Birth story, just a little late...

I was scheduled for an induction on May 2nd at 7:00 am. Thursday night, I went to bed around 11:00 so I could be rested up for the induction. Around 2:30 I woke up and felt 'funny'. I laid in bed for a few minutes trying to figure out what I felt. Got up at 2:38 and made it into the bathroom- my water broke at 2:39am! I was a little worried since my water was slightly yellow/greenish. THey had stressed in my childbirth class that water should be clear and any color could be a sign of distress.

We called the doctor and she told us to head into L&D. They did a direct admittance and set us up in a labor suite. They started monitoring the baby and let me know that since there was meconium stain in my water, I wouldn't be allowed to hold Noah as soon as he was born. They needed to put him in the isolette and have the pediatrician's examine his lungs to make sure he hadn't swallowed the meconium. I was upset thinking something was really wrong with the baby, but his heartrate and everything was fine and the doctor's told me not to worry.

I was 3 cm dilated when I was admitted at 3:00 am. I labored on my own with no meds until 7:00 am. Noah was laying on a nerve, and the only way I could be comfortable was if I was sitting up. Unfortunately, whenever I sat up, Noah's heart rate dropped. I had to stay on my right side in order to keep his rate where it needed to be. I'm overweight, and this position was NOT comfortable. I endured it as long as I could, and they set Noah up with internal monitoring. It was easier to keep a read on his heartrate, but he still didn't like me switching positions. I couldn't take the hip pain, it was all I could focus on. So- Joe and I talked it over and at 7:00 am I asked for an epidural. They had it in for me by 7:30 and I was already 5 cm when they gave the epidural.


*times after this are an estimate, i was fuzzy*


After the epidural, I slept off and on until around 11:30. I could feel the contractions but they were just a little annoying. At 11:30 I was fully dilated, so they had me do some practice pushing. The baby was still really high up so we practiced to try and move him and so I could know what I was supposed to be doing. I had very productive pushes, so at 12:00 we really started pushing. I *really* pushed from 12:00-2:00. At 1:30 my doctor came in and said that the baby still wasn't moving down even though my pushes were really productive. His head was so large that they couldn't tell for sure which way he was facing either. My doctor knew I really wanted a vaginal delivery, so he agreed to allow me to push for another hour (he counted the practice pushing so by his count I had already been pushing for 2 hours at that point). Usually the hospital will only allow you to push for 2 hours with no progress before they want to do a c-section. I was grateful for my doctor, so I put ALL my energy into that last hour hoping that I would be able to push Noah out on my own. At 2:20, he still hadn't moved and I was running out of energy. I was so weak I was shaking and couldn't control it, so as much as I hated it, I asked them to prep me for a c-section.



My anethesiologists and doctor were amazing. They kept me calm and joked with me through out the procedure. It took 1 surgical doses and 2 additional doses to numb me properly before they could start. I could tell they were trying to get my legs together so they could strap them down, and my legs were so heavy they kept falling open. I said at one point "I'm sorry I can't keep my legs closed." TO which the doctor replied, "Honey- that's what got you here!"

I hated being separated from Joe while they prepped me, but it wasn't that long and I was so happy to see him again. They started the C-section, and I really couldn't feel anything except some tugging, but only if I focused on it- otherwise I just stared at Joe and waited to hear the baby.



Noah was born at 2:48 pm on May 2nd! and that's where I freaked out. They put him in the isolette, and he wasn't crying and he was grayish. THey put an oxygen mask on him immediately and I was just so worried I didn't know what to do. Joe kept reassuring me, and within a minute Noah let loose and gave us a big cry. Then they weighed and measured him: 9 lbs 5 oz and 21 1/4 inches long! After that, Joe was able to bring him over to me so I could touch him for a minute before they took him to the special care nursery. They monitored him for a few hours b/c his oxygen saturation level was low. Joe stayed with Noah the entire time. I was taken to recovery for an hour, and then rolled down to the special nursery. They rolled my bed right next to Noah's and let me hold his hand and touch him for about 30 minutes before they took me to my room. I had time to call most of my family, and then they brought my baby back to me! At this point, he was already 4 hours old and I hadn't been able to hold him. I was so happy I started crying all over again. He is the most perfect thing that's ever happened in my life. Motherhood is such a joy, I would do it all over again for him.



He had to have blood sugar testing done throughout the first night. Very large babies have to be tested to make sure his system does well once he's no longer attached to mom. He had to get 5 good readings in a row and be tested before every feeding. His first 2 were good, but then he had a low one. When he had the low one, they had to take him back to the special care nursery and do a lab test. after that, we supplemented him with a bit of formula. He was tongue tied and having problems latching, so the formula helped keep his sugar up so he passed all of his tests. It was scary, but everything turned out fine at the end.



He had a circumcision and also had his frenulum clipped while we were in the hospital. Breastfeeding has been rough but we're finally getting the hang of it at 5days old. I had my c-section at 2:48 on Friday and was walking by 11:00 am on Saturday morning. I asked to get up before then, but they thought I was over doing it and made me slow down some(plus i still had the epidural in). I was doing so well that I was able to have some dinner the day of the c-section and I was back on a regular diet for breakfast the next morning

The girl who cried 'wolf'

I thought for sure I was in labor Friday morning. Contractions were coming regularly every 4-6 minutes...but they weren't super intense. I called the nurse and they wanted me to get checked out since they were coming close together. So I called Joe home from work and we went to the hospital. They hooked me up to the monitors and checked me out...and then sent me home. They said they were almost sure they'd see me back later that night but since it was my first baby and the contractions were irregular(they stopped pretty much once i got to L&D), I should labor at home.
I had an appt later that day with my doctor anyways, so they said keep the appt and see if i was progressing. went to the appt. the doctor was apparently at the hospital delivering another baby. they were surprised to see me at the appt b/c they'd been told i was at the hospital- so no one called to cancel the appt. This made me break down a bit, I got in the car and just started sobbing. Not only was I not having my baby, but my doctor was delivering someone else's baby and forgot to cancel my appt! I was rescheduled for Saturday morning though, so I was able to calm down pretty quickly.

Saturday- the contractions are gone all together. and i've had no progress since my check at the hospital. It seems like baby Noah is content to occupy my uterus for awhile longer. But- the doctor's don't want him to stay too long, so I have an induction scheduled for Friday May 2nd. He has a few more days to come on his own, then they're evicting him. Joe and I spent the rest of the day just chilling out and cleaning up around the house, hoping the activity would bring the contractions back. No such luck, but I did get to have a yummy snow cone :-)

I'm on maternity leave now until the end of July though, my doctor didn't want me working this week b/c she thinks he could come at any time. I've been having stronger contractions today. They hurt, but they're not coming at regular times at all yet. I've spent most of the day in pajamas curled up in bed b/c I'm all kinds of crampy and just irritable. I feel huge and I just want to meet my baby already. I'm really hoping he comes on his own without the induction, but at this point I'm not sure it'll happen.

At least I have all week to get the house really clean and just relaxing for awhile.

39 weeks 6 days

Tomorrow is my due date! I can't believe it came so fast, and I can't believe how long it's taken to get here. Yes, I know that's contradictory.
I've been having contractions off and on for about a week now. Twice they've gotten to be about 8 minutes apart and I *thought* it was the real thing. Now, I'm just chilled out. It'll happen when it happens, and in the meantime, I still get to have Noah all to myself for a few more days.

I have a doctor's appt on Friday, and they said if he hasn't come by then they'd like to talk induction. So, there's a good chance he'll be here by the end of the month either way. I have a feeling he'll come on his own without induction, but that could be wishful thinking on my part.

Today was *probably* my last day at work. I say probably b/c if I haven't had him by Sunday, I'll probably go back to work. I'd rather wait to start my leave until he comes so I don't miss any time with Noah. But, I told my supervisor I was waiting until Friday after my appt to make a final decision. If they decide to induce early next week, I'll just take the few days by myself to rest. If they decide not to induce and there's a possibility I can go 2 weeks past my due date, then I'll keep working. I still feel really good, I'm just really swollen.

Joe is making dinner for me now, then we'll watch American Idol Results and settle back to see what/if anything happens tonight. I'm having some contractions but they're not regular and they're only mildly uncomfortable right now. I think it would be pretty neat if I had him on my actual due date- that's not very common.

what time is it?

12:02 am. *sigh*. I have to get up for work at 5 am, so why am I still up you might ask? b/c nature apparently wants me to get used to having no sleep, so it's started waking me up in the middle of the night and laughing at me. Tonight- heartburn- severe severe heartburn, the likes of which i've never known before.

so now i'm rambling since i'm tired and delirious. I had several people tell me they were certain I was going to have the baby this past weekend. They were wrong, I'm still pregnant. and it's getting to the point where I think I'll be pregnant forever. I haven't had any contractions really since the Friday where I was in false labor. My belly is super tight and uncomfortable, as is everything else on my body right now, but no contractions. I'm anxious to see what they say at my doctor's appt on Thursday.

Surprisingly, I'm pretty calm about everything. I'm not nervous about labor or the baby coming home, I'm just anxious since I have no clue when it will happen. Oh- and I'm jealous that while I'm stuck on the couch after midnight nursing some serious heartburn, Joe is sleeping peacefully in the bedroom and has no clue that I'm even awake. It's probably slightly mean and evil, but part of me can't wait until Noah's here b/c at least then Joe will have to get up in the middle of the night too.

I'm going to go play some online games and hope they make me so exhausted that I can catch another hour or so of sleep.

38 weeks

I had my 38 week checkup yesterday- no news really. I'm a little more effaced but no more dilation. They're still saying the baby is big. The appts are getting a little redundant now. Every week I leave hoping I'll have the baby before the next appt. Next appt is Thursday now. So far no more contractions.

We went out for crabs last night...they didn't sit well with me. I had about 4 and I was done. but after crabs, we went to Dairy Queen and I got my dipped cone :-). The weather has been getting nice, we turned off the heat and opened windows. The cats are obnoxiously jumping from one window to the next now.

I've been nesting too, so lots of cleaning has taken place. the baby's room is almost completely organized and ready- we're going out shopping today for some more supplies that I want/need.

oh- and i officially met my neighbors yesterday. They're sweet, they have 7 month old twins. and the wife was sooo nice- she said to her husband "look honey, she's due in 2 weeks and she's not big at all!" It was a nice change from everyone that tells me i'm so huge, but I guess she's comparing me to herself and she had twins. The twins were adorable, I'm glad Noah will have little playmates in the neighborhood!

mostly non-baby related

I'm another year older now, as of Monday. Of course, I don't feel any differently. I wanted it kind of low-key this year- i'm too tired to do much of anything. so Joe made me chicken quesadilla's and we watched tv while I sat on the couch with my feet up. It was good.

Tuesday we went to mom's for dinner and she made my usual birthday dinner: Shish-ka-bobs on the grill! She made me yellow rice too, and my lemon drip cake. for ice cream, she got dove bars. they were soooo yummy.

Zach got a new wheelchair and augmentative communication device last week. He looks all snazzy now, and his new device is awesome. It's called the Eco, and it's a computer and aug comm device all in one. The voice is so much nicer then his old device too. Of course, It hit me that he's going to be 16 this summer. I can't believe how fast he's grown up, and he's just so handsome and makes me so proud. Even if he is a fathead (I have to pick on my baby brother you know).

I have a dentist appt tomorrow, and my little sister will turn 16 then. I talked to her Monday night and she's doing well. Dustin is getting big, he's 20lbs now and 7 months old. She's going to school, but not liking it at all. As long as she's going, I don't really care if she likes it. I just hope she sticks with it and finishes up.

and in other news, I'm just waiting for the baby to come (hey- i said *mostly* non-baby related!). Next appt is this Friday, we'll see what they say then.

37 weeks 3 days

I had another checkup on Friday, and I'm doing well. My weight was down, my blood pressure was down, and no swelling! So- no bed rest for me :-) The last ultrasound had the baby weighing in around 6lbs 7oz. they're always a guesstimate, and the doctor is 'guessing' we're having a big baby. As for when he comes...that's up to him. I was in "false labor" all day Friday and was convinced that was going to be it. But, it stopped and I'm still pregnant.
I'm progressing with dilation so there's still a good chance that I won't make it to my due date, but there's a chance I will too. That's what's been stressing me out most right now- the fact that I just don't know. Ideally, he'll hold off until my due date. That's what we've been planning on as far as day care situations and Joe taking vacation time. If he decides to come early, we'll have to juggle things around again. Which isn't a big deal, but it's definitely not fun.

I went to a Discovery Toys party this weekend. I spent way too much money on toys, but I couldn't resist. So many things were on sale, and I just can't wait to play with Noah! Plus, some of the stuff I bought to stock away for Christmas when he'll be a little older and will actually get some use of the things.

That's about all I have for now. It's just a waiting game at this point and I'm trying to be patient.