Quick Update

Just a quick update, while I work on the whole birth story thing...We have people over watching the Eag.les game!

1. Ceci.lia weighed 6lbs, 7oz at birth and is 19 inches long.
   
2. Her apgar score was 9 and 9!
   
3. I can’t believe how much I want to hold her.
   
4. I was given pitocin to start labor, and was able to go without an epidural until they broke my water – after that, the pain was just too much! Labor lasted about 11 hours, but unbelievably, I only pushed for 20 min.
   
5. I’m feeling fine, just rather sore – I tore inside and have some stiches. Thank goodness she was tiny!
   
6. DH is being fantastic and extremely helpful.
   
7. I know my poor daughter is going to hear people sing that Simon and Garfunk.el song every time she tells people her name :)
   

My Daughter

Cec.ilia Gr.ace arrived on October 23, 2008, 11:22pm!

Still in hospital - am being discharged later today and will post more updates!

40w5d - off to hospital

Don't have much time - went to Dr., was dilated 3cm, (!), nonstress test was fine but they checked the amniotic fluid, it was low so they want me to go to hospital immediately! They wanted me to go stright from the Dr. office but I convinced them to let me stop home first because I live close by. Will update again as soon as possible!

40w4d

Yep. Still here. Still feel nothing indicating that Butters has any intention of leaving, other than some lower abdominal pressure here and there. I have a Dr. appointment tomorrow morning to see what, if anything, is going on.

I know, I know. First babies are often late. It’s normal to deliver two weeks before or after your due date. And yes, no one has to tell me that the baby will arrive “when he/she is ready.” I know all this – but I’m still getting impatient. I was extremely productive yesterday, but not so much today, so I’m a bit annoyed with myself, because I feel like I should be taking every spare moment now to do things since there will indeed be a baby here very soon. But I can’t help it – I’m being immature and irritable today and have to force myself to get anything done. I know I’ll be kicking myself later, wishing I had done more, if I don’t get my arse moving now.

On the toe front – I actually think it may be broken. It was getting better, and the bruising is going away, but it’s been a week now and it’s still swollen and does still hurt, especially if I wear anything besides flip flops (and it’s too chilly now to wear those) or sneakers. I wore ‘regular’ shoes for a short time yesterday when we went out to dinner and my toe was killing me afterwards. So I’m still walking a little funny, and feeling oh-so intelligent for managing to (possibly) break a toe walking in my house. Go me!

I’m planning on going to the gym later this afternoon with DH, though I don’t have any grand hopes of a workout getting anything moving. I haven’t even felt a contraction of any kind – isn’t that odd? It just seems weird, going on 5 days past my due date with no signs of anything.

Boy I’m being a whiner today, aren’t I?

40w2d

Oops - I didn't post anything yesterday. As the title of this post indicates, I'm still pregnant. Here are a few things that obviously don't induce labor... at least not with me:

1. Lifting weights (carefully!)
   
2. Cardio and/or walking
   
3. Going up and down the stairs a million times
   
4. Acupuncture
   
5. Listening to loud band music
   
6. Washing floors on hands and knees
   
7. Poking my belly
   
8. Asking my child nicely to please, come on out
   
9. Not having my hospital bag totally ready
   

I realize I'm not that late, and as my little ticker on the right indicates, "On average, first babies arrive 8 days after their due date." Ok, but I'm still getting ancy over here, mostly because I don't want to wind up having to be induced. I know that's still a little ways away (induction), but I was hoping to not have to go that route. Luckily I'm not very uncomfortable - if I was uncomfortable and late, I'd be one super hormonal bee-atch.

I did wake up at 5:30am with some slight back pain. Since I haven't felt anything that might indicate that Butters feels like exiting, and I haven't had any back pain whatsoever, I thought "Oohh...maybe this is something!" Of course, it went away and I haven't felt anything back-wise the rest of the day. Grrr. Right now I feel some lower abdominal pressure, but I know that doesn't really mean anything either.

I know there are other things I can try - nipple stimulation, castor oil (which I will not be trying), more walking... though walking for a long time isn't that comfortable because my toe still does hurt. I have a funny feeling that it doesn't really matter what I do... Butters has his/her own little timetable.

I just really don't want to be induced, and the my main reason is a bit silly.... I want to do something regarding pregnancy without medical intervention. I needed IVF to start this pregnancy... I would like my body to cooperate and finish without induction. I know that's silly, and as long as I have a healthy baby, who cares how he/she gets here? Besides, going to the hospital to have a baby isn't exactly giving birth without medical intervention (has anyone seen the ads for the new series that starts on the Discovery Health channel tomorrow called 'Free Birthing'?!? Ack!) But still....

I know, I'm impatient.

How about those Phillies?! :)

40 Weeks!

Just a quick post - today is my due date! However, I highly doubt anything will happen today... I don't feel any different. I even went to the gym and have been on my feet all day, working in our basement with DH. The only thing that has happnened is that my brusied toe/foot hurts more. Tonight we're going out to see a local band - they are playing at a large bar/restaurant that is essentially right across the street. Perhaps the music will stir things up ;)

I need to go back to cleaning and putting things away in the basement before I start getting ready to go out. I do have a major 'nesting' urge but I've had that for a while, and now I keep thinking that if Butters isn't showing up yet, I should really make use of the time! We've gotten a TON of stuff done in the house the past in the past few months - I should list everything at some point.

Anyway, I realize that it's totally normal to be late - I didn't expect to magically go into labor at midnight on October 18.... but I think it's weird that I haven't felt anything? I really hope they don't wind up having to induce me... but I'm getting ahead of myself...

Butters, we'd like to meet you! Come on out now!

Good News

No news on this end, but Susan gave birth to a beautiful baby boy!

All Quiet on the Belly Front (39w5d)

Well, it looks like I won’t be going into labor today, October 16. Whew! I was really worried that DH would have to miss his reunion get-together tonight because I’d be in the hospital or something. Thankfully, Butters decided to stay put, and now I'm much more relaxed!

I had a Dr. appointment today, which went fine. Still measuring fine, heart rate is fine, and his/her head is still down low. My weight had been holding steady at around 158-159 for the past 6 weeks or so, but today I was 161, which was fine – still a total weight gain of under 30 pounds (or 33 pounds, if I go by by pre-fertility drug weight in May 2007). I have another appointment scheduled for next Thursday, which hopefully I will have to cancel because Butters will already be here. If I do make it to that appointment, they’ll check my cervix and do a non-stress-test to make sure everything is ok. I still don’t feel any different, but the Dr. said that was totally normal, and my water could just break/contractions could start at any time without any warning. I have been continuing healthy-pregnancy acupuncture sessions, and I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon. My acupuncturist said he’d start incorporating points that can help start labor.

My toe seems to be healing nicely. :)

Remembrance Day

Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is to promote Support, Education and Awareness for grieving parents. Please visit the offical web site.

39w3d and my toe

So, since I am not physically uncomfortable from pregnancy, I decided, hey, why not do something to make myself uncomfortable...like smash my toe! I really hope my son/daughter does not inherit my 'no coordination' gene. I tend to be clumsy and bang into things easily, and pregnancy certainly hasn't exactly helped this trait. So anyway, I was walking out of the bathroom today - a simple task...I mean, walking through a doorway, right? No problem? Ha - not for me! I somehow jammed my second to last toe on the baseboard while exiting, and I mean jammed. I heard a !crack! and screamed all sorts of colorful words. I don't think it's broken because I can (ow) move it. It's turning purple now and hurts, but I can walk, as long as I kind of walk on the inside of that foot. I tried putting a sneaker on and can't because it hurt too much. I've been taking breaks and sitting down with ice on it from time to time.

So now I'm moving a lot more slowly, which is irritating the hell out of me. On the bright side, I figure that maybe this was a sign...that if I hadn't smashed my toe I would be doing too much and would wind up going into labor on the 16th, and now I because I won't be walking nearly as much, I won't. Maybe? Or maybe I'm just a klutz who can't walk through a bathroom doorway.

On another note, I think yesterday must have been 'bring your baby or pregnant self to Ta.rget' day. I was in Ta.rget, and I swear, I have never seen so many babies and pregnant women at a Ta.rget in my life. Now granted, it was the middle of the day, and the Ta.rget is in the same shopping center as a Bab.ies 'r' Us... but I have been in that same store and the same time of day before and have never seen anything like what I witnessed yesterday. Was this just a local phenomenon or did I miss some national 'bring out your baby' day yesterday? ;)

Time to ice my toe.

39w2d

Nothing much to report. Still feeling ok, don't have any signs of anything happening yet. The only thing I have noticed is an increase in (sorry for the TMI) cervical mucus, but nothing resembling a mucus plug. Still heading to the bathroom 2-3 times a night, and by the time I wake up it's difficult to move because of the pressure, but then I'm fine. As far as pregnancies go, I know I've been extremely lucky - I've had very little discomfort, and I know by 39 weeks, many women are in agony. Now as long as I don't go into labor on October 16th....

39w1d

Guess what? I updated the belly shots page. I know - how exciting!

What else is exciting? Politics? Oh no, I'm not going there in this blog. I have other outlets online to get into all that 'fun' stuff! Hmm...well, the Eagles won tonight, though I'm not too happy with how they've been playing... they almost blew a game they should have won! DH and I went to our usual hangout to watch the game - it may be the last time we'll go there to watch a game for a while. (is it wrong to bring a newborn to a bar? Kidding.... kidding!) I joked with everyone about how I planned it so my due date would be on the Eagles Bye-week. (as if infertile me could actually plan such things!) Of course everyone we hang out with there made us promise to stop by with the baby - one couple said they would pay for a babysitter one Sunday so we could come watch a game - he insisted that he was very serious, and to please take him up on his offer! Both sets of grandparents live less than 10 minutes away so we probably won't need babysitters (and I wouldn't leave a newborn with one anyway) but we thought that was a very nice gesture. Anyway, it still seems unreal....that I'll be sitting here with a baby probably within the next week.... or less???

I still have a difficult time grasping this concept....a real, live baby. Here. With me. It almost doesn't seem real, even though I am sitting right here in the nursery as I type!

39 Weeks

I really am trying to post every day now, even if it's very brief. One week to go....

I walked (waddled) a 5K today - there was no way I was running it! (This 7th annual run/walk was a benefit in honor of three firemen who lost their lives in the line of duty on July 4, 2002) It was a lot of fun because everyone I was with walked it too - DH, my SIL, BIL, 3-month old niece (in stroller) - they even brought their dog! I felt ok - 5k isn't a very far walk, though I haven't been doing nearly as much walking recently. Afterwards, I was rather uncomfortable because of some lower pelvic pressure, which has happened before after I have been exercising.. I then went home and passed for a few hours. I can't believe how tired I was.

Still hoping I hold out until my due date, so I can finish up some last minute things here. However, I really hope I don't go into labor on October 16 - DH has an event to go to where he'll being seeing some close friends that he hasn't seen in years, and I would really hate for him to miss that.

That's it for now...

Party in My Belly

Ooops - I did it again - the 'no blogging' phase! So I decide that n0w, after over a month, while I'm sitting here in a towel, with wet hair, that it's essential that I at least post something! My due date is just 8 days away, and I actually hope I don't deliver early because there's still a list of 'to-dos' that I want to do, even though I am dying to meet Butters. Is that weird?

Here's the super brief update!

1. I am still 'p'! Had my most recent Dr. appointment yesterday. Butters is head down and super low, just as she/he has been since week 20. It feels like everything is in my upper belly though, so I gather I am feeling a lot of butt and legs.
   
2. I have not had any contractions or feelings like the baby has 'dropped'
   
3. I stopped working at my full-time job over a week ago. You would think that would mean I would be online more, but I am actually online less. I do what I need to do for my home business and then go back to doing other stuff in the house.
   
4. I've been frantically getting other things ready at home (see above item about not being online a lot) - things that I am afraid will never get done if I don't do them before Butters arrives!
   
5. We do have the nursery set up... and this is where I am currently writing from. The main cable connection is in this room and there really isn't any other place to set up my computer at the present time, so there is a small computer area in one corner of the nursery.
   
6. I have more belly pics.
   
7. I feel fine, other than sharp nerve pains in my legs from time to time, which are actually pretty painful, but don't last long. All the congestion I had throughout most of the pregnancy is finally gone, and I have thus far escaped any massive water rentention/swelling. (knock on wood!)
   
8. I am walking a 5k tomorrow!
   
9. I need to check in on everyone else!
   

So there ya go. Perhaps if I vow to write every day until I go into labor, I actually will because I'll feel like even more of a moron if I post my vow here and then don't follow through.

I must go dry my hair now.