birth story

*** this could be “graphic” and/or “TMI” for some***

I was 39 weeks exactly (no over-due business this time, though some of you may recall they'd planned to induce if I hit my due date).

I had started to feel "twinges" around 8:30pm, roughly 7 minutes apart, but almost entirely in the pelvic floor, so I just kind of monitored it casually for a while. I recognized this to be early labor which can come and go as it pleases for days or even weeks.

Around 10:30pm, I got some “bloody show” and gave my mom a heads up before she went to bed "just in case" since she lives a little distance away--better to have her come unnecessarily than not have her in a pinch. I called her back around 12:30am and suggested she shower and come on since nothing had stopped or eased up. I was feeling a little skeptical, but beginning to think maybe it would really happen. I rested a bit, one eye peering at the clock every few minutes when I felt the twinges which were gradually getting more noticeable. If nothing else, I knew I’d made some good progress toward having my baby before the due date, and that made me very happy.

At 1am, I glanced at the clock and about the time I decided I’d “skipped” a contraction and it was probably a false alarm (I was mentally trying to figure out if my mom would already be too close to turn around and head home; she actually was almost here), I felt a contraction that beat the others. Still not that bad compared to what I was waiting for, but suddenly they were 5 minutes apart; definitely a good thing my mom was on the way! I got up and piddled around, putting a few things away, laboring more comfortably on all fours as needed, and chatted with my mom some when she arrived. (Something you have to know about me: I chat and visit with anyone around while I labor. I’m happy to be having a baby, and I know that if I stay relaxed it will go easier. So, I keep mentally busy so as not to dwell on the contractions and such.)

By 2am, I had a few random "tiny" contractions (still all in the pelvic floor as far as "pain") at the 3 minute mark, in between the more noticeable ones. After checking in with the doctor on call, I woke my husband about 2:30am -- I'd let him sleep while he could since I knew one of us needed to...he was asleep before the bloody show and the less he knew the better he'd rest anyway, so he was pretty surprised when I told him to get up. I was a bit unsure about how much progress I’d been making, but knew I needed 4 hours of antibiotics since I tested positive for Group B Strep and I knoew I’d be fine laboring at the hospital for a while if necessary. After John showered, we headed out (he asked my permission about the shower, and I said if he was fast he could; then I laughed at him because he acted like he was going in fast-forward, so I told him to slow down just a bit).

We arrived at 3:30am and it took a half hour to check in; being a natural childbirther, I am adamant about relaxation during contractions and I’m guessing they didn’t think I was very far into it since I just kinda slumped onto their counter every 3-5 minutes and breathed slow and deep, then resumed our paperwork. So, I was in a triage room by 4am where they said I was at 6 ½ cm. At this point, I figured I had timed it really well since it took me almost 4 hours to go from 8 to 10 cm with my daughter. I got moved to a delivery room shortly after that, but didn’t get my antibiotics until 4:30am (they brought the wrong one and took forever getting the right one)! My midwife had said she’d be there for me (she delivered my other two), and came even though she wasn’t on call. She was there by the time the antibiotics were, and I was thinking she was so nice to come "wait it out" with me. When I told her that, she said she didn't think we'd make it four hours.


Around 5am, she checked me since I’d begun laboring pretty hard (though STILL only having 30 second contractions that were not nearly as intense as I was waiting for). I was at 9 ½ cm. HUH? She did clarify that since my bag of waters had not broken (which is one reason the labor was not so intense), it might be a little off since it could bulge through the cervix and make it seem more dilated than it really is.

I spent the next while cross-legged on the bed, leaning on my elbows. Something about dropping my belly low felt so good this time around. At home I’d been on all fours or squatting a good deal.

I transitioned in about ten minutes white sitting on the toilet, then squatting down in front of it. The contractions were suddenly on top of each other and my body began to feel like it was “pushing” of its own accord (though not to the point of a baby falling out).

My midwife checked me again and I was 10cm. I stayed on all fours on the bed, letting my body push for me for a while, as he finished dropping, It was so much easier. Also, my water broke very near the end of the laboring, as with my daughter. I didn’t have to put forth pushing efforts until he was trying to deliver himself, and then I pushed as I needed to, no one counting it out, not on telling me when or how. Once his head showed, I pushed for two and a half minutes. At the end of two minutes, my midwife was calling for a doctor to get in the room. She wasn’t as panicked as when I was delivering my daughter, but this was also the first time anyone directed me to push harder (and I kept thinking, as with my other deliveries, “HOW am I supposed to push harder than THIS??”). I learned a few minutes later that Baby J had been stuck, just as Miss C had been. Apparently, I have very difficult deliveries; at least it’s not my pushing abilities since I was starting to feel down on myself about that! Haha!

Yes, another shoulder dystocia. However, there was more time, a doctor handy, a somewhat smaller -- okay, considerably smaller -- baby (everyone keeps saying he's big...but I know better), a different birthing position, and as before, God's mercy. I pushed on all fours (a very, very funky way to deliver, I must confess), and both shoulders were behind the pelvic bones. It took two minutes from "head to dystocia", the doctor at the desk rushed in as I was told to flip to my side (his head was already out), my leg was shoved way up (as in I didn’t know it could go that high) and everything is a blur, but the doctor did something and out came Jonathan as I pushed a last time, without so much as a tear! (Compare that to my hour and a half of stitching through 5 layers with my daughter…whew!) He had the very short cord around his neck as well, so in spite of the super short labor and almost nonexistent pushing time, he managed to combine some drama from both my other births into one (Little B had a long cord wrapped three times around his neck!). I'm very thankful it was so fast... I wasn’t actually aware we’d had a dystocia situation, so when my husband kept happily saying that Baby J was moving both arms around, I kept thinking, “And why wouldn’t he be?”

Baby J was born at 6:30am, a mere two hours after getting my antibiotics (three hours after getting to the hospital) versus the four I was supposed to get. So much for making it to the hospital with plenty of time! They did keep us 48 hours to make sure he showed no signs of infection since his blood kept clotting and they didn’t want to repeat the blood work anymore. My mom told me later she had worried about me delivering at home and having to call 911. I guess she took my signs of labor more seriously than I did!

My sweet baby is an absolute wonder...I'm just as in awe of new life as I was with my first two.

For anyone reading this who is curious about the references to my daughter's birth almost three years ago, you can find that story here.

jaundice

Baby J is off the light table!

Saturday morning a nurse came out and drew his blood. His bilirubin had dropped 3 points, so they told me we could stop using the lights, but the nurse would return to do more bloodwork yesterday. If it was consistent and not going back up, they would consider his "phototherapy" complete. (If only phototherapy meant adorable pictures instead of isolating a baby onto a tiny table with blue lights radiating from it.)

I waited all afternoon for that phone call. Finally, at 5pm, I called them and the lady was SO apologetic -- I think she'd overlooked my name on the list of people to call. Anyway, the levels had dropped another point, so he was in the clear. Can I just tell you how wonderful it is to hold that sweet Baby J?? Scrumptious.

I will try to polish my birth story and post it today or tomorrow.

small update

Yesterday, I turned 32 years old. For many weeks now, all I have wanted is to hold my baby in my arms on my birthday. Nothing else quite mattered. I was able to do just that and any time it actually occurred to my that it was indeed my birthday, my heart was so full knowing I had my baby available to hold and love at a moment's notice.

Our day was filled with blood work for his bilirubin levels and later an on-demand appointment because the levels were rising rather than dropping. Late in the evening, my birthday ended with my sweet Baby J on a "bilibed", crying his heart out while mine broke as it longed to comfort him more. We had a very, very long night. I am so tightly bonded to this little sweet boy. He is more restful and peaceful this morning, so I managed to make up for a bit of the lacking sleep earlier.

This picture is of him in his straight jacket that velcros to the Bilibed....boo hoo...he was chilled, so I put a folded blanket over top him for while. Later, he was too hot on his back while his feet and hands were cold.

In spite of the jaundice and the not being able to hold him as much as I'd like since late yesterday, I am still abundantly thankful for so much. He's home versus in NICU, he's generally healthy (jaundice aside, obviously), he's out of my belly at last, he's desparately loved and at least acts like he loves us back. :)

I do have my birth story almost ready to share since a friend asked for it via email a few days ago. I simply saved what I sent her and need to double check it. So, I promise it is coming soon. Oh, and for you ladies who could appreciate my abundant milk supply and severe growth after the milk comes in, I've one upped myself! A lactation consultant at the hospital measured me yesterday (when I stopped by after having Baby J's bili levels drawn). I was contemplating buying one more bra in the size I expect to be in a few weeks since I have very few. She warned me that being my third baby, I might stay bigger, not "drop back" to a D...therefore wait to buy the correct size in a month or so. My new measurement? 36 F (and a 1/2!!). I must look hilarious to those who know I'm truly an A, if that!!!

baby j!

He's here!!



8 lbs, 13 oz



20 1/4 inches



and absolutely wonderful, of course

more in the days to come. . .

it's a bloggy 'oliday for me, bert

I know I’m not the most faithful, loyal or regular blogger out there; not by a long shot. But, I do love my blog and feel I have made some very real, wonderful friends through it. And I am by NO means going anywhere, I promise. However, I am an exahusted 36 weeks pregnant and feeling it more each day. My body is aching badly (I have a severely painful pelvis, which we believe is thanks to my daughter’s large size during my pregnancy with her) and I am feeling larger by the day (ha…wonder why!). The real fun though is that the holidays are stressful enough without adding extra stress, and that’s exactly what’s happened over the weekend. Big time. And I am in need of reprieve. Not just an outlet, but a reprieve of much deeper levels; I am planning to hibernate the rest of my pregnancy (as much as one can hibernate in the midst of holiday gatherings and slews of doctors/midwives/specialists/therapist appointments!).

I will stop by your blogs and read, even comment perhaps, but unless something just must be said, I don’t believe I will be blogging until I announce my little boy’s birth. So, though I may be back in a mere two weeks to share that news, it could be four, and I know it’s kind of silly to even tell you I’m taking a break since I tend to easily go a few weeks at a time anyway (sorry I’m such a slacker, ladies!) For now just I need as much “down time” as I can get—and very little is available. And, I wanted you to know where I plan to be.

That said, I want to ask you to pray for me and my family right now. I am very much in need of it (no doubt more so because I have the pregnant hormones raging in this body!). I have to tell you that a little while back when the going got tough several of you said you were praying for me, and I know other friends were as well…and I began to do so much better right away. I could feel the prayers and felt myself being lifted to the throne of grace. I thank you for that. I know I will get through this, and thank you for being my friends, each one of you.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and I will “see” you in the new year!!

3am randomness

I am getting so very, very tired of these 3am wake ups. I know I'm just pregnant, I know there aren't that many weeks left, but I don't even have anyone waking me up (nursing babies and children in need at least justify it)! It's now 4am, I've been awake for nearly an hour, my kids are all sleeping (even the little guy in utero), my husband is nearly snoring, and my body is aching. UGH. Comfort usually arrives around the time the alarm goes off, after I've been up for a while and finally gone back to sleep. Comfort also comes after lunch when I am in desparate, desparate need of a nap, barely peeling my eyes open and attempting to convince my daughter that she, too, is exhuasted (she no longer naps every day). But at 3 and 4am? Nah. Sleep cometh not and this poor body is wearing out. My mom likes to say, "Well, you're not 25 anymore." No kidding -- I'm starting to understand what she's talking about! Pregnancy in my 30s is far more taxing than the ones in my 20s.

So, after laying in bed a while, I opted for some raisin bran with real milk. In our house, real milk is just not a regular purchase considering the allergies my daughter has. So, while pregnant, I've tried to get it about once a month or so. I'll do soy milk in certain cereals, but it's not really my thing. I had two bowls of the raisin bran. I so love real milk in cereal. Mmmm. My all time favorite is plain Cheerios with 2% milk. It absorbs right, it's cold enough and it is so perfect I often have two very large bowls (as in, these days, because I know it's a rare comodity in our home!!). Now, the middle of the night snack is taken care of, and I'm perusing online out of sheer boredom. Perhaps sleep will come soon. That milk might help it along...oh, I'm hoping it does!

To encourage the drowsy state I hope to be visiting very soon, I'm off to play a bit of Alchemy, a most addicting game. I like the free web version of it best, so that makes it very available and I've played it far more than I will admit in the last couple of weeks.

stages in life

I read two different blogs that both carry the name, "My Blog". One is a young, single author whose books I've enjoyed. The other is a married lady who is expecting her 2nd baby just before I am due.

I use Bloglines; a few weeks ago, one of the two My Blogs had a new entry to read. I clicked it, but before opening the actual link, I scanned the Bloglines view and saw the title: "I'm Engaged!" It says something about where you are in life when you begin reading and feel completely startled when it's not the pregnant mother saying her baby is engaged, but rather the single author who is planning a wedding!!