So, the days leading up to the induction, I was going absolutely insane! I cried once, out of sheer nerves. I was so afraid of something going wrong. I was worried I would forget something. I was just nervous about the prospect as a whole. When at long last, the time came to leave for the hospital, I would probably have completely fallen apart had it not been for Brittany and Russ. They kept me calm, and helped me make sure I had everything I needed. On the ride to the hospital, I was practically bouncing.
Once we'd arrived at the hospital, my nerves didn't get much better. They got us settled into a room, I signed a bunch of stuff, and then they gave me the cirvidil. Russ and I stayed awake until almost midnight, watching TV and snacking. Finally, I asked for an ambien so I could go to sleep, and I don't remember anything after that until early the next morning.
I woke up at 5, and was too nervous to go back to sleep, so I checked facebook from my phone. At 5:30, a nurse came in and gave me an enema. At around 6, my OB showed up, and let me know she was going to do a c-section, and then she'd come get me started. Around 7:30, she came back, set up my epidural, and started an IV with pitocin. I went numb from the waist down. Mom, Brittany, and Cliff came, and spent most of the day there with me. Mom had to go pick up Rusty from school at one point, because he was sick. She took a nap before coming back up. Brittany had to go twice to check on her boys. For the most part, I was bored. I watched a lot of TV, napped a couple times, and kept an eye on the monitor that showed my contractions. At some point, after they broke my water, they had to up my dose on the epidural, because I was starting to feel the contractions a little bit. It wasn't long after that, that I noticed that with every contraction, I felt like I needed to poop. It took several contractions before I realized that what I was feeling was the urge to push. So, Russ got my parents on web cam, so they could watch, and the nurses transformed my bed, and I began to push. It felt like I pushed for hours, but in reality it was only 30 minutes. The worst part of that was that the epidural somehow missed the area between my legs, so I felt her coming out, I felt myself tearing, and afterward, I felt the stitches. All in all, though, It went very smoothly.
When she came out, Russ got to catch her. That was so special! They layed her on my stomach and let me cut the cord. Then, while my OB stitched me up, I held Lexi on my chest and tried to nurse her. Nursing was a no-go, but that's okay. Just holding her was simply amazing! I felt immediately bonded to her, and I didn't want to let her go. Unfortunately, I had to let her go, because they had to do some tests, and give her medicine and such. I layed there, aching for her, until they brought her back to me. They told me she was 7 lbs 3 ozs, and 21 inches long. She scored a 9 on her apgar, which is a fantastic score! She was wide eyed and alert for several hours after delivery. We stayed in the delivery room for quite a while, because my epidural took a long time to wear off in my left leg. At long last, they wheeled me to my post partum room, and they took Lexi to the nursery for her first bath. Russ went to help give her a bath. I tried to nap while they were gone, but I missed her too much. When they finally came back, I was able to relax and sleep.
Lexi slept very well the first night. In the morning, we nursed successfully for the first time! I was still ecstatic and enjoying everything! I spent the whole day cuddling with her, recording every time I fed her or changed her diaper, and enjoying my visitors. Rusty spent most of the day there with us. That night was not as easy as the first. Lexi was hungry a lot that night, and I didn't get much sleep at all. The next day was going home day! The first half of the day we were still at the hospital, and I was antsy. Going home felt both exciting and scary. A little bit after lunch, we were discharged, and began gathering up all our stuff. Once we got home, I started getting myself settled in. I found a comfy spot to nurse her, and tried to nap when I had the chance.
The first full day home, Russ had to go back to work. I mostly relaxed, did a little school work, and got on facebook for the first time since she'd been born. Today was her fourth day of life! We took her to the hospital this morning, to check her biliruben levels, and she is normal. Russ is at work again. Tomorrow, she has her first doctor's appointment, early in the morning.
I'm feeling excited about everything, grateful for the huge blessings I've been given, and eager for life with Lexi!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Drawing Closer to Induction Day!
Okay, so at my last appointment, the date of my induction was officially set in stone. I asked my OB every question I could think of. I had her walk me through the process, what happens first, then what, then what, and how long does it usually take. After scheduling it, she gave me an instruction sheet, which basically goes over all the same stuff we talked about already.
Russ and I will arrive at the hospital around 8pm, Tuesday night...that is, assuming there is an available bed. We will have to call ahead of time and make sure before we head up there. I'm only allowed to have one person with me that night, and that will be Russ. I am also only allowed to have one small bag, with things I will need during the labor. The rest of my stuff has to stay in the car until after she's born. Once I'm checked in, they will give me a Cervidil suppository, which is to get the process of dilation going. Sometimes that on it's own will start labor, and if that's the case, then I'll have to call people to come on up to the hospital after all. At that point, I'll have to sign some consent forms, they'll put some monitors on me, and I won't be allowed to get out of bed for two hours. I'll be allowed to eat and drink until midnight, so I'll probably be sending Russ to get me some food around 11:30, lol. If I want it (which I probably will) they will give me a medication to help me sleep. The next morning, whenever my OB gets there, they will start an IV with a pitocin drip, an epidural, and they will probably break my water. And then....LABOR! My OB said that normally, the baby will be born within 24 hours of getting checked into the hospital.
Now, with this whole plan all set up, you'd think I would feel stable, like I know what to expect, and when to expect it. Well, I don't. I feel like there is SO MUCH I need to get done before Tuesday night, and so much to think about! For one thing, I'm getting close to the end of the class I'm taking, and at the end, the class will lock everybody out, so there won't really be time for make up work. As of Wednesday, there will be about three days of class left before it locks up. So, I have formulated a plan to have everything left for my class done by Tuesday morning. That, in itself, is going to keep me pretty busy for the next few days. I need to go through my hospital bags and organize it so that I have one bag with only the things I need for labor. I figured I'll use the bag where Russ is keeping himself a change of clothes, and I'll throw my hugging pillow, the camera, the snacks, and our birth plan into that bag. Then all the baby stuff, and my changes of clothes, and my toiletries, can wait in the car. My plan is to keep myself as busy as possible between now and Tuesday, or else I will probably go insane. Today, I spent most of the afternoon helping burn some brush on the back of the property, and hanging out with Mom and Pop. I don't know what I'll do tomorrow...maybe go ahead and get the hospital bags organized, do some school work, and find something to keep my mind busy the rest of the day. On Monday, I've got laundry to do, and fold, and I'm going to dust if I'm feeling up to it, and cook dinner, and work on school. On Tuesday, I will be finishing the rest of my school work for this class, then I'm going to take a long, relaxing bath. I will spend the rest of Tuesday going insane, because at that point, there will be no avoiding it. I will probably help Rusty prepare a bag to bring to the hospital when he visits....he can bring a movie or something to watch in the hospital room, and a few toys. Then, that night, I'll make sure Rusty gets a bath...I'll call the hospital to make sure there's a bed open...I'll say good bye to Rusty, and give him lots of hugs and kisses, and tell him I can't wait to see him again...then Russ and I will head off to the hospital to begin the process. And on the car ride there, I will probably be bouncing with nerves!!!
I am excited too, though! I'm going to have my baby girl very soon! I'm going to hold her in my arms, and hear her cry, and kiss her, and nurse her, and be amazed by the miracle that Russ and I have created. This is going to be an amazing time for us, and I couldn't be more thrilled that it is so close! Maybe that's why it's all I can think about! Now if only I could stop thinking about it long enough to get some sleep!!!
Russ and I will arrive at the hospital around 8pm, Tuesday night...that is, assuming there is an available bed. We will have to call ahead of time and make sure before we head up there. I'm only allowed to have one person with me that night, and that will be Russ. I am also only allowed to have one small bag, with things I will need during the labor. The rest of my stuff has to stay in the car until after she's born. Once I'm checked in, they will give me a Cervidil suppository, which is to get the process of dilation going. Sometimes that on it's own will start labor, and if that's the case, then I'll have to call people to come on up to the hospital after all. At that point, I'll have to sign some consent forms, they'll put some monitors on me, and I won't be allowed to get out of bed for two hours. I'll be allowed to eat and drink until midnight, so I'll probably be sending Russ to get me some food around 11:30, lol. If I want it (which I probably will) they will give me a medication to help me sleep. The next morning, whenever my OB gets there, they will start an IV with a pitocin drip, an epidural, and they will probably break my water. And then....LABOR! My OB said that normally, the baby will be born within 24 hours of getting checked into the hospital.
Now, with this whole plan all set up, you'd think I would feel stable, like I know what to expect, and when to expect it. Well, I don't. I feel like there is SO MUCH I need to get done before Tuesday night, and so much to think about! For one thing, I'm getting close to the end of the class I'm taking, and at the end, the class will lock everybody out, so there won't really be time for make up work. As of Wednesday, there will be about three days of class left before it locks up. So, I have formulated a plan to have everything left for my class done by Tuesday morning. That, in itself, is going to keep me pretty busy for the next few days. I need to go through my hospital bags and organize it so that I have one bag with only the things I need for labor. I figured I'll use the bag where Russ is keeping himself a change of clothes, and I'll throw my hugging pillow, the camera, the snacks, and our birth plan into that bag. Then all the baby stuff, and my changes of clothes, and my toiletries, can wait in the car. My plan is to keep myself as busy as possible between now and Tuesday, or else I will probably go insane. Today, I spent most of the afternoon helping burn some brush on the back of the property, and hanging out with Mom and Pop. I don't know what I'll do tomorrow...maybe go ahead and get the hospital bags organized, do some school work, and find something to keep my mind busy the rest of the day. On Monday, I've got laundry to do, and fold, and I'm going to dust if I'm feeling up to it, and cook dinner, and work on school. On Tuesday, I will be finishing the rest of my school work for this class, then I'm going to take a long, relaxing bath. I will spend the rest of Tuesday going insane, because at that point, there will be no avoiding it. I will probably help Rusty prepare a bag to bring to the hospital when he visits....he can bring a movie or something to watch in the hospital room, and a few toys. Then, that night, I'll make sure Rusty gets a bath...I'll call the hospital to make sure there's a bed open...I'll say good bye to Rusty, and give him lots of hugs and kisses, and tell him I can't wait to see him again...then Russ and I will head off to the hospital to begin the process. And on the car ride there, I will probably be bouncing with nerves!!!
I am excited too, though! I'm going to have my baby girl very soon! I'm going to hold her in my arms, and hear her cry, and kiss her, and nurse her, and be amazed by the miracle that Russ and I have created. This is going to be an amazing time for us, and I couldn't be more thrilled that it is so close! Maybe that's why it's all I can think about! Now if only I could stop thinking about it long enough to get some sleep!!!
Sunday, April 14, 2013
And Still Waiting....
Last Friday I had my 39 week appointment, and it went well. It was even kind of exciting. She said I was about 2 cms dilated, and 70-80% effaced. I felt fantastic, because I was actually making progress! I'd kind of hoped to have her before 39 weeks, but at least something was happening. Now I'm hoping to have her before 40 weeks.
On Saturday morning, as we were in church, I began having contractions. They were nothing unusual. About the same as what I'd been having before. I squeezed Russ' hand and breathed through them. I scared a few people, who thought I might have Lexi right there in church. If only those people had seen me for the last four weeks!!! Anyway, after church we went home, and I tried to relax. I kept having contractions, and although the timing was irregular, they were getting increasingly stronger. I was having more and more trouble breathing through them. Russ called in to work, because we weren't sure if this was the real thing or not. As the intensity of the contractions increased, we both started to think it could be. I tried several of the techniques that are supposed to help ease false labor, such as taking a walk, and having some hot tea, and changing positions a lot. None of it helped, and walking actually made them more frequent for a little while. I still was not sure if we should go to the hospital, because of the irregularity of the timing, and because my water hadn't broken, and there was no bloody show, and my belly wasn't getting as hard as the doctors say it should. But, Russ and everybody else kept asking me if I was ready to go, and saying they thought I should. By almost 7 pm, I decided to just go. The timing had gotten slightly more regular, and the contractions were some of the strongest I have ever felt.
Even as we were on the way to the hospital, I became more and more convinced that I must be in labor. I was just in so much pain! When we got there, they checked my dilation first, and said it was not quite 2 cms. That was the first discouraging part. Then they hooked up the monitors and let me sit there for a few hours. I don't know if the monitor was broken, or what. Every time I had a contraction, and was in so much pain, the line that's supposed to show the contractions actually dropped, instead of going up. So, when I wasn't having a contraction, according to the monitor, it looked like I was, and when I was, it looked like I wasn't. I was frustrated by that, because I felt like the doctors weren't getting an accurate idea of what was happening. The nurse came and checked on me several times, and I did tell her about the monitor. She simply readjusted it, and it kept doing the same thing. A couple hours after getting there, the contractions actually did start to recede. They were still coming pretty close together, but the intensity was lessening. As more time passed, they became more and more irregular again, and at that point, I already knew what they were going to tell me.
When the doctor came in to check my dilation, he shook his head and said, "She is being stubborn." He said there had been no change in my dilation since i got there. He also said that my nurse, on Friday morning, had put down that I was 80% effaced, but he thought that was generous. He would have gone with 60-70%. I felt so completely defeated. I felt like I had lost progress, rather than made any. The doctor did try to reassure me. He said, when he checks a cervix, he's checking for five things. He's checking that the cervix has moved from the back to the front, which mine has. He's checking to see if it's softened, and mine is 100% soft. He's checking to see if the baby is pressing down on it, and mine is. He's checking for effacement, and I'm about 70%. And of course, he's checking for dilation, which I hardly have any of. He told me that I've got 3 out of 5, and that's great, and I'm more than half way done effacing. He said there's no way to give an estimate of how long effacement will take, but he expects to see me again soon. Then he gave me some Tylenol 3 for pain and some Ambien to help me sleep, and sent me home.
Russ and I are both frustrated. I feel guilty because Russ missed work for another false alarm. I feel depressed, because I got my hopes up, only to have them come crashing back down. Upon waking up this morning, I am INCREDIBLY sore! I don't want to move, because every move I make hurts. I don't want to do anything. I don't want to have to function. I am also worried, because after all these false alarms, I'm beginning not to trust myself. I'm afraid that when it is the real thing, I will doubt myself, and we won't head for the hospital until it's too late. I really don't want to go back to the hospital unless my water breaks, or I have bloody show (Bloody show is caused by veins rupturing as the cervix dilates). But, only about 10% of women have their water break before they are in active labor, and not all women have bloody show either. In that regard, it doesn't seem entirely safe to wait for those. But on the other hand, I really don't think I can take another disappointment like this. Every time, it is harder to bear.
In any case, if I make it to my 40 week appointment this coming Friday, I am going to schedule an induction for April 24th. Several reasons: I have been dilated since 36 weeks, and lost my mucus plug around the same time. The longer I'm dilated, the higher the chance of infection, and I DON'T want that. My OB had already suggested getting induced in that week, but left the decision up to me, and originally I said no. I wanted to wait until Lexi made up her mind to come on her own. Once I got home, I did some research on induction, on the pros and cons. It does come with some risks, but those risks are not as extreme as some people make them out to be. The risks of being dilated with no mucus plug for four weeks are about as bad. Once I had made up my mind that induction might actually be an option, I started to seriously think about whether I wanted it. I have been SO uncomfortable, and it seems to get worse every day. I imagine that by 40 1/2 weeks, I will be about ready to be done with this pregnancy no matter what! So, I had basically already made up my mind when one last consideration came into play. When we take our trip to Texas, we want to have Lexi baptized. When I talked to my priest, he said that the baptism needs to be at least 40 days after she's born. I counted backwards, and the latest she could be born to fit into that time frame would be April 24th....which ironically, is the same day my OB originally suggested. So, with all that in mind, I decided that if she isn't here by my 40 week appointment, I'm going to go ahead and schedule it. That would be Wednesday of next week. That means that, no matter what, in a week and 3 days, I will be having my baby. That really reassures me. It's like a promise that this won't last forever. I'm still hoping not to make it all the way to April 24th. One of the risks of induction is an increased chance of needing a c-section. I would really hate to have to get a c-section. But, no matter what happens, or how it happens, I know I will be nothing but glad once I've got my baby girl in my arms. Oh, one other consideration in favor of induction....I was born 10 days late, and weighed 10 lbs 3 ozs. I've read that in regards to birth weight, babies tend to take after their mothers. That means there's a good chance she's already at least 8 1/2 - 9 lbs. The longer she's in there, the heavier she'll get. I would SO hate to have to give birth to a 10 lb baby!!! When I was born, they had to use the salad tongs to get me out, and had that failed, my mom would probably have had a c-section. So gosh, I've got a risk of that no matter what, especially the longer she waits to come out!
So, I've got less than 1 1/2 weeks, tops. That gives me a little bit of comfort, as I stare with longing at the bassinet beside my bed. :)
On Saturday morning, as we were in church, I began having contractions. They were nothing unusual. About the same as what I'd been having before. I squeezed Russ' hand and breathed through them. I scared a few people, who thought I might have Lexi right there in church. If only those people had seen me for the last four weeks!!! Anyway, after church we went home, and I tried to relax. I kept having contractions, and although the timing was irregular, they were getting increasingly stronger. I was having more and more trouble breathing through them. Russ called in to work, because we weren't sure if this was the real thing or not. As the intensity of the contractions increased, we both started to think it could be. I tried several of the techniques that are supposed to help ease false labor, such as taking a walk, and having some hot tea, and changing positions a lot. None of it helped, and walking actually made them more frequent for a little while. I still was not sure if we should go to the hospital, because of the irregularity of the timing, and because my water hadn't broken, and there was no bloody show, and my belly wasn't getting as hard as the doctors say it should. But, Russ and everybody else kept asking me if I was ready to go, and saying they thought I should. By almost 7 pm, I decided to just go. The timing had gotten slightly more regular, and the contractions were some of the strongest I have ever felt.
Even as we were on the way to the hospital, I became more and more convinced that I must be in labor. I was just in so much pain! When we got there, they checked my dilation first, and said it was not quite 2 cms. That was the first discouraging part. Then they hooked up the monitors and let me sit there for a few hours. I don't know if the monitor was broken, or what. Every time I had a contraction, and was in so much pain, the line that's supposed to show the contractions actually dropped, instead of going up. So, when I wasn't having a contraction, according to the monitor, it looked like I was, and when I was, it looked like I wasn't. I was frustrated by that, because I felt like the doctors weren't getting an accurate idea of what was happening. The nurse came and checked on me several times, and I did tell her about the monitor. She simply readjusted it, and it kept doing the same thing. A couple hours after getting there, the contractions actually did start to recede. They were still coming pretty close together, but the intensity was lessening. As more time passed, they became more and more irregular again, and at that point, I already knew what they were going to tell me.
When the doctor came in to check my dilation, he shook his head and said, "She is being stubborn." He said there had been no change in my dilation since i got there. He also said that my nurse, on Friday morning, had put down that I was 80% effaced, but he thought that was generous. He would have gone with 60-70%. I felt so completely defeated. I felt like I had lost progress, rather than made any. The doctor did try to reassure me. He said, when he checks a cervix, he's checking for five things. He's checking that the cervix has moved from the back to the front, which mine has. He's checking to see if it's softened, and mine is 100% soft. He's checking to see if the baby is pressing down on it, and mine is. He's checking for effacement, and I'm about 70%. And of course, he's checking for dilation, which I hardly have any of. He told me that I've got 3 out of 5, and that's great, and I'm more than half way done effacing. He said there's no way to give an estimate of how long effacement will take, but he expects to see me again soon. Then he gave me some Tylenol 3 for pain and some Ambien to help me sleep, and sent me home.
Russ and I are both frustrated. I feel guilty because Russ missed work for another false alarm. I feel depressed, because I got my hopes up, only to have them come crashing back down. Upon waking up this morning, I am INCREDIBLY sore! I don't want to move, because every move I make hurts. I don't want to do anything. I don't want to have to function. I am also worried, because after all these false alarms, I'm beginning not to trust myself. I'm afraid that when it is the real thing, I will doubt myself, and we won't head for the hospital until it's too late. I really don't want to go back to the hospital unless my water breaks, or I have bloody show (Bloody show is caused by veins rupturing as the cervix dilates). But, only about 10% of women have their water break before they are in active labor, and not all women have bloody show either. In that regard, it doesn't seem entirely safe to wait for those. But on the other hand, I really don't think I can take another disappointment like this. Every time, it is harder to bear.
In any case, if I make it to my 40 week appointment this coming Friday, I am going to schedule an induction for April 24th. Several reasons: I have been dilated since 36 weeks, and lost my mucus plug around the same time. The longer I'm dilated, the higher the chance of infection, and I DON'T want that. My OB had already suggested getting induced in that week, but left the decision up to me, and originally I said no. I wanted to wait until Lexi made up her mind to come on her own. Once I got home, I did some research on induction, on the pros and cons. It does come with some risks, but those risks are not as extreme as some people make them out to be. The risks of being dilated with no mucus plug for four weeks are about as bad. Once I had made up my mind that induction might actually be an option, I started to seriously think about whether I wanted it. I have been SO uncomfortable, and it seems to get worse every day. I imagine that by 40 1/2 weeks, I will be about ready to be done with this pregnancy no matter what! So, I had basically already made up my mind when one last consideration came into play. When we take our trip to Texas, we want to have Lexi baptized. When I talked to my priest, he said that the baptism needs to be at least 40 days after she's born. I counted backwards, and the latest she could be born to fit into that time frame would be April 24th....which ironically, is the same day my OB originally suggested. So, with all that in mind, I decided that if she isn't here by my 40 week appointment, I'm going to go ahead and schedule it. That would be Wednesday of next week. That means that, no matter what, in a week and 3 days, I will be having my baby. That really reassures me. It's like a promise that this won't last forever. I'm still hoping not to make it all the way to April 24th. One of the risks of induction is an increased chance of needing a c-section. I would really hate to have to get a c-section. But, no matter what happens, or how it happens, I know I will be nothing but glad once I've got my baby girl in my arms. Oh, one other consideration in favor of induction....I was born 10 days late, and weighed 10 lbs 3 ozs. I've read that in regards to birth weight, babies tend to take after their mothers. That means there's a good chance she's already at least 8 1/2 - 9 lbs. The longer she's in there, the heavier she'll get. I would SO hate to have to give birth to a 10 lb baby!!! When I was born, they had to use the salad tongs to get me out, and had that failed, my mom would probably have had a c-section. So gosh, I've got a risk of that no matter what, especially the longer she waits to come out!
So, I've got less than 1 1/2 weeks, tops. That gives me a little bit of comfort, as I stare with longing at the bassinet beside my bed. :)
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