Sweetpea's Birth Story

Some of you (translate: one of you) noticed that my 39 week Baby Update and the announcement of Sweetpea's birth was a day a part. Yup. Talk about craziness. Here's how it unfolded:

It was Wednesday night (June 12th). I had just finished my 39 week doc appointment, which felt like a waste of time, might I add. I had just been at the hospital the day before for what I thought were signs of labor. Since I hadn't had many contractions on Wednesday, my doc didn't even feel the need to check for progress. We just listened to the heartbeat, and I peed in a cup.

I began getting ready for bed since Thursday was my last day at work. Then the contractions started. And it was PAINFUL. The ones I had two days prior hurt, but damn... these brought me to my knees. Literally. But my doc told me to not head to the hospital unless the contractions were painful, occurred every five minutes, and persisted for more than two hours (she upped the time frame from one hour to two...) So, The Hubs and I began keeping track of each contraction, each occurring within about 5-8 minutes apart. By 11:00 I could not take the pain anymore. I wanted to go to the hospital. I felt that this was "it" but I wasn't sure. But I couldn't take the pain anymore, so I wanted to risk being sent home again. So we called my parents to come meet us at the hospital, so they could keep Babygirl for the night.

We arrive at the ER at midnight. The nurses took me into a delivery room, checked my progress, and this is when we discovered I was dilated 5cm! Despite the amount of pain I was in, I was excited. This meant I was in active labor, and we were going to have a baby soon!! Babygirl was then picked up by my parents. The epidural was administered around 1:15 and finally kicked in around 1:30. The catheter was put in around 1:45. At this time, the nurse checked my progress again, and I was already 10cm dilated!

What??

So my doc was called in (luckily she was the doc on-call that night!), she broke my water, and told me to get ready to push. This was around 2:15. She asked me to do a "practice push" at my next contraction and told me to get ready for the next contraction, which would mark the beginning on my pushing.

The next contraction took FOREVER to get there. LOL!!! I had three nurses, my doc, and my husband all looking at my crotch, waiting for the next contraction, waiting for me to push. It seriously took like two minutes. AWKWARD!!!  LOL!

Finally, my doc told me to push. I pushed as hard as I could, and Sweetpea popped out. You read that right. I pushed once. People probably hate me now. It was a whirlwind of a night and happened in lightening speed.

But I couldn't be happier and more proud. My family is complete now. My blessed family of four.

MEET THE NEWEST ARDIE!!!

It's a girl!

Born 6/13/2013 at 2:21 am

6 lbs, 15 oz and 19 3/4 in long

Baby Update - 39 Weeks

How far along: 39 weeks to the day. 

Total weight gain: Gained 2.3 pounds this week, for a grand total of 28.2 lbs. 

Stretch marks: None! Whoo hoo!!

Sleep: What's sleep? 

Cravings: Ice cream. And sushi. I've been dying for a spicy tuna roll lately. 

Best moment this week:  Finished with work! Tomorrow is the last day of my contract, but I don't have any work to do. WHICH IS WHY THIS BABY NEEDS TO COME NOW!!!

Gender: No clue. It's going to be a surprise. I'm DYING to know already!!! 

Name progress: Nicknames are EJ or Ellie. We changed our girl name though. Still Ellie for the nickname, but it's a different first name. 

Labor signs: Define "labor signs." I had contractions all day yesterday. That's right. All day. Refer to yesterday's post for more details. Next to nothing today. A contraction here or there, but basically nothing. Really kid??

Bellybutton in or out: Still half and half. Half in and half out. But mostly out. 

What I miss: Sushi. 

What I am looking forward to: Meeting this child of mine!! I'm ready for some baby cuddles! We have an induction date scheduled for the 18th if the baby doesn't come sooner. I really hope the baby comes sooner.........

Milestones: Making it to 39 weeks! I never made it this far with Babygirl. Believe me when I say, I am R-E-A-D-Y for this baby to get here!!!

What a tease!!!

This baby is something else, I tell ya.

After last night's post, this baby felt the need to tease me.

I had a few contractions last night, but they didn't really start until about 6:00 this morning. The contractions weren't too painful, but definitely painful enough to notice and start tracking them. After about 30 minutes of contractions about 5-8 minutes apart, I decided to take a shower... ya know, just in case. The contractions continued until about 6:45 and then stopped. Around 7:00ish, they started back up again... occurring about 5 minutes apart again for another 45 min or so. Then stopped. This continued in this type of pattern until about 11:30ish.

My doc told me to head to the hospital once the contractions were 5 minutes apart for at least an hour. I seemed to have the "5 min apart" part down, but I couldn't get the contractions to stay consistent for over an hour. They weren't really increasing in frequency or intensity either, so I didn't want to head to the hospital just to get sent home.

But once 11:30 rolled around, and I needed to get ready for a 1:00 meeting, I decided to call my doc. Just to see what her advice was. The nurse called back and said that it might be a good idea to go to the hospital and get checked out.

So off I went.

The contractions started back up again when I was at the hospital, and they were much more painful. They were also occurring about every 5 minutes, with a few random 8 minute intervals. But I wasn't dilating.

So they sent me home.

It was 4:30 when I left the hospital. Inconsistent contractions since 6:00 this morning. But no major progress and no active labor.

What a tease this baby is.

Impatient

I would have put money down on it. I was SURE I was going to have my baby this weekend. I was 2 cm dilated two weeks ago and increased to 3 in a week. And with Babygirl being born 11 days before her due date, and hearing the progress I made at the doc appt last week.... I really thought this weekend was "it."

Add in the fact that one of my friends who was due two days after me was induced on Thursday, I had HOPED that this weekend would be my weekend too.

Yeah.... this baby has other plans. This will definitely be our stubborn one.

We spent the whole weekend walking around various malls. The Hubs gave me foot massages, I drank raspberry leaf tea, and we turned up the heat in the bedroom. Every old wives tale for speeding up labor... we did it. If it was only that easy. Right?

I'll be induced the 18th if the baby doesn't come sooner.

Today was just a crappy day at work, so I know my bitterness from the day is causing me to be discouraged. I know the baby will come when he/she is ready. I just hope the baby will come before the 18th. As much as I'm dying to meet my baby, dying to know the gender, dying to hold him/her in my arms.... I don't want to be induced. I want him/her to come on his/her own. I still have a week....

Come on sweet baby!!! Your family wants to meet you NOW!! N-O-W!

Baby #2 Update - 38 Weeks!

How far along: 38 weeks, 0 days. 

Total weight gain: I actually lost a pound. No clue how that happened b/c I am eating up a storm. Seriously. My food. Then I nibble on Babygirl's food. And then I finish off The Hubs' food if he isn't done. That's bad!! No self-control! Up 25 pounds total. 

Stretch marks: None! 

Sleep: What sleep? 

Cravings: Ice cream. Can't get enough of it. I need some every night. 

Best moment this week:  Pretty much D-O-N-E with work. I have 4 progress reports to finish for students, but I have to wait for grades to be posted. Grades are due by 4:00 tomorrow, so nearly done. I have a few meetings scheduled for next week, but nothing I need to prep for. Whoo hoo!!

Gender: Still no clue. I'm DYING to know!!! 

Name progress: Nicknames are EJ or Ellie

Labor signs: Not yet. Doc said I'm a "tight 3" at my appointment today. I was 2 cm dilated at my appt last Wednesday, so I've made some progress. I'm giving it a week. Tops. 

Bellybutton in or out: Still half and half. Half in and half out. But mostly out. 

What I miss: Being comfortable. My memory. Sleep.  

What I am looking forward to: Getting this baby out! I remember reading about raspberry leaf tea as a natural way to induce labor. The Hubs made me a double-strength raspberry tea when I was pregnant with Babygirl, and six hours later I was having contractions and admitted into the hospital to give birth!! Coincidence? Hard to tell. It's worked for another person that I know of, but didn't for a few others. I'm drinking some tea as I type this up. So we shall see.....     Eeek!! 

Milestones: Making it to 38 weeks and finishing up the majority of my work for the year. Holla!!

I look silly/goofy/funny here. 38 weeks of being pregnant while trying to finish out the school year will do that to ya!

Baby #2 Update - Officially Full-Term!!

How far along: 37 weeks!! Full-term baby!!!!

Total weight gain: Up 27.2 pounds.

Stretch marks: None! I think I make it the whole time with no stretch marks!

Sleep: What sleep? Good practice, fo sho. I'm go to the bathroom at least twice a night now. And I can't ever get comfortable. 

Cravings: Ice cream. So original, I know... but it's true. I have to have ice cream every night. Blue Bell's Moo Bars have been my weakness. I may or may not have finished two boxes of those in like a month and a half..... I'm currently out. I want one. I need a third....

Best moment this week:  FINISHED (what is hopefully) MY LAST EVALUATION TODAY!!! (Not baby related, but at least puts me more at ease if the baby decides to come earlier than the 19th). With the exception of a couple of major meetings involving lawyers that are scheduled for next week, I should be somewhat okay whenever the baby decides to make his/her debut.  

Gender: Still no clue. I'm DYING to know!!! Come on sweet baby. We cannot wait to meet you!!

Name progress: Nicknames are EJ or Ellie

Labor signs: Not yet. I've had some contractions. Doc said I had some "slight" dilation and some thinning. No way to guess when the baby will come because we don't know how fast I'll continue to progress, but everything's moving in the right direction. And the sono last week showed the baby is already head down, ready to go! I'm feeling this baby will come before it's due date of the 19th. 

Bellybutton in or out: Still half and half. Half in and half out. 

What I miss: Being comfortable. My memory. Sleep.  

What I am looking forward to: Getting this baby out! I'm starting to get really anxious and excited! We are all set with bags packed, infant seat installed, ready to go!! 

Milestones: Not going into labor yet??   ;o)