Birth Story

I went to my 38 week doctors appointment on Monday August 24th. Well my bp was up at the appointment 160/100. The dr then checked my cervix and there was still NO change. Totally long and hard. Unfortunately the EPO never worked for me. My dr. told me she was inducing me that night with cytotex on my cervix and pitocin after that. She wouldn't even let me go home first. I was really upset, but what can you do?
At the hospital they checked me and dh into a room and placed the cytotec. They hooked me up to continuous monitoring (didn't want that), but it is a requirement of the med. Within an hour of the pill I was having contractions 1+min long and 3 min or less a part. I had those all night long. The next morning they checked me and I was barely a fingertip dilated! It was so upsetting after laboring for so long. They were shocked! The dr came in and hooked me to pitocin and quickly had it all the way cranked up. My contractions became INSANE! They were back to back with many in a row without coming down. 5 hours later the dr. came in and checked me - only 1cm! She broke my water which was excruciating be only 1 cm dilated. I can't get over how stupid I think that was to do. They all felt so, so bad for me.
Oh! Forgot to mention that I threw up over 50 times in my labor. At the end I was throwing up stomach acid and blood.
After around 20 hours of labor I couldn't take it and they begged me to get an epidural. I had really not wanted this, but I was so exhausted. Well that started my epidural nightmare. I have scoliosis and it ended up being a huge problem. Long story short they attempted to place an epidural 7 times! I have marks all over my back from the needle insertions. This all happened over several hours where I honestly thought I might die. The hospital anesthesiologists (sp?) and my dr. had several consults about me and trying to figure out what to do. None of the epidurals would stay in my back. Finally the last one took and gave me some relief for about 3'ish hours before it came out too. At this point I was blacking out between contractions. I was only 4 cm dilated and they were starting to talk c-section. They left for 2 hours and came back and I was 9 1/2 - 10cm.
I pushed for an hour while blacking out between contractions. I was delirious and several times didn't know where I was. I ended up getting an episiotomy (not happy about that) AND getting 2nd degree tears in multiple spots. Finally my little one was born.
Now the good part. She was placed straight on my chest and her apgars were 9 and 9. She only cried for one second and then was staring and so alert! I started bawling. It was so surreal. She was so worth every ounce of torture! We started breastfeeding right away and we are doing awesome with it. The cord was able to stop pulsing and then my amazing husband was able to cut the cord. They did her checking on my chest and didn't weigh her or measure her until I said they could. She was 6lbs 1 oz and 19 1/2 inches long with a 13 inch head. She is a tiny pixie. She was 5lbs 11 oz when we left the hospital.

My husband was amazing through the whole thing. I feel so bad for him because it seriously traumatized him. Poor guy stayed strong for me, but it was all he could do not to lose it. I think I'm going to have to do some smooth talking to convince him to have baby number two. I'm sure he will come around, but right now he thinks I was tortured to death. Poor guy.

Thanks if you go through this whole long story! So yeah, it was a nightmare situation with over 27 hours of labor. We were the talk of the hospital. But in the end I was able to get my healthy baby girl and that makes it so worth it! Oh and my very first bp reading after delivery had me back to normal. YAY! Thanks for all of the e-mail's and well wishes! I can't believe I am finally a Momma. It is so amazing. I am so, so blessed.


Miss X

She's Here!

My beautiful baby girl was born August 25th at 9:11pm. She was 6lbs 1 1/2 oz and 19 1/2 inches long. She has a head full of silky, black hair.

It was a nightmare 27 1/2 hours of labor, but worth it all. I'll update with the birth story soon. For now we are home and doing well.

I am blessed.


Miss X

37 Week Appt, Day in the Hospital, and Baby Time!

Yesterday marked my 37th week! I went in first thing in the morning for my 37 week appointment. Big shocker, my blood pressure was up. My Dr. immediately starts talking about sending me downstairs to labor and delivery for non-stress tests, labs and urine tests. She said hopefully she wouldn't have to deliver me that day (!) as she would prefer to get me to 38 weeks! EEK! She finished my exam, swabbed me for GBS, and checked my cervix. Despite being on EPO (evening primrose oil) for 2 weeks I had no change. She said I was not dilated whatsoever and very hard! DANG IT! She was disappointed, but I was definitely more disappointed.

I was sent down to labor and delivery. They put me in this little room, strapped a couple of monitors to my belly and a blood pressure cuff to my arm and laid me on my side on the little bed. I had to lay there for 2 1/2 hours while they occasionally came in to take blood and what not. My tests all came back completely normal. My BP came down to normal levels when I was on my side. Blood work came back normal and urine dip came back normal. I was sent home with another 24 urine test (ugh) and I take that back this afternoon.

Despite all of my tests coming back normal, I still think my Dr. is going to insist on induction next week. She is not comfortable with my BP spikes when not laying firmly on my side. I understand, I just really wanted to avoid induction - and an unfavorable cervix is not giving me comfort. I increased my EPO last night and please pray that my cervix starts dilating!

It was so surreal laying in the bed in the L&D section of the hospital (I was in a triage room). I heard a newborn crying in the next room and it totally blew my mind. I kept wondering if I really belonged there. When one of the nurses would say something to me about me being "pregnant" or about my "baby", I had to stop myself from looking around and saying "Are you talking about ME?". I SO want this baby, but I cannot wrap my simple mind around it. Is this really happening to me? I've definitely got a case of the nerves and have been awake now since 3am.

I'm afraid of being induced. I'm afraid of something going wrong with Baby Girl. I'm afraid I haven't prepared enough and I'm going to suck as a mom. I love this baby so much, why can't I accept that she is real?

Please send your prayers ladies (and maybe slap me. ;) ). I will update as I find out more.


Miss X

Down in the dumps

I'm kind of depressed. It's this bed rest business. I really haven't left the house in 3 weeks and it is getting to me. I'm sure my hormones aren't helping matters. Ugh.

Things are gradually getting worse blood pressure wise. Even in bed rest my bp is creeping up just a bit more every couple of days. This morning all I did was toast myself a bagel and sit on the couch to eat it and my blood pressure spiked up. So now I can't even make myself a quick meal. I have to lay down at all times, except for a bathroom break.

My hubby is fabulous and taking super good care of me. He just called me and I asked him to pick up some Cherry Garcia for dinner. Yes, I do feel entitled to ice cream for dinner. ;) I'm just getting lonely being by myself all day, with nothing to really do. Whine, whine, woe is me! Pathetic! It will all be over soon and it really isn't so bad, it just feels like it at the moment.

My next appointment is Monday and I imagine induction will at least be discussed. You all know how badly I have not wanted to be induced. I'm doing my best to just accept it for what it is. I just really want my baby to be healthy and born. I have a secret fear about something terrible happening at her birth. I just want her to be okay. However that happens is fine.

Blah, blah, anyway. This is where I'm at right now. I'll post updates as I have them.


Miss X

36 Week Belly Pic!

See the newest pic here.

Big change this time! :)



Miss X

Stable and Grateful

35 week appointment today. My BP is still somewhat elevated though not too high, but it is stable. No protein in my urine and no signs of Pre-E. All very good news. I brought in my daily bp readings from home and I think I finally proved to them that my BP is much, much worse at the office because of my stupid White Coats Syndrome. Belly is measuring right on to the day. Baby Girl's heartbeat is perfect. Weight down 1lb from last appointment (probably due to being on bed rest and loosing the excess swelling fluid). I was declared "doing a great job and to keep it up!".

Yay! I don't have to go back for another 2 weeks and at that point I will be officially full term! I just have to keep up the rest and continue recording my blood pressure at home to take in to my appointments. YIPPIE! At that point I will be on weekly appointments until the end. They will also do my Group B Strep test and my first internal to check for progress.

My family and friends have been fabulous. I can't even tell you how many breakfasts and lunches they have brought to me. My mom, grandma and bff came last week and organized all of my baby shower gifts, did the last of my baby laundry and finished off my nursery. I was bummed to not be able to do it myself, but so grateful that I had the help since I can't. My mom has ran errands for me to get the last of the stuff I still needed and she is taking my car to the fire department this week to have my car seat installed. My hubby has been waiting on me hand and foot. I'm really blessed.

I'm getting excited and just a wee bit nervous! I can't believe this is all happening so soon! How is this happening? I'm just in such disbelief! Has there really been a baby inside of me all of these months? Wow! My mind is totally blown.

Thanks for all of your well wishes and prayers. I'll keep you updated. :)


Miss X

Baby Shower and Bed Rest

Good News First:
I had my baby shower last night! My longtime friend threw me a lovely shower at her beautiful home. There were lots of friends and family. Lots of yummy food (pizza, bread sticks, salads, and lemon cheese cake! YUM!) and tons of gifts! I am completely overwhelmed with everyone's generosity!

I'll try to post pics on the private blog later. I need to go through everything to even remember an ounce of what we got. Off the top of my head we received....countless onesies in every imaginable size and color, baby blankets, hooded towels, wash cloths, burp cloths, pacifiers, baby shoes, tons of baby outfits, 2 car seat bases, baby bath tub, burts bee's gift set, bouncy seat, swing, piggy bank, sleepers, diapers, wipes, boppy, diaper cream, changing pad, diaper caddy and a million other things I've forgotten! We need a new house just to store all of the baby stuff! :) My little girl is already spoiled rotten! And loved by so many. That makes my heart glad.

Bad News Time:
I'm on bed rest. Ugh. So I ended up getting in massive trouble at my doctors appointment on Wednesday. They were upset about my swelling and blood pressure. Blood work and a 24 hour urine test were ordered. I am happy to say that both were completely normal. No protein in my urine and labs were normal. They made me come back Thursday for another BP check. I was stressed out of my mind and big shocker, my BP was even higher! Insert more freaking out of the medical staff. The problem was my normal OB was out of town and I was dealing with a nurse practitioner that scares easier. I was then made to come in AGAIN on Friday (yesterday), my BP had come down after 2 days of bedrest, but is still above normal. Sigh.

The long and short of it is I officially have Pregnancy Induced Hypertension - but NOT Pre-Eclampsia. Yet, anyway. It's an important distinction and very good news that I am not eclamptic at this point. Last night was a wake up call for me that I really do have to behave and stay on bed rest. I was upright way to long at my shower, walking around, and I got really hot. Before I knew it I was having visual disturbances. If you know anything about blood pressure this is a huge red flag. My sister in law drove me home. My mom came over (she is a cardiac RN) and found my blood pressure at 160/100! I was ordered on my left side and to drink tons of water. She and hubby kept monitoring me and thank God my BP quickly dropped down to acceptable levels. But that's it. I'm out of commission for the rest of this pg. It sucks because I'm nesting, but stroking out is not big on my list of things to do. I will be shocked if I don't end up induced in the end, but I'm still praying I just go into labor on my own early.

That is all for now. If you pray, please keep Baby Girl and myself in your prayers. I need her to cook for a few more weeks and I need to not have a stroke in the mean time. I really do think everything will work out in the end.


Miss X