Total Weight Gain? 34 lbs
Maternity Clothes? yes, and popping out of the bottom of them!
Sleep: This week was tough--lots of bouts of insomnia
Best Moment this Week: Hearing the heartbeat, setting up an induction date (knowing the LAST day he would possible be here).
Miss Anything? Easy movement, normal clothes, sleeping through the night.
Movement: He moves at his regular times (7am, 11pm for sure). Wednesday night he was moving like crazy!
Food Craving? no
Anything making you queasy or sick? no
Wedding Rings on or off? off
Happy or Moody most of the time? pretty moody. Very over being pregnant.
Looking forward to? Meeting Nolan!
Labor Signs? None. After the weeks of labor signs, this week--the week leading up to 40 weeks, NOTHING.
Anything Else? Dr. Visit:
Our doctor appointment was on Monday this week because he was on vacation the rest of the week. He checked me and I was still the 1-2 cm, 90% effaced. I was very disappointed, I was so over feeling like this. He told us that I would need to come in Thursday (due date) for a Non-Stress Test to make sure he was ok with an associate, a biophysical ultrasound on Monday (with him) to make sure all looked well, and then I was put on a waiting list for induction on Tuesday. We left feeling defeated, but began accepting he was most likely just coming on the induction date and started making plans accordingly.......little did we know......
There were no labor signs leading up to it Wednesday night. Alex worked 2-10 on Wednesday so I cleaned the kitchen because we were cleaning a room a day before the induction. I went to bed around 11 and still felt nothing.
5:30am I woke up and I was only a little wet--me not the bed. I thought I just had an accident. Basically Nolan had been positioned in a way that did not allow me to completely empty my bladder for 2 weeks. I just assumed he moved and the relief made my body go with out me knowing. I got up, changed, and went back to bed. I stayed awake for a while to make sure that with me awake and in control I didn't get wet again. I didn't after half an hour so assumed I was right and rolled to go to bed....and that is when I felt it again. Still not 100% sure, I went to go try to empty my bladder completely and change again. When I lifted my leg, enough fluid (still a very small amount) convinced me my water was broken. I calmly walked to the bathroom door that faces Alex's side of the bed and said, "Alex, I think my water broke. Please wake up."
Alex got up and let the dogs out. I did my hair and make up. I was very calm. I was not in pain and I was not worried. I went into the nursery and made the chalk board...afterall, we always take the pictures on Thursdays. ;) I called Alex up to take my picture with the board and he thought I was crazy! I reminded him I was not in pain and not in a hurry. All would be well. He took my pictures, we put the dogs back to bed, and we got in the car that was already loaded (and had been for 2 weeks!).
We arrived at the hospital at 6:30am. Again, we were very calm and I was not in any pain yet. I went to the ER because I was told I go to the ER if your water broke. Upon walking in, we must have looked like an induction. I was dressed and ready, we were casually walking, no big deal. They sent us to the regular check in desk. After signing in, we had to wait to be taken back to the desk. We set down our bags and started walking. I started to have some contractions that were uncomfortable, but not necessarily hurt. After about 10 mins I decided I probably should tell them my water broke we were not an induction checking in. They said it was actually our turn to go in, so we calmly registered. We got all checked in with our on call Dr. because ours was in Dallas, TX moving his daughter into her college dorm. We made our way to the maternity ward.
We walked in and we were greeted by the head nurse. She took us to a room and had me gown up. She did a test to make sure my water did indeed break, and got me set up. I passed my water breaking test with flying colors, though through this whole process of getting to the hospital and stuff, I did not have much fluid at all. That darn noggin of his was blocking everything. It was 6:45am.
Alex and I realized we forgot to brush our teeth so we both took the time to brush them right away in the hospital. We thought this was hilarious.
I was Strep-B positive so I knew I needed anitbiotics, but for reasons we dont know, when I had my preterm labor scare in June, they ordered a screening to know what anti-biotic to give me because I am allergic to penicillin, but the test was never completed. They went to hook me up to my IV and get me ready for the antibiotic when ever it would come (they were going to wait until the on call doctor was actually on staff at 7am). For whatever reason, my veins on the top of my right hand would not allow the medicine to flow correctly and after 2 fails, they had to put the IV in my left elbow nook. It went in very easy there and worked correctly, but it was in the nook of my elbow and I couldn't bend my elbow all the way because it was in the way (and very painful). I was checked, and only 2 cm.
They hooked me up the non-stress test for half an hour to get a reading on Nolan and look at my contractions. His heart rate was excellent. I was having contractions every 2 minutes but they were not quite painful yet.
I started walking around the room to get things moving and contractions were definitely starting. I was getting more uncomfortable as time went on. I was trying a variety of positions. I was standing, I was squatting, I was leaning on the couch, I was on all fours. I was up, I was down, I was just getting more and more uncomfortable....and still having contractions every 2 minutes. A nurse brought me some toast (I decided I was hungry) and some water. She asked if I wanted to get into the whirlpool. I GLADLY accepted.
I got in the whirlpool about 7:30. I would try to eat toast between contractions because I knew I wouldn't get to eat for a while if I didn't. It wasn't great and I didn't like it at all but I got some down. Contractions started getting more and more painful at this point. I was starting to really have to breath carefully through them and was constantly trying to find somewhere comfortable. They came in and asked if I wanted an epidural and I said not yet because I didn't want it to slow my labor. I stayed in there for an hour and finally it was to uncomfortable to be in there any more. The steam of the water made me feel light headed and I just kept slipping when trying to find a position so I got out. It was 9:15.
I was out for about 5 minutes when I was done. I asked Alex to call the nurse to see if I could get an epidural. They checked me first--routine to make sure I wasn't to far along and I was 4cm. They came in right away, and called the Dr. Upon telling them I had scoliosis the requested the head anesthesiologist so that I could have a few complications as possible. He walked in a few minutes later and assessed my back. He said an epidural would be no problem and got started. I flinched a couple times, but otherwise did very well with the epidural. It took him 10 minutes from walking in the door to walking out the door. 9:30.
Oh the relief of an epidural! At this point Alex called my mom to let her know how far along I was. She decided at that point to leave work. I decided I was hungry again but all I was allowed was jello. I ate my red jello and it was good, but I was still hungry....so they brought me an orange jello (they were out of red...darn!). At noon, I was 5-6 cm and "stretchy" They decided to do the peanut ball, which made my mom laugh so hard!
1:00 they checked me and I was 7cm. Progressing nicely, not in pain. I took a quiet rest. Alex napped in the worlds loudest chair and mom was reading.
2:00 they checked me and I was fully dilated! They wanted his head to move down more, so they had me try the peanut ball a little more. That helped but they still thought he could go lower, so they had me go on all fours. That helped even more, but still didn't lower him that much.
3:00 They decided to have me start pushing. The on call doctor was called to the Neenah hospital, but told us to call when I was very close. I had a hard time pushing at first. I could not figure out how to not push in my face. I pushed for 2 hours. They said I was doing very well, but I was getting frustrated. The two nurses (Libby and Anna who were amazing!!), could not figure out which way he was facing. Nolan's head was so swollen they couldn't find the fontanel lines. They thought that may be why I was having so much trouble. They also said he was very big and I am, well, not. Also, that stupid IV in my arm was giving me trouble because it was in the crook of my elbow, each time I grabbed my knees and pushed I was pinching the IV tubes so alarms would go off. Alex got really good at turning it off after every push. It was driving me nuts though! I had what we think was a pinched nerve that was not effected by the epidural so I was in quite a bit of pain (though it definitely could have been worse). I was very hot and I wanted it cooler. Alex kept pushing the power cool button, but at that point they told him he had to stop or it would be to cold for Nolan to come into the world! Alex got a cool cloth and was rubbing my face and neck. He was a God-send.
Finally I got some really good pushes and I was there! It was not quite 5. There were 4 inches of crowning and they called the doctor. The doctor was on her way. Then, they nurses gave me the news....I needed to stop pushing. They were afriad he would come before the doctor got there so I had to stop. I sat there waiting trying to hold him where he was so he didn't go back in. 25.minutes.later. the doctor came in running down the hall. The nurses had the gown ready for her. She gowned up, got into place and I could push again. Thank goodness! 5:12pm.
I pushed for her and progressed well. At one point she said I had one more push and if I didn't get his head out, she was going to do an episiotomy. I didn't want one so when the contraction came I pushed like I never pushed before....and his head was out! 4 more pushes and my Nolan was here! 5:27pm.
The cord was short so they couldn't get him to my stomach. He rested on my hip bones held by the nurse while I rubbed him with my finger tips and Alex cut the cord. He was then brought up to my chest and I was in heaven! I did tear in two places--one a second degree, one a first degree. Apparently she turned to get the tool to help me and I took over. She stitched me up, the placenta gave us no trouble, and I was on the road to recovery holding our son!
8 lbs, 12.9 oz, 19 or 20 inches depending on who you ask. his head was super swollen and cone-headed so it was hard to get a good measurement. We could not believe his weight! Initially, Alex thought the scale said 8.1, but there were many numbers after that!
I was Strep-B positive so I knew I needed anitbiotics, but for reasons we dont know, when I had my preterm labor scare in June, they ordered a screening to know what anti-biotic to give me because I am allergic to penicillin, but the test was never completed. They went to hook me up to my IV and get me ready for the antibiotic when ever it would come (they were going to wait until the on call doctor was actually on staff at 7am). For whatever reason, my veins on the top of my right hand would not allow the medicine to flow correctly and after 2 fails, they had to put the IV in my left elbow nook. It went in very easy there and worked correctly, but it was in the nook of my elbow and I couldn't bend my elbow all the way because it was in the way (and very painful). I was checked, and only 2 cm.
They hooked me up the non-stress test for half an hour to get a reading on Nolan and look at my contractions. His heart rate was excellent. I was having contractions every 2 minutes but they were not quite painful yet.
I started walking around the room to get things moving and contractions were definitely starting. I was getting more uncomfortable as time went on. I was trying a variety of positions. I was standing, I was squatting, I was leaning on the couch, I was on all fours. I was up, I was down, I was just getting more and more uncomfortable....and still having contractions every 2 minutes. A nurse brought me some toast (I decided I was hungry) and some water. She asked if I wanted to get into the whirlpool. I GLADLY accepted.
I got in the whirlpool about 7:30. I would try to eat toast between contractions because I knew I wouldn't get to eat for a while if I didn't. It wasn't great and I didn't like it at all but I got some down. Contractions started getting more and more painful at this point. I was starting to really have to breath carefully through them and was constantly trying to find somewhere comfortable. They came in and asked if I wanted an epidural and I said not yet because I didn't want it to slow my labor. I stayed in there for an hour and finally it was to uncomfortable to be in there any more. The steam of the water made me feel light headed and I just kept slipping when trying to find a position so I got out. It was 9:15.
I was out for about 5 minutes when I was done. I asked Alex to call the nurse to see if I could get an epidural. They checked me first--routine to make sure I wasn't to far along and I was 4cm. They came in right away, and called the Dr. Upon telling them I had scoliosis the requested the head anesthesiologist so that I could have a few complications as possible. He walked in a few minutes later and assessed my back. He said an epidural would be no problem and got started. I flinched a couple times, but otherwise did very well with the epidural. It took him 10 minutes from walking in the door to walking out the door. 9:30.
Oh the relief of an epidural! At this point Alex called my mom to let her know how far along I was. She decided at that point to leave work. I decided I was hungry again but all I was allowed was jello. I ate my red jello and it was good, but I was still hungry....so they brought me an orange jello (they were out of red...darn!). At noon, I was 5-6 cm and "stretchy" They decided to do the peanut ball, which made my mom laugh so hard!
1:00 they checked me and I was 7cm. Progressing nicely, not in pain. I took a quiet rest. Alex napped in the worlds loudest chair and mom was reading.
2:00 they checked me and I was fully dilated! They wanted his head to move down more, so they had me try the peanut ball a little more. That helped but they still thought he could go lower, so they had me go on all fours. That helped even more, but still didn't lower him that much.
3:00 They decided to have me start pushing. The on call doctor was called to the Neenah hospital, but told us to call when I was very close. I had a hard time pushing at first. I could not figure out how to not push in my face. I pushed for 2 hours. They said I was doing very well, but I was getting frustrated. The two nurses (Libby and Anna who were amazing!!), could not figure out which way he was facing. Nolan's head was so swollen they couldn't find the fontanel lines. They thought that may be why I was having so much trouble. They also said he was very big and I am, well, not. Also, that stupid IV in my arm was giving me trouble because it was in the crook of my elbow, each time I grabbed my knees and pushed I was pinching the IV tubes so alarms would go off. Alex got really good at turning it off after every push. It was driving me nuts though! I had what we think was a pinched nerve that was not effected by the epidural so I was in quite a bit of pain (though it definitely could have been worse). I was very hot and I wanted it cooler. Alex kept pushing the power cool button, but at that point they told him he had to stop or it would be to cold for Nolan to come into the world! Alex got a cool cloth and was rubbing my face and neck. He was a God-send.
Finally I got some really good pushes and I was there! It was not quite 5. There were 4 inches of crowning and they called the doctor. The doctor was on her way. Then, they nurses gave me the news....I needed to stop pushing. They were afriad he would come before the doctor got there so I had to stop. I sat there waiting trying to hold him where he was so he didn't go back in. 25.minutes.later. the doctor came in running down the hall. The nurses had the gown ready for her. She gowned up, got into place and I could push again. Thank goodness! 5:12pm.
I pushed for her and progressed well. At one point she said I had one more push and if I didn't get his head out, she was going to do an episiotomy. I didn't want one so when the contraction came I pushed like I never pushed before....and his head was out! 4 more pushes and my Nolan was here! 5:27pm.
The cord was short so they couldn't get him to my stomach. He rested on my hip bones held by the nurse while I rubbed him with my finger tips and Alex cut the cord. He was then brought up to my chest and I was in heaven! I did tear in two places--one a second degree, one a first degree. Apparently she turned to get the tool to help me and I took over. She stitched me up, the placenta gave us no trouble, and I was on the road to recovery holding our son!
8 lbs, 12.9 oz, 19 or 20 inches depending on who you ask. his head was super swollen and cone-headed so it was hard to get a good measurement. We could not believe his weight! Initially, Alex thought the scale said 8.1, but there were many numbers after that!
We are a family of 3!
Ellie came and took pictures too!
We got to go home Saturday.
And we are home!
Meeting all of the doggies
Grandmas dog, Annie, is so big, but so sweet!
