3 Questions About...Inducing labor

Q1.What does it mean to induce labor?
If your labor doesn't start on its own, your practitioner can use certain medications and techniques to help bring on or "induce" contractions. She'll do this when the risks of prolonging your pregnancy are higher than the risks of induction. Most practitioners will induce labor if you're still pregnant between one and two weeks after your due date. This is because the placenta may become less effective at delivering nutrients at around 42 weeks, and other serious complications become more likely as you pass your due date.

Q2.How is labor induced?
There are a variety of methods, and the one your practitioner uses will depend on your individual situation — in part, on the condition of your cervix (whether it's ripe or not) and the urgency of the induction.

Typically, if you need to be induced but your cervix is not yet dilated or thinned out, you'll be admitted to the hospital and your caregiver will likely start off the induction by inserting medication that contains prostaglandins into your vagina. This medication helps to ripen the cervix and may also stimulate enough contractions to start your labor.

If the prostaglandins don't put you into labor, your caregiver will then administer a drug called Pitocin (also known as oxytocin). It's given through an IV and used to start labor or augment contractions you've been having on your own. (If your cervix is ripe to begin with, she'll start with the Pitocin straightaway.)

Q3.Are there any techniques for kickstarting labor that I can try myself?
There are no do-it-yourself techniques consistently proven to be both safe and effective so don't try anything without guidance from your caregiver. Here's the scoop on some of the methods you may have heard about:
• Sexual intercourse: Semen contains prostaglandins and having an orgasm may stimulate some contractions. A few studies have shown that having sex at term may decrease the need for labor induction, but others have shown it has no effect on promoting labor.
• Nipple stimulation: Stimulating your nipples releases oxytocin, and it may help start labor, but more research is needed to determine the safety and effectiveness of this method. Because it may overstimulate your uterus, your contractions and your baby's response to them would need to be monitored so don't try this at home.
• Castor oil is a strong laxative, and stimulating your bowels may cause some contractions. There's no definitive proof that it helps induce labor though plenty of women can attest to its unpleasant effects!
• Herbal remedies: A variety of herbs are touted as useful for labor induction. Some are risky because they can cause contractions that are too long or too strong and may be unsafe for your baby for other reasons as well. For others, the safety and effectiveness remain unknown.

This Week's Activity:

Kick back and relax. Rent some movies, read a novel, curl up with a stack of magazines or a new CD, sleep in or grab catnaps when you can.You're in the final stretch and you deserve some downtime! If you're go-go-go right up until delivery you'll be depleted by the time your baby arrives, says clinical psychologist Diane Sanford.

As for me ...

• In my instance ... today's date ... is based off ovulation. The doctor's date based on the first day of my last cycle was Thursday June 17th. Therefore ... after today ... I am late :P
• I have a NST (non-stress test) scheduled for June 24th (Thurs). A week past my "due" date.
• If Mr. Futz still hasn't shown by Monday June 28th at 7am ... then I call L&D at Kaiser in Walnut Creek and let them know I'm coming. I'm supposed to eat a hearty breakfast as that's my last full meal until he's here. And then I check in at 8am to be induced. Technically ... Kaiser induces at 2 weeks past your due date but due to our insurance quandry, my doc is being obliging and inducing me a few days earlier to make sure there are no issues.
• I'm NOT drinking castor oil ... no thanks. Doc said no to pregnancy pizza. I already still walk a ton so Mike and I might try a longer walk or just walk faster/harder. Spicy food might just give me bad indigestion and make my mouth feel on fire (not so comfy to me if I do actually go into labor) and Nicole/Nick are preeching sushi but I really want the next time I eat sushi to be the REAL DEAL. :) I got a prenatal massage on Friday and they did tell me that there is a spot in my ankle that Mike could rub that is a place they must stay away from in massage therapy for pregnant women because it can cause contractions. We might try that one. Lol!!
• And relaxing ... I'm to the point that because I'm ready ... there is no longer such a thing as relaxing because I'm getting uptight (just ask Mike who's getting the brunt end of it and my mom who's playing ref. :P ). I'm still getting plenty of rest and taking time to chill don't worry ...

Well kids ... I'm hoping this is the last week I have to type this out. Here's to hoping the next time I send an update I'm sending one with photos of Mr. Ftuz.

Love you all ...

-- danielle & mike

Week 39: Small Watermelon

Hello everyone!!! Can you believe it ... any day now and he'll truly be here. Although I'm beginning to believe he's truly content in there even though he is constantly losing more and more space. I'm still pretty darn active. I've slowed down a bit but still moving and shaking as Dani does. I'm even able to still do my 2.3mile walk around home. As crazy as it seems and as big as I am ... there were still women BIGGER than me at our breastfeeding class on Saturday. And they're all due mid/late July or early August. So there!! :P

Our house is spotless and clean and I'm very adament that it stay that way for as long as possible. Like normal Anna did a great job and let me know that she'll wait to hear from me after Mr. Futz arrives to come help clean again while I'm recovering.

My mama comes out tomorrow and I'm excited to have someone around. I've decided that I'm used to being home when Mike is home so without him here I get a bit lonely. Although I've managed to keep busy up to this point with errands and cleaning and organizing. But since I got 99% of it done last week "just in case", then I'm not really sure what to do with myself this week. I refuse to turn on the TV because day time TV is terrible ... so I let the internet take away some time. On to the weekly update ... :)

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

How your life's changing:

At each of your now-weekly visits, your caregiver will do an abdominal exam to check your baby's growth and position. She might also do an internal exam to see whether your cervix has started ripening: softening, effacing (thinning out), and dilating (opening). But even armed with this information, there's still no way for your caregiver to predict exactly when your baby is coming. If you go past your due date, your caregiver will schedule you for fetal testing (usually a sonogram) after 40 weeks to ensure that it's safe to continue the pregnancy. If you don't go into labor on your own, most practitioners will induce labor when you're between one and two weeks overdue — or sooner if there's an indication that the risk of waiting is greater than the risks of delivering your baby without further delay.

While you're waiting, it's important to continue to pay attention to your baby's movements and let your caregiver know right away if they seem to decrease. Your baby should remain active right up to delivery, and a noticeable slowdown in activity could be a sign of a problem. Also call if you think your water may have broken. Membranes rupture before the beginning of labor in about 8 percent of term pregnancies. Sometimes there's a big gush of fluid, but sometimes there's only a small gush or a slow leak. (Don't try to make the diagnosis yourself. Call even if you only suspect you have a leak.) If you rupture your membranes and don't start contractions on your own, you'll be induced.

Surprising Facts: How your body changes after giving birth

Even if your labor and delivery was fast and easy, it will take some time for you to feel like your old self again. It may be hard, but try to remember that it took nine months to get here, so you won't bounce back — emotionally or physically — overnight.

What to expect from your body:
• You'll start losing weight right away. While you probably won't return to your pre-pregnancy weight for some time, most women are about 12 pounds lighter after delivering one 7- to 9-pound baby and losing another pound or two of placenta and another two pounds or so of blood and amniotic fluid. Although it will take a while for your body to regain its pre-pregnancy shape — that pregnant belly may stick around for longer than you'd like — by the end of the first week, you'll probably have lost about 4 pounds of water weight.
• You'll have lochia discharge. After your baby is born, the cells that form the lining of your uterus will begin to slough off. This results in a discharge called lochia that lasts for weeks. At first, this discharge is mixed with blood, so it appears bright red and menstrual-like, then it gradually gets lighter in color, finally fading to white or yellow before it stops.
• Your emotions will be in flux. Within the first week or two of giving birth, many new moms experience the "baby blues." You may find yourself moody and weepy, exhausted, unable to sleep, or feeling trapped or anxious. Your appetite can change, too — you might want to eat more or less. The good news is this emotional upheaval will generally pass within two to three weeks.
Call your caregiver if:
• You have signs of abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as soaking more than one sanitary pad in an hour, passing blood clots bigger than a golf ball, or bright red bleeding that occurs four days or more after you give birth. You may have what's called a delayed postpartum hemorrhage. (Note: Call 911 if you're bleeding profusely or if you have any signs of shock, including lightheadedness, weakness, rapid heartbeat or palpitations, rapid or shallow breathing, clammy skin, restlessness, or confusion.)
• You have signs of infection, which may include any fever; lower abdominal pain or foul-smelling discharge (signs of endometritis); difficulty urinating, painful urination, cloudy or bloody urine (signs of a urinary tract infection); redness, tenderness, discharge, or swelling around the site of a wound (such as a c-section incision, episiotomy, or laceration); a painful, hard, reddened area, usually only on one breast, and fever, chills, muscle aches or fatigue, and possibly a headache (signs of mastitis, a breast infection).
• You have signs of postpartum depression, such as being unable to sleep even when your baby sleeps, having any thoughts of harming your child, crying all day long for several days in a row, or having panic attacks.
How to recover more quickly:
• Get as much rest as you can, and make an effort to sleep when your baby sleeps. This can be tough advice to follow, especially during the day, but it really helps.
• Limit visitors and the time you spend with them. Consider turning off the phone and posting a "we're napping" message on your door to discourage drop-ins.
• Eat a well-balanced diet.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and sugared sodas.
• Accept all offers for help with cooking, cleaning, childcare, errands, and the like. If you aren't receiving offers, ask for help. It's hard, but trust us, your friends and family want to help and most will be honored you asked. If you can't get help for free, consider hiring a mother's helper, cleaning lady, or others who can give you a break.
• Don't isolate yourself. Talking to friends, relatives, and other new moms about your birth experience and life with a newborn can help you cope.

This Week's Activity:
If you're planning to breastfeed and haven't bought nursing bras yet, now is the time. Bring them to the hospital — you'll want them for comfort and support. Your breasts are likely much larger now than pre-pregnancy, and they'll probably increase one or two more sizes while you're nursing. While you're shopping, get some breast pads to tuck into your bra to absorb any leaks and some purified or "medical-grade" lanolin ointment for tender nipples. (Avoid lanolin if you're allergic to wool.)

As for me ...

• I don't have weekly visits ... not sure why Kaiser doesn't but part of it also is because I've had a normal pregnancy and not a hig risk one. Due to Kaiser's practice's and our health insurance conundrum, I will not be going past June 27/28. So until we get to a bit closer to that point (after our appointment on Thursday June 17th) we'll assume he's coming on his own. Which I would PREFER.
• He's still moving around in there ... keeping active and getting stronger. So movement hasn't changed ...
• Mike and I are attempting to be as prepared as possible ... and we're also not afraid to seek help if need be. We know that in the end ... it will only help us and not make us look weak. I can almost guarantee the one thing we'll need is food. :) I'm usually the cook although Mike is a great BBQ master. We just know that we'll be a bit busy. I'm looking into frozen meals too. We've even learned how awesome the whole cooked chickens from Safeway can be in a pinch.
• I'm certainly not a napper but I know that I will need to learn to sit and do nothing and "rest" even if I'm not asleep. Fortunately my mom was a great coach and mommy and taught us that lying down and just resting was sometimes just as valuable as sleeping. Making your body relax and chill even if you can't fall asleep. So I need to get better at that. Although I have lately and Mike has been ever so helpful in letting me and helping me do this when we're busy on the weekends.

]Well kids ... we'll keep everyone posted. It's all about phone trees.:)

Have a great week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- danielle & mike

Week 38: Leek (length)

Hey all ... wow ... I'm home now. And waiting for Mr. Futz to arrive will be agony. Lol!! We're definitely ready for him and can't wait for him to be an outside baby and be with him and get to see his personality for the first time.

Our appointment on last Friday went well and no we didn't ask her to guess how big he'd be. We wanted to ... but at the same time ... it's kind of fun only guessing and not really knowing. My body has started all it's normal processes and my contractions are becoming stronger, more frequent and lasting longer. All great things. And his heartbeat is responding well to those too.

Our next appointment isn't until June 17th. D-day by Kaiser's standards. Next and last class is this saturday. It's my breastfeeding class. I'm looking forward to it ... although I'm not so sure Mike is. Hahahah!! Below as normal ... here's the update. :)

How your baby's growing:

Your baby has really plumped up. He weighs about 6.8 pounds and he's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). He has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold his hand for the first time! His organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If he's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If he's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time he's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

How your life's changing:

For many women, the next couple of weeks are a waiting game. Use this time to prepare your baby's nursery or to take care of necessary tasks you may not get around to for a while after your baby's born. Take naps, catch up on your reading, and spend uninterrupted time with your partner while you can.

Some swelling in your feet and ankles is normal during these last weeks, but call your practitioner without delay if you notice excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, or have a sudden weight gain. Also let her know immediately if have severe or persistent headaches; visual changes (such as double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, light sensitivity, or a temporary loss of vision), intense upper abdominal pain or tenderness, or nausea and vomiting. These are symptoms of a serious condition called preeclampsia.

3 Questions About... Preparing to breastfeed

Q1.Why is breastfeeding considered the best way to feed a baby?
Breast milk is nature's most perfect food for babies. It has just the right proportion and types of proteins, carbs, and fats, along with almost all of the vitamins and minerals that a baby needs in the first six months of life. Dozens of studies have confirmed the benefits of breastfeeding and new ones are published all the time. Here's a look at some of the highlights. Breastfeeding can:
help protect your baby from diarrhea, respiratory problems, and ear infections.reduce your baby's risk for allergies, leukemia, and possibly obesity.reduce your stress level and risk of breast cancer.

Q2.What can I do to prepare for breastfeeding?
You can set yourself up for breastfeeding success by reading about how to breastfeed and learning where to turn for help if the going gets rough. Here are four key things to know:
• Insist that you and your baby have skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth (unless either of you has a medical complication) so you can start breastfeeding as soon as possible. If you have a c-section, ask that your baby join you in the recovery room as soon as your surgery is done.
• Realize that nursing doesn't come naturally to every woman, and if you're feeling discouraged, you're not alone. Get help early while you're still at the hospital or birth center to make sure you and your baby get the hang of breastfeeding before you go home.
• Nurse your newborn frequently — eight to 12 times every 24 hours. And unless medically necessary, your baby shouldn't get anything but breast milk until breastfeeding is well established (for the first few weeks at least).

Q3.Does breastfeeding hurt?
Just because breastfeeding is the most natural way to nourish your baby doesn't mean it's always easy. For many women, breastfeeding can be uncomfortable or even painful at first. Don't suffer in silence. Pain is often an indication that your baby isn't attached to your breast properly. Her mouth should cover a large part of your areola (the pigmented skin around your nipple). Your nipple should be far back in your baby's mouth. If nursing hurts after your baby's first few sucks, break the suction by inserting your little finger between your baby's gums and your nipple — and try again until you find a position that's less painful. Talk to a lactation consultant before you leave the hospital to make sure your baby is latching on to your breast correctly. If your hospital doesn't provide lactation support or you encounter difficulties after leaving the hospital, you can contact La Leche League International for help.

Some women are totally comfortable breastfeeding in public, while others feel self-conscious. If you're worried about it, carry a jacket or extra blanket with you when you go out with your baby. That way, if he needs to nurse before while you're out, you can drape it over your shoulder and your baby's head for privacy.

This Week's Activity:

Start reading up on baby care. If you haven't already, now is the perfect time to switch reading gears from pregnancy to baby. You won't have as much time to read after your baby's born, so learn all you can about the first few weeks now. A good place to start is BabyCenter's Preparing for a Newborn area.

As for me ...

• The swelling in my feet is still just as normal. It goes down and away and then comes back. The docs keep an eye on it and still no protein in my urine when I have my appointments or high blood pressure. My blood pressure has been great the whole pregnancy.
• The great thing about PwC ... is they provide a lactation specialist. And I have already been in touch with them and will be again as soon as I'm home with Mr. Futz.
• We've been reading "What to Expect the First Year" so we've gotten some newborn care reading in. But need to do more.

Other than that ... the last few days has been filled with organizing, cleaning, laundry and errands. Nicole and Kaitlyn kept me busy today. And tomorrow I'm getting my hair did. Last chance before Mr. Futz comes. On Thursday I'm getting my eyes taken care of. Mike loves his new eye doc and since we won't be in Denver till September ... I will run out of contacts before then ... so I'll get it done here. \

Friday we are having Anna come to clean. I can't wait for the house to be impeccably spotless ... without me or Mike having to do it. We'll just have to keep it up. We'll keep you all posted ... don't forget ... the first calls go to the parents (soon to be grandparents) then it'll spiral out from there. So have no fear ... we'll make sure no one gets missed!!! We love you ...............................

-- danielle & mike