Abigail Renee was born on September 23, 2010 at 10:18 pm, weighing 6 pounds, 12 ounces and 19 inches long! She has a full head of dark hair, and deep blue-grey eyes. She has been such an easy baby so far! I gave birth without any surgery, and very minor tearing. I am so proud of myself for having a vaginal birth (even if I did take an epidural). My husband sat by my side and not only held my leg, but watched our little girl enter into the world. He was a little grossed out, but mostly amazed. He held her first, and she's had him wrapped around her finger ever since. She absolutely loves to sleep on daddy's chest, and always stares up at him when he talks.
She's such an easy baby. She never fusses! She goes to sleep without any problems, and very rarely takes a pacifier. She makes a few noises when she's dirty or hungry, but even then its quiet and calm. We are so incredibly blessed!
I had trouble breast feeding, and now I'm just pumping milk and giving it to her in bottles. We're still trying to get through it, and although its hard I know its worth it. I just want what is best for my darling little girl. Its been frustrating, and quite the experience. Matthew has been so supportive and understanding. He's not being pushy or frustrating or overwhelming at all. He's such a huge help! Even with changing dirty diapers, and getting up in the middle of the night when she fusses. We are both just absolutely in love with our daughter!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
thirty-nine weeks!
This is my last post as a pregnant woman. I call tonight at 11 pm to make sure labor and delivery has a bed for me. If they are able to take me, I sign in to the ER a few minutes after midnight, and they begin to induce. I'm nervous and scared and overwhelmed. I'm excited and anxious and honestly a little bittersweet. No more being pregnant! That's exciting, mostly, but also a little sad. Tonight is my last night with just me and my husband. Last night was our last night to sleep together without a baby in the house. Our dogs know something is going on, they're just as restless as I am.
I feel like I've cleaned everything I can think of, and organized everything that I see. My house is all ready for my family to come, I'm so excited to see them. All that is left is to fold the laundry and vacuum the living room. I even have the couches covered with bed sheets to protect them from my parents dogs! All the linens are cleaned, folded, and waiting for use. Hospital bags are packed, organized, and waiting by the door. Towels are out, waiting for guests. I've dusted and swept and mopped, I even scrubbed all the baseboards!
Prayer requests? 1.) that I kick this cold! I have a rough cough and some drainage. 2.) A successful induction with no complications, and that doesn't end in any surgery. We obviously want a healthy baby, who skips NICU and is discharged with me. We also want a speedy recovery, and an easy transition into parenthood. My parents also need a safe trip up here and back.
I'm so excited, my thoughts are all over the place. It doesn't help that I keep having to stop writing every few seconds to hack up a lung. I'm going to go drink some water and wander around, making sure I can't do anything else. I know I need to rest, and I did get a great night's sleep and a nap around noon. I just can't sit still!
I feel like I've cleaned everything I can think of, and organized everything that I see. My house is all ready for my family to come, I'm so excited to see them. All that is left is to fold the laundry and vacuum the living room. I even have the couches covered with bed sheets to protect them from my parents dogs! All the linens are cleaned, folded, and waiting for use. Hospital bags are packed, organized, and waiting by the door. Towels are out, waiting for guests. I've dusted and swept and mopped, I even scrubbed all the baseboards!
Prayer requests? 1.) that I kick this cold! I have a rough cough and some drainage. 2.) A successful induction with no complications, and that doesn't end in any surgery. We obviously want a healthy baby, who skips NICU and is discharged with me. We also want a speedy recovery, and an easy transition into parenthood. My parents also need a safe trip up here and back.
I'm so excited, my thoughts are all over the place. It doesn't help that I keep having to stop writing every few seconds to hack up a lung. I'm going to go drink some water and wander around, making sure I can't do anything else. I know I need to rest, and I did get a great night's sleep and a nap around noon. I just can't sit still!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
38 weeks
Long story short... the doctor scheduled to induce me early next Thursday. The baby still hasn't gained weight, but the heartbeat is normal and its still moving around. We still don't know what caused the decreas in growth, but we do know that at this point the baby is "ok". Its hard to explain; my body is still supporting the baby-its just not helping like it should. Basically my body, at this point, is doing the bare minimum to keep the Baby hanging on. Or maybe its doing all it can do, and that's just not enough...
Either way, by this time next week I'll be a mom.
That's the hardest thing I've ever had to swallow. Its still sureal. It just hit me today, over and over. There's going to be an infant in this house. A helpless baby, totally dependant on me and my husband. I feel so... incapable. And yet, so ready. I've been trying to prepare for this for the past nine months, and now that its within reach I'm shying away. Part of me wants to panic. I'm barely twenty, I haven't been married much more than a year, and I'm still trying to take care of myself. Let alone my husband. And now, lets add a baby. Part of me looks around and goes "I still can't even keep up with the laundry, how am I supposed to a raise a child?!"
And then part of me goes "this is what I was made to do. This has been my dream, my passion. Ever since I met Matthew all I wanted was to settle down and have a family. I want to be a mom. And God has given me this gift, at the perfect time. Yes, I'm young, and yes, I probably could stand to grow and mature a little bit more. But honestly, God finds me capable. I have to trust that."
Long rant over. Now I'm desperately trying to get the house clean before my family comes. The bathroom downstairs needs done, I have to finish laundry and fold it and put it away, and vaccuum the stairs again... The kitchen needs swept and mopped, and the fridge is in dire need of a scrub-down. But I'm not panicking. I'm staying busy. And who knows? Maybe all this hard work around the house will put me into labor, so I won't have to be induced. Wouldn't that be ideal!
I'm scared. I'll be honest, I'm scared of being induced. Some people say they have had great experiences with it, and others say its a nightmare. I do know that most induction medication causes labor to be more painful, and faster. I wanted to do this naturally, without any pain meds and without any medical intervention. But I know that God has a plan. He's already set aside the perfect day for little Baby Storey to be born. Whether it comes vaginally, through surgery, or with pain meds... the goal is to have a healthy baby.
And I just have to add how blessed I am to even make it this far. So many women can't even get pregnant... some good friends who live down the street from us have been trying for three+ years to have a baby. They're headed down to Denver next week for a major surgery on her tubes. Its a pretty dangerous thing for her, since she's severely anemic and her blood doesn't clot. The last time she had a surgery done "down there" she died on the table twice. And here I am, complaining that they want to take the baby a week early with medicine. How selfish of me. Some women give birth to babies in their second trimester. Some women have to hold their infant and say goodbye after only a few short moments. Some women have to leave their baby in the hospital for months and months. And I'm worried about it being a week early? God needs to change my heart... I can't stand to be so selfish.
Either way, by this time next week I'll be a mom.
That's the hardest thing I've ever had to swallow. Its still sureal. It just hit me today, over and over. There's going to be an infant in this house. A helpless baby, totally dependant on me and my husband. I feel so... incapable. And yet, so ready. I've been trying to prepare for this for the past nine months, and now that its within reach I'm shying away. Part of me wants to panic. I'm barely twenty, I haven't been married much more than a year, and I'm still trying to take care of myself. Let alone my husband. And now, lets add a baby. Part of me looks around and goes "I still can't even keep up with the laundry, how am I supposed to a raise a child?!"
And then part of me goes "this is what I was made to do. This has been my dream, my passion. Ever since I met Matthew all I wanted was to settle down and have a family. I want to be a mom. And God has given me this gift, at the perfect time. Yes, I'm young, and yes, I probably could stand to grow and mature a little bit more. But honestly, God finds me capable. I have to trust that."
Long rant over. Now I'm desperately trying to get the house clean before my family comes. The bathroom downstairs needs done, I have to finish laundry and fold it and put it away, and vaccuum the stairs again... The kitchen needs swept and mopped, and the fridge is in dire need of a scrub-down. But I'm not panicking. I'm staying busy. And who knows? Maybe all this hard work around the house will put me into labor, so I won't have to be induced. Wouldn't that be ideal!
I'm scared. I'll be honest, I'm scared of being induced. Some people say they have had great experiences with it, and others say its a nightmare. I do know that most induction medication causes labor to be more painful, and faster. I wanted to do this naturally, without any pain meds and without any medical intervention. But I know that God has a plan. He's already set aside the perfect day for little Baby Storey to be born. Whether it comes vaginally, through surgery, or with pain meds... the goal is to have a healthy baby.
And I just have to add how blessed I am to even make it this far. So many women can't even get pregnant... some good friends who live down the street from us have been trying for three+ years to have a baby. They're headed down to Denver next week for a major surgery on her tubes. Its a pretty dangerous thing for her, since she's severely anemic and her blood doesn't clot. The last time she had a surgery done "down there" she died on the table twice. And here I am, complaining that they want to take the baby a week early with medicine. How selfish of me. Some women give birth to babies in their second trimester. Some women have to hold their infant and say goodbye after only a few short moments. Some women have to leave their baby in the hospital for months and months. And I'm worried about it being a week early? God needs to change my heart... I can't stand to be so selfish.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
thirty-seven weeks.
Well, the ultrasound went well. My fluid levels are perfectly normal (which is so good), but the baby is measuring small. The doctor said Baby is still growing, just at a very, very slow rate. So we're keeping an eye on it, and counting kicks/movements religiously.
Now I just wish I knew what was going on with my body! Seriously, I have so many "early labor" symptoms, but still no progress. Well, maybe I'm dilating this week (man, I hope so). But still no active labor. I'll have contractions in my back, and a little in the front, for hours. But they'll be 15 to 20 minutes apart, and then slowly stop.
The doctor said to have lots of sex, and walk more. So that's what we're doing... I'll come back from walking the dogs with contractions, but they won't last and they won't get stronger. SO frustrating! I'm worried that the baby isn't getting everything he (or she) needs, so I kind of think I would feel better if I gave birth sooner rather than later. The doctor kind of feels the same way; that's the impression I got anyway. But I just... there's only so much I can do. :/ I'm just praying and waiting and praying and waiting.
Now I just wish I knew what was going on with my body! Seriously, I have so many "early labor" symptoms, but still no progress. Well, maybe I'm dilating this week (man, I hope so). But still no active labor. I'll have contractions in my back, and a little in the front, for hours. But they'll be 15 to 20 minutes apart, and then slowly stop.
The doctor said to have lots of sex, and walk more. So that's what we're doing... I'll come back from walking the dogs with contractions, but they won't last and they won't get stronger. SO frustrating! I'm worried that the baby isn't getting everything he (or she) needs, so I kind of think I would feel better if I gave birth sooner rather than later. The doctor kind of feels the same way; that's the impression I got anyway. But I just... there's only so much I can do. :/ I'm just praying and waiting and praying and waiting.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
This is me NOT freaking out...
36 Weeks pregnant. I had my doctors appointment today, and left a little scared. I've always measured perfectly on track through this whole pregnancy, and I've never had any problems. But today, Dr. Haas (who isn't my normal doctor, but still VERY nice and easy to work with) measured my stomach and listened to the heartbeat. The heartbeat was 120, which is low for my baby, but she didn't seem concerned at all. Then she measured my stomach. She asked if I felt like the baby had dropped and I said no, not really. I mean, I've been having a little bit more pressure down there, but baby's feet are definitely still up in my ribs. So she checked my cervix (which I requested anyway, because I've been noticing more contractions). She said I'm dilated maybe a fingertip, if she really pushed (which she didn't, thankfully) and I'm very soft. She said she could feel the head, but it moved away every time it touched her hand, she said the baby doesn't seem to be too low. I guess I'm measuring the exact same as I was last week, which was also a little smaller than they would have liked. She ordered an ultrasound for next Wednesday, saying that it could be low fluids or my baby could've stopped growing. That did worry me. She didn't seem to think it was something incredibly urgent, and she tried to make me feel better after I started asking all these questions and stuttering a little. She said that it could just be the way I'm carrying (although that seems unlikely).
So now I may be inducing here in the next few weeks. I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with that. I mean, I know I'm tired of being pregnant-but if my body isn't ready to get rid of the baby then... although, on the other hand, it may be best for the baby to come out sooner rather than at 40 weeks. I don't know, above all we want what's best for this Little One-whether that means putting me on pitocin or not. I'm just praying. I'm worried and psyching myself out; Matthew keeps saying everything is fine and doesn't seem too concerned. I just want a healthy baby. I keep getting all these "what if's" in my head, and I'm forcing myself to not google all the problems that could come with this. I'll just wait for my ultrasound next week to see what's going on in there.
Anyway, other than that everything seems fine. Blood pressure is normal, and like I said my body IS progressing a little bit. Technically I could go into labor anytime.. but we're trying to wait until after labor day weekend. Matthew asked me to, because he gets a four day weekend. So maybe on Monday or Tuesday... then he could get another 10 days (of his standard paternity leave) right after his "mini vacation" for the holiday. That would be pretty sweet. But then again, so would waiting a couple more weeks. The further along I get the more I think "ok, I can do this for another week" or at least another couple days. Now that I'm off those stupid pills I don't feel near as bad.
Alright, anyway, I'm off to do something productive.
So now I may be inducing here in the next few weeks. I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with that. I mean, I know I'm tired of being pregnant-but if my body isn't ready to get rid of the baby then... although, on the other hand, it may be best for the baby to come out sooner rather than at 40 weeks. I don't know, above all we want what's best for this Little One-whether that means putting me on pitocin or not. I'm just praying. I'm worried and psyching myself out; Matthew keeps saying everything is fine and doesn't seem too concerned. I just want a healthy baby. I keep getting all these "what if's" in my head, and I'm forcing myself to not google all the problems that could come with this. I'll just wait for my ultrasound next week to see what's going on in there.
Anyway, other than that everything seems fine. Blood pressure is normal, and like I said my body IS progressing a little bit. Technically I could go into labor anytime.. but we're trying to wait until after labor day weekend. Matthew asked me to, because he gets a four day weekend. So maybe on Monday or Tuesday... then he could get another 10 days (of his standard paternity leave) right after his "mini vacation" for the holiday. That would be pretty sweet. But then again, so would waiting a couple more weeks. The further along I get the more I think "ok, I can do this for another week" or at least another couple days. Now that I'm off those stupid pills I don't feel near as bad.
Alright, anyway, I'm off to do something productive.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)