My name is Shawna, and I'm married to a wonderful man named Vinny. My dh & I were high school sweethearts, went to the prom, etc. We split up for a few years, then got back together & got married. I'm 25, & Vinny is 26.
We lost twin boys on Nov 3, 1998 at 22 wks gestation, from TRAP Sequence. (acardiac twin) In January of 1999, we started ttc, & got pregnant within a month. I had morning sickness for a few months, but nothing major. My pregnancy was uneventful, we saw a midwife & took vitamins, etc.
Teresa was born on Tuesday, November 9, 1999 in a planned home birth, drug-free. I had been having mild contractions all day, but things started to get serious around 9 or 10 PM. My water had to be broken around 5 AM, & after 3 or 4 pushes Teresa popped out! (we used a birthing stool)
All the pics I have of the birth show Teresa red & screaming, unless I'm nursing her. This was my clue, lol. Her first few months are kind of a blur of marathon nursing sessions - she wanted to nurse ALL DAY LONG. She didn't want to be anyplace else but in my arms. No bouncy seat, no swing, no stroller, HATED the car. We were completely at a loss. Aren't babies supposed to like the car? LOL I have vivid memories of calling dh at work crying, begging him to come home & hold the baby so I could just take a shower - showers were such a precious commodity back then! All day, I just walked her around & nursed.
Nighttime got much better when I realized Teresa wanted to sleep in bed with us. I tried the bassinette for a week, never worked. Once she was in our bed, nighttime sleeping was OK. She woke to eat, but between feedings we got a decent 3-4 hrs!! Naptimes, I had to hold her, IF she napped.
As Teresa got older, things slowly got better. I have always thought that she just seemed so frustrated with being a baby! When she gained the ability to crawl & cruise, that was a turning point. She wasn't stuck in one spot anymore, so she spent some time - albeit not much - playing on the floor.
Now, though, things are even better. At 13 months, Teresa is walking, and she really enjoys playing. (and getting into everything!! LOL) She is talking a little, too. For HN kids, it definitely does get easier as they get older - of course, now we have tantrums, lol. I still hold her for some of her naps, but she sleeps all night now too, still in our bed. :-)
I've had to face a lot of opposition from my whole family, all of whom think I am spoiling her by holding her, by not letting her cio. If only they could understand! I've learned, somewhat, how to ignore them. They would never know unless they lived with her, that those methods would never work for her. By using AP with Teresa, we've got a workable situation now, instead of the days of desperation when I thought it was all my fault. Thank goodness I found both Dr. Sears, & the Babycenter HN BB!! Everyone there is so incredibly wonderful & supportive!
Even with the bad days, I am sure that this H/N personality will be an asset to her as she grows - she constantly amazes me. I love her so much!!!
Shawna & Teresa 11/9/99 "TeresasMom"