Archive for the ‘Pregnancy’ Category

• I Am Just Bummed…

  Date: 2010.04.16 | Category: Babies, Blogs, Bunky, Cousins, Family, Friends, Grammy, Health, Hubby, Loss, Nonna, Papa, Pregnancy, Punky, Spunky, mama | Response: 21

  In the past several of months, there has been so much sadness in my life and the lives of those around me.  I am having a very hard time this evening with it all.

  In a short period of time, our family has been constantly sick, my mom is dealing with her cancer and constant testing, my friend, who had been trying to conceive for nearly two years, miscarried her baby, my Nonna struggles in a nursing home, my other friends found out that their future plans are being delayed indefinitely, another friend delivered a stillborn full-term baby girl, my husband’s Aunt Joy passed away after a short battle with brain cancer, several people that we love have been trying for years and cannot conceive, my in-laws are going through a hard time at their church, a friend’s step-mother was diagnosed with cancer, and the wedding of our friends that was supposed to be this weekend had to be cancelled due to immigration issues and the groom is now detained, separated from his fiance AND his young daughter, on the weekend that was to be his wedding.

  On top of this, now that our family has been exposed to a “highly contagious” virus, we have to cancel our trip back home.  My mom’s side of the family, all four of her brothers and their families, were getting together.  One of my aunts has brain cancer and I have an uncle who is very ill.  I so wanted to be there because this may be the last time that everyone is together as a family, and now we can’t go.  We can’t expose these two family members, who are in compromised physical states, to this stupid virus.

  I am angry.  I am sad.  I am disappointed.  I am confused.  I am frustrated.

  I just wish things weren’t like this.

• One Year Ago…

  Date: 2009.12.23 | Category: Bunky, Christmas, Holidays, Nativity, Pregnancy | Response: 2

  … we discovered this wonderful surprise right before Christmas.

  

  The line is incredibly faint because I took the test when I was only two-three weeks pregnant.
  And the tests say you can’t tell this early.  Ha!  I proved them wrong.

  And this year we get to celebrate Bunky’s 1st Nativity of Our Lord!

  

  He’s really looking forward to it- can’t you tell?

• The Story of Bunky’s Birth

  Date: 2009.09.02 | Category: Babies, Bunky, Family, Grammy, Hubby, Midwife, Papa, Pregnancy, Punky, Spunky, mama | Response: 6

  Disclaimer: This may be a little too much information for some, so I am warning you ahead of time. Read at your own risk
  

  The day before Bunky’s birth, I visited my midwife, Nancy, for my 38 week check-up.  I was 4cm dilated and 70% effaced.  Nancy had discussed stripping my membranes the week before.  I did a little research and decided to go ahead with it.  (I had my membranes stripped with Spunky, but all it did was cause a week of contractions.  Even though I didn’t want that to happen again, I thought it was work the risk since my family had arrived in town the day before and I had their help and support.)

  With my membranes stripped, I headed home with the hopes that I would go into labor.  As the day progressed, I began to wonder if anything really was going to happen that day.  By bedtime, I had had very few contractions.  I figured that it hadn’t worked again and that I would have the baby in a couple of weeks.

  At about 2:30am, I started having very regular contractions that lasted about a minute and were 3-4 minutes apart.  Since my other labors had been fast, three and a half hours each, my hubby insisted we leave for the hospital.  We woke up my mom, grabbed our things and called my midwife, who headed to the hospital.

  Of course, as soon as I checked in to the hospital everything slowed down.  By 9am, I had barely progressed more than a centimeter, so we decided to break my water.  Nancy said that she knew I would have the baby today, but didn’t want to send me home just to have me turn around and come back again.  By breaking my water, we hoped it would cause labor to speed up.

  My water was broken mid-morning and I slowly progressed.  I walked around a lot, did squats, and even rested a little bit in between contractions.  By early afternoon, my contractions were getting harder, but I was still progressing but at an achingly slow speed compared to my previous two deliveries.

  I labored quite differently than I did with my previous two children because I was not hooked up to an IV. I was able to move around as much as I liked.  I found what worked best for me was to sit on a stool and then lean against my hubby during contractions.  My secret to getting through them was to say to my hubby, in my head, over and over again, “I love you.”  It distracted me from the pain and made the experience of childbirth so intimate and beautiful for me.

  Nancy had already delivered several babies of women who had come in after me, and I, her first patient, still had not delivered my little man.  At around 3:30pm (almost twelve hours after I had arrived at the hospital) the contractions were increasing in pain, but for some reason I got stuck at 9cm.  I was there for a while, and finally Nancy suggested that a little bit of pitocin would probably be enough just to get me ready to deliver.

  The nurse hooked me up to pitocin.  My contractions were intense and constant with no breaks in between.  But within 18 minutes, Bunky was born.  After the first push, I heard my hubby say, “There’s the head!”  Which I thought meant the baby was crowning.  But, no.  The head was out!  The cord was wrapped once around Bunky’s neck.  Once that was untangled, I pushed again, and out came our little boy.  I heard my mom saying, “listen: he’s crying.”  Apparently, according to my mom, I looked a little bit in shock, but hearing my little boy’s cries brought me to reality.  I did not expect him to be born in just two pushes; so I think I was in a little bit of shock at that moment.  Bunky was born at 4:05pm on Saturday, August 22, 2009.

  only a minute old
  

  The nurse immediately placed him up on my chest while they wiped him off.  A little while later, my hubby cut the cord and a while after that the placenta came out.  I only needed one stitch, which I chose to have done without pain meds (it barely hurt).  The nurses checked out Bunky and everything looked great.  He weighed 6 pounds 15 ounces and measured 19 1/4 inches long.

  Punky was 6 pounds 13 ounces and 20 inches long- three weeks early.
  Spunky was 7 pounds 11 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long- one week late.

  
  Daddy with his new son & Grammy with her third grandchild

  After Bunky was measured and weighed, he nursed for a while.  Then, my husband, mother and I were able to spend a while admiring our handsome guy.  As soon as he got the call, my dad brought the kids over to meet their little brother.  It was a wonderful time that we all spent together.

  
  Papa and Baby Bunky & The Boys

  Although I can’t consider my birth completely “natural”, it was much closer to that than my previous two deliveries.  Once again, I was able to manage the pain naturally through breathing.  It might sound strange, but I actually enjoyed my labor with Bunky.  I was able to relax some and, even during transition, I had breaks between contractions.  Overall, it was a very positive experience for me.  And it brought my beautiful baby boy into the world, for which I am forever thankful.  We are truly blessed with three beautiful, heathly children.

  
  Our Family of Five

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  I recently took The Birth Survey and shared my birth experience so that others may use this knowledge to decide with whom and where to deliver a baby.  I had a very positive experience at the hospital that I used with both Spunky and Bunky.  I moved from using an OBGYN to a midwife this time around and was very pleased.  If you would like to share your experiences, I encourage you to follow the link below.  You never know who you may help in the process.

  

• Pregnancy Week 38 Update

  Date: 2009.08.21 | Category: Bunky, Midwife, Pregnancy, mama | Response: 7

  Today’s appointment went well.  My midwife stripped my membranes (ouch!) and hopes I’ll go into labor this weekend because she is on call.  My back has been hurting me today, which could be a sign of early labor or the fact that I am hugely pregnant and didn’t sleep well last night.  The baby is moving around like crazy today; he keeps kicking me up under my ribs and switching positions.

  Here are this week’s stats:

  • My BP was 120/82, no protein and I gained another three pounds (part of which is due to my legs now having edema- lucky me!)
  • he had the hick-ups when she was listening to his heartbeat- he gets them all the time
  • I am about 4cm dilated (up 2 from last week) and still 70% effaced
  • head still down and in the right position
  • measuring a week ahead- He is going to be my biggest baby yet!
  • My midwife said that she thinks I will have a smooth delivery because I have a “good pelvis”, which is a huge relief to me because my previous OB said the opposite after Grace was born and it had me really nervous about delivering a big baby. Now I am not nervous in regards to that.

  Please say a prayer that I will go into labor this weekend!  If not, I have another appointment on Tuesday, and my midwife will try to strip the membranes again to see if that will kick me into labor.  I really want to have baby Bunky before my dad has to go back home by the 31st– and I know he wants to be here, too!

• Could It Be? Take a Guess!

  Date: 2009.08.20 | Category: Bunky, Midwife, Parenting, Pregnancy, mama | Response: 11

  Tomorrow could be the BIG DAY.

  My midwife is going to strip my membranes tomorrow afternoon.  This is supposed to bring on contractions which can lead to labor.  I had it done with Spunky, and it didn’t bring on labor, just a week straight of contractions.  So that may be the case for this baby as well.  However, some claim that it will make you go into labor within two days.

  Feel free to make a guess in the comments section
  as to when YOU think the baby will be born!

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  I am starting to feel stressed.  I tend to be a worrier and I have lots of things that I can worry about right now: going into labor (I’ve never done it naturally before- was induced twice), giving birth to my biggest baby so far, coming home and suddenly being the mommy of THREE kids, and just the transition of having a newborn with a 3 1/2 year old and a 2 year old.

  I love the newborn stage.  I know a lot of people who prefer it when their children are a bit older, but I cherish those first few months.  I love spending the time holding, nursing and cuddling with the baby.  I am especially looking forward to sharing those moments with Punky and Spunky.

  Punky is incredibly excited for his little brother to be born.  It is all that he talks about.  Spunky loves talking through my belly button to the baby.  I know they are both going to love having a baby in the house.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Please keep us in your prayers in the coming day.

  I will be sure to update if things start progressing.

• Pregnancy Week 37 Update: Baby May Be Born Next Weekend?

  Date: 2009.08.14 | Category: Bunky, Midwife, Pregnancy, mama | Response: 10

  I went for my 37 week check-up today.  My midwife did have a few concerns:

  • rapid weight gain in the last week
  • high BP for two weeks in a row
  • lots and lots of edema (swelling)
  • however, I did not have any protein in my urine (sign of pre-eclampsia)

  I am to drink lots of water and put my feet up whenever I can– haha! Putting my feet up with two little kids isn’t the easiest thing to do, but I will try.

  Here are this week’s stats:

  • still at 2cm and 70% effaced
  • baby is at -1 position
  • NOT posterior (Spunky was, and the delivery was really painful; so I am doing my best not to recline and keep the baby’s back forward)
  • He is a BIG BOY- my midwife asked me how big Spunky was when she was born a week late (7 lbs 11 oz) and she said he will “definitely beat her”
  • He had a big growth spurt over the last week

  Soooo….

  Next week, she is going to strip “the heck out of my membranes” (her words, not mine) in the hopes that he will come a little bit early and not be too huge.  I had that done with Spunky as well, but it only made me have contractions; I didn’t go into labor until a week later when I was induced.  Also, my BP going up a little bit and all the swelling could end up being a reason to have the baby early.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  My parents are going to be making the trip out to stay with us some time in the middle of next week so that they can be here in case the baby is born next weekend.  My mom will be with me for the birth and my dad will stay home with the kids.  We are really looking forward to their arrival!

• Pregnancy Update: Week 35, almost 36

  Date: 2009.08.06 | Category: Bunky, Pregnancy, mama | Response: 11

  I haven’t been feeling well at all lately.  Lots of Braxton Hicks, abdominal pain, back ache, etc.  I guess this all comes with the territory when you are having your third child.  I spent yesterday throwing up and visiting the toilet in between lying in my bed and trying to nap.  I’ve learned that napping is impossible with a 3 1/2 year old boy who needs to tell me everything that is he doing when he is doing it.  Fortunately, Spunky still naps; so at least I get a little break.

  35 Week Stats:

  • 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced
  • baby has completely dropped and is in the “right position”
  • his heartrate- 166 (highest yet- I think he is getting excited to meet us!)
  • my BP was high this week: 140/82
  • but NO protein in my urine (so, no signs of pre-eclampsia)
  • according to my doctor, I’ve gained 31 pounds so far (much better than the 50 and 60 lbs I gained with the other two pregnancies)
  • baby measuring right where he should be and moving around ALL the TIME

• Nearly 34 Week Check-Up

  Date: 2009.07.23 | Category: Bunky, Grammy, Midwife, Pregnancy, Punky, Spunky, mama | Response: 5

  We arrived home last night after midnight and woke up early this morning to go to an appointment with my midwife. Punky and Spunky had to come with me, but, fortunately, they love my midwife.  (Although, on the way there, Punky re-affirmed his hatred for Grammy’s doctors when he told me that he likes my doctor, but hates Grammy’s.  He loves his Grammy and is incredibly protective of her.)

  Pregnancy and Baby #3 33-34 Week Stats:

  • BP: 116/82
  • Iron: 11.7 – still going down a little bit.  I am going to try even harder to eat things rich in iron since the iron supplements make me so sick.  Any tips?
  • Baby head down and in pelvis
  • Measuring exactly where I should be (he was measuring bigger before just because he was not in position)
  • Baby’s heart rate: 142
  • Lots of swelling in my feet and ankles
  • Braxton Hicks all the time, especially when walking a lot
  • still vomiting once in a while- it usually happens when I am really tired
  • Baby #3 is moving around A LOT

• A Pregnant Klutz and Her Accident

  Date: 2009.07.17 | Category: Bunky, London, Pregnancy, Punky, Spunky, mama | Response: 18

  This is a long, and true, story.

  One of my first thoughts when arriving in the London and walking across her old, stone roads, was that I must not trip.  I have been very cautious on stairs and when crossing the street.  But I must have become too relaxed by Wednesday.

  I was walking down the sidewalk from our hotel towards the tube (subway).  It is a distance that I travel several times a day.  However, on this very day, I managed to catch my shoe on the curb and I tripped on landed straight on my stomach.  I tried to grab hold of something, anything, but there was nothing nearby.

  Several people immediately came to my aide and called an ambulance.  Not only was I terrified, more terrified than I have ever been in my entire life, but I was alone and without a way to contact my husband who I was on my way to meet.

  A very kind lady held my hand while I waited for the ambulance and feared the absolute worst.  My little boy was not moving and had hidden himself way towards my back, which made my abdomen feel very soft, not its usual hard self.  I was shaking with fear.

  The ambulance arrived and the EMS men checked me out.  I was fine except for a terribly bruised knee.  They were unable to find a heartbeat with the stethoscope; so they recommended that I head to the hospital to be checked out.  Since the baby wasn’t moving at all, despite my poking him constantly, we decided to try to find my husband via ambulance and then go to the ER.

  I was to meet my husband at Westminster Cathedral for the 5:30pm service.  We waited in the courtyard in front of the church for about 20 minutes, during which time, my precious boy began to move and sneak out of his corner.  I was so relieved I almost began to cry.

  My husband never showed up.  It turns out that his train was stuck underground and a trip that should have taken 10-15 minutes took 45.  He arrived at the church to find me absent and immediately started calling the hotel.  Fortunately, a passerby at the time of my accident had gone to the hotel with information about where I was going, as did the Police a little while later.

  All this time, I was at the hospital being checked by a doctor.  Everything was fine.  The baby’s heartrate was steady and strong, and my BP was in good range.  I was sent home with advice to come back if anything changed.  Besides being incredibly sore in my abdomen, nothing has changed.

  At this point, I was alone in a strange area of London without any way to contact my husband who was terrified that something horrible had happened to his wife and child.  All he knew was that I had had an accident and had been taken to the hospital.

  He arrived at the hospital only to find that they had no record of me in the ER (I had gone straight to the OB).  Just as I was about to give up hope of finding him, I went to the ER for a second time and there he was on the phone with our hotel.  We reunited, and I told him that that baby and I are fine.  Slowly, during the evening, I relayed parts of the story as I could remember them.  I was still very shaken up and on the verge of tears much of the night.

  We enjoyed a lovely French dinner, during which I had a tiny glass of wine, advised by the doctor for my nerves.  Then we came back to the hotel.  The following day was actually the hardest for me.  I think I had been so strong that previous evening that I hadn’t had a chance to deal with my emotions.  All the time that the baby was not moving, I could only think that I had killed him.  Terrible, terrible thoughts passed through my mind.  Every time I feel him move, which he does very often, I am reminded that we could have lost him.  But God protected my beautiful child, and for that I am beyond thankful.

  I cannot imagine the pain that a mother feels when she loses a child. The pain that I felt imagining that it could be happening to me was beyond any type of grief I have felt before.  Then hearing his heartbeat brought me greater relief that I have ever known.  My precious child is safe and growing stronger each moment.  I have been taking slow and steady steps where ever I go.  But, to be honest, I am quite terrified of tripping again.  It feels like what I have heard happens after you are in a car accident and are afraid to get behind the wheel again.  That is how I felt yesterday.  I was afraid that I would venture out alone and trip again.

  Times like this make me miss my children even more.  That night, we were able to call my family and talk to both of the kids.  It was so comforting to her them say “I love you”, even if Spunky called me “papa” at first instead of “mommy.”  And Punky’s “see ya soon” brought a huge smile to my face.

  We have a busy few days ahead of us and then we head back home.  I look forward to sharing this time with my husband, but I am also anticipating hugging my little ones again.

• Beginning of Third Trimester Update

  Date: 2009.06.17 | Category: Bunky, Pregnancy, mama | Response: 7

  

  28 1/2 weeks- 80 days until due date (not great quality- sorry)

  I went to see my midwife on Tuesday and found out several things:

  • I do not have gestational diabetes- Not shocking at all since I tend to be hypoglycemic when I am pregnant, which is why at my last appointment my midwife recommended that I eat more snacks throughout the day to keep my blood sugar regulated.
  • I am a little bit anemic- My midwife and I had suspected this since I have been getting dizzy and having headaches, so I had been trying to eat things rich in iron.  Obviously, that wasn’t helping enough because my iron level has dropped over two points since the beginning of my pregnancy (healthy range is between 12-14); therefore, dropping two points is a lot.  Now I am taking an over-the-counter iron supplement.  I was very anemic after I had Punky.  It is best to be very proactive about this, so it doesn’t get any worse.
  • My Blood Pressure was up a little bit this week- My midwife told me not to worry, and we will just keep a close eye on it.  It was 130/72.  That is up from 120/64 two weeks ago.  If you haven’t been reading my blog for long, I had pre-eclampsia with Punky and pregnancy-induced hypertension with Spunky.  So watching my BP is very important.
  • I’ve gained right around 20 pounds so far- I gained 60 pounds with Punky and 50 with Spunky; so I am doing very well (for me) so far.  Even if I gain a pound a week from this point on, I will still be in a “healthy weight gain range”.
  • I need to pay close attention to my contactions- if I have more than 6 in an hour, which I almost did the other day, I need to call the midwife.  She recommended taking a bath and drinking lots of water.  Well, I don’t know how a bath would work if I am in the middle of taking care of the kids, but I am definitely drinking lots of water.
  • This Little Guy is Stubborn- If you remember, he refused to show us his face in the ultrasound, and, yesterday, he wouldn’t stay still when the nurse was trying to listen to his heartrate.  He kept moving all over my belly.  Stubborness runs in the family— big time!  So it wouldn’t be surprising to have another kiddo with the same traits.  This little man is a mover!