Max William
October 17, 2009
6:35 PM
6 pounds, 9 ounces
18.5 inches
24.5 hours of labor and worth every minute.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
The Day Arrived (like a month ago)
Truly the hallmark of a new mom, I have not had the time to update my blog with the big, big news that my little boy finally arrived! (It didn't help that in a fit of post-partum grouchies, I threw my laptop on the ground, breaking it and thus making internet time a rare commodity)
On Friday, October 16th, I called the doctor's office because I was feeling funny. I had been cramping all day and I felt kind of woozy and sick. Kind of like that fatigue and ickiness you get when you get the flu, but it wasn't the flu. That's the best way I can describe it I guess. They told me to come in right away, so I left work early and headed over.
They took me back to an exam room and I had a seat. Right away, my doctor peeked into my exam room and said, "What hospital are you delivering at?" Now I was a little freaked out, I thought I was probably just having some normal late pregnancy ickies and I would get some tips on coping and be sent home. But apparently the jug of urine I had delivered that morning had come back positive for protein in the urine, meaning preeclampsia. And since Max was at 38 weeks, which is considered full term, I was going to be sent to the hospital right away for induction.
Too bad I skipped all the parts about this in the pregnancy books, because after all I had planned this wonderful natural childbirth. Life had other plans.
After assuring my doctor I did NOT need to go by ambulance, because, after all, I drove to the clinic, I left and got on the phone with my husband. I had to go pick him up from work, which was luckily on the way to the hospital. I told him that I was picking him up and we were going to the hospital because I was going to be induced.
It was a pretty quiet car ride.
Once we arrived, I went to triage and had all my vitals taken, etc, etc, met like 5 different doctors and residents who poked and prodded my little preeclamptic body. Luckily, only a one of them poked at my cervix. My blood pressure was super-high (150-160's) and my feet were swollen to the size of cantaloupes.
Once I was put in a birthing suite, I was given a medication on my cervix that was meant to start labor. The medication would take 12 hours maximum to start the process. I was given this at about 6 PM that night. Then we waited. I was told I couldn't eat anything and my last meal was lunch! Do you know how many food commercials come on when you can't eat? So many! And its seems like every show I watched on TV had the characters going on and on about food. It was maddening! Did I mention that when I turned the TV on, it was on the Food Network Channel? Ugh! My husband in the meantime had gone home to collect some things. We hadn't packed a bag yet because we had two more weeks to go...procrastinators shouldn't be in relationships with other procrastinators! When he returned, which seemed like forever later, we hung out and played Uno. I won all 3 games, and rightfully so I'd say. This whole time I was having contractions, but not really regular ones.
The whole time, I was not allowed to leave the bed except to go to the bathroom because of my high blood pressure. There were only two positions I could get comfortable in: on my back and on my left side. For some reason, it was really uncomfortable for me to lay on my right side. Eventually my two positions weren't even that comfortable anymore, but I got a bit of a tongue lashing when I got caught standing next to my bed.
The next morning at 6 AM, a doctor came in to check and see how my labor was progressing. And yippee skippee, it WASN'T. My cervix hadn't dilated beyond the 1 cm I came to the hospital with. It was very frustrating to hear this, as I was contracting and I felt like I had been contracting this whole time for no freakin' reason. They decided to try another medication on my cervix. There was a silver lining though: I got to have breakfast.
Now this medication did indeed work. They checked me out a few hours later and we were in business! I was then given oxytocin to strengthen my contractions. And after awhile on the oxytocin, breathing through my contractions wasn't working anymore. The contractions were so strong now that I was getting nauseated and yelling. I first tried the narcotic pain reliever. It worked for just a little while. It strengthened my nausea (but I didn't barf). It did let me fall asleep for a little bit. When I woke up, I was super-loopy and I needed to go to the bathroom. My husband helped me to the bathroom, and after I was done, I felt something between my legs. It was my giant blob of a mucous plug. The contractions were still unbearable and actually getting worse. At this point, I decided I needed an epidural. I just couldn't do it anymore. I had really wanted to avoid an epidural, but I was so exhausted and my contractions were insanely painful. Once I got the epidural, I slept. It would soon be time to push.
According to those in attendance, I pushed for an hour and a half. It did not seem that long. For me, I didn't mind the pushing as much as the contractions because the pushing felt a lot more productive. I remember reaching down at one point and feeling the crown of Max's head and I could feel a bunch of hair! And sure enough, when he was born, he came out with a full head of dark hair. That explains all the heartburn I guess. They laid him on my chest immediately and he just shrieked and cried. He was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. He was beautiful. Terry looked blissful, almost like he could cry tears of joy. It was the best moment of my entire life.
Afterwards, they stitched me up (I had some very small internal tears) and our families came in to meet the new baby. Terry's parents and sisters and my parents. I was so happy my parents were able to make it. My mom has been very ill and I wasn't sure she'd get to see Max for awhile. But she did! It was a great day.
I would like to mention that our nurse, Nikki, at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, WI was exceptional. She was there during the very worst of my contractions and through my labor and was just an angel about everything. Also, of course, Dr. Kulie, who has been my doctor for many years and I just can't say enough good things about her! The other nurses at St. Mary's were all great. We had a fine stay at the hospital.
On Friday, October 16th, I called the doctor's office because I was feeling funny. I had been cramping all day and I felt kind of woozy and sick. Kind of like that fatigue and ickiness you get when you get the flu, but it wasn't the flu. That's the best way I can describe it I guess. They told me to come in right away, so I left work early and headed over.
They took me back to an exam room and I had a seat. Right away, my doctor peeked into my exam room and said, "What hospital are you delivering at?" Now I was a little freaked out, I thought I was probably just having some normal late pregnancy ickies and I would get some tips on coping and be sent home. But apparently the jug of urine I had delivered that morning had come back positive for protein in the urine, meaning preeclampsia. And since Max was at 38 weeks, which is considered full term, I was going to be sent to the hospital right away for induction.
Too bad I skipped all the parts about this in the pregnancy books, because after all I had planned this wonderful natural childbirth. Life had other plans.
After assuring my doctor I did NOT need to go by ambulance, because, after all, I drove to the clinic, I left and got on the phone with my husband. I had to go pick him up from work, which was luckily on the way to the hospital. I told him that I was picking him up and we were going to the hospital because I was going to be induced.
It was a pretty quiet car ride.
Once we arrived, I went to triage and had all my vitals taken, etc, etc, met like 5 different doctors and residents who poked and prodded my little preeclamptic body. Luckily, only a one of them poked at my cervix. My blood pressure was super-high (150-160's) and my feet were swollen to the size of cantaloupes.
Once I was put in a birthing suite, I was given a medication on my cervix that was meant to start labor. The medication would take 12 hours maximum to start the process. I was given this at about 6 PM that night. Then we waited. I was told I couldn't eat anything and my last meal was lunch! Do you know how many food commercials come on when you can't eat? So many! And its seems like every show I watched on TV had the characters going on and on about food. It was maddening! Did I mention that when I turned the TV on, it was on the Food Network Channel? Ugh! My husband in the meantime had gone home to collect some things. We hadn't packed a bag yet because we had two more weeks to go...procrastinators shouldn't be in relationships with other procrastinators! When he returned, which seemed like forever later, we hung out and played Uno. I won all 3 games, and rightfully so I'd say. This whole time I was having contractions, but not really regular ones.
The whole time, I was not allowed to leave the bed except to go to the bathroom because of my high blood pressure. There were only two positions I could get comfortable in: on my back and on my left side. For some reason, it was really uncomfortable for me to lay on my right side. Eventually my two positions weren't even that comfortable anymore, but I got a bit of a tongue lashing when I got caught standing next to my bed.
The next morning at 6 AM, a doctor came in to check and see how my labor was progressing. And yippee skippee, it WASN'T. My cervix hadn't dilated beyond the 1 cm I came to the hospital with. It was very frustrating to hear this, as I was contracting and I felt like I had been contracting this whole time for no freakin' reason. They decided to try another medication on my cervix. There was a silver lining though: I got to have breakfast.
Now this medication did indeed work. They checked me out a few hours later and we were in business! I was then given oxytocin to strengthen my contractions. And after awhile on the oxytocin, breathing through my contractions wasn't working anymore. The contractions were so strong now that I was getting nauseated and yelling. I first tried the narcotic pain reliever. It worked for just a little while. It strengthened my nausea (but I didn't barf). It did let me fall asleep for a little bit. When I woke up, I was super-loopy and I needed to go to the bathroom. My husband helped me to the bathroom, and after I was done, I felt something between my legs. It was my giant blob of a mucous plug. The contractions were still unbearable and actually getting worse. At this point, I decided I needed an epidural. I just couldn't do it anymore. I had really wanted to avoid an epidural, but I was so exhausted and my contractions were insanely painful. Once I got the epidural, I slept. It would soon be time to push.
According to those in attendance, I pushed for an hour and a half. It did not seem that long. For me, I didn't mind the pushing as much as the contractions because the pushing felt a lot more productive. I remember reaching down at one point and feeling the crown of Max's head and I could feel a bunch of hair! And sure enough, when he was born, he came out with a full head of dark hair. That explains all the heartburn I guess. They laid him on my chest immediately and he just shrieked and cried. He was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. He was beautiful. Terry looked blissful, almost like he could cry tears of joy. It was the best moment of my entire life.
Afterwards, they stitched me up (I had some very small internal tears) and our families came in to meet the new baby. Terry's parents and sisters and my parents. I was so happy my parents were able to make it. My mom has been very ill and I wasn't sure she'd get to see Max for awhile. But she did! It was a great day.
I would like to mention that our nurse, Nikki, at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, WI was exceptional. She was there during the very worst of my contractions and through my labor and was just an angel about everything. Also, of course, Dr. Kulie, who has been my doctor for many years and I just can't say enough good things about her! The other nurses at St. Mary's were all great. We had a fine stay at the hospital.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Little Brown Jug
I survived a work day that involved collecting my own urine every time I had to pee. I'm sure people were wondering why I took a giant plastic bag with me every time and spent an extra few minutes in there. I told some people straight up. I felt guilty having a bottle of my urine in the mini fridge. People keep their yogurt there after all. But I kept the pee jug in a plastic zip bag that I wiped down with a Clorox wipe. I also Clorox wiped the entire bathroom sink area after touching it with my pee jug and pee hat. I am glad to be home, where I can be more lax with the sanitation and leave the hat in the bathroom.
My feet are so swollen they literally hurt. My last pair of shoes that fit, a pair of over-sized slippers, were too snug today.
I am very tired. I am no longer sleeping well. I'm getting over a cold, so I keep waking up from my own snoring, on top of the usual body aches and peeing that also wake me up every hour or two. And then there's my husband's tossing, turning and teeth grinding. Someone's a little nervous...
My feet are so swollen they literally hurt. My last pair of shoes that fit, a pair of over-sized slippers, were too snug today.
I am very tired. I am no longer sleeping well. I'm getting over a cold, so I keep waking up from my own snoring, on top of the usual body aches and peeing that also wake me up every hour or two. And then there's my husband's tossing, turning and teeth grinding. Someone's a little nervous...
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Week 37, Part 2
According to the ultrasound today, my baby is already OVER 7 POUNDS.
I think we both need to go on a diet :-P
I think we both need to go on a diet :-P
Week 37: You Want Me To WHAT?
Today's OB appointment: blood pressure was even higher, between 152-160/78 or so. I have been diagnosed with gestational hypertension, which means I get to be subjected to numerous tests to rule out preeclampsia. So far, my last urinalysis, done one week ago, showed no protein in my urine (protein in the urine being THE thing that distinguishes preeclampsia from hypertension). But just in case that UA and the other UA I left for the lab techs this morning is off, I get to do a 24 hour UA. This means I get a "hat" and a jug and I get to collect all my urine for a 24 hour period. I have to refrigerate my urine. At work. I am a little nervous about tomorrow. It'd be weird enough at home, but having to drag a hat and a jug to the bathroom in public is a little unnerving. Its not like the hat and the jug are small and discreet either. Luckily, my co-workers are caring and nice, and we work in somewhat of a medical setting (a dental office). So I mean, pee isn't as gross as like really bad rotten teeth I guess.
I also had a fetal non-stress test today. This test involved me laying on an exam table on my side for 30 minutes or so while they monitored my baby's heart rate and movements. He passed with flying colors! They said he was a very healthy, happy boy. The test also checked to see if I was having contractions. I was not. Disappointing, because I am so over being pregnant. This afternoon I go get an ultrasound, but I imagine that will go well too.
Other thing: my backaches might be because the baby might be face up. Ugh. That means labor is going to suck even worse than it probably would otherwise.
I also had a fetal non-stress test today. This test involved me laying on an exam table on my side for 30 minutes or so while they monitored my baby's heart rate and movements. He passed with flying colors! They said he was a very healthy, happy boy. The test also checked to see if I was having contractions. I was not. Disappointing, because I am so over being pregnant. This afternoon I go get an ultrasound, but I imagine that will go well too.
Other thing: my backaches might be because the baby might be face up. Ugh. That means labor is going to suck even worse than it probably would otherwise.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
(Don't) Jump Around
The pressure in my abdomen is building. It definitely took a turn for the worse during a wedding on Saturday. See, in Wisconsin we like to celebrate occasions with the song "Jump Around." Perhaps it is done in other cultures as well. Anyhoo, sure enough, the song came on, and I decided to try jumping around. So I cradled my belly in my arms for support and started jumping. I guess I neglected to support my bladder though, because within about 30 seconds, maybe less, I had peed my self a little bit and had an intense urge to finish the job. So I let out a little itty bitty shriek and ran (literally) towards the bathroom. I was followed by a fellow wedding guest who wanted to make sure I wasn't in labor. "No," I explained. "I just peed myself." Labor would have been such a better excuse...
In anyone else, it'd be a serious neurological condition...
Being faint and dizzy all the time without being drunk is not my idea of a good time. Just sayin'
Monday, September 7, 2009
I don't know what I'm doing...
Week 32
I'm getting a smidgen (okay, make that a shitload) overwhelmed at the baby stores and in the baby sections. I've never felt so reluctant to buy things in my life. What do I need? I don't know what kind of diaper bag to get; do I want a bunch of pockets? One big pocket? Big ol' backpack looking thing or little trendy purse looking thing? What even goes in a diaper bag besides diapers? How many diapers does one pack per outing? Do I need to buy a glider rocker? Am I enrolled in all the right classes? Am I reading the right books? It makes me downright dizzy. I've got the basics at least. A crib. Blankets. Stroller. Car seat. Breasts (those were free and I didn't get to pick them out, although they're quite lovely).
The nursery was painted today. Soon we apply the Winnie the Pooh border and freshen up the molding and it will be...um...complete. What do I do with a complete nursery? Holy crap, I think I'm supposed to put a baby in it!
As much as I want this angry, rambunctious raccoon that crushes my lungs out of my body already, I am truly terrified of what my life is going to become. Not that I think its going to be negative. But its unknown. There's nothing I can read, watch or think about that will truly prepare me for the next chapter of my life.
I'm getting a smidgen (okay, make that a shitload) overwhelmed at the baby stores and in the baby sections. I've never felt so reluctant to buy things in my life. What do I need? I don't know what kind of diaper bag to get; do I want a bunch of pockets? One big pocket? Big ol' backpack looking thing or little trendy purse looking thing? What even goes in a diaper bag besides diapers? How many diapers does one pack per outing? Do I need to buy a glider rocker? Am I enrolled in all the right classes? Am I reading the right books? It makes me downright dizzy. I've got the basics at least. A crib. Blankets. Stroller. Car seat. Breasts (those were free and I didn't get to pick them out, although they're quite lovely).
The nursery was painted today. Soon we apply the Winnie the Pooh border and freshen up the molding and it will be...um...complete. What do I do with a complete nursery? Holy crap, I think I'm supposed to put a baby in it!
As much as I want this angry, rambunctious raccoon that crushes my lungs out of my body already, I am truly terrified of what my life is going to become. Not that I think its going to be negative. But its unknown. There's nothing I can read, watch or think about that will truly prepare me for the next chapter of my life.
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