Carley's Birth

Carley decided to come on Easter Sunday here is what happened:

I had contractions all day on Saturday. And these were not the menstrual cramp type, these were "give me a minute to walk" type. Which I have never had before! I was miserable all day, and I told Eric specifically "I can not do this all week". Well, I got woken up at midnight with hard contractions as well. They were irregular but so painful. They woke me every time. I got Eric's stop watch and got in the tub. My contractions would come 9 minutes, 4 minutes, 4 minutes, 9 minutes, etc. They did that for 1 hour. I called L&D and they told me not to come in until they were 3-5 minutes apart. But they got weird where I would have two contractions like 2 minutes apart, then one 7 minutes, etc. And they were getting harder. Around 2:00am, we decided to go to the hospital. We called Amy and woke her so she could come stay with the girls.

At the hospital, they all thought this was my first baby because I was not sure if I was in labor or not. Ha Ha. They checked me and I was only dilated to a 3. WHAT? I remember being so mad. Eric kept laughing at me, and it is so hard to laugh during a contraction. I tried to get mad at him too, but it was pretty funny to hear me moan through these contractions. They made me wait an hour (HELLO! I wanted an epidural!!!!!) and then checked me again. If I was the same they would send me home, but thankfully I was at a 4. So, I got admitted.

I got to the room and they asked me a million questions, and I just had one for them. Epidural please. Thankfully, he got there and got it started a little before 6am. At 7am, they checked me and I was at a 5, so they broke my water. They got the room all ready, and said it should be anytime! They were wrong. I kind of stalled for a while there, but I was comfy and happy. I was checked a few hours later and I was at a 7, so I thought we were coming along. I started to get really bad back pain, and I could feel my contractions on my right side. I started moaning and crying and called the nurse, I thought something was wrong. They could not figure out what it was, so we all assumed my epidural was not working as well as it has in the past. They turned it up, but for the next hour, I felt like I would pass out or throw-up or both from the pain. At 11:00am, they checked and I was at an 8 ONLY, so they decided to give me pitocin to get things moving. By the time the order came in and they got me set up, I was at a 9 and the pain was so intense. I remember wishing that I did not have the epidural because I could have at least moved around during a contractions. But since I could not feel my legs, I had to just lay there still and endure. Ugh, I am still sick just thinking about the pain.

Thankfully, he checked me at about 12:45pm and I was fully dilated! Yea! I got a little nervous about the size of her. The Dr.'s had a special station set up for shoulder babies, or babies whose shoulders might get stuck. Lovely. But the first contraction came and he said she should be out soon. Second contraction I was pushing and the Dr. said, "Whoa, slow down!" He did not want me to tear. So, he eased her out and she was here!!! I could not believe how easy that part was!

A beautiful 10lb baby girl was here at 1:03pm! They took her to clean her up and suck out some stuff she swallowed, but then I got to hold her a few minutes later. She latched on right away and ate for about a 1/2hr, before they took her away to check on her breathing. I did tear a little bit, but it was a 2nd level tear, which is what I had with both other girls.

The recovery of this birth has been my easiest so far. I was up and walking a few hours after, I have hardly bled or had any pain at all. I was actually discharged from the hospital the next morning after she was born. And I lost 20 lbs immediately!

Normal

The Dr. called me yesterday evening and they got by 24 hour urine results back. There was a little bit of protein in my urine, but nothing to be concerned about. My level was at 90, and it needs to be over 300 for them to be concerned. So no induction this weekend! So after all that worry this week it ended up being no antibiotics for the UTI, no iron supplements for being anemic, and no protein in my urine. Are we sure these people went to medical school?

Last night I had contractions all night. They started yesterday evening, just on and off, but by 2:00am, they were full force, coming every 10 minutes. Lying in bed didn't help, I would just lay there and wait for them. I ended up taking a bath, then coming downstairs and watched a movie on the couch. I started to get a little nervous, thinking this could be it, but by 5:00am, they stopped. I have had a few more today, but that's it.

39 weeks

Had my 39 week appointment today:
Blood pressure: 116/86
Weight: Lost three pounds!! So back to 57 lbs gained.
Baby heartbeat: 140's and measured at 39.5 weeks

Best appointment I have had yet! I met with two new Dr.'s, one was a resident, and the other was helping her. So, sadly I won't see them again, but it made me feel better that there were competent Dr.'s here.

I was still 2cm dilated, but 50% effaced this time, so I little progress. They stripped my membranes, so we will see if that will get anything going. They are still waiting on my 24 hour urine tests, and they told me that if it comes back with protein, they will probably induce me this weekend. If not, I go back Thursday the 8th.

Falling apart

I got a call from the Dr. today. They got my blood work back and my urine results. The blood work showed I am anemic. Which I had no idea. I get to take an iron supplement, which she said will cause tarry stools and/or constipation. Oh boy, I can't wait for that!

The urine results showed I have a Urinary tract infection. They think. Levels are supposed to be at 1 or 2 and mine were 100. Which means either a UTI or the test was contaminated. So, I get to take antibiotics for the next 10 days.

There was a little protein in my urine which could be a cause for concern, but they are still waiting for my results from my 24 hour collection, that is what will tell them the real story. So I wait. And wait.

TMI

Too much information for anyone who reads this BUT, I want to document it for my next pregnancy so here goes:

First, I think I lost my mucous plug today at 38 weeks and 3 days. A big glob of something came out today. Not the bloody show, just mucous. Which I read means that labor can be within the next three weeks. So, it really means nothing to me.

Second, keeping all of your pee for 24 hours is not fun. I have already forgotten three times. Hopefully, they will not know. The girls find it entertaining that I have this giant plastic thing I stick on the toilet to catch my pee, then pour it into a big container and put it in the fridge. They look at me funny each time.

Oh the wonderful joys of pregnancy.

38 week appointment

Had my appointment today:
Blood pressure: 144/98, 140/98, 136/92
Weight: total gain of 60 lbs :(

First thing was my blood pressure. It was obviously high, so they took it three times. If the third time was still over 140, they would have admitted me. Not to be induced, just to monitor me, so I am so glad it was down, I reallly didn't want to spend the evening in the hospital. It was still high for their liking, so they sent me to the lab for testing, and I also get to keep and store my urine for the next 24 hours.

I asked the Dr. to check me, telling her I was having contractions. I am dilated to a 2, and 25% effaced. Very exciting since I have never dilated before, but still not enough for me! I go back Friday, so hopefully there will have been some progress.

Contractions, shmractions

I took the girls on a good long walk on Friday - over an hour!!! That is pretty good in my book since I am pushing them both in a stroller. But I paid for it that night, the worst pressure ever! So, on Saturday, I asked Eric what I should do? Push through the pain and just keep walking everyday and maybe it will do something? Or just lay around and hope something happens? I can't decide.

Last night around 9:00pm I started having contractions. Between 9pm and 10pm I had them about every 10 minutes. I went to bed with a little anxiety, but woke up this morning and obviously, I did not have my baby. Darn. :)