The.Afalavas.: M A H L I . B O Y

M A H L I . M I T C H . W A Y N E . A F A L A V A

It's been a while since the last update, which was the gender announcement. I didn't really get to explain much about the pregnancy so here it goes.

In January 2012 I miscarried at 11 weeks pregnant and that left us feeling sad, frustrated, upset, empty, disappointed, tired, drained etc. It was obviously very unexpected and it took a while for us to forget. We didn't want to linger on the loss for a long time, so we tried again. From then on we continuously tried, and after 4-5 months I just thought that we should stop trying because nothing was happening. We thought there was something wrong with me. Then we thought something was wrong with my Husband. But really it was just a waiting game. It wasn't up to us on when we could fall pregnant. It was all the Lord. It's kind of weird when you 'try for things and it doesn't happen' and then when you 'don't try for things and it does happen' - yeah well that's what happened to us.

So in July, at 3 weeks, I was just too anxious to find out if I was pregnant and surprisingly I did! I was so happy. But also scared. I didn't want to lose another. And I really didn't know what I was in for. And I was also slightly afraid because I thought that my Dad would be disappointed that I hadn't finished University. However, when I told him, he took it well and just made sure I'd stay in Uni which I had already chosen to do.

I was told of sickness, cravings, uncomfortable sleep, constant peeing, eating, etc. Well me? I'm bound to get sick. It's just in me lol. My immune system really isn't strong. I got an earache/infection that lasted two days and I got tonsilitis ontop of the pregnancy sickness. Although, I was lucky enough to not have much sickness. I ate a banana one day and threw it up straight away. That was my sickness. I am forever put off banana's now lol. I peed a WHOLE lot. That was annoying, early pregnancy & late pregnancy. I NEVER had cravings. I had very uncomfortable sleep in the later months of pregnancy. I didn't really feel the need to eat much either. I didn't swell up. My feet did in the last few weeks but that was all. I was so happy that I could still fit into my clothes throughout the whole pregnancy :)

I honestly felt like my belly was small, but people were telling me I was huge. I am grateful though, that I was mostly all belly. I put on weight, but not a whole lot. I was so scared that I was going to gain a lot, but I didn't... til now lol. I didn't know what labour was going to be like, so like most first time mothers I watched tv programs and googled everything about it. Google was pretty much my best friend throughout the pregnancy when I wanted to know anything about what was happening to me or baby. I had an app called "What to expect" that was great! My Husband thought I was crazy always searching things on google. It was funny. Speaking of my Husband. He was great. Throughout the whole pregnancy, he has been the best support person. I had so many mood swings, he would make sure I was always comfortable, he would treat me like a Queen (he does that everyday, but this was different). He was just great!

I loved being pregnant. You really miss it after you've had them. You so badly want them out when they're inside, but you miss it. Well I do. But not the back pain & uncomfortable sleeps. I could not wait til I could sleep on my tummy. And bend down! That was difficult lol. I wish I took more photos though. Like the week by week or month by month progress. That would've been awesome. I feel though that my pregnancy was beautiful. I loved it.

Giving birth on the other hand, OH MY GOSHNESS! That was one insane, crazy, extremely painful moment of my life. I am glad I could experience it though. But yeah, it was just.... WOW. My mother in law had come to visit us in Australia which was perfect timing for baby to arrive. I thought he would arrive on March 28th but noooo, he wanted to cook more. I was having constant contractions on Tuesday 2nd April, but they were very irregular - but still, constant. They were sore! I had an appointment that day and the midwife said that baby was making his entrance very soon but if he didn't show any signs of arrival I would've been induced on Sunday 7th. Anyways, contraction after contraction, I breathed through it and just wanted it to be over. I didn't want anyone to make me laugh, cause it was sore as! I wanted baby out ASAP so I tried to be as active as I could. I went for walks, I stayed on my feet, I went shopping lots and sat up most of the time. It was very difficult to lay down. That tuesday night my Husband was working 2hrs away so my mother-in-law and I stayed at my parents house and because I couldn't sleep and was having contractions I texted my husband and he was soooo worried that baby was coming then! But I wasn't in INTENSE pain so I told him to relax.. He got home early Wednesday morning still freaking out that I was about to have him, but still, the contractions weren't intense and regular. He freaked out so much he got me to call the hospital and the midwife knew I wasn't ready, so she said stay home. The next day, Thurs at 1.30am I woke up with really sore contractions lasting over a minute, coming every 4minutes. After an hour & a half of being up by myself, walking around, squatting, sitting up, etc I finally woke Samala up and said - this it it! We called the hospital and I was in too much pain to talk so my mum spoke to the midwife and they said to come in. At 3.30am we headed to the hospital, Mum, my mother in law, and my husband. He was driving like baby's head was out hahaha so funny. I wanted to get there in one peace so I had to be brave and smile through my contractions.

I was 4cm dilated when we got to the hospital and from then on, I had the ride of my life. I never knew the exact pain that women feel when they give birth to a child, naturally. Might I just say that women are amazing!? It was funny when we got there. My mum had all three cameras ready to record everything, she had her laptop charging so she could load photos/videos on when they got full and have all our phones charging to make sure we could update everyone. In the delivery suite, we could play music and my soothing music was Hawaiian songs and Church songs :) I was so tired, drained and I could barely stand. I didn't make much progress so the midwife broke my waters at 9am. I was then put on the IV drip and when they put the needle in, O M to the G, it was like they didn't know where my vein was. I tried to sit on the gym ball as long as I could but then the shower became my best friend - the warmth of the shower was amazing. Two hours just sitting in the shower was amazing. Samala came in with me and helped soothe me. Time felt like it was going so slow. Contractions were getting worse and it came time to push. One and a half hours of pushing! It felt like a poo coming out of my bum. But the size of a watermelon, with thorns on it LOL! I went into so many different positions but the old school lay on your back with legs up was the most comfortable for me. I never thought that I'd be one to scream but that pain was an exception. I screamed my head off like I've never done before. When I watched tv shows, I thought the women who scream were funny - and that became me! I was so weak, my legs looked like they were having a spasm/fit a majority of the time, I could barely keep my eyes open and it honestly felt like I was going to pass out. When I was pushing, they would say "he's nearly there! Good job, one more push.." Ahhh I looked in the mirror and I could see like a little circle, THEY LIED TO ME! Well my last few pushes, I screamed like there was no tomorrow - poor midwife, mums and hubby lol. The midwife actually got annoyed that I did that though because I couldn't hear her when she told me to stop because his head came out and his arm was twisted. After the head, everything just slid out - BEST FEELING OF RELIEF EVER!!!!! The midwife put him in my arms and I cried, honestly though, not because he was finally here but because my vag was soooooooooooooooooo sore lol. Baby felt slimey and squishy and that's all I'd say.

Samala cut the umbilical cord, I got stitches and 40mins after giving birth I showered and came out acting like I never even had a baby - I could've run a marathon... Later that night, it hit me! I had no muscles strength! Sitting/laying down was hard, going to the toilet, walking around.. But I couldn't stay still beause I had one cry baby. He hated being wrapped up, and he hated being alone in his cot/bed - so the nurse allowed him to sleep with me. He was treated like a king lol