Labor Story

Let me share with you one of my favorite pictures from my labor/delivery.

This was pre-epidural.  It cracks me up.

My labor was easy... until it came time to push.  Baby Girl (oh, her name is Katie, by the way) was stuck in my pelvis.  Sort of diagonal and they couldn't figure out if she was posterior or not.  She was.  But she was stuck on my tailbone and every time that I would push, she would come down a little... and when I stopped pushing, she would suck back in.  I pushed for over 4 hours.  The doctor finally got her turned in the last 5 minutes of pushing and then used a vacuum to help her come out.  It was pretty intense.

I'm recovering. She was totally worth it.

My water broke at 10:30pm on Tuesday the 19th.  I had been having contractions all afternoon and evening without realizing what they were.  When I got to the hospital at 11pm, I was already dialated to a 3.  An hour later I was at a 6 and then just before 1am I was to a 9... the doctor came in and said - that's not a 9... that's a 10 and it's time to push!  But she wasn't coming down, so they hooked me up to Pitocin and let me rest for a few hours to see if she would move down on her own.  We started pushing again just after 4am and Katie was born at 8:48am.

6lbs 7.4 oz and 19 inches long.  A pretty good size for a 35 week baby.  She hasn't had any problems, other than a little jaundice that she had to be under lights for.

We are totally and completely in love with her.

Squeaker

I have a baby.

She is so beautiful.

To the Nice Lady at Costco:

Thank you for taking pity on a swollen pregnant woman and letting me go in front of you to buy my delicious skim milk.

In other news - I'm on partial bedrest.  Straight home from work and I'm not allowed to be up for the rest of the night.  My blood pressure was up again today and I'm staying home from work.  My husband told me that I'm not allowed to do the dishes or any laundry today.  I just have to stay down.

I'm bored already.

But I will do what I have to do to keep this little girl "cooking" for as long as possible.  The doctor said she will probably be coming early.  I hope to make it at least 2 more weeks.  Cross your fingers for me, okay?  My next appointment is on Wednesday.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Pink

I woke up Saturday morning to my husband saying, "It's your baby shower today - it feels kind of like Christmas!"

I completely agree!

Try Not to Stress

I had a doctor's appointment this morning.  34 weeks (tomorrow).  My blood pressure is up.  Kind of high.  Oh, and I gained 9 lbs in two weeks.  And I'm swollen.

He didn't say it, but I know that he was thinking it: Preeclampsia/Pregnancy Induced Hypertension.  All that he said was that he wanted to see me next week, instead of in two weeks.

So, hopefully this will be motivation for me to start exercising again (walking only, of course) and will help me eat better.  Not that I've been eating really bad... but I haven't been paying attention to how much sodium I've been taking in, until Thursday morning when I had gained 3 lbs from the day before after eating Mexican food for dinner. 

And now I can't get my wedding band off my finger.

So - you know - it's a good start to the weekend.  BUT!  My very first baby shower is tomorrow and I can't wait!

Oh, and the doctor thought that the baby might be breech (feet first, instead of head first), so I got to see my baby girl for about 45 seconds. She's head down - thank HEAVEN. And what I thought was her butt stuck in my ribs is actually her little feet. I could see her little toes on the screen. They look very cute.

A Note to My Nikes

Dear Running Shoes,

I'm sorry that I've neglected you.  At this point in my pregnancy, I can't bend over to tie you up, and even if I could... I probably wouldn't.  My swollen feet and aching back beg me to lay on the couch as soon as I walk in the door from work.  This baby sure does take up a LOT of room these days.  But I'm trying not to complain. 

I hope you'll forgive me after Christmas, when I come crawling back to you.  I've already signed us up for 2 half marathons in the spring and I'm looking forward to pounding the pavement with you again.

In the mean time, I'm growing a small person and it takes all of my energy.  But I know that you'll be waiting for me.  You'll always be waiting for me, won't you?