Oh, baby!

That's right. Baby. And not just any baby- M!!! That's who!

Her birth wasn't what I had expected, but babies enter the world the way they want anyhow. On Monday, the 21st, I had a midwife appt. The midwife, Kim, checked for fetal heart tones... I had already told her that I was certain baby was breech. She was in denial, and after much searching she looked a little higher. Bam. Heart tones. She checked my cervix, and she couldn't feel a head. We ran accross the office to the OBs side (they share). She again searched deep in my pelvis for a head. I pointed to the hard rock under my ribs. "try here", I said. And there was a head. We scheduled a version for the next day and I went home. Once home, I tried inversions, tilts, everything. Nothing. Ceci (mother in law) and I went swimming at Independence Park. It was very relaxing, but nothing would turn M.

The next morning, Jaime and I went in to the ultrasound. In the waiting room, I saw one of the nurses from my midwives practice, and she wished me a ton of luck with the version. We had the ultrasound, and baby was still breech, as expected. We then went upstairs to the 3rd floor- labor and delivery.

We got put in triage, and awaited the OB and my midwife, Kim. Kim checked my cervix, and found that I was at 3cm and stretchy, 50% effaced. Progress from 1cm. I was also contracting pretty strongly every 5 or so minutes. Time came for the version to be done, and I allowed two residents to watch. They tried three times to turn M- once forwards, once backwards, and once forwards again. They offered to give me a shot of terb (muscle relaxant) to ease me up from the contractions while they tried the version, but I declined. Baby wouldn't turn, but they wanted me to stay a little longer for monitoring. They said until 12:30pm. So, we waited.

In the meantime, I debated whether or not to attempt moxibuxtion (sp?), accupressure, etc. techniques as I was only two days until my due date. Was it really worth the time and money? My midwife had already scheduled a c-section for Wednesday the 30th. Jaime and I decided that it was in our best interest to have the baby that day (the 22nd). That way we wouldn't miss the holidays, nor N's 2nd birthday. I was already likely in early labor and they wouldn't deliver a breech vaginally anyhow- and I was uncomfy UCing a breech at home, as was he. We called Kim back, and let her know that we'd like a c-section today if possible. She said that she'd talk to the OB and let us know. Obviously, the OB said yes, and agreed to section me that day.

I was ecstatic. Scared. I'd never broken a finger even, but had just signed myself up for major surgery. They took us into a delivery room, and gave Jaime his gown to get suited up. By this time, his mom, my mother in law, was there. Anesthesiology came in to ask me some questions. I loved her. Her name was Dr. Martini :) Before I knew it I was walking accross the hall to the OR. They got me up on the table, and got my spinal in. Was a tiny bit painful but Dr. Martini was AWESOME. Jaime was then let in after they catheterized me, shaved me, all of that fun stuff. He said that he came in while they were actually cutting me open. Wow.

During the surgery I basically felt like I had N jumping on my tummy- very weird sensation. I had some nausea, dizziness, and pain in my shoulder from an irritated diaphram, but Dr. Martini effectively managed all of it. She needs an award- seriously. I was also shocked because Jaime was the only male in the room during the c/s. All doctors, my midwife, nurses.. all women!

Things got blurry, and before I knew it they were pulling my daughter out and saying "look at that belly!". They put her on the warmer and dried her off, did her apgars, etc. Jaime and I looked on in awe. She had curly hair (which is gone now) and was very light skinned (as she is now). Beautiful. 7 lbs and 52cm (20 inches).

They let him hold her, and that was it- the birth of our M. I breastfed her right away in recovery, and she's been my boobie monster ever since.

Her weight at birth was 7lbs, her weight at discharge was 6lbs8oz, at 6 days was 6lbs 15oz, and at 8 days was 7lbs5oz!

39w2d

No baby yet!

38w6d- still here!

First update of the day:
We've decided to spell M's name differently.

Second update (long)

So, a couple of days ago I had decided to take a low dose of castor oil to move things along since I've been in prodromal labor hell. Nope- nothing! I did it two days in a row and the only thing I have to show for it is a sparkling clean colon!

Yesterday, at my 38w midwife appointment, I had the midwife, S, strip my membranes. She swept around a few times, got blood on her fingers, and said she's hopeful. I'm 1cm dilated and still "kinda thick", though I knew that from self cervical exams anyways. Yesterday we walked around the mall, ate enchiladas (MMM!) and nothing happened but fatigue and pelvic pain and pressure. Which is understandable because she said the baby's head was "right there". Also she said my bag of waters was bulging. Later on I had some intense back pain, but that has subsided. I think I've had a few contractions today (small ones) but I don't really know. M will come when she's ready!

37w4d- SNOW!

I woke up to a nice surprise... fortunately I didn't have to go out in it.

Yeah. I've been through tons of winters in Chicago yet I still manage to get that knot of anxiety in my tummy every time hubby has to go out in the snow. I find myself uttering numerous "be careful"s and "zip up your sweater"s and "are you sure you don't need another pair of socks?"s. My mind is a bit at ease though since he's taking public transportation & that's probably the safest- the slowest, but the safest. Then I worry about him being late to work and getting in trouble because he took a sick day yesterday on top of this. Bleh.

With any luck, today I'll go into labor & birth the baby while on the phone with him. Hoping that I don't have a quick labor- just for these circumstances. I could do it alone but would mean so much if he were there :)

36w6d - lots of preg updates

Time is flying by :) I have updates to report!

I had my ultrasound on Monday, and baby Maddie is head down, not engaged though. They told me that she had a ton of hair- I saw it for myself! No pics but that fuzzy head image is forever in my head. When they were giving me the "tour-de-baby", I saw the placenta and the baby. I was told earlier that the placenta was anterior (stuck to the front of my uterus, by my belly button). Baby was facing the placenta. Why didn't it occur to me at that time that baby was posteior?! I've not got some baby flippin' to do.

I had my appointment on Tuesday. BP and everything was great, didn't gain a pound this week. Fundal height still 36cm. BUT.. I found out that I'm POSITIVE for Group B Strep. Bleghhhh! SO- I've started my new regimen for it. I've got to get some stronger acidophilus. I'm taking that, garlic, and cutting out sugars. Oh, my life isn't too fun at the moment. Nope, nope, nope. I've also got a cold... boo hoo!

And- I think I'm dilating!! When I put in my evening primrose oil last night, a string of mucous came out. Today, I checked my cervix and a chunk of plug came out (though it was small). :) Woohoo!

Now off to flip this baby!