It's About Tme!

I know I haven't posted in forever and many of you are probably wondering what is going on. Maternity leave will do that to you. My due date, May 15th, came and went as I expected, so my doctor scheduled an induction date for May 20th. But instead, Caleb decided to come on his own. I will give the full story soon, when I have more time.

For now, here are a couple pictures and the stats!

Caleb Joseph,

born Tuesday, May 18th at 6:12 pm.

7 pounds, 8 ounces,

20 inches long.

We are doing good, still getting used to the new addition to our family. Brendan especially is having quite the adjustment to a new baby around.

Thank you all for your thoughts are prayers for our family, I will try to get back into the blogging scene again soon!

Let's talk about Doctors....

Specifically OBGYN’s….

When I was pregnant with Brendan, I had one OB. Due to my insurance, (HMO) I have to be “referred” to an OB by my Family Practitioner. For the most part, I did not mind this doctor. His PA irked me a bit, I felt she was ditzy and a bit clueless, and less than helpful. However, they were little things that I was able to get over. That is until it actually came to my due date. My induction date was scheduled, finally, 2 weeks (okay, 12 days) after my due date. Since this was my first baby, I did not really know better, I had heard that being induced was painful (it was) and so I was willing to wait for my baby to come on his timing. I may not have waited gracefully, but I did wait.

When I finally began progressive labor on early Sunday morning, the day before my induction date, I was excited to finally deliver. I knew that my OB had been “off duty” but with my induction date being on Monday at 8:30 am, I was hoping he would be there to deliver the baby. Without going fully into my labor story, after a LONG day/night in the hospital I finally gave birth at 8:26 Monday, July 14, just minutes from my scheduled induction. Guess who never showed up?
Nope, not for the delivery.
Not for a check-up later in the day.
Not even to release me to go home.
The nurse finally had to call him at 6:00pm the next day to ask if I could be released. Without ever seeing me, talking to me, checking me out in any way, I was released to go home with my newborn.

Needless to say, I was not happy with this OB, and determined not to have the same one for this baby.

Once again, I received a “referral” for a new OB, this one was in the same office building, Great! I thought, close to home and easily accessible. Until I realized I could only schedule appointments on Monday afternoons (at 2:00) or every other Friday. Frustrated I was determined to make it work. The little things kept adding up. I was frustrated, but Scott had never met this OB or his PA so I had no one to talk to and see if I was just being crazy or if I should switch. On January 4, I was told that I was considered “High Risk” because of Blood work being done in the 19th week of pregnancy instead of the 18th. Nothing came back negative with the results; it was just done in the wrong week. Which I was not told specifically what week to have the test done. I was frustrated. A friend of mine was talking to me about it on January 6, without being pushy; she encouraged me to possibly find a new OB that I would be happy with.

I convinced myself that it was not worth it to switch halfway through the pregnancy, it was not a big deal, I could get over my frustrations and lack of communication on my doctor’s office part.

Although the “High Risk” should have been my final straw, on February 8, I had an appointment. Once again, they had delayed my physical that should have been done in my 10th week. The lack of communication was too much for me. Was it so difficult for the office & doctor to read my chart to see what needed to go on? At dinner with my girl friends that night, I brought up my problem. I had just started my 3rd trimester, was it worth it to switch? The answer was “YES! Do what makes you feel comfortable!”

The next day, I made the call to request a new “referral” from my regular doctor. Feeling high maintenance, I had to call and verify that they would take on a new patient at this late point in my pregnancy. The new office said they would. I have now been to visit this office twice. I have seen the doctor both times, I do not know if there is even a PA in this office. The office is small, quiet, and very helpful. I am encouraged that maybe this one will work out.

Feeling confident in your OB is very important, and being comfortable should not be put on the back burner. I will keep you updated on how this doctor goes, because switching again would be a bit ridiculous!

More Pictures

Pictures from the Hospital

Labor & Delivery - Part 2

At 10:00 pm, after being examined by my nurse, the on call doctor was called (my doctor was not on call until the morning). It was decided (not by us) that since the OR Staff was short on people, they were not going to induce me further as there was a strong possibility that I would need an emergency c-section. At this point I was in a lot of pain as the contractions were very close together, in my mind I was thinking "just take me in for a c-section now! I don't want to wait anymore!" They gave me a sandwich to eat since I had not eaten all day but it was not what I wanted. I was given a shot of morphine to help with the pain and to help me sleep.

I sent my mother home to get some sleep even though she did not want to leave my side. Scott was able to sleep in a chair in my room. I got a couple hours of sleep but it was very difficult to sleep through the contractions. By 4:00 in the morning, Scott was still sleeping but my contractions were getting worse. At 6:00 am my water broke on its own. Scott called my mom and she was on her way to the hospital.

At 7:00 a new nurse came in, she examined me and I was now dilated to 8 centimeters. She asked if I wanted any pain medications and I said yes, before we could talk about options or what I wanted, she shot me with a syringe and said, "this might make you a little drowsy." I didn't even get a chance to talk about side effects or anything. Whatever she gave me made me so out of it, I wasn't even able to open my eyes! My mother walked into the room right after I was given the drug and she knew I was mad. I had no idea who was in the room since I couldn't open my eyes, I had not met the doctor yet and I didn't know where my husband was.

The nurse told my mom it would probably be another couple of hours but within minutes I felt like I needed to push. She of course did not believe me but examined me and saw I was at 1o centimeters, still had not met the on call doctor yet, and I was still unable to open my eyes. The nurse set me up to get me started until the doctor could get here. Scott came back into the room and didn't leave me side again. He was there, holding my hand and supporting me all the way. My mom was getting ready to leave to room when I started to push, the nurse quickly told her to hold my other leg. She was able to stay and help me out. She was so happy to be ale to watch the birth of her first grandchild.

The pushing was difficult to get started as I was having difficulty processing what they were saying to me. Finally the nurse that went off duty at 7:00, Rachelle, explained to me that I needed to hold my breath and to breath out while pushing in order to get the most out of my push, my mother helped pull me forward to get into position and Scott continued to encourage me. (Rachelle said that she had been here all night waiting for this baby and she was going to stay and see that baby!)

Brendan Matthew was born at 8:26 am. As I was pushing I knew the head was out, all of the sudden I look down and there was my baby, It was an amazing feeling that came over me all at once. Because he was late, there was meconium in utero that needed to be suctioned out of his mouth and nose right away. But he was beautiful!

Labor & Delivery - Part 1

Sunday, July 13th

On Sunday morning I woke up and knew that I was in labor. I had been having pains since early in the morning but it wasn’t until I woke up that I realized what was going on. We were getting ready to go to church and so I didn’t tell Scott right away. At about 8:20 (10 minutes before we are suppose to leave for church) I realized that I had lost the remainder of my mucus plug and that church may not be the best option at this point. I decided to tell Scott at this point that I was indeed in labor. Being that I was now 11 days overdue and we had tried everything to speed up labor with no prevail, we were anxious to have this baby. We headed down to the mall to try to walk the baby out and enjoy the free air-conditioning. After walking the mall (a couple times) my contractions were approximately 10 minutes apart and so we headed home to take a shower and a nap.

Scott, being the patient husband that he is, insisted that we track the contractions by writing each and every contraction down on paper, when they got to be closer together, although not consistent (anywhere from 2 to 7 minutes apart) he loaded me up into the car and off we were to Riverside Community Hospital, all the time asking how I was doing, I think I was doing better than he was at this point! We checked into the hospital at 2:30 on Sunday afternoon and I was hooked up to monitors to see where I had progressed to.

Above is a picture of me as I was being checked into my room, my last pregnant belly shot, man I was pregnant! After being examined and wired up to monitors I was told that I was only 3 centimeters dilated which would not be enough to keep me in the hospital under normal circumstances but the monitors showed that the baby’s heart rate was “not doing what we want it to” according to the nurse. They told me because I was late term, the placenta was probably old and so the baby was not responding well to my contractions. Since I was to be induced Monday morning anyway, they were just going to keep me in the hospital in order to monitor the baby, so into bed I went.

So there I was with an IV in my left arm (my very first IV which I hated), a blood pressure gage on my right arm and two monitor strapped to my belly. We enjoyed seeing the rate of contractions go up and down, the baby’s heartbeat rise and drop and had a pleasant first couple of hours, playing cards, listening to music and just talking; my mother came to join us for a while as well. At 7:00, shift change, a new nurse came on named Rachelle (one of the only good experiences that I can remember). I had now been in bed for 4 ½ hours and still 3 centimeters dilated. They decided that since the baby still was not doing well, they were going to try and speed things up, I was given a suppository of some sort, inserted vaginally that was suppose to help induce labor. This quickly sped up my contractions, they started coming one right after the other, I felt as though I would come down from one contraction and the next one would start. They were close together (about 30 seconds apart) and much more intense, it was harder for me to concentrate but I just kept thinking it would be over soon. Rachelle, the nurse came back to check on me after 3 hours of intense contractions (10:00 at night) and I was now dilated to . . . only 3 centimeters . . .

Home from the Hospital

We are finally home from the hospital. Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers during these past 11 days, they have been very much appreciated. I know you all are must be curious about all the excitement our son has had in his very short life. I will be posting our story soon so you can hear all about our labor, delivery and ER experiences. I wanted to just take a moment to let you all know we are now home - happy and healthy! Thank you for thinking of us during this time. Our family is very appreciative of your care!

He's Here

He is finally here! Rachel went into the hospital Sunday with contractions about 10 minutes apart. Contractions were good and strong, but baby's heart rate would not go back up after each contraction; because Brendan was overdue and they were worried about the complications it could bring.

She labored for about 3 hours and was only at 3 centimeters. The hospital O.R. was short staffed so they decided to hold off and wait until this morning when the doctors, surgeons, and other staff came back on duty, just in case they needed to do an emergency cesarean.

Monday morning around 6:00, her water broke naturally and she began to dilate on her own. She pushed for a short time (about 10-15 mins).

Brendan came at 8:26 a.m., July 14, 2007. He was 7 pounds, 11 ounces, 19.5 inches long. Baby is great, and Mama is tired. Both should be coming home today sometime after both Rachel's and the baby's doctor give the okay.

The first three pictures from yesterday morning right after he was born. The rest are from yesterday evening (started at the yelling face).

No I have not had my baby yet...

Questions you do not want to hear the day of your due date:

1. Are you still carrying around that basketball?
2. What are you still doing here?
3. Are you still pregnant?
4. Why hasn't the baby come yet?
5. And my favorite: Weren't you due before me?

Yes, I have heard all of those questions today alone as well as others! The last one was today at the mall, I ran into a girl from my Childbirth Preparation course from the hospital who was due on July 13th and there she was with her brand new baby boy! AHHH! If you feel as if I am ignoring you, you are not alone. Without meaning to, I have started shutting people out, basically due to the questions that I do not want to answer.

No, I am not dilated according to the doctor visit yesterday. Yes, I am frustrated. Yes, I know it is God's timing not my own. Yes, I know the baby will come when he is ready. No, none of these responses make me feel any better. For those of you who are curious, I did go and see the doctor yesterday, I am not dilated as I stated earlier and so if I have not given birth by next Monday, I will see the doctor then and they will set a date to induce me at that time. Until then all we can do is wait. and waiting is not fun!

Doctor's Visit

Well today I had my 37th week appointment with the doctor. I didn't see the doctor, I actually saw the PA Vikki which was a good visit this week. Since Wednesday will start my 38th week of pregnancy, we talked about when I should stop working and my last day is actually this Wednesday June 18th.

I am currently dilated to 1 centimeter about 50% effaced and at -2 in position. For those of you who don't really know what all those numbers mean (like me this afternoon) I am progressing as I should be and it could be tomorrow or in two more weeks. I promise to keep you updated as I progress! Hopefully I last until my next appointment on Monday and the Baby doesn't come sooner!

He's Coming....

I know he is coming soon, I just know it and I am not ready at all! Maybe I am wrong and he will come when he is supposed to... I just have a feeling he is going to come this weekend right after I finally get off work and I won’t have a break or any time to prepare. People think that I am crazy but I am getting nervous...