Zane is here!

He's been here for over a week now... I'm just a slacker with the blogging!! 

I have sooo many things I want to talk about, but this first post is is birth story. 

It's long, so be prepared. Grab a snack or somethin'...

On Monday, June 17 I had an ultrasound and OB appt. The ultrasound went great as always. At the OB appt, Dr. O told me that my labs from the weekend came back fine, BUT my BP at the appt was high, and at 38 weeks pregnant, there's no reason to mess around with it. He did a cervix check and there was no dilation. He sent me over to OB triage to hook me up to those monitors and watch my BP. It never went down. So after several hours (around 9) and no dinner (you'd think they would have asked if I was hungry before the cafeteria closed... :/ ) they decided to admit me and induce in the AM. Of course, Clint was on nights so he wasn't there yet. He left work, dropped Zoey off at Robin's and got there as soon as he could... with dinner, of course! 

At 5AM Tuesday morning, they started me on Cytotek. Cytotek is a pill that they put on my cervix that softens it and gets it dilating. They gave me a new dose every 4 hours. Each time they had to check my cervix. That freaking hurt. Like.. miserably. Ugh, just thinking about it.. Anyway. The Cytotek also caused contractions. Really low abdomen and back contractions. They weren't spaced out like you expect contractions to be. They would come and go, but when they came, they lasted a long time, in waves. Like one would end and the next would start right back up. Eventually they would subside.. usually just in time for the next dose. :/ Tuesday was miserable. 

Oh, I forgot to mention, this whole time I'm hooked up to an IV, fetal monitors, a blood pressure cuff and idk what they're called, but they go on my calves and kinda massage to keep blood flow going. So I'm fairly immobile and getting up to pee (hourly) was a hassle. And of course I was peeing in a "hat" which I often overflowed if the nurse wasn't on top of keeping it empty. lol. 

My mom made it to town Tuesday evening. Clint's mom did too I believe. 

Oh, and Monday night they gave me Potassium through IV because my bloodwork showed it to be low. Potassium through IV freaking hurts!!! Like made me cry. She had to mix it with the fluids or something to make it not hurt. IDK why they don't do that in the first place. 

They gave it to me orally Tuesday and IV again on Wednesday or Thursday. 

By Tuesday night I was only dilated to "a dimple" I believe. IDK maybe I made it to 1cm by bedtime. Or maybe by morning. Its all kinda a blur now. They did continue the Cytotek through the night so it may have been 1cm by morning. Anyway. Wednesday morning they started me on Pitocin. Pitocin is meant to cause real contractions and really bring on labor. I wasn't allowed to eat or drink while on Pitocin so that part sucked.. Pitocin's contractions were easier than Cytotek's. They actually came and went like you expect them to and they weren't as severe. I was actually able to take a few naps between contractions whereas on Tuesday sleep was near impossible. 

With my mom being around, Clint was able to take a break. He went to mom's hotel room for a few hours to shower and nap while mom hung out with me. It was really good for him to have a break.. when he got back he was much more refreshed and more useful to me. lol. 

By Wednesday evening I was still only dilated to 1cm and I think 70% effaced (thinning of the cervix). The Dr that was at the hospital that day decided to give me a break! So they took me off the Pitocin and even the fetal monitors and let me eat dinner and take a shower. Then they gave me an Ambien! I really needed that good nights sleep after the two nights before of sleeping like crap! 

I was feeling so good after dinner and a shower, that we took a few pictures!

Thursday morning I started the Pitocin early again. After a few hours there was a new on-call doctor. Dr. Feingold. He came in around 8:30 and talked to us. There had still be no change in my cervix and he said that we could keep trying to induce but it wasn't looking like anything was gonna change. He recommended a C section, and by that point, I was feeling ready for it. I couldn't handle a third day of misery, especially knowing that by the end of the day there probably still wouldn't be a baby. Its not what I wanted, of course, but how long could I be in labor?? Clint and I had already known it was likely and had talked about it, so when Dr. F suggested it, we agreed right away. He said we could do it in an hour! 

So then it was time to get prepped for that. I had to sign some paperwork, meet the anesthesiologist, learn a little about the procedure, etc. Clint would be allowed in there once the spinal was done. Once Zane was born, they'd hand him over to Clint and I wouldn't be able to hold him yet, but I could see and touch him. 

That was the plan.. 

When I got into the OR (Clint had to wait outside the door for the first part), they had to move my IV. There was some kind of blockage or it wasn't big enough if they needed to do a transfusion or something. So they tried a new spot. Then another. Then another. I believe it was the third one that worked. OUCH. All this time, I'm still having contractions, btw. Once they finally got the IV in, it was time for my spinal. I got poked and poked and poked and it wasn't working.. I think he tried 4 times, 2 pokes each time, I believe. Again, kinda a blur. During these attempts, I was of course having contractions, and being told to arch my back a certain way and of course stay calm. Riiiighht... lol. It was so hard. So so hard. I was leaning all my weight on the nurses, gripping my hand into their hips, probably crying a little. The main nurse I was leaning on ended up being our favorite. Mel. After several minutes of this, I said "I don't think I can do this" and she said I could, and told me to picture Zane's little toes and his hair and things like that.. and it really helped. Gave me something positive, reminded me why I was doing this. 

But... after I think 4 attempts to numb me, the anesthesiologist decided to call it. I guess my bones were too close together and he couldn't get the needles deep enough. So I had to be knocked out completely. This changed the plan completely. Now Clint wasn't allowed in there. He had to go wait in the room. Once Zane was born, the nurses brought him to Clint and did his weight and all that. 

And this is the part that makes me emotional even now, over a week later, as I type it. We didn't get to see his first breath or hear his first cry. I didn't get to see the look on Clint's face the first time he saw his son. I didn't get to see the first time he held him. No pictures even, because no one informed the moms that plans had changed and Clint was back in our room. So all these firsts, all these important moments, and I missed them. Its just hard. 

(These two were taken by Clint, I assume, before I got back to the room.)

When I woke up, I was still in the OR asking if I had a baby, asking if he was okay, and asking where he was. I was told he was fine, and after a few minutes I was asking for water. lol. I got rolled into our room and a nurse was standing near Clint, holding Zane up so I could see him. All I remember about what he looked like at that moment was his full head of hair. 

Of course I was still loopy at this point. 

Once my bed was in place and locked down, Clint brought Zane over to me and I was able to hold him for the first time. My heart was so full.

We had nurses take a few pictures.

It was around this time that I asked for the stats! Zane was born perfectly healthy! He weighed 7lbs 6oz and was 20 inches long! His head was 14 1/4 inches around. He was born at 10:35AM

It wasn't long at all until they had me and Zane skin to skin and had me nursing. What an incredible feeling!!  

The moms were allowed in the room after I'd been back for 2 hours, so we had a little bit of time just the three of us.. and a bunch of nurses. lol. 

Here's some pictures from our time with Zane in the hospital!

 Clint was so good with him right off the bat. He blew me away. 

^^  Looks like this one was after a shower! Probably close to going home time. ^^

Zane was ridiculously easy to care for those first 24 hours or so. He mostly slept. And it may have seemed easier than it was because I wasn't allowed to get up. So when he needed something Clint, Mom or a nurse had to do it. It was actually kinda sad for me when they changed his first diaper. I didn't get to even see. They gave him his first bath and I had an obstructed view. Things like that made me sad. But I know none of that really matters. He's healthy!! 

After surgery, I was still having some issues with my blood pressure. They had to check and medicate every 4 hours until they got it in the safety zone where they wanted it. After that it stayed down pretty well. 

On Friday morning, Jenn came to visit and do his first photo shoot! Here's a preview. 

(I'll post the rest at the end of the entry. )

We got discharged Saturday around noon. We finally got to take our little guy home!!

And here are more pictures by Jennifer Rice Photography. 

I hope to update soon with more about his first days and my new life as a mommy. 

All I'll say now is that I'm loving every minute. 

June 14, 2013

So not much has changed since my last post. 

At Monday's appt the nurse practitioner that I saw was concerned with my BP being so high. She wanted to send me to OB triage again. What annoyed me about that is it was FINE on the recheck when I laid down which is usually satisfactory for them. She said "Well you don't lay down all day.. " Yes actually I do, I'm on bed rest. Read the file lady! LOL And plus my urine sample was fine. So I groaned about it a little but was prepared to go. I asked for the results of my Group B swab and when she went to check on that she ran into Dr. O and Dr. O said that I'm fine! Thank you Dr. O!! But he did want to add labs to my next appt.

Oh I forgot to mention the ultrasound before the appt! It was great! This one was longer than the last one and she showed us his lungs and a kidney and of course his heartbeat and his cute little face in 3d! :D Everything looked perfect with him! And I love our ultrasound tech! 

Yesterday was my NST and I had to go solo because Clint had to work. Booo! I was hooked up to the monitors forever and at first Zane was sleeping so I had to poke at him and piss him off to wake him up! They want him active during the NSTs. I always feel bad bugging him. But they need to see that he's okay so I do what I gotta do. But once I got him going he passed the test with flying colors like always. :) My star student. haha! 

The sucky thing about yesterday is the lab work they added on Monday... I thought it was just blood work but they wanted a 24 hour urine collection too. Which wouldn't be a problem if I didn't live in Bagdad. So today I've been peeing in a "hat" and pouring it into a jug, which is on ice in an ice chest in the bathroom. Then I have to get up early tomorrow to get my 24 hours worth of pee to the lab by 11 because that's when they close on Saturdays. :/  So I have to leave here no later than 9 which means up no later than 8. Uuuuggggh!! I'm just not used to that anymore! This news made me soooooo cranky yesterday afternoon! I just didn't want to have to deal with it, and its not very bed rest-y. 

But before I left the office I, of course, scheduled next weeks appts. Monday and Thursday. She asked if I wanted to schedule the following weeks appts too but I told her no because I hope to be inducing that week since I'll be 39 weeks. So then I asked her how that works with the scheduling of inductions. She said usually we would do it on the day that Dr. O is on call at the hospital. So she checked his schedule and doesn't see him scheduled there that week. :/ But she said she's sure he will be. And if he's not I imagine someone else will do it. We'll talk about it on Monday and I imagine I'll get to schedule it then!! So excited to have a date!! If I have it my way we'll induce between the 22nd & 25th.... but of course I'm no longer holding my breath that anything will go my way! LOL So we'll see! Mom will most likely be coming the 21st. Can't wait to see her!! 

Also can't wait to meet Zane! :D

Here's my picture, taken Tuesday. :) Had to move the chalkboard to our bedroom since the crib is in the way now.. yay crib! Oh and he put the glider together too! Which is totally smaller than it looks! But my butt fits in it.. barely. Honestly if I hadn't lost the weight it probably wouldn't.

June 5, 2013

Well I guess its about time I update with my latest appointments and such.

Let's see.... My appt on Memorial Day at the hospital went great. My BP was really not bad at all and my bloodwork and urine both came back great! We were only there about an hour and I obviously wasn't readmitted!! Super yay to that! We went to Chili's afterwards, and I felt kinda like I was breaking the rules... but we gotta eat right??! And it was almost my birthday so I deserved it... and that desert we got. Mmmmm! 

My OB appt for Thursday we moved to Friday (31st), that was last Friday, and it went well too. They did a NST there and its much different from the way they do it at the hospital. Its pretty old school looking. The monitors don't show up on a big screen that we can watch, but we can hear the heartbeat. Every time I feel him move, I have to press a button. They want me to keep him active so they know he's alright. Luckily I had a cookie in my purse. hehe. 

After that we saw Dr. O. Everything on the NST looked good, urine was good and BP again wasn't too bad. High on the first check, but great on the recheck when I lay down which is what matters to him I guess. We learned a lot at this appt. The reason they are monitoring Zane so much is because the high blood pressure can actually lower his oxygen supply. Thankfully that isn't happening with us at this point and he is doing great!! He told us that it no longer looks like pre-e but at the time I was in the hospital it did. He says its just "Pregnancy Induced Hypertension" (PIH) at this point but can still develop into pre-e, and they're still watching me closely. He checked my cervix and there's nothing going on with it and he said that Zane was breech, which I figured he was. So we talked about that a bit. If he's breech when its time to deliver it means a C section. There is a way they can flip him but I don't think we'd opt to do it. It can put a knot in the cord, for one. Dr. O explained it to us in a way that I can handle a C section a lot better than Zane can handle any complications. In 10 years we won't regret having a C section but we will regret losing or hurting our boy. And he's right, so I really don't think we would opt to take that risk. Also, the way they do it is they give me something that relaxes my uterus the lube up my belly and manually flip him.. like they grab his head and butt and flip him and he said it would leave bruises on me and its really not comfortable.

Of course I really don't want a C section. Extra recovery time aside, I would feel like I was missing out on the experience of childbirth, and that thought makes me sad. 

He said he wanted to see me TWICE a week. Once a week is a biophysical ultrasound and my regular weekly appt. The other is a just a NST. We scheduled the ultrasound for Monday and the NST for Thursday of this week.

Scared of a C section, I looked into some home remedies to flip the baby! On Sunday night, I actually ended up doing the one they taught us in the birthing class. You just get on all fours with your head and chest down for 10-15 minutes. (I did this while playing Dice With Buddies, lol). While doing it I felt him move a little. After I laid down I felt him move A LOT. I was sooooo optimistic!!! 

Monday we had our ultrasound and sure enough the little guy had flipped!!! I was soooo happy and relieved!! He could always decide to flip back but fingers crossed he doesn't! Everything else with the u/s looked good. It was really quick though! :( She gave us two pictures. One you can hardly tell is his profile, the other is his boy parts, clear as day. That one just cracks me up. He's so not shy. I'm afraid he's gonna like to run around naked at inappropriate times...he'll be the boy at the pool who decides to go skinny dipping. Haha!

After the u/s we saw Dr. O. He checked my cervix again and still nothing going on there. I'm just instructed to keep doing what I'm doing. 

But I'm really ready to have this baby!! Now that I know he's in position I just want him out! I actually enjoy being pregnant and feeling him move around in there. It's pretty amazing. But I'm so done with bed rest. And nothing around me is getting done and I just want to get back to normal. Or.. the new normal, I guess. Obviously it won't be "normal" having Zane here. But you know what I mean. A little activity will be nice!

I spend my days laying on the couch playing Farmville and ZooWorld while watching TV, mostly. I go to bed at like 11 and read and play phone games till 12 or 1. I sleep till 9 or 10 and do it all over again. Its truely exciting... LOL not!!

Oh, I think I've gained 48lbs since being pregnant, btw. Bed rest is surely not gonna help that number stay down. LOL. Oh well... motivation for afterwards!!

So obviously at this point since everything is going fine, there's no talk of inducing. :(  I do need to talk to him about inducing based on distance, but I get the feeling he's not into the idea. Maybe if my Group B swab comes back positive it'll be more necessary and we can justify it. If I'm positive for that I have to have an IV antibiotic 4 hours before delivery... and living 2 hours from the hospital we may not get there in time. 

Anyway I think that's all the medical updates! I have an appt tomorrow for the NST, then ultrasound Monday and NST Thrusday again. I imagine it'll stay like that until we have him. Which I'm hoping we have him on the 11th so that we're in the hospital for the scheduled power outage on the 12th. LOL Wishful thinking!! 

So I spent my birthday on bed rest and it pretty much sucked. IDK if it was because of my birthday or what, but I was so emotional and hormonal by the end of the day. Partly because Clint didn't come right home from work, so I assumed he was getting me dinner or something special, but no...  he just got caught up talking to someone. :/  He did bring roses, though, so he's gotta get some credit for that. The next day I was a crazy hormonal bitch to him too. Poor guy. I think the bed rest was getting to me too. Anyway, that just sucked. 

But since then, I've been a lot better mentally, so yay!

The other day when we went to town Clint went into Game Stop and came out with a used iPod for me. I decided to call it a late birthday present because before all this hospital stuff happened I was supposed to get an iPod (or a camera) for my birthday. But we figured we should stop spending money. Especially on something that I've lost 2 of already. :/  So when he came out with this I was so excited! Its an older, smaller version, but it'll do the trick!! I'll really need it when I get back to the gym, and for now it keeps me from having to bring my computer with me to town for music. Yes I've actually been doing that.. I can make it play through the truck speakers. So the iPod is much better!!

Oh! I almost forgot to mention that Clint got the crib assembled! Yaaaay!! He still needs to do the glider and of course there's decorating and clean up to do in there, but we're making progress!

I guess that's it.... With any luck my next update will be a birth announcement!

Doubtful, but ya never know!

Here's my latest picture, taken on Memorial Day (before going to my appt).