♥ Birth Story ♥

“Boy oh boy babe, I’m having a contractions like a mad mother,” six minutes later, “Babe, I’m having another.”

This all started at 7pm on August 31, 2010. From 7pm until 9pm I was having contractions that were consistent and were 5 minutes apart. Around 9:15 I was waiting on another one and didn’t have anymore. I told Nick, “Imagine that,” I was getting all excited and hoping I’d be going into the hospital that night. Sure enough, 11 pm I started contracting again. This time they were 4 minutes apart. By 1:20am the contractions were still only 4 minutes apart but the pain was awful and I had a little bit of a flow come out. I couldn’t lie down, walk, talk, absolutely nothing made me feel better. One minute I’d be laying on the floor doubled over, the next on the toilet thinking I had to use the restroom, and the next pacing the floor, all which none helped. At 1:55am I had given up, I called the doctor and told her about the pain and the little flow. She told me it sounded like as if I had peed, and since the contractions were only 4 minutes apart I should just wait. So, I waited!

At 2:30am the contractions had got worse, they were now 3 minutes apart and the pain was 10 times worse. I never thought the pain could get or be so bad. By 3am contractions were 2-3 minutes apart. I had dialed in my parent’s phone number at least 10 times to get my moms advice, but I always hung because I didn’t want to be a bother. Finally I let the phone ring through. I told mom my symptoms, etc, and she told me to hit the road. I tried waking Nick up, literally screaming on top of my lungs, and he wouldn’t budge to wake up. I thought I would try throwing something at him to see if that worked. All this time I’m in the restroom not able to move much at all. So I looked around, it was either to throw a toilet paper roll or a bottle of shampoo. I decided to try the roll of toilet paper first. Thankfully that worked. He woke up and said, “What is it babe,” I replied, “It is time!” Nick laughed and said, “Babe I don’t get up until 4 for work, go back to bed.” I said, “NO, IT IS TIME! BABY TIME!”

The drive to Saint Elizabeth East, that normally takes 20-25 minutes, seemed to take 6 hours! Of course it didn’t take that long, but sure felt as if it had. Thank goodness the week before I had went in thinking I was in labor, because we had all the paper work filled out and signed so all they had to do was pull it out of my chart and get me a room. Once I was in the triage room, the room they check you out before you can be admitted, the nurse wanted me to leave a urine sample. As much as I wanted to, I just couldn’t, any other time I would have no problem doing so. The nurse wanted to check me out, like they have to. She said, “Yep you are ready, fully effaced, completely thinned, and dilated at 2 cm.” My contractions started to pick up, and 30 minutes later she checked me again, I was then dilated to 4 cm. They admitted me and kept telling me, “Not that much longer…” Well as time was passing the pain got worse and worse. They asked me if I wanted an epidural, and I said no. 30 seconds later I told them I was crazy for saying no, so give me that epidural.

6 hours later, around 11:30 am, Dr. Sam, my doctor, came in to check me. She said I was dilated at 6, and told the nurse to up my pitocin. As soon as Dr. Sam left the room, and the nurse increased my pitocin, the nurse had a weird look on her face. She looked at everyone in the room and said you all need to leave besides the father. No one knew what was going on. The nurse picked up her phone and said she needed help in room E1, she was starting the patient on oxygen. Connie, the nurse put me on oxygen, told me to take deep breathes while she would explain what was going on. The babies heart rate went from 136 to 60, YES 60, in less than 1 minute. She said she had to immediately stop the pitocin and make sure the baby was okay. She checked me out, said I was dilated at 6.5 and could feel the baby but wasn’t to sure I’d be able to deliver natural. She said the baby was in shock when more pitocin was added, and she’d need to keep me off the pitocin for at least 2 hours to monitor the baby. She also said she thought the baby was too big, plus the baby had a swollen head, for me to be able to push him/her out. I instantly got upset. I said I’ve carried this baby for 9 months, I am pushing him/her out, if I rip, then I rip, as long as I’m not hurting the baby then I am pushing. The nurse still didn’t know if the dr would allow me to push, so she took me off all liquids, mints, gum and etc. After being off of pitocin for 2 hours they put me back on it but started out slowly.

By 6pm I was dilating again and super fast. At 7pm Dr. Schnerre came in and checked me and she said I was dilated to 8.5 and she’d be back in a bit to check again. Not even 10 minutes later it felt as if I had to go poop. I told mom that I needed to go, and she laughed at me and said “No, I think we need to get the nurse and have them check you again.” Sure enough, I was dilated to 10 and ready to push. She called the dr and said I was fully dilated and the baby was ready. I pushed for 25 minutes, and then it was time. Dr. Schnerre came in the room at 7:25pm and her and her help got everything set up and ready to go. Since Nick and I had no idea what we were having, Dr. Schnerre was pleased to announce we had a healthy little girl. When she told us, and on top of my sister, Sarah, screaming, “It’s a girl, it’s a girl” I did not believe them. I was so convinced through this entire pregnancy that I was having a boy. I had to double check they knew what they were talking about. When Dr. Schnerre threw, or so it felt that way, Madilyn in my arms, it finally hit me, I’m a mom! Being pregnant, having a baby is and was by far the best feeling and experience I’ve ever had. The nurse quickly took Madilyn off of my chest to get her cleaned up, weighed and measured and I was so anxious to know how much she weighed. They told me if I went full term, which I did, she was only a day early, that she’d weigh at least 8-9 pounds. The nurse loudly said, 7 pounds 13 ounces and 20 inches long. I couldn’t believe it!

Other than becoming a mother to a beautiful little girl, there were two other great things that happened to me on this wonderful day. The first thing was, falling madly in love with Nick all over again. There truly is another love out there. I never thought that you could love someone so differently, but Nick and I’s love became a different love. Our love is so much stronger than it ever was. I’m so happy to have found Nick and have this wonderful family with him. The second thing was, the allowed me to watch the birth of our little girl on tv. At Saint Elizabeth they have a camera that shines down under and plays on tv so you can watch what is going on. I would have never thought in a million years that I’d want to watch the birth, or even be able to. And let me tell you, it was the best, by far the best thing I’ve ever laid my eyes on while watching tv. To see her little head coming, it made me ten times stronger to push to get her out!

September 1, 2010 was the best day I have lived! Thank you Nick, mom, dad, Sarah, and Annie for sticking by me all day and being there for me on this wonderful day.

♥ 39 weeks ♥

Updated doctors appointment. The doctor was not to happy with what I've been told by the np. The np has told me for the past 2 weeks, I'm dilated at 2 cm, blah blah blah..... saying how she can't believe I haven't gone yet, etc. Well my doctor today, says I'm dilated at 1 cm, 50 percent effaced, and the head is positioned at -1. The baby is due next Thursday, Sept 2, but I go and see Dr. Sam on Wednesday if there is no baby yet. She said if still no baby by then, she'll want to induce me. She said that won't probably happen until first thing Thursday morning but that will be the next step. She doesn't want me miserable on a holiday weekend and she doesn't like seeing babies go over their due date esp when there is no more room. The dr did try to strip the membranes but it hurt very badly so she stopped. I figured when the baby is ready, it'll be ready... no need to be in pain that bad if the baby isn't ready. Other than that, there was nothing new. I am just very tired, hot, huge, and sassy. I think I'm going to make Friday my last day of work, so I can try and get some rest before next week. Anyways, until then.... have a great week and weekend!! ♥

♥ 37 weeks 4 days ♥

37 Week Survey
How Far Along: 37 weeks 4 days

Size of baby: According to the internet about 6 pounds and 19 inches long.... the dr says about 6 lbs 6 oz (just a guess) and 18 inches long....

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Exactly 30 lbs as of today

Maternity Clothes: Haha, that is my new style... none, NONE, of my old clothes fit me

Gender: Take your guess.... ?

Movement: Well lets see, through-out the day off and on, lunch time there is a lot of movement. About midnight each night until 2-3am a lot of movement with consistent but not enough contractions, then again from 5-7am almost like clock work.

Sleep: I'm running on about 6-8 hours each night, IF I get to bed by 9.

What I miss: Being able to see my feet, bending over, and not so much back pain

Cravings: No real cravings... just eating a lot of potato skins from pizza king with motz cheese and pepperoni.. and bread sticks with nacho cheese

Best Moment this week: Nick being home for my birthday and the baby waiting this long to arrive so daddy will be at the birth :)

What I am looking forward to: My next appointment just to see what is new, if anything. The heart beat today was 137 which is a lot lower than normal but np said it was normal towards the end to go down....

Now to the goooood stuff :)
And the cramping is getting worse... ♥ BUT so worth it in the end :-)

Once again, my doctor is out of office. First a vacation, second a family issue, third a vacation/family surgery... so for the past 3 visits I've seen the nurse practitioner. I have nothing against the np but I just want to see my doctor!!!!!!!! Anyways, nothing new to report. She said my process is not going very fast and she feels super sorry for me so she thought she'd try and see if she couldn't help the process out. So while checking dilation and everything, she pushed and poked and pushed and poked (honestly, it hurt very very bad). She's hoping by next week (which if all goes well, I'll be seeing my doctor) I'll have made some progress. I sure hope she is right. The heat is not bothering me at all. The swelling is the most bothersome, and I think it is because I'm losing the feeling in my feet more often than actually having it and it concerns me. But the dr and np aren't go concerned about the swelling since it has been super hot. I go next Tuesday to the dr, so I just hope and pray I either go sometime this week/weekend or she pokes extra hard next Tuesday :)

Nick went and saw the surgeon today. Of course I had to go with him. 1 I wanted to make sure of everything the dr says, and 2 to meet this man, everyone says great things about him and I have patients ask me about the dr and I can't ever tell them much because I didn't know him. Dr. Duluga, amazing man! This guy knows his stuff. Super sweet dr and def has mine and Nick's business. Basically a little about Nick's shoulder... Nick injured his shoulder when he was in high school and had it fixed. Well then when he was in Iraq he got hurt again on the same shoulder and since then it has been causing a lot of problems. He's... had several injections and the dr said he wouldn't give him anymore injections until seeing a surgeon. Well the surgeon wanted a mri, so he got that, and it came back basically saying the screws that he has in his shoulders have scar tissue building up around them causing a lot of pressure and bone spur. So the surgeon recommends surgery to scrape the tissue away and reshape the bones, or something pretty darn close to that. So now we are going to play it by ear with his job and the military to see when a good time is for him to get that. Dr says he shouldn't wait a year but doesn't have to be done now, so hopefully within the next 3-6 months we can get it taken care of :)

36 weeks ♥

What a week! On Monday, August 2 that night I didn't get any sleep what so ever, from cramps to contractions, a headache, blurry vision, swollen hands and feet, oh gosh I just couldn't sleep. Tuesday I was feeling worse. I still went to work and all my mothers at work pressured me into calling the doctor. The doctor wanted to check me out just to make sure. So I went in and saw the doctor, I was telling her all my signs and symptoms etc, and she confirmed I had lost my mucus plug, I was dilated at 2 and thinned 1.5. Pabbams heart rate was 156. She sent me home to rest since I wasn't feeling well at all. So today, Wednesday, I went for my actual appointment and was surprised. I hadn't dilated anymore and thinned, but she told me there were 6 stages in pregnancy to when the head drops. Starting at -3 and works its way to 3. Well yesterday I was at -3 and today I was at -1. So the babys head has dropped 2 in 24 hours. She went ahead and did the group b testing. The heart rate today was 152. The baby has been very active since the appointment. Today at work the girls gave me a mini baby shower, it was supposed to be Friday but they weren't sure if I'd be there, so they gave me the gifts today. I got a ottoman and glider rocker :) I was so excited and surprised. I am very thankful for the girls I work with, they are the best :) Tonight Kelly and Ben (I work with Kelly and her and her husband live down the street), came over to put the gift together :) I'm feeling much better today but still very tired. Until next week, Friday probably since that is my next appointment, everyone have a great weekend and week :) Love you all!!! ♥

♥ 35 weeks ♥

♥ Only 5 weeks to go, and a lot is happening so fast. We are extremely happy and can not wait. Only 1 thing getting in our way............ Nick being gone. I sure hope Pabbam waits another 2.5 weeks before arriving. I went and saw the doctor today, all good news. I am dilated at 1 cm :-) But she made it very clear people can go 2-5 weeks being at 1 cm, so she said no worries. I was supposed to have the strep b test this week, but she wants to wait. The doctor said sometimes there is a good chance of people going into labor when having the test done and since Nick isn't here she didn't want to take the chances. She said the test is not absolutely necessary, so we will just wait. She said if I am still only at 1 cm next week then she'll have the test done, but if I am more than 3 cm then we will wait until Nick gets back. Glad she is working so well with us around his crazy schedule. Other than that, everything is good. Been having contractions like crazy. Last night, Tuesday, July 27, I had 5 contractions in an hour, Dr said only come if more than 6, so I waited.... I did call the dr on call and she said the same thing (just to wait). ♥

♥ Nick is down in Camp Atterbury this week. He'll be home late Thursday evening, home all day Friday and leave very early Saturday morning for Camp Grayling Michigan for 2 weeks. This is for his military, his AT. I have slept much better since he's been gone (I have more bed room, haha) but sure do miss having him around. I miss my belly, back, and feet rubs. Nick truly has been very wonderful with our pregnancy. I couldn't ask for a better husband :-) Well until next week (Wednesday, that will be my next appointment) everyone have a great week and weekend!! ♥
The picture is actually 34 weeks along :-)

33 Weeks

♥ Only 7 weeks to go, but measuring at 36 weeks now, so... that means about 4 weeks to go doctor says. BUT this baby is half Ward and Podell, so if I had to guess, with my luck we won't see this baby until my due date or after, haha. No weird cravings, just been eating a lot of salads and breadsticks with nacho cheese from Monical's Pizza. In the past two weeks, since the last update, nothing has gone on other than my wonderful baby shower. Nick and I were and still are very thankful for all the goodies we received. I do believe we got everything we needed or wanted besides one thing and we are in the process of getting that (a glider rocker). I have had a ton of swelling and contractions the past few weeks. Tuesday night, 7-13, Nick and I went and saw Luke Bryan and Justin Moore at the Newton County Fair, Pabbam went nuts. From one end of the belly to the other and in the bladder and ribs, OUCH! But it was a great concert and would love to see those guys any day of the week :) ♥

♥ Yesterday, 7-14, I had an ob appointment. Needless to say, Dr. Sam says I'm overdoing it. I figured this was coming but not so soon (or at least I feel it was soon). She was very concerned with all of my swelling, apparently I like salt way to much (which is true). I was told to drink at least 8 bottles of water a day, wow, the toilet will be my best friend for the rest of this pregnancy. She put me on bed rest for the next two days and said if I'm not feeling better (because there for a while and then the past 3 days I haven't felt the greatest) after this weekend then she'll put me on more restrictions. But she cut my work hours to 30 hours a week. No running patients until after the baby is born. So that means I'll be in the lab working the rest of the time, which is fine but can be boring. I can work a few more hours than 30 if I'm in the lab and feeling up to it. Which most likely I will be fine because I'm not on my feet all day. Dr. Sam said no mowing (boooo, I love to mow). (I should have seen that one coming.) But other than all of that everything is good. Dr. Sam said to have my bags packed (yikes, I can't believe this is all happening so fast), and car seat ready in the car or truck. My next appointment is July 28 and the fun will begin. If Pabbam has turned (back to breach) then she will have the baby turned that day (she said we will go straight over to the hospital). From that appointment on out, I'll be seeing her every week until the little monster gets here :) I won't update the blog again until the next appointment. Nick is doing great. He likes his job. They have already asked him to take a higher position but he turned it down for now. There is a lot that the job entitles and they weren't offering anything more with it, so he and I decided it wouldn't be worth it. (Maybe in the long run it may, but we are just concerned about now) If he were to take the position he'd be working more than 50 hours a week, he'd be a supervisor (they call them "the lead man" that way they don't have to pay them the supervisor wage), and being in charge of more than 10 men and working more than 50 hours a week plus every Saturday with no extra baggage it just isn't worth it. But enough with me blabbing. I'm going to go back to bed, it is only 4 am that I'm writing this. So until the 28, be safe, have fun, and take care! Love you all!!! ♥

♥ 31 weeks 4 days ♥

About 4 pounds and 14.5" long, yep it is going to be a big baby, says the dr. I had a doctor appointment today, and everything went well. Dr. Sam says IF I go full term, which she hopes but doubts, the baby will be approx 7-8 pounds and about 20-21" long. Pabbam is still butt first. But she told me she isn't to concerned because the baby still have about another 2" of moving room to turn by itself before 35 weeks. If the baby is still booty first the last week in July she will have me make an appointment for a turning session for the first week in August. Other than that, heart rate was 150, so about 6 beats faster than the past 30 weeks, but the baby was very very active. It was kind of neat, we could see the entire elbow print in my stomach, right by my rib cage. It hurts badly when he/she does puts his/her arms there, but it is just trying to get comfortable. Well Nick had drill this past weekend. They told him his ait drill will be from July 26-August 14 (my birthday :-)... ) so I sure hope Pabbam waits until after the 15 to arrive. Nick is working 5, 10 hour days again, and every Saturday. This weekend is the 4th of July, so Sunday we plan to watch fireworks and then on Monday, which we both have off, we are going to get maternity pictures/anniversary picturs done. I'm excited for those. 12 days until the baby shower, July 10. My mom is hosting :) I can't wait. Everything is getting so close and Nick and I are so ready. I'm only going to update the blog every dr apt. So next entry will be July 14, it shall be interesting, a lot will be going on between now and then. Until then, have a great 4th and the next few weeks! ♥