Bling. Can you see the rhinestones?
Mom and Dad's present to her. I really really loved making this quilt. I will be making one for Emily this summer.
She was excited to open presents.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Nathalie turns 2!
Nathalie's birthday was really low-key this year, obviously. My sister made cupcakes, she picked out some balloons and we opened presents. I can hardly believe she's 2, although she certainly acts it!
Bling. Can you see the rhinestones?
Mom and Dad's present to her. I really really loved making this quilt. I will be making one for Emily this summer.
She was excited to open presents.
Bling. Can you see the rhinestones? Mom and Dad's present to her. I really really loved making this quilt. I will be making one for Emily this summer. She was excited to open presents.
Right before baby
Finishing Nathalie's birthday present
Going to the park
So pretty
Dandelion picking
Dandelions sometimes get stuck in your mouth
Daring explorer
Help from Dad
Great bouquet
Perfecting her techniqueWednesday, April 27, 2011
Let's git er done
Okay, where were we? Oh right, walking into the hospital.
I got to the hospital at 5am and I was alone. Matt had gotten off work at 3:30 and I let him sleep, knowing that it would be awhile until I needed him. They checked me in, did nurse stuff and at 6:15am started Pitocin. I felt blessed to have the same nurse I did with Nathalie because I was feeling a little alone (maybe a dumb idea to be alone).
Between 6:15 and 7am I wallowed in my negative feelings about induction. At 7am my OB came in to break my water. I had devised a plan to avoid Pitocin but needed his go ahead. I asked him to turn off the Pitocin after he broke my water, hoping that breaking my water would be enough to send my body into labor. He agreed to give me a few hours and see what happened.
He broke my water at 7am and the fluid was stained a little green. Nothing too big, just a sign of being postdate. My nurse turned off the Pitocin and unhooked me from the external fetal monitor. Without Pitocin I was only hooked up to an IV of fluid. She was totally supportive of me trying to labor on my own. She told me to be back in my room every hour so she could check the baby's heartbeat and to keep track of my contractions. An OB resident came in and told me some tips to keep contractions going. I'd done my research too and knew some things that would help.
So started my labor. That first hour I walked and stood a lot. Contractions were coming, but they were very irregular, depending on whether I was moving, sitting, on the toilet. I wanted to keep moving, knowing that if my contractions slowed I'd be put on Pitocin and have very restricted movement.
Between 7am and 9am my contractions slowly built in intensity and regularity. Around 7:45 I did some nipple stim because they were so irregular and I was trying to avoid Pitocin at all costs. Let me tell you-- without the nipple stim I would have had Pitocin by 9. But because of that my contractions became regular and stronger.
At 9am I called Matt. I could still easily talk through contractions, coming every 5 minutes. I didn't even need to stop and breathe through them. I was just bored and lonely. Between 9am and 10 I started feeling tired. Contractions were getting stronger but not faster, unless I sat on the toilet. I'd been walking for 2 hours and didn't feel like sitting on the toilet (which sped up contractions) until I delivered. I asked a nurse for a birthing ball and she brought one that was shaped like a peanut. Not only did the ball give me a chance to sit down for a bit, it also put me in a position like the toilet and so my contractions didn't slow. I was even able to doze off a bit.
Matt arrived at 10 and we started walking again. Contractions were getting stronger but still 4-5 minutes apart. Between 10 and 11 Matt and I walked and I sat on the ball. By 11am contractions were strong enough that I had to stop walking during one. I started breathing and relaxing during the contractions. I stopped wanting to go out of my room and got really quiet. I was able to doze on the ball a little bit and the two hours passed quickly.
By noon I was leaning over the birthing ball. When I contraction came I closed my eyes, rolled back and forth on the ball and put my head on Matt's knee. The contractions were 3 minutes apart and strong. Nothing I couldn't handle though.
Around 12:15 my nurse and a resident came in to check me. I was only 5 cm! I felt a little discouraged because it'd been 5 hours, but because I was progressing I still didn't need Pitocin. I could no longer talk, move or open my eyes at all during a contraction. At 12:30 or so my OB came in to look at me. He'd just finished a C-section and could tell that we wouldn't need any Pitocin at that point. He left, but I don't think he went far.
Around 12:45 I suggested Matt go get lunch. I was going to get in the shower. My wonderful nurse was totally supportive again and taped a glove over the IV. The contractions were really getting intense. I climbed in the shower and things changed. All of a sudden I couldn't labor silently anymore. The contractions moved to my back and got really intense. They were still 2-3 minutes apart, but I started whimpering through the contractions. Some people moan, I whimpered and moved my stomach from side to side, rubbing my stomach.
After 10-15 minutes I got out. Matt walked back in the room at that point and I was whimpering, dripping wet naked. I'm sure that was a sight!!! He helped dry me off and convinced me to put on my hospital gown, at least on the front. I told him to go get the nurse and ask for Nubain and I moved toward the bed.
I thought I was still only at 5 or 6cm and knew if it was this intense, I wouldn't be able to finish without some pain medication. My nurse walked into the room as I lay down on my left side on the bed. As she typed on the computer for a minute with a shot of Nubain in her hand, another contraction hit.
Pressure. Intense pressure. SO MUCH PRESSURE. I said, "J, pressure! Pressure!!!!" She checked me, told me I was completely dilated and it was time to go, and asked if I wanted the Nubain. I shook my head "no" because I knew that I had made it to the end and gripped the side of the bed with all my strength as the next contraction hit. My whimpering turned into a moan which got higher and higher in pitch.
It all becomes hazy here. I was so focused on the contractions I don't know what was happening around me. As each contraction hit I clung to the bed and screamed. When the baby descended I started pushing. There was definitely the ring of fire as she crowned. Matt tried to hold my hand and I yelled, "NO TOUCHING!" Then I asked him to rub my back with a cold towel. He asked me if I could lie on my back to deliver and I yelled, "NO!" because it was ALL back labor at that point.
I had 5 or so contractions. I pushed and screamed "OW!" every time. Somewhere in there my OB arrived. Charlotte crowned and I pushed as hard as I could. Her head was born and my OB told me to push gently (yeah right!). Her shoulders were born and she slipped out.
I had an abrasion on the top of the birth canal and 1 stitch needed on the bottom. She was 8 lbs 2 oz. I had done it! I had her completely naturally and recovery has been SO EASY. There are definitely endorphins that come after a natural birth.
After it was all done, my OB came over and said, "Congratulations Michelle, you did it!" I looked at him and, triumphantly, said, "I did it, Dr, I did it!" I still feel triumphant.
Sorry this was so long!!
I got to the hospital at 5am and I was alone. Matt had gotten off work at 3:30 and I let him sleep, knowing that it would be awhile until I needed him. They checked me in, did nurse stuff and at 6:15am started Pitocin. I felt blessed to have the same nurse I did with Nathalie because I was feeling a little alone (maybe a dumb idea to be alone).
Between 6:15 and 7am I wallowed in my negative feelings about induction. At 7am my OB came in to break my water. I had devised a plan to avoid Pitocin but needed his go ahead. I asked him to turn off the Pitocin after he broke my water, hoping that breaking my water would be enough to send my body into labor. He agreed to give me a few hours and see what happened.
He broke my water at 7am and the fluid was stained a little green. Nothing too big, just a sign of being postdate. My nurse turned off the Pitocin and unhooked me from the external fetal monitor. Without Pitocin I was only hooked up to an IV of fluid. She was totally supportive of me trying to labor on my own. She told me to be back in my room every hour so she could check the baby's heartbeat and to keep track of my contractions. An OB resident came in and told me some tips to keep contractions going. I'd done my research too and knew some things that would help.
So started my labor. That first hour I walked and stood a lot. Contractions were coming, but they were very irregular, depending on whether I was moving, sitting, on the toilet. I wanted to keep moving, knowing that if my contractions slowed I'd be put on Pitocin and have very restricted movement.
Between 7am and 9am my contractions slowly built in intensity and regularity. Around 7:45 I did some nipple stim because they were so irregular and I was trying to avoid Pitocin at all costs. Let me tell you-- without the nipple stim I would have had Pitocin by 9. But because of that my contractions became regular and stronger.
At 9am I called Matt. I could still easily talk through contractions, coming every 5 minutes. I didn't even need to stop and breathe through them. I was just bored and lonely. Between 9am and 10 I started feeling tired. Contractions were getting stronger but not faster, unless I sat on the toilet. I'd been walking for 2 hours and didn't feel like sitting on the toilet (which sped up contractions) until I delivered. I asked a nurse for a birthing ball and she brought one that was shaped like a peanut. Not only did the ball give me a chance to sit down for a bit, it also put me in a position like the toilet and so my contractions didn't slow. I was even able to doze off a bit.
Matt arrived at 10 and we started walking again. Contractions were getting stronger but still 4-5 minutes apart. Between 10 and 11 Matt and I walked and I sat on the ball. By 11am contractions were strong enough that I had to stop walking during one. I started breathing and relaxing during the contractions. I stopped wanting to go out of my room and got really quiet. I was able to doze on the ball a little bit and the two hours passed quickly.
By noon I was leaning over the birthing ball. When I contraction came I closed my eyes, rolled back and forth on the ball and put my head on Matt's knee. The contractions were 3 minutes apart and strong. Nothing I couldn't handle though.
Around 12:15 my nurse and a resident came in to check me. I was only 5 cm! I felt a little discouraged because it'd been 5 hours, but because I was progressing I still didn't need Pitocin. I could no longer talk, move or open my eyes at all during a contraction. At 12:30 or so my OB came in to look at me. He'd just finished a C-section and could tell that we wouldn't need any Pitocin at that point. He left, but I don't think he went far.
Around 12:45 I suggested Matt go get lunch. I was going to get in the shower. My wonderful nurse was totally supportive again and taped a glove over the IV. The contractions were really getting intense. I climbed in the shower and things changed. All of a sudden I couldn't labor silently anymore. The contractions moved to my back and got really intense. They were still 2-3 minutes apart, but I started whimpering through the contractions. Some people moan, I whimpered and moved my stomach from side to side, rubbing my stomach.
After 10-15 minutes I got out. Matt walked back in the room at that point and I was whimpering, dripping wet naked. I'm sure that was a sight!!! He helped dry me off and convinced me to put on my hospital gown, at least on the front. I told him to go get the nurse and ask for Nubain and I moved toward the bed.
I thought I was still only at 5 or 6cm and knew if it was this intense, I wouldn't be able to finish without some pain medication. My nurse walked into the room as I lay down on my left side on the bed. As she typed on the computer for a minute with a shot of Nubain in her hand, another contraction hit.
Pressure. Intense pressure. SO MUCH PRESSURE. I said, "J, pressure! Pressure!!!!" She checked me, told me I was completely dilated and it was time to go, and asked if I wanted the Nubain. I shook my head "no" because I knew that I had made it to the end and gripped the side of the bed with all my strength as the next contraction hit. My whimpering turned into a moan which got higher and higher in pitch.
It all becomes hazy here. I was so focused on the contractions I don't know what was happening around me. As each contraction hit I clung to the bed and screamed. When the baby descended I started pushing. There was definitely the ring of fire as she crowned. Matt tried to hold my hand and I yelled, "NO TOUCHING!" Then I asked him to rub my back with a cold towel. He asked me if I could lie on my back to deliver and I yelled, "NO!" because it was ALL back labor at that point.
I had 5 or so contractions. I pushed and screamed "OW!" every time. Somewhere in there my OB arrived. Charlotte crowned and I pushed as hard as I could. Her head was born and my OB told me to push gently (yeah right!). Her shoulders were born and she slipped out.
I had an abrasion on the top of the birth canal and 1 stitch needed on the bottom. She was 8 lbs 2 oz. I had done it! I had her completely naturally and recovery has been SO EASY. There are definitely endorphins that come after a natural birth.
After it was all done, my OB came over and said, "Congratulations Michelle, you did it!" I looked at him and, triumphantly, said, "I did it, Dr, I did it!" I still feel triumphant.
Sorry this was so long!!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
What I was going to finish writing today...
Going into the pregnancy I did a lot of research on pregnancy and labor. I knew what I wanted-- a natural labor from start to finish with a lot of movement and coping techniques. I just didn't know what my body was going to do. With both my previous labors I'd received Pitocin and both times it kicked my butt.
As I approached my due date, I got increasingly nervous. I'd never been pregnant this long before. I knew that my OB, even though he knew my wishes, also felt very strongly about not letting women go past their due dates.
My 40 week appointment came. Matt was pressuring me to get induced but when I went to the appt, my OB and I talked about it and decided to give it a few more days. I was at a 3 and 70% and the baby was really low. At my 36 week ultrasound the baby was smaller than Nathalie had been so he wasn't worried about her being too big. He was going out of town for the weekend so we agreed that if I hadn't gone into labor by Monday, we would induce. That would put me at 40 weeks 6 days.
All weekend I prayed. I had a few mild contractions. However I had no other signs of labor. Sunday evening I gave the girls to my in-laws, came home and cleaned the house very thoroughly. I almost finished Nathalie's birthday quilt and went to bed.
Monday morning I got up ridiculously early and headed to the hospital. I hadn't gone into labor on my own. I was 5 days "overdue" and dreading another Pitocin labor. I was very depressed walking into the hospital.
As I approached my due date, I got increasingly nervous. I'd never been pregnant this long before. I knew that my OB, even though he knew my wishes, also felt very strongly about not letting women go past their due dates.
My 40 week appointment came. Matt was pressuring me to get induced but when I went to the appt, my OB and I talked about it and decided to give it a few more days. I was at a 3 and 70% and the baby was really low. At my 36 week ultrasound the baby was smaller than Nathalie had been so he wasn't worried about her being too big. He was going out of town for the weekend so we agreed that if I hadn't gone into labor by Monday, we would induce. That would put me at 40 weeks 6 days.
All weekend I prayed. I had a few mild contractions. However I had no other signs of labor. Sunday evening I gave the girls to my in-laws, came home and cleaned the house very thoroughly. I almost finished Nathalie's birthday quilt and went to bed.
Monday morning I got up ridiculously early and headed to the hospital. I hadn't gone into labor on my own. I was 5 days "overdue" and dreading another Pitocin labor. I was very depressed walking into the hospital.
Let's get this sucker started
I wrote my birth story. It's long. And right now in my life I literally don't have the time to shower, let alone do anything else. So as much as I don't like it when people post their birth stories in long installments, that's what I'm going to have to do. Let's call this first part "The background".
First, a summary of Emily's birth. Cascade of intervention. Membranes stripped at 39 1/2 weeks (what was my OB thinking?!), water broke spontaneously about 16 hours later. Went into the hospital 3 hours later, contractions 3 minutes apart. Losing too much fluid so they started re-infusing me and put in an internal fetal monitor so I was restricted to the bed. Contractions slowed. Pitocin started. Contractions intensify, narcotic given. Can't breathe, oxygen mask. Contractions too much, epidural given. Emily had heart decels going lower and recovering slower. She is crowning, her heart hits 60 bpm and doesn't recover. OB does a huge episiotomy to get her out fast. She ripped me down the birth canal, third degree tear plus big episiotomy. Long recovery. 12 hours in labor.
Summary of Nathalie's birth: Scheduled induction at 39 weeks. Pitocin and AROM. Restricted movement because of external fetal monitor (required with a Pitocin induction). Move as much as I can. 5 hours into it, ask for some Nubain (1/2 of the smallest dose) to take off the edge. An hour later, ask for half dose again. An hour later, ask for epidural. Sit up, realize not enough time for epidural and anesthesiologist gives me a quick shot. Takes the edge off the actual birth, no ring of fire. Nathalie born 20 minutes later. 2 stitches. 7 hour labor.
I was going to write more but Nathalie just ran past and she's naked. Gotta go.
First, a summary of Emily's birth. Cascade of intervention. Membranes stripped at 39 1/2 weeks (what was my OB thinking?!), water broke spontaneously about 16 hours later. Went into the hospital 3 hours later, contractions 3 minutes apart. Losing too much fluid so they started re-infusing me and put in an internal fetal monitor so I was restricted to the bed. Contractions slowed. Pitocin started. Contractions intensify, narcotic given. Can't breathe, oxygen mask. Contractions too much, epidural given. Emily had heart decels going lower and recovering slower. She is crowning, her heart hits 60 bpm and doesn't recover. OB does a huge episiotomy to get her out fast. She ripped me down the birth canal, third degree tear plus big episiotomy. Long recovery. 12 hours in labor.
Summary of Nathalie's birth: Scheduled induction at 39 weeks. Pitocin and AROM. Restricted movement because of external fetal monitor (required with a Pitocin induction). Move as much as I can. 5 hours into it, ask for some Nubain (1/2 of the smallest dose) to take off the edge. An hour later, ask for half dose again. An hour later, ask for epidural. Sit up, realize not enough time for epidural and anesthesiologist gives me a quick shot. Takes the edge off the actual birth, no ring of fire. Nathalie born 20 minutes later. 2 stitches. 7 hour labor.
I was going to write more but Nathalie just ran past and she's naked. Gotta go.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
The hardest part about this week...
isn't that I'm still pregnant. It's that I'm bored. Still going strong.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Daddy's Girl
Emily adores doing projects with Matt. He keeps a small board with nails in it in the garage so that she can hammer it while he's working on something. So when he brought home a simple project kit (a treasure box) and some small tools for her, she was literally ecstatic. 
She kept saying, "Thank you so much Daddy! I can't wait to open these! Can we do something when we get home? These are the best present ever!"
Funny expression.
Emily now goes around the house "fixing" things. I think for her birthday I'll make her a tool belt, just like Matt's. I love watching her want to be just like Matt. What an adorable little girl!
She kept saying, "Thank you so much Daddy! I can't wait to open these! Can we do something when we get home? These are the best present ever!" 
Funny expression. 
Emily now goes around the house "fixing" things. I think for her birthday I'll make her a tool belt, just like Matt's. I love watching her want to be just like Matt. What an adorable little girl!"It's called a cruel irony, Cronk"
Picture this: Rainy afternoon. Rainy evening. Plans to walk Daddy to work foiled. How can we get out of the house? Ah, brilliant idea! Play in the kids room at hospital. They love it and haven't been there for a few weeks. Drop Daddy off at work. Drive to hospital parking lot. On the way in, decide to get cookies from cafe. I'm still pregnant so I deserve it. Waiting in line for cookies. See a pregnant woman walk in very fast, heading straight for elevators to maternity. In labor. Wishing, wishing, wishing I were in labor. Get cookies. Head to kids room with girls. Eat cookie in kids room. Hear Brahm's lullaby over the intercom announcing the arrival of a baby upstairs. Still sitting downstairs, eating a cookie, pregnant. Maybe the hospital wasn't such a good idea tonight. ************************************************************************************************************************** Answers to your questions: Due date? Wed/Thurs Dilated, etc? Don't know. Haven't been checked for 4 weeks. Don't want to know. Any sigsn of labor? No. Oh wait, I might have had 3 minor back cramps last night. Or not. I might have been imagining it too. Induction date set? Not yet. Hopefully not until 41 weeks. Would rather this baby comes out on her own. Anxious? Yes. I've never been pregnant this long before. Although I want her to come out when she's ready, I wish she'd be ready right now! Getting anxious to meet and love her. In the meantime, I'm keeping busy with making sure the house is clean and everything is done (laundry, dishes) all the time so if I go into labor I can just leave. Also, I'm working on a wonderful project for Nathalie's birthday and loving it. So, keeping busy.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Questions
If you use natural methods (walking, castor oil, herbs, etc) to induce labor on your own and it works, does it still count as going into labor naturally? And does anyone know of a natural method for inducing labor that actually works?
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Ahhhh, this is what we needed
We've been a little cranky lately. Me, for obvious reasons. The girls, because I'm cranky. And honestly, Matt hasn't been cranky. He's generally good natured. That and he also gets to talk to adults on a regular basis.
Thank goodness for beautiful weather though! We've had TONS of rain this spring and sometimes I forget the power of being outside. So here's to spring, sunshine, warm weather and undoing the crankiness!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Some great news!!! (But no baby yet)
We got a lovely letter in the mail a few days ago. My favorite sentence in the letter was, "Your account has been paid in full." That's right. We paid off our minivan!!!! I'll admit it wasn't easy. All of our tax return and a very significant chunk of our bank account went toward paying it off....and it was really hard mailing that huge check off. Thank you Dave Ramsey!!
Friday, April 1, 2011
We had a baby!
Aprils Fools. (This picture is of me at 37 weeks.)
I'm nesting. And I'm cranky. I want to get rid of every single unneccessary thing in my household. I know nesting is getting bad when I'm ready to empty every drawer, pull out all my clothes, food storage, books, papers, movies, stuff, toys, blankets, etc and throw it all away because I can't handle the "clutter".
************************************************************************************************* 
I'm nesting. And I'm cranky. I want to get rid of every single unneccessary thing in my household. I know nesting is getting bad when I'm ready to empty every drawer, pull out all my clothes, food storage, books, papers, movies, stuff, toys, blankets, etc and throw it all away because I can't handle the "clutter". Also, I can't wait for General Conference. I've been looking forward to it all week. If you don't know what General Conference is, go here. It's just the thing I need to get back on track and grounded again, since I've been feeling a little crazy lately. I can't wait to teach Emily about the prophet. I can't wait to feel the Spirit. It's going to be wonderful. Happy General Conference weekend!!
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