Kaelyn's Birth Story

Three Days Old

Thank you everyone that has congratulated us on the birth of our newest daughter, Kaelyn!  I have been asked a few times to share her birth story, so here it is :)

Kaelyn was the first child that I have birthed naturally, so she was more or less like a first birth.  I didn't really know what to expect.  I knew it would hurt, but I really hadn't put a lot of thought into it otherwise. 

On Saturday night, we celebrated our sweet Ella's third birthday.  I was miserable.  I was ten days overdue at this point and I was tired.  My back was killing me, as it had been for several weeks.  I just felt worn out.  I was ready to have this baby and I felt like the time clock was running out on me.  The birthing center was required by law to send me to see an OB for an ultrasound and non-stress test between my 41st and 42nd weeks of pregnancy.  The appointment was set for Monday morning.  I was sure that I had planned the route of natural childbirth and this was going to be taken from me at the last minute.  So on Saturday night, my little sister sent me a text and jokingly asked me if I was going to try castor oil.  My midwife has suggested it a week before and I had already tried every other "trick" without producing labor.  I had the castor oil idea tucked away as a last ditch effort. I started talking about it with some of my family members and we decided we had nothing to lose by trying it.  I called my midwife and she asked that I at least waited until the next day.  They had eleven births due in October and it seemed everyone was delivering within a few hours of the previous person.  It was a busy, busy month for the birthing center and everyone was working on little to no sleep at that point.  So I agreed.  Afterall, I wanted a good night's sleep.  So, at almost ten o'clock at night, when all our guests had left, we loaded up the kids and headed to CVS to buy castor oil. 

We went home, put the kids to bed and then we went to bed.  It was hard for me to get to sleep.  My back was hurting, I was overtired, but I was excited at the possibility that the castor oil would work and I would be able to labor and deliver the way I wanted to.  About 11:30pm, I was finally able to drift off to dreamland.

Around 2:30am, I woke up.  What was this that I was feeling?  Contractions?  On my own, without the aid from anything?  They were light and manageable and I had to wonder if that was really what I was feeling, but they were different from previous cramps that I had had.  The came from around my back and moved forward.  Oh wow, this was exciting!  I started timing them - every five(ish) minutes, for about 40 seconds.  I sent a text out to my sister.  She was asleep, so she didn't answer.  I had a few more contractions.  I decided I better let my other sister know.  It seemed this was the real thing and since my sisters wanted to be present, I needed to let them know.  They both live about two hours from us. My older sister answered my text.  Then, I decided to call my mom.  She wasn't originally going to be able to make it, but still wanted to know when I went into labor.  I decided to go back to bed.  I couldn't sleep.  I was way too excited.

I got up again and took a long shower.  The hot water felt good on my back.  Not only had my back been hurting for weeks, it turns out I was in store for a lot of back labor.  The contractions started coming every two minutes.  Wow, I couldn't believe how quickly it changed from five minutes to two minutes.  They were still manageable, and still only lasting 35-45 seconds, but why the closeness now?  Was I going to have a quick labor?  I sure hoped so.  I was in labor for 12 hours with Arin and six with Ella.  I was hoping this was going to be another quick one like Ella.  I decided to call my midwife and tell her that I had been having several contractions, now two minutes apart.  She had just gotten home from a delivery and she was almost delirious with exhaustion.  I told her I didn't know if it was too soon to go in since I had never done this before.  She decided to meet me at the birthing center, but said that she'd call the other midwife in to take over.  The other midwife lives about an hour and a half from the center.

So, we quickly got ready and called Andy's brother to make sure it was ok to bring the girls over there.  Wouldn't you know it...those every two minute contractions slowed down.  It had been like eight minutes since I had a contraction.  I was really worried.  I woke everyone up, my family, midwives, Andy's brother and his wife, and now labor was stopping, or at the very least slowing down.  We decided to go to the birthing center just the same.  In the car, the contractions came back about every five minutes for 40 seconds.

Once we got to the center, I was checked out.  Fifty percent effaced and five centimeters dialated.  Ok, so progress was being made.  I didn't feel so bad now.  It could go quickly from here, right?  I started walking.  My midwife said the walking would help it progress faster.  I'd walk, walk, walk, then stop and lean against the wall while the contraction was happening, then walk, walk, walk some more. 

Handling the contractions was really not that difficult.  The only previous experience I had with contractions was the pitocin induced type, which I have always been told come on harder and faster than natural ones.  I still assumed that these contractions would have to get stronger, but for several hours they stayed consistent in their intensity. 

About an hour after we got to the birthing center, my sisters and my mom showed up.  They decided to make a breakfast run at McDonald's.  I was hungry too, but decided not to eat.  I was sure this labor was going to start progressing quickly and I didn't want to get sick during it because I ate.  So they got the food and came back to eat it.  Wow, I was hungry!  So back out to McDonald's they went and came back with an egg and cheese biscuit for me.  That could have been the best sandwich I have ever eaten!  My sisters laughed and commented that they couldn't believe I was interested in eating during labor.

After breakfast, we decided to go outside for a walk.  We walked over to the lake and then down the street.  I gave them all a bit of comic relief because I was outwalking them.  I was determined to get this labor going somewhere.  It seemed like it was stalling.  I'd walk fast, then every few yards, I'd have to stop and hold on to Andrew, or a tree, a street light pole, a street sign - whatever was available at the time. The contractions were painful even though they were still short in duration.  Forty seconds seemed to be their magic number. 

We went back to the center and I bounced on the exercise ball for a little bit before deciding I was getting pretty tired, so maybe I should lay down.  So I laid down and the contractions STOPPED!!!  Ugh.  I had what you call dysfunctional labor.  It did not do what typical labors do where they start out slow, but progress.  Nope, my labor was all over the place depending on the position I was in.  So the labor stopped for a good fifteen minutes.  Then a contration hit and this time it lasted a minute and twenty seconds.  This contraction was not messing around.  It was much more intense that the previous ones.  But I didn't get another one for a good thirteen or fifteen more minutes.  Once it hit, it was also strong and long, but it just took a long time to get one.  Eventually we decided for me to get out of bed.  Immediately I got another contraction. 

It went on like this for what seemed like forever.  Sometimes the contractions were long and strong and close together.  Sometimes they were short and sporatic.  It just didn't make a lot of sense.  They were here and there and just all over the place.

Oh yes, and at another time I got really hungry again and ate a peanut butter granola bar, which also tasted like the best thing that I had ever eaten.  Again, my sisters were amazed that I could eat during labor.  I threw up shortly after eating it though.

I finally made it to 7 cm dialated after hours of labor.  I thought surely things would progress quickly now.  Nope!

Everything was going well until the last hour or maybe two.  I stopped keeping track of time, so I am just guessing.  I was tired.  Really exhausted by now.  The contractions were finally coming strong and very close together, unless I'd lay down.  Then they would go away.  But like I said, I was tired, I was frustrated, I was scared.  You know how you see people in the movies screaming during childbirth?  Yeah, that was me.  The contractions hurt so bad at this point, mostly the back labor, that I would scream with them.  I was not a graceful laborer.  I cried real tears everytime I felt the contractions.  I felt overwhelmed. 

I had considered waterbirth at one time, but to use their waterbirth tub would have costs us almost $200 and I just couldn't justify it.  There were moments in those last hours that I almost told them to fill the pool, but then talked myself out of it.  I did get into the bathtub for a while (that's free to use).  I could not get comfortable.

No matter where I went, bed, bath, birthing stool, squatting, I just could not get into a comfortable position to deliver.  I felt defeated and did I mention that my back felt like it was breaking?  At one point I told Andy just to take me to the hospital to cut the baby out.  I was hurting that badly.  I really should have listened to my mother and gone to the chiropractor previous to labor.  I was paying for my stubborness during labor. 

I was checked again.  Fully effaced, fully dialated.  They wanted me to push.  I didn't feel the urge to push and when I did, it felt like my back was pulling in half.  My midwife had her hand inside me holding back some cervical lip or something and telling me to push.  Worst pain I have felt and I kept telling her to leave me alone.  I think I was frustrating her.  I was getting more and more frustrated with everyone and the whole situation.  I felt pressure to get the baby out immediately, but I hurt so badly.  I still could not get comfortable. I was so tired.  I told Andy that I needed a nap and I'd push the baby out when I woke up.  Haha!

I guess I finally offended everyone.  I told them to stop asking me questions, stop giving me advice, stop pressuring me, and just let me do this myself.  Everyone left the room.  Everyone except Andy.  He had been silent in the situation, but by my side all the time.

Once everyone left, I relaxed a little.  I got up and went to the bathroom where I sat on the toilet.  There was a handcap handle installed on the wall on one side of the toilet and a sink on the other side of the toilet.  I sat there, holding on to both, resting my head on the wall.  I gave myself a little pep talk to stop being scared.  At this same time, my two sisters had decided to go for a lunch run, even though it was nearing 3pm.  They sat in the parking lot and prayed for me.  Once I was alone, everything went VERY quickly.  I got a contraction.  I finally felt the urge to push and I did with everything I had.  I could feel the baby coming.  Only Andy was in the bathroom with me.  I started yelling, "Catch her, catch her".  The student midwife ran in.  She could see Kaelyn crowning.  It all happened quickly.  She started yelling for gloves and then told me to slow down.  I was pushing too hard, too quickly.  I slowed it down.  Kaelyn's head was born, then another contraction and her shoulders and then she slid out. 

(My sisters were upset that they missed the event.  They left because I didn't seem to be progressing, then within 3-5 minutes after they walked out, Kaelyn was born.  I don't think they had even driven out of the parking lot yet.  Oops!)

The midwife wanted to hand her to me.  I wasn't interested.  I was so exhausted.  I hadn't even looked at her.  I just laid my head on the wall and closed my eyes.  The midwife thought she was losing me.  She kept saying, "Cara, look at me"  I assured her I was fine, just tired!

It would probably be half an hour before I was cleaned up and back in bed, ready to hold my baby.  I am not even sure that I was ready for her then, but they said I needed to nurse her.  Giving birth to Kaelyn was the hardest thing I have EVER done.  Her birth did remind me a lot of Arin's birth though.  Both were eleven days late.  Both were 12 hour labors (Kaelyn's was actually a little over 12 hours).  Both were new experiences.  I was completely worn out with both.  I was uninterested in either right after birth because of the extreme exhaustion.  But in case you were wondering, that feeling has passed and we have been bonding wonderfully.  Kaelyn (like our other girls) is an amazing blessing.  She is a sweet, sweet baby and we are thrilled to finally have her here!

It was a student midwife that actually caught Kaelyn.  I had met with her (under the supervision of a licensed midwife) during several of my visits.  I liked her and was comfortable with her being present.  She was so excited that she made it to the birth (baby was born shortly after she arrived).  This was her first toilet birth.  Hahaha - a first of the kind for me as well.  It just happened to be the only place that was comfortable.

Also, I loved being home right away.  My recovery time has been so much quicker than that of Arin or Ella's births.  When I was asked right after birth which way I'd go next time, I think I said epidural, but after this wonderful recovery, I am thinking I would go birthing center (or home) again next time.  I would just have more experience and know things like to stay home longer and to offend people sooner so they'd leave me alone :)  Ok, maybe not the last one, but you understand what I mean - I'd know what to expect and I think it'd go a little smoother next time :)

(I may or may not add pictures to this post later (just haven't decided yet), for now I just want to get it published for those that have been asking for it)

Pregnancy Journal: 41 weeks and Counting

Today I had my last prenatal appointment at my birthing center.  There's been almost no change since my last appointment.  My cervix is high and thick.  The baby has moved back up, so the midwife could no longer touch her head.  I have tried every "trick" I know to get the process started, but nothing is helping.  I am feeling stressed. 

On Monday, (if the baby has not arrived on her own) we'll take the hour and 15 minute drive to meet with an OB.  She'll be conducting a few tests: non-stress and ultrasound.  Then, she'll make the decision if I need to be induced right away or if I can go x amount of days longer.  If she allows me to go longer and I don't go on my own during that time period, I'll have to go back for a second non-stress test.  Since my body is not progressing, I am preparing myself for yet another hospital induction type birth.  This is not the route I wanted to take this time.  I do not like the thought of being delivered by a doctor that I have no relationship with.  Still praying baby will appear on her own in the next couple of days.

Pregnancy Journal: 40 weeks

I am officially OVERDUE!  My due date was originally the 19th, but the birthing center said the 18th, and then this week, I met with the owner of the birthing center and she put me back at the 19th.  Either way, this baby is late!  That is not surprising at all, since I was overdue and induced with both Arin and Ella. 

We did just get home from spending 10 days with our families and I am so happy that I did not go into labor while we were gone, but now that we are back home, I am more than ready to have my baby!  At my forty week prenatal appointment, we saw a bit of progression over my 37 week appointment, which was the only other time I have been checked.  Now I am 2cm dialated and about 30% effaced.  Baby is at 0 station, meaning the midwife could feel her head.  This morning I started showing slight signs of baby coming soon, but that seems to have all fizzled out and so the waiting game continues.  Even though I know that babies rarely come on their due date, it is so hard to be patient!

My back has been hurting a lot over the past couple of weeks and I have been pretty emotional, but otherwise, all is well :)

Pregnancy Journal: 37 weeks

Yay!  I have now made it to 37 weeks in this pregnancy which means, I am now considered full term and I am now able to birth outside of a hospital.  Unfortunately, I found out a couple of weeks ago that my main midwife does not accept my insurance for homebirths (only birthing center) and it is unlikely that the other midwife will be on call when the event happens, so we are preparing for a birthing center birth instead.

If I make it to 41 weeks, I will have to see an OB for a non-stress test and another ultrasound and wait for the "ok" to be released back to the birthing center, so...I am hoping that the baby is born on her own before then.  I had my check-up today and I am nowhere near ready to deliver yet, which is okay since I have three weeks until my due date.  The midwife was somewhat concerned today because when she measured my belly, I only measured 33 weeks.  I tend to hide my big babies well.  At 32 weeks, I had an ultrasound.  At that point, the baby measured 5 lbs and according to the ultrasound, I was measuring two weeks ahead.  But, my midwife said that later ultrasounds are less reliable than earlier ultrasounds.

The only other concern at this time is my iron.  When it was checked last week, it was 33 which is the lowest it can go without me being referred to an OB for further instructions.  I have been doing some stuff to try to increase it and will be checked again next week.

Otherwise, all is going well.  I am getting super anxious to meet our baby girl!

Baby Shower #1

35 Weeks :)

If we are friends on Facebook, you may have already seen these pictures (I posted the whole slideshow on there).  If not, here are a few pictures :)

Lynn & Me

Yesterday, my friend Lynn, threw a baby shower for me.  Lynn did an awesome job and we all had a great time!  She really paid attention to the details.  When we pulled up, there were pink and blue balloons outside.  These colors were not picked by accident.  Arin's favorite color is blue and Ella's favorite color is pink.  As soon as we got out of the car, Arin noticed the balloons and told Ella they were their favorite colors :)

Lynn used the owl theme for the shower.

Decorations

Sign-In Table and Thank You Gift (hand sanitizers)

Yummy Food

Drinks and Sweet Treats

I LOVE cupcakes!

Lynn added her touch of creativity to these yummy cupcakes.

gifts

We played three games.  The classic "how big is my belly" game was a lot of fun and provided so many laughs.  

 There were four people that came very close to winning this game, but ultimately, this is me with the first and second place winners.  Fun Fact:  I won this game at my sister's shower and she she won 1st place at my shower :)

Game #2 - Basket Memory Game.  Lynn filled a basket with baby items.  She carried the basket around the room and then left with the basket.  Once the basket was out of the room, we were to write down as many of the sixteen items that we could remember.  Bonus:  I got to keep all the items in the basket :)

Game #3 - Baby Trivia.  These were fun baby related questions.  They were also really hard questions that most of us just guessed at. 

We received so many sweet and thoughtful gifts.  These are shirts, tu-tu's and matching barrettes that Lynn had someone make for the girls.

"Bigger Sister Arin", "Big Sister Ella" and "Baby Sister Kaelyn"  Notice the colors?  Arin, the oldest, has her favorite color listed first, then Ella, the middle has her favorite color listed second, and until Kaelyn, the third child,  is old enough to pick her favorite color, we'll use purple for her, which was listed last :)

My friend Karen, handmade bibs and matching burp clothes for the baby :)

The Guests:  Other than my mom, two sisters and a few of my nephews, this was my "friends" shower.  Next weekend is my "family" shower, hosted by a couple of our family members.

Baby Bellies!  Jennifer is due just a few weeks before me :)

Loving the Baby



My mom, two sisters, nephew and myself



A HUGE THANK YOU to Lynn and everyone else that made my day so special!!!  Friends, Fun, and Food - the perfect combination :)

Pregnancy Journal: 29 weeks

This was a belly pic taken tonight.  I am going to try to get one next time to include my face.  No promises though as I am not photogenic at all!

We took our refresher birthing class a couple of weeks ago.  Seriously, I felt like I was out on a date!  We dropped the kiddos off at my sister-in-law's house then went to dinner before class.  During class we practiced breathing techniques and then the instructor encouraged the birthing partners to practice back massages on us mamas.  Awesome!  After the class, Andrew took me out for dessert before going back to pick up the kids. Can we have birthing classes every week??? :)

I've been feeling pretty well.  I am learning how to control my heartburn.  With Arin and Ella the heartburn was so bad that I would throw-up and it would be again this time, I'm sure, if I hadn't learned a few tricks along the way.  My new number one friend is lemon water.  I am amazed at how well this stuff works at taking away heartburn or in many cases stopping it before it starts.  I typically squeeze half a lemon twice a day to add to water and then right before I settle in for the night, I squeeze a whole lemon and put it in a bit more water.  Drinking that before bed has kept me from getting sick like I was with the girls. 

I had my 28 week prenatal appointment last week.  It was also my second glucose test, which I will get the results for at my next appointment.  I am down to the every two-week appointments now, which makes it more exciting.  I have gained 11 pounds so far, which my midwife said was great.  The baby's heartbeat was nice and strong and she is super active, but she did measure 26 weeks instead of 28 weeks.  My midwife said it was most likely just position and should be back to normal at my next appointment.

I've flip-flopped several times on my decision of where to birth, but for now, I am back to the decision to birth at home (vs. birthing at the birthing center).  I am beginning to gather my supplies and looking into buying a birthing pool.  I am starting to get very excited and anxious to meet our new baby, even though we still have 11 +/- weeks to go.

Pregnancy Journal: Ultrasound Results

My ultrasound appointment was at nine o'clock this morning.  Andrew's been slammed at work this week and was not able to make it to the ultrasound with me.  It was the first ultrasound he's missed and we were both bummed.  My mom and my little sister were down visiting this week (we made our move and they've been helping me get things in order), so they were able to go, which was special.  It was the first time that either of them had been to an ultrasound with me.

Once the ultrasound started, Arin and Ella started their friendly, sibling, competitive bickering.  Arin would say "Boy!" and Ella would immediately follow with "No, Girl!"  And it would go back and forth like this for a couple of minutes. This pregnancy has been pretty easy, so all along, people have been thinking it is a boy.  Arin has become accustomed to hearing that and was getting excited for a brother.  Ella never thought boy.  She always said it was a "Pink Baby".

The tech did all the measurements, then tapped several times on my stomach, on the left-hand side.  I didn't ask what she was doing, but I am assuming, she was tapping on the placenta and maybe seeing the position of the cord??  Just my guess.  Once the measurements were done, she announced "GIRL!"
We'll be adding a third princess to our family this October.  The baby is measuring right on time.  According to the ultrasound, the due date is October 17 (October 18 by the birthing center's calculations and October 19 by babycenter.com's calculations).  The tech said the baby is "perfect".  No sweeter words could have been spoken today!

When Arin heard girl, she cried and cried.  She said she didn't want another sister and that she wanted a brother.  She was sure it was a boy and she's not real good at losing.  She has accepted girl now and I know once the baby is here, she'll be super in love :)  Ella, of course is excited to be getting a little sister!

I was not given any regular pictures from the ultrasound.  I tried to upload the video, but blogger will not accept it.  These two pictures were taken from my phone during the ultrasound, so not the best quality.

On a side note, I was required to have an early glucose test because I have big babies.  They received the results this week.  My sugar is actually on the low side (which is the tendency even when I am not pregnant).  Not sure what that means as far as the pregnancy is concerned, but I know it has to be better than high sugar during pregnancy.  I will discuss it with my midwife at my next appointment.  I will have a second ultrasound to check the baby's size at 34 weeks.

Pregnancy Journal: Week 18

There's been one big change since I last updated my journal.  Exactly two weeks ago, I first felt tiny baby movements!  I don't feel them every day, and somedays I feel more than other days, but this is the part where pregnancy is feeling real and fun.  I love every little movement that I feel.  Amazing!  I am getting very anxious to know the gender of the baby.  This pregnancy is so different than that of the girls that we all think it's a boy (except Ella who continues to say it's a girl), but we are looking forward to knowing one way or the other.  The ultrasound has not been scheduled yet.  They only have the tech come once a month to the birthing center and since I cancelled the early May appointment, I have to wait until sometime in June.

Pregnancy Journal: 16 weeks

Wow, sixteen weeks and I feel great!  This is such a different pregnancy than I had with either of the girls. It's been so, so easy, which has been a welcomed change.  Originally, we had planned to have our ultrasound for yesterday, but due to a few factors, we decided it'd be better to wait a few weeks. Now I am not sure when it'll be scheduled - probably four to five weeks from now. I had a prenatal appointment today.  We met with a new midwife at our birthing center and are excited to go forward with the decision to birth outside of a hospital.  We heard the heartbeat today, which still sounds healthy and strong. 

The girls are super excited about this baby.  They talk about it every day.  One night, Arin woke up in the middle of the night, came into our room and told me that she was so happy about our baby and she thought it was a boy!  She told me that if it is a boy, she wants to name it Blueberry and if it is a girl, she wants to name it Strawberry.  Both girls pretend to have a baby in their tummies.  Arin typically "gives birth" to her baby every night before bed.  Ella is more patient and her baby has not been born yet.  One night, Ella finished her dinner and asked for seconds.  I questioned her to make sure she really wanted to eat more.  She paused for a second, put her hand on her belly, and said, "Baby's still hungry!"  Also, one afternoon, she had hiccups and she told me to feel her belly because the baby was moving! 

Pregnancy Journal: Ultrasound Scheduled!

After I wrote here that it'd probably be five or six weeks before my ultrasound, the birthing center called to tell me that they had it scheduled.  I'm having my ultrasound on Monday, May 2!  I won't be quite 16 weeks along, so I am hoping that they will be able to tell the gender.  It'll be the earliest ultrasound that I've had.  Arin's was in the 18th week and Ella's was in the 17th week.  Please leave a comment with your guess - will it be a boy or a girl???  Thanks!

Pregnancy Journal: Week 13

Yesterday was my first prenatal appointment.  I was very anxious for this appointment and it felt like it was never going to get here.  Originally, my appointment was scheduled for last week, but the midwives had something going on, so they rescheduled me for yesterday.  The thing I was most anxious about was hearing the heartbeat.  Despite the fact that I have heard the heartbeat four times prior (thanks to my sister's midwife) and despite the fact that I have been getting sick sometimes (if I wait too long to eat or when I brush my teeth), I was still nervous about it.  Finally, at the end of the two-hour long appointment, it was time to hear the baby.  My midwife tried and tried for what seemed like ten minutes, though I am sure it was less than that, to find the heartbeat.  No luck.  She did say that she picked up some kicks.  I am not sure if they were really kicks, or she was just trying to make me feel better???  I had told her that I had already heard the heartbeat, so she changed dopplers and in the first few seconds she was able to pick up a nice, strong, healthy heartbeat in the 150's.  Phew!  It was a few nerve wrecking minutes, but all seems well and the baby sounds healthy.  My next prenatal appointment is in four weeks and in the week or two after that, I will have an ultrasound.  We are very excited to find out if we will be welcoming a little boy or another little girl into our family.

Pregnancy Journal: 9 weeks

I had no intentions of updating my journal this week.  There's not been anything too new to report, until today.  Today is my birthday.  Today is also my little sister's due date.  Too bad her baby has not shown signs of appearing today.  However, today was my sister's midwife appointment.  Her midwife comes to her house (she's planning a homebirth).  So while her midwife was here, we asked if she'd listen for my baby's heartbeat.  She said she only had the regular doppler with her (not the super sensitive one) so it would be doubtful that we'd hear it this early, but she'd try.  She tried and before long WE HEARD THE HEARTBEAT!!!!  Seriously, the BEST birthday gift EVER!

Pregnancy Journal: Week 8

It's week eight and I feel great!  Last week, I spent Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday on bedrest.  It was rather boring and even a bit difficult to do, but also very necessary.  The girls LOVED the extra tv time and laying in bed reading books with mama!  Andrew took Thursday off from work to make sure that I stayed off my feet.  He took excellent care of us.  He waited on me hand and foot.  He fed us, cleaned the kitchen, cared for and played with the girls, grocery shopped, etc.  Friday afternoon, I was released from bedrest, but still put on no lifting restrictions.  Andrew has continued to do much of everything around here...at least everything that has anything to do with lifting, including grocery shopping.  This is a big deal because he does not like to grocery shop, but he has been doing it without complaint.  I always feel like I have a mile-long to-do list, but I have had to put much of that on hold this week while I take the extra time to rest and grow this baby. 

Last week, we met with a midwife that is about 45 minutes from us.  We liked her and decided to go with a homebirth.  As this week progressed, I started wondering if I had made the right decision.  I liked her, but I hadn't interviewed anyone else.  On a whim, I contacted my sister's midwives.  They are located about three hours from us, so I knew they would not be able to assist me, but perhaps they could refer me to someone.  They did.  They let me know of a birthing center that is right here in our town, only ten minutes from our house and four minutes from the hospital (should baby or me need to be transferred).  They offer homebirths, birthing center births, water births, etc.  We toured the place yesterday and met with the head midwife.  I liked the first midwife as well as these, but this place seems more practical.  It's closer, it's cheaper, they take my insurance, they have more birthing options, etc.  So I feel comfortable that we'll be going that direction.   While we were there, the midwife attempted to hear our baby's heartbeat, but being just barely eight weeks, it was still too early.  That didn't surprise me.  We never heard our girls' heartbeats until after 10 weeks, but it was nice of her to try.

This week I have started to feel more pregnant.  I haven't actually been sick, but there have been several times that I was sure I was going to be.  It's not a pleasant feeling at the time, but it makes me feel a little more reassured during these first few critical weeks.

Pregnancy Journal: Week 7

I am tired!  I have been thankful for every small symptom that I have been feeling this week.  Mainly, I feel exhausted.  I have been taking regular rest/nap periods every afternoon.  This does not make Arin happy because that means that she now has to take regular rest/nap periods as well - something that she had given up several months ago.

The past two days, I have had slight nausea around lunchtime, but once I eat, I have felt perfectly normal again.  My lower back has been hurting, which is something that has happened at the beginning of every pregnancy so far, so I consider that a symptom. 

Photo Source: babycenter.com

According to Baby Center, the baby is now a half inch, or about the size of a blueberry. It is growing arms and feet this week, which look like paddles.

Arin and Ella continue to hug and kiss the baby on a daily, sometimes hourly basis.

I met with a new midwife yesterday.  I really liked her and we are planning to go forward with a homebirth.  To this point, I have only given birth in a hospital, so this will be a big change, but we are looking forward to it.  My midwife is encouraging daily exercise in the form of swimming, brisk walking, and prenatal yoga.  A minimum of 30 minutes a day is what I should aim for.  She also wants me to eat 75-100 grams of protein (meat, eggs, nuts, nut butters, legumes, cheese, yogurt, etc.) each day along with lots and lots of vegetables.  Carbs should be limited to whole grains and small portions.  The main reason for this (other than the obvious nutrient-dense foods) is because I am already overweight and I have a history of big babies, so we don't want to pack on needless pounds due to empty calories.  Yesterday was just a consultation.  My first prenatal appointment is scheduled for April 5th.

Swimming season has officially begun.  The girls went swimming at my brother and sister-in-law's over the weekend, and then after meeting with the midwife, we all went swimming as a family yesterday.  The pool at our apartment complex is heated, but it is still cool enough that you want to keep moving while in it.  Another couple of weeks and it'll be really nice to go swimming. 

On Sunday, my niece threw a baby shower for my little sister, who is due in about two and a half weeks.

Left: Candace (sister) ~ Right: Lauryn (niece)

The baby shower was so nice and I was quite emotional.  Lots of tears flowing from my little sister and myself.  I consider that a symptom as I am not normally a person that cries that easily.  When I first sat down, my niece came over to me and presented me with a gift.  What?  I was not the guest of honor, though for a moment, I sure felt like I was!  This is what she gave me:

Inside, was this cupcake, frosted half with blue frosting and half with pink frosting, which a white question mark.  So sweet of her to think of me too!

So that is all the "good" stuff that has happened this week.  Unfortunately, I bled a little in the night last night.  I called my midwife and she has put me on bedrest for the next three days.  The bleeding, which was bright red, has stopped now and hopefully was only caused by the exercise yesterday.  For the next three days, I am to stay off my feet, drink lots of water, no exercise, no lifting, etc.  Basically just a wait, watch, and see.  Of course this happened after I finally was feeling like everything was going well, which it still might be (trying to stay positive), but this of course makes me nervous all over again.

Pregnancy Journal: Week 6

The girls are both so excited about the new baby.  One day, this week, I was sitting on the stairs reading, when Arin came and sat beside me and kissed the baby (my stomach).  Then, Ella came up behind me and started scratching my back!  The girls have been so sweet all week and have been pampering me with lots and lots of hugs and kisses for for both me and the baby. Arin says that she's already taking good care of the baby every time she kisses it!  The girls have also been extremely helpful this week.  They have both offered to help with chores without being asked.  It's really been fun to see how excited they are. 

We've been spending more time outside, enjoying the beautiful weather.  It won't be much longer until it'll be so hot that we won't want to be out in the middle of the day unless we are swimming.  But for now, we are spending more time outside playing and taking daily walks.  I have also been working on cleaning up my diet - drinking more water, adding in more produce and protein, etc.

Photo Source: babycenter.com

You can read about week six development here. According to Baby Center, our baby is the size of a lentil this week and the nose, mouth, and ears are beginning to develop. Amazing!


So you may be wondering how I am feeling.  Well, honestly, I don't feel pregnant.  It is very odd.  With all of my other pregnancies, I have felt queasy by now, but this time, I am having a hard time believing that I am pregnant because I feel normal. 

What does that mean?

1. I am not sure if I should be worried since I have a history of miscarriage. 
2. Or if I should be excited with the possibility of an easy pregnancy after two losses and two difficult pregnancies. 
3. Or if it's just early still and the symptoms will kick in soon. 

We are praying for option 2 or 3, but only time will tell... 

Pregnancy Journal: Week 5

First, I want to thank everyone for their sweet comments and prayers for this baby.  They are very appreciated.
Secondly, my friend, Joli, requested that I add a pregnancy widget to my blog so that her and anyone else can follow the baby's progress.  So that has been added to the upper right-hand corner.
Third, I am going to attempt to give weekly updates (or maybe bi-weekly depending on how I feel) throughout this pregnancy. 


Photo Source: babycenter.com


I have now completed week five in the pregnancy journey.  According to Baby Center (<--- click the link to read about week 5 development), our baby is about the size of a sesame seed.  It continually amazes me how much growing and developing is happening in such a teeny tiny embryo!  I am still in the honeymoon phase of pregnancy.  We are super thrilled, but still in a bit of disbelief that I am finally pregnant again, as it's been a full year since we lost the last baby.  Pregnancy symptoms are ever so slightly beginning to appear.  I have been very crampy this week, but if memory serves me correctly, I was that way for all four previous pregnancies.  So although the cramps do make me slightly nervous, I know that it is not actually a sign that there is a problem, in fact it could just mean that the baby is embedding, which is a good thing.  I have been a bit more tired the past few days.  Other than that, all is well.  If history repeats itself, then around six weeks is when the symptoms really kick in and they stick around until I deliver the baby.  My symptoms were not super strong with my last pregnancy, so I am actually looking forward to the morning sickness this time, as it seems to signal a healthy pregnancy for me.

We told the girls about the baby last Friday.  Ella immediately said that it was a pink baby.  Pink is her favorite color.  I asked her if she thought it'd be a boy or a girl.  She said girl! 

Arin has been asking for months and months for us to have another baby.  On Friday night, we showed her the test and told her if there was two lines then there was a baby, but one line meant no baby.  She was so excited to learn there was a baby in my tummy.  I wish I would have gotten a picture of her eyes light up and the huge grin on her face.  She laid in bed with me and non-stop talked until after midnight.  She is such a planner.  She was thinking of names, thinking of toys to share with the baby, telling me how she'd help take care of it, etc.  She's so sweet and this will be such a great learning experience for her.  She is finally old enough to understand what's going on, as I've not ever seen her this excited with my other pregnancies.  She also says the baby will be a girl, but then decided a boy would be okay too, or better yet - one of each! 

On Saturday morning, Arin and Ella were eating breakfast, but I was getting ready to meet up with our families.  Arin said, "Mom, you need to feed the baby" meaning that I needed to eat.  Then, later she told me that I needed to eat healthy foods to help the baby grow.  And one other time, I was drinking some water and she told me that I was giving the baby a drink. 

We were together with most of our families on Saturday.  We let Arin share the news as she had been incredibly anxious to tell people.  (By the way, for any of our friends in GA that are reading this, Arin told me that she really wants to tell her homeschool friends in Georgia too.)

One of the things I never look forward to is finding someone to deliver our baby.  I had the same nurse midwife deliver Arin and Ella and I LOVED her.  She was awesome, but she works two hours from where we live now, so it doesn't seem practical for me to drive that far.  I found another midwife online a couple of days ago and have set up a consultation appointment to meet with her on March 1st.  Hopefully, things will go well with that and I will not have to look any farther. 

I guess that's about it for now.  I will update more next week!