I remember the mask being put on my face and quickly going to sleep. Next I remember opening an eye and seeing my labor room. Ben was standing right next to me and I asked him if the doctor did liposuction while he did the c-section. Then I asked him about our daughter, Hannah Elizabeth. I asked him to go take a picture of her so I could see her. She's beautiful and has a head full of black hair. I totally melted at the picture. I wish i could have seen her the moment she was born, but that first picture of her was priceless.
My nurse got my pain meds started and gave me the button to push at any time I needed more meds. I love having control over my meds! After that she moved me to my recovery room, which is much bigger and nicer than my previous recovery rooms! Way to go Round Rock Hospital. Since being moved to recovery I have been sitting in this bed, I'm not allowed to get up yet and I'm ok with that. I've been so tired that staying in bed is the best place for me. Around 3:30 Ben was finally able to bring my newest daughter to me. I finallygot to hold my baby Hannah. I tried to nurse her but she was not responding yet. Because she was a bigger baby (8 lbs 7 oz) she had low blood sugar at birth so I ended up feeding her from a bottle. The pediatrician recommended a bottle since my milk is not in yet and she needs good meals. She did nurse for a few minutes and we'll work on longer feedings.
Tomorrow big sister Heidi and big brother Noah will get to meet their little sister. What an exciting day!!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Not according to plan
A c-section is not exactly the way I expected to deliver Hannah today. Earlier in my pregnancy a c-section was the path we were looking towards because I had placenta previa and the placenta was underneath the baby instead of on the side. At 32 weeks another ultrasound was done and the placenta had moved up, so a c-section was no longer necessary.
This morning I got the first of bad news, my blood platelet count was too low to receive an epidural. The nurse drew more blood, ran the test a second time, and the results came back even lower. Epidural was out, Not cool. By this point the pitocinn had started. As time went on the nurse noticed the baby's heart rate monitor continually needed to be moved higher and higher when it should have been going lower, towards the birth canal. That is when she ordered an ultrasound.
The ultrasound showed Hannah's head was in my right hip area instead of the birth canal, next he noticed the placenta was low lying aging rather than up where it should have been. So the result of the two was to stop the pitocin and schedule a c-section. The bad news did not stop there. Because my platelet count was so low and an epidural could not be given the anesthesiologist was going to need to putme to sleep under general anetstia and Ben would not be allowed in the room. After lots of tears I was finally ready to meet my Hannah. The nurse got me prepped and then wheeled me to the OR.
This morning I got the first of bad news, my blood platelet count was too low to receive an epidural. The nurse drew more blood, ran the test a second time, and the results came back even lower. Epidural was out, Not cool. By this point the pitocinn had started. As time went on the nurse noticed the baby's heart rate monitor continually needed to be moved higher and higher when it should have been going lower, towards the birth canal. That is when she ordered an ultrasound.
The ultrasound showed Hannah's head was in my right hip area instead of the birth canal, next he noticed the placenta was low lying aging rather than up where it should have been. So the result of the two was to stop the pitocin and schedule a c-section. The bad news did not stop there. Because my platelet count was so low and an epidural could not be given the anesthesiologist was going to need to putme to sleep under general anetstia and Ben would not be allowed in the room. After lots of tears I was finally ready to meet my Hannah. The nurse got me prepped and then wheeled me to the OR.
And the news keeps coming.
Since my blood platelet count is so low, no epidural for the c-section. Instead they have to put me to sleep under general anesthesia. That also means Ben cannot be in the room when the baby is born.
Not good news
The ultrasound showed the baby's head is more in my hip than engaged and my placenta has moved low lying again.... So the result is, c-section.
The piton has been stopped and now we're just waiting for more info.
The piton has been stopped and now we're just waiting for more info.
Nothing Going On
Nothing new is going on. Contractions are coming more frequently and lasting a little longer. I'm trying to rest but it's very hard when I'm having contractions every few minutes and i'm hungry. The nurse has ordered an ultrasound to make sure the head is down. She thinks the head is down but not engaged. So she doesn't want to break my water until she's engaged. So that's the update for now.
Lots of contractions.
I'm feeling contractions every 4-5 minutes and I'm starting to really feel them.
The nurse got the results from the manual platelet count confirmed 76,000 platelets. This means, unless there is no big increase, no epidural. I really hope I get a sympathetic anesthesiologist who will be willing to give me an epidural.
Dr. Murphree tried to break my water about an hour ago and could not do it. Next time I see him I'm sure he'll get it broken.
The nurse got the results from the manual platelet count confirmed 76,000 platelets. This means, unless there is no big increase, no epidural. I really hope I get a sympathetic anesthesiologist who will be willing to give me an epidural.
Dr. Murphree tried to break my water about an hour ago and could not do it. Next time I see him I'm sure he'll get it broken.
No improvement
The nurse ran my blood platelet count and it went down to 76,000. Looks like I might be having a natural labor, not by choice.
1st Stumbling block
The nurse just informed me that my platelet count is 92,000 and anesthesiologist typically do not do epidurals unless the platelet count is above 100,000. We might be rerunning blood work because I really want that epidural!
It's early!
6:00 am came quickly! The nurse removed the cervidil and will be starting the pitocin at 6:30. I hope I am able to get a little more rest before labor starts kicking in strong. Any bets on what time I'll deliver this baby? Any bets on size??
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Night before the birth
We have had a great start to our hospital stay. First Ben and I went to dinner at Gumbo's in Round Rock. The food was amazing!! So glad we had a date before our big event. We don't know when the next time we'll get away just the two of us again.
After our date we checked into the hospital. I was a little nervous at first because our nurse said it was her first day. Turns out it was her first day at this hospital but she's been a nurse for 8 years. All the charts and computer systems were new to her. She was very slow but luckily her trainer came in to help.
Just before 10:00 the nurse examined me and said I was dilated to 1 cm and softening up. She inserted the cervidil and the piton will be started in the morning. I'm suppose to be getting Ambien soon to help me sleep! Can't wait for that. For now I'm watching the office and listening to my daughter's heart beat.
After our date we checked into the hospital. I was a little nervous at first because our nurse said it was her first day. Turns out it was her first day at this hospital but she's been a nurse for 8 years. All the charts and computer systems were new to her. She was very slow but luckily her trainer came in to help.
Just before 10:00 the nurse examined me and said I was dilated to 1 cm and softening up. She inserted the cervidil and the piton will be started in the morning. I'm suppose to be getting Ambien soon to help me sleep! Can't wait for that. For now I'm watching the office and listening to my daughter's heart beat.
Tomorrow's the Big Day!
Tonight Ben and I go to the hospital to get prepared for tomorrow's birth of our baby girl. We are dropping the kids off at a friend's house for their very first sleepover and then Ben and I are going on a dinner date, just the two of us, before we check-in to the hospital.
Heidi is a little nervous about sleeping over at Ethan and Lauren's house. She is excited to go play but doesn't want her mommy to leave. I'm sure once she's there, she'll forget all about her mommy and daddy. Noah is excited to go play tennis at Ethan's house. The big bucket of balls and tennis rackets is the first stop Noah makes every time we go to their house. He'll have a great time playing with all the sports equipment.
I still have a few small things on my "to do" list before we leave tonight. They're all simple things, but I do hope to get them all done before we leave. If not, no big deal, all the important things are done.
Heidi is a little nervous about sleeping over at Ethan and Lauren's house. She is excited to go play but doesn't want her mommy to leave. I'm sure once she's there, she'll forget all about her mommy and daddy. Noah is excited to go play tennis at Ethan's house. The big bucket of balls and tennis rackets is the first stop Noah makes every time we go to their house. He'll have a great time playing with all the sports equipment.
I still have a few small things on my "to do" list before we leave tonight. They're all simple things, but I do hope to get them all done before we leave. If not, no big deal, all the important things are done.
Monday, May 2, 2011
2 More Days
2 More days until our baby is here. Today feels like crunch day, so much to finish up. I need to get laundry done, finish her room, one last trip to the store, pack our suitcases, iron shirts for Ben, deposit a few checks at the bank, and I'm sure I'll come up with more chores for me to get done.
I'm hoping tomorrow will be a more relaxed fun day with my kids. Heidi has her swim lessons Tuesday morning, so I plan on just spending the day focused on them. Then the kids are off to their first sleepover with their friends Ethan and Lauren while Ben and I go on a dinner date and then off to the hospital.
I'm hoping tomorrow will be a more relaxed fun day with my kids. Heidi has her swim lessons Tuesday morning, so I plan on just spending the day focused on them. Then the kids are off to their first sleepover with their friends Ethan and Lauren while Ben and I go on a dinner date and then off to the hospital.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Still No Progress
My last prenatal appointment was on Tuesday. Still, no progress. She said I'm thinning out a bit, but still not enough. And what does this all mean, I get to be induced. On Wednesday the nurse called me and said they booked me to check into the hospital Tuesday night (May 3rd) to start my cervidil and then deliver the baby on Wednesday (May 4th).
The baby is still moving lots and looks like an alien when she pushes against my tummy. Heidi and Noah refuse to feel her move, I don't blame them it does look pretty weird. Heidi and Noah are playing a lot of baby and mommmy. Heidi tells Noah to use his baby words if he wants food and then when he cries she gives him food. It's pretty funny!
The baby room is making progress. Now that the office is complete (still needs some touch up paint, but everything else is complete) we can start moving in furniture and decorating the walls. I've got the "wall of frames" done and I'm working on her shelves. Today we moved the crib and the changing table into the room, but I'm not sure they're going to stay in their current locations.
I'm excited to get everything complete and have this baby join our family.
The baby is still moving lots and looks like an alien when she pushes against my tummy. Heidi and Noah refuse to feel her move, I don't blame them it does look pretty weird. Heidi and Noah are playing a lot of baby and mommmy. Heidi tells Noah to use his baby words if he wants food and then when he cries she gives him food. It's pretty funny!
The baby room is making progress. Now that the office is complete (still needs some touch up paint, but everything else is complete) we can start moving in furniture and decorating the walls. I've got the "wall of frames" done and I'm working on her shelves. Today we moved the crib and the changing table into the room, but I'm not sure they're going to stay in their current locations.
I'm excited to get everything complete and have this baby join our family.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
No, I'm Not Having Twins
Yes, I know I'm big.
Yes, I know I look like I was due last week.
No, I am not having twins.
Sadly, this is how most of my conversations are going lately. You would think women would know not to ask if you're having twins, but apparently not. The count of "are you having twins" is now up to 6 random people, 5 have been women. And to make it even better these are not people I know, just people I randomly run into, like someone in the elevator or someone at a restaurant. Let's make a rule, never ask a lady if she is pregnant and never, never, never ask her if she's having twins. If she is having twins then she will share that information with you. If she's not, well, good job on ruining her day.
Yes, I know I look like I was due last week.
No, I am not having twins.
Sadly, this is how most of my conversations are going lately. You would think women would know not to ask if you're having twins, but apparently not. The count of "are you having twins" is now up to 6 random people, 5 have been women. And to make it even better these are not people I know, just people I randomly run into, like someone in the elevator or someone at a restaurant. Let's make a rule, never ask a lady if she is pregnant and never, never, never ask her if she's having twins. If she is having twins then she will share that information with you. If she's not, well, good job on ruining her day.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Due Date is Approaching
I have been asked, several times a day, when I'm due. Here's the deal.... My due date is May 19th, however, my doctor is convinced the due date is May 5th. You see, the first ultrasound I had done (at 9 weeks pregnant) showed May 5th as the due date. That's a 2 week difference! The second ultrasound showed May 19th. So after this conflicting information my doctor ordered a 3rd ultrasound, still showed May 19th (no big surprise). I'm not sure if he hasn't read the information or if he's just being nice and going to let me deliver early, but he keeps saying May 5th. And you know what, he went to 8 years of medical school, not me, so who am I to argue with his opinion of my due date. So, May 5th it is! Technically by May 5th I will be 38 weeks and a baby is considered full term at 37 weeks.
With my other two babies I never went into labor or showed any signs of labor in the weeks before my due date. As my due date approached and there were no signs of me going into labor on my own my doctor induced me on my due date with Heidi and the day after my due date with Noah. Yesterday was my first "exam" by the doctor to check for dilation and all the other stuff they do. And guess what, I'm not dilating. No surprise here, I could have told them that. Technically I'm almost 35 weeks not almost 37 weeks, so of course I'm not dilating. I saw the nurse practitioner and she was very sweet to say that I was almost dilated to a one, code for "you're not making any progress yet". She also told me that the hospital does not allow the doctors to schedule a induction until the patient is at least 39 weeks, which is only 2 weeks away.
I will continue to update this blog as more happens and this will be the blog to read when my doctors finally induce me.
With my other two babies I never went into labor or showed any signs of labor in the weeks before my due date. As my due date approached and there were no signs of me going into labor on my own my doctor induced me on my due date with Heidi and the day after my due date with Noah. Yesterday was my first "exam" by the doctor to check for dilation and all the other stuff they do. And guess what, I'm not dilating. No surprise here, I could have told them that. Technically I'm almost 35 weeks not almost 37 weeks, so of course I'm not dilating. I saw the nurse practitioner and she was very sweet to say that I was almost dilated to a one, code for "you're not making any progress yet". She also told me that the hospital does not allow the doctors to schedule a induction until the patient is at least 39 weeks, which is only 2 weeks away.
I will continue to update this blog as more happens and this will be the blog to read when my doctors finally induce me.