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41 weeks and baby day has arrived! Had a few gushes/leaks of fluid this morning and then a big one in the shower. Plans have changed though since the color was not clear and there’s meconium - so I’m in the hospital getting settled in while DH gets our bags ready and takes LO to our friends house. Found someone down the list who is in town AND whose kids are not sick. In-laws have been called and are on the their way up soon.

I’m surprisingly calm about the change of plans. I do wish I’d had an extra minute to hug my girl before going on the birth center to get checked since I was ultimately told to go to the hospital from there rather than go back home first... but baby has a good heartbeat and contractions are still super mild. The meconium is unlikely from distress just her being ready for the outside. With my GBS+ they wanted to get me monitored and on the antibiotics ASAP and I want to stay as conservative as possible considering all things so I drove myself here instead of making the detour back home... but now I’m just sitting here for a while and feeling like I’d have had plenty of time to go back and do a few things and come here with DH instead 🤷‍♀️

This labor is turning out way different from my last one but I’m just going with the flow and staying positive. I have an amazing care team so that is helping to keep me from being stressed (so far!).

Thanks for all the support this past week while I went stir crazy waiting for her arrival. Only a little while now! Excited for everyone else who is so ready and so close to meeting their babies!

@lindseykaye: Sorry your plans changed, but I’m glad you’re where you need to be to have a safe delivery. I’m so excited for you to get your little girl today!! Wishing you lots of luck.

So many things going on here. I'm so overwhelmed and crying a lot.

Baby has a few issues.
Jaundice. She was able to come home but they wanted to see her today. But everything is closed today because it freaking snowed in NC. We are hoping to get in tomorrow now. Ped wants us in before noon.
Hips. Both hips are loose so they suspect hip dysplasia. We'll take her for an ultrasound at some point.
Kidneys. We knew. They need an ultrasound, too.
Bump on abdomin. Looks like a hernia but it isn't an umbilical one. That'll need an xray or ultrasound. I forget which.
I'm having to nurse, then pump and supplement with my milk and formula. So that stinks. So far she's been a trooper.

I'm in a lot of pain. I still can't believe I had to have a c-section. I'm pissed at myself though I know I can't change anything.

And finally, our 6 year old is sick so we can't let her near the baby. She's pissed about that. She feels very rejected. I can't wait until she's better. Schools are closed tomorrow so we are hoping to ship her off to the inlaws for the day.

I can't wait for a bit more normalcy.

@mediagirl hang in there mama! Things will get better - just need to take one day at a time xx

@lindsaykaye hope baby is here, happy and healthy

Thank you for the well wishes everyone! They helped keep me positive during labor - things went totally different from planned but turned out just fine. Alice Merryn was born at 8:22 last night 12/9 at 41 weeks, 7lb 14 oz (smaller than we thought)!

After planning and hoping for an unmedicated birth center delivery I ended up at the hospital, augmented with pitocin, and with an epidural. None of my primary midwives were here, but the midwife who took out my IUD to get pregnant ended up as my L&D on call and it was great. Things moved quickly after the pitocin (a pretty low dose I think) and then after the epidural I was complete within an hour. It only worked on one side though so that was really strange and kind of sucked but helped feeling the pressure and with pushing. I got in two rounds of clindamycin for my GBS+ with no allergic reaction so I’m very thankful for that.

Turns out the cord was wrapped around her neck TWICE which likely kept her from being able to descend and engage to start labor. She had lots of suction due to the meconium but a good apgar score. We had nice skin to skin time and she nursed right away.
We’re seeing some high bilirubin scores at this point so we’re expecting light therapy soon. Hoping to be discharged tomorrow but it really depends on how that goes.

LO and was able to meet her this morning with my DH’s parents. It was seeet and amazing. Then my mom surprised me by flying down to be here for the week ahead. I cried - it’s wonderful and I’m so happy she can be here when we didn’t think she’d be able to.

Thinking good labor thoughts for you
@LindsayInNY: and that things progress soon and all go smoothly!! I ate our family friends “labor kickstarter” meal Saturday night and while I don’t think it’s what put me in labor it was nice to go out to eat with our little family one more time and is a funny story. In case you want to get superstitious it’s fettucini Alfredo and house salad with a small glass of Chianti from a *real* Italian place. No additions, no substitutions lol. So far it’s 3 for 3 - so a tiny sample size but a tasty way to try!

@mediagirl: I’m so sorry things are so complicated right now. Sounds like @yellowbeach: has some great advice. I’ll be thinking of you and sending you healthy LO thoughts for both your littles ️

@mediagirl: I’m sorry you’re having such a rough time with all that’s going on. Thinking of you and hoping things get a little easier. One day at a time. Hugs ️

@lindseykaye: sorry it didn’tgo as planned but glad things ultimately turned out good. Congratulations and I hope things continue to progress.

@LindsayInNY: crossing my fingers you get to meet your little one soon!

@LindsayInNY: oh no. I really hope you get to meet this baby soon!

@mediagirl: Hugs. Hope the ultrasounds go well! And poor baby booty. ☹️

I had very sporadic contractions yesterday. Slept crappily last night (par for the course these days). I think they’ve started to regulate a bit so I’m timing them now... I have an OB appt later this morning. I’ll see how things go before calling them. I think DH and I have plans to drive to the OB and maybe she can check me before going to the hospital? Both are in NYC and like 10 blocks apart. 🤞

@LindsayInNY: crossing my fingers things get moving soon!

@mediagirl: thinking of you and that things go well. Levi has also had the same poop happening. I’m just keeping A&D on it. He was Circumcised yesterday so we have to keep it on him anyway.

@Emmalina: I totally understand! DS1 used to sit with me all the time and now I feel like I constantly have the baby or an breastfeeding that I’m losing that part of our relationship. DH has been trying to do more with him.

We’re doing as well as can be. I’ve been having quite a bit of anxiety. It mostly started with getting Levi circumcised yesterday and I just didn’t handle it well. Now I just keep getting upset. Maybe it’s a little baby blues? Just hormonal? Everything else is going pretty good.

@LindsayInNY: Oh man I just feel for you so much right now. I had the same doubts about contractions and labor and just being so unsure at the end that I would know what was going on.
I’m glad your scans and tests went well and sorry your practice doesn’t strip membranes since I know you were thinking about that. Continuing to send you labor vibes and happy thoughts for swift movement and a healthy safe delivery whenever this little baby decides it’s time!

@Emmalina: Also feeling like I’m missing my big girl too. She had her winter program at school and I stayed home with the new baby because I just didn’t feel comfortable bringing such a small newborn around so many people and kids. Thankfully DH got great video but it was hard to miss it. Hope you get some of your normal back soon.

@mediagirl: Glad you’re getting the appointments that you need and things are going along. Do you know how long it takes for results from everything?

My daily play by play... I think my water might be leaking? Going to try the “lie down for 30 minutes and see what happens when you get up” test shortly.

@LindsayInNY: I bent down to pick up something and felt a little gush and it soaked my pantiliner instantly. It also definitely felt like it came out of my vagina and not my urethra.

When I went to change it the color was not like urine and didn’t have a urine smell. Of course mine had meconium so it was distinctly NOT urine and I’ve heard it’s harder to tell with regular amniotic fluid.

This happened one more time within half hour and then while I was in the shower I had a huge amount start to flow out and it didn’t stop if I clenched with kegel muscles like urine would.

@LindsayInNY: fingers crossed this is it for you and you don't have to worry about being induced!!

@LindsayInNY: congrats! Those second babies know how to get it done!

@LindsayInNY: Ohhh my goodness congratulations! She’s here and perfect Love her name!

Sounds like you had the unmedicated birth you were planning for too with her swift arrival

Funny coincidence that my #2 is very similar to her big sister too! A couple ounces smaller, same length, but instead of blonde fuzz she has a bunch of darker hair!! A surprise because both DH and I are blonde too (though I’m darker blonde as an adult). I’m super curious to see how it changes.

@LindsayInNY: Congratulations! So happy for you that your beautiful baby girl has arrived!

@LindsayInNY: congratulations!! She’s gorgeous

December 2018 Moms
12/2: LindseyKaye (#2) Delivered 12/09!
12/5: MrsMollyAlexandra (#1)
12/6: Emmalina (#2) Delivered 12/4!
12/7: LindsayinNY (#2) Delivered 12/14!
12/8: Chillmama86
12/10: Mediagirl (#2) Delivered 12/3!
12/10: Christy412 (#2) Delivered 11/12!
12/11: ThePaperButterfly (#2)
12/12: MotherRunner (-3 wks, #3)
12/15: MrsMom (-3 wks, #2) Delivered 12/5!
12/20: IrishEyes (#1), Gorbylon (#2)
12/25: DizzyMiss (#3)
12/30: katrocap (#2)
Yellowbeach