Birth Story

I needed to get this down somewhere before I completely forget!!
On Sunday May 15th, I lost my mucus plug. If you don't know what a mucus plug is you are lucky! It is gross! Anyway in childbirth class we learned that when you lose your mucus plug labor is not far! I was worried because although I would be considered full term on May 16th, it was still early! I felt fine that night but on Monday I felt icky! I laid around all day wondering if I was in labor and how the heck to tell if I was having contractions or not! I was but nothing major I guess I was probably in early labor and had no idea!
On Tuesday the 17th I felt better, no contractions and I didn't even vomit! So my sister and my mother had schemed to get me moving. My sister told me she needed some stuff at the mall, so she took me to the mall and I swear she made me walk the mall ten times! I was on to her but didn't say! She posted on her facebook the next day that she was trying to start my labor, I told her good luck with that but it would still be several weeks before she met her nephew, wishful thinking?? maybe!
On Wednesday the 18th, I felt sore all over my body, probably from all of the mall walking! I just rested all day I was in bed by 9pm. I felt great when I went to sleep on the sofa, but at 11:30 something woke me up. So I woke up my husband and told him I thought I was in labor, he said okay and promptly fell back to sleep. I sent my mom a text to see if she had any insight! By 12:30 I knew I was in labor! The contractions were pretty close together and I woke my husband for real! I told him I thought we needed to be timing these suckers! So he got his cell phone stop watch and started timing them. They were about 4 minutes apart. So I labored for a bit, which included vomiting and other such lovely nonsense, and then we called the doctor! At this point I needed a shower I was yucky and hadn't showered that day, so I got a shower, I did not want to get out! If you are ever laboring at home the water feels amazing and makes the contractions hurt less! By the time I was in the shower the contractions were 2 mins. apart and we still hadn't heard from the doctor. I made my husband call the doctor back because a home birth was not in my plan! The doctor got back to us around 2:30 and told us to please head to the hospital! So we packed up the car and made a few phone calls!
One of those phone calls was to my sister in law, she is an er nurse at the hospital, she was working that night and met us in triage! She then wheeled me up to Labor and Delivery Triage. They checked me there and I was 5cms! Holy crap, this was really happening! I was frightened but tried to play it cool. They tried to push pain meds, I said no. They got me admitted and moved me to my room. By this time the contractions were coming so hard and fast, they remained 2 mins apart for the remainder of labor, which was relatively quick!
My sister in law stayed with us for a bit as her shift was over. She was the best back massager! My mom arrived and it was nice to have 3 support people. I was very out of it at this point and hadn't a clue what was really going on but my water was not breaking and the baby's head was not dropping. At about 7 am they broke my labor because I was trying to push! Once they broke my waters the baby's head dropped into place and I began pushing! My dr. arrived and didn't do much! Luckily they have a shift change at 8:00 and I got a new Dr. He was awesome very calming and directive! I pushed in many different positions and finally delivered my baby at 8:15am. 5 hours after I arrived at the hospital!

I do remember being worried because there was some meconium in the water, he was fine perfectly healthy no aspiration, Thank Goodness!

Also my husband was amazing and there for me the whole time.

Natural labor is hard but wonderful!

Seeing the baby come out is incredibly surreal!

I tore and had to receive an episiotomy and stitches :(

Also I had just had my Group B strep swab and the results were not in. Penicillin in your IV burns almost as badly as the baby crowning!

I am not sure if I can ever have another child because labor still scares the crap out of me!

Thanks for reading that!

Zachariah Nathaniel

So my due date was Monday (June 6) but my little man had other ideas. He arrived on May 19th at 8:15am! He was 8lbs 1oz and 20 inches long. He is the most amazing beautiful baby I have ever seen and I love him so much!

33 weeks 3 days

How far along? 33 weeks 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: +25lbs

Maternity clothes? Yes, they are pretty comfortable!
Stretch marks? Maybe
Sleep: I can sleep but only in fits and starts! It is impossible to get comfortable and I constantly have to pee!  
Best moment this week: My Baby Shower! I will do a picture post later!

Movement: Yes all of the time!
Food cravings: iced tea
Gender: BOY
Labor Signs: No but I have been having some Braxton Hicks contractions!
Belly Button in or out? It is still in, but there is a little flap of skin which, keeps getting bigger, leading me to believe it will be popping out sooner or later!
What I miss: being able to bend without compressing internal organs ;)
What I am looking forward to: Finishing the nursery and meeting the little guy!
Weekly Wisdom: Try to enjoy pregnancy, it doesn't really last that long and most of it goes by in a blur!
Milestones: After my next OB visit I will be visiting the OB every week! HOLY SCHNIKES!!!!!

29 weeks!!

How far along? 29 weeks 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: holding steady at +18.5 pounds (at last doctor visit)

Maternity clothes? Yes, they are pretty comfortable!
Stretch marks? Maybe
Sleep: I can sleep but only in fits and starts! It is impossible to get comfortable and I constantly have to pee!  
Best moment this week: Getting things done in the nursery!! LOVE IT! Can't wait until it's finished so I can post photos!

Movement: Yes all of the time!
Food cravings: muffins!
Gender: BOY
Labor Signs: No but I have been having some Braxton Hicks contractions!
Belly Button in or out? It is still in, but there is a little flap of skin which, keeps getting bigger, leading me to believe it will be popping out sooner or later!
What I miss: being able to bend without compressing internal organs ;)
What I am looking forward to: Finishing the nursery, baby shower and meeting the little guy!
Weekly Wisdom: Try to enjoy pregnancy, it doesn't really last that long and most of it goes by in a blur!
Milestones: Visiting the OB every 2 weeks! Yikes, it is getting closer and closer! Can't wait to hold my baby boy!

In other exciting news we were able to schedule a bunch of work to be completed on the house before the baby comes! We will be finishing our basement, getting new flooring in the kitchen, staining the woodwork we stripped in the kitchen and having several rooms painted! I can't wait this will really take some stress off and help to make the house more liveable when the baby arrives!!

28

How far along? 28 weeks 0 days
Total weight gain/loss: +18.5 pounds (at last doctor visit)

Maternity clothes? Yes, they are pretty comfortable!
Stretch marks? Maybe
Sleep: I can sleep but only in fits and starts! It is impossible to get comfortable and I constantly have to pee!  
Best moment this week: Third Trimester!! 

Movement: Yes all of the time!
Food cravings: Still Ice Cream! Chocolate dipped in Chocolate from Dairy Queen! I also dream of chocolate covered bananas but haven't been able to find them anywhere!!!
Gender: BOY
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? It is still in, but there is a little flap of skin which, keeps getting bigger, leading me to believe it will be popping out sooner or later!
What I miss: being able to bend without compressing internal organs ;)
What I am looking forward to: Finishing the nursery, baby shower and meeting the little guy!
Weekly Wisdom: Try to enjoy pregnancy, it doesn't really last that long and most of it goes by in a blur!
Milestones: Third Trimester! HOORAY!!

26 Weeks!!

How far along? 26 weeks 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: +18.5 pounds (at last doctor visit)

Maternity clothes? Yes, they are pretty comfortable!
Stretch marks? Maybe
Sleep: I can sleep but only in fits and starts! It is impossible to get comfortable and I constantly have to pee!  
Best moment this week: Scheduling my Rhogam shot! Labor is nearing!! 

Movement: Yes all of the time!
Food cravings: Still Ice Cream! Chocolate dipped in Chocolate from Dairy Queen! I also dream of chocolate covered bananas but haven't been able to find them anywhere!!!
Gender: BOY
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? It is still in, but there is a little flap of skin which, keeps getting bigger, leading me to believe it will be popping out sooner or later!
What I miss: being able to bend without compressing internal organs ;)
What I am looking forward to: Finishing the nursery, baby shower and meeting the little guy!
Weekly Wisdom: Try to enjoy pregnancy, it doesn't really last that long and most of it goes by in a blur!
Milestones: Viability!! 

 

24 Weeks! Even bigger now!

I think I'm about 14 weeks here! My how I have grown!

I am feeling HUGE these days! I am normally a very teeny tiny girl, weighing in at 100 pounds never really tipping the scales at more than 105 so to be weighing in at approximately 120 pounds is really taking a toll on my body, though I am hoping for some of that extra to stick around after I give birth!  

25 weeks

How far along? 25 weeks 1 day
Total weight gain/loss: +17 pounds (at last doctor visit)

Maternity clothes? Yes, they are pretty comfortable!
Stretch marks? Maybe
Sleep: I can sleep but only in fits and starts! It is impossible to get comfortable and I constantly have to pee!  
Best moment this week: Passing my glucose test!!

Movement: Yes all of the time!
Food cravings: Well I dreamed of Chocolate Ice Cream last night so I'm going with that!
Gender: BOY
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? It is still in, but there is a little flap of skin which leads me to believe it will be popping out sooner or later!
What I miss: being able to bend without compressing internal organs ;)
What I am looking forward to: Finishing the nursery, baby shower and meeting the little guy!
Weekly Wisdom: Try to enjoy pregnancy, it doesn't really last that long and most of it goes by in a blur!
Milestones: Viability!!