Jaymie, Ryan, and 'the baby'

If you would have told me when Ryan left for work on Tuesday that I would hold my baby in my arms before suppertime that night, I would have called you CRAZY!

BUT

 

Welcome to the World 2 weeks early!

 

Seth Daniel MacGillivary

 

Date: August 5th, 2008 @ 3:48 PM

Weight: 7 lbs, 10 oz

Length: 19.5 inches

 

 

 

The labour story (in intense detail for those who want to pass-- you've been warned!)

   Monday was a normal day.  It was a holiday for us, so Ryan and Vernon were home.  I finally talked them into laying down the floor in the babies room!  Talking them into it wasn't the hard part, it was finding a day with enough time to get at it that was tricky.  When it was done, i said there you go, that's all he needed, I bet he'll come tomorrow now!  That night my nesting did not let up a bit!  I admit, I was going overboard since there were another 15 days to go, but for SOME reason I felt like that room NEEDED to be done immediately. 

I woke up the next moring and it was another normal day.  Ran got up, got ready for work.  I woke up and helped him get his day started and out the door to work. He left at 7:30 AM.  I crawled back into bed to enjoy a few minutes of relaxation before getting my butt back in gear and ended up dozing off until about 8:15. 

   At 8:20, I was using the washroom and just as I stood up I felt this  immense explosion of hot water.  I was like "HAH my water broke.. yeah right!  That'd be the day!" and then it hit me that maybe that WAS what it was because really, what else would it be?!  It continued to "trickle" as some would say, and I went straight to the  internet becauseof course I'm in such a panic that I forget everything from any books I've read.  What are the signs of a water breaking and how do I know if mine just did?!  Everything I was reading was pointing the finger at GO and GO NOW! I still wasn't convinced.  I was going to "just let it slide" but then smartened up and told myself if it was that, and the baby wasn't protected anymore, I needed to know, so I called the nurses station.  I didn't want to call Ryan just yet.  I knew he'd panic, and there was no need for him to take the day off work if it was just my mind working in overdrive, so I drove myself to the hospital.

   I talked to Mavis, and she said to come in and they'd test to see if it was amniotic fluid.  She sent me down to the labour room to have the test done.  Wanda (the same nurse who'd done my non-stress test) was the lady helping me, and she assured me that this WAS the real thing, and baby was coming within 24 hours whether on his own, or with an induction if he hadn't come by evening.   The first words out of my mouth were "Uhhh, I need a phone. I have a call to make. My husband doesn't know I'm here yet!"  She asked if she could do my fetal strip first and I figured why not,  no point in making Ry's day longer than it was going to be (or so I thought).  I was still not feeling any contractions, but she could see them on the strip, just mild ones, every 5-6 minutes.  Fifteen minutes into it, I started to feel them. I didn't know at first if I was just cramping with nerves or if that's what it was, so when she came back I asked her if they were every 4.5 minutes starting at 10:11 and she said I was bang on, so that was what I was feeling.  It was nothing, and I "knew" this labour thing would be nothing (HAH!).

   I finished the strip around 10:30 and went to call Ryan. He didn't answer his phone!!!  I left a message simply saying that he really should leave work and come to the hospital.  He got the message around 10:40 and called the nurse to ask if I was really there or if he'd misunderstood my message.  She told him I was there, and I was in labour.  I talked to him, and told him there was no hurry, I was OK, go home, shower, and come up when he was cleaned up!  They are doing demolition and he probably would have been turned away at the door if he'd come in in his work clothes!  By this time, I was feeling the contractions stronger, but not strong enough that I couldn't keep talking through them.  Wanda did a check on me, and I was only 1cm, so I had a long ways to go.

   Ryan got there just past 11.  He was in such a panic he couldn't really make complete sentences.  He really just wanted to know how I was, how long I'd been there, and how I'd gotten myself there!  I reassured him I was fine, but that things were starting to come around.  Wanda told us to walk around the halls, and go exploring.  Within 30 minutes of Ryan being there, the pain was significantly worse, and I was no longer able to look "together" while I was having one.  I ran into a few people in the halls that I knew, and was trying to put on my tough face, but I honestly could not tell you a word of what was said in the conversations. I was more interested in seeing how far along I was getting, because it was not easy anymore!  At 1:00 I was begging for a shot of drugs.   She said no because it would only slow down the process.  I got in the shower for a while instead. By 1:30 I was begging for it, so she did another internal to see how far I was. I COULD HAVE CRIED WHEN SHE SAID I WAS ALMOST 2 CM!!!!  It had been 5 hours since my water broke, and I was already in so much pain, and I was ALMOST 2 CM!!!  Actually, now that I think about it, I did cry!  I told Ryan I would take care of this myself.  I'd changed my mind, and we were going home.  He must have thought I was insane, and I really think I was-- but deep down I knew no one was letting me go anywhere.  She could tell my pain was obviously terrible though, and the position of the baby was giving me complete back labour.  I've never felt anything like it.  Ryan was right there to put pressure on it everytime, and he was SO good.  I had a back massager in the car, but in my head I kept weighing out having Ryan get it, but leaving me alone for 5 contractions, or going wtihout it... there was NO way I was going through 5 contractions alone.  She did give me a small shot of morphine around 1:30 when she sat in the room and saw how evident my pain was. 

   The next hour was OK.   With the morphine, I was able to control my breathing much betterand was even dozing off for the 30 seconds between contractions.  At this point, they were about 2.5 minutes from the start of one to the start of the next, but each one was lasting just over a minute, so the break between was only about 15-20 seconds.   They did another internal at 3, and I was finally 6 cm.  It had only taking 1.5 hours (of absolute terror) to go from 2-6cm. 

   I asked when I would be able to get an epidural done. I had NO intentions of it when I went in, but by this point, I felt like a monster had my back in clenched fists and wasn't letting up anytime soon, and I needed something to take it away.  She told me I'd missed my window of opportunity, but instead, they'd give me an IV with a shot of fentanyl, and then I could shower for an hour and by then the baby should be ready to come.  Boy, were they wrong.

   I got really mean and demanding some point around here.  Laying on my back was absolute torture, but I had to while they put in the IV.  I told them they had  about 10 seconds to get it done between contractions because I could NOT lay there through one.  Well,  my luck had run out.  She had so much trouble putting in the IV that I thought I wasn't going to make it.  I remember it being impossible to lay there.  It was the worst feeling I've ever had.  I would have believed you fi you said I was dying.  My back felt like there weretrucks driving on it and spinning their wheels to dig in deeper. I begged her to hurry up with the IV, but I'm sure my squirming was not making it easier or her.  I really was trying to la still and breathe, but it wasn't happening.  I was SO relieved when it wa in that I flipped right over as fast as I could and assumed the crawling position (that and standing leaned over the bed were the best for my back).  This took us to around 3:30 I really wasn't watching or caring about the time now).  I told the nurse I had to go to the bathroom, and she said I needed to get n the shower and I could just go in there.  I told her NO, i needed the bathroom now and I didn't want her shower anyways!  She said it would make the last 45 minutes go a lot smoother if I'd get in the shower.  I told her, if I get in that shower, i'm not getting out. Im having this baby NOW!   They had JUST checked me and  was still 6 cm, and she told me it was way too early to push the baby out, so to get in the shower.  I caved.  I got in... for about 5 seconds.  The pressure was too much.. I'm having the baby NOW I told her.  She finally understood I meant what i was saying.  She tried to get my out of the shower and I said something along the lines of "it's your fault I'm in here now so I'm not getting out I'm having this baby NOW!"  I didn't even have time to dry off.  They through a johnny shirt over me, but I cared so little I would have pranced down the hall to the case room naked.  I jumped on the bed, and informed them I was NOT waiting for the doctor to come I was having the baby NOW!   She did an internal, and I was right!  It had taken less than 10 minutes to go from 6 cm to 10 cm.  The baby was there.  She told me not  to push,  but I was at the point of no return...  I was having the baby NOW, doctor or no octor.  I pushed a few times (somewhere in there the doctor did arrive), and then I realized I needed to focuz on the fact that the this was all to bring my baby into the world, but I needed to know stuff about him/her.  That's when I demanded to know if it was a girl or a boy.  They kind of chuckled and said if I'd push a few more times they could tell me (I didn't find it that funny!) so instead I kept asking about hair. Whether it had hair, how long the hair was, anything to keep my mind on the baby.  I pushed through 5 contractions with about 3 pushes in each one, then i heard Dr. MacLean Fraser's voice (this was the first time I'd realized she was even there yet) She was telling me to look down, and I was thinking ARE YOU CRAZY I'M NOT LOOKING DOWN UNTIL THIS IS COMPLETELY OVER.   She told me to look another time or 2 and I finally realized wait... there is no more pain... wait.... this IS finished with!  I looked down and saw the baby!  He was gorgeous!  Ryan was sooo proud looking and They gave him to me right away.  We held him for a while, and then I told them to take him and weigh him and do his clean up so I could have a ew minutes to stop shaking.  I made sure not to look at the doctor who was doing her few final things because I was sure I couldn't stomach knowing what was going on down there. 

   Would I do it again? NOT IN YOUR LIFE.  At least thats what I say now... ask me again when he's a month old and I'm telling Ryan he's"all grownup" and we need another one :)

 

 

Well, here I am, killing a couple minutes BEFORE my appointment with Dr. Fuller.  I didn't know this, but was told yesterday that she goes on vacation tomorrow, and I have no idea for how long, so who knows if she'll be delivering for me or not now!  I will see what info she gives me today.  I don't even really know what that will do to my 38 week checkup if she's gone for that. Anyways, since I don't really have "news"  I'm going to throw out smoe predictions for todays appointment.  I think I am between 1 and 2 cm dilated, and about 30% effaced with station -2.  That's my guess, we'll see how I do!

Last night, I slept GREAT. The few nights before that were miserable, so a good sleep felt great.  I have the bassinet set up in my room for the first couple week/months of sleeping. It's really cute.  I should finish setting it up and take a picture before baby starts puking all over it :)

I think Mojo knows something is going on.  He is always "RYan's boy"  and always prefers to be with him when hes home, but lately he will not leave my side.  If I am doing dishes, he is laying by my feet. If I'm resting, he's on the couch head to head with me.   I think he senses something strange happening.  Macey on the other hand,  seems totally and completely clueless.  Maybe because she's been there before (she had a baby 2 years ago), who knows!

Anyways, I won't post this until I ge back from the appointmet and add the real details!

 

 

 

OK, the real details. Zilch! Nada! Zippo!  No real news persay.

 

Heartbeat was still 140 dead on.  Blood pressure 130 over 80 (I still have NO clue what those #'s mean).  Still no dilation, but some thinning.  Said I was probably right about the MP coming out (which I don't get if the cervix is still closed :S).  She is on vacation for a week, but doesn't think I'll be going anytime soon anyways.  I will have my 38 week checkup with Dr. Maclean Fraser, and then I'm the first patient going to see her when she gets back from vacation (9 am Monday morning).

Oh, the 'fun' part.  I mentioned to her that at bedtime I can feel dozens of kicks in less than 20 minutes and that the baby is everywhere,  but during the day no matter how much sugar I eat, no matter how hard I try, resting, awake, etc, I feel no movements... so she really wanted me to get a non stress test done.

You can imagine how absolutely STUPID I felt for being there when before they even had the belts on me, the baby was poking feet, elbows, butt, every imaginable joint was poking around, bouncing, and laughing that they tricked the doctors!

 

They did the test anyways.  At first I was like "LISTENING TO THIS HEARTBEAT IS GOINGT O GIVE ME SUCH A HEADACHE FOR 20 MINUTES STRAIGHT!" but once the baby moved a little bit it was quieter and not so much like a base drum!  I had 13 kicks in 20 minutes-- so there were definately not problems.  BUT I did find most of the kicks were directed AT the sensors they had put on me, so now I know when I want to feel movements to put something intrusive on the babies "space" and she'll work to get it off!  Heartrate was all over the place. It hovered mostly around 130, but would drop as low as 121 when there were no movements, but then a kick or 2 would come and it would jump up to 155 or so.  I guess a kick is a lot of work when you'rethat little!

 

Now, for my LEAST favorite part.  I'M NOW OFFICIALLY SCARED TO DEATH TO GIVE BIRTH!  What you Don't want is for the lady in the room beside you to be in active labour and screaming abotu it!!!  Something about hearing the "real thing" in person has made me a very nervou person! Oh well, it's going to happen.. fear or no fear!

 

 

 

 

Finally!  Auntie Gina had her new baby! (Gina is my 2nd oldest sister for those of you who don't know the family).  She was very surprised to see a girl come out! She was definately thinking it was a boy, but very happy to have a girl for little Naima to play with.  She was small for our family too! Only 7 lbs 11 oz!  She is nameless so far, so I'm waiting on a more detailed update soon!

This makes Ryan and I aunt and uncle to 9 kids now!!! Ranging anywhere from age 17 to 1 day!!!  Keigan, Kaela, Megan, Emily, Nolan, Isaac, Naima, Jake, and the new one!  I feel old!

 

This might seem like toom much info to anyone who's never ben there (and maybe to those who have), but I'm more than 90% sure I lost my mucous plug last night...  and if I didn't, I think I gave birth to a slug (LOL EWWW).

Now, that an be good news...  but really, all it means is labour is coming anywhere from a couple days to a few weeks away!  It was enough incentive for me to finish packing the hospital bags though! 

These blog entries are getting pretty boring lately, but at least Lindsey is still reading them and even begging for more :)

 

I had my first of 4 weekly appointments with Dr. Fuller today.  I got her wrapped around my finger now LOL!  I told her about the family reunions and how it would add 20 years to my grandmothers life if I could make it to Miramichi around the 9th or 10th.  She said in her position she had to recommend that I don't go because of the risk it would make to my body and babies stress levels to sit for a 4-5 hour drive.    But then,  as we got farther along into the exam, she said there is a good chance I might make the reunion with baby in tow already because of how much farther down the head was into the pelvis than she expected.  So now, I figure I go into the 38 week appointment pulling the INDUCE ME NOW card LOL!  Only joking, having a healthy, ready to go baby, its whats most important.. even if I do have to miss the reunion. We'll hope time, fate, and god are on my side to tweak labour the couple weeks early for me :)

 

So,  blood pressure is great again.  No sugar in the urine this time (there was last time, not sure if I mentioned that but it was just "overflow from the kidneys").  My weight went up 5 lbs though!!!!  She said she is attributing it to my swelling being much worse than any other tme she's seen me.   Personally, I'm attributing it to Hoof Prints ice cream and hot weather.  My fundal height went from 34 cm last appointment to 39 at this one! I guess that means I better get a belly shot up!

Heart rate was dead on 140. 

 

She did the strep B Coc. test, so I await the results of that at the next appointment.  It's not a big deal, just that I have to remember if Im positive to tell the nurses I'm allergic to Penicillin in case they overlook it in the files.  There is another antibiotic they'll use instead.

 

So, in summary, I'm growing. baby didn't fall out in my sleep.  there is no dilation or effacement yet, but babies head is lower than expected.. and I might want to cut out an ice cream cone now and again :)