My birth story

I woke at 12:25 AM on the 15th with contractions that I actually thought were a bit painful. I hadn't had any more than usual the day before, so I had no prior indication that I might finally go into labor. I knew that with 2 other quick births I would have to get moving, so I went to the bathroom and had a couple more contractions and they were very close so I woke up my husband right away. I asked if he was ready to wake up and he said 'what for?', so I said 'we have to go' and he actually asked if I was sure! So once he realized what was going on (we had only been asleep for about an hour and a half) he got up and hurriedly got moving. We called his mom to come sit with our youngest (the other two were already staying somewhere else) since she lives down the road, and she was there within 15 minutes, just in time for DH to have everything in the truck and me ready to go. We left the house around 12:50 and headed toward the birth center, a 45-50 minute drive.

I was easily able to talk and breath through contractions but I was surprised how strong they already were and how quickly they came about. I had been 4 cm and 60 % 4 days earlier, though, so that also contributed to the quickness. By the time we got to the beltline (about 15 minutes from the center) I was only able to talk through the beginning and end of contractions, not the peak, and DH knew it was getting close. We arrived at the birth center and I got out of the truck, I knew I had a small window of opportunity to walk in between contractions. I had to squat down at the back of the truck to have another before going in, I grabbed DH's arm and told him 'quickly' and we walked in, greeted by the midwives. We went into the room and I immediately went to the bathroom, where I got the urge to push, so I hurriedly came out (as hurriedly as possible at that point) and got on the bed, at this point it was 1:40 AM. I immediately had to push through contractions and was surprised how many times I pushed (with my other babies my water had been broken already and I only pushed 3 or 4 times, 1 or 2 contractions). I did have 1 nice break in between pushes, for about 30 seconds, where I was able to talk and laugh a little, then it came back full force and during one intense push there was this loud POP, like a balloon, followed by a big gush and two more intense pushes. Then I was face to face with my baby boy! He was 7 pounds 9.5 ounces, 19.75 inches long, and a full head of beautiful hair! Born at 1:49 AM. He was so content and quiet, he layed on me and just looked around for the longest time.

The placenta was delivered at about quarter after two and they made sure the cord had stopped pulsing and let me cut the cord! He immediately started nursing and continued to do so for a good hour! He got 10/10 Apgar, he was just perfect! It was such a great experience, I loved it! And even though I knew it would be quick, I still can't believe I only had an hour and a half of labor and barely made it to the center!! From the time I stepped into the bathroom until I delivered was only 10 minutes!

Had my 41 week appointment yesterday. 171, good bp, heart rate in the 130's. Baby looks posterior again, but they have no doubt that it will move into position in labor, especially being so active.
She decided to check me just to see if I am making any progress. I am 4 cm, 60% effaced. So she redid the group b strep test since it's been 5 weeks and then she swept my membranes. She expected to see me back last night. Obviously here I am still pregnant. It is getting really frustrating. I don't know how I can manage to be the exception and not go into labor. I am also worried that being at 4 already will mean I am going to go super fast once I go. Not that that is an extremely bad thing, just want to make it to the birth center! Anyway, hopefully this is my final pregnant post!

So I had my 40 week appointment today (either 40+2 or 39+6, depends) and the baby is super low. I consistently measured about 2weeks behind up until 2 weeks ago, when I only measured a half a week behind (so 37.5 at 38 weeks). Now, at 40 weeks, it's measuring 36! So it has really moved.

I had quite a few strong contractions last night, enough to wake me but not enough to keep me conscious, and some back labor, so hopefully it will be soon. I know I am going to start getting antsy if it gets to be more than a week late!
Oh, and for whatever reason my weight is keeping steady, I have fluctuated but overall since 30+4 I have only gained a pound! With both my others I gained about 45 pounds and my total this time is 27, so I am really happy about that!

Well, I canceled my last appointment because it was raining here and turning to ice. I didn't see the need to risk driving in ice. But I go back on Tuesday, so that's just a couple days from now.
According to the paperwork I am 39 weeks and 3 days today, but if you go by what the midwives have said (and the u/s) I am 40 weeks today. So we'll see how 'overdue' I go. Hopefully not two weeks, like I bet I will :( I have been very patient this time and am in no way expecting to go tonight or anything, but I don't think my patience will last another 2 weeks! I am still very comfortable considering. I was horridly uncomfortable at the end with my last baby.
I have a feeling I lost some weight, we will see. For a while my appetite was back with a vengeance but now it is dwindling again. Oh, and I forgot to mention that at my last appointment I was only measuring a half a week behind, so either the baby had a huge growth spurt or was just really pushing out! Which it tends to do. It likes to try to break through my skin.

171
Heart rate still in the 140's, MW said she cannot believe how much this little one moves around. It was really going nuts in there. She also commented that she wondered about me during the week, if I would go much longer. I know better, I am sure I will be late again. But the baby is still super low and everything is ready to go. Now we just wait!

Another good appointment on the books. GBS was negative! Still at 168, heart rate still in the 130's, and still measuring 2 weeks behind (so 35 yesterday). She agreed with me that the baby is not posterior anymore!! I am very happy about that, even though I figured it would happen. She also commented that it is very low now, so hopefully with everything in place it won't dawdle like Nik did. I am ready to meet my baby.
Haylee's birthday is coming up next Thursday! And her party is next Saturday, so I need to wait at least until that's over : ) and then we're good to go! For a while I was feeling pretty miserable, I must have strained a muscle while bowling (we did 9 pin last Saturday night and then regular league Sunday night). I feel better now, thank god, because if that wasn't from bowling it would have really made for a LONG few weeks. Now that I am back to normal I can resume my cooking and cleaning and everthing else that I need to do to at least feel like I am ready for my baby. I can't imagine being miserable through pregnancy like some women are. I am so grateful to have healthy, easy pregnancies!

Had my 36 week appointment yesterday! Everything is looking great, the baby was moving all over while she was listening to the heartbeat and she commented that it was so active. Got the GBS test done, so we'll get the results of that next week. I regained that 3 pounds, so I'm at 168 and a total of 24 pounds. Really not bad for 36 weeks! I am pretty proud of myself.
So now that I am officially (on paper) 36 weeks they won't stop me if I go into labor. I still really doubt I will go early seeing as my others were late, but I wouldn't mind going a week early! This little one is killing my ribs and hips! I do think it will be smaller than my last baby though. I am consistently measuring 2-3 weeks behind, which I know could be many things, but it just feels smaller. It is a bit lower than Nik was too, but not as low as Haylee.
It seems surreal that we only have 4 weeks left until my EDD. Likely actually less than that! I am sure once it comes and goes that I won't feel so excited about it, but at least I can take solace in the fact that they won't induce me unless I hit 43 weeks. Even though it went so smooth and quick before I never want that again. I got lucky once, no need to push my luck. I am slightly nervous that this one won't be as quick. I know every baby and labor can be different, and that worries me just a tad! I'm sure it will be fine either way though.

Oh, the joys of late pregnancy! I was so sick between appointments that I ended up losing 3 pounds by the time I went back (January 21st). So I have gained a total of 21 pounds. I guess that's good, but being sick is miserable! I feel fine now and my appetite is back with a vengeance!
Only 5 or so weeks to go! I am getting really excited and a little nervous. I really hope everything goes as smoothly as it did with my first two. I can't wait to meet this little person, too. I am starting to get things together for the big trip...have a bag mostly packed and when I think of things I forgot I throw it in there. I am so worried I will forget the camera, since I don't want to have it packed quite yet...but I can't imagine I would forget something that important!

I had an appointment two weeks ago, on the 29th. I was 30 weeks and 4 days, according to the March 5th due date, but I was measuring a week smaller. No big deal, probably just the way the baby was laying. I am currently 32 weeks and 3 days (in the picture) and go back on January 21st for another appointment. They are keeping the march 5th due date, but they think I am actually closer to March 1st. So I guess I could be considered 33 weeks today! At least with keeping the later date on paper I wouldn't technically be 'overdue' until after that, so I have more time before they would want to induce me. They will actually let me go 2 1/2 weeks past before they induce me at the birth center, which is awesome because I do not want to be induced again!
So when I went in I thought maybe their scale was broken. I mean, I know it was the holidays and everything but I gained 6 pounds in TWO weeks!! EEK! So that put me to 168! Holy hefer! But last week I was sick and I think an extremely mild case of morning sickness came back, along with not having much room in there for food anymore, so I wouldn't doubt if I lost some of that weight when I go back in. I am technically still on track to be where I want to be when I deliver, so I guess I can't complain, it just amazes me that I can gain so little in the first 20 weeks and then just pack it all on! Being so cold out doesn't help though, I can't get out to do much.
So, we finally decided on names!! I am so happy and I can't believe we decided so early! We didn't come up with our son's name until I was 39 weeks, so this is great! We have decided on either Jaedyn Constance or Silas James. Now we have 7 weeks to change our minds! Ha, I would probably kill my husband if he changes his mind now.

28 weeks, 4 days (12/15/08)

Had another appointment yesterday! I am SO GLAD I switched over, I really like it there, and my midwife is great so far.
I gained WAY more than I had hoped...in the last 8 weeks I have gained twice as much as I did in the first 20 weeks! Yikes! Hopefully now it will slow down.
I start going every two weeks now, so I go back December 29th. It really isn't long now, which makes me kind of nervous. Excited, but nervous. I have no idea how I am going to do with two small ones at home.
Nothing else to really update now, I'll have to take another picture soon.
ETA: here it is, 29 weeks, 1 day.

25 weeks, 3 days

I finally got my appointment with the Birth Center! I was so excited, and rightfully so. It is really nice there, and the midwife I met with, Anastasia, was very nice also. It was a 2 hour appointment, so it was great to be able to tell her everything I wanted to tell her. She really seemed to listen and encouraged me to ask questions.
I weighed in at 155, not bad, but more than I would have liked, although I expected as much since I ate way too much Halloween candy! I am still on track to be at or less than my weight with the last pregnancy, which is the goal.
This baby has the hiccups ALL the time! I love it, it is so funny. And last night I had the remote on my belly while I was laying on the couch and it was kicking it all over. Daddy was watching and it even made him laugh.
Everything is really going well. We're gearing up for Thanksgiving this coming week, we're doing dinner at my mom's (with Meemaw) on Wednesday and dinner with Daddy's family on Friday. I am going to attempt to make a chocolate pumpkin cheesecake pie to take along to both places...should be interesting! I have never even made pumpkin pie or cheesecake let alone a combo!
Let's see, what else?? Amy is pregnant! She just found out on the 17th that it's a boy! She's 7 weeks behind me, so she's due April 21st! I can't wait! She's going to be such a great mommy. If we have a girl I will have SO much stuff for her!
I really haven't had any issues thus far with heartburn or anything like that, so we'll see if I can make it through without...it'll be interesting to see if this baby comes out bald if I don't have any at all...I never did with my 1st and she was bald, I did a little with my second and he had a little hair, so maybe there's something to that old wives tale? I do have major vericose veins on my right leg, though, which SUCK! They're starting to ache a little, too, and the midwife said that the spidery one's on my lower leg will likely stay forever. I have been working on Chris about surgery when this is all over!! But really, I can't complain. I have been doing everything I always do, just like normal...I can't imagine having a difficult pregnancy or being on bedrest, so I try to count my blessings.

21 weeks, 1 day

I think I am finally officially out of my regular jeans...except for one pair. The others I have to rubberband the button. Most of my maternity pants are still too big, though! Ugh!

Exciting news! I dumped my doctor! I left her office yesterday and just cried, she was so mean. I finally had it with her. I have considered leaving since I was pregnant with Nik and just never grew a pair! Well I did some research yesterday after my appointment and found a birth center that isn't much farther away than my doc was and I get even better coverage with them! I am thrilled to have a midwife and it's so cool that I can do this at a birth center! Daddy is a little freaked about the whole thing because he worries too much but I think it will be great! He'll see.
Anyway, other than that, I am at 150 lbs, so up total 6.5 (I am 20 weeks, 5 days), which I am so proud of myself for! She said my labs were all excellent (whatever that means) and the ultrasound was perfect! At least there aren't any problems, that's always a blessing! I go to see the midwife on November 18th, which would've been my next ob appointment, I can't wait to see the place. They actually have virtual tours online, so I kind of already have an idea of what to expect. It's Madison Birth Center, for future reference!
I feel kicks every day, which I love, daddy finally felt them too about a week ago! It makes him happy. I actually already feel hiccups, too, which is so cool, I never expected to feel hiccups this early. And occasionally, if I look at the right moments, I can see the kicks, too. Pretty soon I will have to get it on video!

Had my ultrasound last Tues! I still think it's a girl, but we'll have to see. I go back to the doc in less than a week and I will update then, they don't tell me anything at the ultrasound.
The kids and daddy got to all come along and see, too, so that was really cool. I wanted to video it but it was against the clinic rules which really made me sad. I got great pictures, though!

Had another appointment yesterday! I was 16 weeks, 4 days (already!). The heart rate was 151 (or 154, I can't remember) and everything looks good. I go for an ultrasound in two weeks, October 7th! I've gained 3.3 pounds, so I'm up to 145.8. I am right on track so far, just need to keep it up. I really don't want to have to lose too much! I love food too much for that!
I have been feeling movement really well for the last couple of weeks. It's been every day too, and already seems to be some kind of schedule. It's more at night and really early in the morning. Last night I felt it with my hand for the first time! That was exciting! Dad can't wait until he can start feeling it. He still keeps telling me that there's two in there, so we're both looking forward to the ultrasound. The practical side of me says no way, the other side of me finds every little symptom and difference and says 'It must be!'. Though I don't know what we would do if it is!
We got a pack and play on Friday. And I picked up a booster seat for Nik at a garage sale, so we have everything we need. Unless it's a girl, then we need some clothes! I think it's a girl. So does daddy. We have girl names that we're tossing around but we haven't really thought of boy names. We will. We didn't decide on Nik's name until I was 39 weeks, so we are doing pretty good so far I think.

13 weeks!

So I had my 2nd appointment on Monday! All is well. Got to hear the heartbeat for the first time. Unfortunately daddy didn't get to go to this one, he couldn't get off of work. He'll be at the ultrasound though, which isn't for another 2 months! I can hardly wait. Not like we'll be finding out the sex, but I just want to see it, I think it's so amazing to watch!
So whatever weight I lost I almost gained back, I was 1 pound shy of my first appointment. Considering where I started I am pretty happy with that. We'll see how it goes from here. I swear I gained it all back when we went to Famous Dave's! Meat just sounded so good! Which is really weird for me. I have also been craving pink or red grapefruit. And fresh salsa!
Pretty uneventful other than that. I am still just waiting to get bigger so I can feel you KICK me! I know, it's crazy, but I love it! I also want to get past this 'Is she pregnant or fat?' phase. At least then I can fit into maternity clothes, because now I am having a hard time fitting into anything!
Oh, and on the way to the appointment I got a text message from daddy. It said "there's two in there". Do you have any idea how many times I have heard that! I would just die if there is two!
So, anyway, that's really all for now. I go back September 22nd, 16 1/2 weeks. Can't wait til then! Oh, I just realized that's the day before our anniversary!

August 12th, 2008

Ok, I know I'm a little late coming into this, so I'll have some catching up to do.
This is my first blog, too, so I am a little wary, I was never a fan of blogging. I have no other way to keep track right now, though, so here goes.
I am 10 weeks, 5 days. I found out I was pregnant July 3rd when I decided for the heck of it to go ahead and take a test (I had a spare one still from when I was pregnant with my son). I guess in my heart I knew I was, or I wouldn't have even bothered, but I outwardly didn't think in a million years that it would come back positive! I was so surprised! So was daddy! Although I must say he was much more calm than I was. We were both thrilled though, just took some adjusting since we weren't expecting it so soon. We figured it would be another 6 months or so before we started trying!
Anyway, back on track.
I had my first doctor appointment on July 24th. We decided to wait until after that before we told anyone. So of course I went straight to my mom's after the appointment and told her the news. She was practically jumping up and down! Everyone was very happy when we told them. The kids were thrilled, too, and both right away said they wanted a girl, which kind of surprised me!

I never lost all the weight from my last baby, so I started off this pregnancy a bit bigger than I wanted, so I am hoping to not gain as much this time as I have before. With both other pregnancies I gained 45-50 pounds. I started this pregnancy at 143.5 (according to the doc scale, 140 according to mine) which is where I was at at 14 weeks last time. So I have been hoping not to gain any up to that point! I actually have experienced some 'morning sickness' this time around though, which is a first for me, and it only lasted a couple weeks (~7-9). So I think that has contributed to the fact that I have so far lost 4 pounds. I never got sick, though, so I don't know what's up. I am sure part of it is that I cannot drink coffee anymore (not that I worry about a couple cups, it just made me wanna yak!) and I don't drink soda or alcohol any more. I am also thinking that I am probably eating about the same as I was before and now my body is using more of those calories to make a life! Plus I am still nursing my youngest, only before bed, but still! Anyway, here I am at 10 weeks and 136 pounds (according to my scale, so probably 139.5 in reality) which is good! I can handle that. I just need to keep it up!
I feel that I am getting bigger now, though. My belly is starting to come out just a little bit. For some reason after I eat I look 5 months pregnant.
Everyone will probably think I am crazy, too, but I SWEAR I felt you move last night! I know I felt my last baby at 13 weeks, and I thought THAT was crazy, so this must be crazy. But it was you, it wasn't anything else. Pretty incredible!
My next appointment is on August 25th, almost three weeks from now. We should be able to hear the heartbeat then, I can't wait!