Corey's Birth - The Arrival

As much as I detested the epidural from the time I received it (around 10:15am) until shortly before I started to push, I sure liked it once it was time to push. I thought it was interesting that I'd have gang buster type contractions but only feel them in the form of a small pressure. I don't know the exact time but it must have been around 2:50pm and I was told I was fully effaced and dilated to ten. Everyone took their places shortly after that and I was told it was time to push. It surprised me. I'm not sure why. After all, things had progressed in a rather textbook fashion all day and the next logical step was to actually deliver the baby. Whatever, I'd just to what they told me to do whether if fully registered in my mind or not.

I relied on Dr. Phillips to tell me when to push. It wasn't as foreign to push without being able to feel anything as I had figured it would be. As with Tyler's delivery, which was a natural delivery, the thing about pushing is the fact that you hold your breath. Everyone keeps saying. "Good job; keep pushing." But it's hard to hold your breath like that. Nonetheless, it wasn't that bad. I pushed seven or eight times. (I only pushed five times with Tyler.) I was extatic that I was able to reach down and touch Corey's head while he was coming out. He was born at 3:18pm on a Friday.

There was a moment of concern as Corey wasn't breathing. No crying when he was born and that's a cry you want to hear. Crying is good because it means the baby can breath. The nurses did whatever they had to do and he started to breath shortly after. And basically that's it. He was born. He wasn't a Corey yet. I didn't fully decide on his name until the next day. I still wanted to name him Ryan but I decided to name him Corey because that's what Rick wanted. Rick had put up with a lot during that pregnancy and I wanted to at least give him the name he most wanted.

Corey's Birth Story Part 2

I last left off at 7:00am on the day Corey was born. For Part 1 scroll down a tad.

7:00-10:00am Was checked and was still dilated to 3. Given Pitocin. Very uncomfortable and frustrated from not sleeping and not being able to move around due to the monitors. Contractions getting stronger. Asked if I wanted an epidural. As you know I struggled with this decision during my pregnancy. I almost automatically said, "Yes." I simply wasn't of the mindset to handle a natural labor and delivery. Besides, I already knew what natural childbirth was like and it didn't seem appealing on this particular day.

10:30am Nurse explained how I needed to position my body for insertion of epidural. She had me in a type of hugging position. I DID NOT LIKE THE WAY IT FELT when the doctor put the needle in my back. First I felt an awful and strange pain on the left side of my back, then the right, then my left ear rang and then I felt the pain on both of sides of my back equally. Rick laughed a little when I said my ear was ringing and I don't blame him. Who'd have thunk it?! During this the nurse is pretty much holding me up and hugging my tightly because she was afraid I'd move and/of faint. Once the needle was in and I didn't have to be totally still I threw up once and then again. The doctor said, "I have not even put the medication in yet." I think that was his way of saying, "Why the heck are you freaking out?" I told him my reaction was psychological and that I DREAD needles in my back let alone my SPINE.

This is where it got worse. Keep in mind, I knew very little about epidurals. I skipped that section of my pregnancy books. Once the medicine was in ONE of my legs went numb. I was told to give it a little time and that the medicine would spread to the other leg. It did. I HATED the way it all felt. Couldn't move my legs and my feet totally tingled. The nurse kept repositioning my legs but they had minds of their own. I told her I was no longer interested in the epidural and to ask the doctor to take everything out. She said, "Give it and hour to an hour and a half and the medicine will wear off a little bit."

Well, an interesting trade off it was. I could only feel my contractions a tiny, tiny bit (only a mild tightening in my abdomen) but I was no longer in control of my body. Ironically enough, I hardly felt the catheter the nurse inserted. Another huge fear or mine. I felt a pressure and that freaked me out. The nurse said to give in a moment and I wouldn't even feel that. She was right. I was hating life right about now because I WAS NOT IN CONTROL OF MY LOWER BODY. I know you're probably thinking, "Duh, Jen, that's what an epidural does," but again, I didn't know what to expect. After a few hours I actually willed my legs to move by using my hips. I was not going to let that epidural make me feel like an invalid!

Tried to fall asleep. No such luck. Tyler still slept and Rick slept on and off. I was very thirsty and hungry but you know how it does, no food or water allowed. I was totally grateful for my ice chips, though!

12:00pm My friend and adopted mom, Sharon, showed up and the three of us had a lovely conversation about all kinds of things.

1:00pm Tyler woke up. Shortly after that my friend Brigetta came to pick up Tyler. Rick and I appreciated that. The poor kid had been with us the entire time and a hospital room is not that exciting for a 4 year old. I was checked by Dr. Phillips and had dilated to 5. Not bad progress but not as much as I had hoped either. Sharon and I encouraged Rick to go get some lunch and he did. Poor guy, he need not dine solely on ice chips like I was.

Sharon could see that I was NOT RELAXED whatsoever. She did THE kindest thing for me. I couldn't believe she did this for me but she massaged me for over an hour. She rubbed my neck, shoulders, my entire back, my legs and even my feet - all with lotion. Only a mom would do that for you. Rick came back from lunch. Dr Phillips checked me again and I went from being dilated from 5 to 8 in only two hours. I am quite sure it was because Sharon helped me so much to relax.

More to come.

A Quick Corey Update

Holy cow! This week has FLOWN by more so than probably any other week in my life. I barely have time to eat let alone blog but I just have to say a few things. I'll have to continue the labor and delivery story another time.

Rick goes back to work tomorrow and I'm nervous.

My energy level is back with a vengince. My whole pregnancy I rested like bang busters and now I barely sit down except to pump. Meals are a luxury, when I take the time for them. Today I finally ate at 7pm with the exception of a banana and my coveted Iced Mocha (decaf, of course) from Starbucks. Ha, I've finally found a diet that will work. hee hee. Good thing for vitamins and drinking tons of water.

A lot of time this past was spent at the various doctors' offices Some for Corey and some for me. We went to the lactation once and will go back in 3 weeks when he's more mature. We went to the pediatitian twice for Corey; just standard procedure for a preemie. He's doing well, thank God. I had to go to the doctor twice for a LOVELY boil on my behind. Isn't that freakin' attractive? It developed while I was pregnant and Dr. Phillips (my OB) sliced and drained it. The darn thing came back hardcore very shorty after I gave birth and continued to get worse once I came home from the hospital. I couldn't sit down except for VERY slowly. Getting up was even more painful. To add to the fun, my swollen ankles and feet became worse after I gave birth and didn't start to subside until Thursday.

Anyway, I went to the OB practice where I saw a different doctor as Dr. Phillips wasn't available. (Dr. Phillips sliced and drained the boil/cyst/whatever it was back in February.) Dr. Demchek did not impress me and it was a total waste of time with the exception of the recommendation that I go to a surgeon. I did that on Friday and this awesome man named Dr. Les Webster totally helped me. He sliced it open and took a cyst-type thing out. It feels so much better. Doesn't this all make me sound oh-so sexy? So imagine me, my big honking boil and my big honking feet and ankles, can't stand or walk for too long and can't sit down! FUN! Those things have resolved themselves. YES!

Corey is wonderful. He's such a beautiful baby. I wish that I had more time to simply sit and gaze at him. I spend quite a bit of time each day pumping breast milk and carefully washing the pump parts! My milk has come in amazingly well. I don't mean to boast, really, but it's been wonderful. I pumped 14 ounces yesterday and 12 the day before!

Tyler loves Corey. I will need to write more about his topic later regarding Tyler, his adjustment to Corey and the adjustment Rick and I are going through with two kids as opposed to one. I LOVE the fact that I can say phrases like my kids or my sons. So much to write but it's time to pump. It's always time to pump. hee hee.

Corey's Birth Story Part 1

I don't think I can write all that I want to tonight as I should already be in bed. Here is part 1:

Thursday, March 11, 2010 Week 36 and 1 day along
9:30am - I had a routine ultrasound and OB appointment. Everything was fine. Not dialated and u/s measured the baby as weighing 6 lbs. 5 oz.

12:45pm - On way to Rick's office with Tyler for our baby shower given by co-workers. Felt a gush. Worried about water breaking and about the seat's interior of my brand new car! Called Rick and asked him to meet me in parking lot with towels. I was scared. Not as much fluid as it felt like. Went inside, called OB's office and they advised me to come back at 3:45pm for an evaluation. Fluid was totally clear which didn't make sense and I knew it wasn't urine. Proceeded with baby shower. Very sweet of his co-workers. Asked Rick to leave work with me and Ty. We all went home and I finished packing bags in case I'd be admitted to hospital. Me, Rick and Tyler went to OB.

3:45pm - Midwife checked me, did litmus test and looked at fluid sample under microscope. Water did not break but was dialated to 1. Not dialated at all at visit from the morning. Fluid I leaked is called leukorrhea which I'm familiar with but it didn't make sense that it was THAT much. Went home.

9:00pm - Watched The Office then drifted off to sleep.
10:00pm - 1:00am Had to keep getting up as more and more fluid was coming. Felt mild contractions. Perplexed. Called OB's on-call service. Spoke to nurse who had midwife Tina call me. Tina said I needed to come to the hospital so she could check me.

Friday, March 12, 2010
1:20am Woke Rick up, told him what was going on. He woke Tyler up. Grabbed my bags and drove to hospital.
2:00am Midwife Tina checked me, took one look and said, "Yes, honey, your water broke big time. You're dialated to 3. You'll be having this baby today. This is where things get really interesting. I said, "No, it's too early," and I began to hyperventilate. Tina and Rick tried to calm me down. I was too far gone with the hyperventalitation and I threw up and then passed out. I woke up and said, "I was just dreaming," but then realized what just happened and started to hyperventilate again as there were now several people in the room (Rick said things got quite worrisome when I passed out hence the need for extra help.)Tina became very serious with me. She said, "Jennifer, when you had this episode your baby's heart rate dropped significantly. I need for you to calm down, breathe deeply and slowly, so we can try to bring this baby's heart rate up. If not, you'll need an emergency C-section." Thank goodness I was able to concentrate on what she was telling me and was able to breath as she told me. Baby's rate came up to a healthy level.
2:30am Admitted to hospital and went to labor and delivery suite. Contractions stronger but totally tollerable. Tyler was actually wide awake all night! I was really uncomfortable because of the monitors around my tummy and the fact that I had to lay in a certain way. Only a tiny bit tired.
The three of us spent the rest of the night just hanging out.
7:00am Tyler fell asleep after being up since 1:30am! Rick tried to catch a cat nap.

Stay tuned for more....I need to go to bed!

Tips for my Nips

I wouldn't be me if I were not obsessing about something. I have crossed a few things off my "Items I Obsess About" list recently. I have resolved that I may or may not receive an epidural. That may not sound like a resolution but it is. It translates into that I will go as long as I can and while I hope not to need it, I will accept one if I'm in dire straits.

I also resolved the fact that we will send Tyler to church preschool next year as opposed to the Bright Beginnings program through CMS. I obsessed about that one for about three months. Each and every day, people! How did I come to my conclusions? I prayed. When, oh when will I just learn to stop obsessing and pray instead?

At the top of my obsession list currently is whether or not to nurse. Yes, I have prayed for guidance and for peace about whatever happens. God does want us to be idle either and just wait for an answer to pound us in the head. I've asked MANY people what their nursing experiences have been. I also sent out an e.mail to my gal pals asking them for advice. I've received many wonderful tips for my nips.

Honestly, who knows that's going to happen. I'll give it a shot. I have a breastfeeding book I'm going to get out and begin to read it tonight. I'll continue to pray. I have also sanitized bottles to be ready for formula, too. Whatever happens, I need to NOT obsess about it. I love feedback so if you've got it, give it. :-) Thanks for those who have already.