"My Labor Story" is my own hazy version of what happened during my almost 30-hour labor. I know that some of the details are a little skewed, but after going through something like that, details don't seem to matter much. As I read what I've written, though, there is a major piece missing...my coach...my biggest supporter...my forever love...my husband.
To say that Mike was my labor coach would be a gross understatement. I don't think that I could have survived anything that I've experienced in the last week without him. Mike was calm when I was frightened, empowering when I was doubtful, and above all, so so loving and supportive. When I think of my labor now, I don't really remember the pain, I don't remember the faces of the nurses that were with us, I barely even remembered that the bruise on my left wrist is from my iv. What I do remember is Mike's voice. I hear him telling me that I'm strong, that I'm amazing, that I can do what I set out to do, that he loves me. I have never in my life felt so connected to one person as I do to my husband.
I want Mike to know that I love him and am so appreciative of every little thing he does for me and for our daughter. Every kiss, kind word, and smile are forever imprinted in my memory. I so look forward to our life together, and I can't wait to see him grow as a father. Kaylee is a lucky girl to have such a dedicated daddy, and I am so pleased with our new little family.
(I also want Mike to know that I sat here in our bedroom and cried as I wrote this. I don't think he'll be surprised.)
30 October 2009
My Labor Story
I guess it started around 7:30 Saturday evening when I discovered part of my mucus plug when I went to the bathroom. I was excited, but not really expecting anything. I was in bed later that night when my water broke at approximately 10:45. I have to say that it was one of the strangest feelings ever, and if it's really that rare for your water breaking to be a huge gush, call me rare. It was everywhere in an instant!!! We called my doctor's office and got a little confused when the line didn't role over to the on-call person, but called labor & delivery and headed on in.
They confirmed that I had, indeed, ruptured, as if there was any question. I hadn't really begun contracting and was still only 25% effaced and 1 cm dilated, so they gave me two hours for things to kick in on their own. At 4 am on Sunday, I still hadn't progressed, so they started the pitocin, something I hadn't wanted, but knew that I needed. The started me on too high a dose to begin with and we started seeing some decelerations in Kaylee's heart rate, so they stopped the pit, flushed my system, and started it again, more slowly.
Things started out pretty easy. Mike and I walked, chatted with family, responded to texts and sat on the birthing ball a lot. I would later abandon the ball when I got really nauseous. There is a lot in there that I don't remember, but by late Sunday evening, I was fully effaced and dilated to 9 with just a small lip left on the front of my cervix. Despite the ridiculous, pit-induced contractions, that lip wouldn't go away, so they began having me try to push while a nurse held it out of the way to see if that would help. All it did was make me want to push with every contraction, so when they told me to go back to "breathing through" the contractions, I was in excruciating pain trying to not push. I think it was at this point that I relented and finally accepted a dose of stadol. I was really wanting an unmedicated labor, but it was just too intense. At one point, I even remember thinking that I would be better off if they'd just take Kaylee via c-section, but I'm happy to say that didn't happen.
At 2:38 am on Monday, October 26, after about an hour of good solid pushing, Kaylee Beth Drews was born. Here is when another of my ideals went out the window...I didn't get her put directly on my stomach because she was rushed over to the warmer and surrounded by about five nurses. I could barely even see what was going on. Kaylee's one-minute apgar score was a 2, five-minute was a 4, ten-minute was a 7, and she eventually got a 9, but I don't know how long that took. Next thing I knew, Mike was following Kaylee's entourage to the nursery while my doctor tried to get my placenta out. I pushed part of it out, but when she said that part was still attached and that she'd have to reach in and help separate it from my uterus, I accepted a second dose of stadol.
When I eventually got to see Kaylee, she was in the nursery covered in all kinds of monitors and under an oxygen hood. I then watched as they placed an iv in the back of her hand. She looked so pathetic, but she was alive. I finally got to hold my daughter at 9:00 Monday morning, nearly seven hours after her birth. The days since have been an exercise in frustration, dealing with jaundice, anemia, and troubles with feeding, but we are finally home, and Kaylee is asleep in her crib in the next room. It was a long, frightening couple of days, but I am one happy momma.
They confirmed that I had, indeed, ruptured, as if there was any question. I hadn't really begun contracting and was still only 25% effaced and 1 cm dilated, so they gave me two hours for things to kick in on their own. At 4 am on Sunday, I still hadn't progressed, so they started the pitocin, something I hadn't wanted, but knew that I needed. The started me on too high a dose to begin with and we started seeing some decelerations in Kaylee's heart rate, so they stopped the pit, flushed my system, and started it again, more slowly.
Things started out pretty easy. Mike and I walked, chatted with family, responded to texts and sat on the birthing ball a lot. I would later abandon the ball when I got really nauseous. There is a lot in there that I don't remember, but by late Sunday evening, I was fully effaced and dilated to 9 with just a small lip left on the front of my cervix. Despite the ridiculous, pit-induced contractions, that lip wouldn't go away, so they began having me try to push while a nurse held it out of the way to see if that would help. All it did was make me want to push with every contraction, so when they told me to go back to "breathing through" the contractions, I was in excruciating pain trying to not push. I think it was at this point that I relented and finally accepted a dose of stadol. I was really wanting an unmedicated labor, but it was just too intense. At one point, I even remember thinking that I would be better off if they'd just take Kaylee via c-section, but I'm happy to say that didn't happen.
At 2:38 am on Monday, October 26, after about an hour of good solid pushing, Kaylee Beth Drews was born. Here is when another of my ideals went out the window...I didn't get her put directly on my stomach because she was rushed over to the warmer and surrounded by about five nurses. I could barely even see what was going on. Kaylee's one-minute apgar score was a 2, five-minute was a 4, ten-minute was a 7, and she eventually got a 9, but I don't know how long that took. Next thing I knew, Mike was following Kaylee's entourage to the nursery while my doctor tried to get my placenta out. I pushed part of it out, but when she said that part was still attached and that she'd have to reach in and help separate it from my uterus, I accepted a second dose of stadol.
When I eventually got to see Kaylee, she was in the nursery covered in all kinds of monitors and under an oxygen hood. I then watched as they placed an iv in the back of her hand. She looked so pathetic, but she was alive. I finally got to hold my daughter at 9:00 Monday morning, nearly seven hours after her birth. The days since have been an exercise in frustration, dealing with jaundice, anemia, and troubles with feeding, but we are finally home, and Kaylee is asleep in her crib in the next room. It was a long, frightening couple of days, but I am one happy momma.
23 October 2009
Being "Checked"
Wow! Not comfortable. I would officially like to tell my doctor that if she needs to reach for my tonsils, it would be far more effective to go through my mouth. I think I've made my point.
Anyway, discomfort aside, I found out yesterday that I am 25% effaced and dilated to 1 cm. I realize it's not much, but it's something. It means that my body and my baby know what they are doing and everything is as it should be. I had a talk with Little Girl last night. I told her that since I have been doing my job for nine months now, I was very proud that she is doing her job as well. We are now really on the countdown to welcoming her home.
Anyway, discomfort aside, I found out yesterday that I am 25% effaced and dilated to 1 cm. I realize it's not much, but it's something. It means that my body and my baby know what they are doing and everything is as it should be. I had a talk with Little Girl last night. I told her that since I have been doing my job for nine months now, I was very proud that she is doing her job as well. We are now really on the countdown to welcoming her home.
20 October 2009
It's Still a Girl!!!
We had our 36 week sonogram this morning and got great news all around. Most importantly, the little one is healthy! She had a heart rate of 145 and is approximately 6 lbs. 5 oz. There is fluid in both her bladder and her stomach, so we know that her kidneys are working and she's been swallowing and all that. The amniotic fluid levels were right where they should be. We finally got the profile picture that we've been hoping for, and got to see her moving her head and working her mouth a bit. Fun stuff.
In case you haven't notice all the italics, I'm very happy to say that we got some confirmation that we are still expect a little girl. We have no problem with boys at all, but we have an awful lot of pink and lavender stuff at our apartment right now. :)
Little Girl's beautiful profile
Me last night at 36 weeks
In case you haven't notice all the italics, I'm very happy to say that we got some confirmation that we are still expect a little girl. We have no problem with boys at all, but we have an awful lot of pink and lavender stuff at our apartment right now. :)
Little Girl's beautiful profile
Me last night at 36 weeks
19 October 2009
36 Weeks, Y'all!!!
How far along? 36 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: I don't know. I go back to the doctor on Thursday.
Maternity clothes? that's all that fits me
Stretch marks? got 'em
Sleep: not cool at all
Best moment this week: every single moment that I've gotten to spend with my husband
Movement: Yesterday the little girl totally conspired with her daddy to ruin my plans for a semi-busy Sunday. We had a little scare when she didn't want to move around much and seriously teetered on the edge of calling the doctor and going in to l&d. Luckily, she figured out that she had given her mommy enough of a panic attack and firmly secured the prospect of a lazy Sunday and got moving. I can see our future right now.
Food cravings: nothing specific
Gender: We have a sonogram tomorrow morning and will be asking for confirmation that this little one is, in fact, a girl. If not, though, I hope he likes lavender.
Labor Signs: nope
What I miss: Nothing right now...I'm ready to get this show on the road and completely give in to our new life as a family.
What I am looking forward to: our sonogram tomorrow
Weekly Wisdom: Don't freak out until you truly have something to freak out about.
Milestones: I am 9 months pregnant!!!
Total weight gain/loss: I don't know. I go back to the doctor on Thursday.
Maternity clothes? that's all that fits me
Stretch marks? got 'em
Sleep: not cool at all
Best moment this week: every single moment that I've gotten to spend with my husband
Movement: Yesterday the little girl totally conspired with her daddy to ruin my plans for a semi-busy Sunday. We had a little scare when she didn't want to move around much and seriously teetered on the edge of calling the doctor and going in to l&d. Luckily, she figured out that she had given her mommy enough of a panic attack and firmly secured the prospect of a lazy Sunday and got moving. I can see our future right now.
Food cravings: nothing specific
Gender: We have a sonogram tomorrow morning and will be asking for confirmation that this little one is, in fact, a girl. If not, though, I hope he likes lavender.
Labor Signs: nope
What I miss: Nothing right now...I'm ready to get this show on the road and completely give in to our new life as a family.
What I am looking forward to: our sonogram tomorrow
Weekly Wisdom: Don't freak out until you truly have something to freak out about.
Milestones: I am 9 months pregnant!!!
17 October 2009
30 Days
Lovely Daughter Of Mine:
I am issuing 30 day notice for EVICTION. You will have 30 days in which you can either gather your belongings and promptly vacate the premises, or wait until the final day, after which you will be physically removed from the property.
You are being evicted due to breech of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the FRONT of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed. Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back of the house were also made!
Remodeling and gutting of the home was never approved, nor was changing the initial layout and base structure. And due to property damage, there are now leaks in both the upper AND lower levels of the home. On top of which, the landlord has received numerous complaints about nightly disturbances.
After 30 days, non-compliance with this notice will result in immediate and forceful removal at my discretion.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Love,
Mommy
I am issuing 30 day notice for EVICTION. You will have 30 days in which you can either gather your belongings and promptly vacate the premises, or wait until the final day, after which you will be physically removed from the property.
You are being evicted due to breech of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the FRONT of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed. Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back of the house were also made!
Remodeling and gutting of the home was never approved, nor was changing the initial layout and base structure. And due to property damage, there are now leaks in both the upper AND lower levels of the home. On top of which, the landlord has received numerous complaints about nightly disturbances.
After 30 days, non-compliance with this notice will result in immediate and forceful removal at my discretion.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Love,
Mommy
14 October 2009
A Month of "Lasts"
Yesterday Mike and I had our pre-admissions appointment at the hospital and then went out to dinner. We went to Kobe, one of our favorites.
As we were sitting and waiting for our soup, Mike mentioned that it's strange to think that this might be the last nice dinner out we have as a couple, without worrying about how to accommodate a baby. Strange.
I have a feeling that I'm going to start looking at a lot of things as a series of "lasts" in the coming month. The last date with my husband...the last lazy Saturday/Sunday as a couple...the last night out with the girls...the last baby-free trip to the grocery store...the last chance to take a long bath and totally pamper myself...the last time I feel my baby kick from inside me...it's so bittersweet.
As we were sitting and waiting for our soup, Mike mentioned that it's strange to think that this might be the last nice dinner out we have as a couple, without worrying about how to accommodate a baby. Strange.
I have a feeling that I'm going to start looking at a lot of things as a series of "lasts" in the coming month. The last date with my husband...the last lazy Saturday/Sunday as a couple...the last night out with the girls...the last baby-free trip to the grocery store...the last chance to take a long bath and totally pamper myself...the last time I feel my baby kick from inside me...it's so bittersweet.
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