IT'S A GIRL!!!

This is baby #1 for us. I seem to be a bit older than some of the other women on this site but I don't feel old and pregnancy has been pretty easy so far. Over the last few years I have had two miscarriages - I was tested for pretty much everything and no one could find anything wrong with me so we decided to try again and it looks like this one is a keeper. : ) Assuming all goes well and we get the healthy baby we are hoping for we plan to try again at the end of next summer for #2.

Initially I thought I wanted a heavily medicated birth - I was really afraid. The more I resesarch, however, the more confident I am becoming that I can do this. I am going to attempt natural childbirth in a hospital setting but I am going to keep my options open - I reserve the right to change my mind at any time.

I have been really inspired by the work of midwife Ina May Gaskin and highly recommend her book "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth". I also enjoyed the movie "The Business of Being Born". Even though I don't think a home birth is right for me it was great to see so many normal, uneventful births in that film. It was one of the things that really helped to ease some of my fear.

July 8, 2008

We just hired a doula that is going to help us labor at home as long as possible and then will go to the hospital with us when it is time and stay with us through the birth. I am actually getting excited about delivery and am trying to think about it like I am preparing to run a big, long race. I have run 3 marathons and my runner friends that have given birth have told me that the marathon is more difficult so I am hoping that my experience is similar.

Tomorrow is my 28 week check up. I have the glocuse test and another ultrasound. My blood pressure has been high throughout the pregnancy and they need to make sure the baby is growing okay. Based on the size of my growing belly I think she is fine - possibly even TOO big. : )

July 9, 2008

28 week appointment went really well. I passed my glucose test, and my blood pressure was normal for the first time this entire pregnancy. : ) Ultrasound showed that the baby is growing as it should - current weight is estimated at 2 pounds 8 oz putting it at 56% according to the doctor. Here's hoping the next 12 weeks are as average as this appointment was.

August 8, 2008

32 week appointment yesterday - all continues to progress well. We had a quick ultrasound to check for growth. Current weight was estimated at just over 4 pounds which puts her at 60% and "unofficially" moves my due date closer to September 20th. Because of continued high blood pressure I have another ultrasound scheduled for Week 36 - it is so much fun to peak in at her and see what she is up to in there...still a very active little girl. All in all I am feeling pretty good although I am having sleeping challenges - seems to be par for the course at this stage. Am reading "Hypnobirthing" - just started it yesterday but so far I am impressed.

August 13, 2008 - BABY TRYING TO MAKE EARLY DEBUT!!!

Thanks to all of you who wrote such nice, encouraging messages on our unexpected birth situation here. I am finally getting around to updating this page. So - here is the full story:

We had just attended our birthing class on Saturday at the hospital and got the tour that same day. When we got home from the all day class I was exhausted and took a long nap. When I woke up my husband and I ate dinner but I still felt wiped out so I told him that I was going to bed. I also told him that I didn't think I could possibly be pregnant much longer - my body just doesn't seem to have any more room to grow (foreshadowing???). When I was getting ready for bed I noticed that my underwear were wet but nothing major and so the thought crossed my mind but I didn't really worry about it. When I woke up at 1:30 to go to the bathroom I again noticed a wet spot and decided that I would call the doctor at 8:00 the next morning - even if I was leaking it didn't seem to be enough to be worrisome. At 7:00 a.m. I went to the bathroom and when I stood up to wipe my mucus plug few out and landed on the bathroom floor (TMI, I know, I know). It is funny though, I wasn't sure that I would recognize it when it came out and let me tell you - there was no question. It looked just like a wine cork only made of mucus. That is when it really dawned on me that something out of the ordinary was going on. So...called the doctor on-call for my practice. She was doing rounds at the hospital and told me to come in so she could check me quick. The test for amniotic fluid is easy - they stick a little q-tip in your vagina for a minute, swish it in a test tube, stick a piece of paper in and if there are two pink stripes (like a pregnancy test) there is amniotic fluid present. Surprise, Surprise, I had two pink stripes.

So...they got me into a hosptial gown and took me up to delivery where I was hooked up to a fetal monitor, started on intervenous fluids and antibiotics and given the first of two steriod shots to help the baby's lungs grow quickly. The first night was not great. They had a difficult time getting my IV in and I apparently have a sensitivity to one of the antibiotics that made my veins feel like they were on fire. In the middle of the night my contractions started getting into a regular pattern and were getting closer together so they gave me a shot of something to stop labor and it worked like a charm. Interesting note here: I barely felt the contractions. I had been feeling that sensation at home for the last few weeks but always assumed it was the baby moving. My stomach has been so tight that I cannot feel the contractions externally like most people can. Anyhow - with all the commotion in the room that night I didn't get any sleep and was basically up for almost 30 hours straight.

On day two I had the second steriod shot and continued IV fluids and antibiotics. Since my uterine activity had calmed down they took me off constant monitoring and started to monitor baby and me just 2 times a day. They also moved me to a more comfortable room (not a delivery room).

Yesterday I finished the IV antibiotics and they started me on oral antibiotics. I begged to get the IV port taken out of my hand since it had been so painful and they said okay. I may need to get another one put in at some point but I was willing to take that chance to get a bit more freedom and comfort. My biggest issue right now is that because of all the IV fluids I am horribly swollen and am having trouble moving. I am on bedrest until I hit week 34 so that does not help matters. The baby is fine though and that is a huge relief. The hospital has an excellent NICU and they have assured me that the baby will be fine, even though she will be small and may need some assistance breathing or eating for the first few days or weeks.

So...as of now I am still pregnant with a healthy baby girl just biding my time in the hospital until she decides to make her debut. If I go into labor now they will not try to stop labor - we will just go ahead and deliver. The goal is to keep me pregnant as long as possible without infection.

I will keep you all posted. Thanks again for the well-wishes and I hope that all of you are getting through these last few weeks okay.

Best,

Heather