Delivering my Second Child, Part 1

On June 5th 2012 a new little blessing entered into our lives. I've decided that I'd better write down her birth story before any more time passes and I forget too many details. ;-)

Before I can start on the birth story itself, I need to back up and give a little background information.  First off, this baby's due date was actually June 20th!  When I went in for my regular pre-natal check up in the beginning of May I found out that the 1 hour glucose test I had taken last time had come back elevated so I needed to take the 3 hour test.  This was quite a surprise considering that I hadn't gained very much weight this time and didn't have an problems relating to gestational diabetes.  So I took the 3 hour test and it too, came back elevated, though just barely.  And I got the unhappy diagnosis of gestational diabetes.  It still doesn't make any sense to me, especially since my baby wasn't growing super big.

Me at 37 weeks

Later, when I went in the day after making it to 37 weeks, we found out that I needed to have special ultrasounds done to keep track of the baby's weight and growth because of the diabetes.  Usually the midwives would do them twice a week at their office, but since we live so far away from them, the one I was seeing decided that I would only need to get it done once a week if I went to the hospital right then and had a more extensive ultrasound done.  Even though it was late in the day, she called over and was able to get me in before closing time.  After the ultrasound was done, I needed to head back to the midwife office to pick up my appointment card for the next 2 visits plus ultrasound times.  When I got there, the midwife wanted to talk to me.  So while Zack kept little miss Angel Cakes outside to play in the grass, I went in to talk to my midwife once again.

Turns out that the ultrasound showed my baby's abdomen being too small.  About 3 weeks too small.  Very strange considering that the ultrasound I had 3 weeks before showed everything to be perfectly normal.  The reason this could be a problem was that if it was true, then my placenta might not have been working properly.  This would cause all the nourishment that was getting through to go straight to her brain, not to the rest of her body.  The risk was that if the placenta wasn't working right, then it could decide to stop working altogether at any time, meaning we could lose the baby. The midwife had put a call into the OB they all worked under and was waiting to hear back from him.

Long story short, they decided to keep me in the hospital over night to monitor the baby, then give me a second ultrasound in the morning, Friday.  This ultrasound showed the same result as the last one.  Tummy 3 weeks too small.  So it was decided that the safest thing to would be to induce.  Since I was only just barely into my 37th week, and the ultrasound showed that the baby would be fine for up to 4 days, the OB felt it would better to wait until Monday night to begin that induction.  That way the baby would have that much more time for her lungs to mature.

All this was really hard to take in.  I really wanted to have as natural a labor as possible this time around, plus delivering early meant that things weren't quite ready at home for her arrival either.  My main prayer during this time was that the Lord would make me more flexible.

I was told that there were two different types of inducing methods that could be used, an IV drip, or a pill that would dilate my cervix.  The OB preferred the IV drip because if the baby didn't like it, they could turn it off right away, whereas with the pill, once it dissolved, there was no getting it back.

When I got home I asked on a forum that I'm on for some advice for preparing for an induction.  Amongst the replies I discovered the IV drip referred to Pitocin.  Reply after reply told horror stories of Pitocin, and how I would definitely want an epidural.  There where a few ladies who said it was possible to be given Pitocin and deliver without any pain medication, but since I don't have the greatest pain tolerance in the world, I really didn't think it would work for me.

So, Monday arrived, and I got ready to deliver my second daughter...  To read part 2, click here.

39 weeks!

39 weeks today. I can't believe it. I haven't been very good at blogging through this pregnancy, so I guess I'll try and make up for it now. I'll start with some basic facts.

Weight gain? 30lbs. You wouldn't know it, but I weigh as much as my husband now!

Belly button in or out? Neither. It's totally flat!

Boy or girl? Girl!!! I had to have another ultrasound done last Tuesday, and it's still looking like she going to be a beautiful baby girl. ^_^

Is the nursery ready? Sort of. It was our storage room before, and it's been really hard to find homes for all the stuff that was in there. We were able to get rid of a ton of things we really didn't need anymore though. At it stands, the changing table is ready, the dresser is filled with lot's of beautiful clothes, and there's a rocking chair ready to rock a nursing baby. :-) Plus we have the bassinet in our bedroom. The crib is still in the hallway waiting to be put together, but we figure we don't need it up right away anyway.

Anything else? She's been getting lot's of hiccups lately. And her kicks can hurt! Looks like we're going to have a strong little baby. I've been having lot's of Braxston-Hick's, but sometimes I don't even feel them unless I touch my stomach and discover it's really hard. My back pain has hit an all time high, especially when I'm trying to sleep. And I can't stay on my feet very long before they start to ache. Ah, the joys of becoming a mother!

I really want to have a natural labor. I've read of so many benefits. Like both mom and baby are alert, which makes that first breastfeeding way better. But I have to admit that I am a little afraid of how bad the pain is going to be, and honestly don't know if I'll be able to do it without some pain meds. One of the midwives I've been seeing said that I'm entitled to 2 full nights in the hospital, and I plan on taking both of them!

We have decided not to share the baby's name on public websites like Blogger and YouTube, but if you know me on Facebook we will share it there.

In the mean time, it has gotten so hard to be patient as we wait for this little one's arrival. I want to see her so bad! And to hold her. I hope that I can be the mother she'll need me to be, and to raise her the way God wants me too. And always remember that she belongs to Him first. Dear Lord, please give me the wisdom I need as I begin this new stage of my life.
Hubby took this picture last night. People keep saying I look tiny for being full term. :-P I'm not complaining!

Wonderful, Wonderful!

Today I had the most wonderful opportunity to get a 2nd ultrasound. Baby is now almost 20 weeks along! It was the most incredible thing in the world for Zack and I to see our little GIRL on the screen! God is so wonderful. I just don't know how to thank Him enough for this precious gift.

She is quite an active little one too, making it difficult for the ultrasound technician to take her measurements. It was so encouraging to see that, as I still have not been able to feel her. And believe me, I was having a hard time not getting worried. Turns out though, that the reason I haven't been able to feel Baby yet is because the placenta formed over my belly, putting a lot of extra thickness between me and her. Apparently, this is not at all uncommon, it just depends on where the baby implants in the uterus.

Sweetest of all was to see that Baby Lawrence is a thumb sucker already! And even spent most of the ultrasound sucking away, not letting us see her face. Silly little girl! :-D

Oh little one, we can't wait to meet you!

Week 16

Just wanted to post some fun facts about week 16. ^_^

Baby's Length: 4.5-5 in

Baby's Weight: 2.5- 3 oz..

Baby's Size: Rubber Ducky

From now on, your baby may start to get the hiccups every once in a while, triggered by the involuntary movements of his diaphragm. (In adults, this is followed by the quick closure of our vocal cords, which is what makes that familiar "hic" sound.) But because your baby's trachea is filled with fluid instead of air, his fetal hiccups don't make a sound. By the sixth month, you'll actually be able to feel your baby's hiccups as they happen. They'll make your belly jump, which is so fun to see and feel!

And your little guy -- now about 4 ounces and over 4-1/2 inches long -- is becoming quite expressive these days. His facial muscles are sophisticated enough for him to squint, frown, or smirk -- although these motions aren't actually linked to any internal emotions he's feeling. By the way, if you're having a girl, hundreds of thousands of eggs are forming in her ovaries this week -- your future grandchildren!

All these facts come from Parents.com. Hope you enjoyed them as much as I did!