The Day My Life Changed... Forever!

At about 12:30am on Thursday July 24th, 2008 I woke up thinking something was going on. I woke up again at 1:30am, had a small amount of spotting and KNEW something was going to happen. By 3:30am I was up for the day and timing contractions. I knew these were different than the ones I'd had previously and that today was going to be the day. After a little over an our of them being at 10 min apart consistently I decided I should get some rest now if I could. I went back and laid down and did my best to sleep between them. By the time 5:30 rolled around I felt Jason roll over and I let him know he'd be missing work that day.

It seemed like all of a sudden my contractions jumped to 7 min. apart... then to 6 which was when I started getting ready to go to the hospital and by the time we got there they were a steady 5 min apart. We parked and and I waddled into Triage where I was checked and monitored for an hour. When she did my exam I was at 3 centimeters dilated and, it felt like it was happening REALLY fast. After the hour was over she checked me again and wanted me to walk for an hour. At this point I was 4 1/2 centimeters dilated and couldn't get out of bed, let alone walk. The nurse called Janice and next thing I know I am waiting for a nurse to take me to my labor and delivery room.

My IV was started downstairs and by the time I got up to my room the nice anesthesiologist man was walking in the door to give me my epidural. Next thing I know I am leaning over on Jason and having my epidural placed. Dr. Frank was fabulous. Just a few minutes later my mom is coming in the room and we are just waiting. Jason decided to run home and get a few things while we were waiting.

Janice came in shortly after Jason left to check me and I am at 7 centimeters. They were thinking about breaking my water but Elle was face up and they wanted to see if she would flip over first. Two minutes after Janice left I look at my mom and say "Welp, my water just broke." The nurse came in and checked me... sure enough! Water was broken.

They decided to have me labor in a couple of different positions to see if Elle would move on her own. Thanks to Dr. Frank I was able to be on my hands and knees unsupported which is what we think helped Elle to turn over.

At some point during all this madness, Katie arrives. She was out of town and called me from the airport to let me know she was on her way. I was really thankful to have her there and glad she didn't miss it!

After a couple of hours the nurse comes in to check me. Next thing I know she is telling me it's time to call Janice and let her know we are ready.

It felt like a dream. It still feels like a dream.

She had me do some pushing before Janice arrived and I had little progress. Once Janice got there I think I felt a little more at ease and I was able to start making significant progress while pushing. I remember Janice telling Jason and my mom to look at the baby's head and I remember Jason touching her head and talking to her. There were lots of encouraging words and I am so happy that everyone I wanted to be there was. I also remember that it was SO hard to keep going but I knew I had to. 30 min later my baby girl was being placed on my tummy and we are cleaning her off. She didn't even cry. She sat there and looked at me and held my finger while I toweled her off.

After about 5 min or so they took her away to the warming table so the nurse could have a look at her. They practically had to make her cry. Her Apgar scores were 9/9 a healthy baby and we couldn't ask for more. She was weighed in at 8lbs 7oz and 21 inches long and her time of birth was 6:24pm.

The next thing I know, I am trembling. My whole body was shaking uncontrollably. It took Janice a good 20 min to fix me up after I delivered the placenta (which I got to look at and it was just as cool as I thought it would be!). So back to this shaking... my body felt like it wasn't my own any more. This is one of those things that no one tells you about when you ask them about their experience giving birth. I didn't know to expect it but I do know it started to go away when I looked over and saw Jason holding our baby girl and she was just so content looking at him.

My mom left at some point to go get us dinner. I was STARVING. While she was out the nurse helped me to the bathroom and gave me recovery instructions which included giant diaper looking things and mesh underwear... just when you thought you couldn't feel any sexier!

The nurse gave Elle her first bath with Jason and just when they finished my mom came back with food and I started to feel human again. Then it was time to be wheeled up to our recovery room and be parents for our first night ever.

We have truly been blessed with an amazing daughter. She is so calm and patient and is nothing short of content as long as she can eat and sleep. We are in love with her and even more in love with each other. I can't imagine life any other way.

The 39 Week Update

Monday I had my 39 week appointment (at 39w3d)... SOME progress but I expected more after having contractions since Thursday. I am 1.5cm dilated, 80-90% effaced and the baby is about the same station, -2. I go back again on Friday for my 40 week visit where I will be monitored for a while... then again on Tuesday for more monitoring and an ultrasound if I am still pregnant. The following Friday we will have to start talking about serving an eviction notice, which I am not fond of. I wanted as little intervention as possible BUT Brittani offered to strip my membranes if I was at 2cm or more, I considered but I didn't "qualify". I guess I really just don't want anything to do with Pitocin, needing an IV and being STUCK in a bed. Blah! Hopefully it won't come to that though.

38W 3D

Had my appointment with Janice and Brittani yesterday. Things are moving along... I am still 1cm dilated but there were other changes! I am 70% effaced and "much softer" acording to Brittani and she has also moved down to -2 station from -3 last week. Things are moving right along and of course anything can happen at any time. There is a full moon coming... We will see what that brings! Not much else to report!

Officially Next

Thats right... of the 4 girls that were pregnant ahead of me... I am officially NEXT. TWO babies were born this weekend... Abigail was born on Sunday afternoon and Little Elias was born bright and early this morning. Moms and babies are all doing well but they have left me in freak out mode! ACK! The next girl in line is 2 weeks and some odd days behind me but is looking at a possible induction or scheduled c-section so if I go late she may deliver before me. I have an OB appt today so I will be back to update any progress or news but I just can't fucking believe that I am next. I've felt ready for this up until now! ACK ACK ACK!!!

Whistle while you work...

Well, I would if I could whistle but I have been working ALL DAMN DAY. I've cleaned the kitchen, organized the pots and pans, swept/swiffered/mopped, vacuumed, dusted, cleaned the kitchen table, windexed the glass table, cleaned the bathrooms, washed the cushion for the papasan chair and random other little tasks. I am finally sitting down to relax for a bit and sending the hubs out for a well deserved slurpee. I didn't know I had it in me... especially since I didn't even get to sleep in on my first day off! I decided I wanted to clean as much as I could today so I could spend more of my time relaxing while I can. It feels good to get a lot of this stuff done. It's been bugging me for weeks and I feel like I finally have the time to work on it. I've decided to leave the office as the hubs' responsibility. I think my back might fall off if I tried to tackle another room. I just hope it stays this way until our little Elle arrives!

Seems Like Just Yesterday...

I peed on a stick and found out I was going to be a mommy. I have 16 days left, as of today and that is just UNREAL. Tomorrow is my last day of work and my Maternity Leave starts on Friday… CRAZY. I have so many emotions going through my brain that I don’t quite know exactly how I feel. It’s kinda like when I first got pregnant… excitement, fear, anxiousness, the whole “OMG what did we do?!?!?” freak out… everything. It’s almost like my brain has come full circle. It’s a really strange feeling to know that anything can happen at any time and that this baby will come when she is ready, be it tonight or in 3 weeks from now. Last night I was driving with a friend and we came up to the intersection where my hospital of choice is located. Every time I see it I just stare at it and wonder when I am going to be there and how it’s all going to go down. I’ve always had a hard time with surprises and the unknown and this is the biggest one of all! It’s sooo hard not knowing anything! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

OK… I really just had to get that off my chest. =)

37 Week Update

I saw Janice and Brittani yesterday. I have made SOME progress but not a whole lot to be excited about. I am a full centimeter dilated and I was “just about a 1″ last week, and 60% effaced as opposed to 50% but the biggest news is little Elle got the memo and she’s engaged! She’s still a bit high at a -3 station but it’s progress none the less. I found out that Janice is going to be out of town every weekend coming up as her father is ill so if I go into labor over the weekend chances are she won’t be there. As much as I understand her situation I am really sad as I really love her and wanted her there for me on the big day.

The other positive news from yesterday is that my Group B Strep test came back NEGATIVE! I’m really excited about this. It’s going to allow me to labor at home pretty much as long as I am “comfortable”. This was really important to me so I am glad it’s working out in my favor.

We also discussed hospital bag items. I have most of what was suggested packed and ready to go, there are just a couple more things I need to grab and I will be set! This is all so exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time! The more I prepare and get things ready, put together and finished the better I feel. I know I will feel 10x better just being at home. My last day of work is Thursday and I feel like I have so much to do around the house I’m anxious to get started and get everything organized!

Lock & Load, Girlfriend!!!

Dear Elle,

Honey… Mommy is short. I know this doesn’t bode well for you genetically and I am sorry for that, however, we are seriously running out of room over here. Mommy’s short torso can hardly keep you contained at this point. I promise you will be much more comfortable and give mommy some breathing room if you would just drop your precious little head down into my pelvis, it’s time. I also know that you are nice and comfy in your little climate controlled incubator but mommy is DYING in this Arizona heat. If you could work on coming out just a little bit early I would be really grateful. Besides, there are a lot of people out here who really can’t wait to meet you. So, yeah… Help a mommy out… move on down and lets get the show on the road! Lock & Load, girlfriend! It’s time!!!

Mommy and Daddy Love you!

Hypnobirthing

I have been using a CD for quite some time but I wanted to get the Mongan Method book & CD too… I had been looking everywhere for it and FINALLY came across it in Barnes & Noble this past weekend. I didn’t want to order it online with out being able to see it and flip though though, just in case I hated it! Well, now I wish I would have bought it sooner. I have been practicing my breathing techniques along with my visualization like a good girl. I am really hoping it helps! I would love feedback from anyone who has happened to use Hypnobirthing (any method!!!) as a means for pain management. I am really hoping that when the time comes I am able to put myself in the zone and I am able to use these techniques. I’m worried there will be lots of distractions in a hospital setting where as at home it’s easy to go somewhere quiet and practice and on top of the hospital… HELLO, pain is quite the distraction by itself!!! I wonder how hard it will be for me to go in and out of trance so I can communicate with my husband and doula as well as nurses when they come in for checks. My goal is to remain MOBILE so I can be in and out of the labor/birthing tub and walk as much as I can as well as change positions… I know that will be impossible with an epidural. On top of all this, being that I look like I am going to give birth at any moment now, everyone wants to ask my preference about labor and they seem to think that telling me “No matter what you do, get the epidural” is great advice. I always just smile and nod because it’s sooo much easier than trying to explain an unconventional method of pain management and lets face it… I really don’t have the patience to argue over an epidural with someone. I just hate feeling like my decision is in some way being challenged. I have been really good about trying not to set any standards or expectations for myself and if it gets to a point where I really can’t handle it anymore I am totally OK with getting the epidural. This is something I have never experienced before and I refuse to let myself have a one track mind about it. I am trying to be open about all the possibilities of labor and delivery and what may or may not happen. I must say though, the closer it gets the more disappointed I am that my goal of having a waterbirth in the hospital seems to be slipping away. I knew it wasn’t guaranteed but I’d really hoped the hospital would make a decision (and the RIGHT one) by now.