Members

As a member you'll be able to receive and send messages, keep your own photobook, agenda, ask questions, participate in the chat, and make new friends. All is free and you don't need email.
Sign up (free & anonymous)

Name: Password:

---

Activity
• Now online | Member search | New members | Comment Spy
• New blogs & Questions | Recently updated profiles
• New photos: Pregnancy | Babies | Bellies | Ultrasound | Member pages
• Latest comments: Forums | Week by week | Baby development

Brody Sex: boy Born: 28 November, 2007 Age: 0 years & 320 days Birthday in: 45 days Starsign: Sagittarius Development: See the 10 months page. Biggest achievement so far: -

::: Birth Story :::

Vaginal Birth vs. C-Section

It all started Monday, November 26th, 2007. I had my weekly Monday appointment at the doctor's office. This was the day that i was going to get a final estimated weight of Brody via ultrasound. I was scheduled to be induced that Friday, November 30th. I went in for my ultrasound and got to see my boy one last time inside my tummy. Once the technician was finished scanning all the body parts I ask her what his weight is and she replies "I am afraid to even tell you!". I immidiately thought - "OH NO - A 9 pounder!" She said he's measuring about 9 lbs. 12 oz. My mouth dropped. I couldn't help but thinking at the very moment that I can't wait until Friday to have him - i need him out NOW! So I went back into the examining room and waited for my doctor to come in and discuss his measurements, etc. with me. I immediately asked her if there was any way to bump up the induction date to anything sooner. She said she would need to examine my cervix to see if anything had progressed and go from there. She checked me and I was still only 1 cm and 70% effaced. I had been this way for three weeks now. There was no signs of progression. She left the room saying she wanted to consult with other doctors about going in sooner to have him.

The doctor came back and said she wanted to discuss another alternative - C-Section. She said I was right on the border of a doctor recommended c-section vs. vaginal delivery. She went over the risks involved if i try to have him vaginally and risks of a c-section. After tears and emotions in over-drive, i decided the best decision for me was to have Brody by c-section even though I was set on having him naturally. I didn't want to risk him getting stuck or me laboring and laboring for hours with no progression where I'd have to be rushed for an emergency c-section anyways. So we decided on a date and that date was November 28th at 10:00 am.

Birth Day

It's 7:00 am on November 28th, 2007. My alarm goes off and I lay in bed with my hand over my tummy and Christopher sleeping next to me. Today was the day my life would change forever and only in a matter of hours. I nudge Christopher and he wakes up and gently kisses me. We get up and start to get ready for our trip to the hospital.

My mom met me and Christopher at our house because she was going to be with us in the operating room when i have him. We all take the 4 minute trip to the hospital. I arrive and am immediately taken back to my "recovery room" to get undressed and prepare for my IV and get vitals and hooked up to the monitor. I was going to be wheeled in a little bit before 10 to start my spinal and get things going but then my doctor had a patient that was pushing and he had to be with her until she was finished...so i didn't get back to the room until 11:00am.

The room was kind of scary - not what i imagined. It was small and VERY brightly lit and so cold. I laid down on the table and kind of started to tremble because I just wanted this to be over with. I was nervous about the spinal because I kept thinking about the after-math effects that I could have (the nausea, spinal headaches, or it not working full and I feel them slice me open). I curl up on my side and the anesthesiologist begins. It hurt a little bit and felt kind of weird, but I just kept breathing through it. Finally they roll me over and strap my arms out the side. The doctor poked around asking if i felt anything and I said not really. The nurses then put in my catheter (I asked them to do it once i was numb). Before I knew it, I heard the doctor say "What was the incision time"? The nurse said "11:06". I looked at the brightly lit clock and it was already 11:10am - so they had already started opening me up and I didn't even know it!

Christopher and my mom came into the room. Christopher came right to my side and said that I was doing so good and that he loved me. The tears just started coming down. I don't know what hit me, but I was just so glad to see him and have him there with me. A few minutes later, Christopher said he felt like he was going to pass out and had to leave the room! He didn't eat breakfast and he was so nervous and excited about everything i guess it got to him - not to mention he can't stand blood or anything like that so he got really weak. Moments later, he came back in because they didn't want him to miss the birth.

Next thing I know, the doctors said "A lot of pressure" and then i hear them say they "WOW - look how big he is" and I heard Brody cry for the first time. The pressure was intense, but I couldn't really pay much attention to it - i was just so happy that Brody was finally here. Christopher and my mom went over to see the baby (they didn't show me Brody at all - and I was nervous about it). Christopher came back to me and i said "Is he perfect?" and that's when Christopher got emotional and started to cry saying he was beautiful and so perfect! He went back over to cut Brody's chord. I heard the doctor say "That's at least a 10 pounder" and I just couldn't believe that! Finally they weighed him and said "10 pounds - 4 oz!" I couldn't believe it but at that moment - i knew that having a c-section was the best decision that I could have made. There was no doubt in my mind that my labor and delivery would have been hell! Who knows if i would have even been able to push him out!

Recovery Time

It was about 30 minutes later that I was all stitched up and wheeled back to the recovery room. Brody's APGAR scores were 8 and 9! He was so perfect and didn't need any medical intervention. I thougth for sure he'd have to go to the NICU to be monitored because I had gestational diabetes, but the nurses told me he was perfect. No jaundice, no low blood sugar, and his vitals were right on target. I was SO relieved to hear that. I think going into this whole thing, i expected the worse, but actually have had excellent outcomes with everything. I'm truly blessed. The recovery time was about 2 hours before I could be taken down to my actual maternity room. I was SO dizzy during recovery. The nurses gave me some medication in my IV to prevent nausea and also some pain killers. Boy did those medicines make me feel out of it and very tired. Brody was in the room with us and I couldn't really hold him because I was very dizzy, but Christopher and my mom held him until we were all taken back to my room. Christopher got to change the first diaper (which was poopy!). It was just awesome seeing him with Brody. It melts my heart. The nurses made me try to stand up 2 hours after my c-section. I got up and stood, but had to lay back down because I was too dizzy. I could feel my legs about an hour after the surgery, so that was good and no signs of a spinal headache. All in all i was feeling pretty good - just extremely tired. It was almost like I labored and labored for hours - that's how tired I was. I did throw up a few times after we got down my room, but besides that, it was all good. I had a few visitors that first day (which I would advise NOT to have anyone visit because you just want to be left alone to recooperate and bond with the baby) but it was nice to have people come that care. I would definately do it all over again and everything was well worth it. I was out of the hospital in two days (rather than three) and was up walking around with no problems a day after my c-section. I'm very blessed to have a healthy, happy, and not to mention CUTE baby and a great recovery! Now it's just time for those dang sleepless nights that I'm trying to get used to!

:: First Doctor Appointment ::

We went to Brody's first appoinment at 4 days old. He only lost 1 1/2 ounces in weight and still no signs of jaundice! The doctor said he's a healthy baby and everything is great! I'm so blessed to have such a healthy baby boy!

:: 4 Month Doctor Appointment ::
Date: April 1, 2008
Weight: 17 pounds, 4 ounces (No April Fooling Either!)
Shots Received: PREVNAR, ROTOTECH, HIB

We went to the doctor today for Brody's four month check up. He received his second round of shots today. I've been doing tons of research on the whole "autism & vaccines" controversey. I'm not against giving Brody vaccines, I'm just a little uneasy about giving him 4 or 5 at a time. I explained my worries to the doctor and he understood. He said the reasons why babies get the shots like that at once is because parents don't want to come in often to get the shots so they just lump them all into one session so parents don't have to keep coming back. I told the doctor I don't care about that, i'd rather spread out the vaccines than overload his poor little body. So that's what we will do. He only got two shots today and an oral one. He took it so well. Barely cried! He's such a strong little guy. I did the sugar water trick before he got them though. I read online that if you give an infant a little sugar water right before their shots, that they won't cry or feel as much pain. Whether or not it's actually true - who knows, but i didn't think it would hurt to try and he didn't cry as much as the first round of shots he got at 2 months....so maybe it worked!

:: Four Month Milestones Reached ::

At four months, Brody has accomplished:

- Rolling over on his own from back to belly
- Babbling non-stop
- Giggling, Laughing, Smiling
- Discovered his hands and feet (always putting both in his mouth!)
- Reaching for things that are put in front of him
- Sleeping through the night (since one month old)
- He finally sleeps in his crib in his own room (as of 4 months old)
- Tries to sit up when laying down
- Tried his first jar of fruits (has had pears, bananas, and apples) Bananas are his favorite.
- Is eating cereal
-

---