Induction Take 2...

So, July 5th into the 6th was supposed to be THE day.

39 Weeks.  Pre-induction.

We went in to be induced, for the 2nd time, and what we thought final time.  We felt more prepared.  We knew what was going to happen. After all we had a practice run two weeks ago. We went in armed with snacks for Rick, magazines and cards to play until the medication kicked in.  We were nervous, of course, but excited at the prospect of finally getting to meet our little girl.  I was 39 weeks and hoping for a successful and smooth delivery.

Sadly, Baby F had her own plans. 

The doctor came in to check me before placing the medication and that is when our night changed.  She could not feel the baby at all. (uh oh.)  She asked me when I had my last ultrasound.  (Which was 2.5 weeks prior, and Baby F was head down.  I was also in the doctors office on 4 days prior to that and Baby F was head down.)   So the doctor decided to get an ultrasound to see exactly how our little girl was lying. 

39 Weeks.  Pre-induction.

Sure enough our little girl had other plans and she was, and still is, breech (bottom down). Therefore, I was unable to be induced.  The next question that flew out of my mouth was:

"okay, so when are we doing the c-section....tomorrow?!?" 

Because, really, who comes in to be induced twice and is sent home twice!?

Unfortunately the doctor that was in that night was not from my practice (my doctor was coming in the next morning...which was supposed to be when I delivered) and was unable to schedule me for an elective c-section.

Poor. Rick.  The man has had to deal with me on bedrest for almost 2 months and has been sent home from the hospital twice without getting to hold his little girl.  I felt awful for him.  He took it a bit worse than I did.  For me, I was able to stay positive relatively easily.  At least we were sent home the same night (Rick did not loose a day of vacation and no hospital admission {read large} bill) I also did not have the medication so was not contracting and in pain this time.  For me this experience was much different than the last, and .  But how much can the poor guy take?

 No one {except for probably myself who should have felt Baby F completely turn around in my stomach...ouch!  However, I did not know, as I had not known the first time she turned at 36 weeks.  It is my best inclination that she turned at night as both times there was a night that I could not sleep and was up at least every hour if not more frequently.  I was uncomfortable but not in enough pain I could not go back to sleep.  However, I have heard it is a terrible pain from my mother, who experienced that first hand.  The doctor and nurses where also quite surprised that I had no idea she turned, there is not much room at 39 weeks for her to maneuver.  In fact it is tender sometimes when she moves now} had any way to tell that she had moved from the vertex (head down) position to a breech position.  In fact when I saw the perinatalogist at 36 weeks he said most babies do not turn after 36 weeks, especially if they are head down (their head is the biggest and heaviest part of their body) so it is not usual (but not impossible) for them to turn again being in such a tight space.

So, once again, I was sent home, waddling in as I waddled out.

July 5th...THE day.

So, today is THE day.

The day night that I will be induced again and hopefully meet my little girl on July 6th! Which happens to be my brother's and cousin's birthday as well!  So I am sitting here, waiting for what seems like forever, to call the hospital at 5pm so I can find out what time I can be admitted.  And you know what?

The anticipation is killing me!!!

I already know the drill as this is our "take 2" on being induced, however it is still a horrific waiting game, worse than Christmas morning and your wedding day rolled into one (probably because there is so much excitement, but also the knowledge of pain.)

So please send up prayers for a quick and smooth delivery and for me to have patience and calm!

Bump Photo Shoot

Some people nest by cleaning their homes.

I apparently nest by needing to have pictures taken.

Today.

At approximately 4 am this morning I woke up unable to fall asleep again and realized that I only have pictures of myself and Rick while I am visibly pregnant with a baby bump from our baby shower.  This greatly concerned me.

Thankfully one of my best friends was able to come to the rescue so I could have pregnancy pictures of me and Rick, as well as with her, whom I also only have pregnancy pictures with from my shower.  To my delight, my Mom was planning to visit me and agreed to come along too!

So I now have some beautiful pregnancy pictures with my husband, best friend, and Mom. 

I would like to think that if I was not on bedrest, which I totally broke today, for the past 1.5 months that I would have more pictures with family and friends.  So, I apologize to everyone who I did not get to take pictures with.   Hopefully my next not for a while pregnancy will allow for that!

In any event here are some highlights (read half of the album posted) of the pictures.  

To view the entire album, which is scaled down,  click here.

 

  

My favorite shot.

Pictures were taken while I was 38 weeks and 5 days preggo.
Nothing like waiting until last minute!

Watermelon, yes please with....

38 weeks into my pregnancy it finally happened.  Today I had a weird pregnancy craving.

Today all that I wanted to have for a snack was:

watermelon.

with cheese.

(specifically swiss cheese)

topped off with an oreo at the end.

Now, I am not saying I have not had cravings, but this is by far the strangest.  

The other cravings I have had include tacos, guacamole dip, ravioli's, and chicken 

ceasar salad. Lately I have wanted cheeseburges as well.

My typical diet has included lots of cheese and fruits.  

My meat of choice is beef/steak.

And of course, an extra thick chocolate milk shake is never turned down!

Induction-Take 1

Where to begin.... this past week has been interesting to say the least.

On Tuesday, June 21st, Rick and I set forth for me to be induced as I have been having some complications.  It was our hope that we would be bringing home our baby girl on Wednesday. 

 

37 weeks..pre-induction.

 

We went in excited, nervous, and ready to meet our little girl.

I had received medicine to induce my labor Tuesday evening.  When I woke up on 

Wednesday morning I was contracting regularly. 

The doctor came in after my labs where drawn and checked me and told me that I had not dilated at all

...okay, i knew this may take a while as I was only 37 weeks along.

She then proceeded to tell me and Rick that after reviewing my chart again, the fact that I am 37 wks and that I have not progressed if they continued to induce I would almost certainly need a c-section.

...okay, I knew this was a possibility too, and I am of the opinion that whatever delivery option ends with

a healthy baby and mommy I am ok with the decision made as long as I am informed.

She then proceeded to tell me that after discussing my case with another doctor in the practice I go to that it would be best to stop the induction as my condition is currently 

stable,  not worsening, and our baby is doing well.

excuse me? I am contracting every 2-3mins?

And that I would be sent home once everything calms down, unless I do end up progressing.

I'm sorry, did you say home, as in go home WITHOUT my baby....?

That was in-fact what I was being told. 

I was going to be sent home.  

The discussion was more indepth and I did get to speak to the doctor who has been 

overseeing my care on a more than weekly basis for the past 2 months.

I was heartbroken.  

I was supposed to be going home with my baby. 

In my head I knew that it was best for me to leave with her still in my stomach, but my heart was ready to finally hold this little angel who I have been waiting to hold... and meet...and introduce to everyone.

Talk about a roller coaster of emotions and hormones...

being in the hospital for 12 plus hrs + pain from contractions + pregnancy hormones + leaving without my baby.  

I was in overwhelmed to say the least.

I am thankful for my doctors who are fabulous and did re-evaluate my situation. 

They could have easily continued with their original decision and I could have ended up 

with a c-section and a baby in the NICU.  Even though my little girl was 37 weeks,

there is still a small chance she could have breathing problems.  

I feel that they made the best decision as she was clearly not ready to come out (and apparently still is not!)

I am also thankful that I am "healthy" enough to allow our little one more time to develop.  

So, it is back to bedrest for me.

The whole experience was humbling to say the least.

So I left the hospital, waddling out as I had waddled in, with my baby in utero.

Here are some pics of the event...

 

waiting.

Rick sleeping soundly (I was awake until 3am..)

Since then I have seen my doctor again and the new game plan is to wait until 39 weeks.  If I do not go into labor spontaneously then I will be induced at 39 weeks.  This will give our little girl some more time to develop.  Hopefully it will also allow me to dilate some before hand and I will be able to transition into a smoother labor if I have to be induced, again.  Ultimately it is the best choice for my situation and I am thankful for the medical team, doctors and nurses that continue to take care of me.

I guess it just shows how on our toes we will have to be with our little one! 

She is stubborn like her Mom.

Hellooooooo 3rd Trimester

Only one thing for today.

  

Hellooooo 3rd trimester!!

I am so glad you are here. 

I am 28 weeks today, only 9 more weeks until 37 weeks (always fun to add a little math).

What's so important about 37 weeks? 

If my baby is born anytime after 37 weeks (wishful thinking that its somewhere after 37 wks to 40 weeks)  

than he/she is not considered pre-term!

The countdown is on. 12. weeks. until. 7.11.2011.  =)

Happy Monday!

Only in Philadelphia

This week I had a unique experience....

  While walking on a a sidewalk in Philadelphia (in the gorgeous 70

degree weather that we had recently) I hear someone yelling something.  I then realize that the man 

(parking attendant) across the street was yelling at me.

"It's a boy!"   

umm...thank you?  

Only in Philadelphia would you have a complete stranger yelling 

their guess of which gender your unborn child is at you!

If he's correct I will be asking for lottery numbers! 

(although a babies gender is 50/50..slightly better odds than the lottery.)

There seems to be many theories to a baby's gender depending on how the mom is carrying...

What are your guesses?

Weekend...Where Did You Go..?

Why do weekend's fly by sooo quickly?!?

Fridays.  Friday evenings are minimal to non-existent as I can not seem to leave work on time

and we all know how traffic on 76 is on Fridays'. 

Saturday mornings are blissful.  The knowledge of the whole weekend ahead of you to do as you please.  

I particularly love when nothing is scheduled. That, currently, is my ideal weekend. 

No Schedule.

Which if you know me is not quite like my normal planning personality.  But it is what I have

treasured on the weekends recently. I want nothing to do, I always end up doing many 

things as sitting still tends to be difficult for me, but, not having a

time crunch is what I  l.o.v.e.

Monday will start my 26th week...and I officially have less than 100 days until my due date ;o).

Upcoming appointments include bi-weekly check ups and my glucose screening test.

I am currently enjoying Mexican food, especially with guacamole.

Here's to almost completing my 2nd trimester and trying to relax.

Break it down.

After writing my last entry I thought it would be interesting to see exactly how much I popped within the past few weeks... 

See below, for an almost bi-weekly (I missed week 19 in the collage) bump comparison. 

Please note:

My dogs must be in the picture.

My hair alternately is down and half up. Which was completely unplanned.

 Currently I have not had any crazy pregnancy cravings on a regular basis.  I needed to have ice cream one night, and needed to have tacos with guacamole one night.  Other than those two instances I have not had any crazy cravings.

What are your thoughts on my "bump"?  It will be interesting to see how much my stomach grows in the remaining 14.5 weeks!!

Fast Forward to Week 25

 I am now visibly pregnant, as evidenced by my co-workers whom I do not frequently socialize with coming up to me saying 

"Oh my gosh, I had no idea you were pregnant until now!"

Yes.  I have popped.  

Week 5 on the left.  Week 25 on the right.

Over the past 2-3 weeks I have endured some painful stomach stretching.  I no longer fit into any of my pre-maternity clothing (mainly shirts, the stretchy pants still fit).  If you had any question before about my pregnancy, you would not now. (Side note: my dogs love to jump into my "bump pics").  

By looking at the comparison picture it is easy to see 2 things; 

1-I look pregnant.  2- I think I may grow my hair out a little.

Currently I am enjoying being pain free 

(more to come on that story... please pray my kidney stone continues to not act up, 

or as my MD say's "resolve itself one way or the other.")  

and feeling my baby move around and do only what I think of as somersaults in my stomach.

I have come to learn that my child is stubborn, already...read I have no idea if the baby is a boy or girl because he/she did not want me to know.  Baby F also seems to enjoy periods of rest throughout the day, but always is awake for my morning drive to work and tends to move around to faster beat songs as I drive.

I can't wait to finally get to meet my little one. Due date is 7.11.11