Monday, February 25, 2008
Labor Coach
Deep within my heart of hearts I never doubted SP's ability to be both an amazing labor coach and father. Hormones and insecurity are a bitch and do funny things to ones sanity. So, I did doubt him more than once during my pregnancy. I never claimed to be perfect.
SP has a jokesters personality. He likes to be the funny guy and to many people that is all they see. That is not all I see, unless my perspective is obscured by hormones and pregnancy, and it's why I fell in love with him and married him. Yes, he makes me laugh...there is no doubt about that, but when I need him, truly need him, he steps up to the plate with ease.
That is what happened when I went into labor. He was totally me focused and my breathing and helping to ease my discomfort. He stepped up and while I am sure I would have labored through without him, it would have been a totally different and likely less tolerable experience were I to have done it without him.
He made me feel strong and capable of getting through the labor. I also felt safe and supported throughout the entire process. I could not have asked for a better partner.
SP has a jokesters personality. He likes to be the funny guy and to many people that is all they see. That is not all I see, unless my perspective is obscured by hormones and pregnancy, and it's why I fell in love with him and married him. Yes, he makes me laugh...there is no doubt about that, but when I need him, truly need him, he steps up to the plate with ease.
That is what happened when I went into labor. He was totally me focused and my breathing and helping to ease my discomfort. He stepped up and while I am sure I would have labored through without him, it would have been a totally different and likely less tolerable experience were I to have done it without him.
He made me feel strong and capable of getting through the labor. I also felt safe and supported throughout the entire process. I could not have asked for a better partner.
Labor - Game on
Tuesday of last week I lost my mucus plug at work. Really lost it. Not what I thought was the plug...and there was a difference. A big difference. I also started getting a little crampy and even told a co-worker I thought the day had arrived. Of course, I had been saying that for DAYS so I only half believed it.
That night went as usual for me. We watched The B*ggest Loser and SP made dinner. I even bounced on the exercise ball trying to bounce the baby out. When bed time came, well, I figured I would get up the next day and go to work like I had the day before.
I was up around 11 a little uncomfortable but it wasn't until closer to midnight that I thought maybe something was a little different. The discomfort was different. Sometimes in the front like cramps. Sometimes in the back like a bad back ache. I tried to get comfortable and sleep but the discomfort increased and at times it was both in the front and the back.
I took a shower. I woke SP. I called the Doctor on call around 2. I was having what I soon discovered were contractions every 5 minutes or so...that whole timing thing is for the birds.
The doc on call is a pretty hard core chick. I like her but I didn't like it when she told me that she could tell by the sound of my voice that I didn't need to come in. She told me I wasn't in enough pain and here I thought I was. So, I stayed home based on her recommendation because I didn't want to be sent home and she thought that would be the case if I came in.
So for the next 4 hours or so SP rubbed my back with Copper's slobbery tennis ball. I took a bath. I lay in bed listening to my "very slow" labor music while squeezing this hand strengthener thingy that SP has and at times cussed into the pillow.
The weather here was supposed to get bad. It had been snowing with freezing rain and it was approaching that time when people would start heading out to work. I did NOT want to get stuck on the interstate in labor but I wasn't sure if I should go in to the hospital.
Based on our count, my contractions were about 3 minutes apart when we decided to head to the hospital. By this time, I was having what SP was calling light and heavy contractions. During the heavy ones, well, they hurt like a (insert curse word of your choice here) and started making me puke.
We drove to the hospital in the snow with a Kroger bag in my lap and me practically crawling the sides of the car when those heavy contractions came. We parked in the valet area and opted to not use the decorated elevator for moms to be that went straight to the 9th floor.
Thankfully, we had our dry run on Monday so I could bypass a lot of those questions about whether I was abused or used drugs. I continued to puke with each heavy contraction and also was peeing too. Glamorous.
We opted to not call anyone before heading to the hospital but I could have shouted it from the roof tops and my family would have heard when they told me that I was 4 cm and would be staying.
As SP said when he made the calls - GAME ON!
That night went as usual for me. We watched The B*ggest Loser and SP made dinner. I even bounced on the exercise ball trying to bounce the baby out. When bed time came, well, I figured I would get up the next day and go to work like I had the day before.
I was up around 11 a little uncomfortable but it wasn't until closer to midnight that I thought maybe something was a little different. The discomfort was different. Sometimes in the front like cramps. Sometimes in the back like a bad back ache. I tried to get comfortable and sleep but the discomfort increased and at times it was both in the front and the back.
I took a shower. I woke SP. I called the Doctor on call around 2. I was having what I soon discovered were contractions every 5 minutes or so...that whole timing thing is for the birds.
The doc on call is a pretty hard core chick. I like her but I didn't like it when she told me that she could tell by the sound of my voice that I didn't need to come in. She told me I wasn't in enough pain and here I thought I was. So, I stayed home based on her recommendation because I didn't want to be sent home and she thought that would be the case if I came in.
So for the next 4 hours or so SP rubbed my back with Copper's slobbery tennis ball. I took a bath. I lay in bed listening to my "very slow" labor music while squeezing this hand strengthener thingy that SP has and at times cussed into the pillow.
The weather here was supposed to get bad. It had been snowing with freezing rain and it was approaching that time when people would start heading out to work. I did NOT want to get stuck on the interstate in labor but I wasn't sure if I should go in to the hospital.
Based on our count, my contractions were about 3 minutes apart when we decided to head to the hospital. By this time, I was having what SP was calling light and heavy contractions. During the heavy ones, well, they hurt like a (insert curse word of your choice here) and started making me puke.
We drove to the hospital in the snow with a Kroger bag in my lap and me practically crawling the sides of the car when those heavy contractions came. We parked in the valet area and opted to not use the decorated elevator for moms to be that went straight to the 9th floor.
Thankfully, we had our dry run on Monday so I could bypass a lot of those questions about whether I was abused or used drugs. I continued to puke with each heavy contraction and also was peeing too. Glamorous.
We opted to not call anyone before heading to the hospital but I could have shouted it from the roof tops and my family would have heard when they told me that I was 4 cm and would be staying.
As SP said when he made the calls - GAME ON!
Wow!
It's been one crazy ride these last few days. I promise to tell you all about the labor and delivery of Miss C (name withheld to protect her privacy) when I get a second. The bottom line is that my husband is AMAZING...even if pregnancy hormones made me want to hurt him at times over the last nine months. I could not have asked for a better labor or delivery, even with the 8 or so hours of non-epidural eased contractions that made me vomit when they were real bad.
People told me that I would miss having the baby in my belly and honestly, I haven't had that yet. I would miss here more if she were back in there having met her and basked in her beautifulness. She truly is amazing, even when crying and screaming when I try to sleep or feed her. I wouldn't go back to the pregnancy for anything now that I know how it feels to be her mom.
Thanks to everyone for their kind words and congratulations. I know there are those of you who I may have missed with the thank you's for gifts pre-delivery and I apologize profusely for that. THANK YOU!
Now I am off to rest and feed my girl.
Today I feel: relieved that the nurse home visit went well and that both C and I are progressing nicely. I am also thrilled to have my husband home helping out.
People told me that I would miss having the baby in my belly and honestly, I haven't had that yet. I would miss here more if she were back in there having met her and basked in her beautifulness. She truly is amazing, even when crying and screaming when I try to sleep or feed her. I wouldn't go back to the pregnancy for anything now that I know how it feels to be her mom.
Thanks to everyone for their kind words and congratulations. I know there are those of you who I may have missed with the thank you's for gifts pre-delivery and I apologize profusely for that. THANK YOU!
Now I am off to rest and feed my girl.
Today I feel: relieved that the nurse home visit went well and that both C and I are progressing nicely. I am also thrilled to have my husband home helping out.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Welcome Miss Mia
My sister and Mike welcomed their little girl, Mia, today! I am an auntie.
Mia is 7 pounds 2 ounces and 19 inches. She has dark hair and Dawn says she looks like her dad.
I can't wait to meet her!
CONGRATULATIONS!
Mia is 7 pounds 2 ounces and 19 inches. She has dark hair and Dawn says she looks like her dad.
I can't wait to meet her!
CONGRATULATIONS!
Monday, February 18, 2008
And this is SO much better...
Woke up this morning in the 5 o'clock hour with a wetness that I did not associate with peeing the bed. I changed and sat there for 20 minutes trying to determine if I had just peed myself or if my water had actually broke.
For the record, I have peed my pants numerous times during this pregnancy...when puking, while at work and Target, etc. Not once have I peed while I was sleeping. Not once.
So, I woke SP up with a little bit of excitement because of the prospect that it could be THE DAY. Called the doctor and we determined that I wouldn't wait until my 9 AM appointment I'd go ahead and come to the hospital.
The overall point of this post is to say that SP and I passed our trial run to the hospital with flying colors. We didn't panic or freak or lose our minds in the process of finding out my water had not broke and I had in fact just wet the bed. We did pretty well considering. And while I SWEAR that it was NOT pee, I have to trust the multiple tests and exams I had this morning.
Because they did all the tests at the hospital I didn't have to go to my appointment. Baby's heart rate was good, mine was elevated when we first got there. Amniotic fluid per the ultrasound was good as well. 2 cm dilated. Irregular contractions.
My options at that point were to go home and walk or walk around the hospital. So, we went home and I slept for a bit. Then went to work with no changes. Disappointing but I was not really disappointed because we had discussed on the way to the hospital that it was likely a false alarm. I was prepared for that.
Now, tonight, we just got home from walking in the mall where I have either wet my pants or my water has broke. I am opting for door number 2 but am monitoring closely in the event something changes.
Today I feel: a little scatterbrained...I asked a friend how her daughter's first birthday was knowing good and well it's not her birthday for a bit longer. I KNEW it, but asked anyway.
For the record, I have peed my pants numerous times during this pregnancy...when puking, while at work and Target, etc. Not once have I peed while I was sleeping. Not once.
So, I woke SP up with a little bit of excitement because of the prospect that it could be THE DAY. Called the doctor and we determined that I wouldn't wait until my 9 AM appointment I'd go ahead and come to the hospital.
The overall point of this post is to say that SP and I passed our trial run to the hospital with flying colors. We didn't panic or freak or lose our minds in the process of finding out my water had not broke and I had in fact just wet the bed. We did pretty well considering. And while I SWEAR that it was NOT pee, I have to trust the multiple tests and exams I had this morning.
Because they did all the tests at the hospital I didn't have to go to my appointment. Baby's heart rate was good, mine was elevated when we first got there. Amniotic fluid per the ultrasound was good as well. 2 cm dilated. Irregular contractions.
My options at that point were to go home and walk or walk around the hospital. So, we went home and I slept for a bit. Then went to work with no changes. Disappointing but I was not really disappointed because we had discussed on the way to the hospital that it was likely a false alarm. I was prepared for that.
Now, tonight, we just got home from walking in the mall where I have either wet my pants or my water has broke. I am opting for door number 2 but am monitoring closely in the event something changes.
Today I feel: a little scatterbrained...I asked a friend how her daughter's first birthday was knowing good and well it's not her birthday for a bit longer. I KNEW it, but asked anyway.
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