Introducing: Mr. Christopher William

My little man couldn't wait to meet his mommy and daddy and surprised us by arriving on April 22, 2012 at 1:54pm.

My labor started at 1:30am on Sunday, 4/22/12 when I noticed some bleeding when I went to the bathroom.  I couldn't figure out why I was bleeding because I hadn't had sex or had a recent cervical check.  I decided to lay back down and try not to think too much about it and see if there was still blood the next time I went to the bathroom.  Well, about twenty minutes later, as I was laying in bed trying to fall back asleep, I felt a leak.  I literally said, "oh my god!" because I knew it had to be my water breaking.  I immediately stood up, bracing myself for a huge gush (which didn't happen) and went to the bathroom.  I peed again, which now that I think back on it, I wonder if it was the fluid gushing out rather than me peeing.  I decided to lay back down for a half hour to see if anything else leaked when I stood up.  So, after a little while, I stood up.  Nothing leaked.  So I started thinking maybe I really just peed my pants. lol.  During this whole time I had been feeling what I assumed to be contractions in my lower back.  They were about 2-3 minutes apart, with the occasional 4 or 5 minute gap.  They were getting worse as time went on but I still wasn't sure I was in REAL labor.  I was worried that going to the hospital would get me hooked up to a monitor and then sent right back home.  Because of this, I decided I would go to a local hospital, rather than the hospital I planned to deliver at, since it was much closer to my house. I woke my SO up and told him I was going to go get checked out.  We had his son that weekend, so he stayed home with him rather than all of us go to the ER to be sent back home.

I got to the hospital at 4:30am and was immediately brought up to the maternity ward - it's funny how people react when you say, "I think I'm in labor" lol.  The nurse checked me and I was still at 3cm (same as my previous cervical check) but the contractions kept coming 2-3 minutes apart and were all in my back.  My SO arrived around 8:30am and that's when the contractions started to get even more intense.  By 10am I abandoned all hope of going med-free and asked for medication.  They gave me an IV of Demerol, which did nothing but make me dizzy and feel like I was about to fall off the bed, but whatever.  The nurse checked me and I was 5cm.  She told me they were calling the anesthesiologist because I wasn't going anywhere.  This is when the back labor got unbearable.  No position was comfortable and I was crying through them all.  They seemed to be coming one on top of another and were lasting longer.  Around 11:15 or so, an angel appeared...and he gave me an epidural. BEST. INVENTION. EVER. After everything for the epidural was in place the nurse told me I was 10cm and would be pushing shortly.  Thankfully I had texted my mom at 10am to let her know I was staying and she got there just in time!

I started pushing around 12:00pm and wasn't making much progress as far as getting the baby's head to come down.  I blame the epidural but I can't trash-talk that thing, it was amazing.  So, at 1:54pm, with the help of the suction, little Christopher William was born screaming :)  He came 3 weeks early (original due date was 5/15) and weighed in at 5lb 13oz and measured 19 3/4".

I love this little man so much, and I fall more and more in love with him every day.

All of the uncomfortable moments, fatigue and pain was worth it. <3

Wow

It's been quite some time since I last updated.  I am not 35w3d and can't believe how close Webby is to arriving!  His nursery is almost complete and I am attempting to start some sewing projects (blankets, curtains) to help the process move along :)  I had my 35w appointment this week where the doctor told me his head is VERY low (which I figured due to the immense pressure in my lower back), I am 2cm dilated and 50% effaced!  She told me that this does not mean anything will happen early but that it is a good start :)  I can't wait to meet my little man <3  I feel him move all of the time & love it, even if it can get uncomfortable.  Hiccups are a daily occurrence but I love the rhythmic bump, bump, bump.

Here is a picture of my 35w bump (from Tuesday, April 10, 2012):

Also, here are 2 ultrasound pictures from the Level 2 I had to have done:

 profile

right foot

<3

Update

I am 24w2d today!  This week was an eventful one.  Monday morning (23w6d) I slipped and fell on the ice on my way to my car before work.  I fell on my left side, so there was no impact to my belly.  The school nurse here at work suggested I call and let my dr. know just to be on the safe side, so I did.  The advised me to go to the ER just to get checked out/monitored & make sure everything is ok. The dr. at the ER said that it's hospital policy to keep you and monitor once you reach viability (24w) and that she didn't think they would do that for me since there was no impact to the belly.  She called my dr. and came back to let me know that it was requested they monitor me for the full 4 hours since I was only 1 day shy of viability and if anything were to happen, they would most certainly step in and help me and Webby.  I was told that during the 4 hours if I had 6 or more contractions during a 2 hour window that I would need to be admitted for overnight monitoring.  I was fairly certain that I had nothing to worry about and for the first 2 hours that was the case.  During the 3rd hour of monitoring I had a "spree" of 8 contractions, which I am almost certain were Braxton Hicks brought on by having to pee really badly, since they stopped once I emptied my bladder.  The dr. told me I still had to be admitted.  So, I spent the night in the antepartum unit, hooked up to a fetal heart monitor and a contractions monitor.  It wasn't too bad but I don't know how women spend months on end on bed rest, I was so restless after just a few hours!

All checked out and I was discharged Tuesday morning :) 

I felt silly going to the ER over a fall that didn't have any impact on my belly but I am glad I went.  I got to hear Webby's heartbeat and hear him moving around, while also feeling it, which was awesome.  The best part of all was falling asleep to the sound of his heartbeat.

~*~ January 26, 2012 ~*~

~*~ 24w2d ~*~

22w

22 weeks today!

I love feeling Webby move.

Last night we were able to feel where he was positioned in my belly.

It was amazing.

He was hanging out on my right side.

This is where I usually get jabbed from so I wasn't surprised.

It must be his favorite spot <3

Merry Christmas

 

Can't believe that next Christmas there will be 3 of us! 

I felt regular kicks from Webby on Christmas Eve night & Christmas day <3

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend <3

~19W Bump~

19 week update - Feeling great!  Fatigue hits me hard every now and then but it's not unbearable like it was in the 1st trimester.  My appetite disappeared for a few weeks but nowadays I'm eating ALL the time - today I brought 2 lunches to work and ate one at 10:30ish, lol.  I'm still hungry but am stopping myself from eating the second one before 12:00. haha.  I feel movements that still feel like bubbling/popping mostly while I am eating & right after.  Baby must be really excited to get some food :)  I am waking up at least 2 times in the middle of the night now to go pee.  Ugh.  I miss sleeping through the night, lol. I go in for my level 2 ultrasound tomorrow, here's to hoping that everything is a-ok!

A/S

We had our anatomy scan yesterday!  It was great seeing our little one on the screen.  The tech said Webby is a big baby and measuring a week ahead (19w2d when I was 18w) and weighing in at 10 ounces!  She also said that Webby is an active baby, which the midwife says at every appointment because we can hear lots of movements on the doppler. 

So.....the verdict is in!  We are officially members of Team.........................

BLUE!!!!!

Can't wait to meet our little man in May!

XOXOXOXO