Friday, June 11, 2010

Birth Story

By April 20th my belly had dropped and on April 22nd my mucus plug came out. Can I just say that was gross especially since I was still at work. I started to not feel great and joked that I might not be in tomorrow, April 23rd, which was to be my last day of work before I started maternity leave. I was so excited to have the following week off and planned to get my a mani & pedi before delivery but the baby had other plans.

By the time I got home I was definitely having contractions. I told hubby to make sure he took the regular train home and not the later one because I was in labor. I knew the contractions would hurt but I didn't expect the lower back pain. That was really the worst part. By the time hubby came home my contractions were about 15 minutes apart so I called the doctor. They told me that when my contraction got to be about 5 minutes apart to call them and then I would head to the hospital.

Can I just say that the bump has a great contraction calculator on their website. It was great. Every time my contraction would start I would just hit enter and then when it was over you hit enter again. It told you how long the contraction was plus how long between your contractions. It was wonderful to have that - thanks the bump.

My contractions started at 15 minutes, then went to 12 minutes then bumped up to 20 minutes, then 15 minutes, then 30 minutes. It was very frustrating and exhausting since I had been up all day and it was now night time. Finally around 6:30am my contractions got to 5 minutes apart and we called the doctor. They gave us the green light to go to the hospital so we started to get ready. I had to send an email to my coworkers explaining that I would not be in and tell them the final items that I needed done. I actually had to have hubby type the email because the contractions were very bad. We finished up our bag for the hospital because I totally slacked on getting that ready and then my "nesting" instincts took over. While hubby was loading up the car I was making the bed and folding blankets. Hubby insisted that I get in the car but I need to make sure our bedroom was neat. He couldn't believe me. He finally got me down to the kitchen, almost to the back door, but then I realized that I needed to wipe the counters down because I saw a crumb. Again, he was like we need to go to the hospital NOW but I needed to make sure the house was okay before we left. We didn't get to the hospital till about 9am.

The car ride to the hospital SUCKED!!!! It was only 25 minutes but it was 25 minutes of HELL. When we were home I leaned over which helped the contractions but in the car I could only sit there, yell and squeeze hubby's thigh. I am very proud that hubby got us to the hospital with no problems.

Once inside the hospital I got the VIP wheelchair to the maternity floor and they did a pelvic check on me to see how dilated I was. I prayed that I was at least 2 cm's dilated and that they wouldn't send me home. I could not take them sending me home. To my delight I was 6 cm's dilated. Woo Hoo! I was so happy that they were admitting me.

Once we got into our room they asked if I wanted an epidural and I said yes please. I didn't know if I would want one or not and I am so happy I did. I could still feel the contractions and actually did feel some pain towards the end but it made it SO much better. I could actually enjoy the birthing experience. The nurses were pretty good expect for the one who told me to rest because I would be pushing for at least 3 hours because this was my first pregnancy. That bitch! Why do you need to tell me it will be at least 3 hours - hate you!

Moving on .. my parents were in the waiting room, my in-laws were in the car heading up and one of my besties was making the trek up too. Once Kim got there hubby was going to update her and my parents, it was just a little before 12:00. Hubby was about to leave the room when I said I think I feel like pushing. He was like "WHAT". So he decided not to update the group and he went to find our nurse. They checked me and I was 10 cms dilated and they got me ready to push. Apparently my doctor was in the middle of doing a C-section to another patient so they grabbed a midwife for me, who I never met, and told me she would deliver me. That was fine by me because I wanted to see my baby. Side note: the midwife Agnes delivered my cousins baby - crazy - how small the world is.

I didn't know what pushing would be like. They kept telling me to push harder and on the 2nd push Agnes said she could see the hair. Holy shit you can see the hair was all I could think. My baby has hair. Hubby was getting even more excited at this point and was telling me I was doing great. I don't quite remember how many times I pushed but it was less then 8. She was out by 12:15pm so I guess I showed that bitch nurse who is boss. We put her on my chest but still didn't know if it was a boy or girl. Agnes told hubby to tell everyone and he was trying to see between the legs but with the blankets on her and everyone arms all over her it was hard to see so he said "Is it a girl?" and he was right. It was a girl - which I predicted all along!

She is the most beautiful little thing I have ever seen. We could not believe all the dark hair and she was just a tiny thing. I figured that we would have a 8 lb baby and thought she would be a week late but instead she was just a little over 6lbs and came one week early. We could not be happier. Thanks hubby for making a beautiful baby with me and for being so supportive through everything!

It is a Girl!


Mia MacKenzie was born April 23, 2010 at 12:15pm. She weighed 6lbs and 3 ozs and was 20 inches long.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Countdown

10 days to go although who actually knows when the little one will decide to come out. 3 more days till maternity leave. Woo Hoo!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Where Did My Brain Go

The last few weeks of pregnancy have been interesting and uncomfortable. I am trying to just think about the finish line but feel like I am running up Heartbreak Hill for all of you Boston Marathon fans.

The worst part is my memory. I am usually so good with remembering things but it has gotten so bad that I swear I have probably used a whole tree worth of post it notes. Sorry little tree, I will try to plant something to make up for it.

Not only has the memory gone but my judgement is going. I am doing some stupid things. Just yesterday I stopped at the mailbox to get the mail. I pulled up to it still in my car because that is what I do and noticed that there was a small beehive under the mailbox. Now I know a few things: 1. This is something new that was not here a few days ago and 2. It is spring time so most likely there will be bees in it but yet I ignored all that I know and flicked it with my finger. Yep, this brillant pregnancy brain of mine decided I had to touch it and try to break it off.

I flicked it and nothing happened for about 2 seconds and then the noise of the bees could be heard. Luckily, my brillant brain bounced back and though gee, maybe I should close the windows & the sun roof so the bees don't get in. So that is what I did. I then crept the car away from the mailbox and pulled up into the driveway. I let hubby get the mail later that night.

When I told hubby about what I had done he just looked at me like who is this insane person and when will my wife be back. I know it was so stupid, who does that - well apparently me pregnant. There are so many little things like this that I cannot even remember them all but needed to share this one.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Gift Receipts

I have been returning gifts and using gift receipts although I don't get why the return counters need to be so difficult. We went to Babies R Us this weekend and handed the woman our gift receipt on a specific item. The lady literally says "Do you have the original receipt?" Hmmm, I gave you a gift receipt so I obviously don't have the original. She was able to process the item and gave us store credit which is fine.

I wonder if the stores actually give you the exact amount that the person bought the gift for or if they give you a lower refund amount. I mean how would I know. They don't list the price on the gift cards and its not like I am going to ask the person who gave me the gift how much it was, let alone tell them I am returning their gift.

This is just one of the many random thoughts that run through my mind. On a side note I think hubby is having some sympathy pains. He is on the same bathroom schedule I am right now, pain in his feet and feeling tired too. Is it sad that I am happy he is having some of these feelings? It is nice to know that as my life & body changes his is a little too. Love you babe~

Monday, April 5, 2010

Fire Drill Run By Monkeys

As we have approached the last leg of this pregnancy a few things have gotten harder: walking up stairs, seeing my feet, sliding past hubby while he is at the sink, walking down stairs, bumping into things, getting up off the couch, plus a million other things. With all that said though the biggest is getting out of bed in a hurry.

This past weekend we were on the Cape for Easter and sleeping in a Queen bed, although it felt more like a full size. I have my body pillow on my right side and am lying on it. I have two other pillows stuffed in on my left side and 2 pillows under my head. I am sleeping pretty good for the moment when all of a sudden I stretch my leg out and BAM, charlie horse. Ouch!

I know I have to get out of bed and walk around and it will go away but getting out of bed is much easier said then done. My back is to the edge of the bed so I begin the ever so graceful pregnant lady rocking to move me onto my back and then to keep moving me onto my left side; however, with all the pillows around me I feel more like a beached whale thrashing around. I finally grab my calf and begin to massage it, which does nothing. Then go back to the thrashing around which finally gets me to the edge of the bed and I can sit up. I throw my legs off the side and am able to hobble around until the pain goes away.

The only way I can describe it is to be in the middle of a fire drill but its being run by monkeys. You get what I am saying.

Monday, March 29, 2010

I was stuck in the bathroom

Dear little blog,

I am so sorry for ignoring you for the past few weeks. I blame being stuck in the bathroom for why I have been ignoring you. The whole peeing things is getting worse and worse as my belly gets bigger and bigger. Waking up 5 times in one night just to have a little dribble come out is not cool, ya I know its way too much information but I am a 35 week pregnant woman so nothing is off limits.

So let me update you on what's been going on:

1. My friends and family surprised me at the end of February with an amazing baby shower. It was truly a wonderful day and it was nice to be surprised. I cannot believe how much stuff we have gotten and how many items we still need. I have lists on top of lists but feel much better since the nursery is about 90% done.

2a. Did you know that Target receipts expire? Seriously, if gift certificates in Mass cannot expire how the hell can a receipt expire? I don't get it. My mom had bought us a bobby bouncer for Xmas that we never opened and decided to return since we were able to use our friends bouncy chairs instead. When we went to return it Target said the receipt expired and then they could not locate it in their inventory so they couldn't give us a credit on it because they didn't know how much it cost. The girl seriously asked us if we got this from Target - um, hello the receipt is from Target with this item on it and the big freaking Target logo on it - am I missing something. Finally, after us complaining and asking to speak with a manager she was able to figure it out.

2b. Did you know that Target gives you crap about returning items that were bought online? We got some gifts sent to us by friends that were duplicates so we went to the store to return them and were told that we needed to go online and get the receipts but how can I do this when I didn't buy it - it was a gift. All I have is the packing slip. Again, after we complained they were able to take care of it but why should we have to complain?

3. We had some professional maternity photos done this past weekend and it should take about 2 weeks to get the proofs. The woman came to our home so she was able to take pictures of the nursery as well as hubby and I. I did a little Demi Moore pose with a little scarf wrapped around my breasts and the bare belly showing. We will see how it comes out.

4. For all of those people who have ever had a belly ring beware, when you are pregnant that skin pops out right and you have a bright red "X" over your belly button. At first I thought it was a bruise but then I realized what it was from. Hopefully it will hide again after the baby comes out.

5. We started interviewing pediatrician's this week. Had an appointment today and another one on Wednesday. I really liked the first woman and she has 1 year old twins so she totally gets it. We will see how the 2nd one is.

6. Going to see the Red Sox play the Yankees on April 7th. Hubby got tickets from work and we are super excited.

7. Fantasy baseball drafting has started and this year I am on two leagues. I really love playing fantasy sports, especially when I kick the guys butts. I figure with all the hours I will be up with the newborn I can turn on SportsCenter and really get the inside information. My team name for the friends/family league is Uterine Explosion, fitting don't you think. The other league is with hubby's work so I couldn't be so blunt.

8. The belly is getting bigger and I have been having lots of back & groin pain. The prenatal yoga helps a lot but that is only one night a week so I need to do it on my own.

9. I keep forgetting to take belly pictures each week for the belly book. Oh well, I have more pictures then not.

10. We finished our child birthing classes and the more information I get the more scared I become. I am trying to keep all my options open because I do not want to be so focused on one way and then feel like I failed with it doesn't work out that way. Besides I don't have any control, this little baby does.

Okay, I think that is a pretty good update for now. Less then 5 weeks to go (although who knows) and less then 4 weeks to go till maternity leave. Woo hoo. Hopefully I can have a few days to myself before the little one comes although by the end I will be praying to get this baby out of me. I am feeling uncomfortable now and I know it will only get worse.

PS I just feel like its a girl and I keep telling hubby that I will be shocked (jaw drops) if it's a boy but only time will tell.

Love,

Mommy To Be