So, today I should be taking my belly photo and celebrating that my due date is one month away, but that is not what I'm doing at all.
The day after my last entry, I woke up feeling like I was peeing my pants. I stood up and felt a small gush, so I went to the bathroom, and peed. That was all that happened, so I went back to bed. An hour later it happened again, and an hour after that, again. I called the family birthing unit and they told me to come in. I got all my stuff ready outside and waited for my mom and my friend to get home to take me to the hospital. I continued to gush, and it increased, every time I moved I felt more, so I was sure it was my water leaking or breaking.
By 2:00 in the afternoon I was in triage. They tested and confirmed it was amniotic fluid leaking out--finally, baby was coming! I didn't have any contractions, so the doctor checked me, and I was 3-4 cm dilated. Baby's head was much further down than the last time I'd been checked. The doctor told me to walk around, try to bring on contractions.
At 4:00 I had a team of people trying to give me an IV, which again was a nightmare. I have brutal bruises and swelling still from all the pokes. I almost passed out, I was very dizzy and had to lie down. It took about half an hour to finally get a vein, on the fourth poke. I am so tired of needles.
I was started on oxytocin, the smallest dose. Right before they started it I had a contraction on my own, and then continued to have them every three minutes or so. They were very mild, I rated them about a 2 out of 10 for pain (the nurse continuously asked me to rate them.)
Every half hour my dosage was increased, and after a couple hours my contractions started to intensify, probably a 3 out of 10, still very tolerable.
The time after this got fuzzy, but around 8:30 I felt like something cracked in my pelvis. It hurt, but didn't last, and sounded like a bone cracking. It scared me, but because the pain didn't continue, I figured everything was fine. After this weird pain, my contractions went from about a 4 all the way to 10 and beyond. Extremely painful, with pressure on the front of my pelvis, under the pubic hair. I told the nurse that the pain was unbearable, and would she please order the epidural right now, now, NOW?? She checked my cervix, said it was 4-5 cm, and rushed to get the tray ready for the doctor to deliver. I kept asking for the epidural, because of the labor I had with Montana, and she said she would, but the tray HAD to be ready. I had a couple contractions, and both the pain and pressure became even more intense. I started to panic.
As soon as the tray was done, the nurse grabbed the phone and called for an epidural. Phew! While she was on the phone, I had a contraction, and the pressure was so incredible I started to freak out. Another nurse checked me, and said the baby's head was coming, and that I could push. I was shocked, because I was just 5 cm at most, and I was panicking even more because this meant that yet again, no epidural.
The good news was that not only was baby's head coming, it was basically halfway out. I started pushing before my doctor even came in, and baby came fast. Luckily Dr. J. made it. Nemo was coming so fast I didn't even need to wait for a contraction to push, she said I could just go for it. So I did, hard. I pushed as hard as I could to make it happen faster. After about ten minutes of pushing, Nemo was out! I ended up tearing a bit, but only needed four stitches on the outside, which I got after a bit of freezing, thank goodness.
So.... what is Nemo? Well, the majority was right, Mommy was wrong: Nemo is a boy! Nemo is a tiny boy. He was born at 9:14 PM, at 35 weeks 1 day gestation. He weighed exactly 6 lbs, which was amazing, but not surprising; I guessed the weight before birth to the exact ounce. He was 18.5 inches, little shorty! While I was being stitched up they did the whole newborn check, and had a pediatrician in to check him because he was premature. They said he was so healthy that if he ate well, he could go home in 48 hours. I was in shock! I'd been prepared and warned that he'd be in the NICU for 10-14 days! His lungs were perfect, he was a good size, it was amazing!
Within a couple hours I was up walking, had a shower unaided, peed easily. It was the polar opposite of my first labor, even now I am still surprised that I am able to do things, it is such a relief.
Throughout the night I tried nursing, but Nemo was a "poky" eater, like they expected. By the next day he still wasn't nursing properly, and his blood sugar dropped, so they took him to the NICU. We found out they were taking him there at the same time a nurse was taking 3 baby vials of blood from his foot to test for Jaundice. He was screaming, even had tears.. Montana was crying in the bathroom, I was crying beside my baby, he was in so much pain. Then we found out they were taking him. I almost lost it.
For the rest of the day and through the night I went to the NICU and both nursed and formula fed Nemo, and they checked his sugars. His sugars went up, and he started eating much more easily. The next morning they took more blood to check for Jaundice, but luckily the levels were low enough that he didn't need the lamp. By the afternoon, I got the best news ever: Nemo's blood sugar was perfect, he was eating, he could go home! So despite his little scare and overnight stay in the NICU, he was out of the hospital before the 48 hour mark.
Nemo is now 3 days old, and doing better every day. He is nursing more, still taking formula. I had to take him for another Jaundice blood test, but I didn't get a phone call so I assume his levels are still low enough to leave him alone. Tomorrow he sees Dr. J. and next week, the pediatrician.
I am doing very well, had a shower today, healing wonderfully. However, I think I'm getting a cold. I've had maybe 12 hours of sleep since Nemo was born, so I'm not surprised my immunity is down. I am taking tons of vitamins, hoping it will help, but I'm so achy.
Everyone is smitten with new baby Nemo, and he looks just like his sister which makes me super happy. We are settling nicely, and I'm basically on cloud 9 somewhere.
This has been one long, difficult road, but my dream has finally come true: I have my baby!
Friday, August 24, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
35 Weeks
Well, I have made it to 35 weeks, I'm kind of shocked! Just one more week until Nemo can safely come out, and I won't be on bed rest anymore.
I spent four more nights in the hospital last week. On Saturday I had a sudden attack, still not sure what it was, but it started out feeling like indigestion, and quickly intensified. It was the most excruciating pain I've ever felt, including labor, in my life. I couldn't move. Mom called the Family Birthing Unit, they said to wait it out. I tried a bath, milk, water, Tums, Zantac, everything. Nothing touched it, and it got to the point where I was screaming and crying in pain, something I didn't do while delivering Montana. We called a friend to take me to the hospital, but I couldn't move from the couch, so we called an ambulance. When the paramedics got there I started vomiting. The ride to the hospital was Hell, I was drenched in sweat by the time we got there, and was ready to pass out. My blood pressure was low. I threw up over and over in the ambulance and in triage, but the pain wouldn't stop. I was given IV fluids and put on the monitor, but no contractions showed up; it was definitely unrelated.
After a couple hours of wishing for death, the worst of it subsided. I was still in pain, but could relax enough to close my eyes. A doctor came in and checked my cervix, which was at 3-4 cm, and took a swab to check for fetal fibronectin, a protein released prior to labor. She didn't send it off for results right away, instead she ordered bloodwork. It took about half an hour to get a vein, after four different pokes in my hand and arm. A week later I still have the bruise. They tested for placental abruption, among other things. Those came back all normal, so the doctor checked me again, this time I was 4-5 cm, and she decided to send off the swab. It came back positive, indicating labor could be imminent (it is not a very reliable test) but that for sure it had started, so they kept me. Again.
I was there for four nights, during which nothing happened. The pain was gone (thank goodness), contractions were sporadic, water was still in tact. So I waited. And waited. Mom and Montana came when they could to keep me company, and I started getting used to being along and bored out of my mind. Finally, a doctor checked my cervix, and it had gone back down to 2-3 cm, so she discharged me.
I've now been home for a few days, still bored, but so very happy that I"m home. If I have to be bored and on bed rest, I'd rather be here with my baby.
The problem with bed rest is that I have too much time to think. I've been getting increasingly depressed over the whole SD2 situation. I miss him like crazy, which I knew would happen--but I expected to have a newborn to keep me busy. Instead I am alone with my thoughts. I know I'll move on, but right now it's very hard.
So now I'm at 35 weeks. Belly is growing, I have pains here and there. Normal end of pregnancy complaints, except I can't go walking to feel better.
Here's hoping I can go another week with Nemo inside, without losing my mind completely!
I spent four more nights in the hospital last week. On Saturday I had a sudden attack, still not sure what it was, but it started out feeling like indigestion, and quickly intensified. It was the most excruciating pain I've ever felt, including labor, in my life. I couldn't move. Mom called the Family Birthing Unit, they said to wait it out. I tried a bath, milk, water, Tums, Zantac, everything. Nothing touched it, and it got to the point where I was screaming and crying in pain, something I didn't do while delivering Montana. We called a friend to take me to the hospital, but I couldn't move from the couch, so we called an ambulance. When the paramedics got there I started vomiting. The ride to the hospital was Hell, I was drenched in sweat by the time we got there, and was ready to pass out. My blood pressure was low. I threw up over and over in the ambulance and in triage, but the pain wouldn't stop. I was given IV fluids and put on the monitor, but no contractions showed up; it was definitely unrelated.
After a couple hours of wishing for death, the worst of it subsided. I was still in pain, but could relax enough to close my eyes. A doctor came in and checked my cervix, which was at 3-4 cm, and took a swab to check for fetal fibronectin, a protein released prior to labor. She didn't send it off for results right away, instead she ordered bloodwork. It took about half an hour to get a vein, after four different pokes in my hand and arm. A week later I still have the bruise. They tested for placental abruption, among other things. Those came back all normal, so the doctor checked me again, this time I was 4-5 cm, and she decided to send off the swab. It came back positive, indicating labor could be imminent (it is not a very reliable test) but that for sure it had started, so they kept me. Again.
I was there for four nights, during which nothing happened. The pain was gone (thank goodness), contractions were sporadic, water was still in tact. So I waited. And waited. Mom and Montana came when they could to keep me company, and I started getting used to being along and bored out of my mind. Finally, a doctor checked my cervix, and it had gone back down to 2-3 cm, so she discharged me.
I've now been home for a few days, still bored, but so very happy that I"m home. If I have to be bored and on bed rest, I'd rather be here with my baby.
The problem with bed rest is that I have too much time to think. I've been getting increasingly depressed over the whole SD2 situation. I miss him like crazy, which I knew would happen--but I expected to have a newborn to keep me busy. Instead I am alone with my thoughts. I know I'll move on, but right now it's very hard.
So now I'm at 35 weeks. Belly is growing, I have pains here and there. Normal end of pregnancy complaints, except I can't go walking to feel better.
Here's hoping I can go another week with Nemo inside, without losing my mind completely!
Thursday, August 9, 2012
33 weeks 4 days
Okay, where to start? This week has been a roller coaster for me.
At the beginning of the week SD2 came over. After he left, I had a shower, and contractions started. I figured it was nothing, as it has happened before, but I thought it was odd that it started while I was in the shower when "fake" labor contractions usually stop in the shower. I got in bed, and contractions kept up, but I waited to see what would happen. They were 2-3 minutes apart, and started getting more intense. I woke up my mom, called my friend, and called the hospital. I went in at 2:00 AM, thinking they would check me for dilation and send me home.
I was hooked up to monitors, and because the contractions were so close together they did a group B strep test, which is usually done at 35 weeks. They also took a swab for vaginal infections. A cervical check showed that I was 3-4 cm dilated, which was more than I expected, but I wasn't real surprised. I was put on IV for fluids and antibiotics, which was a nightmare because of my veins. It took 3 different veins, 3 different technicians. Lots of blood.
By 3:30 AM they decided to admit me because things weren't slowing down at all. I was given a steroid shot to mature baby's lungs, which hurt but was necessary, and then was transferred into a room in the family birthing unit.
At 5:30 AM Mom and Montana came in because it looked like baby was definitely coming--I was 5 cm dilated and 80% effaced and the contractions kept coming. They were very intense, definitely labor.
For hours I waited to see what would happen, which was more of the same. I had to have my sugar tested regularly, and it was quite high from the steroid shot.
The rest of the day not much happened. Eventually the contractions slowed to every 3-4 minutes, and by dinnertime they were more sporadic and then stopped. Not completely, but they weren't regular.
I was told to get up and walk around, and try to bring on labor. After trying that, they decided to keep me in bed so I wouldn't have the baby. It was very confusing and overwhelming.
By 7:00 PM mom and Montana decided to go home and rest because I wasn't in active labor so they weren't really allowed to stay. It broke my heart, and I cried for a while. I didn't want my baby to leave, and I'd been up for 29 hours, in labor. I was exhausted. I slept some during the night, but there was a thunderstorm of all things, along with beeping machines and pokey nurses.
By morning there was talk of possibly going home, which was bittersweet for me but I was glad. They were calling in an ante partum nurse team who would visit me at home, so I had to wait around for them. The nurse finally showed up in the afternoon, gave me the rundown of what would happen, my "homework," etc, and then she found out I was 5 cm dilated and left--they don't take anyone beyond 3 cm dilated. She didn't think I'd be discharged at all. More crying.
A couple hours later a doctor came to check me, and said nothing had changed dilation wise but I wasn't as effaced, and gave me the okay to go home. I was very happy.
So now I am on strict bed rest, meaning I can use the washroom and that's it. I do need to see my doctor, but that's all I'm allowed to do. The good news is that at 36 weeks I can do whatever I like and bring on labor, so I don't have too long to lay here, thank goodness. I'm counting down the days. Even if Nemo stays in for another month, I don't have to lay here and wait, so I'm happy about that. I just don't know how I"ll get through the next 2.5 weeks.
So all in all, I was in the hospital for 40 hours, which is odd because I was only in for 26 weeks when I had Montana, start to finish. I had 5 bags of saline, 4 bags of antibiotics, 2 steroid shots. Dilated to 5 cm.
Now I need to keep an eye on contractions, and if my water breaks I'll be calling 911 to get in immediately, if it happens before 36 weeks.
I am tired still, very emotional, overwhelmed, worried, relieved to be home. It's not something I've ever experienced, and I wasn't prepared. But here I am. Luckily Nemo is in my belly still, not in the NICU, and that's what I"m focusing on.
I will probably blog more often now that I'm on bed rest, and as things change I will update. I won't bother with symptoms, cravings, or sugars at this point because they seem irrelevant. I will countdown the days though.
17 days until Nemo is safe to come out.
At the beginning of the week SD2 came over. After he left, I had a shower, and contractions started. I figured it was nothing, as it has happened before, but I thought it was odd that it started while I was in the shower when "fake" labor contractions usually stop in the shower. I got in bed, and contractions kept up, but I waited to see what would happen. They were 2-3 minutes apart, and started getting more intense. I woke up my mom, called my friend, and called the hospital. I went in at 2:00 AM, thinking they would check me for dilation and send me home.
I was hooked up to monitors, and because the contractions were so close together they did a group B strep test, which is usually done at 35 weeks. They also took a swab for vaginal infections. A cervical check showed that I was 3-4 cm dilated, which was more than I expected, but I wasn't real surprised. I was put on IV for fluids and antibiotics, which was a nightmare because of my veins. It took 3 different veins, 3 different technicians. Lots of blood.
By 3:30 AM they decided to admit me because things weren't slowing down at all. I was given a steroid shot to mature baby's lungs, which hurt but was necessary, and then was transferred into a room in the family birthing unit.
At 5:30 AM Mom and Montana came in because it looked like baby was definitely coming--I was 5 cm dilated and 80% effaced and the contractions kept coming. They were very intense, definitely labor.
For hours I waited to see what would happen, which was more of the same. I had to have my sugar tested regularly, and it was quite high from the steroid shot.
The rest of the day not much happened. Eventually the contractions slowed to every 3-4 minutes, and by dinnertime they were more sporadic and then stopped. Not completely, but they weren't regular.
I was told to get up and walk around, and try to bring on labor. After trying that, they decided to keep me in bed so I wouldn't have the baby. It was very confusing and overwhelming.
By 7:00 PM mom and Montana decided to go home and rest because I wasn't in active labor so they weren't really allowed to stay. It broke my heart, and I cried for a while. I didn't want my baby to leave, and I'd been up for 29 hours, in labor. I was exhausted. I slept some during the night, but there was a thunderstorm of all things, along with beeping machines and pokey nurses.
By morning there was talk of possibly going home, which was bittersweet for me but I was glad. They were calling in an ante partum nurse team who would visit me at home, so I had to wait around for them. The nurse finally showed up in the afternoon, gave me the rundown of what would happen, my "homework," etc, and then she found out I was 5 cm dilated and left--they don't take anyone beyond 3 cm dilated. She didn't think I'd be discharged at all. More crying.
A couple hours later a doctor came to check me, and said nothing had changed dilation wise but I wasn't as effaced, and gave me the okay to go home. I was very happy.
So now I am on strict bed rest, meaning I can use the washroom and that's it. I do need to see my doctor, but that's all I'm allowed to do. The good news is that at 36 weeks I can do whatever I like and bring on labor, so I don't have too long to lay here, thank goodness. I'm counting down the days. Even if Nemo stays in for another month, I don't have to lay here and wait, so I'm happy about that. I just don't know how I"ll get through the next 2.5 weeks.
So all in all, I was in the hospital for 40 hours, which is odd because I was only in for 26 weeks when I had Montana, start to finish. I had 5 bags of saline, 4 bags of antibiotics, 2 steroid shots. Dilated to 5 cm.
Now I need to keep an eye on contractions, and if my water breaks I'll be calling 911 to get in immediately, if it happens before 36 weeks.
I am tired still, very emotional, overwhelmed, worried, relieved to be home. It's not something I've ever experienced, and I wasn't prepared. But here I am. Luckily Nemo is in my belly still, not in the NICU, and that's what I"m focusing on.
I will probably blog more often now that I'm on bed rest, and as things change I will update. I won't bother with symptoms, cravings, or sugars at this point because they seem irrelevant. I will countdown the days though.
17 days until Nemo is safe to come out.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
33 Weeks
This week was a little better than last--my emotions are mostly back to normal. SD2 came over and I think that helped.
We are having a heat wave, though, and it's unbearable! We haven't had much of a summer, so it feels even hotter than it is. The fan plus a spray bottle seems to help!
I saw the doctor, everything looks good. Blood pressure is still low/normal, baby is head down. Montana got to use the Doppler again, and again found the heartbeat right away. She's a pro! The heart rate was 135 bpm, which is pretty low, but I looked in my journal and Montana's heart rate was 132 at 32 weeks. So hard to say if it's boy or girl, but I'm still going with girl! I have gained one pound in the past week, which will make my diabetes doctor happy. I'm happy with it too, since it brings the total weight gain to only 13 lbs, when I gained 40 lbs total with Montana...yikes.
I am having an increasingly difficult time sleeping these days; I get up to pee every half hour or so. It is beyond frustrating, especially when I have to work. I mentioned it to the doctor, and she said my urine had mixed flora in it, whatever that means, and gave me a requisition to give a urine sample at the lab. I haven't done it yet.
I'm also having more and more Braxton Hicks, as well as real contractions in my back. It is very uncomfortable, and makes me wonder if Nemo isn't going to come before September. I hope I can hold out until at least then, but if these contractions keep up I may start dilating. I forgot to mention it to Dr. J., so I will at the next appointment.
Work is getting harder and more frustrating as the days go on. I have tried to get my friend in there to take over for me, but the boss is dragging his feet as he so often does. It is now August, which is when she was supposed to start, and he hasn't even talked to her. Now he is saying he has someone else in mind, which infuriates me. I've told him also that I may not be able to work much longer, so he better get on it! At this point I don't care. If I leave and no one is there to do my job, it's his problem; I've tried for months. Hopefully I can work until September 1st, but I really don't know. I have missed a lot of work lately due to appointments and rough nights, so I'm just trying my best.
This week I'll be seeing my diabetes doctor.
Symptoms:
We are having a heat wave, though, and it's unbearable! We haven't had much of a summer, so it feels even hotter than it is. The fan plus a spray bottle seems to help!
I saw the doctor, everything looks good. Blood pressure is still low/normal, baby is head down. Montana got to use the Doppler again, and again found the heartbeat right away. She's a pro! The heart rate was 135 bpm, which is pretty low, but I looked in my journal and Montana's heart rate was 132 at 32 weeks. So hard to say if it's boy or girl, but I'm still going with girl! I have gained one pound in the past week, which will make my diabetes doctor happy. I'm happy with it too, since it brings the total weight gain to only 13 lbs, when I gained 40 lbs total with Montana...yikes.
I am having an increasingly difficult time sleeping these days; I get up to pee every half hour or so. It is beyond frustrating, especially when I have to work. I mentioned it to the doctor, and she said my urine had mixed flora in it, whatever that means, and gave me a requisition to give a urine sample at the lab. I haven't done it yet.
I'm also having more and more Braxton Hicks, as well as real contractions in my back. It is very uncomfortable, and makes me wonder if Nemo isn't going to come before September. I hope I can hold out until at least then, but if these contractions keep up I may start dilating. I forgot to mention it to Dr. J., so I will at the next appointment.
Work is getting harder and more frustrating as the days go on. I have tried to get my friend in there to take over for me, but the boss is dragging his feet as he so often does. It is now August, which is when she was supposed to start, and he hasn't even talked to her. Now he is saying he has someone else in mind, which infuriates me. I've told him also that I may not be able to work much longer, so he better get on it! At this point I don't care. If I leave and no one is there to do my job, it's his problem; I've tried for months. Hopefully I can work until September 1st, but I really don't know. I have missed a lot of work lately due to appointments and rough nights, so I'm just trying my best.
This week I'll be seeing my diabetes doctor.
Symptoms:
Frequentconstant urination- Contractions
- Braxton Hicks
- Back ache
- Tomato sandwich
- Water
- Before breakfast (Target < 5.3) : 4.84
- Before lunch (Target < 5.3) : 4.67
- Before dinner (Target < 5.3) : 3.86
- After dinner (Target < 7.8) : 6.99
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