Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Birthing Our Boy

I went in for my post-partum visit this past Thursday and my doctor asked me if we were planning on having another baby. She's so funny. I really had to chuckle while I gave her my response. I just had a baby. Actually, she also sorta laughed considering what I went through to deliver this little guy. I said that at this point we're happy with two and how I don't think I want to go through another baby surprising us with his/her position at the last minute. She understood and then commented that perhaps there's something funny about the shape of my pelvic bones. Perhaps. Or maybe we have some silly children who love moving around. I think it's the kids.

For WEEKS I had been having contractions. They started off mild, more of a tightening like Braxton Hicks, nothing major, but definitely contractions. The first weekend they started Eric was convinced the baby was going to make his appearance. I, on the other hand, was not as optimistic. I didn't want to get my hopes up and I just had a feeling. They came on very regularly, 5 minute intervals for hours and then tapered off and disappeared into the night. The next day they would come back, again, regular, continuous. But nothing that would make me believe it was time. That first weekend our neighbor came over to decipher my contractions since she just had a baby a few months ago and determined that my contractions where like the painless ones she'd had that actually led to her quick and easy delivery. Oh, how I hoped mine would turn out the same! 

I called the advice nurse that first weekend the contractions started to get her opinion on my status since we were going to be driving an hour away for a wedding and she believed that these contractions would lead to my delivery within a week. I made it through that week.

At my appointment at the end of that week, my doctor believed she'd probably be seeing/hearing about me having the baby within the next week. Yup, made it through that week as well. Contractions coming and going, but not increasing in frequency. Great.

At this point, it had been two weeks and I was a mere week from my due date. On the Monday of that week, the contractions were stronger and were coming every 5 minutes. Okay, I thought, let's call and see what they say. Off we went to L&D around 5PM. They checked me, 3.5cm. Not enough to admit. We waited and walked for two hours and still no change; back home we went. Bummer. 

Somehow, the contractions did not keep me awake that night and I slept soundly. When I woke up the contractions were still there, still painful, still 4-5 minutes apart. I did not want to go in and have them send me back home again. But, at 1PM, after walking to the library and having to stop every few minutes, I finally decided to call again. The nurse agreed we should go back, BUT...there was no room! Ahhhh! They were going to send us all the way to Redwood City but at the last minute the nurse decided they'd make it work. Thank goodness.

We were admitted for observation and again am told I haven't progressed. Oh, man. At this point I start crying, am feeling very frustrated, and tell Eric I want to go home. He convinces me we should stay because they will check me after two hours before they will send us home again. I begrudgingly decide to stay even though I'm not feeling optimistic; despite the fact that my contractions were definitely getting stronger and more painful.

A little over two hours later, they finally check me. I very clearly remember the doctor's name was also Johnson and thinking this was a good omen. =) Five and a half centimeters! I laughed/cried while the doctor, nurses, and Eric all cheered. It was about time! This meant I could finally be admitted and placed in a regular room and not the itty bitty uncomfortable room they put women in for observation. It also meant time for the epidural! This time around I wasn't going to wait it out and see how far I got. As soon as I was uncomfortable, I wanted drugs.

Once we were in our huge room, they quickly came in and started the procedure for the epidural. It felt like it took them a long time, but once they finished and the drugs were administered I felt great. From this point on, which was about 5PM until hours later, I felt fabulous! Eric and I hung out watching TV, reading magazines, listening to the music we brought, and chatting with our awesome nurse.

They checked me a few hours later and said I was moving along. That continued for a while until they decided to break my water to get things moving along faster. Things did progress faster after that and a while later I started to have a lot of pressure and pain. They checked me again and said I wasn't fully dilated yet so they brought in the anesthesiologist to give me other pain killers so I could feel better and get some rest. Whatever she gave me was heavenly! I quickly fell asleep, I believe it was around 1AM and slept for a while. When I woke up they checked me and said I was really close. It was at that point that they started to question Sebastian's position.

Oh, Sebastian. There were three doctors that started to check me and try and figure out what position Sebastian's head was in. He was definitely head first. Good. He definitely had his chest toward my back. Good. But....what was that they felt at the opening? An ear? An eye? A forehead? Well, it took a while and a lot of discussion amongst the doctors and with us, but they finally figured out he was "face presenting." Something that is very, very rare. Basically, he was facing the exit. It's funny now, but he still loves pushing his head back in that position. I have to be careful because his heavy little head will quickly bounce back. He loves looking around. Anyways, at this point they bring up the fact that I cannot deliver him vaginally if his head is in this position. One option is to give me pitocin to make my contractions stronger and hopefully push his head into the right position. We try that option and it doesn't work. The only other option is to try pushing and see if it moves. I pushed a few times and he moved lower, but his little face did not adjust. At that point it was time for the c-section.

Since he'd moved lower when I pushed, I could not get them to move me into the OR and give me more drugs fast enough. The pressure/pain was unbearable. But, since it wasn't an emergency, they went along with business in a slightly faster pace. It wasn't fast enough for me! They took care of some things in the room and then wheeled me into the OR. They did a bunch of things (drugs!), the doctors and nurses chatted, they brought Eric in, and at 6:17AM on the 18th, Sebastian was born! It felt like forever before I actually got to see him and I had to wait even longer to hold him, but once I did it was fabulous. He nursed immediately and I got kiss and snuggle my little guy.

It's a little disappointing to think about how I labored all the way to the end and then ended with a c-section. But it was really the only way he could have come out. At least, out of the 12 or so hours that I was in active labor, I was only uncomfortable for a few. My boy also came out very healthy and that's all that really matters. 

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Two, Too, To

We have TWO kids!

What little time or energy I had before to spend blogging has now been divided in half. Almost. Now that our sweet Sebastian is here, I want to document all of his new and exciting developments. So, even if it's a quick list of things, I'm determined to blog. :)

Life with two littles has been busy, tiring, and wonderful at the same time. Amélie has been displaying some very needy/whiny behavior and has her two year molars coming in. Translation = somewhat difficult child. Sebastian on the other hand started off with a bang! Nursing wonderfully from the first hour of his life, sleeping, sleeping, sleeping, and cooing and smiling like a perfect little baby. Of course he didn't enter the world in the perfect way I imagined (story later- ended with a c-section. Boo), but we adore him just the same.

Week two of my recovery sucked. I'd been feeling great; getting out, doing a few errands and then...bam, I was down. I got the stomach flu, got some really painful stuff put on my incision at the doctors (oh, it burned!), and then woke up with a plugged duct after recovering from the other things. Bad week! Thank goodness I'm feeling almost normal now.


Our two year old is growing and learning sooo much! In the month since Sebastian's birth she's probably learned two new words a day. She just surprises me every day with her big girl behavior. Her favorite things right now are coloring, playing with water, reading books, trains, saying words, going for walks, Curious George, riding her trike, and whining.

Happy girl after getting a very special big sister care package from her great aunt Judy.

Too much...

sweetness from Amélie for her brother. It's too cute! She's all about the baby. Where's the baby? Is the baby sleeping? Does the baby want his binky? I'm so happy to see how much she loves him. My heart just explodes with gushy sweet loving for my babes.

much sleeping?! As if that is a problem. It was when I was supposed to be feeding my little guy who also loves to eat. A lot. Unfortunately that seems to be over since he's been refusing to go down for his naps easily or really at all for a week now. He is still a very good night sleeper. But I won't get into much detail as I don't want to jinx us! Riddle me this: How am I supposed to spend what feels like hours trying to get a fussy tired baby down for a nap while also trying to keep a toddler entertained? Someone please give me the answer. I am very frustrated with this issue at this point. I've tried everything I know. What are your secrets?


Going back to work and days at home.

Eric had a tough time transitioning at the beginning of his time off and I was worried; worried about him getting frustrated and worried about me not being able to help. It took some time but Eric was able to get the hang of taking care of a toddler at home all day and also help me out. He was such a huge help and by the end of his time off I was really nervous about how I'd do it without him. Well, he went back to work on Wednesday and we survived. Eric didn't want to go back to work and we missed him very much. I think we'll be looking forward to the weekends.

A proud daddy

I made it out of the house with the babies every day since Wednesday. I have to get out or else I get stir crazy. We went grocery shopping, went to the park numerous times, and enjoyed a play date. I think once Sebastian gets back into napping and a more structured day routine, things will go a lot smoother. I can't wait. Although, really, it wasn't bad this week. I didn't cry once.

Getting back to my former self.

I did a good job and gained 30ish pounds with Sebastian and have about 10 more to lose (unless my boobs now weigh ten lbs. Ha.). Ugh. I ended up swelling AFTER having him due to the fluids I received at the hospital. Darn it. I had made it all the way without any swelling and to come home from the hospital all swollen was a real bummer. It took two whole weeks for it to finally go away but I'm still having night sweats randomly. I'm pretty close to fitting into my regular clothes and I'm happy about that since it's only been a month. But I'd really just love to be able to work out like my regular old self. What is up with this poochy belly?! I have to take it easy and wait till I'm completely recovered. There's been a lot of walking, but it just doesn't make me feel like I'm really working out. I've decided I'm going to document my progress for self accountability and who doesn't love a good before and after?! Also, I am hungry all the time and it is so hard to not grab the unhealthy snacks that seem to be calling my name. I've lost a lot of weight before doing it the old-fashioned way (eating well/exercising), but I didn't have two kids. Time for a new strategy.

Hey, someone is sleeping!

Happy One Month Birthday to Sebastian!



Really, where does the time go?!?!

We all love you very much! I'm looking forward to all the things we'll be sharing and getting to know who you are.