I know I know, I seem to have fell off the 'blog-wagon' but I'm back!!
The last post I did, I was in the hospital for pre term labor at 31 weeks. So lets start there. I was finally discharged 6 days after being admitted after reaching 32 weeks. I was to be on SUPER strict bed rest once I got home. So, I was sent home at 4cm dilated and was told to only move if I need to shower or potty. Easier said then done with a 2 year old at home. My mom and other friends and family members were here 24/7 to help me with everything (while hubby went back to work). It was rough...very rough. The thoughts that went through my head the week in the hospital as well as the weeks leading up to today, got to me deep. I never hit rock bottom but I certainly was close. *I'll make a separate post on the mental effects of hospital bed rest once I can figure out my words to use* . Anyways, the next few weeks were, like I said, rough. I was seen by my OB every week after that and was watched super close. Of course, once discharged from the hospital I never had any other 'incidents' of pre term labor. Good news of course. Every week that I went to see my doc, he always said "I can't believe you've made it another week!" Became quiet the joke after the 3rd week. After weeks of just sitting around, we finally hit 36 weeks. I came down with a nasty cold virus baby wasn't moving much. All, which I've heard, are signs that it was 'almost time' and that baby was getting ready to show!
December 19th I woke up and had a weird, happy feeling. I posted on my facebook saying "Today is going to be a great day!" ...just going with what I felt in my heart that minute. People we're writing back asking if I had 'feelings' that baby was coming. I said that I didn't know...but just knew today was going to be good.
That night, around 9pm, the contractions started. They began at about 6-7 mins apart, no pain, but pretty consistent. They got closer and closer. By midnight, we reached the 3-4 min mark. Still not very painful but uncomfortable. 3am rolls around, I'm wide awake 'cause these contractions are coming closer now and I'm starting to feel very anxious. I crawled in bed with Mike, hubby, and said "I think I'm in labor" - His eyes popped open super fast, looked over at me with the biggest smile and said "Yea?? Lets do this!!". We layed there for another 20 mins to time the contractions....every 2-3 mins now....This WAS it!!!
Our 2 year old was obviously asleep being it was 3am so I told Mike to stay home while I went into L&D and would call him if this was, in fact, really it! My heart was racing the whole way there. I hit every red light there was and caught myself going over the speed limit in between. I knew, my body knew, ...it was time!
I arrived and was checked into triage immediately. They picked up my contractions right away on the monitors and they were registering every 2-3 mins. Now that I was there, my mind was able to 'let go' a bit and it seemed as if my contractions started hurting more at that point. Nurse checked me, still at 4cm and said she'd monitor me for an hour, check me again and decided what the next step would be.
An hour went by, contractions steady at 2-3 mins. She checked me...still a 4. I wanted to cry. I just KNEW I was in labor..I KNEW IT!! She said she'd call my doctor, let him know what was going on and have him give us the final say of 'what was next'.
About 45 mins later, my doctor came in to see me. He was visiting a C-section patient and figured he'd stop in and check me himself. He did, and i was now a 5!!! I was finally making progress! He then discussed with me that "I was dilating slow but contracting very well and consistent so he didn't feel comfortable with sending me home". I'm also known to have 'fast babies' so he didn't want to send me home and then me not get to the hospital in time if I were in fact, in labor. So I was admitted!!! Eeek!! I was going to have my baby!!
I got into my delivery room around 7am, started calling the family to tell them the news. My mom came to our house to watch our son and so Mike was able to finally meet me at the hospital. It was sooo relaxing. After the last few months of stress and being scared of having a "NICU baby", today was bittersweet. It WAS going to be a good day.
We were alone most of the day, it was thursday so most everyone was at work. It was great though. So quiet, peaceful. I didn't feel the need to entertain 'my guests' and it was just Mike and I.
I was laboring on my own, and was slowing progressing. At 230p I was checked and was a 6. So slowly but surely. I was started on Pitocin to 'help' things along. My doctor came in at 315 and broke my water. I was still "epidural free" at this point but minutes after my water broke, the pain got unbearable. I couldn't breathe, talk, move..nothing. The contractions went from 2-3 mins apart to just ONE A MINUTE! I called for my epidural asap. I was told to use the potty first but the pain was too much. The nurses kept telling me to 'hurry' 'cause they just knew that baby was 'close'. I had at least 6 contractions in the few minutes that I used the potty. They seemed to not stop. I was standing up, about to walk back to the bed, and almost dropped to my knees. The pain was too intense. I finally got back to my bed, epidural in and a special thanks to my 'epidural lady', she gave me the super fast acting Epi 'cause they knew I must have been close to 10cm by the way my pain, contractions and body language was.
I layed down back on the bed after my epi was placed and the nurse moved my leg to the side to place the urine cath. She jumped back and said "Oh..nevermind...were having a baby!" --- so, I went from 6cm to 10cm in just 30 mins. They were surprised I didn't deliver her on the toilet.
They called for the doctor ASAP, who was still at the office. He got there pretty dang fast. He had the biggest smile on his face when he walked through that door. He said "I told you, you have fast babies!"
Long story short, Phiona Arabella was born just 16 seconds after the doctor showed up. She came out on her own, NO PUSHING, no tearing/cutting...SUPER FAST and super easy. It was AMAZZZING!!!! No one was in the room with us (not even our photographer friend) 'cause it all happened without notice. She was born at 37 weeks, a tiny 5 lbs 15 oz, 20 inches and wide awake! She has brown hair and a tan complexion. She nursed just minutes after being born and I was able to 'skin to skin' with her for a whole HOUR straight after she was born. It was an amazing day. She was completely healthy and we were able to go home just 24 hours later.
Its my honor to introduce to you, Phiona Arabella ~
The last post I did, I was in the hospital for pre term labor at 31 weeks. So lets start there. I was finally discharged 6 days after being admitted after reaching 32 weeks. I was to be on SUPER strict bed rest once I got home. So, I was sent home at 4cm dilated and was told to only move if I need to shower or potty. Easier said then done with a 2 year old at home. My mom and other friends and family members were here 24/7 to help me with everything (while hubby went back to work). It was rough...very rough. The thoughts that went through my head the week in the hospital as well as the weeks leading up to today, got to me deep. I never hit rock bottom but I certainly was close. *I'll make a separate post on the mental effects of hospital bed rest once I can figure out my words to use* . Anyways, the next few weeks were, like I said, rough. I was seen by my OB every week after that and was watched super close. Of course, once discharged from the hospital I never had any other 'incidents' of pre term labor. Good news of course. Every week that I went to see my doc, he always said "I can't believe you've made it another week!" Became quiet the joke after the 3rd week. After weeks of just sitting around, we finally hit 36 weeks. I came down with a nasty cold virus baby wasn't moving much. All, which I've heard, are signs that it was 'almost time' and that baby was getting ready to show!
December 19th I woke up and had a weird, happy feeling. I posted on my facebook saying "Today is going to be a great day!" ...just going with what I felt in my heart that minute. People we're writing back asking if I had 'feelings' that baby was coming. I said that I didn't know...but just knew today was going to be good.
That night, around 9pm, the contractions started. They began at about 6-7 mins apart, no pain, but pretty consistent. They got closer and closer. By midnight, we reached the 3-4 min mark. Still not very painful but uncomfortable. 3am rolls around, I'm wide awake 'cause these contractions are coming closer now and I'm starting to feel very anxious. I crawled in bed with Mike, hubby, and said "I think I'm in labor" - His eyes popped open super fast, looked over at me with the biggest smile and said "Yea?? Lets do this!!". We layed there for another 20 mins to time the contractions....every 2-3 mins now....This WAS it!!!
Our 2 year old was obviously asleep being it was 3am so I told Mike to stay home while I went into L&D and would call him if this was, in fact, really it! My heart was racing the whole way there. I hit every red light there was and caught myself going over the speed limit in between. I knew, my body knew, ...it was time!
I arrived and was checked into triage immediately. They picked up my contractions right away on the monitors and they were registering every 2-3 mins. Now that I was there, my mind was able to 'let go' a bit and it seemed as if my contractions started hurting more at that point. Nurse checked me, still at 4cm and said she'd monitor me for an hour, check me again and decided what the next step would be.
An hour went by, contractions steady at 2-3 mins. She checked me...still a 4. I wanted to cry. I just KNEW I was in labor..I KNEW IT!! She said she'd call my doctor, let him know what was going on and have him give us the final say of 'what was next'.
About 45 mins later, my doctor came in to see me. He was visiting a C-section patient and figured he'd stop in and check me himself. He did, and i was now a 5!!! I was finally making progress! He then discussed with me that "I was dilating slow but contracting very well and consistent so he didn't feel comfortable with sending me home". I'm also known to have 'fast babies' so he didn't want to send me home and then me not get to the hospital in time if I were in fact, in labor. So I was admitted!!! Eeek!! I was going to have my baby!!
I got into my delivery room around 7am, started calling the family to tell them the news. My mom came to our house to watch our son and so Mike was able to finally meet me at the hospital. It was sooo relaxing. After the last few months of stress and being scared of having a "NICU baby", today was bittersweet. It WAS going to be a good day.
We were alone most of the day, it was thursday so most everyone was at work. It was great though. So quiet, peaceful. I didn't feel the need to entertain 'my guests' and it was just Mike and I.
I was laboring on my own, and was slowing progressing. At 230p I was checked and was a 6. So slowly but surely. I was started on Pitocin to 'help' things along. My doctor came in at 315 and broke my water. I was still "epidural free" at this point but minutes after my water broke, the pain got unbearable. I couldn't breathe, talk, move..nothing. The contractions went from 2-3 mins apart to just ONE A MINUTE! I called for my epidural asap. I was told to use the potty first but the pain was too much. The nurses kept telling me to 'hurry' 'cause they just knew that baby was 'close'. I had at least 6 contractions in the few minutes that I used the potty. They seemed to not stop. I was standing up, about to walk back to the bed, and almost dropped to my knees. The pain was too intense. I finally got back to my bed, epidural in and a special thanks to my 'epidural lady', she gave me the super fast acting Epi 'cause they knew I must have been close to 10cm by the way my pain, contractions and body language was.
I layed down back on the bed after my epi was placed and the nurse moved my leg to the side to place the urine cath. She jumped back and said "Oh..nevermind...were having a baby!" --- so, I went from 6cm to 10cm in just 30 mins. They were surprised I didn't deliver her on the toilet.
They called for the doctor ASAP, who was still at the office. He got there pretty dang fast. He had the biggest smile on his face when he walked through that door. He said "I told you, you have fast babies!"
Long story short, Phiona Arabella was born just 16 seconds after the doctor showed up. She came out on her own, NO PUSHING, no tearing/cutting...SUPER FAST and super easy. It was AMAZZZING!!!! No one was in the room with us (not even our photographer friend) 'cause it all happened without notice. She was born at 37 weeks, a tiny 5 lbs 15 oz, 20 inches and wide awake! She has brown hair and a tan complexion. She nursed just minutes after being born and I was able to 'skin to skin' with her for a whole HOUR straight after she was born. It was an amazing day. She was completely healthy and we were able to go home just 24 hours later.
Its my honor to introduce to you, Phiona Arabella ~
