Welcome Alexander!

Just a quick update for now... still in the hospital! I will post pictures later...

I was induced on July 27th at 8:30 AM. I had terrible back labor for 9 hours, 4 1/2 of which was just trying to push him out. He got stuck on my pelvic bone and came out with a giant hematoma on his head. He had strange symptoms that suggested trouble with his brain right away, so was sent to the NICU for monitoring. In the NICU, he had a giant seizure. He was given medication for the seizure, as well as antibiotics for possible meningitis. We were terrified of that as well as the possibility of a genetic seizure disorder.

Today, we received the best news possible: he has a small brain bleed in the right frontal lobe caused by the traumatic birth, and which will most likely be reabsorbed with no long term consequences.

Alex will be monitored with head ultrasounds for the next week to make sure the bleed is reabsorbed and doesn't get larger. I will stay here at the hospital with him to work on breastfeeding, and just being his Mommy. We can't wait to take him home!

Dear Baby Boo (aka Thumper),

Time has flown by for all of us. As much as I enjoy having you in my belly, I know that you will be here, in my arms, soon. Emotions are washing over me like waves. I am thankful for all of the love and support from our friends and family. I've been reading a lot to keep myself inspired for your birth. We do have a real name ready for you (although we can't share it yet); it is a strong name, like you. Your older brother felt you kick for the first time today. He was so proud, he kissed you through my belly. We have all of your clothes washed and ready, your bed is next to ours...we are ready for you, Boo. We are ready to celebrate your birthday!

Love,
Mom

Vent

I never thought I would have a "normal" pregnancy. I knew I would be worried a lot, have to take a lot of supplements and medication, possibly endure bed rest, be financially and emotionally ready for anything and everything. But I wasn't prepared for making it to full term, and still being miserable. I really thought that making it to full term, I would be elated with joy. I was, for a minute. But now, instead, I have to still endure strict bed rest and now have the fear of developing pre-eclampsia. I have to look forward to laboring and delivering lying down again. I have to worry about going on magnesium sulfate again immediately after delivery. I might, therefore, not be able to hold my baby right away and start bonding and breastfeeding, as I imagined I would. This is all exhausting to think about, as I have nothing else to do in bed. It's wearing me down.

Still on bed rest...

Just got back from my appointment! I actually had to go see my OB at the hospital in triage, because everyone decided to go into labor today and she couldn't make it into the clinic. No changes. All my labs were normal, and Thumper was happily thumping away on the monitor with a strong heartbeat. My BP is still high sitting, but normal lying down, so I am on bed rest until Tuesday when I will be induced. If I don't deliver before then! I had a few doozie contractions this morning, and lots of pelvic pressure.

I found out that I will have to labor and deliver lying down again. I had to do this for Alden because he was so premature. Now it is because of my high blood pressure. I am not looking forward to that! I am sending myself vibes for a fast labor.

Update - visit to OB today

It was reassuring to see my regular OB today, and I am now back home on bedrest. My bp was still high at 140/70, but not as bad as last week. I has an NST and AFI, and passed those. She checked my cervix, and I am 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced. My cervix is so ripe, that I could go into labor on my own at any time! The plan is to see her again on Thursday for another bp, NST, AFI, and blood and urine labs. If everything still looks good, then I get to stay pregnant until next Tuesday at the latest. Then she will induce me, because that's when she is on-call and she doesn't want me to be pregnant past 39 weeks. I will be 38 weeks and 3 days then. So baby will definitely be here within the next week! :)

We made it to full term!!!

Happy 37 weeks!



I realize this is not the most flattering picture of me, but I just have to document the day. I am big and tired and in bed all day - so big that you can barely see Alden in the picture! I literally got up for a minute, took the picture, and went right back to bed.

My 24-hour urinalysis came back negative for a significant amount of protein. So still no preeclampsia, which is a relief. I see my OB on Monday, and will discuss my risk for developing preeclampsia. I am so scared of preeclampsia, that if my risk is really high I might just consent to being induced. When I read that some women with preeclampsia need to be treated with magnesium sulfate immediately after delivering, my heart dropped. I simply can not go through that sheer hell again. I am pretty scared. The good news is that I have complete trust in my OB. I will do anything to avoid being "magged" again.

Gestational Hypertension

Well, my BP was high again today while sitting, and normal lying on my side. All of my labs are still normal, so I have gestational hypertension and not preeclampsia. I am still home on bedrest and seeing my OB (who is back from vaycay on Monday!) every 2-3 days. I would love to stay pregnant for as long as possible, but I also take comfort in the fact that I will be 37 weeks tomorrow.

Mama's Eye View

Almost 37 weeks!

Back On Bed Rest!

At my OB visit today, my blood pressure was 144/88! Lying down, it went back to 120/70. My blood and urine labs were normal, but I am back on bed rest for at least the next few days. My bp will be rechecked on Friday and Monday. I am so bummed! To make it more stressful for me, my regular OB is on vacation this week, so I had to see one of her partners, who doesn't have the best communication style. I therefore learned all about the worst case scenario of possibly having preeclampsia and if I do have that, needing to be induced, etc. I am not currently diagnosed with preeclampsia because of my normal labs, but I will be monitored super closely from now on.

I wasn't even allowed the extra shot of progesterone, because of the possibility of needing to be induced within the next week if I develop preeclampsia. I was shocked.

I have been in tears today, totally freaked out and stressed. : (

Rethinking the Definition of Term Pregnancy

So this article freaked me out today:

Rethinking the Definition of "Term Pregnancy"

Click on the title to read the abstract. Basically, according to new research, "term pregnancy" should reference women who are 39-40 weeks pregnant. 37-38 weeks should be considered "early term." Early term infants are at higher risk for things like chronic respiratory disease and learning problems. And I thought getting to 37 weeks was enough! Of course, early term infants are at less risk for these things than preterm infants (less than 37 weeks gestation)... but still...

Well, when I reach 37 weeks on Saturday - you know I will be celebrating! It is still full-term to me, and SO much better than 26 weeks!

36 Weeks!!!

I can't believe we made it this far - one more week until this babe is full-term! :) I am feeling really good. Just easily tired from activity and trying to build up my strength, which has diminished after six weeks of bedrest. I still contract often, but that is considered normal at this point, as long as the contractions aren't painful. I am guessing this babe to be about six pounds now, which is average. Alden was about five pounds and still in the NICU when he was adjusted to 36 weeks gestation. It takes a lot more effort and struggle for a baby to grow outside the womb. We know exactly what a 36-weeker looks like. I still remember thinking that our five pound boy looked HUGE! Thumper is most likely already about three times Alden's birth weight and has had ten more weeks in utero. We feel extremely lucky.

Go all the way, Baby!

Today was going to be my last shot. My 20th! But I saw a little left in vial and asked if it would be OK to get just one more next week -- the nurse looked at me funny and said it would be fine, but most women can't wait to be done with the shots! She also said that if I want to "go all the way with the pregnancy," then that's the way to do it. I said, let's schedule that appointment! I am now labeled "hard core." The shots aren't that bad, really. If one more will buy me an extra week, it is VERY worth it!

Happy Independence Day!

35 weeks = No more bed rest = Happy Independence Day to me! :D



I actually left the house to go see the fireworks yesterday - that's the longest I have been outside for the last six weeks. It feels great to rejoin the world!

2 more days...!!!

In two days, I will be 35 weeks and then my bedrest restriction will be gone! Woo-hoo! My OB still wants me to take it VERY easy, however. No going back to work or to much household cleaning/cooking...darn. :) I can try to walk a block, though, as long as contractions don't start up. If I start to feel a lot of contractions, I have to rest again. Wish me luck!

I'm glad we got a pic of Alden showing his baby some lovin'! He often brings me water in bed and pulls the blanket up over his baby brother/sister...he's very excited!




We lack full-length mirrors in our home - so you can imagine my shock at how big I really am! WOW!


As my Mom was taking this photo she exclaimed, "You're as big as a watermelon!"