Birth Story (finally)

I've been meaning to write 'Little Miss' birth story for quite some time. Here it is in bulleted form.

December 11, 2012:my due date I went to Dr. Gosser's office and he assured me that only 4% of women were still pregnant at 42 weeks pregnant so within the next 2 weeks she would come (2 centimeters dilated)

12/18/12: 41 weeks, Dr. Gosser began to discuss possible induction because 42 weeks would be Christmas day (4 centimeters dilated)
We prayed, consulted with friends (thanks Rachelle), and decided to schedule induction for 12/21/12 hoping that she would come before then on her own

12/20/12 (Thursday): Dave took me out to a nice dinner at Favazza's and I had about 4 contractions while there. I hoped that they would become more steady, they didn't.

12/21/12 (Friday): we woke up at 4am to arrive at St. Anthony's by 5am for scheduled induction
Nurse Kim checked me, began my IV, and was wonderful. (4 centimeters) Then at 7am her shift was over
My next nurse was Felicia, she was a worrier, who wanted me on the monitor ALL the time, but the problem was she and 3 day shift nurses couldn't figure out how to use the mobile monitoring system.

Around 7:30am Dr. Gosser came to check on me just before they were working to get the mobile monitoring set-up. When he returned at about 9am I was still on the regular monitor that basically kept me confined to bed.  Being confined to the bed made it difficult to move during the contractions and made me very uncomfortable. He said I only needed to be on the monitor about 15 minutes out of every hour which Felicia interpreted as 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off. She was great about timing the off the monitor time but stretched the time on the monitor closer to 40 minutes.

By around 1pm I was 7 centimeters dilated and slowly creeped to 8 centimeters around 3:30pm. At 4:30pm I was still 8 centimeters and experiencing extreme back labor. I asked Felicia what pain relief options I had besides an epidural and she said "typically we don't give anything by IV after 6-7 centimeters, but I could ask your doctor." Dr. Gosser approved a dose of Morphine. It provided me with some short term pain relief to rest. Around 5:30 Dr. Gosser also broke my water to help me progress the last bit. And just about that time, when I wasn't sure I could take much more pain (Morphine was wearing off and Nurse Felicia had me tied to monitors), Nurse Kim returned to her night shift early and took over my care.

She helped to get into different positions (hands and knees, birthing ball, etc.) to relieve pressure off my lower back and I progressed to 10 centimeters and began pushing around 6:15-6:30ish.  And at 8:02pm, my beautiful baby girl Hannah Josephine was born!

Hannah's 1st photo

daddy holding Hannah

Precious feet

grasping mommy's finger

no words needed :)

40 weeks, 4 days

Well, my sweet Little Miss' tardy arrival has provided time to do 'extra prep'. Today I used discounts and gift cards to Babies R' Us and purchased a second base for the infant car seat spending $0 out of pocket.

Now to scrub the bathroom and kitchen floors :)

40 weeks

Today marks the completion of 40 weeks of pregnancy and as of 12:30pm my Little Miss still hasn't arrived. And all I can think about is how much I want to meet her. This waiting is so difficult!

Couldn't have said it better myself

http://meditationsofablueberry.blogspot.com/2012/06/finding-patience-at-39-weeks-is-hard.html

http://meditationsofablueberry.blogspot.com/2012/06/overdue-and-tired.html

To keep my mind off of things, I have been trying to keep busy. E and I go out every day, even if it is just for some window shopping or for a walk with our dog. I can't just stay at home and stare at the birth pool all day! But, there's a catch when you go out this pregnant. Someone always seems to think they need to comment on things you do when you are pregnant, and when you are THIS pregnant, it is only worse. I am so tired of hearing all the dumb questions and comments.

• When are you due? (and when I tell them last week I get dumbfounded stares with responses like: And you're out SHOPPING? Um, yes lady, life doesn't stop just because I am overdue. I still need groceries so I can feed this other child right here! And no, my water will most likely not break standing in line. Not everything is a movie.)
• Oh my! How many are in there? Just one thanks.
• Wow, you're huge! My daughter had TWINS and was smaller than you!Thanks jerk for pointing out the obvious. At least I have an excuse!
• You must be uncomfortable. Yep. Another obvious. You know what would have been nice instead of this comment? Letting me go ahead of you in line so that I don't have to stand here being uncomfortable longer. Especially since you have a cart full of things and I have two things.
• You know what gets labour going, don't you? Wink, wink. No comment.
• How dilated are you? Thanks for asking about my woman parts. If you ask again, I'm going to ask you about your last trip to the bathroom. 
• Will they induce you? Or When's the C-Section? Um, the due date is not an expiration date, FYI. It's a guess date. An estimate. 
• That's gonna be a HUGE baby. You better get the epidural right away!Gee, thanks for having faith in the body's ability to give birth and assuming that I can't do it. (When I mention that, no, I will not be having an epidural because I am having a home birth, I either get stares of shock, told I'm "brave" or "crazy", or they just think I'm joking.)
• And the women who think it is necessary to tell me every little detail about their traumatic labour. Seriously, I don't need to hear that this close to giving birth.

We do not know the hour

This Advent I am reminded that just as we do not know the hour when our Lord will return I do not know the hour when my "Little Miss" will arrive. I've been bombarded with questions, particularly at work.
Q. When is your last day at work? A. When this baby decides on her birthday or the doctor says I can no longer work.
Q. When are you having this baby? A. She is 'due' on December 11th, but if she comes before or after that I will have the baby then.
Q. If she hasn't come by December 11th, what are you going to do? A. Try to maintain my sanity, but wait for her to be ready :)

And the comments about my size, everything from "You're too little to be 9 months pregnant" to the opposite "Are you sure it isn't twins?" or "As big as you are you should pop soon"

I just pray that God grant me patience and the Blessed Virgin Mary help me to prepare to be the best mother possible.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." Matthew 25:13

Endurance and Patience

Colossians 1:11 "strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy"

God, grant me endurance and patience as I await the arrival of my precious "Little Miss" (11 days till her due date).

Amen

A Season of Gratitude

As Thanksgiving approaches I have a lot to be thankful for and am going to just quickly list some of them below.

1. My husband who has been especially supportive throughout this pregnancy.
2. A healthy pregnancy! I have been blessed to have no health complications during this pregnancy and I thank God for that fact.
3. My daughter, she isn't even born yet, but she has taught me patience and unconditional love already.
4. My family (and Dave's) who have done so much to help us prepare for the next stage of our life, parenthood.
5. Our friends who have prayed for us, helped us put together furniture, hosted baby showers, and so much more.
6. My job, in this economy I am blessed to have a job and especially one I find so fulfilling.

There is so much more, but right now I'm tired and must get some sleep. As Thanksgiving approaches I invite you to think about the many blessings in your life.

(3 weeks and 1 day until the due date of Little Miss)