Hellobee Boards

@Aria: YAY! hope it all works out how you want it too and that contractions start on their own!

@Aria: yay, thanks for the update. You are going to do great mama!!

@Aria: good luck!!!

Well baby Charlotte arrived at midnight on the dot today. 7lbs, 6 oz and absolutely perfect.

@Aria: congratulations!

@Aria: Congratulations!!!

@Aria: congrats!!!

@Aria: Yay - congratulations! What a great name! Hope you and Charlotte are doing well today.

@Aria: Congratulations!!! Beautiful name!

@Aria: Yay!! Congratulations, Mama!!!

Here is how Baby C joined our family!

Throughout my pregnancy, my BP was pretty much perfect, but starting at my 32 week appointment, it was just a little bit higher than usual. On 1/15 I went to the OB for my 36 week appointment, and again, my BP was slightly elevated, but nothing Dr. J was too worried about. He indicated we'd just check it again at my appointment the following week. DH asked Dr. J if it would be a good idea for us to monitor my BP between appoints. Dr. J said if we wanted to, we could, but we didn't need to be too worked up over it. He did tell us that if the reading was higher than 150/100, to call the office.

On Friday, my MIL came over to our house to help us out - she did some deep cleaning and organizing for us. She also brought her BP cuff for us to borrow. DH & I decided to hit our registry stores to make the final purchases of things we felt like we needed before the baby came. We bought and DH installed the video monitor. That night, we were sitting on the couch watching TV, and I felt like my heart suddenly started racing. I was concerned, because I just *knew* if we checked my BP it would be high enough that we would need to call the office. Long story short, we ended up in L&D triage at about 9 p.m. on Friday, 1/16.

Once in triage, they monitored by BP and did a urine test, and they also tested my reflexes. The urine test was negative for protein, but my BP stayed elevated, and my reflexes were "brisk". (Side note - I never knew that this could be a red flag. Also, some people just have brisk reflexes, and because they never tested my reflexes before that night, they had no baseline to know if mine were out of the ordinary...) The nurse told us that while this information was a little worrisome, we would likely be sent home. In fact, she told us to get dressed, and that the doctor would be in to see us before discharging us. When Dr. S, who was on call that night, made it to our room, though, she told us she wanted to keep us overnight. She ordered a 24-hour urine sample and wanted to monitor my BP every 4 hours.

Around 1 a.m. on Saturday, 1/17, we were admitted. We thought we'd see Dr. S before 8 a.m., when her shift ended, and that we'd be sent home with instructions to complete the 24-hour urine and stay off my feet. But we didn't see Dr. S before she left. Dr. J was the next doctor on call, and we were told he'd come up to see us very soon, and again, we were expecting to be discharged with some specific instructions. Dr. J delivered a TON of babies that day (including 5 babies in a single 40-minute stretch!), and it was 5 p.m. before he made it to my room to see me. 5 p.m also happened to be just minutes after a BP reading...my highest reading yet. Dr. J was concerned about the number at that point, and he recommended an induction. Suddenly it looked like we'd be having a baby soon! Since we were 36+ weeks, the risk to DS was greater in the womb than out. But, because I was only 36 weeks, Dr. J warned us that it might take a couple of days before I would actually deliver!

We decided to start by taking Cytotec to ripen my cervix, and I'd also get an Ambien to help me sleep (which was super appealing because I didn't sleep at all on Friday night), and then start Pitocin around 8 a.m. on Sunday. He said we'd have a baby probably Sunday or Monday, but maybe even Tuesday, depending on how stubborn my body was to go into labor.

We checked into our room in L&D at 9 p.m. on 1/17. When Dr. J checked my progress before administering the Cytotec, we got our next surprise - I was already 2cm and 70% effaced. I wouldn't need the Cytotec! Instead, my Pitocin IV started at 9:50 p.m. Honestly, I was bummed to miss out on the Ambien!

I labored all night with the help of some narcotics, and the pain was mostly manageable. The contraction monitor showed slow, rolling contractions, nothing too serious, so my Pitocin was increased incrementally overnight. The pain starting getting more intense the closer we got to daylight, and I asked for an epidural. At 5:45 a.m., my water broke on it's own. Then I REALLY wanted the epidural! Once the epidural was in place, things became much more manageable, though I could still feel each contraction. The Pitocin was doing it's job, and the nurse started backing off on the dosage since things seemed to be moving along.

Dr. S came back on call at 8 a.m., and when she checked me, I was 3cm and 90% effaced. I was also bummed. This was going to take a while! I continued to labor, and all the while, they checked my BP every 30 minutes. Around 10 a.m., my BP spiked again, and I developed a fever. Dr. S told me that if I were a good patient, when she checked me, I'd be at 10cm and ready to push. Otherwise, they would have to start magnesium for the BP, and an antibiotic for the fever, which would automatically mean a trip to the NICU for DS. She wanted me to be able to avoid both of those things. As it turns out, I'm a good patient, and I was 9.5cm! She said I had a small lip, but that we could get ready to push, and I could avoid the magnesium and antibiotic. Between 8 and 10 a.m., I finished dilating - so crazy!

I officially started pushing at 10:45 a.m., and DS made his grand entrance at 12:21 p.m. on Sunday, 1/18. He weighed 5lbs 12oz, and was 18 inches long. He is just perfect! He passed all of his tests and screenings in the hospital with flying colors, and he was able to come home with us on Tuesday 1/20. He was a little early by our standards, but for him, he was right on time!

(Thanks for bearing with me on the novel of a birth story!)

@HeartAbandoned: amazing story!!!! So glad it all went well.

@Circusbee:thinking of you and wishing you a healthy delivery! I hope it goes as closely to what you had in mind as possible. Will be thinking of you tonight.

@Kbee: thanks, I'm trying to do that. The more info I get about how my labs were not the greatest the more I know this is right. I'm trying not to think about what I'm missing out on too much and just make the best of it... Like having cable tv for the time being (no cable at home)

@Mrs. Coral: thank you!

@Circusbee: have a beautiful birth! I was induced and it was not what I wanted but I still think of it pretty fondly. You will do great.

Ahh I had a baby! Luke was born last night, February 10th at 8:08 pm - 37w3d, 6lbs 13oz, 20 in, and the most shockingly different birth than I ever imagined I would have. I will definitely write up my story in great detail but... My contractions were mild and 8+ min apart from 6-7pm. At 7:15pm my water broke violently and we barely made it to the ER of the closest hospital by ambulance by 8pm and he was born in one shocking push He is healthy and gorgeous and DH and are totally in love but so so shellshocked!!

@Circusbee: good luck!! You will do beautifully. I am also wrapping my head around a change in plans... It's a lot to take in!!

@loopedd: eek!!! Congratulations momma!!

@loopedd: wow!!!! Congrats!!

@loopedd: holy cow, congrats!!!!

Ruby arrived this afternoon - 20.5 in and 8 lb 4 oz. via an (unexpected) c-section. She was frank breech, and has a huge head, so we are confident the c section was the best choice. Latched on like a pro! We are in love.