As you guys know, I had been having fairly strong contractions every 10 minutes for 3 days (on and off during the day...and all through the night)...which was wearing me out, but I was trying to sleep as much as possible.
My contractions picked up to 4 minutes apart and much stronger at 2pm on the 26th (my due date!!) We went to the hospital and I was 4cm and they admitted me (I was SOOOOOOOOO happy to be admitted and not have ANOTHER false alarm!). I was praised quite a bit on how calm and relaxed I was. I listened to the CD and Brian read a script or two...everything was going really well and very tolerable. They broke my water (the bag was bulging, just wouldn't break on its own) and I think I was 6cm around 6pm...but then the dilation stalled...and I was still 6cm at 11pm (or somewhere around there...this is where things get really blurry for me).
They wanted to give pitocin...and I was getting impatient (although I still was managing quite well with my breathing...I just wanted the baby already!). They said this would speed things up...so I said "Ok, let's do it!" I think that was around midnight. I swear, as soon as the stuff hit my bloodstream, my contractions were so strong that they had to peel me off the ceiling. They came without warning and I couldn't get on top of them...I felt like I was constantly out of breath and just behind the ball...there was NO relaxing at this point...which made me panic a bit. It exhausted me so much (I had been in labor for 10 hours at this point) and I just could not go on.
They gave me my options...and I decided on the one thing that scared me the most...an epidural. The Anesthesiologist was amazing with me...he explained that he wasn't going to make things pain free...just tolerable so that I could get through it but still be able to push and everything...this made me feel SO much better. After the epidural I could breath. I was sad that I gave up on my drug free birth...but I couldn't beat myself up over it. I was able to sleep a little bit and not feel so exhausted. I woke up at 6am with so much pressure in my bottom, I just felt like I had to push! They checked on the baby and he was soo low and I was 9cm...so it was close. They let me push a little if I felt the need, which just released more water, but made the urge to push go away.
If I remember correctly, they said we would start pushing around 8am, but first I had to get the baby to be face down...so we worked on that! :) I could feel my legs a little bit, but not full control...so getting a big girl like me on her hands and knees to get the baby to flip, was comedic to say the least! They backed my epidural off, so that I could feel the contractions and knew when to push. We started pushing at 9am...and he FINALLY came out at 10:26am. It wasn't at all what I expected...a lot longer pushing than I thought...he just felt like he was going to fall out...so I thought it would be 3 pushes and out...I guess I was wrong! :)
The BEST thing in the world was when I felt his head come through all the way...the rest of the baby just came out! It was soooo amazing and by far worth the 20 hours of labor! :) He is my pride and joy and love him more than I ever thought I could! I know everyone said this would be the case...but you just can't express or understand it until it happens. Things may not have gone exactly as I planned, but given the circumstances...I wouldn't change a thing...it is what it is, and I'm just so thrilled he is happy and healthy and HERE!!!
The staff at the hospital was so helpful and I'm so very glad I picked the hospital for the birth...I was so taken care of...especially after the baby came. We were there almost 48 hours. But could have left after about 24 hours...I was just so sore (I did tear in three places) that I wanted a little more pamper time. Breastfeeding came so naturally to Nolan, which I'm thankful for...I love our bonding time and look forward to our time together.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
First Night
I learned a few things during our first night home with Nolan...
#1. Our house is a little cold at night. I thought I dressed him about the same as I did in the hospital, but he woke up at one point very fussy, and I think it was because he was so cold. I felt bad about that one...but we'll dress him warmer tonight!
#2. He has amazing arm strength! I think I tried everything short of duct taping his arms to his sides to keep them still.
#3. He seems to want to suck his hands or pretty much anything, but not really hungry. So I decided to give him a paci. He LOVED it, except those pesky hands kept knocking it out of his mouth...so I was frequently woken up to find it...we'll work on this tonight too! :)
#4. Those hiccups that he had in my belly (sometimes 3 times a day) seem to be sticking around. He had a bout of hiccups during the night that really pissed him off! He's having another bout of them as I type!
Today he has been AMAZING. My milk came in (one word: ouch!) and he is a very happy boy (he's a boob man). He's very alert and looking around the room now. I have him laying on the couch proped up on his boppy...and he was just chillin out, taking in the scenery...his eyes are SO cute!
Anyway...as he was chillin out, Hunter came over to get a closer look. Since we brought him home she has always been curious...but not up close. McKinnley doesn't really care, she is just pissed that "her" rocking chair is now occupied by me and this squealing little guy.
Brian and I could stare at him for hours. I LOVE being a mom, even more so than I thought I would...he is just incredible. I know that everyone feels this way about their children...but he IS perfect! :)
#1. Our house is a little cold at night. I thought I dressed him about the same as I did in the hospital, but he woke up at one point very fussy, and I think it was because he was so cold. I felt bad about that one...but we'll dress him warmer tonight!
#2. He has amazing arm strength! I think I tried everything short of duct taping his arms to his sides to keep them still.
#3. He seems to want to suck his hands or pretty much anything, but not really hungry. So I decided to give him a paci. He LOVED it, except those pesky hands kept knocking it out of his mouth...so I was frequently woken up to find it...we'll work on this tonight too! :)
#4. Those hiccups that he had in my belly (sometimes 3 times a day) seem to be sticking around. He had a bout of hiccups during the night that really pissed him off! He's having another bout of them as I type!
Today he has been AMAZING. My milk came in (one word: ouch!) and he is a very happy boy (he's a boob man). He's very alert and looking around the room now. I have him laying on the couch proped up on his boppy...and he was just chillin out, taking in the scenery...his eyes are SO cute!
Anyway...as he was chillin out, Hunter came over to get a closer look. Since we brought him home she has always been curious...but not up close. McKinnley doesn't really care, she is just pissed that "her" rocking chair is now occupied by me and this squealing little guy.
Brian and I could stare at him for hours. I LOVE being a mom, even more so than I thought I would...he is just incredible. I know that everyone feels this way about their children...but he IS perfect! :)
Friday, March 28, 2008
NOLAN IS HERE!!!
Nolan Scott Reeves arrived on Thursday, March 27th at 10:26 am. He was 7 lbs 12 ounces and 21" long.
I have SOOOOO much to say...but I'll post more later! Here are some pics RIGHT after he was born...he was a screamer! I will take some cute pics today...where he isn't yelling! He is actually very mellow and only screams when he needs something! We are so amazingly in love with him...it's crazy! The peditician says he is perfect!! Ok...I'll post more later!!
I have SOOOOO much to say...but I'll post more later! Here are some pics RIGHT after he was born...he was a screamer! I will take some cute pics today...where he isn't yelling! He is actually very mellow and only screams when he needs something! We are so amazingly in love with him...it's crazy! The peditician says he is perfect!! Ok...I'll post more later!!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Off to the doctors...
Ok...I'm off to my (HOPEFULLY) LAST doctors appointment. I am prepared to get on my hands and knees and BEG to let today be his birthday!!! We'll see what happens! :)
UPDATE: I'm 2cm dilated, 80% effaced and the baby is zero station (ya, I know what all this means now...it's been an educational process!)
SOOOOOOO...I wait (STILL). The doctor said to hang in there, it will be "anyday" (yes, he's been saying this for over a month now). I've been having sporadic contractions today, but they aren't as painful...so I'm pretty happy and content. My doctor leaves for vacation tomorrow...so I've become ok with the fact that my doctor won't deliver the baby...which was hard to understand. He's been my doctor for a year now...through the last pregnancy and through this one...and he's just the best. But, it's out of my hands, and honestly I just want a happy, healthy baby...I don't care who catches him as long as they don't drop him! :)
So...I'm waiting and waiting for the contractions to pick up OR my water to break...I think I'll go for a walk!
UPDATE: I'm 2cm dilated, 80% effaced and the baby is zero station (ya, I know what all this means now...it's been an educational process!)
SOOOOOOO...I wait (STILL). The doctor said to hang in there, it will be "anyday" (yes, he's been saying this for over a month now). I've been having sporadic contractions today, but they aren't as painful...so I'm pretty happy and content. My doctor leaves for vacation tomorrow...so I've become ok with the fact that my doctor won't deliver the baby...which was hard to understand. He's been my doctor for a year now...through the last pregnancy and through this one...and he's just the best. But, it's out of my hands, and honestly I just want a happy, healthy baby...I don't care who catches him as long as they don't drop him! :)
So...I'm waiting and waiting for the contractions to pick up OR my water to break...I think I'll go for a walk!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Happy Easter!
I was really hoping for an Easter baby (well...that's only after I didn't get my wish for a St. Patrick's Day baby, a first day of Spring baby and all those other days I wished for the baby to come) but I didn't get my Easter egg...I hope everyone out there had a great Easter though!!!
I can't sleep...but the contractions keep getting stronger and stronger...they just aren't close together...but let me tell ya...they can bring me to my knees...so I think they are getting more "real".
TOO MUCH INFORMATION ALERT!!! I think I just experienced what they call the "Bloody Show" so I'm hopeful that means SOMETHING!!!!!! I've been told "Any day now" for so long...it's hard to believe it!
I can't sleep...but the contractions keep getting stronger and stronger...they just aren't close together...but let me tell ya...they can bring me to my knees...so I think they are getting more "real".
TOO MUCH INFORMATION ALERT!!! I think I just experienced what they call the "Bloody Show" so I'm hopeful that means SOMETHING!!!!!! I've been told "Any day now" for so long...it's hard to believe it!
Friday, March 21, 2008
A perfect day for a baby...
It's spring, we woke up to snow this morning and tonight is a full moon...seems like a perfect day to have a baby! :)
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Doctor's Appointment
Well...my appointment was typically boring! :)
He measured me (I forgot to ask what I measured, but I'm assuming I am staying on track...and it doesn't seem to matter...he doesn't want to come out!) we listened to the heartbeat and he said, come back in a week.
He is leaving on vacation next Wednesday, so the appointment is actually for Tuesday. I'm REALLY hoping that I won't make it to that appointment! :) I'm wishing for a first day of Spring baby now (I think that's Friday). We'll see how the wishing goes!
So...no news again...just waiting...still.
He measured me (I forgot to ask what I measured, but I'm assuming I am staying on track...and it doesn't seem to matter...he doesn't want to come out!) we listened to the heartbeat and he said, come back in a week.
He is leaving on vacation next Wednesday, so the appointment is actually for Tuesday. I'm REALLY hoping that I won't make it to that appointment! :) I'm wishing for a first day of Spring baby now (I think that's Friday). We'll see how the wishing goes!
So...no news again...just waiting...still.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Waiting...
It seems if people don't hear from me, they assume I'm in labor...but that is SOOOOOO not true. We are in a waiting pattern...and so far...nothing...
So I'm just sitting here...typing...waiting for my little man...
So I'm just sitting here...typing...waiting for my little man...
Sunday, March 16, 2008
I need an instruction manual for this labor stuff!
I had a false alarm last night (Saturday). I have been having mild contractions for about 3 weeks...but nothing that I could time. Yesterday around 6pm they became very timeable...but not SUPER uncomfortable...just there. They were between 3-5 minutes apart...and I was told to come in if they were 5 minutes. So we went.
They put me on a monitor and they were 2-9 minutes apart (a bit more fluxuation) but only mild (45 seconds each I think) and I was 70% effaced and a little over 1 cm dilated. Right before the nurse called the doctor, I had contractions that were more like 80 seconds. SO the doctor on call said I could walk around for an hour and see my progress...or just go home. At this point it is like 9pm and the nurse highly suggested that I just go home and sleep...especially since I mentioned we had walked a lot that day. It wasn't worth tuckering myself out for nothing. The cool thing is that she could feel his little head...so he is really low!!!
I haven't slept super well overnight (it didn't help that about 1/2 an hour ago the cat knocked the laptop on the floor and woke us up...I thought she might have scared the kid right out!) I've had 3 or 4 contractions through the night that woke me up...and now I'm having some more...but not super close and not to the point where I'm crying.
I'm just so confused because they always instructed me to count them and if the frequency was right, come in...and now they have all these other rules...labor needs an instruction manual! :)
Thought I would share all that fun information...hopefully we'll have a baby soon!!!! :)
They put me on a monitor and they were 2-9 minutes apart (a bit more fluxuation) but only mild (45 seconds each I think) and I was 70% effaced and a little over 1 cm dilated. Right before the nurse called the doctor, I had contractions that were more like 80 seconds. SO the doctor on call said I could walk around for an hour and see my progress...or just go home. At this point it is like 9pm and the nurse highly suggested that I just go home and sleep...especially since I mentioned we had walked a lot that day. It wasn't worth tuckering myself out for nothing. The cool thing is that she could feel his little head...so he is really low!!!
I haven't slept super well overnight (it didn't help that about 1/2 an hour ago the cat knocked the laptop on the floor and woke us up...I thought she might have scared the kid right out!) I've had 3 or 4 contractions through the night that woke me up...and now I'm having some more...but not super close and not to the point where I'm crying.
I'm just so confused because they always instructed me to count them and if the frequency was right, come in...and now they have all these other rules...labor needs an instruction manual! :)
Thought I would share all that fun information...hopefully we'll have a baby soon!!!! :)
Friday, March 14, 2008
Coughing is Dangerous
Ok...pregnancy is full of little events that you just HAVE to laugh at.
I can't sleep...it's is 12:12 am on the 14th (the day I'm allowed to have Nolan if you ask Faye...HAPPY BIRTHDAY FAYE!!!!)
Anyway...I'm sitting here...minding my own business watching something silly on MTV and finding something interesting to read on the net (why can I never find anything when I'm trying to waste time?) All of a sudden I cough (not a big cough, just a cough) and I pee myself.
Now, it could be that my water just broke...but I don't think I'm that lucky...I think I just pissed myself.
Now, I could keep this to myself...but that wouldn't be so much fun. I have to share this tid bit of embarassing pregnancy side effect with my friends and family who will love me, despite my weak bladder.
Don't worry...I'm dry now...I changed my drawers before posting this! :)
Now...y'all really wanted to know all of that huh? ;)
I can't sleep...it's is 12:12 am on the 14th (the day I'm allowed to have Nolan if you ask Faye...HAPPY BIRTHDAY FAYE!!!!)
Anyway...I'm sitting here...minding my own business watching something silly on MTV and finding something interesting to read on the net (why can I never find anything when I'm trying to waste time?) All of a sudden I cough (not a big cough, just a cough) and I pee myself.
Now, it could be that my water just broke...but I don't think I'm that lucky...I think I just pissed myself.
Now, I could keep this to myself...but that wouldn't be so much fun. I have to share this tid bit of embarassing pregnancy side effect with my friends and family who will love me, despite my weak bladder.
Don't worry...I'm dry now...I changed my drawers before posting this! :)
Now...y'all really wanted to know all of that huh? ;)
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Still Waiting!
Went to the doctor's office today. He says I'm measuring 40-41 weeks...the baby has dropped and all signs point towards having a baby sometime...just don't know when! He also informed me he is going out of town ON my due date...so having him sooner than later would be best! Ya...my thoughts exactly doc!!!
I'm on my way to dinner with a friend. We are having Thai food...I'll make sure it is nice and spicy...in hopes of inducing labor! I would love for him to come this weekend...Saturday just happens to be the day Brian proposed to me (5 years ago)...so that might be a fun date! Honestly...I won't be picky...just want him to be on the outside of my body! :)
We'll post pictures here as SOOOOOOOOON as he pops out. Brian is excited that there is internet access at the hospital...so I'm sure he'll be posting a bit...if I tell him my password! ;)
Unfortunately, Nolan probably won't come this weekend...which means you'll get a post from me next Wednesday...telling you about my doctor's appointment...ug...I don't even want to contemplate that!
I'm on my way to dinner with a friend. We are having Thai food...I'll make sure it is nice and spicy...in hopes of inducing labor! I would love for him to come this weekend...Saturday just happens to be the day Brian proposed to me (5 years ago)...so that might be a fun date! Honestly...I won't be picky...just want him to be on the outside of my body! :)
We'll post pictures here as SOOOOOOOOON as he pops out. Brian is excited that there is internet access at the hospital...so I'm sure he'll be posting a bit...if I tell him my password! ;)
Unfortunately, Nolan probably won't come this weekend...which means you'll get a post from me next Wednesday...telling you about my doctor's appointment...ug...I don't even want to contemplate that!
Monday, March 10, 2008
First trip to the hospital...
Well...I have been feeling somewhat ill lately...and just not "normal" (I know what you are thinking, "Jen, you aren't normal!")
Anyway...Friday my gut told me to go get checked out after a bout of pretty bad nausea and sporatic contractions. They checked me from head to toe...and they are a little concerned about preeclampsia...the baby is doing super duper well and I got to listen to his heartbeat on the monitor for a couple hours (and experienced what his hiccups sound like on the monitor!) They aren't concerned about him, but they are concerned about my bloodpressure. I think I might be dehydrated again...so I'm working on that...and I'm not super worried about the bloodpressure because I tried to explain to them that my bloodpressure can be high when in stressful situations...and the hospital yesterday was so insane and crowded...I got a little overwhelmed and slightly scared.
All in all...things are good. I did have tons of little contractions while there...but the nurse pointed out that they don't count because they aren't doing anything to my cervix...I'm not even 1 cm dialated. I still have a couple weeks to wait...which I need to start enjoying and not being so damn impatient...we'll see how I do! :)
Anyway...Friday my gut told me to go get checked out after a bout of pretty bad nausea and sporatic contractions. They checked me from head to toe...and they are a little concerned about preeclampsia...the baby is doing super duper well and I got to listen to his heartbeat on the monitor for a couple hours (and experienced what his hiccups sound like on the monitor!) They aren't concerned about him, but they are concerned about my bloodpressure. I think I might be dehydrated again...so I'm working on that...and I'm not super worried about the bloodpressure because I tried to explain to them that my bloodpressure can be high when in stressful situations...and the hospital yesterday was so insane and crowded...I got a little overwhelmed and slightly scared.
All in all...things are good. I did have tons of little contractions while there...but the nurse pointed out that they don't count because they aren't doing anything to my cervix...I'm not even 1 cm dialated. I still have a couple weeks to wait...which I need to start enjoying and not being so damn impatient...we'll see how I do! :)
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Patience is a virtue, right?
Ok...I'm feeling a LITTLE impatient now! We have everything washed and put away...and I'm just ready! :)
We are trying to focus on and enjoy the little things about life right now...like being able to jump in the car a a moments notice...or going to sleep whenever we feel like it (like my 3pm nap today)...the fact that there is no screaming/pooping child in the house, etc. But at the same time...I just want him to be here...even screaming and pooping! (I say that now...I know I'll be eating my words eventually!) :)
Yesterday I had some good contractions right in a row...but they stopped! :( I think it will still be awhile...we'll see at my next appointment (Wednesday) I cannot WAIT to hear what the doctor says!
Well...I'm having a contraction again...maybe this is it...HA...YA RIGHT!!!
We are trying to focus on and enjoy the little things about life right now...like being able to jump in the car a a moments notice...or going to sleep whenever we feel like it (like my 3pm nap today)...the fact that there is no screaming/pooping child in the house, etc. But at the same time...I just want him to be here...even screaming and pooping! (I say that now...I know I'll be eating my words eventually!) :)
Yesterday I had some good contractions right in a row...but they stopped! :( I think it will still be awhile...we'll see at my next appointment (Wednesday) I cannot WAIT to hear what the doctor says!
Well...I'm having a contraction again...maybe this is it...HA...YA RIGHT!!!
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