Baby Blake was born on 9/13 via repeat c section after going post dates and waiting for a VBAC. It was probably better that I did not because big boy weighed 9lb 5oz and 21 1/4 in . We are so in love with this baby ! And c section went much better than expected
Introducing Molly Jeanne born at 10:45am on Sunday 9/18, weighing 7lbs 2oz and 20.5". She was born 6 days before her due date...I worked up until the day before I went into labor and didn't get that week off I had planned before. But that's ok - we are so happy to have her in our arms now!
Labor started Saturday night at around 8-8:30pm. Regular contractions which gradually got more intense. I called my OB after alerting my DH and walking around the house to see if the timing was right. She said I should see if I could sleep before going into the hospital. DH and I were trying to watch a movie and I couldn't even lay or sit comfortably on the couch so we figured it was time. Called back again and the OB said go to the hospital. So we made our way there and arrived just before midnight. I got settled and checked and was already at 5cm. We labored naturally for several hours until I got to 8-9cm. The contractions got so intense that it was hard to make it through. I opted to get an epidural at that point but it took over half an hour for him to get to me as there were others before me. Eek. That was not a pleasant experience going through the epidural process itself and all while going through tough contractions. But we did it and I got a lot of relief which was great. I continued to labor to try to move the baby down further. Soon after I was totally effaced and at 10cm. A few hours went by and baby still was far up and not turned. We got to the point where we were going to push. I pushed for about an hour with little success as her little head was stuck on my pelvis and kind of bent back. The OB decided to use the vacuum to get her closer and then she turned her around manually. Once she did that, two pushes and she was out! I couldn't believe it. I made it without any terrible tearing (1st degree tear and interior)! We enjoyed some skin to skin time before I was able to have a shower and she was taken for testing etc. that shower was the best. We went over to the mom and baby unit and got settled there. Everyone is doing well. We get to leave tomorrow morning before lunch. We couldn't be happier!
Molly is doing wonderfully - she passes all of her tests. She's breastfeeding with a shield currently (my nipples are stubborn and flat - boo!) but is doing well. She loves being swaddled!
Im recovering well so far. Just exhausted since we labored from about 8-8:30 until 10:45am the next day and then were up until 9pm that night. I've got some discomfort and swelling / water retention. But otherwise we are all good. We couldn't be more in love!!
Samuel Gordon arrived Sept 15, one day after his due date. 21", 7 lbs 9 oz, homebirth assisted by midwife (and nitrous oxide). He's a champion feeder and growing like a weed (a huge relief because my first had a rough start to breastfeeding.). His big brother is completely bewitched and in love, as are dad & mom.
Labour started about 24 hours before but wasn't super intense. Midwife checked me out at 6 pm after hitting the 5-1-1 point and I was 3 cm, thinned out, but not much happening for what were now pretty intense contractions. She went home, convinced it wasn't happening that night. Called her back for 2 am, intense, tiring contractions still going on (got more intense at 11:30 and again at 1:30). Was 6 cm and disappointed to be only that far. She still wasn't convinced it was happening yet. By 6 am the midwife had unpacked her kit, my firstborn (who was sleeping in the basement with grandma) was up and checking in, by 7 I was 8 cm and grandma had gotten him up and out of the house for breakfast, by about 7:30 the midwife called her colleague to come and I started pushing, by 7:51 baby and texting grandma and big brother that they could come home and meet baby! Second midwife totally missed it... Which I think happened last time, too!
Mia Mackenzie was born on September 19th at 7:42am after a quick 4 hours of labor! Contractions started off hard and fast only 2 minutes apart around 3:39am, got to hospital around 5:15, asked for an epidural right away but there was apparently a wave of labors at the same time so it took the anesthesiologist forever to come. By the time he placed the epi I felt the urge to push. Started pushing about 10 minutes after the epidural was in so it had no time to kick in. After 20 minutes of pushing my lil love bug was born- sunny side up. She weighed in at 7lbs 9oz and is 20 and 3/4 inches. We couldn't be more in love and big brother is obsessed with her already!
Finally getting this posted! Baby Grace was born 9.15.16 at 3pm. We went in at 2 am that morning when I thought my water broke, they tested it and said it was not amniotic fluid but I find it so hard to believe it wasn't! I was leaking everywhere! They said I wasn't dilated and sent us home at 3:30. Right away at home I started having severe contractions back to back, with shaking and the urge to push. We called and went back in at 5;30 am and I was in such severe pain and was so scared. I was 9 cm dilated when they checked me, but thank the LORD there was a saint of an anesthesiologist who put an epi in for me right away. Will love that man forever. Got some rest and then started pushing at 10:30am, by 1:30 she still hasn't come out and we realized with an ultrasound that she was sunny side up. They did not have confidence that she would be able to be delivered vaginally and everyone agreed that I had hit a wall. It was decided that I would get a c section and I was able to see my parents for few minutes before who had driven up 7 hours from Florida. My husband was my rock this whole time and I love him so much! I was wheeled into surgery and had husband by my side...felt some pressure and then we heard her crying. I have never been so happy!! She was placed on my chest and I was kind of in and out of it for the rest of the surgery and stitching up. Then before I knew it we were cuddling and feeding little Grace. She was 8 lbs 1 oz and has so much hair. Hospital stay was great, breastfeeding going well and learned so much from the nurses. Here's pic from the hospital and also one from her newborn photo shoot we did yesterday.
Dylan Michael was born today at 1142 at 41 weeks old. We were supposed to be induced today at 9am but our little guy had different plans. Last night around 1130 I felt a weird pop but no gush of fluids, and contractions started at 3 and a half minutes apart and did not let up till I was able to get my epidural at 230.at 430 they broke my water and by 7 I was complete. They let me labor down till just before 9 and after 2 and a half hours of pushing thanks to him being turned to the side he finally arrived! We couldnt be more in love .
Stella Jane Fletch was born on September 6th at 10:06 am. I was measuring behind with low amniotic fluid levels so was being watched with growth scans weekly. Doctor decided to induce me at 37 weeks. Stella was born healthy but tiny at 6 lbs 1 ounce! It has been a whirlwind but we are over the moon and finally settling down.
Meet Reed Levon. I went in for my scheduled c-section without complication.
Born 9/27/16 @ 7:55am
8 pounds 8 ounces and 20.5 inches
The spitting image of Roman.
Happy and healthy with a head full of hair, long fingers and a humongous feet.
Reed is breastfeeding like a champ, at least with the colostrum. Roman had both a lip and tongue tie and it looks like that was the reason I wasn't successful with him. Will see if my milk comes in.
So late posting this! Amelia Janet Lillian was born on 9/24 (her due date) at 10:00 am via c-section. 10 lbs 2 oz, 19.5". Crazy full head of hair too, just like her daddy. She's breastfeeding like a rock star!
Luke James born 9/30 at 5:54pm after planned induction at 40+5. Induction was good and went as planned. However, my epidural failed when I was about 6cm dilated on pitocin. So that meant half of my body was pain free while the other half felt everything. On the plus side a ton of back labor told me it was time to push well before the Dr.s thought to check. A couple good pushes and he was here. Breastfeeding has been a bit painful but I expect it to get better in a day or so when my milk supply comes in. He is just the sweetest thing and daddy and I are so in love with our only boy!
Sorry this is long and I am super late with this post but
Eleanor (Ellie) Laura was born on 8/16/16 at 4:25 pm at 36w3d gestational age.
It was a whirlwind of events leading up to her arrival. Around 31 or 32 weeks,
my blood pressure started to elevate. I had repeated blood pressure checks as
the weeks went on and my blood pressure hovered around being borderline high. I
had a prenatal appointment at 35w6d where my doctor told me that I officially
had gestational hypertension. I was sent home with a blood pressure kit to
monitor my blood pressure and told to call if my blood pressure was above their
parameters and I experienced major swelling, pain, and/or vision problems.
The next night, I took my blood pressure and it was above
their parameters. I already had extreme swelling in my feet but I had been told
that it was normal even though I didn’t think it was. I called in to Labor
& Delivery as instructed and they had me come in to be checked. My husband,
who works for the same hospital, was certain we would only be there a few hours
and be sent home. Instead they admitted me to monitor my blood pressure and
determine if I had mild or severe pre-eclampsia and I ended up staying for the
weekend. We were freaking out at first because the nurse and doctor started
talking about inducing me and delivering that weekend but my labs came back
okay so I was sent home that Sunday.
The next day, Monday, I went into work (I am a teacher and I
had planned to work until my due date, 9/9/16) for our first staff day and I
was feeling uncomfortable. I kept having this tightening feeling, which I
assumed were contractions and had some difficulty breathing but I thought and
was told it was normal as I approached my due date. Later that night, in
addition to the tightening feeling and difficulty breathing, I started to feel
pain under my breastbone and on top of that, my blood pressure was off the
charts. I called in to the hospital at 2am and was told that it was difficult
for them to evaluate over the phone whether it was heartburn or something else
based on what I told them so the advice nurse suggested that I try and take
some Tums and sleep propped up but if the pain didn’t stop or got worse, then I
could call back and they would have me come in. I was barely able to sleep for
about 3 hours before I couldn’t take the pain anymore and called back.
When we got to the hospital, I was admitted immediately. I
had my blood drawn and I was given fentanyl for the pain (only lasted about an
hour). The doctor came back about 20 minutes later to go over the results of my
blood work and she told us that my liver enzyme numbers were really high and
that I had pre-eclampsia/HELLP syndrome and the only way I would feel better
was to deliver the baby. She said that they were definitely going to induce but
a c-section was also possible. I had to repeat the blood work just so they
could confirm. At that point, I was still in pain and when she mentioned the possibility
of a c-section, I thought, “there’s no way I want to do otherwise.” I was so
relieved when she said that they were going to do a c-section because I was already
in pain and discomfort and I was not about to sit there and go through the
induction process just to be in more pain.
We did not imagine it going like this but we’re just happy
that she was born healthy at 5lbs, 9oz even though she was 3 and a half weeks
early.
Me: 34, Unexplained Infertility, Hypothyroidism (after being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and radioactive iodine treatment; taking Levothyroxine for hypothryoidism) | DH: 33, no fertility problems
Hey all! Baby Haddie arrived on 10/4 at 4:09 am. It was a whirlwind ride. Everyone is happy and healthy. She weighed 8lbs. 13oz. I was having contractions yesterday starting about 4 minutes a part. I started timing as soon as they started to pick up around 330. Went to L&D to be checked and I was only 2.5 cm and sent home. I went home, slept for two hours and woke up to stronger contractions about three minutes a part at about midnight. By 2 am they were two minutes a part and I writhing in pain, then my water started leaking. Called to tell LD and I was on my way. Got there and checked and I was 4 cm and I yelled for an epi to literally everyone hah! After 45 minutes or so I was upstairs in my room getting an epi as I was hunched over my water broke and I felt the contractions change but figured I couldn't possibly be fully dilated. But every time I had a contraction I now felt enormous pressure and my hips would twitch. My midwife noticed the change in my face and I just said I think you better check me. The epi was finally set and started when and they laid me down to check me and I just heard my midwife say oh well you're 9 cm now. Let me check her position. And I just thought um WTF? Then my midwife said oh well there she is, there's her head. Well sweetie push when you feel like pushing. Three pushes later my baby girl was crying and on my chest! Kind of the craziest experience of my life but so glad she's here finally!
Re: September 2016 Birth Announcements!!!
Labor started Saturday night at around 8-8:30pm. Regular contractions which gradually got more intense. I called my OB after alerting my DH and walking around the house to see if the timing was right. She said I should see if I could sleep before going into the hospital. DH and I were trying to watch a movie and I couldn't even lay or sit comfortably on the couch so we figured it was time. Called back again and the OB said go to the hospital. So we made our way there and arrived just before midnight. I got settled and checked and was already at 5cm. We labored naturally for several hours until I got to 8-9cm. The contractions got so intense that it was hard to make it through. I opted to get an epidural at that point but it took over half an hour for him to get to me as there were others before me. Eek. That was not a pleasant experience going through the epidural process itself and all while going through tough contractions. But we did it and I got a lot of relief which was great. I continued to labor to try to move the baby down further. Soon after I was totally effaced and at 10cm. A few hours went by and baby still was far up and not turned. We got to the point where we were going to push. I pushed for about an hour with little success as her little head was stuck on my pelvis and kind of bent back. The OB decided to use the vacuum to get her closer and then she turned her around manually. Once she did that, two pushes and she was out! I couldn't believe it. I made it without any terrible tearing (1st degree tear and interior)! We enjoyed some skin to skin time before I was able to have a shower and she was taken for testing etc. that shower was the best. We went over to the mom and baby unit and got settled there. Everyone is doing well. We get to leave tomorrow morning before lunch. We couldn't be happier!
Molly is doing wonderfully - she passes all of her tests. She's breastfeeding with a shield currently (my nipples are stubborn and flat - boo!) but is doing well. She loves being swaddled!
Im recovering well so far. Just exhausted since we labored from about 8-8:30 until 10:45am the next day and then were up until 9pm that night. I've got some discomfort and swelling / water retention. But otherwise we are all good. We couldn't be more in love!!
Labour started about 24 hours before but wasn't super intense. Midwife checked me out at 6 pm after hitting the 5-1-1 point and I was 3 cm, thinned out, but not much happening for what were now pretty intense contractions. She went home, convinced it wasn't happening that night. Called her back for 2 am, intense, tiring contractions still going on (got more intense at 11:30 and again at 1:30). Was 6 cm and disappointed to be only that far. She still wasn't convinced it was happening yet. By 6 am the midwife had unpacked her kit, my firstborn (who was sleeping in the basement with grandma) was up and checking in, by 7 I was 8 cm and grandma had gotten him up and out of the house for breakfast, by about 7:30 the midwife called her colleague to come and I started pushing, by 7:51 baby and texting grandma and big brother that they could come home and meet baby! Second midwife totally missed it... Which I think happened last time, too!
Reed is breastfeeding like a champ, at least with the colostrum. Roman had both a lip and tongue tie and it looks like that was the reason I wasn't successful with him. Will see if my milk comes in.
November Siggy Challenge: Selfie Fails
Hidden for the sake of your eyes!
Sorry this is long and I am super late with this post but Eleanor (Ellie) Laura was born on 8/16/16 at 4:25 pm at 36w3d gestational age. It was a whirlwind of events leading up to her arrival. Around 31 or 32 weeks, my blood pressure started to elevate. I had repeated blood pressure checks as the weeks went on and my blood pressure hovered around being borderline high. I had a prenatal appointment at 35w6d where my doctor told me that I officially had gestational hypertension. I was sent home with a blood pressure kit to monitor my blood pressure and told to call if my blood pressure was above their parameters and I experienced major swelling, pain, and/or vision problems.
The next night, I took my blood pressure and it was above their parameters. I already had extreme swelling in my feet but I had been told that it was normal even though I didn’t think it was. I called in to Labor & Delivery as instructed and they had me come in to be checked. My husband, who works for the same hospital, was certain we would only be there a few hours and be sent home. Instead they admitted me to monitor my blood pressure and determine if I had mild or severe pre-eclampsia and I ended up staying for the weekend. We were freaking out at first because the nurse and doctor started talking about inducing me and delivering that weekend but my labs came back okay so I was sent home that Sunday.
The next day, Monday, I went into work (I am a teacher and I had planned to work until my due date, 9/9/16) for our first staff day and I was feeling uncomfortable. I kept having this tightening feeling, which I assumed were contractions and had some difficulty breathing but I thought and was told it was normal as I approached my due date. Later that night, in addition to the tightening feeling and difficulty breathing, I started to feel pain under my breastbone and on top of that, my blood pressure was off the charts. I called in to the hospital at 2am and was told that it was difficult for them to evaluate over the phone whether it was heartburn or something else based on what I told them so the advice nurse suggested that I try and take some Tums and sleep propped up but if the pain didn’t stop or got worse, then I could call back and they would have me come in. I was barely able to sleep for about 3 hours before I couldn’t take the pain anymore and called back.
When we got to the hospital, I was admitted immediately. I had my blood drawn and I was given fentanyl for the pain (only lasted about an hour). The doctor came back about 20 minutes later to go over the results of my blood work and she told us that my liver enzyme numbers were really high and that I had pre-eclampsia/HELLP syndrome and the only way I would feel better was to deliver the baby. She said that they were definitely going to induce but a c-section was also possible. I had to repeat the blood work just so they could confirm. At that point, I was still in pain and when she mentioned the possibility of a c-section, I thought, “there’s no way I want to do otherwise.” I was so relieved when she said that they were going to do a c-section because I was already in pain and discomfort and I was not about to sit there and go through the induction process just to be in more pain.
We did not imagine it going like this but we’re just happy that she was born healthy at 5lbs, 9oz even though she was 3 and a half weeks early.
● IUI #5: BFP! 12/29/15, 11dpiui
1/1/2016 Beta #1 HCG: 58 Progesterone: 49.5
1/3/2016 Beta #2 HCG:154 Progesterone: 55.9
1/20/16 Ultrasound #1 6w3d, HB: 114 bpm
1/29/16 Ultrasound #2 8w0d, HB: 171 bpm
Hey all! Baby Haddie arrived on 10/4 at 4:09 am. It was a whirlwind ride. Everyone is happy and healthy. She weighed 8lbs. 13oz. I was having contractions yesterday starting about 4 minutes a part. I started timing as soon as they started to pick up around 330. Went to L&D to be checked and I was only 2.5 cm and sent home. I went home, slept for two hours and woke up to stronger contractions about three minutes a part at about midnight. By 2 am they were two minutes a part and I writhing in pain, then my water started leaking. Called to tell LD and I was on my way. Got there and checked and I was 4 cm and I yelled for an epi to literally everyone hah! After 45 minutes or so I was upstairs in my room getting an epi as I was hunched over my water broke and I felt the contractions change but figured I couldn't possibly be fully dilated. But every time I had a contraction I now felt enormous pressure and my hips would twitch. My midwife noticed the change in my face and I just said I think you better check me. The epi was finally set and started when and they laid me down to check me and I just heard my midwife say oh well you're 9 cm now. Let me check her position. And I just thought um WTF? Then my midwife said oh well there she is, there's her head. Well sweetie push when you feel like pushing. Three pushes later my baby girl was crying and on my chest! Kind of the craziest experience of my life but so glad she's here finally!