So…after four and a half year at home with these beauties I will go back to work TOMORROW 🙈 I feel a little bit nervous, excited but most of all blessed🙏! Will I go back to my former work? Maybee, maybee not…I will tell you more about it this weekend😍
There is a secret in our culture, and it’s not that birth is painful. It’s that women are strong. – Laura Stavoe Harm
When the water broke
Friday, September 13th…the day I got to hold our little princess in my arms for the first time
Did I dream or was it for real? I could have sworn that I heard a “click”. I could barely tell if it was a dream until it felt like I was laying down in a waterbed that had sprung leak.
-Emil, Emil I think my water just broke! I said and almost started to cry.
He turned to me and calmly said…
-Oh thats good…yeah, that’s really good.
I had imagined this scenario in a completely different way. In my imagination I had seen Emil jump out of bed, trip on one of Melker’s tractors, stumble out of the bedroom, put on his clothes in a hurry so that the socks ended up on his hands and the pants on his head but no…this was not how it happened. Well…I guess you don’t get as easily stressed out when you are expecting your third child.
A short while after my water broke I called the birth center. But before I did I just had to make sure it really was amniotic fluid and not urine. After all, I had been close to pee myself several times this pregnancy. I looked and I smelled but neither did it look or smell like pee? Could I bee sure that it was my water then? Yes I could…normally there is no blood on the paper after peeing.
I called the birth center and they gave me an appointment at half past one to start the delivery if the contractions did not get started by themselves. I thought “What…no chance that this appointment will be necessary? The contractions started without any help with the big sister…why would it be different this time?”. Well…maybe I was wrong…the hours went by but no contractions. I started to lose my patience and I was tired of changing my panties and the towel in it every fifteen minutes. I was like a leaking water balloon and had to walk around with a towel between my legs throughout the morning! If you are pregnant or planning on getting pregnant I will give you a tip so that you don’t have to use this doubtful towel method if your water brakes. Take a pair of your partner’s underwear, a diaper of your child then combine these two and you get the best protection ever. I used this “underweardiaper” and I wish that I had come up with the idea earlier.
Heading to the hospital
After all the hours of waiting, I was actually unsure if the delivery would start without help. I changed panty after panty (well, until I put on my “underweardiaper” so to say), I watched twilight, I listened to my husband’s feet running from room to room with the vacuum cleaner at maximun power…but no contractions. I waited and waited until I felt…yes I actually felt something and it did even hurt. Ops, my misstake..I just needed to do number two…what a disappointment.
When the clock struck eleven I was losing my hope. Maybe that appointment would be relevant after all? I sat down on the couch and prayed a desperate prayer and you know what…shortly after I got my first contraction. When it was half past twelve, I felt it might be time to call the birth center. Actually, It didn’t hurt that bad and the contractions might not come as close as the midwives want them to before coming in but somewhere I felt that now…now it’s close. I exaggerated my condition slightly and pulled out a little lie which paid off because the women at the birth center welcomed us. When we got in the car I felt that it was a big risk that they would send us home again but at the same time something inside me said that this was the last trip without our little baby girl. We stepped into the birth center at 12.55 and I immediately regretted the exaggeration because the contractions still came too rarely and they were just too…comfortable. It’s so embarrassing having to be sent home…this is the third time…I should know better.
Giving birth
At the birth center we got a private room with a toilet, bathtub and a shower…HALLELUJA! My stomach had been in a really bad condition the whole morning and the toilet had been my best friend. I mentioned to Emil that I was scared to gas everyone to death and apparently our midwife heard what I said because she started to laugh. She also said that I could get enema so that I could go on the toilet properly. Wait a minute…did she say that I could get enema? But…I hadn’t even been enrolled. Well…apparently I already was. They did it immediately when we arrived since the water broke so many hours ago…from now on they wanted to keep me and little M under supervision. Well, thank you…I could finally relax. Or wait a minute…we hadn’t brought any things with us..everything was in the car. What about the camera, the music player and the candy we brought with us? Hmm…it could wait…after all, giving birth doesn’t happen in the blink of an eye. First I can take enema and then they can connect me to CTG. When I was connected everything looked perfect…but…I must say that there didn’t seem to be much power in those contractions. I felt like a kid asking how many days it’s left to Saturday on a Sunday. I am not the one who is so easily drawn down into the swamp of bitterness but then I felt anything but positive.
In Sweden we have an expression that reads “suddenly it happens” and you know what…”suddenly it happens”. From a clear blue sky the lightning struck and pulled me on a painful journey…it did hurt so badly but I also welcomed it with open arms. Five minutes later I got another contraction and this one was the worst I ever had endured. It never faded…it only came peaks after peaks after peaks for several minutes. Is this how it feels to die?
-I can’t do this…I want epidural NOW! I said in pure pain.
The clock now showed 2 p.m and I was measured 5 cm open. What? I was completely devastated…how could I only be open 5 cm? On the bright side I still got time to get that epidural…what a relief. Meanwhile, I got nitrous oxide and that just in time for my next contraction who made the stars exploded over my head…I felt so dizzy!
– Emil, Emil do I look a little pale? I asked my husband. I feel so dizzy!
– No…you look like a freshly picked rose! The midwife answered before Emil got the chance to!
– It has to be the nitrous oxide that makes me dizzy. You know I’ve never been drunk, now I think I know how it feels, I said in a blur!
The midwife started to laugh, she looked at my husband and shook her head with a smile on her lips. The contractions just got worse and worse and I felt that now…now it’s close!
-Now it’s time for me to go home so I’m not gonna be here when your princess is born but before I leave I will meet the midwife and the nurse who will deliver your baby, our wonderful, beautiful, and loving midwife said.
I remember I took hold of her hand and asked her to stay.
-I feel so safe when you are here, I told her.
Kind as she was, she stayed and did the handover in our room. So…all of a sudden I had four wonderful women around me…two midwives a nurse and a student. The new women introduced themselves and then they started to go through the 70 minutes that have passed. All of a sudden my body started to take over and I had no control.
– The baby is coming! I quivered through the nitrous oxide mask. Emil you must get our things now. You must get the camera NOW!
everyone turned to me and looked a little shocked. They pulled down my pants and panties and I hear one of them burst out…
-Yes, the baby is coming!
-Emil…the camera…NOW!
All of a sudden I felt so stressed…10 minutes before I was only open 5 cm and the camera…where is the camera!
-Am I really completely opened? What if my vagina tear? I asked frightened.
And right then I felt a “plop”.
-The head is out…don’t push just follow your body! I heard one of them say!
I got a second labour contraction…
-Did I poop myself?” I asked worriedly.
-No you didn’t…continue like you do honey, I can see her! I heard Emil say cheering on me.
All in all I got three labour contractions and after four minutes of them I could hear the long-awaited scream. She was here…she was finally here.
-Congratulations to you little baby girl…I got to see her enter this world after all! The midwife who welcomed us said in joy.
This birth was both a dream and a nightmare. None of my previous deliveries has ever hurt that bad but thanks to the powerful contractions our beauty was born fast. Before we came to the birth center, my head thought that they would tell us to go home again, but my heart said it would go fast and that we would have our daughter with us in no time…the heart was right. We only spent one hour and fifteen minutes at the hospital before we had our beautiful girl in our arms.
Now I just want to send my thanks to the staff at Näls birth center for supporting us through everything that it means to give birth. But above all…thank you Emil for being there holding my hand and cheering on me when I needed it the most. You are a wonderful husband and father and I look forward seeing our children grow up side by side with you…you are amazing ❤
Thank you lord for this precious blessing! There seems to be no greater physical gift than this sweet bundle of joy, sent straight from you. Her perfect little fingers and toes, the way she smell like heaven, the love that bubbles up – unmatched in its depth. It’s a wonderful kind of overwhelmed.
Please bless this baby, Lord. Place a shield of protection around her little body and guard her as she grow. Keep her safe and healthy, Lord. Help this little one to know she is deeply and wholly and forever loved – first by You, and then by so many of us. Bless this baby, Lord, and bless us surrounding her. Help us adjust to our new normal as we welcome this new person into our lives, hearts and home. Give us even one whole night of sleep, and give us strength and energy when the nights are short. Blanket our home in peace, grace, and love.
Thank you Lord, for this new life. We praise and thank You for Your good and perfect creation. Amen.
Idag har jag, Melker och Märta varit ute i skogen medan Malva varit på föris och pappa Emil jobbat. Just nu bjuder naturen på så otroligt mycket så vi passar på att vara ute så mycket vi bara kan.
Today, I, Melker and Märta have been out in the woods while Malva has been to pree school and daddy Emil has been working. Right now nature is offering so much so we stay outside as much as we can.
Jag tycker att det är så otroligt roligt att odla. Kanske inte så mycket grönsaker men frukter och bär. Vår frukt- och bärodling inte kommit igång än eftersom vi har ett nybyggt hus…men…jag har snälla svärföräldrar som delar med sig och så bor vi ju med skogen intill husknuten som också gärna delar med sig av det goda.
I think it’s so much fun to grow things in our garden. Well…vegetables is not my favourite but fruits and berries are. Our fruit and berry cultivation has not started to give harvest yet because we have a newly built house…but…I have kind in-laws who share their harvest with us and we also have the forest as a neighbour who also likes to share the goodies.
Denna lilla miniman…han ser så lycklig ut här. Verkligheten var dock annorlunda tidigare idag. Tio minuter innan hade han precis gråtit i en timma på grund av ilska för att han inte fick gå dit han ville. Han la sig på backen och där stod jag med lillasyster på magen och visste inte alls hur jag skulle få med honom. Det var bara att sätta sig snällt på en stubbe och vänta ut hans utbrott. Några gånger fick jag räkna till tio för att inte själv hamna på samma bana som han var inne på…ibland är det lätt att tappa lugnet. Men.. tillslut löste det sig och han bytte ut sina krokodiltårar mot detta charmiga leende!
This little man…he looks so happy. However…the truth is that he ten minuts earlier had been crying in anger for one hour because he could not go where he wanted to go. In protest he lay down on the ground end screamed so it felt like my ear would start to bleed. I was so frustrated because I had little sister on my belly and did not know how to get Melker with me…I could not carry him. In the and I just sat down on a stump and waited his outburst out. A few times I had to count to ten…sometimes it’s hard keeping calm. But…eventually we solved it all and he gave me this charming smile instead of his crocodile tears.
Kära herre…vi tycker så mycket om hösten. Tack för det goda som du ger oss att äta, tack för de fina färgerna och tack för den underbara luften som vi får andas in varje dag.
Dear lord…we really enjoy it being fall. Tank you for the berries, fruits and mushrooms, thank you for all the beautiful colours and thank you for the wonderful air we get to breathe every day.
Vårt utomhusprojekt är äntligen färdigt. Vi är så glada för denna lilla hörna där hela familjen kan samlas. Det är inte bara en plats att äta på…här kan vi läsa godnattsagor, njuta av regnet utan att bli blöta, ligga och vila, spela brädspel och så mycket mer. Det finns några småsaker kvar att göra. Jag vill att det ska bli lite mer ombonat…ni vet få till det där som gör vårt hem till just vårt. Jag tänkte få dit lite mer blommor, sätta upp belysning, införskaffa lite filtar och kuddar samt sätta lite ljus på bordet. Detta är så roligt tycker jag…jag älskar finishen❤️
Our outdoor project is finally finished. We are so happy for this corner where the whole family can gather. It’s not just a place to eat…here we can read bedtime stories, enjoy the rain without getting wet, get our afternoon nap, play board games and so much more. One thing that is left to do is to make it a little bit cozier with flowers, lamps, fabrics, candlelights and all that stuff that makes your home yours.Well…for me this is the fun part…I love to decorate❤️
Bebismagen…min älskade bebismage! De senaste två dagarna har jag fått känna av baksidan med att vara gravid. Jag har varit sååå trött både mentalt och fysiskt…så tufft. Jag har bara velat gråta och gömma mig i ett litet hål någonstans. Det tuffaste har dock varit kroppen. Känslan är att jag sprungit ett maratonlopp samtidigt som jag haft ångest. Hjärtat har rusat, jag har varit andfådd, musklerna har värkt och jag har liksom fått tänka på andningen. Jag vet att just detta varit tungt med de andra två men det har aldrig varit såhär jobbigt. Jag vet inte om det beror på att liten trycker på lungorna, att jag har brist på järn, att kroppen syresätter sig lite dåligt eller om jag bara är sååå trött. På torsdag ska jag till barnmorskan men jag hoppas innerligt att det hinner lugna sig tills dess. Har ni någon erfarenhet kring detta? Det må vara min tredje graviditet men det är alltid skönt att få stöd av andra❤️
Puss och kram
Baby belly…my lovely baby belly! The past two days I have felt the negativities about being pregnant. I have been so tired both mentally and physically…it’s so though. I have just been wanting to cry and hide in a whole somewhere. However, the toughest have been about my physically strength. I have felt like I have run a marathon and at the same time endured anxiety. I know that I have felt the exact same thing with my two other children but it has never affected me this much. I don’t know if it’s because our little one is pushing against my lungs, that my iron levels are low, that my body doesn’t oxygenates itself enough or if I’m just sooo tired. On Thursday I will meet my midwife but i hope that I have started to feel better by then. Do you have any experiences? This may be my third pregnancy but it’s always comforting to have support from others❤️
Veckans bästa start:
Att skriva denna punkt får mig alltid att tänka till lite extra kring hur viktigt det faktiskt är att hitta det positiva i det lilla. Det är ju långt ifrån varje måndag som bjuder på upplevelser då man känner…wow…detta kommer jag bära mig med långt framöver. Något som jag älskar men som jag kanske tar lite lite för mycket för givet är att få äta en god frukost tillsammans med dem jag älskar. Det är inte bara en startsträcka att få äta denna måltid tillsammans❤️
My weekly best start: Writing this part always makes me think a little extra about how important it is to see the positive in the little. It is far from every Monday that offers experiences when you feel…wow…I will carry this with me for a long time ahead. Something I love but might take for granted is to have a tasty breakfast with those I love. It’s not just a meal you eat to refill you’re energy❤️
Veckans to do list:
Måndag: Ut på cykeläventyr med familjen.
Tisdag: Flädersaft ska göras och jag kommer undervisa en av mina sångelever.
Onsdag: Idag postas del 2 av “our keys to a happy relationship”.
Torsdag: Träffa Barnmorskan.
Fredag: Det ska bli regn och vad passar då bättre än att ha lite innemys.
Lördag: Bara vara och ha lite lördagsmys på kvällen.
Söndag: Utvärdering av den gångna veckans utmaning.
My weekly to do list: Monday: We are going on an adventure by bike with the family. Tuesday: Elderflower juice is on the agenda this day and so are also my song student. Wednesday: Today I will post part 2 of “our keys to a happy relationship”. Thursday: I will meet my midwife. Friday: This is going to be a rainy day så we take the opportunity to have a great day inside…that is also needed sometimes. Saturday: We have nothing planned except for the Saturday candy. Sunday: Evaluation of the past week’s Challenge.
Veckan nystart:
Det har inte alls gått bra med utmaningen jag gav mig själv förra veckan. Jag har fått blackouts när jag sjungit och glömt text men jag har aldrig fått det i en sån här situation. Jag har aldrig haft så svårt att ge min kropp komplimanger som jag har nu. Antagligen beror detta på att jag blir påverkad av sociala medier men också att jag är gravid och bara ser alla delar av mig själv växa. Att jag påverkas av sociala medier är ingen annans fel…jag tillåter mig själv att bli påverkad. Jag kan önska hur mycket jag vill att idealen såg annorlunda ut men istället för att bara se på så gör jag något åt det genom att lära mig filtrera alla intryck❤️
Veckans utmaning:Älska din kropp
Fortsätt att skriva 2 saker jag tycker om med min kropp varje dag. Sålla informationen som kommer till mig genom media…ta hjälp av Emil❤️
My weekly fresh start: It has not gone well with the challenge I gave myself last week. I have got blackouts when I have sung in front of an audience but I have never got one in a situation like this. I have never had such a hard time giving my body compliments as I have now. This is probably because I get affected by social media but also that I am pregnant and only see all parts of myself grow. The fact that I am affected by social media is no one else’s fault…I let myself get affected. I can wish how much I want that the ideals would be different but instead of doing nothing I do what I can by learning how to filter all of the impressions that reaches me❤️
My weekly challenge: Love your body Continue to write 2 things I like with my body each day. Filter the information you get thru media…ask Emil for help❤️
Det är så lyxigt att bara behöva gå några få minuter och så är vi nere vid sjön där vi kan åka båt, fiska och bada. Till Malvas stora glädje har vi hunnit med att göra alla tre sakerna idag.
Today we have spent our day at home…down by the lake❤️
It’s incredible luxurious that we can walk for just a few minutes and then we are down by the lake where we can ride the boat, fish and swim. To Malva’s great joy we have checked all three things today.
Min fina flicka som var så taggad på att fiska. Tyvärr var det ingen fisk som nappade men tur var kanske det🙈
My beautiful girl who had been locking forward to go fishing. Unfortunately she didn’t get a fish…but maybe that was for the best🙈
Min lilla familj…alla samlade på ett och samma ställe. Jag känner mig välsignad som har dem vid min sida och att vi får göra alla dessa roliga saker tillsammans❤️
My little family…all gathered in one place. I feel blessed that I have them by my side and that we get to do all this funny things together❤️
Någon som älskar att bada och som gärna ville skvätta lite på badkrukan bakom kameran…tur att pappa E kom till undsättning😂
Someone who loves to swim and who loves to splash on the mom behind the camera…I was not as delighted as she was. Lucky for med her dad came to rescue😂
Vår egna Ferdinand. Hon tycker inte heller om att bada men just nu är det så varmt för henne på dagarna som många gånger ger vi henne inte några valmöjligheter🙈
Our own Ferdinand. She doesn’t like to swim either but it’s so hot for her nowadays so many times we doesn’t give her a choice🙈
Vi stannar alltid för att plocka lite smultron längs vägen…enligt Melker är detta bär “namnam”. När han utrycker sig så gulligt så kan vi inget annat än stanna för att njuta hur bråttom vi än har❤️
Puss och kram
We always stop to pick some wild strawberries along the way..according to Melker this berry is “namnam”. When he expresses himself so cute, we can do nothing but stop to enjoy even if we’re in a hurry❤️
Varje år åker vi och plockar jordgubbar…det är en tradition och vi älskar den. Tänk att få njuta av detta goda bär under hela vintern. De är visserligen inte färska men det är så gott att göra kräm, sylt, saft och att lägga mellan tårtorna.
Every year we plock strawberries…it’s a tradition and we love it. Imagine to be able to enjoy this berry throughout the winter. Well…they are not fresh but you can do cream, jam, juice and use between the layers in your cake…it’s so delicious.
Alla hjälpte till att plocka jordgubbarna…till och med de minsta i familjen.
Everyone helped to pluck the strawberries…even the smallest in our family.
Tja…alla hjälpte till att plocka men vissa av oss stoppade mest i munnen🙈
Well…everyone helped to pick but some of us put most of it in their mouths🙈
Som du kan se!
As you can see!
Om du vill plocka jordgubbar i närheten av Vänersborg och Trollhättan så kan du åka till Bräckelids bär i Sollebrun
Puss och kram
If you want’t to pluck strawberries nearby Trollhättan och Vänersborg just gå to Bräckelids berries in Sollebrun.
Veckans bästa start:
Jag drömde länge om att få bygga hus i Stora Botered innan det blev verklighet. Detta lilla paradis ligger vid sjön, nära tre städer och man får andas frisk luft utan att det är långt in till staden. När vi tog beslutet om att bygga nytt var vi så nervösa…var detta verkligen rätt beslut? Jag måste säga att vi inte har ångrat oss en enda gång. Huset är precis så som vi ville ha det och läget är helt fantastiskt. Jag är så tacksam för vårt hem. Inte bara för att det är så vackert och att vi kan bada när vi vill…huset betyder så mycket mer. Det är vår fristad och det är här vår familj kommer svetsas samman. Tänk också vad det kan få betyda för andra. Vi vill ha ett öppet hem dit alla kan få komma och känna sig älskade precis så som de är❤️
My weekly best start: I dreamed about building houses in Stora Botered a lot before it became reality. This little paradise is located by the lake, close to three cities and you can breathe fresh air without being far from the city. When we made the decision to build our house from scratch we were so nervous…was this the right decision? I have to say that we haven’t regretted our choice once. The house is exactly as we wanted it and the location is absolutely fantastic. I’m so grateful for our home. Not just because it’s so beautiful and that we can go for a swim whenever we want to…the house means so much more. It is our sanctuary and this is where our family will grow strong. And just think what it can mean for others. We want an open home where everyone can come and go as they please and feel loved just the way they are❤️
Veckans to do list: Måndag: Idag måste jag arbeta i trädgården. Rabarbern behöver skördas, ogräs rensas och tistlar ryckas upp ur gräsmattan. Tisdag: Idag kommer vi fortsätta bygga på vårt uteprojekt. Onsdag: Det ser ut att bli dåligt väder så vi passar kanske på att åka till badhuset. Torsdag: Absolut inget inplanerat…vi tar dagen som den kommer. Fredag: Ni får veckans uppdatering “vad har hänt under graviditeten denna vecka?” Lördag: Lördagsmys med barnen…ni vet det där med godis och film🙈 Söndag: På förmiddagen åker vi till kyrkan.
My weekly to do list: Monday: Today I have to work in the garden. The rhubarb needs to be harvested, weeds cleaned and thistles removed from the lawn. Tuesday: Today we will continue to build on our outdoor project. Wednesday: It seems to be bad weather so we might go to the bathhouse. Thursday: Nothing planned…we take the day as it comes. Friday: You get this week’s pregnancy update. Saturday: Saturday candy and Saturday movie with the kids. Sunday: We are going to church.
Veckan nystart:
Denna vecka har jag varit hård mot min kropp. Magen har vuxit mycket under veckan och jag har funderat på hur det kommer påverka min kropp om den fortsätter växa i samma takt. Med Melker fick jag en stor mage i förhållande till min storlek…inte så konstigt då han vägde närmare 4300g. Detta påverkade kroppen otroligt mycket…den återhämtade aldrig formen och styrkan riktigt. Jag vet att jag ska se på min kropp med snälla ögon och att det är hjärnspöken som intalar mig massa strunt…men…ibland är det bara så svårt. Denna vecka ska jag använda mig av papper och penna för att tränga bort dessa onödiga tankar.
Veckans utmaning: Älska din mammakropp
Skriv upp två saker du tycker om med din kropp för varje dag som går❤️
Pussar och kramar
My weekly fresh start: This week I have been harsh against my body. My belly has grown a lot during the last week and I have been thinking about how it will affect my body if it continues to grow at the same rate. With Melker I got a big belly in relation to my size…it was understandable because he weighed almost 4300g. This affected my body incredibly much…it never recovered the shape and strength properly. I know that I should look at my body with kind eyes and that it’s the brain ghosts who’s trying to fill me with rubbish…but…sometimes it’s hard. This week I will use a pen and paper trying to surpress these unnecessary thoughts.
My weekly challenge. Love your mum body Write up two things you like about your body every day of this week❤️
Att spendera midsommar tillsammans med familjen är det perfekta sätt att fira den blomsterdagen❤️ Det är inte vilken dag som helst…det är en dag full av fina traditioner. Man binder kransar, klär en midsommarstång som man sedan dansar kring, man äter färskpotatis med sill och så äter man förstås nyplockade jordgubbar. Jag skulle säga att denna högtid är barnens dag…det är i alla fall vad den borde vara❤️
Spending midsummer together with the family is the perfect way to celebrate this flowery day❤️ It’s not any day…it’s a day full of many beautiful traditions. You tie midsummer wreaths, dress the midsummer pole, dance around it, eat new potato with herring and of course you eat freshly plucked strawberries for dessert. I would say that this day is the children’s day…or at least it should be❤️
Jag älskar jordgubbar och jag tror nog att jag älskar dem lite extra nu när jag är gravid. Jag måste dock säga att min craving hade kunnat vara värre😆
I love strawberries and I think I love them a little bit extra while pregnant. However, I have to say that my craving could have been worse😆
Familj…de är min familj…varenda en av dem❤️
Family…they are my family…everyone of them❤️
Jag har en stor familj men också en familj som inte är lika stor…det är familjen som jag har format tillsammans med min älskade man Emil❤️
I have a big family but I also have a family that isn’t that big…the family that I have formed with my beloved husband Emil❤️
Jag var såklart tvungen att föreviga min lilla bebismage. Jag vill så gärna kunna visa vår dotter dessa bilder när hon blir äldre. Och jag…jag kommer att vårda dessa minnen djupt i mitt hjärta❤️
And of course my little baby bump had to be photographed. I want to be able to show our little girl this pictures when she gets older. And I…I will cherish these memories deep within my heart❤️