Grandma and Grandpa have come to visit!
Quinn's actual age
Quinn's adjusted age
Thursday, December 22, 2011
One month check up
Quinn went to the doctor on Monday for his one month appointment. He weighed 5 lbs, 12.5 oz, and was 18.5" long. He gained over 1 lb in two weeks! The doctor was also pleased that he is looking less jaundiced.
Grandma and Grandpa have come to visit!
Grandma and Grandpa have come to visit!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Our Story Part 2
My husband likes to say, "Tuesday morning was just a regular morning. Then our lives suddenly changed." He was referring to Tuesday, November 15, 2011. I was just shy of 33 weeks pregnant. I had been having what I thought were Braxton Hicks contractions for over a week, so I decided to go to the doctor (at the urging of my coworkers) to get checked out, even though the contractions were not regular or painful. In fact, I had mentioned the contractions at my regular appointment the week before, and the midwife said that as long as the contractions were not coming at regular intervals, it was fine.
My appointment on November 15 was at 2:45 PM, so after working in the morning, I cancelled an afternoon meeting and went to see the doctor. I was half expecting the doctor would put me on bed rest, and tried to mentally prepare for that possibility. But how do you mentally prepare for being told, "I don't know what to make of this, but you're 7 cm dilated. We need to send you to labor and delivery." So off I went by wheelchair, flanked by 3 nurses from the doctor's office, to the hospital across the street.
I called my husband to meet me at the hospital, neither of us really knowing yet that the baby was coming soon. I thought maybe I could just stay 7 cm dilated for a long while, but they later told me otherwise. On my wheelchair ride over to the hospital, I tried to figure out how to send text messages from my husband's phone, which I was using since my dying cat had lost her bladder on my phone just a few days before. This proved to be a difficult task, but I did manage to get the word out to some friends and family to inform them what was happening.
I arrived at the hospital by 3:15, and the nurses were in awe that I was 7cm dilated and still smiling. Their goal was to try to keep me pregnant as long as possible, particularly to get 2 injections of steroids (12 hours apart) on board to help Quinn's lungs mature. They wanted the second injection to be in me for at least 12 hours as well, so we hoped that I could stay pregnant for at least 24 hours.
The other issue was that the hospital's NICU was full, and there was a possibility that Quinn would have to be transported to another hospital after he was born, while I had to stay put. They thought I was too far along to transport while pregnant, but they entertained the idea until Quinn's heart rate dropped momentarily. That was the end of that plan.
I started having a little bit of pain with the contractions a few hours after I got to the hospital. They gave me magnesium sulfate to help slow/decrease the contractions. The nurses and the doctor said that this medication would make me feel absolutely awful, but it didn't. I felt a little hot and swimmy-headed. They wouldn't let me get up to go to the bathroom, so I had to use a bedpan. They also wouldn't let me eat while on the medication.
The next day, they did allow me to eat since I was doing so well on the medication, but they still didn't want me to get up for fear that this would cause my labor to progress more quickly. That afternoon, the doctor checked my progress, and I was 8-9 cm dilated. The doctor stopped the magnesium sulfate because it can make the baby sleepy, and a sleepy premature baby is not a good thing. They wanted the medicine out of my system by the time I delivered.
I thought that stopping the magnesium would cause my contractions to become worse, but they really weren't too bad. Some were worse than others, but I was able to breathe through them without too much discomfort.
I had a scary moment that night, when I could no longer hear Quinn's heartbeat on the monitor. I called the nurse, and she was able to readjust the monitor so we could hear him again. But the emotions and fatigue (I only had an hour of sleep each night, during which I managed to pull out my IV) had already caught up to me, and I started crying hysterically. My nurse was very good and knew how to handle me.
A little later, I had a vision that Jesus was holding Quinn and blowing into his lungs to help them mature. It was the reassurance I needed, and I knew Quinn would be OK. They also told us they had a spot for him in the NICU and would hold it for him until he was born (though apparently they don't usually do this). God was working in so many ways.
At 5AM on November 17, the doctor decided to break my water since I had progressed to 10cm and they had a bed available in the NICU. I opted for no pain control, since I was able to tolerate the contractions. Around 5:45, I felt ready to push, but the doctor was delivering another baby, so I had to wait.
Once the doctor was on her way, I was able to start pushing. This was the most difficult and painful 22 minutes of my life. I had asked to have a mirror so I could see him coming out, but I was in such agony that I kept my eyes closed the whole time and forgot all about the mirror. At one point, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to continue. Then the nurse said, "Come on, this is your last push!" I replied, "You're just saying that!" But she was right, and Quinn shot out like a cannon. She even had to tell me to look down to see my child. I was so relieved it was over, I forgot to open my eyes!
So, at 6:21 AM on November 17, 2011, our son was born, weighing 4 lbs 7 oz and measuring 17" long.
The NICU team worked on Quinn. His heart rate was low, and he needed help to start breathing. But after a moment, I got a thumbs up from Hubby, and I knew Quinn was OK. They had told me beforehand that I wouldn't get to hold Quinn, that he would be whisked away to the NICU right after he was born. But he was stable enough for me to get to hold him for a moment before he left.
He was placed in an isolette (an incubator) because he was unable to regulate his temperature. He also required two bouts of phototherapy due to jaundice. He never needed oxygen, which I attribute to Jesus helping to form his lungs before he was born. He was in the NICU for 15 days before he was stable enough to come home. We are so grateful to have him home and are enjoying him tremendously. We are thankful to God for blessing us with Quinn and caring for us and our little miracle.
1 Samuel 1:27-28
Related Posts:
Our Story Part One
Life in the NICU
My appointment on November 15 was at 2:45 PM, so after working in the morning, I cancelled an afternoon meeting and went to see the doctor. I was half expecting the doctor would put me on bed rest, and tried to mentally prepare for that possibility. But how do you mentally prepare for being told, "I don't know what to make of this, but you're 7 cm dilated. We need to send you to labor and delivery." So off I went by wheelchair, flanked by 3 nurses from the doctor's office, to the hospital across the street.
I called my husband to meet me at the hospital, neither of us really knowing yet that the baby was coming soon. I thought maybe I could just stay 7 cm dilated for a long while, but they later told me otherwise. On my wheelchair ride over to the hospital, I tried to figure out how to send text messages from my husband's phone, which I was using since my dying cat had lost her bladder on my phone just a few days before. This proved to be a difficult task, but I did manage to get the word out to some friends and family to inform them what was happening.
I arrived at the hospital by 3:15, and the nurses were in awe that I was 7cm dilated and still smiling. Their goal was to try to keep me pregnant as long as possible, particularly to get 2 injections of steroids (12 hours apart) on board to help Quinn's lungs mature. They wanted the second injection to be in me for at least 12 hours as well, so we hoped that I could stay pregnant for at least 24 hours.
The other issue was that the hospital's NICU was full, and there was a possibility that Quinn would have to be transported to another hospital after he was born, while I had to stay put. They thought I was too far along to transport while pregnant, but they entertained the idea until Quinn's heart rate dropped momentarily. That was the end of that plan.
I started having a little bit of pain with the contractions a few hours after I got to the hospital. They gave me magnesium sulfate to help slow/decrease the contractions. The nurses and the doctor said that this medication would make me feel absolutely awful, but it didn't. I felt a little hot and swimmy-headed. They wouldn't let me get up to go to the bathroom, so I had to use a bedpan. They also wouldn't let me eat while on the medication.
The next day, they did allow me to eat since I was doing so well on the medication, but they still didn't want me to get up for fear that this would cause my labor to progress more quickly. That afternoon, the doctor checked my progress, and I was 8-9 cm dilated. The doctor stopped the magnesium sulfate because it can make the baby sleepy, and a sleepy premature baby is not a good thing. They wanted the medicine out of my system by the time I delivered.
I thought that stopping the magnesium would cause my contractions to become worse, but they really weren't too bad. Some were worse than others, but I was able to breathe through them without too much discomfort.
I had a scary moment that night, when I could no longer hear Quinn's heartbeat on the monitor. I called the nurse, and she was able to readjust the monitor so we could hear him again. But the emotions and fatigue (I only had an hour of sleep each night, during which I managed to pull out my IV) had already caught up to me, and I started crying hysterically. My nurse was very good and knew how to handle me.
A little later, I had a vision that Jesus was holding Quinn and blowing into his lungs to help them mature. It was the reassurance I needed, and I knew Quinn would be OK. They also told us they had a spot for him in the NICU and would hold it for him until he was born (though apparently they don't usually do this). God was working in so many ways.
At 5AM on November 17, the doctor decided to break my water since I had progressed to 10cm and they had a bed available in the NICU. I opted for no pain control, since I was able to tolerate the contractions. Around 5:45, I felt ready to push, but the doctor was delivering another baby, so I had to wait.
Once the doctor was on her way, I was able to start pushing. This was the most difficult and painful 22 minutes of my life. I had asked to have a mirror so I could see him coming out, but I was in such agony that I kept my eyes closed the whole time and forgot all about the mirror. At one point, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to continue. Then the nurse said, "Come on, this is your last push!" I replied, "You're just saying that!" But she was right, and Quinn shot out like a cannon. She even had to tell me to look down to see my child. I was so relieved it was over, I forgot to open my eyes!
So, at 6:21 AM on November 17, 2011, our son was born, weighing 4 lbs 7 oz and measuring 17" long.
The NICU team worked on Quinn. His heart rate was low, and he needed help to start breathing. But after a moment, I got a thumbs up from Hubby, and I knew Quinn was OK. They had told me beforehand that I wouldn't get to hold Quinn, that he would be whisked away to the NICU right after he was born. But he was stable enough for me to get to hold him for a moment before he left.
He was placed in an isolette (an incubator) because he was unable to regulate his temperature. He also required two bouts of phototherapy due to jaundice. He never needed oxygen, which I attribute to Jesus helping to form his lungs before he was born. He was in the NICU for 15 days before he was stable enough to come home. We are so grateful to have him home and are enjoying him tremendously. We are thankful to God for blessing us with Quinn and caring for us and our little miracle.
1 Samuel 1:27-28
Related Posts:
Our Story Part One
Life in the NICU
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Early arrival
As most of you know, Quinn arrived on November 17 at 6:21 am, 7 weeks premature. He weighed 4 lbs, 7 oz and was 17" long. He is currently in the NICU, doing great! He needs to be able to self-regulate his temperature before he comes home. I cannot access the blog at the hospital, but someday I will post all the details. Please pray that our son can come home soon!
Monday, November 14, 2011
32-week bump
Time is going by very quickly, and there is still so much to do! I have been having a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions, so I have been trying to take it easy, which means things are not getting done as they should be. We still need to finish clearing out the second bedroom, and going through and getting rid of things to make room for the little one. Then there's the wonderfully mountainous pile of gifts from the baby shower...
I am going to the doctor tomorrow just to make sure that all of these contractions aren't causing things to happen prematurely! I'll keep you posted.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Passed!
I took the 3 hour glucose test on Friday. The test wasn't so bad. The glucola I had to drink was twice as sweet as the one I drank for the first test, but it still didn't taste as horrible as Pedialyte. I got a lot of reading done (about how to have an "easy labor") while I waited, so it was actually much more relaxing than going to work. I found out today that I passed! Praise the Lord! I celebrated with a Peppermint Chocolate Chip shake from Chik-fil-a. Don't worry, I had a salad for dinner. :)
This past Saturday was my baby shower. What a wonderful day! It was filled with family, friends, food, and fun! I am indebted to my awesome party-planners. While it was a great day, I was exhausted afterwards. It was great to have much of Sunday to lay on the couch, nap, and take a bath (thanks to the party favors: a bag filled with hot cocoa, chocolate, a bath fizzy, and a candle. I made use of all during my bath. Aaaahhhh...it was lovely).
Some photos to enjoy:
This past Saturday was my baby shower. What a wonderful day! It was filled with family, friends, food, and fun! I am indebted to my awesome party-planners. While it was a great day, I was exhausted afterwards. It was great to have much of Sunday to lay on the couch, nap, and take a bath (thanks to the party favors: a bag filled with hot cocoa, chocolate, a bath fizzy, and a candle. I made use of all during my bath. Aaaahhhh...it was lovely).
Some photos to enjoy:
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Failed
I went for a follow up appointment tonight, and the midwife that I saw told me I failed my glucose tolerance test by 1 point. She said the doctor was leaving it up to me whether or not I wanted to go ahead and do the 3 hour test to see if I have gestational diabetes. She went on to say that if I did have diabetes and it went unchecked, it could affect the baby's heart. So, in a "good Mommy" move, I told her I wanted to do the test. In a subsequent "bad Mommy" move, I went home and had a piece of pie.
Apparently, Quinn already has his head down. Of course he can still flip around plenty in there, but it sounds good to me that he's in the right position. I'm just glad I don't have to stand on my head for 10 weeks.
Quinn has also started having hiccups. I felt it for the first time late last week. He's had them 3 times since then, and they last about 10-15 minutes. Feeling him kick, move, and hiccup are incredible blessings that I feel privileged to experience. I know that there are many more blessings to come!
Apparently, Quinn already has his head down. Of course he can still flip around plenty in there, but it sounds good to me that he's in the right position. I'm just glad I don't have to stand on my head for 10 weeks.
Quinn has also started having hiccups. I felt it for the first time late last week. He's had them 3 times since then, and they last about 10-15 minutes. Feeling him kick, move, and hiccup are incredible blessings that I feel privileged to experience. I know that there are many more blessings to come!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Braxton Hicks
I think I have begun to have Braxton Hicks contractions. My doctor asked me last month if I'd been having them. I learned that you begin having them 6 weeks into your pregnancy, but you don't usually notice them until later (if at all). I noticed quite by accident that I was having one (just happened to be feeling my belly at the time) and now I am a little more aware of having them. I've felt maybe one or two a day for the past few days. I feel a very slight uncomfortable feeling in my lower abdomen, and my uterus feels as hard as a rock. So I'm guessing that's the Braxton Hicks.
Sometimes I can feel Quinn when I put my hands on my belly. I can't distinguish body parts yet, but I do feel some hard lumps poking out at times. Last weekend, I was sitting with my hands over my belly, and I felt something move across my hand. And of course, he often lets me know he's in there with some swift kicks that make my whole belly visibly shake. The doctor said his movements will become less frequent as he loses space to move around in. This made me sad, because I thought I would just feel his movements more as he got bigger. I love feeling him move around in there!
I had my glucose tolerance test on Friday. The glucola wasn't too bad (it tasted a lot better than Pedialyte!) and I haven't heard anything from my doctor, so I'm thinking no news is good news. My next doctor's appointment is only a week away. I'll have to get used to going more frequently. Time is flying by so quickly. I can't believe he'll be here in 2 1/2 months!
Sometimes I can feel Quinn when I put my hands on my belly. I can't distinguish body parts yet, but I do feel some hard lumps poking out at times. Last weekend, I was sitting with my hands over my belly, and I felt something move across my hand. And of course, he often lets me know he's in there with some swift kicks that make my whole belly visibly shake. The doctor said his movements will become less frequent as he loses space to move around in. This made me sad, because I thought I would just feel his movements more as he got bigger. I love feeling him move around in there!
I had my glucose tolerance test on Friday. The glucola wasn't too bad (it tasted a lot better than Pedialyte!) and I haven't heard anything from my doctor, so I'm thinking no news is good news. My next doctor's appointment is only a week away. I'll have to get used to going more frequently. Time is flying by so quickly. I can't believe he'll be here in 2 1/2 months!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)