Pregnant after a Loss

Annabelle's birth story

Annabelle Noel was born on December 27, 2012 weighing 5lbs 12oz and at 19.5 inches long after a long and stressful induction.  

I went in on Thursday morning at 12AM to start my induction and after 2 hours and two nurses poking me 3 times to get my IV started they inserted the gel to begin softening my cervix at close to 2. The plan was to give me 2-3 doses before breaking my water and/or starting Pitocin. I only ever got one dose since I was ?contracting too much? to get a second dose, the first dose got me to 3.5-4 cm before the contractions slowed and my doctor gave me the choice to break my water and see if that would be enough to kick my labor back off or I could try the Pitocin first. I was worried that the Pitocin would make my contractions to painful so I opted for breaking my water instead.

Breaking my water worked for a while and my contractions got much stronger though I was still doing fine alternating between walking around the floor and sitting on a birthing ball in my room any time I didn?t need to be in bed for monitoring or hooked up to my IV for antibiotics for my GBS. I got to about 5 cm before my labor slowed down again and my doctor encouraged me to start the Pitocin. Once they started the Pitocin my contractions became much more intense and close together. My cervix was still really high and I wasn?t making much progress because Annabelle was at a bit of an angle and wasn?t descending very well. After a few hours I was in tears because the back pain from the way she was sitting was so intense that I could hardly breathe during the contractions which were coming so close together that I felt I didn?t get any break between them. I was terrified of another epidural but finally gave in and asked for the anesthesiologist.

This anesthesiologist was amazing and after I discussed with him what happened last time he decided that because I had Pre-e last time they probably gave me less fluids before starting my epidural which is probably why I ended up almost passing out from it. This time he decided they would give me extra fluids to avoid that happening again and once I had enough fluids they gave me the epidural. My BP did drop quite a bit again but it didn?t get nearly as low as last time. They determined that my BP is sensitive to the medication and I will need to make sure that at future births I am given extra fluid as well. I did need some ephedrine to get my BP back to normal and I felt much better for the remainder of my labor.

Once I got the epidural my body was able to relax enough for Annabelle to drop and put pressure on my cervix which quickly finished dilating and only a few hours later it was time to push. My nurse had me practice push during one contraction and quickly told me to stop while she got my doctor and the nursery nurse into the room. I pushed 2-3 times each for 4 contractions and Annabelle was born. She screamed right away and they placed her on me right away so I could see and touch her while they cleaned her off. They then moved her onto my skin where she stayed until more than an hour later after I had delivered the placenta and nursed her.

Because of her size nursing has been a bit of a struggle and we?ve been supplementing with formula using a feeding tube to sneak the extra fluid in while she nurses. She has a good latch but gets frustrated or tired easily and doesn?t like to put in the work necessary to get the colostrum flowing. My milk came in today so I?m hoping we can stop with the formula and focus on the breastfeeding full time.

Thank you so much ladies for your support over these last nine months, and to those ladies who were there for me for my time on TTCAL as well. This has been a very long and emotional journey and I don?t think I could have made it without this loss community to turn to.

Now for what I know is everyone?s favorite part of a birth story post.

Here she is right after she was born. 

 image 

And here she is in the car on the way home from the hospital.

image

There are much better photos but they are all on my husband's camera and he isn't very good at putting them on the computer for me to see so your stuck with the ones from my phone. Thank you again ladies, I look forward to seeing you over on PAL!

 

Re: Annabelle's birth story

  • Congrats! She's beautiful!
    BabyFruit Ticker Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers
  • Congratulations! And welcome to the world Annabelle!
    Daisypath Happy Birthday tickers Lilypie First Birthday tickers Daisypath Anniversary tickers Image and video hosting by TinyPic
  • Loading the player...
  • Congratulations! Annabelle looks completely perfect.
    BFP#1 11/25/11 EDD 08/09/12 MMC 01/30/12 D&C 02/01/12
    BFP#2 09/11/12 beta1=72 @13dpo beta2=160 @14dpo beta3=over 6000 @24dpo U/S @7w2dd hb=146bpm U/S @8w5d hb=159bpm U/S @12w hb=164bpm
    EDD 05/20/13
    My Ovulation Chart
  • Congratulations!!! She is beautiful!
    11/2010 Diagnosed with PCOS 
    10/31/11 M/C at 9 weeks
    1/12/13 DD was born
    4/9/16 DS was born 
    9/17 CP 
    6/23/18 BFP EDD 3/4/19 

  • Congratulations! She's absolutely beautiful!
    BFP #1: 12/26/11, EDD 09/05/12; m/c discovered: 02/22/12 @ 12w u/s,
    D&C: 03/08/12 Waited for AF for 146 long days!
    Hysteroscopy/D&C on July 10th to fix blocked cervix (DX: Cervical Stenosis)
    BFP #2 12/8/12, EDD 08/21/13 Our rainbow arrived 08/24/13!
    imageimageimage

    Follow Me on Pinterest
    image




  • She is stunning! Congratulations, I'm thrilled she is here and healthy!!
    TTC #1 since January 2011
    BFP#1 April 12, 2011, EDD December 24, 2011, strong heart beat at 7w3d, d&c at 10w6d
    BFP#2 Oct 24, 2011, natural miscarriage, EDD unknown
    After RPL testing my losses and subsequent infertility are considered unexplained.
    Cycle #22: Femara, TI, and progesterone = BFP!! 
    BFP#3 Dec 21, 2012. Beta #1 @14dpo = 134, progesterone 67.8. Beta #2 @ 17dpo = 664! Team green, EDD 9/1/13, healthy baby boy born 9/12/13!
    imageimage  My chart.


    Congratulations to the fabulous KGS2003! Her sweet boys are here! Grow boys grow!!!
  • What a story! Thank you for sharing. Congratulations...she is adorable!
    imageimage
    image

    EDD 1/31/13, MC May 17. EDD 3/31/13, MC July 26. I miss you so much already my angel loves

    image

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • She is beautiful!  So many congratulations!
    Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers 

    CafeMom Tickers

    Married the love of my life 7/11/09 - Our first baby, Peyton Mark, was born sleeping 10/25/11 at 33 weeks - Our second baby, BFP 2/4/12, welcome to the world Raylan! Holy Moly, BPF 2/4/14, please be safe and sound little one!

    My Blog

  • Congratulations! Annabelle is beautiful! I used the same supplementing trick with DS and we were able to wean away from the formula within 10 days or so. Also, I pumped to help my milk come in and then used the milk I pumped in place of the formula when we were supplementing that way. 
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • She's cute! Congratulations!
    DS born 2009
    BFP#2 ~ 8/2/11, EDD 4/11/12, D&C 9/12/11 at 9w5d
    BFP#3 ~ 4/15/12, EDD 12/21/12 ~ DD born 12/22/12
    Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickers Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • Yay! Congrats! Your story sounds similar to mine. DS was 5 lbs 14oz. He tired easily while nursing and we supplemented with finger feeding formula for about a week. We worked closely with our LC, and were able to EBF to 16 months. GL!

    BFP#1 "Watermelon" born 3/2011
    BFP#2 "Pumpkin" 7/14/12 ~ EDD 3/23/13 ~ Natural M/C 8/3/12 @ 7 weeks
    BFP#3 "Pineapple"  born 4/2013
    BFP#4 "Grapefruit" EDD 3/29/16
  • Congratulations!  She's beautiful!

    BFP#1: 10/29/11 EDD: 7/14/12 MMC: 12/28/11 BFP#2: 5/17/12 EDD: 1/27/13 Trevor was born on 1/21/13! Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker photo 8e4774ee-d2a4-4dd5-9180-492d059e568e_zpsb44e90d8.jpg
  • Oh congratulations mama! She is beautiful! Welcome to the world little Annabelle!!
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • Yay, congratulations!!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker


    BabyFruit Ticker
  • She is gorgeous! What a great way to start a new year!
    Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers

    image



  • Congrats mama!! She is beautiful!

    PGAL/PAL welcome
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic

    Trying to start our family since 2010
    BFP #1 11.4.10, EDD 7.12.11, HB 12/9/10, MMC 12/27/10; 11w6d
    BFP #2 9.12.12, EDD 5.24.13, Baby Boy Born 5.15.13!!
    My Ovulation Chart
    3 Clomid (100mg) cycles + TI + Trigger = BFN's, Femara + Trigger + IUI#1 = BFN
    Femara + Trigger + IUI#2 = BFP!
    "Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." ~Gandhi
  • So precious! Congratulations!


      Our Angel Patricia born sleeping 3/30/12 at 31 weeks
    Our Fighter Anna born early 1/8/13 at 26 weeks
    Hoping to bring home #3 due 9/9/15
  • So happy for you! Congratulations!!!
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic

     
     
    BFP#1 on 02/14/09 BIRTH to Mason 6lb9oz on 10/12/09

    BFP#2 on 5/28/11 EDD 2/1/12 Natural M/C on 6/13/11

    BFP#3 on 1/20/12 EDD 9/30/12 Natural m/c on 1/27/12

    BFP#4 on 4/23/12 BIRTH to Isabella 7lb1oz on 12/19/12



  • Congrats!!
    Multiple TTCAL 1image
    image
     TTC #1 since March 2011 
    BFP #1: EDD 4/16/13~~blighted ovum w/ 2 gestational sacs~~Loss on 9/18/12
    BFP #2: EDD 9/3/13~~Slow HB at 1st U/S~~MMC -Loss on 2/13/13
    9/13, 10/13, 1/14: letrozole + trigger + TI = All BFNs
    3/14: IUI#1 letrozole/Bravelle/Menopur + trigger = BFN
    BFP #3: EDD 1/27/15 Please be our rainbow! ...Team Green


  • Congratulations on your little girl! She's gorgeous, and I love her name.
    photo AlbumsWideColorBump_zps1797df63.jpg

    We lost our first (EDD 07/23/12) after finding out at 12 weeks there was no longer a heartbeat. Our rainbow was born 05/22/13 and was worth all we went through.

    “So can you understand? Why I want a daughter while I’m still young? I wanna hold her hand and show her some beauty before all this damage is done. But if it’s too much to ask, it’s too much to ask … Then send me a son.” – Arcade Fire
  • Congratulations sweetie! She's beautiful!
    3 ectopic pregnancies (EDD's 1/30/12-tube removed, 6/2/12-methotrexate and 10/2/12-methotrexate)
    IVF and Natural FET resulted in BFN's and a hole in our wallets
    Natural BFP #4 on 9/7/12 gave us our miracle on 5/18/13
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • She is soooo cute! Welsome sweet little Annabelle!
    Me(26)DH(33)
    TTC for #1 since Jan 2010
    BFP #1 Oct 1 2010 MC Oct 3 2010
    DX PCOS w/ AO Nov 2011
    3 rounds of Clomid all BFN
    BFP #2 10/12/12 Beta #1 45.1 Beta #2 160.7 * 2/27 diagnosed with IEF in utero.
    Dalaney born @ 35w2d via emergency C-section due to Pre-E after 30 hrs of labor & losing her HB twice. She weighed 5lbs 8oz & was 19in long on May 26th 2013 @ 605am

    Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers   image

    "Severe truth is expressed with some bitterness."
  • Congratulations!  Annabelle is absolutely beautiful!!

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    M/C 7/8/12

    Perfect baby boy born 7/8/13

    BFP 8/20/14 EDD 4/27/15 It's a GIRL!!

     

  • She is adorable! Congratulations!!
    May PAL Siggy Challenge - Mom Humor
     image
    TTC Since June 2009 
    BFP #1 - 1/15/12, EDD 9/21/12, Missed M/C - 2/10/12 - I miss you Sapphire!

    BFP #2 - 7/1/12 - Met my lucky charm Alexandra on 3-16-13!!!


    image image image 
    image
    AL always welcome! 

  • Congrats!! Annabelle is gorgeous. Big Smile
    BFP#1 12/18/10 EDD 8/28/11 | 2/14/11 discovered that our baby girl had anencephaly D&C 2/17/11 at 12.5 weeks | no O or AF post loss - Dx: AO + mild PCOS = secondary infertility Provera after 70 days = AF but no O | Provera + 50mg Clomid after 110 days = AF but no O 3 rounds of 100mg Clomid + Estrogen + Progesterone = mixed O results, all BFN hysteroscopy 1/6/12 - removed fibroid tissue injection cycle #1 - 75 IU follistim + ovidrel (triggered 2/9/12) + endometrin = BFP! EDD 11/3/12 | Beta @ 13dpo = 184, 17dpo = 993, 26dpo = >5000 IT'S TWIN BOYS!! Tommy and Charlie arrived on 9/10/12 after less than 6 hours of labor at 32 weeks Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic Lilypie Premature Baby tickers
  • What a beautiful little lady! Congratulations mama!!!
    image


  • Congratulations!! She is adorable!!!!
    image
    IVF/ICSI #1 July/August 2011 BFP # 1 - B/G twins - preterm labor/cervical incompetency @ 23w3d FET # 1 March/April 2012 - BFN 5/1/12 FET # 2 July 2012 - BFN 7/24 FET # 3 BFP! EDD 5/15/13 Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers Pregnancy Ticker
  • Congrats on your gorgeous girl!!! Welcome to the world, Annabelle! See you on PAL soon!
    PAL JULY SIGGY CHALLENGE: CAKE WRECKS
    image
    You Made me a mommy... 

    Ticker id: ARvP

           imageimageimageimageimage
     Lilypie - (KAFM)

This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"