Birth Story

After doctor stripped membranes St. Patricks day, early labor began on the way home. Although I didn't realize it till later that evening! From there things really started to intensify. Baby was sitting (I'm guessing, and they think) spine to spine for most of my labor...and as a result I was having HOOOOORBLE back/hip labor.

When contractions got to about 4/5 mins apart for the hour (4-1-1) we headed out to the hospital about midnight. Actually I had a few that were two mins apart & I think Anthony was worried I'd progress fast & he'd be delivering little one at home or in the car ;).

After being at the hospital for about 7 hours (and not dialating past 4, but 100% effaced) they said I had two option, take Pitocin or go home and see if I could relax enough to let contractions be productive. Well, we went home! We used different positions, counter pressure, breathing and tried visualizations. After laboring there till about 10pm, I had a few spurts of contractions one on top of another, long, and very strong. Anthony decided we should go to the hospital again.

So, now it's about 10:40p, I'm dilated to 6 and contractions are so strong I have my mom and hubby both doing counter pressure/pressure points for pain along with breathing/relaxation/etc. They admit me and I continue to contract...position changes didn't seem to make any difference in severity or help move baby around but if I laid on my left they came fast, strong and long so that was my most common position. Figured that would help things progress fastest.

Finally about 4:30a I started getting so tired I was unable to relax during cont. and I'm now panicking and the contractions aren't dilating me again. I discuss it with Anthony and we decide considering the time, level of pain, lack of sleep and now lack of food too that I need rest...and the only way we were able to do that was drug intervention. We discussd it till about 6am, as well as tried all sorts of the techniques we learned too...last resort but it worked. I was able to get an hour and a half of sleep and I felt like a brand new person. While sleeping my water broke and I dilated to 8/9 but cont. slowed down (which we expected) so we allowed doc to use a very low dose of Pit to get the last 1-2 cm. I responded so well to a 2ml per hour drip they had to turn it off after only an hour and within the following hour we were almost ready to push!

They came in about 2/2:30 and I was ready to go! Oh, and the funny part? Only after intervention and RIGHT before pushing did baby flip around so she was face to spine. Started pushing by 2:45, 3ish and by 3:41pm she was out! I did get 2nd degree tears, and stitches but she was a big baby! The doc/RNs did all the stretching inbetween and with pushing they could have.

Looking back I'm very satisfied with how things went. I'm not sure I would have had the energy, perseverance to make it through to pushing her out if we didn't decide to take the interventions. I'm very happy knowing we did all we could, and used all our Bradley knowledge to help us through those first 48/50 hours.

Considering how long we waited to do interventions I wasn't on meds for very long, she still came out very alert/rooting, and I was still very alert & so overly emotional! I was amazed...at all of it. All in all I feel the two interventions we did have were worth it instead of being so exhausted I couldn't push her out and risking a cesarean.

What a wonderful and miraculous experience! She was 8lbs 9oz, 21 inches long and well worth all the pain & labor. :)


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25 weeks, and a few days

I cannot believe that we are almost in to the 3rd trimester already!!! It's going by so fast! I believe second trimester comes to an end Dec. 9th.

We've been prepparing so many things; rooms, crib, baby proofing, registries etc. I'm thrilled to say that while shopping this week for Christmas gifts I snagged a rocker/automun (sp?) set for only $150! Normally, they're $300. Anthony'll have to put it together soon :)

I feel like Im getting a bit bigger every day. I'm not too big for 25 weeks to begin with, and I don't see where the 19lbs. I've put on have gone...ok, maybe in the tush area...but still. I'm not a horrible eater (lots of fruits, veggies and protien) so I'm not worried.

Baby is very active. She's actually not too bad at night so I'm managing a decent nights sleep most nights. She's so much fun! When relaxing, sometimes when she kicks I'll place my hands on that spot and gently put some pressure back...then she'll kick back again. It's fun to play with the little one who isn't even in my arms yet.

So far, still been feeling good. I've been getting more tired over the last week...and I'm guessing that's about normal. Thanks to my fabulous chiropractors I'm not dealing with too much pain anymore. As long as I remember to get adjusted that is! The only pain that is rather annoying is the pain that occurs when I lay on my left hip...if I sleep on that side too long it's awful, and will make my leg go numb eventually.

I'm thankful for all the love and suppot we've been given from our family and friends! You're all wonderful! Well, off to get ready for church. Have a blessed day.

23 Weeks!

Well, I'm officially past the 1/2 way point and moving full speed ahead towards 'motherhood'. It's kinda scary to think that in 17 weeks, we'll be holding our little one...17 weeks! EEEK! So much to do and not a lot of time to do it in. When I was talking to Lisa the other day I had to make the comparison of "It's like when you're planning your wedding and you get down to counting weeks, not months, and then...you start to panic." :)

Things are going really smooth. I feel so lucky to have an "easy" pregnancy. Not too much pain/swelling/sickness etc. Just a few little things here and there. I've learned that it's important to wear my orthotics with the small weight gain, really helps the feet/hips when being out and about. I've also learned that a body pillow is a pregnant woman's best friend for sleeping! Yes, it may take up half the bed and make the hubby uncomfortable, but it's so worth it for the relief/ease of sleep for the pregnant one :).

Baby's doing very well. At our last visit she was perfect size and weight, moving around a lot and all her measurements of organs and such looked normal too. She's moving around... A LOT. It's not constant obviously, but when she does move around she likes to make her presence known. Most often I can actually see my belly move when she's kicking, that is awesome.

I'm looking forward to all the other pregnancy "mile markers" that are yet to come but for right now I'm just enjoying time to sit back with my feet up and feel little one move around. Found out she likes spinach pizza and as much as I love hot/spicy foods...she's not the biggest fan. Yet ;)

We've started to think of names, get the nursery ready and preparing for her arrival. I've started baby registries at Target and Babies R Us to prepare for baby shower...and so I remember what I've picked out. The mind seems to be a bit foggy now adays.

Oh, don't think I uploaded the latest ultrasound pictures but you can see them here...
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2022606&id=62800394&l=86b3f42bd1 if you'd like. This album has all the pics so far. :)

Hugs for now!

It's a girl!

Went to the OB for our 20/21 week ultrasound today and the tech told us she's 90% sure that we're having a little girl! Baby was being difficult and didn't want to move around for us to get a good view but after a few minutes of movement/looking around tech said based on what she sees it's safe to assume it's a girl. :) We'll have other other ultrasounds of course and they can confirm it again but it's cool to know. Of course, kinda figured it was!

I'll scan in the ultrasound pictures tomorrow at work and upload them, we got a really cool "foot print" picture :)

Until then, baby's growing well and all the measurements look great!

How cool!

Recent news, short and sweet...

Baby actually "kicked" last night! It was the first definitive one that almost made me jump. A lot stronger than just the movements :).

As I rolled from my side to my back to stretch last night I felt baby move so I placed my hands on the belly and felt him/her shift from my left side over...it was amazing! I'm not positive but Im pretty sure I was able to feel the head...a nice hard spot moving compared to the squishy areas around it :).

Sigh, pregnancy is awesome.

20 Weeks, officially halfway there!

Part of me can't believe that 1/2 of the pregnancy is already gone! It went so fast...and Im sure with the holidays being mixed in the last 1/2, this will go even faster! :( Im realy enjoying this whole pregnancy thing!

Not much exciting other than I started our first registry this week! I got off work early so I stopped at Babies 'r' Us and got started. There's nothing on it yet, but they gave me all sorts of suggestions, a 'newborn checklist', and coupons! Anthony was working when I went, we'll have to go back and have fun with the scanner ;).

Also, funny story...I was laying on my side culred up next to Anthony this evening when out of nowhere he says "your starting to look pregnant." Just like that, it was so random and funny. It was nice to hear from him as he knows my self coinciousness (sp?) issues. Sigh, good end to a good night.

I'm calling it an evening before I start a new book. Since Sunday I've finished two novels...one of them not so small! I'm afraid of I don't go to bed now I'll start my next one and never get to bed!

Guess that's my cue, night!

Movements

I've come to the conclusion that feeling baby move is one of the most amazing, awe inspiring blessings of being a woman.

I stayed home from work today because I still had a fever and my cough wasn't much better...so I spent the say sleeping, reading and not doing much else. Throughout reading and changing positions I'd feel the unmistakable flutters of our little one. Each time I would just stop and wait for another one! The anticipation of waiting to feel the glorious gift we've been given move inside me!

Since I've slept a lot today sleeping tonight has proved difficult not only due to lack of sleepiness but also because I've been laying on my one side most of the day and I'm in a little bit of pain. I can't wait to get adjusted tomorrow!

Well, that's all! I'm just sitting here waiting for sleep to take me into it's arms and enjoying every little flutter from baby that tonight brings. I have a feeling, based on a few of the more forceful movements I've felt today, it won't be long before Anthony will be able to feel baby move! But for now I say goodnight!

Sweet dreams my little one.