Hello everyone!
It has been a crazy 2 weeks. I am finally finding a moment to sit and update everyone on Madalyn's arrival and progress up to this point.
5/10/10- Ready to go!
Monday 5/10/10 (37 weeks and 2 days) at 6am we arrived at the hospital for induction. I was hoping to completely avoid this again but was diagnosed with pre eclampsia at 36 weeks. After getting settled in my room I began to notice what I thought were braxton hicks contractions becoming stronger and more frequent. Turns out I was in labor! My wonderful nurse and doc allowed me to continue this for over an hour but soon realized I was dialating slowly and my blood pressure was rising also. My OB was worried about my pressure level but she knew I wanted to avoid having a magnesium drip (to keep pressure down) since it has such an effect on the baby. Her and I aggreed that I would allow them to speed up my labor with pitocin to allow less time for my blood pressure to keep rising, so I could avoid having the mag drip. They started pitocin about 8am.
As most of you know I was planning a hypnobirth. This is a natural birth where you use breathing techniques to relax and minimize pain. It was nice not to be confined to the bed- I was able to walk around the room which really helped when contractions became more painful. By 12 or 1230 I was beginning to question wether or not I could pull this off without medication! I knew what I had chosed previously for my birth plan but in the moment it was hard to choose pain over pain relief! I debated through a few more contractions. My wonderful nurse by the way was great! She checked me and I was at 6. I was thinking there is no way I can do this for 4 more cm!
My nurse remained in the room for a few more contractions, and after hearing what I was saying began to think I was close to transitioning. A tell tale sign is the phrase, "I can't do this anymore!" Which I know I said atleast 10 times... She told me she'd check me again and I was a 7 already! She left the room to help another patient and the next 3 minutes went by VERY FAST.
With the next contraction I broke down... I WANT MEDS! I knew I was in transition and it wouldn't be long, but I didn't know how quick... Clint called her to tell her my decision. Again looking back she was so wonderful and instintively knew what was going on. She told him she would get the paperwork together and be in in a minute...
After 2 more of the most intense contractions that morning, I knew Madalyn was coming! No mom ever forgets the feeling when your body tells you it's time. Clint ran into the hall to grab the nurse. They all ran in and told me not to push, my doc wasn't ready. HA, NO WAY was I letting them tell me this, my body was ready and why should I stop it? Pushing was the only thing I could do to fight against the pain. Turns out those last 2 contractions dialated me from 7 to 10! Too late for the epi!
Dr Cerny ran in a couple minutes later- Thank God! 5 pushes later and Madalyn Noelle was born! It was the most amazing thing I could have experienced to not be doped up with drugs like with Kamryn's birth. I know everything was medically necessary at the time, but I also had not realized that a woman should be able to plan her births as she desires and stick to it as long as the safety of mom and baby were not in jeopardy.
Madalyn was born at 1:36pm wieghing in at 6lbs 6oz and 18 inches long! I felt great after the birth and could truly enjoy and fully experience her first hours of life. How cool is it that Kamryn and Madalyn's birthdays are exactly 1 week apart?
Here is a link to the pictures that Lauren was able to take. She had to work that day but stopped by during her lunch break to catch a few of the "labor scene..." Had she come 30 minutes later she would have been there for Madalyn's arrival! She came after work also after we got up to the couplet unit to get more. These are amazing...
Proud daddy of 2 girls now!
Kamryn got Madalyn a present too...
I LOVE MY GIRLS!
One day old when Big Sis came to visit!
Two days old we found a better way to keep her under those lights!
End of day two we were able to go home TOGETHER! My poor little pumpkin.
World, meet the beautiful face of Madalyn Noelle!
First time for Kamryn to hold her!
We were let out of the hospital on 5/12. Madalyn almost had to stay because of her jaundice, and her weight had dropped to 6lbs 0.5oz. Dr Cerny spoke with Madalyn's in hospital pediatrician (our actual one does not round at the hospital) and he allowed her to go home with the orders to have her bilirubin level checked daily. When we left it was 12. The next day we returned to the hospital lab to have it taken again. It rose to 18! This concerned him but he was glad to find out we had an appointment for her the next morning at the pedi's. Friday morning we talked to her doctor about the high jump in bili levels. They would need to admit her if the level jumped to 20-22 or above. The doctor also ordered a bili blanket which is a portable phototherapy device we could use on her at home. We did a weight check and she was down to 5lbs 15oz, she was 19 1/2 inches long, and her head was 33.5 cm. I found out from a friend the reason her length was 18" after birth and 19.5" 3 days later is because their tendons can not fully stretch out right after birth since they have been so curled up for months! But dropping weight is very common. When we left we prepared ourselves for the very real possibility she would have to go back to the hospital.
Later that day we found out she had only climbed a point to a bili level of 19- GREAT NEWS! The bili blanket was delivered too. Clint took her back the next morning to have it taken again (he let me sleep!) and it was at 19.5. Most babies bili levels level off as they peak around days 3-5. This was Madalyn's day 5 so the doctor is very confident that it is leveling off and with the help of the bili blanket and feeding her EVERY 2 HOURS will flush the excess biliruben out. It is extremely tiring already to have a newborn but to have to start each feeding 2 hours apart only leaves me with about an hour between feedings. I know it is what is best for her but let me tell you I am having a hard time getting through nights! Days are easy because the sun is out and I don't feel like I'm the only one in the world...
On the 18th I took the girls in for their visits (Kamryn's 4 year and Madalyn's follow up). Madalyn was up to 6lbs 2oz! Kamryn is now 35lbs and 38" tall! Kamryn had her eyes and ears checked too and got an A+ for being SO healthy! She had to get 4 boosters though and that just killed me. Madalyn had just gotten her bili level taken again and was very upset because the horrible nurse didn't even try to warm her heel! I was so mad. So I had 2 crying girls, but we made it through! Madalyn's level came back at 13 and we were allowed to discontinue the bili light after 24 hours.
She is now off the bili blankie, and we are going back on Wednesday for her 2 week visit! She is slowly becoming pink again- yay! If she is back at her birthweight on Wednesday we'll be allowed to sleep longer at night!
On the 18th I took the girls in for their visits (Kamryn's 4 year and Madalyn's follow up). Madalyn was up to 6lbs 2oz! Kamryn is now 35lbs and 38" tall! Kamryn had her eyes and ears checked too and got an A+ for being SO healthy! She had to get 4 boosters though and that just killed me. Madalyn had just gotten her bili level taken again and was very upset because the horrible nurse didn't even try to warm her heel! I was so mad. So I had 2 crying girls, but we made it through! Madalyn's level came back at 13 and we were allowed to discontinue the bili light after 24 hours.
She is now off the bili blankie, and we are going back on Wednesday for her 2 week visit! She is slowly becoming pink again- yay! If she is back at her birthweight on Wednesday we'll be allowed to sleep longer at night!
No comments:
Post a Comment