Recovering from pregnancy #2 was (is!) much different than pregnancy #1. I'd heard this before, but didn't think about it (too focused on labor I guess) until it was happening!
It began when the hospital staff wheeled me to the postpartum room with my new baby. I've still got an IV in and, even better, I am still hooked up to a bag of Oxytocin. Why am I still hooked up to this stuff?? This is the made me go into labor stuff, and I don't want another bag of it in my system thank you very much! Apparently I was bleeding a little more than they liked so they wanted to make sure my uterus was doing it's job and cramping and shrinking. Thanks guys. I asked Bill if I ever even mentioned having cramps after giving birth to Miriam and he said he didn't remember me mentioning it. That would be because I don't remember having them! But I was just checking. What they say is true, afterbirth cramps after a second birth hurt. I watched that bag of Oxytocin and waited to be unhooked. Turns out, it didn't matter much, the cramps I had after it was gone were just as uncomfortable. Uncomfortable as in - ouch this feels like a mildly intense contraction. I have to do my breathing through this! And it put a little damper on breastfeeding cause I knew every time baby nursed it would bring them on. So glad when those went away.
This time, I totally get why there is this weeks long period between birth and your postpartum checkup. After I got home, I still couldn't sleep on my back without bringing on pain in my abdomen for a couple weeks (sleeping on my back is what I've been waiting for dang it!). I still have random pains in my hips and the ligaments that supported that uterus during pregnancy. I've even had some random shooting sciatic pains - which I didn't even have during pregnancy!?
I had a follow up call from a nurse with our insurance company and we're both pretty sure some of the "problem" is the fact I am running around after a 3 year old this time. No chillin' on the couch watching shows, napping and eating all day. (I don't remember much about Miriam's first month besides getting up at night a lot, so I'm making that up) I am feeling (MOST of the time) tons better emotionally since he arrived then during pregnancy. So even though it's not easy, I'm less depressed. It feels so good for Liam to be HERE and working on establishing our new normal.
That said, I'd like to find that normal soon. :) I gotta add exercise to it. And holidays. I'm ready to put recovery behind us.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Liams arrival story - part 2. Healthy Mom, Healthy Babe
(Happy One Month Liam, I'm finally finishing your birth story!) 
We were pre-registered so check in was really quick. I got assigned a room and a nurse and she hooked me up to all my monitors and my IV in no time. Then she was drawing my lab work and hooking up a bag of oxytocin. I was rather surprised when I started feeling contractions 5 minutes apart about 10 minutes after 1pm. I thought it would take longer to get started, but my body really was ripe for labor...apparently (Miriam was born in 4.5 hours) The contractions got a bit stronger as the hour progressed. At first they were not showing up on the monitor, which concerned me because...hello...if this isn't even REGISTERING what is this going to feel like in an hour. I had to quit paying any attention to that. And Bill says eventually they started appearing - a moderate peak.
Around 2 all my labs had come back and we were just waiting for the anesthesiologist. Things were starting to hurt! My OB came over the second time to break my water. (The first time I was still getting set up I think) I really did not want things to go faster or get any stronger so I said "No." She told me she couldn't keep coming back...other patients and all, but I didn't care. Bill and I knew the labor would probably go a lot quicker then any of them realized.
I liked the anesthesiologist. He seemed friendly enough and just kept telling me what was happening/going to happen. It felt easy to work with him and do what he asked. It's not really fun getting the epidural, but the worst part was the first injection to numb up the area a bit. It stung. We got it done and laid me flat. I did NOT want to lay like that. It felt better to have my legs bent, but he said everything would work a bit better lying flat, so I did. 20 minutes to take full effect...so honestly I started watching the clock again.
In my labor with Miriam I had a "hot spot" - an area I could still feel with the epidural. It was the little area of my lower right abdomen. I got another hot spot with this labor that was considerably bigger. After some of my 20 minutes ticked away, I started hitting the "gimme more please" button for an area on my right side. The pain on that side began to get worse as he moved down. I had to breathe through the contractions again.
They told me to let them know if I started feeling a lot of pressure. Since the right side of my birth canal was basically not numb, I totally felt the pressure of him moving down. We got a few nurses in, they had instructions to start pushing with me. My OB made it back just in time for my water to break and to work on pushing baby Liam out. That pushing stuff is hard work! People say second births are "easier" - less pushing etc. I suppose that probably was true, but I still felt like a pushed a while, and it wasn't easy! I've also heard - from those natural birth people - that pushing is a relief because you can finally work with the contractions. Eh - having feeling one side was plenty enough for me, and it still just hurt! Relief came when he came out!
Bill told me later that Liam's umbilical cord was wrapped twice around his neck, but my OB took care of that quickly. And then we were done! He looked pretty good and didn't cry at first. He got weighed and measured and brought back to us. Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby! Sadly, we had forgotten our camera in all our rushing around :( so I don't have the pictures for right after his birth. It's okay, I have lots of chances to get pictures now!
We were pre-registered so check in was really quick. I got assigned a room and a nurse and she hooked me up to all my monitors and my IV in no time. Then she was drawing my lab work and hooking up a bag of oxytocin. I was rather surprised when I started feeling contractions 5 minutes apart about 10 minutes after 1pm. I thought it would take longer to get started, but my body really was ripe for labor...apparently (Miriam was born in 4.5 hours) The contractions got a bit stronger as the hour progressed. At first they were not showing up on the monitor, which concerned me because...hello...if this isn't even REGISTERING what is this going to feel like in an hour. I had to quit paying any attention to that. And Bill says eventually they started appearing - a moderate peak.
Around 2 all my labs had come back and we were just waiting for the anesthesiologist. Things were starting to hurt! My OB came over the second time to break my water. (The first time I was still getting set up I think) I really did not want things to go faster or get any stronger so I said "No." She told me she couldn't keep coming back...other patients and all, but I didn't care. Bill and I knew the labor would probably go a lot quicker then any of them realized.
I liked the anesthesiologist. He seemed friendly enough and just kept telling me what was happening/going to happen. It felt easy to work with him and do what he asked. It's not really fun getting the epidural, but the worst part was the first injection to numb up the area a bit. It stung. We got it done and laid me flat. I did NOT want to lay like that. It felt better to have my legs bent, but he said everything would work a bit better lying flat, so I did. 20 minutes to take full effect...so honestly I started watching the clock again.
In my labor with Miriam I had a "hot spot" - an area I could still feel with the epidural. It was the little area of my lower right abdomen. I got another hot spot with this labor that was considerably bigger. After some of my 20 minutes ticked away, I started hitting the "gimme more please" button for an area on my right side. The pain on that side began to get worse as he moved down. I had to breathe through the contractions again.
They told me to let them know if I started feeling a lot of pressure. Since the right side of my birth canal was basically not numb, I totally felt the pressure of him moving down. We got a few nurses in, they had instructions to start pushing with me. My OB made it back just in time for my water to break and to work on pushing baby Liam out. That pushing stuff is hard work! People say second births are "easier" - less pushing etc. I suppose that probably was true, but I still felt like a pushed a while, and it wasn't easy! I've also heard - from those natural birth people - that pushing is a relief because you can finally work with the contractions. Eh - having feeling one side was plenty enough for me, and it still just hurt! Relief came when he came out!
Bill told me later that Liam's umbilical cord was wrapped twice around his neck, but my OB took care of that quickly. And then we were done! He looked pretty good and didn't cry at first. He got weighed and measured and brought back to us. Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby! Sadly, we had forgotten our camera in all our rushing around :( so I don't have the pictures for right after his birth. It's okay, I have lots of chances to get pictures now!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Liam's arrival story - part 1
So - don't forget - this is a birth story, meaning you will be hearing some details about well - birth
The day before I hit 37 weeks pregnant is when the contractions really started. They were on and off for a week. The day of my 37 week appointment I got "checked" for dilation (about 2 cm that day), and then REALLY had contractions all evening. I kept wondering if I was going to go into labor. But I was somewhat freaked out of going into labor. I kept "relaxing" and trying not to go into labor yet. I was so ready to be done being pregnant - but not. I actually asked my husband to give me a priesthood blessing because of the anxiety. The only thing I remember now is that he told me when the time came, I would be ready. Oh and also that I would be able to get some rest that night. Which I did :)
I made some decisions that week that ended up being fortuitous. I decided to stop working on Wednesdays, I had intended to work through the first week of October.
My 38 week appointment rolled around the morning of September 28. My blood pressure had been climbing a bit (136/90 the week before). The day before I asked if my husband would come to the appointment. I was pretty sure, if my blood pressure was high, we would be talking induction. The night before my hands/feet/ankles were VERY swollen. I'd been doing things all week like eating more fruits and veggies and even CELERY (not kidding) to try and combat what I saw as blood pressure as a result of bad habits. My blood pressure was higher - 146/90. So yes, my OB wanted to talk induction. In fact, the first words out of her mouth were – “Did you talk about induction with Dr McIntosh last week?” She checked me again - 3 to 4 cm dilated. We had a small discussion about why induction. She, of course, said her main concerns were a healthy mommy and baby... and may have mentioned a few scary things that can happen with (basically) pre-eclampsia. Bill asked "So when are we talking about?"
"As soon as you get over the the hospital."
I cried. The closer I had gotten to the end the more freaked out I had gotten about labor. So I cried, because of all the "awful" things I'd heard about being induced with pitocin. My poor husband. And doctor. Like, you know this baby was coming eventually right? I thought to myself - yes, I'm just a stinking basket case! Maybe I was upset because this was becoming such a different birth experience from my first, and I didn't think I WANTED IV's and continuous monitoring and PITOCIN dang it! I'm not sure I was keeping the "healthy mom, healthy baby" mantra in my sights very well.
We left the office to go pick up our hospital bag, take care of our daughter and head to the hospital. I called my sister in law, who has been induced twice. I told her I was freaked out and she talked to me for a while about her experiences, why she preferred induction and about other things. She said - they'll be watching you really closely to make sure everything goes well. Let your nurses know up front what you want. Tell them you don't want to be a hero and that you want that epidural when you can get it (in case that sounds bad to you, we had already discussed this. Yes, I wanted an epidural. AFRAID of the pitocin I was.). Anyhoo, our conversation was really fabulous. And besides, she has two beautiful, healthy daughters. What is a better testimonial then that? She was a really great support to me - even all the way across the country.
About 12pm we had arrived at the hospital and started getting checked in...
The day before I hit 37 weeks pregnant is when the contractions really started. They were on and off for a week. The day of my 37 week appointment I got "checked" for dilation (about 2 cm that day), and then REALLY had contractions all evening. I kept wondering if I was going to go into labor. But I was somewhat freaked out of going into labor. I kept "relaxing" and trying not to go into labor yet. I was so ready to be done being pregnant - but not. I actually asked my husband to give me a priesthood blessing because of the anxiety. The only thing I remember now is that he told me when the time came, I would be ready. Oh and also that I would be able to get some rest that night. Which I did :)
I made some decisions that week that ended up being fortuitous. I decided to stop working on Wednesdays, I had intended to work through the first week of October.
My 38 week appointment rolled around the morning of September 28. My blood pressure had been climbing a bit (136/90 the week before). The day before I asked if my husband would come to the appointment. I was pretty sure, if my blood pressure was high, we would be talking induction. The night before my hands/feet/ankles were VERY swollen. I'd been doing things all week like eating more fruits and veggies and even CELERY (not kidding) to try and combat what I saw as blood pressure as a result of bad habits. My blood pressure was higher - 146/90. So yes, my OB wanted to talk induction. In fact, the first words out of her mouth were – “Did you talk about induction with Dr McIntosh last week?” She checked me again - 3 to 4 cm dilated. We had a small discussion about why induction. She, of course, said her main concerns were a healthy mommy and baby... and may have mentioned a few scary things that can happen with (basically) pre-eclampsia. Bill asked "So when are we talking about?"
"As soon as you get over the the hospital."
I cried. The closer I had gotten to the end the more freaked out I had gotten about labor. So I cried, because of all the "awful" things I'd heard about being induced with pitocin. My poor husband. And doctor. Like, you know this baby was coming eventually right? I thought to myself - yes, I'm just a stinking basket case! Maybe I was upset because this was becoming such a different birth experience from my first, and I didn't think I WANTED IV's and continuous monitoring and PITOCIN dang it! I'm not sure I was keeping the "healthy mom, healthy baby" mantra in my sights very well.
We left the office to go pick up our hospital bag, take care of our daughter and head to the hospital. I called my sister in law, who has been induced twice. I told her I was freaked out and she talked to me for a while about her experiences, why she preferred induction and about other things. She said - they'll be watching you really closely to make sure everything goes well. Let your nurses know up front what you want. Tell them you don't want to be a hero and that you want that epidural when you can get it (in case that sounds bad to you, we had already discussed this. Yes, I wanted an epidural. AFRAID of the pitocin I was.). Anyhoo, our conversation was really fabulous. And besides, she has two beautiful, healthy daughters. What is a better testimonial then that? She was a really great support to me - even all the way across the country.
About 12pm we had arrived at the hospital and started getting checked in...
Friday, September 30, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Perfect
Last weekend was a wonderful weekend! My baby shower was Saturday morning, which was fun. Since I spent all day cleaning last Friday to get ready for my baby shower Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon found us sitting around without much to do! The weather was actually nice. It almost felt like fall out there - my most favorite time of the year.
Bill decided to work outside and fix up some yard stuff. Men....you have no idea what it does for your wives when you get off your butt and go do some work for the heck of it. No idea. Anyhoo - Miriam decided to go outside and help. Well, some of the time.
It was a very contented sort of feeling. Awesome day!
Bill decided to work outside and fix up some yard stuff. Men....you have no idea what it does for your wives when you get off your butt and go do some work for the heck of it. No idea. Anyhoo - Miriam decided to go outside and help. Well, some of the time.
Friday, September 23, 2011
The Waiting Game
Had some contractions Monday. Nothing much was going on Tuesday, but Wednesday evening I was really wondering if we were going to have a baby! Nope, I'm still here, he's still in there. But still. It was a little crazy.
My Dr. appointment on Wednesday was my first one gettingmanhandled my cervix checked. I am about 2 cm dilated and not really effaced at all (aka thick cervix). Weird. But apparently normal for subsequent pregnancies. Lots of contractions that night (until I took a warm shower) so maybe that's a little different now. My blood pressure is climbing little bit which makes me really unhappy. It was 136/90. That's the highest my blood pressure has ever been in my life. EVER. But I did eat Top Ramen for lunch the entire week before my appointment. And made fried rice for dinner Tuesday night. And was busy that day and semi-nervous for getting "checked" so I am hoping with lots of water and fruit (and some veggies, I'll try anyway) I can bring that number down.
My Dr asked if I would want to be induced or wait for things to happen naturally. Which was weird in that there isn't a reason yet to be induced. Whatever for? Do I want to be strapped to an IV before labor is even really going? Not so much. But once I'm ready for an epidural baby... (And of course if the blood pressure doesn't come down this will turn into a different conversation)
Friend of mine's daddy tells us this storm that just came through Atlanta might have been contributing to all the extra contractions. And strangely enough, the last couple days have been better. Go figure. Anyway.
Since working on my Blurb book I'm realizing how much I am going to forget in 4 years. Right now I want to remember what it felt like to play the waiting game.
It's so strange, how I've done "this" before, but it's still entirely different this time! No pre-term labor, no bed rest. I don't know what to expect from this kid. And I kinda HATE it. I am in fact trying to prepare now, and just live my life the rest of the time. But everything feels very unknown. Gotta stop thinking about it....
My Dr. appointment on Wednesday was my first one getting
My Dr asked if I would want to be induced or wait for things to happen naturally. Which was weird in that there isn't a reason yet to be induced. Whatever for? Do I want to be strapped to an IV before labor is even really going? Not so much. But once I'm ready for an epidural baby... (And of course if the blood pressure doesn't come down this will turn into a different conversation)
Friend of mine's daddy tells us this storm that just came through Atlanta might have been contributing to all the extra contractions. And strangely enough, the last couple days have been better. Go figure. Anyway.
Since working on my Blurb book I'm realizing how much I am going to forget in 4 years. Right now I want to remember what it felt like to play the waiting game.
It's so strange, how I've done "this" before, but it's still entirely different this time! No pre-term labor, no bed rest. I don't know what to expect from this kid. And I kinda HATE it. I am in fact trying to prepare now, and just live my life the rest of the time. But everything feels very unknown. Gotta stop thinking about it....
Monday, September 19, 2011
Silly body: Contractions are for labor
I am sitting here madly trying to finish a Blurb book I bought a Groupon for a couple months ago with the intent of making my blog into a book since it journals some extra stuff for me. Especially the first year of my daughters life. And when I say "madly trying to finish" I mean, I've been thinking about it for days, but it takes FOREVER, which has been deterring me. I've only set up 10 pages and the original download was - I kid you not - 150 pages. I am doing things like putting more than one post on each page etc. I was trying to decide what posts to include, but really, I'll just put them all in. Much simpler. Anyway, I only have until October 4th to do my order. So this is where you find me most evenings.
It is fun to see some information that I haven't thought about in...forever! I was just reading a post from the 19th of October 2007 and I read that my baby's head wasn't engaged yet and we might have to figure out why soon, or if she was breech. Like...really?? I didn't even remember that was remotely an issue!
But maybe I'll try to record a few more pregnancy things for my second Blurb book go around. For example, I had completely forgotten that I developed pregnancy arthritis (I don't know that that is what it is exactly. Only my finger joints get really sore, especially in the morning.) in my hands when I was pregnant with Miriam. Until I started waking up with it in THIS pregnancy. This time, my joints stay generally sore all day long. But night time/ morning time is a lot worse. At least this goes away. And maybe I'll completely forget about it again.
I have not had pre-term labor this time! As a matter of fact, as of tomorrow, I am 37 weeks. No one will try to stop my labor if it starts. I have been much more aware of contractions this pregnancy. It is very interesting because I don't know that I ever noticed them before my pre-term labor with my first pregnancy. Although I guess this is pretty standard, to notice them much more subsequent pregnancies. Sometimes I have quite a few. Never enough for me to call the Dr about, but enough for me to lay down for a few hours sucking down water. Today was a "ton of contractions" sort of day. The difference was if they had kept up for more than an hour or so like they were, I WOULD have called the Dr today. They've slowed down now. But I've had a lot today. And frankly, it's creeping me out. Like, I could have this baby anytime. And no one would try and stop me.
So, I may have finally started packing a hospital bag, and a bag for Miriam. And I should really write a birth plan. We joke that we know that this baby is a boy, because I am not nearly as prepared as I would normally be. It's a lot of eh, I should do that huh?
In any case, I'm going to put away the computer now, because believe it or not, sitting propped up like this makes my contractions come back. And I'd like to go to sleep now. I still have to write a birth plan tomorrow.
It is fun to see some information that I haven't thought about in...forever! I was just reading a post from the 19th of October 2007 and I read that my baby's head wasn't engaged yet and we might have to figure out why soon, or if she was breech. Like...really?? I didn't even remember that was remotely an issue!
But maybe I'll try to record a few more pregnancy things for my second Blurb book go around. For example, I had completely forgotten that I developed pregnancy arthritis (I don't know that that is what it is exactly. Only my finger joints get really sore, especially in the morning.) in my hands when I was pregnant with Miriam. Until I started waking up with it in THIS pregnancy. This time, my joints stay generally sore all day long. But night time/ morning time is a lot worse. At least this goes away. And maybe I'll completely forget about it again.
I have not had pre-term labor this time! As a matter of fact, as of tomorrow, I am 37 weeks. No one will try to stop my labor if it starts. I have been much more aware of contractions this pregnancy. It is very interesting because I don't know that I ever noticed them before my pre-term labor with my first pregnancy. Although I guess this is pretty standard, to notice them much more subsequent pregnancies. Sometimes I have quite a few. Never enough for me to call the Dr about, but enough for me to lay down for a few hours sucking down water. Today was a "ton of contractions" sort of day. The difference was if they had kept up for more than an hour or so like they were, I WOULD have called the Dr today. They've slowed down now. But I've had a lot today. And frankly, it's creeping me out. Like, I could have this baby anytime. And no one would try and stop me.
So, I may have finally started packing a hospital bag, and a bag for Miriam. And I should really write a birth plan. We joke that we know that this baby is a boy, because I am not nearly as prepared as I would normally be. It's a lot of eh, I should do that huh?
In any case, I'm going to put away the computer now, because believe it or not, sitting propped up like this makes my contractions come back. And I'd like to go to sleep now. I still have to write a birth plan tomorrow.
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