Will you guys please say a prayer for my healing. I’m probably going to call the doctor tomorrow morning unless something miraculous happens tonight. I am in some serious pain; I’m supposed to be feeling a little better every day, not worse.
I just want to feel better so that I can jump up whenever Josephine needs me.
On the 23rd I went to church with my parents and sisters like any other Sunday; later one of my sisters, my father and I went to Costco. When I came home I posted that I was totally ok with staying pregnant for a while longer (foreshadowing?) then I spent the next 2 hours or so making lunch, doing laundry and stuff around the house, and dinking around on the computer.
4:40pm I felt a little something and went to the bathroom…once there I made the decision that I had not in fact lost control of my bladder, but my water had broken.
I was so relieved that the “gush” was on the toilet and not in the crowded aisles of Costco.
I told my parents we needed to get to the hospital and not to panic. I had to emphasize the “do not panic” part a few times for fear they would drive 90mph to the hospital without even checking if I was in the car with them…
The hospital was quiet, I told the nurse at the desk that my water had broke and she took some information, had me sign some papers and I was escorted to my room. My doctor was on vacation, I knew that, but some the nurses seemed confused as to which on-call doctor they were supposed to call.
I put on the lovely gown with my ass hanging out, got the IV put in, and monitors strapped to my belly to track contractions and the baby’s heart. Every few minutes a nurse would come in and check something or another and get a concerned look on her face and say they would watch a little longer, but they aren’t getting a good reading on the heart. They switched to a monitor that screws into the scalp, but it didn’t help.
9:30pm I was 5 cm and in loads of pain. I was told I had a good chance of having to have a c-section and so I went ahead and signed the paperwork for the epidural. Word came that the doctor, on her way in, has given the go-ahead to prep for surgery.
Epidural was increased to super numb status (I would’ve gotten one by then anyhow) and mom put on some scrubs. I was wheeled to the OR and I was shaking, quivering, so terribly that I was asked several times if I was cold. No I’m not cold, I’m scared out of my mind! I find out that I needed the emergency section because the placenta was detaching prematurely. It’s supposed to wait for the baby to be born to start separating, but mine was already 40% separated. Yikes.
They warn you that you’ll feel pressure and tugging, but I felt practically nothing at all. 10:30pm In one instant I heard the doctor say “It’s a girl”, heard Josephine screaming, and saw a puffy face pop over the curtain. Then I started crying so instantaneously you’d have thought it was scripted. My mother (hereafter referred to as grandma) held her after she was wrapped up so I could look into those dark eyes as I was being stapled.
Back in my room the epidural is wearing off and I’m pretty sure I’m going to die right there. I’m hooked up to morphine, everything is fine again. I’m pretty upset when they take it away again later.
I ask to go home on Christmas, a day earlier than I should’ve been released, and I’m given the ok…but I’m sent home with only a few percoset and motrin…and of course the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.
This isn’t the best picture to use as an introduction, but I wanted to hurry up and get one posted before the mob beats down my door.
This little girl is Josephine Therese, born 10:30p Dec 23rd via Cesarean section.
I will post more pictures later, along with a more detailed birth story. However I will say this, I was scared out of my mind when I was told I had to have an emergency c-section and of all the days surrounding my due date, I didn’t want to be in the hospital Christmas morning, yet this birth experience was one hundred times better than I could have hoped.
I got home this afternoon, a day earlier than most people would’ve after major surgery…everyone here is healthy, happy, and pooping like a champ…well I know one little girl who is pooping with the best of them, I won’t speak for anyone else.
help!- my water just broke!
I’ve decided that I’m finally comfortable enough being pregnant that I’m just not going to go into labor. I mean, it took me 9 months to get to this point where I’m totally ok being pregnant that it isn’t really fair to suddenly not be pregnant anymore and have to get used to having a baby around all the time… I go in tomorrow for another “check up” and I’ll just let everyone know my decision then.
I was thrown a shower yesterday by a nice lady at my parents’ church. It was sweet, a few ladies and my family sat around a played a few games, ate cake, and watched me open a bunch of onsies and a really beautiful diaper caddy that the host knitted for me.
One of the games had everyone cut a length of yarn that they guessed would measure around my mid-section. My father, the only male in attendance was dead on.
It’s monday and that means I had another doctor exam today. I was one centimeter last week and since then I had been hoping and praying that I’d be two centimeters today, at least 1.5, but two would be great… and… to the surprise of the doctor and myself I am THREE centimeters dilated. I know this might be going over some of your heads, and it may be kinda gross for others, but those of you who have kids know that now I’m oscillating between excitement and terror.
The only clue I had that I was starting labor was the nesting. I haven’t had any contractions that I thought were worth paying attention to, but I have been cleaning and organizing like mad. Still, I feel fine, a little tired but fine.
ok, a lot tired.
bed time.
bloatedOriginally uploaded by wi77ow.
The most common question I get from strangers now is if I know what I’m having. (A Baby!) Then when I say no they ask if that’s because I don’t want to know, and aren’t I a little curious?
Of course I’m curious, but I’m going to find out really soon. I think I can wait two more weeks.
(The tattoo in the picture shows that I marked the DK box. DK probably stands for “Don’t Know” but it could also be short for “Donkey” I think.)
Anyway, besides an ultrasound the next best way to predict the sex is to list all the ‘old wives tales’ that go along with pregnancy.
It’s a boy if:
Your baby’s heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute (at least it was the first few times that a nurse measured it, my doctor measures it now and I always forget to ask what it is)
You are carrying the extra weight out front (I’ve got extra weight everywhere, but I suppose most of it is out front)
Your belly looks like a basketball (I’ve had a few episodes lately where my belly was behind something like a counter or shopping cart and when I stepped out and turned sideways onlookers were visibly shocked.)
You are craving protein — meats and cheese (I’m not having a lot of cravings, but I am giving in to eating meat everyday which I haven’t done since I was 15. The only real craving that I noticed from the beginning of the pregnancy is for cigarettes. Don’t worry I haven’t given in to it, but MAN I really hope this craving leaves postpartum)
You are having headaches
Your pastor says she knows it’s a boy (I mean, come ON! If you aren’t going to ask your doctor or ultrasound technician, why not just ask God?)
Then again, people have been saying to me that a mother’s first instinct is usually right when it comes to predicting the sex. The first trimester, before anyone starting asserting their own predictions, I was certain that I was carrying a girl. So, you know, whatever.
baby it’s cold outsideOriginally uploaded by wi77ow. There is a full length mirror that I walk by every time I go to my bedroom. Every time I see myself I am a little taken aback at how wide my hips are. I can even notice a difference when I walk or get up from sitting. Weird.
Hey! Do you have kids, or know anyone who has kids? Have you ever seen a baby? Do you have parents? Do you know what a baby is?
If you answered yes to any of those questions then you should read this book. I am so serious.
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