God Bless the doctor who created and perfected the art of the epidural.
Labor has been very interesting so far. As Steven mentioned, I began my contractions late afternoon yesterday, July 29th. My water broke around 10:40 pm, followed by frequent contractions. As the intensity of those contractions began to build around 11pm, I decided to take an IV medication, Nubain, for the pain. The first dose worked wonders and I was able to rest until around 2 AM. Steven said I acted "high as a kite" for a few minutes before settling down.
Around 2 AM the Nubain started to wear off and I thought it would be interesting to feel some of these contractions. From 2 AM to 6:30 AM, I experienced some pretty intense contractions. They were typically 2 to 3 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute each. I tried a second dose of Nubain but it had no affect on me. By 7:30 AM the pain was more then I had wanted to experience so I requested the life-saving epidural.
The procedure itself was fairly painless (in comparison to the contractions). And after a few minutes I was looking at the monitors and could see that I was contracting, but couldn't feel them!!!! Hallelujah!
I was able to take a nice nap after that. It's currently 9:45 AM, I'm 6 cm dilated without any pain. Next stop....baby!
Lesson Learned: Feeling contractions, over-rated. GET THE EPIDURAL!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
We are in the hospital!!!
Ok ladies and gentlemen, it's about that time!!! It is 8:52pm and Jenny has been laying in a hospital bed for about 4 hours now. (by the way this is Steven)
Earlier today Jenny's blood pressure was a bit elevated and after speaking with the doctor he decided that we should not wait anymore. Jenny arrived at the hospital around 3:45pm and I arrived not to long after. After getting setup and having an exam the midwife decided that Jenny should go on a slow IV drip of Pitocin to induce the labor. The end result would be Jenny having the baby around 4 or 5pm the next day, July 30th. However, the doctor had different plans (I'm pretty sure they are along the lines of going boating this weekend) and wants the baby to be delivered as soon as possible. So the dosage of Pitocin was increased. We are now expecting the baby to be delivered sometime in the early morning or mid morning tomorrow, July 30th.
Jenny is currently strapped up with a couple of fetal monitors. Our baby's heart beat is averaging around 130 beats per minute and Jenny is experiencing mild contractions about every 2-5 minutes. Don't get too excited people, Jenny can barely feel these contractions.
Since we have been here (4pm and its 9pm now) two baby's have been born!!! Jenny and I are pretty sure that one woman did not have an epidural though... that lady was definitely in some pain! Jenny originally thought the screaming was from a baby but once she realized it was the mother that was screaming she slowly turned her head and looked at me in such a way that.... well, for all you mothers and fathers out there you know what I am talking about. As for all you future mothers and fathers, have a camera ready because the look you will see on your future mothers face is priceless!
The next post will most likely be sometime after the baby is born! Thank you all for following our lives during this exciting time! We will post pictures of our baby as soon as we can.
Thank you,
Steven
Earlier today Jenny's blood pressure was a bit elevated and after speaking with the doctor he decided that we should not wait anymore. Jenny arrived at the hospital around 3:45pm and I arrived not to long after. After getting setup and having an exam the midwife decided that Jenny should go on a slow IV drip of Pitocin to induce the labor. The end result would be Jenny having the baby around 4 or 5pm the next day, July 30th. However, the doctor had different plans (I'm pretty sure they are along the lines of going boating this weekend) and wants the baby to be delivered as soon as possible. So the dosage of Pitocin was increased. We are now expecting the baby to be delivered sometime in the early morning or mid morning tomorrow, July 30th.
Jenny is currently strapped up with a couple of fetal monitors. Our baby's heart beat is averaging around 130 beats per minute and Jenny is experiencing mild contractions about every 2-5 minutes. Don't get too excited people, Jenny can barely feel these contractions.
Since we have been here (4pm and its 9pm now) two baby's have been born!!! Jenny and I are pretty sure that one woman did not have an epidural though... that lady was definitely in some pain! Jenny originally thought the screaming was from a baby but once she realized it was the mother that was screaming she slowly turned her head and looked at me in such a way that.... well, for all you mothers and fathers out there you know what I am talking about. As for all you future mothers and fathers, have a camera ready because the look you will see on your future mothers face is priceless!
The next post will most likely be sometime after the baby is born! Thank you all for following our lives during this exciting time! We will post pictures of our baby as soon as we can.
Thank you,
Steven
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Crunch Time! Or is it Push Time?!?
July 27th...Our original due date but still no baby!
Last week, Tuesday, July 20th, at the doctor's visit, I was 0.5cm dilated. The baby's heart rate was around 135 beats per minute. All signs pointed to a healthy baby and a timely due date. I had a slightly elevated blood pressure reading but all the blood work came out normally.
Today's visit, July 27th, I was between 1.5-2.0 cm dilated. The baby's heart rate was around 130 beats per minute. The doctor was happy with my progress but because my blood pressure is still slightly elevated he thinks the baby should be delivered sooner than later. (No emergency, though)
We are scheduled to induce labor on Sunday night, August 1st. The doctor, however, thinks that I may go into labor naturally before then! He asked one favor of me....not to eat any bean burritos before my labor. I can't imagine what kind of unpleasant experience he must have had in previous deliveries for him to have that request. That's okay though, I won't eat any bean burritos but Portillo's jumbo hot dogs are not off the menu!!!
I am so excited I don't know what to do with myself! At the moment I am washing the baby's towels and washcloths. It's full-on nesting and preparation for our Peanut from now until Sunday.
Here are some recent pictures:
The pool is really relaxing and has helped relieve some of my backpain.
Look at that white belly!
Last week, Tuesday, July 20th, at the doctor's visit, I was 0.5cm dilated. The baby's heart rate was around 135 beats per minute. All signs pointed to a healthy baby and a timely due date. I had a slightly elevated blood pressure reading but all the blood work came out normally.
Today's visit, July 27th, I was between 1.5-2.0 cm dilated. The baby's heart rate was around 130 beats per minute. The doctor was happy with my progress but because my blood pressure is still slightly elevated he thinks the baby should be delivered sooner than later. (No emergency, though)
We are scheduled to induce labor on Sunday night, August 1st. The doctor, however, thinks that I may go into labor naturally before then! He asked one favor of me....not to eat any bean burritos before my labor. I can't imagine what kind of unpleasant experience he must have had in previous deliveries for him to have that request. That's okay though, I won't eat any bean burritos but Portillo's jumbo hot dogs are not off the menu!!!
I am so excited I don't know what to do with myself! At the moment I am washing the baby's towels and washcloths. It's full-on nesting and preparation for our Peanut from now until Sunday.
Here are some recent pictures:
The pool is really relaxing and has helped relieve some of my backpain.
Look at that white belly!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Weddings by the dozen
We have been celebrating so many weddings in the past few months. Typically, I would be the first on the dance floor but with my swollen feet and legs I have taken it quite slow recently. Steven, Peanut, and I only dance to the slow songs, where we can waddle or sway gently back and forth.
The best part about all the wedding is getting dressed up. It has been difficult to feel remotely attractive when your 40 lbs heavier than you'd like to be. Dressing up at least made me feel pretty for the night.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Moving Plans
As I had mentioned, we will be closing on the sale of our condo by August 9th. Since our baby is expected to arrive before then we have to set up our baby's room in our temporary home. My loving in-laws are allowing us to invade their home for a few months while we search for a new home. Steven and I can not handle the pressure of finding a new home in such a short time frame so we figured we would mooch off our parents for the time and make the best and non-rushed decision about our new home. It's exciting to think that we will be able to find a house with a backyard!!! Our Peanut is going to love it.
Steven's parents are having new carpet installed in the bedrooms which use to be Steven's and his sisters'. After that, the baby's furniture will be delivered. I will post pictures as soon as we have it all set up. The baby's room should be ready by next week!
Steven's parents are having new carpet installed in the bedrooms which use to be Steven's and his sisters'. After that, the baby's furniture will be delivered. I will post pictures as soon as we have it all set up. The baby's room should be ready by next week!
Monday, July 5, 2010
All at once or nothing at all....
I have on multiple occasions described my life and personality as "addicted to complication." Well that description fits in perfectly to this time period of my life....COMPLICATED! Steven and I have so many things going on it is becoming hard to juggle it all. One ball to juggle is the arrival of our dear Peanut in the next few weeks (which could happen at any point from here on out), then Steven's car has taken a turn for the worse and we need to buy a new car, and on top of all this, after a year on the market, we just accepted an offer on our condo. The closing date is in a month from now. So we are to juggle having a baby, moving, and buying a new car all at the same time!
We will either become master jugglers or will have all our balls on the floor! As long as we don't drop the baby I will be happy!
We will either become master jugglers or will have all our balls on the floor! As long as we don't drop the baby I will be happy!
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