DAY 6: Successful parenting (2.28.10)

Now with our confidence boosted by my gaining ability to satisfy Zac’s hunger. We had an excellent day of just getting into a routine. Zac was finally beginning to fall into a pattern (unreliable, but pattern-like none the less). We even had a visit from my mom’s brother and his wife (they live here in Germany too.) So Zac got his first visit from extended family with Great Uncle Bud and Aunt Anne. An excellent day was followed by a stellar night. Now it wasn’t as smooth sailing as his very first night. But now we had a game plan. We had come up with some soothing strategies that were working for us. So Stephen and I tag teamed the kid and worked together to try to balance sleeplessness and baby care.

DAY 5: A little more confidence (2.27.10)

I was again treated with a much needed nap at midday thanks to Grammy. Stephen took Gramps grocery shopping and the day went by with greater confidence - especially after a particularly successful feeding session. I could tell that my milk was finally starting to arrive mid morning. Zac’s sucking pattern was now different and I could hear distinct swallowing sounds that were significantly more satisfying sounding than previously experienced. I was at 100% yet, but we were well on our way.

Our new concern was diapers. We hadn’t seen a dirty or wet diaper in several hours (from about 3am to nearly 2pm). Mid morning, I enquired at the nurses’ station about this. They again assured me that as long as he’d had his initial dirty diapers, there was nothing to be concerned with. So we watched and waited and celebrated every dirty diaper after that (and still are).

DAY 4: It begins (2.26.10)

It’s FRIDAY! TGIF…wait, what’s going on here? Holy crap, what are we doing!? OMG this is amazing!
Just a few of the thoughts that went through our heads the nano seconds that our 2nd day with Zac began. Not that the day actually “began” as I stayed up nearly the entire night as well as did Stephen.
The day was spent again, mostly watching and trying out new things…like how to hold him. Stephen found some excellent success in the “baby lounging on chest” position. While I mostly favored the traditional cradle hold.
The day is pretty much a blur…Grammy & Gramps came to visit about mid morning. Lunch arrived around noon. I was able to take a nap while Grammy took Zac to the visitors’ room. Stephen headed home with Gramps to take care of some business. Day passed to evening. Evening to night, and then it began.

Zac’s quiet demeanor was gone. 9 p.m. brought with it a whole new world of concern. We couldn’t get him to stop crying. We did everything, twice, three times, nothing! I knew that all his problems were my fault. My milk still hadn’t come in and so I assumed that the discomfort Zac was in was due to my (perceived) lack of foremilk viability. During a rare quiet moment, I stepped down to the nurses’ station and began expressing my concern. This concern quickly snowballed into a disgusting display of tears, fear and desperation.

I was assured that everything that we were experiencing was normal. That the baby was fine and that soon my milk would come. C-Section deliveries often experience delayed milk production. As much as I hate to admit it, I was progressing on track (instead of ahead of expectations as I much prefer to be).

Eventually our night of hell passed, a new day broke and we were renewed with hope and support with another visit from Grammy & Gramps.

Day 3: Happy Birthday Zac!! (2.25.10)

We were asked to come back at 7:30am for more monitoring. The 7:30 session showed that the contractions were much more regular but remained weak. The doctor came to visit us at 8 am and did another exam. She found that even with all the contractions, I was only dilated 2 cm and this was AFTER the used her fingers to stretch me – something I didn’t take lightly and let the rest of L&D know!

The doctor decided it was time for the final installment of the hormone treatment. This was a much stronger dose; it burned much more and caused MUCH stronger contractions.
About 20 min. into the treatment, Stephen and I were alone in the room when the baby’s heart rate dropped dangerously low and stayed there. I told Stephen to get someone immediately. As he was trying to get some attention, the heart rate dropped to the low 50s (target range is 120-180). The midwife immediately got me up on my hands and knees, injected me with adrenaline and began massaging my uterus to get a reaction out of the baby.

The adrenaline kicked in within seconds. My body started shaking, I started crying (a mostly physical reaction, I was concentrating too hard on what I was supposed to be doing to have an emotional reaction). Peanut’s heart rate gained, but we knew that this was something to be watched.

After an hour and a half on the monitor and greatly increasing contractions, I just couldn’t sit still any longer. I had Stephen ask if I could get up and moved – I heard the moving around would help alleviate and cope with the pain. The midwife told me that at this time, it’s not a good idea, but that she would have the doctor take a look at the monitor and we’d get a game plan going.
The doctor reviewed the results and determined that with every contraction Peanut’s heart rate was dropping. This was not a good thing. She said that it was not time for a c-section.

I didn’t hesitate – all I care about is a healthy baby!

She said “we’ll get started now then, that way we can work into it and not make it an emergency c-section”. Sounded good to me! In came the gurney, the surgery smock, the catheter (yay) and some worried looks from the fellow midwives.

They rolled me off to the OR for my epidural, Stephen was sent back to the room with the rest of my things and some urgent phone calls to make.

As I was in with the anesthesiologist getting the epidural, the midwife stayed with me to monitor Peanuts heart rate. Again, it dropped – and she forcefully encouraged the anesthesiologist to get a move on. We’ve run out of time – we couldn’t wait for an epidural. It was determined that I needed to have a spinal block ON the operating table. So they rushed me to the OR where Stephen met us after they finished the spinal block.

The room was TINY! And there were SO many people rushing around. The drape was barely up before they began making the incision. Stephen held my left hand and stroked my hair. The anesthesiologist continually asked me questions to make sure all was going well. A bit of pressure, lots of pushing of my body back and forth and suddenly I felt a warm heavy mass on my abdomen.

“HERE HE IS” a grey little gremlin was hefted over the drape and there was my baby!!! He started crying, they rushed him off to clean him up and examine him. I cried with joy – minimal labor pains, a healthy cry, what more could a woman ask for?

Zachary (Zac) Adrian Watson was born at 11:51am, Feb. 25, 2010. 7 lbs. 5 oz. 21.7 in.
Zac came back to me just a few minutes later. They put him into Stephen’s arms and then placed him on the table to the left of my head. All I could see was a small patch of reddish hair, one steely blue eye and the damn cutest nose I’ve EVER seen!

Slowly the spinal block had crept its way up my body and was starting to affect my hands – they were beginning to feel tingly. So I asked them to place Zac back with Stephen. And the boys went back to L&D where Zac got his first check up.

Now I wasn’t present for this part, but I hear that his reflexes were tested, vitals taken, measurements measured, etc. At the end of the exam, the midwife said “Perfect!”…well, of course! I made him (with a little help from Stephen).

While Zac was getting poked and prodded, so was I. They were cleaning me up and stitching me back together. The delivery took about 3 min. from the time that I laid down to the minute that Zac’s cord was cut. Ah yes, the cord! It turns out that the problem we were having is that Zac’s umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck two times. So every time I had a contraction, it was acting like a noose. I’m glad we spared no time in making the c-section decision.

Cleaning and suturing me took about 20 minutes. I was then wheeled into recovery where I stayed for about an hour and a half!

DAMMIT! An Hour and a half?! My baby is waiting for me. LET’s GO! What’s going to happen? It’s not like I’m leaving the hospital!!! Well, because the Spinal Block was so efficient, I had to stay in recovery until feeling had returned to all parts above my waist. So there I waited. I watched several people be wheeled in for various other surgeries, and others still being wheeled out after unknown amounts of time. I just kept hoping that my turn was next. Every half hour the nurses checked my reaction and finally at about 3 p.m. I was returned to L&D where I was finally reunited with my baby.

Wow, what a moment. I’ve never felt so utterly overwhelmed and consumed with rapture. He was beautiful, he was perfect and he was all mine. Words cannot put into account the rock hard, crushing emotion that fills every crack. Tears enough cannot be shed to purge the pain that such joy brings (yes, I am crying now as I type this).

About three hours later, we were returned to the Maternity wing. Really? Three hours? I could have sworn it was 20 minutes. Thank goodness the photos have digital time stamps on them.
Once back on the ward, more photos were taken, Grammy and Gramps got their turns at first holds, and then we were left to our own devices (with the assistance of the excellent care from staff) for our first night as new parents.

Stephen was able to stay with me during the entire hospital stay. He even got his own hospital bed and meals. I don’t know what I would have done without him there. I have a really hard time asking for help. Chances are very good that I would have hurt myself trying to take care of Zac all on my own those first few nights. I would have never wanted to bother the midwives with my needs and would have wanted to take care of everything myself. Stephen is probably the biggest reason for my speedy recovery. He did the diaper changes, he did the burping, he did the soothing and all the while never let me forget how much he loved me and now our new son.

Our first night with Zac was excellent! He was such a quiet and content little one. We had our first poopy diaper, our subsequent attempts at breast feeding and LOTS of staring and admiring and snuggling. I didn’t get more than 20 min. of sleep that night. All I could do was watch him to make sure he was still breathing as he slept.

Day 2: Induction (2.24.10)

Our morning started bright and early…well not so bright, seeing that the sun still isn’t up till nearly 7:30. Stephen headed for home (shower, food, fresh clothes) at shortly after 7, while I cleaned up and dressed for the day. We had an 8am monitoring session, so when 8 came around, I waddled over to L&D, got hooked up and tried to zonk out while listening to my baby boy’s heartbeat.

The previous night’s monitoring and the mornings’ sessions showed that peanut was doing well and was ready for a bit more persuasion. The doctor came to me in L&D at 8:30 and administered the hormonal treatment…let me tell you, that doesn’t tickle! No need for details, but just rest-assured that it included a painful examination followed by an invasive “application”. We were monitored for an hour, during which time I really began to feel different.
I had continued to have gentle, irregular contractions throughout the night, but the way things were feeling now were quite different. The night contractions were generally high in my belly, short and fluid. These new morning contractions were very low, long and concentrated. Still relatively painless though, MANY thanks to God. At 9:30am we were released back to the room for some breakfast and rest.

By the afternoon, the contractions had ceased. It was time to do application #2. The same procedure resulted in more contractions throughout the night. We were continuously monitored every 2 hours until midnight.

38-Week Check up, and then some… (2.23.10)

On Feb. 23, we went to the doctor to have our 38 week check up—a routine check-up with the usual ultrasound peep show, and fetal monitoring. However, this time, we had the joy of sharing it w/ Stephen’s mom. So Grammy got to see peanut in utero!

During the ultrasound, the doctor noted that the amniotic fluid was again, lower. She flipped on the Doppler to listen to his heart beat and it was also low, not in a range we like to see. After short deliberation, the doctor said that it was time to induce! The low amniotic fluid posed a threat mostly to the umbilical cord and we were encouraged to take action. So we agreed. The good news is we were mostly prepared for such an occurrence. The bags have been packed and in the car for about 3 weeks now, so I checked in and Stephen got the bags.

First stop was Labor & Delivery (L&D) for monitoring. We spent 30 min. on the monitor during which time the baby’s heart rate dropped 3 times – one of those times was while I was getting an IV inserted. There were two possible induction methods: internal hormonal stimulation or pictocen drip. While in the doc’s office, she was leaning toward the hormones, however, the monitoring showed that we needed to start a little bit slower with a “Pic Test”. This consisted of hooking me up to a very low dose of Pictocen and increasing the dosage every 30 min. for two hours.

The test went smashingly. I started having very gentle and regular contractions at 1.5 hours, but seeing as this was only a test (and a potential way of jump starting my body gently) when we reached the 2 hour mark the drip was stopped and we were monitored for another 30 min. w/o drugs. We returned every 2 hours for a 30 min. monitoring throughout the evening until our last session at 11pm. Finally, they told us we could go to sleep.

Stephen and I blearily ambled back to our room, got into bed and couldn’t sleep. We had both been nearly asleep in the final monitoring session, but now we couldn’t even think of sleep. Finally, hours later we both fell into a shallow state of sleep. New beds, new location, new sounds…these things all add up to not so excellent sleep. But we caught a couple of Zs

RIP: Thurmond (Oct. 1994 - Feb. 2010)

We are very sad to say that this afternoon we decided to put our eldest cat, Thurmond, to sleep. He has battled mouth cancer for some time and has been slowly deteriorating. We have always believed that it was our job to create the most loving, comforting and fun environment for him as we possibly could for as long as we could - and we believe wholly that we did. He brought so much to our household and it’s hard to come home without him, but we also know that his quality of life was no longer what it should have been. Please say a little prayer that his kitty soul finds its way safely to heaven and that his spirit never leaves our hearts.

Pre-Labor...the clock is ticking.

On Wed. 1/27 I was admitted to the hospital after having several episodes of rapid pulse, dizzyness, shortness of breath, numbness in hands. It started at about 8:30am on wed, and i had 2 episodes before I called the doc (one is a fluke, 2 is a pattern).

They told me to come in immediately. So I called stephen (who was in the Mainz office) to let him know that i was headed to the doc. I told him to stay put until i knew more about what was going on. When i got to the doc, they drew blood and did all the vitals then sent me to Labor & Delivery to be put on the fetal monitor. When monitoring was complete, i headed back to gynocology and wait as the doc w/ in surgery and was expected to return in about 20 min.

As i was sitting in the waiting room, i had another episode, so i walked up to the desk and let them know. They put me up on an exam table and did the vitals again. my pulse was quite rapid and my BP had jumped 20 points. At this moment the doc walked in and said "what's going on". So as the nurses were delivering the news, the doc said, "how'd the EKG look". The nurses all got the "deer in headlights" look and said "no EKG was done". So they sent me back to L&D to do more moitering and EKG. More blood was drawn, more questions asked and an IV was put in place (OUCH!). Stephen was called back to Ktown and made it safely to the hospital. In the end, the IV was never hooked to anything, so i got to have a very uncomfortable port thing sticking out my hand all night.

The first blood results came back about about 4pm and nothing out of the ordinary was found. But just to be safe, they asked me to stay the night. So stephen cruised home, picked up some things, and came back. He hung out w/ me for a few hours then I sent him home. The next morning, i had another small episode (must less intense and shorter) and I was scheduled for fetal monitoring at 9am. So i spent 30 min on the moniter, the midwife came in took a look, made a face and said "we're going to leave you on here for 20 more min" then left. Of course, i freaked out...WHAT DOES THAT MEAN??? WHAT IS SHE SEEING??

So Stephen went to moniter and took a look at the printout. He said "you're having contractions". I said "shut up and sit down you don't know what you're looking at!" Well the midwife came back 30 min. later, looked at the print out and said "you're having contractions...can you feel them". my eyes bugged out! :) No, i wasn't feeling contractions and dang if Stephen actually DID know what he was talking about. I guess he WAS paying attention in birth class.

So we were sent back to my room, where we lounged in bed waiting for the doc to come by. As i was laying there, i was now paying attention and could definately feel the rythmic contractions! They were coming every 10 or so min. but weren't causing any pain. I'd felt this sensation before, but i'd always attributed it to Peanut stretching, not me squeezing.

We finally saw the doc at about 2pm and she was suprised that we hadn't been released yet. Unfortunately, she hadn't gotten the memo about the contractions yet - so we filled her in and then she went and got the whole story from staff. She came to the room about 5 min later and said "get back on the moniter". so i was hooked up again for 30 more min and by the end of that session, the contractions were getting weaker and further spaced. Doc did an exam and said that she could definately feel his head pressing against the cervix but that it was still shut tight. We were released at about 3pm.

It turns out that the contractions aren't doing much to the cervix (GOOD NEWS) though there has been a slight change it's not enough to warrent bedrest or further hospital admittance. I have another appt. on tuesday at which time we will discuss our birth plan w/ staff, the doc will of course check out how the baby is doing and hopefully we'll be able to cruise for at least 2 more weeks (aiming for 37 weeks - babies no longer premie at 37 wks).

So, bottom line, we're fine! Baby's fine, mommy's fine, daddy's fine...we're just going to "take it easy" or at least try to.