We've started a new album for pictures of Evie post-hospital. You can check them out here.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The long story of Evie's birth...
Since little Miss Evelyn was nearly a week late, I was scheduled to be induced on Friday, March 21. I was admitted just after 8 AM. Upon first examination, I was 1 cm dilated, 50% effaced, posterior and Evie was at -4 station. This all means that my cervix needed to dilate another 9 cm and Evie needed to drop another 4 cm before she was "engaged."
At 10 AM, a Foley catheter was inserted to dilate my cervix and pitocin was started. Every half hour the pitocin was increased so that my contractions would become more regular and stronger. I was having a good contraction pattern and Evie was tolerating them "beautifully." Around 6 PM the Foley came out and I was 3-4 cm. Close to 6:30 PM, medical staff ruptured my bag of water and again began increasing the pitocin. After an exam close to 10 PM, I was still at 3-4 cm and I asked for some pain relief hoping for sleep, relaxation, and of course dilation. I was administered 2 doses of Nubane which made me feel loopy, but didn't seem to take the edge off the contractions, so I was only able to sleep in 2 minute bursts between the contractions. At 2 AM, I was still at 3-4 cm!!! The contractions were nearly unbearable, so I broke down and asked for an epidural, again hoping that relaxation would lead to quicker dilation. I was finally able to sleep through most of the contractions. They stopped the pitocin in the night in the hopes that nature would take over, which it did but the contractions weren't as strong or regular as they needed to be. By 8 AM, I had not passed the 3-4 cm dilated mark, so we began talking c-section.
I really did not want a Cesarean section, but 24 hours after being admitted and 22 hours into labor, I was ready to meet my little girl. The doctor was called at 9 AM with the decision to go ahead and he was on his way in. I was wheeled into the operating room at 9:40 AM, Justin joined me by 9:50, and Evelyn was successfully evicted at 9:59 AM weighing in at 7 pounds 9.4 ounces, 21 inches long, and absolutely beautiful.
I cried at the announcement that it was a girl and cried even more when I heard her crying. Justin was able to take some pictures in the operating room and Evie was able to stay with us even in the recovery room.
So far, Evie has been a peaceful child for the most part. It is taking us some time to get used to her various cries and needs. She sleeps more during the day than during the night, a habit that our pediatrician has advised us to try to break sooner rather than later. (We were extremely grateful for the 4 hour nap she allowed us Wednesday afternoon.) We have found that she gets fussy just before she dirties a diaper.
I've been breastfeeding which is a very interesting, sometimes painful experience. We did break down the second night in the hospital and asked for a pacifier. She has not had any nipple confusion. We have supplemented with maybe a grand total of 4 oz of formula at times when I was too sore to provide that consolation. (Note to new moms: do NOT allow yourself to be "mommy binky" no matter how much it soothes your baby.) My milk seems to have come in today, so now when Evie burps there is some liquid to them and that's oddly reassuring. She is a voracious, but lazy eater. There have been several occasions when she has fallen asleep at the table, so to speak.
Justin has been a great daddy, really stepping up in having to care not just for one new person, but for two people as I recover from the C-section. I have to remember to take care of myself first when it comes time to take my pain medication so that I'm not too sore to sit up or move about.
I'm recovering well from the C-section, but have decided that upstairs is better/easier than downstairs and I probably will not go down again for a few days, after I've recovered more. This means that I get served breakfast in bed, but I can shower. Our bed is easier to get in and out of than I had thought it would be given how high it sits off the floor. The bed rail serves as a little step and I'm able to climb in with relative ease.
We continue to post new pictures to our photobucket account, so check there often for the baby pics!
At 10 AM, a Foley catheter was inserted to dilate my cervix and pitocin was started. Every half hour the pitocin was increased so that my contractions would become more regular and stronger. I was having a good contraction pattern and Evie was tolerating them "beautifully." Around 6 PM the Foley came out and I was 3-4 cm. Close to 6:30 PM, medical staff ruptured my bag of water and again began increasing the pitocin. After an exam close to 10 PM, I was still at 3-4 cm and I asked for some pain relief hoping for sleep, relaxation, and of course dilation. I was administered 2 doses of Nubane which made me feel loopy, but didn't seem to take the edge off the contractions, so I was only able to sleep in 2 minute bursts between the contractions. At 2 AM, I was still at 3-4 cm!!! The contractions were nearly unbearable, so I broke down and asked for an epidural, again hoping that relaxation would lead to quicker dilation. I was finally able to sleep through most of the contractions. They stopped the pitocin in the night in the hopes that nature would take over, which it did but the contractions weren't as strong or regular as they needed to be. By 8 AM, I had not passed the 3-4 cm dilated mark, so we began talking c-section.
I really did not want a Cesarean section, but 24 hours after being admitted and 22 hours into labor, I was ready to meet my little girl. The doctor was called at 9 AM with the decision to go ahead and he was on his way in. I was wheeled into the operating room at 9:40 AM, Justin joined me by 9:50, and Evelyn was successfully evicted at 9:59 AM weighing in at 7 pounds 9.4 ounces, 21 inches long, and absolutely beautiful.
I cried at the announcement that it was a girl and cried even more when I heard her crying. Justin was able to take some pictures in the operating room and Evie was able to stay with us even in the recovery room.
So far, Evie has been a peaceful child for the most part. It is taking us some time to get used to her various cries and needs. She sleeps more during the day than during the night, a habit that our pediatrician has advised us to try to break sooner rather than later. (We were extremely grateful for the 4 hour nap she allowed us Wednesday afternoon.) We have found that she gets fussy just before she dirties a diaper.
I've been breastfeeding which is a very interesting, sometimes painful experience. We did break down the second night in the hospital and asked for a pacifier. She has not had any nipple confusion. We have supplemented with maybe a grand total of 4 oz of formula at times when I was too sore to provide that consolation. (Note to new moms: do NOT allow yourself to be "mommy binky" no matter how much it soothes your baby.) My milk seems to have come in today, so now when Evie burps there is some liquid to them and that's oddly reassuring. She is a voracious, but lazy eater. There have been several occasions when she has fallen asleep at the table, so to speak.
Justin has been a great daddy, really stepping up in having to care not just for one new person, but for two people as I recover from the C-section. I have to remember to take care of myself first when it comes time to take my pain medication so that I'm not too sore to sit up or move about.
I'm recovering well from the C-section, but have decided that upstairs is better/easier than downstairs and I probably will not go down again for a few days, after I've recovered more. This means that I get served breakfast in bed, but I can shower. Our bed is easier to get in and out of than I had thought it would be given how high it sits off the floor. The bed rail serves as a little step and I'm able to climb in with relative ease.
We continue to post new pictures to our photobucket account, so check there often for the baby pics!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
She's here...FINALLY!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Last picture???
I'm due the 15th and it is after 9 PM on the 13th, so is this the last belly shot?
:-)
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Cruel Joke
As a general rule, during the third trimester of pregnancy, experts recommend sleeping on your left side. It has something to do with improving circulation as your biggest artery and your biggest vein run up your back and the weight of the baby can cause blood flow to be diminished.
However, if you have heartburn at night, and BOY do I have heartburn, experts recommend that you sleep sitting up in bed to alleviate the pressure on your stomach and hopefully less acid will take the reverse route.
In addition to the heartburn, I'm experiencing edema. Edema means swelling and is completely normal in pregnancy. My feet and ankles are bearing the brunt of the swelling, but my fingers and arms are slightly swollen as well. I haven't worn my watch in over 3 weeks and decided it was safer to remove my wedding band and engagement ring before either reached a point where they would threaten to cut them off. They recommend elevating the swollen entities above the heart, especially at night, to relieve the swelling.
So picture someone sleeping on their left side, sitting up with their hands and feet above their heart. I don't believe even the most experienced Yogi using a Craftmatic (tm) adjustable bed could pull that off.
As a side note, the swelling is making my left ankle hurt. I'm not sure why because its my right ankle that I've broken once and sprained twice. When I get out of bed at night to use the ladies room as required (about 2-3 times) I'm unsteady on my feet because my left ankle tweaks just a bit. I know I am the MOST graceful person you all know (hehe, yeah right) but add to that the front-heaviness of being pregnant. I've given myself a nightly scare of almost falling for the past few nights, making it that much more difficult to get back to sleep.
However, if you have heartburn at night, and BOY do I have heartburn, experts recommend that you sleep sitting up in bed to alleviate the pressure on your stomach and hopefully less acid will take the reverse route.
In addition to the heartburn, I'm experiencing edema. Edema means swelling and is completely normal in pregnancy. My feet and ankles are bearing the brunt of the swelling, but my fingers and arms are slightly swollen as well. I haven't worn my watch in over 3 weeks and decided it was safer to remove my wedding band and engagement ring before either reached a point where they would threaten to cut them off. They recommend elevating the swollen entities above the heart, especially at night, to relieve the swelling.
So picture someone sleeping on their left side, sitting up with their hands and feet above their heart. I don't believe even the most experienced Yogi using a Craftmatic (tm) adjustable bed could pull that off.
As a side note, the swelling is making my left ankle hurt. I'm not sure why because its my right ankle that I've broken once and sprained twice. When I get out of bed at night to use the ladies room as required (about 2-3 times) I'm unsteady on my feet because my left ankle tweaks just a bit. I know I am the MOST graceful person you all know (hehe, yeah right) but add to that the front-heaviness of being pregnant. I've given myself a nightly scare of almost falling for the past few nights, making it that much more difficult to get back to sleep.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Nursery Pics.... as promised, but delayed
The furniture looks darker in the pictures than in real life. I cannot wait to share pictures with a baby in the crib.
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