Thread: Sweet November 2006 Birth Stories

ANDREA'S BIRTH STORY


Labor began at 11pm on 10/21. I had no noticable prelabor signs and contractions started at only 8 minutes apart and shortened to 5 minutes quickly. Dave and I decided to try and take a nap. We went to bed but I was unable to sleep. Eventually the contractions were strong enough that I couldn't lay still enough to stay in bed. I got up and went to the bathroom. Immediately the contractions changed to 3 minutes apart. I woke Dave up and he called the nurse. She told us to head to the hospital. It was now 2 am.

At the hospital, they put me on the monitor and checked me. At 3:30 am, I was fully effaced, 2 cm dilated. The MW warned me that they would check again in an hour and if I was not progressing they would send me home. While monitoring my contractions, the nurse noticed I was having "tails" on my contractions. In other words, each contraction would peak then start to tail off but it wouldn't end, instead it would peak again before finally relaxing. I told her I was concerned that the baby was posterior and she confirmed that this type of contraction is often seen with posterior babies.

We spent the next hour walking the hallways and mostly stayed on my feet or knees for laboring. I attempted hip rocks, etc to try and turn her from posterior. At 4:30, instead of checking me again, they announced they would give me another hour to progess. (Can you tell they didn't think I would?) Finally, the MW came back in. She commented that my contractions seemed to be intense (they were still thinking I wasn't going to be progressing). She checked me and I was already 5cm. Contractions were obviously doing their work and she congratulated me on doing well in laboring. It took a long time to get a fetal heartrate. I wasn't concerned at all, she was moving around like crazy and doing a great job of hiding from the monitor.

Kim was my nurse. She was great. She had already read my birth plan and was encouraging. She never offered meds, as requested, and gave helpful advice. She ran me a bath in the jacuzzi and encouraged me to sit back and relax. My first inclination was to continue trying to turn the baby, but she told me take a break and find a comfortable position instead. The jacuzzi was great, the jet felt great on my back. Contractions were getting stronger. Eventually I threw up. Again, Kim had to try and get a fetal heartrate, but our little girl would not cooperate. Kim tried for 40 minutes and finally I had to get out of the tub so that we could get one. My contractions were getting intense and it took a while to get back to bed. I chose a side position. It still took a long time to get the heartrate.

By this time I started moving into transition. Dave was great at staying at my side. During each contraction I would grab his hand and sqeeze. I had some trouble with the breathing exercises, but I kept up with them. Dave helped and Kim was great as well. Transition was so intense that I refused to move from my sidelaying position.

My water broke while I was laboring on my side. There was meconium (sp?) in the fluid, so they attempted to explain the procedure. I was so far into transition though that all I understood was I would have to stop pushing when her head came out so they could suction her.

I felt the urge to push and the MW said I could start trying to push. Her original attitude that I would not deliver quickly was still in place though because she actually left the room and told me later that she was in another woman's room who she thought would deliver before me. Hello! (I will never understand why they didn't catch on that I was moving much faster than their expectations.)

I turned to my knees on the bed for pushing. The bed was tilted up and I held on to the top. At first the pushing felt a little strange, but soon I could feel like I was doing it correctly. I could feel the pressure of her head. Dave and I went through the pushing stage with no help. I have no idea how long it took, but I felt her head crown and yelled at the nurse. Talk about freaking everyone out! She went flying out the door telling me to stop pushing. The MW came running in telling me not to push because they weren't ready (remember, they were concerned about the meconium). It took so long that her head actually slipped back in! Eventually they said to go ahead. I pushed her head back out in one push, then another push to push it through. The suctioned her then told me to push again. One more push and she was out completely. She cried as expected and I remember the relief of knowing she was okay. It took them a moment to get me turned around so I could hold her.

She was all white with vernix but healthy and beautiful. She was born posterior (!) and has two large bumps on her head to prove it. I ended up needing a lot of stitches, but they helped to start breastfeeding even while they were sewing. I felt so much relief and pride. Her weight was 7lb8ounces. She was 20 1/4 inches.

Andrea started breastfeeding immediately. They tell me she is doing great and that her strong latch totaaly took care of any problem with inverted nipples, Yeah!

We came home after 24 hours. Dave and I are overwhelmed with love for this little bundle.

Sorry its taken me so long to post this, But Here is Christian James Aten's Birth STORY!!!!

Christian James Aten
Born October 23rd 2006
Weighed 8lbs 9 oz 20"
Born at 5:17 PM

On the Morning of October 23rd, I was having really horrible contractions. They were alot stronger than I had been feeling that week, and no matter If i lied down, or was up, they were still consistant. Around 5:00 I was dying, and Told Tim to head down to the hospital. When I got there, They said i was dialated to a 4, and that we could go ahead and have him!! I was sooo Happy!!

So Around 7:30 am, They hooked me up to all the baby heart monitors, and he was having a really hard time staying in one place, so the heartbeat was all over the place, and so they called my doctor to come in and break my water, so that it would be easier to keep is heartbeat on monitor. So They broke my water around 8:30 and my contractions were getting closer together and more painful. Around 10:30, the contractions were so bad, that I was Yelling for my epidural! I really really dont know how people can give birth without it. I was about ready to rip my hair out!!
After THe epi was in, 11:00am, I was checked again, and was 6cm. YAY!
So I passed out. I kept on sleeping, and they came in and kept checking me, and i was still a 6. Around 4:00, the nurse checked me again, and she said, Well, your still a 6, which is worrying me, because he is really high up there, and not moving down into the birth canal, because he might be too big! So we might need to do a C section.
Whoa! So she said, we'll one more thing we'll try before we consider C-section. So she moved me to my left side.
I wasnt feeling much pain, but I could feel alot of pressure all of a sudden. I called the Nurse and told her to get in here ASAP cause I could feel lots of pressure down there. So she comes in, and im like, HIS HEAD is down there! I can feel it!!
"no Honey, Theres no way. You were a 6 only 10 minutes ago."
"listen lady, you better check it~! I really feel like his head is there!"
"Oh, well, OK......HOLY CRAP!!! OK dont push His head is almost out!!"

Dumb lady. Why dont they just listen to us??? We know what the hell is going on!

So she called the Doctor, told her to hurry and get here, that He was ready to come out. I was so sooo afraid this whole week about having him, expecially when I was thinking about having to push him out. But when I sat there, in my stirups, in all my gloryness, I've never felt a more peaceful feeling in my life. It was so odd. I was in such a good mood, It was just totally opposite from Asia's delivery.
So the Doc shows up at about 5:10pm and Puts on her gear, and said, OK lets go!~
So I push Once, and out comes his teeny little cute head!!
Push again, and out comes the body.
1 Little Contraction!
It was STORY book wonderful labor! I couldnt have asked for a better labor.
I tore a little bit, but it only needed two stitches.

So when he came out, he had the bluest face ever! I was so shocked! His body was nice and pink, and he came out with a big good cry. When the nurses took him away to clean him, they came back and told me, that when the nurse put me on my side, and I went from 6cm to 10cm's in about 15 minutes, he shot down the birth canal soo FAST, making his bruise all the way down. Poor baby!!!
He stayed with me for a good 4 hours before the nurses took him away to clean him up, and he was soo good. He just looked into my eyes, and I was just melting away. I couldnt believe my little son was here!

Oh and the first thing he did when they put him on my stomach after delievery, was Pee right on me!! What a cute little guy! I love him!

He's so perfect. I love holding him and looking at hiim all day. I cant wait until you girls have your babies. It is the most amazing thing in the whole world. Even though it was my second time, It was just so amazing to think that you ACTUALLY MADE another baby, and you love it soo soo much. Its just so truly amazing. I just cant believe it.
The pictures really dont do him justice. He's still really bruised and swollen in the face, But you should just see those dark little eyes look up at me. I want to die!! Hes so precious!!
Sorry im babbling now.

But His stats again, even though you've heard a million times...
born @: 39W 2D
8lbs 9oz
20"
Born at 5:17 Pm On October 23rd, 2006

BAILEY'S BIRTH STORY

Originally Posted by leora118

I have been meaning to write about Bailey's birth but ever since we have been home I just seem to be busy with my little munchkin. I finally had sometime to upload all the pictures we have taken and write her story.

Thursday Oct. 19-I had my regular OB appt. This appt was much different than any other appt. I had been having swelling in my feet and legs for awhile but at this visit I had gained 10lbs in a week. My urine came back +1 and my blood pressure was higher than normal but not high for pre e since I always ran low BP all throughout the pregnancy. The DR ran a
NST and baby was fine and sent me to do lab work and a 24 hr urine. Told me to call him right away if I had any headaches or vision problems. I was to be on bedrest all weekend and come back mon fr another check. I went straight to the lab only to find the lab closed early due to water being shut off for the afternoon.

Friday Oct. 20-I got up and went to the lab first thing. They took my blood and told me the drs office would have the results monday am and that to do the 24 urine over the weekend and bring it back monday morning and the drs office would have those results tues morning. Well after leaving the loab I had a huge headache. I went hom,e and took a nap only to wake up feeling worse and I starting seeing spots. I called the Drs office and was told to come right in. They took my BP and it was even higher than the previous day and my urine came back +2 higher as well. The Dr decided to send me to thre hospital for observation and the run all the tests again since the lab couldn't get them to him any faster. So I left the Drs office and went straight to the hospital. Got put into a room and started my 24 hr urine and had all the blood taken again. At about 9 pm the Dr told the nurse to check my cervix because he was thinking about inducing labor. She checked and I was not dilated or effaced. He told her that he would still talk to me the next morning about what he was wanting to do. Blood pressure was gewtting higher every time it was taken all night long.

Sat Oct. 21-Dr came in the room and told me the blood work came back ok but that I still had to finish my 24 hr urine and that he was pretty sure I had preeclampsia and the only treatment was for me to not be pregnant. At this point I was 37 weeks 4 days and he said the baby would be just fine that I needed to just get her out so I could start to get better. He said since I had not started to effaced he would start with cervidil that night after I finished my 24 hr urine test. I was told it could take a few days it just all depended o how my body reacted to the cervidil. At 6pm the cervidil was inserted. I thought it would be nothing but boy did it hurt. I was in pain all night having that thing inside me.

Sun Oct. 22-I got up at 6am. The nurse removed the cervidil and checked. I was 50% effaced and at 2 cm. I took a shower. At 8am they started the pitocin. I sent my husband home to get the camera because we had forgot to get it not thinking anything would happen while he was gone. Well at 8:45 the Dr came and broke my water and told me that the results came back from my 24 hr urine and I did have Pre E. about 15 mins later I started having really strong contractions every 3 to 4 mins and lasting for about 45 secs. I was all alone still waiting for DH to get back. At 9:20 DH returns and I tell him what happened and how painful the contractions are but how I wanted to be at least 4 cm before I asked for my epidural. Well at about 10am I couldn't take the pain anymore and asked for the epidural. The Dr wanted me checked bfore it was started and come to find out I was already at 4 cm. At 10:45am the epidural was in and I was feeling some relief. I still had some feeling on my right side and was still feeling the contractions but they weren't nearly as bad. Well Bailey didn'ty like the epidural and her heart rate was droping. They never told me how low it dropped which I am glad cause I would have freaked out worse but after about 20 mins she was doing just great. at 11:30am my mom and little brother showed up to see me not thinking I would be this far into labor. Well I was checked again and was now 6cm. My DH and brother decided to hurry up and go to the store ti get drinks and snacks since DH didn't want to leave the hospital after Bailey was born. I told him t hurry since she seemed to want to come out sooner than later. At 12:30 I was checked and was at 8 cm. Well at this point my right side had still not numbed and i was still feeling the contractions but it wasn't too bad. At 1:30 I asked to be checked again since I was feeling alot of pressure and I was now at 10 cm. I started pushing at 1:40. Thinking ok this should only take a few pushes. I was very happy that the labor came along so fast. Well 2:20 rolls around and I was still pushing and getting more tired as the time passed. The DR came in and said if I couldn't get her out in 20mins her wanted to use the vaucum. I started pushing as hard as I could and was progressing but still no baby. Well 20 mins pashed and the dr came back and asked if I wanted him to use the vacuum and I said I didn't know. I didnt want him to use it but at this point I was so tired I didn't know if I could push her out. Well i guess vacuum was the magic word cause after that I pushed really hard and out came Bailey's head and then one more push and she was born @ 2:49 pm. She had a head full of hair and was the prettiest baby I had ever seen. I cried when they put her on my chest. The nurses took Bailey to clean her up and do all the measurments while I finished up my part. To mine and the Drs surprise I did not tear at all. After all the problems with pushing ended up not tearing so no stitches. Bailey weighed 6lbs 15oz and was 19 3/4 inches long. Her apgar scores were 8 and 9. She was doing great and was ready to eat 45 mins after she was born. I had to have my BP checked every hour and the Dr ordered me to get mag. I felt such a relief after having Bailey. I was so happy to have my little girl in my arms.

Tues. Oct 24th we were able to go home and she has been such a good baby. she sleeps alot and has her days and nights messed up but we are making it work. Sorry the story was so long.

DYLAN'S BIRTH STORY

Originally Posted by Jazzberry

Sunday October 15th - DH, a Family friend (who is also Dylan's Godfather) and myself went to Babies r us to get some last items still needed for the baby. We figured we would get as much as we could on this day so we could rest the upcoming weekends before the baby is born.

While shopping at Babies r us - I felt a small trickle of water and thought maybe it was like when you sneeze and pee sometimes leaks out...but I kept thinking "something is not right". I left the guys to go to the bathroom. By the time I got there, there was more water trickling down into the crotch of my pants. In the bathroom when I sat down the water stopped but as soon as i stood up, it began again. OMG I was thinking - this can't be what i think it is. I was getting teary eye'd and went back out to where the guys were - they were relaxing in gliders. I called out to DH - "Something isn't right!" What do you mean he asked. I told him I think my water may have broken. I asked the sales lady that was showing them gliders what it was like when her water broke and she also was like OMG. She offered to get my a wheel chair to get me to my car but I told her i would just walk out and she helped me our car with our FF (family friend). I told DH to go pay for eveything - I didn't want to leak all over the car so we took some of the plastic off of an item we purchased and sat on that. I called the doctor on call service and when the doctor called me back she told me to head to L&D.

When we got to the hospital - it was nothing like you see in the movies where a women's water breaks in one big gush and everyone is rushing around to get you to L&D. It was a constant trickle of water that got worse if I laughed. We had to register when we got to the hospital and there was one women on duty and she just took her sweet time while the 3 of us stood there so nervous and me leaking.

Finally we got to L&D. They ushered me into a room and immediately had me take everything off, put it into a draw string bag and put on a johnny and get into a bed. They did an u/s and confirmed that the baby was still breech and that the fluid I was leaking was in fact animotic fluid.

This hospital did not have a NICU and given that I was only 34 weeks 5 days, the doctor put in a call to another city about 25 minutes away to see if they could take me at their hospital. It took a couple of hours to get the confirmation that the larger hospital could take me.

I was taken to Memorial Hospital via Ambulance. This was all very overwhelming. I had a catherer in (my very own bag of pee), I was naked under the one johnny and 3 sheets they wrapped me in and I was still leaking fluid so I was chilly. Also DH and FF couldn't go in the ambulance so they had to follow us there. I did have a woman EMT and a woman nurse there to comfort me but all the same, I did cry in the ambulance because it was all so scary.

The remainder of the night was a big long blur - I was transported into another bed at Memorial Hospital. I was still leaking and now I know what it feels like for a baby to sit in a wet diaper all day long. The nurse would occassionaly change it and again it was like I was this big baby that needed it's diaper change. It was kind of embarrassing but I didn't know what to do about it. They didnt' want me to get up so the nurse had to do everything. I talked to a bunch of nurses and doctors and finally it was decided that I would be scheduled for a C-section at 10am the next morning but first they would try to do an aversion (change the position of the baby).

The next morning, I again met with a bunch of different doctors and nurses. 9:30am - two woman doctors came in to try the aversion. OMG was this painful. Either of them stood on one side of me and pushed and tried to turn the baby. They had a u/s machine also so they could see if they were stressing out the baby at all. It was extremely painful and I cried during the whole thing while poor DH just stood there looking on and looking scared.

After 3 tries, I was wheeled into the OR for a C-section. The C-section was alot faster and alot less scarier than I had ever imagined in my head. The only scary part was in the very beginning, I got a spinal and I felt my toes and legs start to tingle. It was a very scary sensation not to be able to feel your body parts. Then the anethesia that they gave started to make me very sick - I didn't feel right and I told the anethesiologist this. Between the sickness feeling and not feeling my body anymore - I started crying and yelling that I didn't want to do this anymore because I didn't know what was happening to my body. The anetheiologist told me to hold on and about a minute later which seemed like a lifetime, I felt a wave of relief wash over me and the sickness feeling was gone. They let DH in finally and he sat down next to my head. It was really great to have him there. The rest of the C-section went quickly - I didn't even realize they were "working on me" because I was so distracted with the anetheologist and DH.

10:25 am - we heard the most beautiful sound - our baby crying. They swaddled him and brought him over for us to see him. His eyes were open and he looked so beautiful!

I told DH later I was happy he didnt see me "lose" it in the OR but he told me he was outside the door and heard me yelling and was never so scared because he didn't know what was happening. He thought something was going wrong.

Anyways - Dylan spent 2 days in the NICU and then 5 days in the nursery. Doctors were surprised how well he was doing for a preemie. He passed all his tests and the last thing needed before we got the okay to go home was to gain some weight. We finally succeeded by feeding him every 3 hours and he is still gaining now. We are so happy and so blessed (lol and so tired but he is so worth it).

Here is a link to our Yahoo photo album:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/venici...WcquFBlFrK7ox8

ELIZABETH'S BIRTH STORY

Originally Posted by Fairy_Girl

October 27th

4:30pm- Called OB office, wanting to know how many Tylenol to take for a headache. They suggested that I go to the hospital to get checked just in case.

7pm- Test results came back. Its Toxemia, they're going to induce labor!

October 28th

3am -They start the pictocin. Blood pressure still really high.

LONG LABOR

8:45 pm After about 1 hour of pushing, Elizabeth was born. Weighing 7 lbs 2 ounces and 20 1/2 long! Im all drugged up still. Took forever to get dialated enough to push. I still felt the need to do so though.

Angelina Mae
10/29/06
12:18pm
7lbs 10oz
20 & 3/4 inches long

I was scheduled for an induction to be done on the night of 10/30/06. My OB wanted me to have a NST and my BP checked once before the actual induction, so I was to go in to L&D on Saturday 10/28/06 around 9-10am to have those things done. But the night before I started having frequent, kind of strong, contractions but none were close enough to go in to L&D that night so I just waited for my a.m. appointment. At 9:30am I arrived at L&D and was hooked up for the NST. Angelina wasn't doing so well on the NST, she wasn't moving a whole lot so an u/s was ordered. My BP was also on the high side, as usual. The u/s showed my fluid was low. A few hours later my OB showed up and checked my cervix, I was already dilated to a 3!!! They decided to admit me to watch the fluid levels, put me on a hydrating IV, and see if my body would get going on my own through the night. If things didn't progress by the morning they planned on giving me cervidil(sp?) at 6am. Man, did things get moving on thier own! All through out the afternoon, evening and through the night the contractions continued to get stronger but still no closer than ever 10 minutes. Ugh! I walked the halls and looked at the babies in the nursery. I paced my room. I rocked in the rocking chair a good majority of the night! Thank God for that chair! At about 2am I was so exhausted and in such terrible pain, I was kind of curled up in the bed clutching the side rail through each contraction. It hurt so bad! It felt like my groin was being torn apart, with my abdomen being squeezed & twisted, with unbearable gas all at the same time. I wanted to scream for help, I just wanted someone there with me. I moaned so loud through a contraction that a nurse finally came in and checked me, I was about 4-5 cm at the time. I was in hell! I wasn't getting anywhere it seemed. I asked for something anything to help the pain so I got this crazy stuff through my IV which knocked me out, well kind of. It did relax me but not those damn contractions. It was like I was in slow motion or something, like I could barely keep my eyes open or speak but I was still in terrible pain. I just had to talk myself through it and breath through each contraction. My mouth was so dry from breathing so hard for hours and hours. By 6am shift I was contracting every 7-8 minutes but they were lasting longer now. So I was doing this myself, no cervidil !!! Yay! By 7:30 am I was 7cm! Time for my epidural. Thank you Lord! While we waited what seemed like an eternity for the guy to come do the epidural my water broke. I promise you I prayed out loud while that man preformed that epidural procedure. Contractions were coming back to back now with barely any time to catch my breath between each one so it took forever to get it into my back! He had to totally redo it! So two locals then two attempts at inserting the epidural tube thing!!!!! No fun! by 11:40 am I was complete and ready to push. I did one practice one with the nurse. Then my dr came in and I started pushing at 11:47am. I wont lie, it took me a few times to get it right. Babys heart rate went down a little so they had me use some oxygen. My sister wiped my face with a cool rag and talked me through it all. She was actually a great help. Before I knew it i heard the dr say," Oh Charlotte I see her, she has lots of hair". Talk about motivation, that made me really start to push. Just a couple more and her head pops out. I looked at my mom and she's crying,"there she is, aw she's so beautiful". and i was like, "what does she look like, tell me tell me!". Then all the sudden there she was, on my tummy! She was so warm & tiny, just screaming her head off! She arrived at 12:18pm, so about 30 minutes of actual pushing wasnt too bad. As I sat there and looked into her wide eyes I seriously thought to myself how all that pain was so very worth it. I held her while the dr finished up with me. No cuts & no stitches by the way. The nurse put her in the warmer and she pooped on it. Then they weighed her and she pooped there too! ha! My mom, sister, & Lina's big brother Blake held her while I ate my lunch. After lunch I attempted breastfeeding, she latched right on and it went really well. I was sweaty and cramping and I figured it wouldnt take long but she just wouldnt quit. So I switched her to the other breast and decided to make use of my time. I pulled her little cap back and stroked her soft fuzzy hair line. Then I examined her hands, fingers, feet and toes. Just double checking. Then I kind of tilted my head back into my pillows and all I could hear was her little sucking and breathing, it was so cute! All the time we had to spend in the hospital I was with her most of it, but the few times they took her to the nursery for checks or tests, etc. I really missed her. Lina and big brother have really bonded too. When she cries he comes running, "I'll get her, I'll get her". We came home on Holloween, she's my little pumpkin.

Alright--some background in case you don't know or don't remember---went on bedrest at 32 weeks 4 days for pre term labor. already at 2-3 cm and 80-90% effaced with baby at -1 station. finally stopped my bedrest and brethine about 4 weeks later. my regular appt. with my OB was on 10/26/06. had been having alot of pressure pains and some cramps but nothing else significant to indicate labor. so my dr. checks me and tells me that i'm already 5-6 cm. i think he may have stripped my membranes then b/c it hurt worse than the usual checking and he stayed "in there" longer. he wouldn't let me go home b/c we live about an hour away from pensacola, fl where i was delivering. so he direct admitted me to the L&D floor. so my DH and i head over and we have to wait in the hallway lobby for my room to be cleaned. for about 2 hours. by this time i was having some contractions. nothing too bad but i could tell something was going on. finally we make it to our room around 5:30 or 6 pm. i pottied and got into my gown. they hooked me up to the external monitors and checked me and the nurse said "what did he say you were?" (meaning how far dilated did my dr. find me at my office appt. earlier). and i told her he said that i'm 5-6 cm and almost completely effaced. she said that i was about 7 cm in her opinion. my parents got to the room with my kids (my son is 12 and my daughter is 9 1/2). we had already decided that my son would cut the cord if he could handle it and my daughter would have the honor of holding the baby before her brother. when you have more than one kid--especially that close in age--you really have to compromise. so anyway, contrxns were getting worse and i just decided that since this is my last child and i was already hurting like crazy (and the contrxns weren't nearly as bad as i knew they were going to be) that i would just go ahead and get the epidural. i have no idea really what time it was now. but the CRNA came in and put in the epidural--which was not comfortable b/c i was having some pretty bad contrxns while he was putting it in. eventually it's in and it's on and working and i was just totally numb. i never had an epidural work like that. at some point after the epidural my dr. came in and broke my water for me. after that the contrxns intensified and were closer together. i guess that was probably around 10 pm or so by now. around midnight they checked me again b/c i was feeling pressure. i was almost complete. a little while later they checked me again and the nurses said the baby was "right there". they asked me to do one round of pushing to see if i should start officially pushing right then while the dr. was on his way to the hospital or if i should hold off. so i pushed like 3 times maybe and the nurses were both like "no, don't push anymore right now". so the dr. gets there. bless his heart, he had the worst case of bedhead--poor thing i got him up out of bed in the middle of the night yet again. my other 2 were born in the middle of the night/early a.m. too. LOL (oh well, he gets paid!!!) so they got everything ready in record time and had me start pushing. i think i pushed maybe 3 rounds of 3 pushes back to back for 10 seconds each. it was really hard b/c the baby's feet were pushing off of my left rib cage and it HURT --epidural or no. it was really weird b/c while i didn't have a mirror to watch with ( i didn't really want one at first), i could see everything clearly in my dr's glasses. so i watched her head crown and eventually the entire birth that way---reflected off of my dr's glasses. the baby was good at birth with apgars of 8 and 9. BUT get this girls---she had a perfect KNOT in her cord. the dr. says it's not that uncommon--occurring something like 10% of the time. The baby also had alot of facial bruising. she got beat up pretty bad on the way out by my bones. which i can definetly tell now b/c i am so sore in my pelvis. not tissue pain, but bone pain rather. the baby's sugars were good ( i was GD) and she nursed about 30 minutes after birth. the bad thing was that she became jaundiced before discharge and was even under the bili lights in the nursery. we followed up with a repeat bili-level on 10/30 but the level had gone up even higher. up to 18.7 i think. so they readmitted her to the infant toddler floor at Sacred Heart hospital in P'cola where she was born. she had a day of phototherapy again and was again discharged 10/31 with a bili level of 12.9. i went to our local hospital (where i work incidentally) and had another bili level done this am. and it was back up to 14.3. the pediatrician says she isn't worried but that i can repeat the level again in the a.m. for my piece of mind. i am worried about it but the baby seems to be doing fine. she's pooping and peeing and nursing well. although i'm concerned b/c i still don't feel a "let down" and i'm not leaking yet. i've nursed 2 kids already but i can't remember when my milk supply really took off and when i started leaking and spraying and feeling that let down sensation. her poop is the yellow curdish poop typical of breast fed babies. no matter how many kids you have you always worry over whether they're getting enough milk when you're breastfeeding. so i'll post again later when we find out about our bili level tomorrow. oh---she was 6#12oz. and 20 inches long. she is beautiful and as i type i'm trying to get some pics up on here.

daddy's little girl


Shelby with Secily


Scarlett and Mommy with Secily---happy tears!

Ok I know I am late in posting this, but better late than never.

My little surprise Ember Annie was born on Monday, October 9th at 3:06 pm. She was 3 weeks and 1 day early weighing in at 6lbs 8oz and 20 inches long.

It all started Friday morning when I had what I believed to be bloody show, but I just shrugged it off thinking it was just a side effect from my internal the day before. I went to work that day feeling like crap and ended up staying late to get things finished up, just in case. I came home and spent the evening on the couch, feeling like crap.

Fast forward to Saturday, I woke up to a horrible backache and lots and lots of discharge. I called the doc and talked with the nurse about what was going on and she said, sounds like normal pregnancy issues, nothing to be concerned about. So I just went on with my day, going to the grocery store, hanging out with DH, and out to eat for pizza. I talked with my mom about the horrible backache and stuff and she kept telling me, Amy I think you are in labor, I just shrugged it off.

Now it's Sunday, still having the discharge and starting to get a little concerned about it, but what do I know I've never been pregnant before. Anyway, I slept in really late and spent the day just hanging out at home, watching TV, taking naps, etc. DH decided that he was going to go to church that night, but I decided to stay home. Well shortly after DH left, he returned telling me that he felt like he needed to stay here with me, so he dropped off our tithe, told a friend what he was doing and came home. Well I decided that I was hungry and I again wanted pizza, so off we go to get pizza. After we were done eating we were walking out to the car and I felt like my stomach was going to explode. I wasn't sure if this was what contractions were or not, but after DH making a call to his mom, we decided to stop by Wal-Mart and then maybe go to L&D. I was kind of afraid that I had some sort of infection due to the mass amount of discharge I was having. After our trip to Wal-Mart we go home, I take a shower, DH cleans the guinea pig cage, we grab the suitcase and head to L&D. We get there at 8:30 PM, they take me to an exam room, hook me up to the fetal heart monitor and the contraction monitor, only to discover I'm in labor. My contractions are anywhere from 7-10 minutes apart. The nurse leaves to call my doc and I end up losing my pizza in the trash can. While DH gets somebody to come and take the trash can out, the nurse comes back and states that the doc wants me to stay at the hospital. So they give me a fabulous room, I change into the gown and they have me walk and walk and walk. Forty minutes out of every hour I was walking the halls of the hospital and 20 minutes in the room so they can check me. First check I was 4 cm dilated and 80% effaced, I continued to dilate to 7 cm and 100% effaced. I just got stuck at the 7 cm.

By this time it's early Monday morning and my doc stops by at 7:30 am. She decides to break my water. What a weird feeling. However, I still remained at 7 cm. So around 10 the doc orders the pitocin, I tell the nurse if I get pitocin I am going to need an epidural. She knew I was trying to do this naturally, so she recommended trying Stadol first. I did and it sucked, it made me feel so loopy that I wasn't sure where I was at. Once that wore off, my contractions felt so intense I vividly remembering telling DH, "I want to die, this hurts so bad." That's when I decided to get the epidural. So at about noon I was given the epidural. Oh I was in heaven, I took several short naps since I had been up all night the night before. Finally the nurse checks me one last time at around 2:15 and I was at a 10 and ready to push. She goes to tell the doc and then comes back, prepares the room and tells me what I needed to do. She is on the left, DH is on the right and she starts to tell me to push. It's about 2:30 by this time and I push a couple of times and my doc comes in. Now it's definitely go time, I am so tired and can hardly feel anything. I push for 35 minutes, meanwhile they are talking about how much hair "the baby" has and DH is just amazed by it all and then out pops "the baby's" head. The nurse says "Amy look" and I can see the head. I give one more good push and out she comes and everybody shouts "It's a girl!". I immediately start crying and they hand her to me. That was the greatest moment of my life.

Just as others have said, I feel blessed in so many ways and was so very glad that I waited for the surprise. The whole journey was incredible even though it lasted a long time.

I went to my 39 week appointment on 10/26 hoping she would schedule an induction...as you all know I was having a rough time physically with this pregnancy. Anyway, at my BPP they detected low amniotic fluid on the ultrasound and on the NST he did not do as well as he usually does. When my high risk doc came to talk to me he suggested I go to my appt. with my regular OB as scheduled, but that he was suggesting an induction that day! I had an appointment right after and she agreed and told me to go directly to L&D. I was freaking out! I called DH and he went to get my bags and he would see me there.

At this point I was still a little over 1cm dilated, 90% effaced and he was very high. They started pitocin at 5:20pm and within a short time they had my pitocin maxed out. They checked me around 10pm and I still had no change in dilation but was 100% effaced, he was still way up high. I labored all night on pitocin...with only Tylenol for pain! I was determined to try it natural.

A little before 7am on 10/27/06 my OB came to check me. There was no change in my dialtion and he was not moving down. She said she was going to stretch my cervix some and break my water. Just as she said that I shifted my weight in the bed and it broke on it's own. What a weird feeling! She stretched my cervix to 3cm, but said it seemed that I had a band of scar tissue from cryrotherapy that I'd had a long time ago. She had her doubts that I would dilate any more or that he was coming down on his own, and informed me that she saw a c-section in the near future. However, she would give me until lunch to change before she scheduled the surgery.

Within twenty minutes or so the contractions came on VERY strong. It was the worst pain I'd ever felt in my life. I ended up taking some Stadol through my IV to help make the pain tolerable. Around 1230 pm my doctor come in and checked me, no change. I was in horrible pain and was exhausted from laboring for so long. We both decided that it was time and she had them prep me for surgery. I have to say when the spinal took effect I was so happy to be pain free!!

At 1:42pm Miles was born via c-section. DH was snapping pics the entire time and I thought I'd share a couple of the graphic ones, hope it doesn't offend anyone. Miles was actually screaming his little head off before they pulled the rest of his body out, and at that time my hubby started crying. I've never seen him so proud. I watched DH looking at Miles while they checked him over and his tears sent me into a crying fit. It was the most emotional experience of my life.

After they finished up my surgery (I have 17 wonderful staples..ugh), I returned to my room and they brought Miles to me. They placed him in my arms and as soon as I looked at him I lost it. It's an emotion more powerful than anything you can ever experience. An instant bond like no other. I am now complete.

Miles is a developed jaundice, but it hasn't been bad enough for treatment. They are just keeping an eye on him. Other than that he is perfectly healthy and just beautiful! Here's our son...Miles Harrison!

ALEXANDER'S BIRTH STORY

Originally Posted by KristinaA

ALEXANDER JOSEPH
Fri. 10/20/06 1:31am
7lbs. 10oz. 19 1/4"

The last week of my pregnancy was completely miserable! Here's a quick timeline:

Sunday: Started having intermitent back pain during the day. At night I couldn't sleep, pain was coming every 15 min..
Monday: Went to doctor's appointment. Not dialiated at all, but cervix was thinning. Put on fetal monitor, doctor did detect slight contractions. Was told that this baby could come tonight or 2 weeks from now. Went to paint a mural for my preggo friend, started to feel better. On the way home (an hour drive), I had 6 contractions. Called OB, was told to go sleep at my mothers house since I live an hour from the hospital, and she only lives 20 mins. away. Slept good that night, contractions stopped.
Tuesday: Stayed at parents house with DH and DD in case labor started. Absolutely no symptoms this day, felt good.
Wednesday: Still camped out at parents house just in case. Started feeling fluid in pants, went to doctor, confirmed that it was not amniotic fluid. No dialation, but my cervix was very thin. DH and I decided we just wanted to be home, so since I wasn't having any symptoms, we headed home for the night.
Thursday: Crazy day. Woke up feeling HUGE. Got DD ready for preschool, but didn't feel like bringing her b/c maternity clothes weren't even fitting me. DH drove her, while she was there 3hrs. DH and I napped, I was exhausted. Picked her up at 12:30, went shopping, came home, napped again with DH and DD. As we were napping I suddenly woke up with a burst of energy. I let them sleep and I went grocery shopping. Came home, made a pot of stew, cleaned the house, did a few loads of laundery, then went to my cousins house next door for dinner. At 8:30pm my DD had to leave for overtime at work. I decided to go with him, he would drop me off at my parents house for the night. Started feeling yucky again during the 1 hr. car ride. Got to my parents house, watched tv, showered, tried to go to bed, but couldn't sleep.

Friday:
12:20am Heard and felt big pop in belly, was scared, but not in pain.
12:21am Had slight back pain, lasted for 1 min..
12:31am Had another back pain.
12:35am One more pain, decided maybe this is it, wrote down times on my DD's magna-doodle (couldn't find a pen). Got up to pee and couldn't stop peeing.
12:40am Walked around house and felt water trickle down my leg. Yelled to my mom to get up, this is it.
12:44am Called DH at work and told him to meet me at my parents house.
12:59am Called him again, he was 5 min. away. Contractions started coming on strong at this point.
1:05am DH arrived, got in the car, ran thru every red light on the way to hospital. Luckily it was the middle of the night so there was no traffic.
1:20am Arrived at hospital, DH pushed me to L&D. When we arrived at the nurses station they wanted me to register, but I told them there was no time for that. They quickly wheeled me to a room and told me to get up which I couldn't do it hurt so bad. Got up, was told to lay in bed, which I also couldn't do b/c baby was right there. I laid on my side while the RN checked me. She said I was fully dialated and she kept her hand there b/c baby was already crowning. She was actually trying to hold him there until the OB arrived. I was in so much pain, all I wanted to do was push, but they made me wait and keep blowing at my husband. The nurse didn't think my doctor or any doctor in the hospital was going to make it, so she was about to deliver the baby when finally I heard my doctors voice. I was so relieved to hear him! He walked in and started to talk to me as he was putting on his gloves, but the nurse yelled at him that there was no time.
1:31 So finally I was able to push. And with that one push, and only one glove on my doctor, Alexander Joseph was born.

Ahhhh, the relief I felt when he was out. I was also in alot of shock and couldn't stop shaking. I just couldn't believe that he was here.

After I delivered I had to sign the consent forms and do all of the paperwork. My mom who was following us to the hospital in her car missed the birth and I was really bumbed about that b/c she also missed the birth of my DD who was born in 1hr. and 45min..

Everything seems to happen for a reason. My DH was off of work that night, but decided to go in and work an overtime slot. If he didn't do that I would have been home and had an hour car ride to the hospital and never made it in time.

Now we are all home and healthy. It is a big adjustment in our lives, but our family really does seem to be complete now. A wonderful husband, a perfect little girl, and now a baby boy, I couldn't ask for anything more.

Thanks for listening to me ramble, and now for my proudest pics: