Birth Story - Part 2

Before I start the second part of Jason's (yep, little J) birth story, I have to put in two cents about my first Mother's Day. I really didn't know what to expect. I had dreamed about this for so long, becoming a mother and not just watching from the sidelines wondering when (or even if) it would be my turn. I feel so incredibly grateful, fortunate, happy and content. Even as I write this, I'm tearing up with emotion. I've been so blessed to have this little crying, pooping, sleeping miracle enter my life...the best Mother's Day gift ever.

Ah, so, now, where was I...Oh, yeah, the contractions! At 4 am, the doctor came in to check my progress and announced that I was 4 cm dilated. Hooray -- progress! At that point, my contractions were incredibly painful and coming 1-2 minutes apart, so I gave in and decided to take the epidural. They moved me from the "laboring" room to the "delivery" room and called the anesthesiologist, who luckily was able to come fairly quickly.

The epidural was a godsend, but unfortunately, I wasn't progressing and it took me another 12 hours to dilate to 10 cm.  During the wait, I developed a fever of 101.4 (I swear it was because I had had no food or water for over 24 hours) and so they started me on antibiotics. So, at this point I had the epidural, penicillin (since I was Group B Strep positive), antibiotics and the saline IV being pumped into my body. 

In the meantime, I was also dealing with the most incompetent nurse ever, who ended up burning me with hot compress. When she had changed the penicillin bag, she forgot(?) to dilute the medication and when it went in, it felt like my entire hand and arm was on fire. So, in her pathetic attempt to alleviate the pain, she put a hot compress on my hand which left a big red burn. One of the other nurses noticed the burn and thought it was an allergic reaction to the IV and they spent 10 minutes debating whether or not to move the IV to my other hand. I nearly flipped my lid and told them that they could NOT move the IV. At some point during the argument, they agreed that it probably was not in my best interest to move the IV.

So, here I am at 4pm and they decide that I'm ready to push although I'm not fully 10 cm AND the baby is still at +1 (hasn't completely dropped). After one hour of pushing, the delivery team tells me that if I don't start making more progress, they may have to resort to a c-section. Not something you want to tell a woman after 29 hours of labor...If I wasn't so deliriously tired, I think I would've said some not so choice words. However, at this point, some very wise individual (can't remember who) decided that I needed to lower my epidural and they halved it. Once that happened, I could actually feel exactly where to push (I know this may sound odd, but it's sort of like a poop that's stuck), so after another 2 hours of pushing, our baby boy, Jason was brought into this world with a very loud cry!

Battle wounds included: one small hemorrhoid, one small tear, and a burn from a hot compress. Overall, the battle was well worth it and I can honestly say that I'd do it all over again! 

Birth Story - Part 1

Where do I even start?! I guess I'll start from the very beginning which was the morning of Wednesday, May 3rd...

I had a routine appointment scheduled with my OB to check on my status since I was one week past my due date. When I went in, she did the requisite check for the heartbeat and fundal measurement, and then she went on to tell me that she had scheduled an induction for me on Friday, May 5th if I did not go into labor in the next couple of days. I had actually thought the induction would be scheduled for the following week, closer to week 42, but my OB felt that it would be better to induce before the weekend (sounds good to me).

So, based on her rec, I agreed to the appointment and was mentally preparing for a weekend delivery, UNTIL she checked my cervix and saw blood...more than what she believed should be seen if I had bloody show (which is what I thought it was). My OB recommended that I go to the hospital L&D and have them monitor and get a second opinion. Her thought was that I'd be sent in home before lunch, which was what I was anticipating.

With my OB referral and debating what I should have for lunch, I waddled to the hospital L&D unit and was hooked up for a non-stress test which showed that the baby was doing fine and I was having zero contractions. Visions of burritos and chips/salsa were on mind (yum...lunch), until the doctor was finished with his check and he told that he, too, was concerned with the blood. There was a possibility it could be a placental abruption and that since I was going to be induced on Friday anyway, it would be better if we just did the induction now.

Needless to say, I was a bit surprised. I immediately called Doc and told him that I was being admitted and that he should cancel his patients for the PM and bring his butt down to the hospital. After that, I called my mom and sister and asked them both to come to the hospital.

Next thing I know, I'm being hooked up to an IV and I'm getting my first dose of pitocin. Since they were concerned that I may have to do a c-section, they didn't allow me to eat or drink anything. Ice chips were my consolation prize and let me tell you, ice chips are a pretty sh***y consolation prize when all you've had to eat all day is a bowl of cereal.

They started me on 2 milliunits of pitocin, which didn't do much. I began to feel some contractions, but nothing to severe and then they upped it to 4 and that's when things started moving. Although reaction to dosages do differ from person to person, I guess I'm one of the lucky few who really react to the meds and at 4 milliunits my contractions were coming pretty strong and pretty close together.

This was around 6pm in the evening (my sister and mother had come by this time) and I was feeling pretty crappy. After the doctor checked me, she said that most likely I wouldn't deliver tonight because I was still not 100% effaced nor was I dilated. So, I told my sister and mother to go home and that we'd call them when there was more action.

Basically, things stayed the same for the remainder of the night with the doctors adjusting the pitocin between 3 and 4 and waiting for my body to dilate. I knew there was some progress being made because the contractions were more and more painful.

Part 2 to come

He's Here!

Just a quick announcement (more will be posted later): J has arrived! Weighing in at 7 lbs 15 oz and 21.5 inches, he made his impressive entrance on Thursday, March 3rd after 31 hours of labor and 3 hours of very painful, very strenuous pushing.

I apologize for the late, late posting, but I've been so incredibly busy and only just arrived back from the hospital yesterday. 

Overdue - 40w4d

Well, I'm still here...waiting. I'm officially four days past my due date and the little stinker seems to be perfectly content on staying inside.

At this point, I'm feeling very heavy and just all around uncomfortable. I can't do much because I can't walk for very long periods of time, sleeping is just painful and I wake up at least 3-4 times per night, and I most definitely need to be near a bathroom at all times. I love this little guy so much, but I just wish he'd come out. Doc and I are going stir crazy just waiting and responding to a gazillion texts from friends and family wondering if he's here yet. 

I have another doctor's appointment on Wednesday and I'm assuming at that time they'll ask me if and when I'd like to induce in case he doesn't want to arrive before 42 weeks. Our hospital's policy is to induce if they baby hasn't arrived by 42 weeks because studies have shown that after 42 weeks there is an increased risk of stillbirth. I hope it doesn't come to that and I go into labor naturally, but if not, at least there's light at the end of the tunnel!

Due Date!

Today is my official delivery date, but alas, no stork, no baby, no nothing...It seems that the little rascal is content where he is and has no plans on leaving his comfortable abode. So, we wait and wait.

At this point, I'd really like to have him join the outside world so that I can have my uterus back. He's getting very big, which equals very uncomfortable for me. And, not to mention, we'd like to meet the little kiddo!

We had an ultrasound done last week since my fundal measurement was smaller than prior weeks, just to make sure that he was still growing and that the decrease was due to him dropping and  not anything else. Everything checked out just fine and the little guy is measuring within the range albeit a little smaller than the actual date (38w vs 39w). But, I was told this was ok, because ultrasound measurements done at this stage are not as accurate since the babes are too big and it's hard to get good measurements when they're all squished up.

Tomorrow, I go in for another doctor's appointment to do a non stress test and see if, again, everything is a-ok to let me go past my due date and then I'm assuming that they'll probably schedule a date for induction if the little guy decides that he is not going to arrive without a little prodding. I'd really like to avoid doing that, so I might ask for a membrane sweep (supposedly, helps to get the process started).

Let's hope that he decides to arrive soon!

39w1d

We are officially down to less than one week! Next Wednesday, April 25th is my official due date and we've begun the final countdown.

At first, my doctor had estimated that the baby would be early based on my "symptoms" including diarrhea (fun!), cramps (even more fun!), contractions, and backaches, but then she checked my cervix and although I'm about 40% effaced and my cervix is shortening, I guess it's still not close enough to indicate any impending labor. Oh, and let me tell you, getting your cervix checked sucks...It's really, really uncomfortable. Imagine pap smear but 10x worse.

One interesting thing and maybe even something of concern, but I'm not jumping the gun yet, is that my fundal height has shrunk quite a bit. My doctor suspects it's because the baby has dropped significantly and even I can tell that by where I can feel his hiccups...they are way lower. But, just to be safe and to make sure that the baby is growing and there are no issues with the amniotic fluid, we're having an ultrasound done today. I love having ultrasounds done! It's so great to see him and typically, Doc makes time to come to the ultrasounds with me (he hasn't been going to the prenatal visits due to conflicts with his clinic hours).

My doctor also estimates that the baby will be about 6.5-7 lbs. A bit on the smaller side, particularly in Oakland where the average baby is over 8 pounds and they regularly deliver 10 pound babies (there are a lot of women in Oakland with gestational diabetes). But, she also said there's a very likely chance he'll be bigger due to the fact that he's sort of stretched out. Being on the taller side, he's not has cramped, so it's a little harder to get a really good estimate. Maybe we'll get a better idea after our ultrasound?

So, then what have I been doing while waiting for the bambino to arrive? I started maternity leave last Wednesday, so I've been basically lounging around at home, doing errands, and meeting up with friends and family. It's been really nice to have this time off to do all the little things, but man, I'd really like this baby to arrive...

37 weeks!

Well...almost. I'll be 37 weeks on Wednesday. I can't believe I've made it this far. 


This post isn't going to very original, actually more like plagiarism from Tortoise Baby (Turtle Mama, I hope you don't mind), but at 37 weeks, I really can't come up with much originality.


How Far Along: almost 37 weeks!

How Big is the baby? 6 lbs and the length of a swiss chard (Babycenter always picks the strangest produce to compare your baby to)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Around 30 lbs - I've been gaining the weight a bit more during the third trimester and  I think it's mainly due to water retention.

Maternity Clothes: All maternity with the exception of a couple of yoga pants that I bought in a size L, but even some of my maternity pants are getting small.

Movement: All the time...and this little guy gets the hiccups about 2-3 times per day. 

Belly button in or out? My pre-pregnancy belly button was very small and a very deep inny, so it's basically stayed the same.

Exercise: I've been swimming every other day for the past month. I was walking up until then, but now my feet and ankles are swelling, so swimming has become my outlet.

What I miss: Running, shopping for normal clothes, being able to wear my shoes.

Milestones:  Making it (almost) to full-term at 37 weeks!

Food Cravings:  SPICY! I love spicy foods. The spicier, the better.

Aversions: None. 

Symptoms:  Acid reflux and swollen ankles/feet. I now officially have cankles and can only wear flip-flops, my Dansko clogs and sneakers (this seriously limits what outfits I can wear to work). The swelling has gotten so bad, I've started to wear compression stockings that Doc has to put on for me in the morning because I can't bend down to put them on! Oh, and did I mention that my BMs have gone from being hard as rocks (prune juice was my lifesaver) to loose as a goose, like having to run to the bathroom every time I eat! I'm not sure which is worse.   
Sex: Uh, no. Not happening -- between the acid reflux and feeling like a balloon, there's been no hanky-panky in our house for awhile.

What I'm looking forward to: Going on leave (next Tuesday is my last day of work!) and meeting the babe!