Saturday, April 6, 2013

Grace's Birth Story

I figured I should write down Grace's birth story since I still have yet to write it down in her baby book and I don't want to forget.

I had my 40 week ob appointment on February 12. Needless to say there was no change, I was still half a centimeter dilated and my doctor asked what I wanted to do. I told her I would love to be induced on my due date if that was possible. I have no desire to ever be 41 weeks pregnant. She asked if I minded checking in the evening of my due date (February 14) to be induced the next morning since she was on call that weekend so she could deliver my induction. That's the plan we decided on so Thursday night (February 14), Derrick and I had a romantic dinner at Panera before checking in to the hospital at 6:00 pm. They gave me cervadil and hooked me up to the machines to find out that I was having contractions, I just didn't realize it. I was also given an ambien to sleep and she told me she would give me another if I hadn't fallen asleep in an hour. I ended up needing the other ambien but then fell right to sleep. Holy pain, I woke up in the middle of the night with some intense contractions and was given pain medication to help me go back to sleep.

They woke me up the next morning to take a shower and get ready for the day ahead. I threw up from the pain medication. At the nurses shift change at 7 am, the new nurse came in and told me I could have my epidural whenever I wanted, so, of course, I told her right now would be amazing. Before the anesthesiologist came in, my ob broke my water and said there was meconium in it (which just meant my little girl would need to see the neonatologist immediately after birth) The anesthesiologist was wonderful and I had my epidural in and was pain free by 8 am.

They started my pitocin and that's when the excitement started. I was 2 cm dilated when I woke up that morning. However, every time they turned up the pitocin and I had a contraction, my sweet little girl's heart rate would drop. It wasn't something to be concerned about at first because they weren't late decelerations. I was checked again and was 4 cm dilated. At some point the nurses became concerned about Grace's heart rate during my contractions. They moved me from side to side to see if it would improve. They put me on all 4's on the bed to see if it would improve (mind you, I cannot feel my legs because of the epidural) The very last thing they tried was my doctor gave me an amnio infusion to put fluid back into me to see if that improved anything. She had warned me at that point that it was becoming more likely I would have to have a c-section. I didn't know it at that time but my husband had texted my parents (who were on their way to the hospital) and told them to hurry because it was looking like Grace would be here VERY soon. The amnio infusion seemed to just make everything worse. Now not only was Grace's heart rate having late decelerations but it got to a point where they couldn't find her heart rate at all.

This is when everything became a blur of frantic movement. The nurses started detaching me from the monitors on the wall. My doctor told me I needed a c-section NOW and had me sign a release form and the next thing I knew I was being rolled down the hall to the operating room. I noticed that my husband (a doctor) looked nervous but I guess because of how quickly everything was moving I didn't realize how much of an emergency it actually was. I was rolled out of my room at 10:15 am. Once I was in the operating room and attached back to machines, the nurse told me they were able to find her heart rate again and that everything was going to be fine. I was scared at that point more just because I didn't fully understand what was going on. I passed the pinch test (where they pinch the shit out of your belly to make sure you can't feel anything) and the cutting started. All I felt was a lot of pressure and next thing I knew they said she was out. It seemed like forever between then and her first cry but I know it actually wasn't. Everyone was commenting on how calm I was in such a stressful situation but that was really from not realizing how much of an emergency situation it actually was and how fast they needed to get her out. They brought her over so Derrick and I could see her and then she was whisked away to be checked out. Derrick went with her while I was sewn together and taken to a post op room. It was 2 hours from when she was born until she was brought to our room. I am so grateful for a wonderful ob and hospital staff that made sure my little girl entered the world safely. Hopefully, my subsequent birth experiences will be less exiting.

Grace Foster Huey was born on February 15, 2013 at 10:44 am. She was 6lbs 10 oz and 21 inches long.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

40 Weeks


How far along? 40 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? I think 32 lbs will be my final number
Maternity clothes? A mixture of maternity and non-maternity still. 
Stretch marks? None! And I assume it will stay that way.
Sleep? Sleeping a lot lately, maybe I'm resting up for our sleepless nights to come
Best moment last week? Knowing that this little girl will be out soon
Movement? Still moving all over the place, she is obviously running out of room
Food cravings? Honestly, nothing is really jumping out at me anymore
Gender? A sweet baby girl, Grace Foster Huey
Labor signs? None, I WISH I was having labor signs but other than a sporadic Braxton Hicks, absolutely NOTHING
Belly button it/out? It's out but only a little bit
Wedding rings on or off? Off, hellllllllo chunky pregnant fingers
What I miss: Nothing right now. Except not being pregnant. It's time to leave little girl.
What I am looking forward to: Getting checked into the hospital TONIGHT to be given cervadil & getting induced tomorrow morning. Your free stay is up baby girl!
Milestones: Well since our little girl is deciding to be fashionably late I was able to get everything together in a calm manner. Derrick and I will have a quick early dinner tonight before checking into the hospital and hopefully will be meeting our baby girl tomorrow!


Thursday, February 7, 2013

39 Weeks


How far along? 39 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? 30 lbs
Maternity clothes? A mixture of maternity & non maternity (most of the non maternity is usually just a cardigan though)
Stretch marks? None! (And hopefully it will stay that way)
Sleep? Sleeping more often 
Best moment last week? Got to see our baby girl on an ultrasound at 38 weeks. She looks like she's running out of room
Movement? She's getting a little cramped in there
Food cravings? Nothing specific, just eating all I can before this girl comes out and I've got to get back to the real world of healthy eating & exercising
Gender? A sweet baby girl, Grace Foster Huey
Labor signs? None - seriously, none
Belly button it/out? It's completely flat still
Wedding rings on or off? Off, my push present was a ring so I can wear that because I'm waiting to have it sized until my fingers go back to normal
What I miss: Nothing except not being pregnant
What I am looking forward to: my due date in 1 week! As of now the plan is to evict her on that day (Valentine's  day)
Milestones: everything is ready and waiting, hospital bag items are laid out and ready to go, we have a friend in line to watch Raleigh while we're in the hospital, now we just need our baby girl!!!



Monday, January 28, 2013

38 Weeks

How far along? 38 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? 28lbs
Maternity clothes? A mixture of maternity and non-maternity still. Although to be honest, I'd much rather just wear pajamas
Stretch marks? None! (And hopefully it will stay that way)
Sleep? Still the same, getting up to pee often
Best moment last week? Weekly visits started!
Movement? Still moving all over the place
Food cravings? I've been on an orange kick lately, orange juice, oranges. Yum.
Gender? A sweet baby girl, Grace Foster Huey
Labor signs? None
Belly button it/out? It's completely flat still
Wedding rings on or off? On (kinda) I have to pick one, I can't wear all three rings at the same time (two bands & engagement ring)
What I miss: Nothing still except wearing normal clothes and being able to order spring clothes and try them on
What I am looking forward to: Being full term in a week!
Milestones: We'll install the car seat this weekend, make a trip to Target to grab a couple more things and I'll FINALLY pack that hospital bag I've been putting off...



37 Weeks


How far along? 37 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? 29lbs
Maternity clothes? I just grab whatever maternity item I can find. Have them all in a pile together in my closet because it's just easier.
Stretch marks? None! (And hopefully it will stay that way)
Sleep? Pretty sleepy sometimes but others I am wide awake and cleaning like a psycho
Best moment last week? Y'all I'm dilated half a centimeter. So excited even though I know that means nothing haha, but it is half a centimeter less that I have to go at delivery
Movement? Still moving all over the place
Food cravings? Still oranges & Dr. Pepper
Gender? A sweet baby girl, Grace Foster Huey
Labor signs? None that I can feel
Belly button it/out? It's weird now. I don't know how to describe it.
Wedding rings on or off? On sometimes. We've had some pretty warm days here lately and when we do my little hands swell and I can't wear my rings :-(
What I miss: Nothing except comfortable sleep
What I am looking forward to: That our little girl could come now ANY DAY! And that once we hit February 1st my sweet husband is taking me to buy my push present (It's amethyst so we're waiting to make sure she's actually born in February first)
Milestones: FULL TERM BABY


Thursday, January 17, 2013

36 Weeks


How far along? 36 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? 28lbs
Maternity clothes? A mixture of maternity and non-maternity still. Although to be honest, I'd much rather just wear pajamas
Stretch marks? None! (And hopefully it will stay that way)
Sleep? Still the same, getting up to pee often
Best moment last week? Weekly visits started!
Movement? Still moving all over the place
Food cravings? I've been on an orange kick lately, orange juice, oranges. Yum.
Gender? A sweet baby girl, Grace Foster Huey
Labor signs? None
Belly button it/out? It's completely flat still
Wedding rings on or off? On (kinda) I have to pick one, I can't wear all three rings at the same time (two bands & engagement ring)
What I miss: Nothing still except wearing normal clothes and being able to order spring clothes and try them on
What I am looking forward to: Being full term in a week!
Milestones: We'll install the car seat this weekend, make a trip to Target to grab a couple more things and I'll FINALLY pack that hospital bag I've been putting off...


Monday, January 14, 2013

35 Weeks

How far along? 35 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? 28lbs, um say what?
Maternity clothes? A mixture of maternity and non-maternity still. I'm amazed that I can still fit in some of my regular shirts. Thank you tunics.
Stretch marks? None! (And hopefully it will stay that way)
Sleep? Still the same, getting up to pee often
Best moment last week? My last biweekly visit! This little girl is coming SOON!
Movement? Still moving all over the place
Food cravings? Honestly, nothing is really jumping out at me anymore
Gender? A sweet baby girl, Grace Foster Huey
Labor signs? None
Belly button it/out? It's completely flat. I thought it would pop out! (And it may still)
Wedding rings on or off? On (kinda) I have to pick one, I can't wear all three rings at the same time (two bands & engagement ring)
What I miss: Nothing right now. Except wearing normal clothes. And not feeling like a baby orca.
What I am looking forward to: Getting checked every week and seeing how our little girl is progressing. I wonder what day she'll decide to make her appearance! Hopefully she'll hold off until February.
Milestones: We're almost completely ready. Picked up the last couple of things we'll need for her first little while at home. Still need to install the car seat in Derrick's car for the hospital. Oh and I still need to pack my hospital bag. And need to get back on writing thank you notes. Ugh, weekly goals are so fun.