(I was shocked to find that hospital food isn't as horrible as everyone says! I actually enjoyed my meals and was given a menu to pick what I wanted!)
Monday, May 26, 2008
Eric is one week old!
We were in the hospital for three and a half days, it seemed like forever before we could take our little miracle home. The puppy has really taken to Eric, the kitten is indifferent. We are all so happy to be home and together as a family!
(I was shocked to find that hospital food isn't as horrible as everyone says! I actually enjoyed my meals and was given a menu to pick what I wanted!)
(I was shocked to find that hospital food isn't as horrible as everyone says! I actually enjoyed my meals and was given a menu to pick what I wanted!)
Monday, May 19, 2008
Eric William has arrived! (5 days early)
He was born May 19th, 2008, at 6:32 pm. We weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. I was in labor from 5:40am to 6:32pm. Eric arrived with his umbillical cord wrapped around his neck not once, but TWICE! The Dr was able to remove it with no problems. Eric's APGAR scores were 8 and 9 (unfamiliar with APGAR: http://kidshealth.org/parent/newborn/first_days/apgar.html).
I woke up at 5:30am because I thought I had to go to the bathroom, but it turns out my water broke and I was leaking. At first I wasn't sure if my water had broken because I hadn't had any braxton hicks no less actual contractions. Scott was in the shower and I went into the bathroom to tell him I thought my water broke but I wasn't sure. He said to call the dr, so i did, but the dr wasn't open for another 3 hours, so I called the maternity ward at the hospital. The lady who answered asked me a few questions and decided my water had broken and I was indeed in labor. She said to go on with my morning routine, showering, eating, etc and to come into the hospital around 9am. Scott decided to go to work for a bit and get some things taken care of before he took his long paternity leave. I was helping Kellie write her final paper for her English class so I had to email her the little bit I had done and tell her I was going in to labor and she would have to finish the rest on her own, lol! I had already had my bags and Eric's bag packed, so I put them by the door and gathered a few last minute items. I already had the carseat professionally installed and Scott had made plans for Jan to come and check on Mook and Bailey. Scott came home and got his computer and some DVDs for us to watch, we packed the car, and off we went!
I woke up at 5:30am because I thought I had to go to the bathroom, but it turns out my water broke and I was leaking. At first I wasn't sure if my water had broken because I hadn't had any braxton hicks no less actual contractions. Scott was in the shower and I went into the bathroom to tell him I thought my water broke but I wasn't sure. He said to call the dr, so i did, but the dr wasn't open for another 3 hours, so I called the maternity ward at the hospital. The lady who answered asked me a few questions and decided my water had broken and I was indeed in labor. She said to go on with my morning routine, showering, eating, etc and to come into the hospital around 9am. Scott decided to go to work for a bit and get some things taken care of before he took his long paternity leave. I was helping Kellie write her final paper for her English class so I had to email her the little bit I had done and tell her I was going in to labor and she would have to finish the rest on her own, lol! I had already had my bags and Eric's bag packed, so I put them by the door and gathered a few last minute items. I already had the carseat professionally installed and Scott had made plans for Jan to come and check on Mook and Bailey. Scott came home and got his computer and some DVDs for us to watch, we packed the car, and off we went!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Week 39 (about 8 days to go!)
We went to the Dr. yesterday and I am still just 1cm dilated and 70% effeaced. How dissappointing is that? Eric measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, like a mini watermelon. I can tell he is getting bigger, I can't bend as well as I could just last week and my bump is increasing rapidly! Eric is definatley in the correct position, according to the Dr. and I have realized this as well since his head is lodged into the right side of my pelvis. Every right-footed step I take is excrusiatingly painful and I keep telling him that its a straight shot to get out, there is no right turn, but he is stubborn like his daddy. :)
Apparently there is no way even for the Dr. to predict exactly when Eric will be arriving, but if he doesn't want to come out on his own, the Dr. said we can discuss inducing labor around 42 weeks. I'm not real keen on that, but then I don't want a c-section either if Eric grows too big to deliver, so we will have to cross that bridge IF we come to it.
Apparently there is no way even for the Dr. to predict exactly when Eric will be arriving, but if he doesn't want to come out on his own, the Dr. said we can discuss inducing labor around 42 weeks. I'm not real keen on that, but then I don't want a c-section either if Eric grows too big to deliver, so we will have to cross that bridge IF we come to it.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Week 38 (about 15 days to go!)
Thought of the month: "Life is tough enough without having someone kick you from the inside."
On Tuesday, at our Dr. visit, the Dr. said I was one centimeter dilated and 70% effaced! I had been feeling pressure for two days, but I thought it was just the baby's head wiggling around and bumping into my pelvis. Eric weighs about 6.8 pounds and is over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). My feet are constantly swollen, even after laying down for hours at a time, it hurts to walk without socks and shoes on and even then, I can't walk for very long. I need a new word for "exhaustion" because I am beyond exhausted all the time!
On Tuesday, at our Dr. visit, the Dr. said I was one centimeter dilated and 70% effaced! I had been feeling pressure for two days, but I thought it was just the baby's head wiggling around and bumping into my pelvis. Eric weighs about 6.8 pounds and is over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). My feet are constantly swollen, even after laying down for hours at a time, it hurts to walk without socks and shoes on and even then, I can't walk for very long. I need a new word for "exhaustion" because I am beyond exhausted all the time!
Friday, May 2, 2008
Week 37 (about 22 days to go)
Fun Fact: A pregnant woman produces as many horomones in 9 months as a non-pregnant woman would in over 150 years of life!
This week, its official, Eric is now full term! This means that if were to arrive today, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb.
He now weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long! And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz. I had the peach fuzz when I was born and Hub was completely blonde!
Still no Braxton Hicks contractions, even though the doctor asks me each week. It's harder than ever to get comfortable enough to sleep well at night, so I try to take it easy during the day. Even though Eric's "compartment" (as my Dad calls it) is getting cozy, he is still as active as ever! The doctor also said Eric seems to have moved down further into my pelvis.
There's no real good way to predict exactly when labor is going to start. But there are signs that it is coming:
• A few weeks before labor starts, baby descends lower into the pelvis, this is called Lightening. There might detect a heaviness in the pelvis as this happens and less pressure just below the ribcage, making it easier to breath.
• More frequent and intense Braxton Hicks contractions can signal pre-labor, during which the cervix ripens and the stage is set for true labor. Some women experience a crampy feeling during this time.
• The "plug" may come out and create "show."
• The bag of waters breaks. Most women start having regular contractions sometime before their water breaks, but in some cases, the water breaks first. When this happens, labor usually follows soon.
This week, its official, Eric is now full term! This means that if were to arrive today, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb.
He now weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long! And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz. I had the peach fuzz when I was born and Hub was completely blonde!
Still no Braxton Hicks contractions, even though the doctor asks me each week. It's harder than ever to get comfortable enough to sleep well at night, so I try to take it easy during the day. Even though Eric's "compartment" (as my Dad calls it) is getting cozy, he is still as active as ever! The doctor also said Eric seems to have moved down further into my pelvis.
There's no real good way to predict exactly when labor is going to start. But there are signs that it is coming:
• A few weeks before labor starts, baby descends lower into the pelvis, this is called Lightening. There might detect a heaviness in the pelvis as this happens and less pressure just below the ribcage, making it easier to breath.
• More frequent and intense Braxton Hicks contractions can signal pre-labor, during which the cervix ripens and the stage is set for true labor. Some women experience a crampy feeling during this time.
• The "plug" may come out and create "show."
• The bag of waters breaks. Most women start having regular contractions sometime before their water breaks, but in some cases, the water breaks first. When this happens, labor usually follows soon.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Week 36 (Month 9)
We went to the Dr. yesterday, Eric's heartbeat is about 135 beats per minute. He is getting bigger and bigger - he is gaining about an ounce a day, and now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long.
At the end of this week, Eric will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) The Dr. double checked and Eric is in a head-down position! Let's hope he stays that way! We are still dealing with the daily hiccup episodes and my bladder is the most fun thing to kick with one foot while the other foot embeds itself into my rib cage. I thought I was eating smaller more frequent meals, but I am eating even smaller and even more frequent meals and taking a lot of Tums (not more than the bottle says is safe). Somehow milk (the lactose free stuff is all I can handle) has found it's way into almost everything I eat - I'm not sure I would call it a craving, but I have definately had more milk this last month than I have had in the last 4 months all put together!
The Dr. said I may have an easier time breathing when Eric starts to "drop" down into my pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor. Although getting to breathe means increased pressure in my lower abdomen, making walking increasingly uncomfortable, and potty time even more frequent. D'oh!
At the end of this week, Eric will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) The Dr. double checked and Eric is in a head-down position! Let's hope he stays that way! We are still dealing with the daily hiccup episodes and my bladder is the most fun thing to kick with one foot while the other foot embeds itself into my rib cage. I thought I was eating smaller more frequent meals, but I am eating even smaller and even more frequent meals and taking a lot of Tums (not more than the bottle says is safe). Somehow milk (the lactose free stuff is all I can handle) has found it's way into almost everything I eat - I'm not sure I would call it a craving, but I have definately had more milk this last month than I have had in the last 4 months all put together!
The Dr. said I may have an easier time breathing when Eric starts to "drop" down into my pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor. Although getting to breathe means increased pressure in my lower abdomen, making walking increasingly uncomfortable, and potty time even more frequent. D'oh!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Week 35 (about 5 weeks to go!)
Eric gets the hiccups every night between 7pm and 8pm - his little lungs must be growing in overtime!
We went to the Dr. yesterday and Eric moved around so much the doctor had trouble getting his heartbeat! The doctor also said Eric is about 6 pounds and of course the pregnancy website says he is about as heavy as a honeydew melon and is over 18 inches long! His kidneys are fully developed now and most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.
From here on out, we'll be visiting the Dr every week. I have a bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS) its not a big deal for adult females (about 30 percent of pregnant women have the naturally occuring bacteria) it just means I will need IV antibiotics during delivery so Eric doesn't get it because it can cause serious complications for newborns, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection.
We went to the Dr. yesterday and Eric moved around so much the doctor had trouble getting his heartbeat! The doctor also said Eric is about 6 pounds and of course the pregnancy website says he is about as heavy as a honeydew melon and is over 18 inches long! His kidneys are fully developed now and most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.
From here on out, we'll be visiting the Dr every week. I have a bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS) its not a big deal for adult females (about 30 percent of pregnant women have the naturally occuring bacteria) it just means I will need IV antibiotics during delivery so Eric doesn't get it because it can cause serious complications for newborns, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Week 34 (about 6 weeks to go!)
Eric now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well.
I am so tired! The restless nights of frequent potty breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable aren't helping! I'm super swelled up too and sitting around letting the blood flow makes me feel so guilty! When am I going to get all that nesting done? Eric is super active which is a good sign, but causes heartburn around the clock whether I eat or not. Thank heaven for Tums!
I am so tired! The restless nights of frequent potty breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable aren't helping! I'm super swelled up too and sitting around letting the blood flow makes me feel so guilty! When am I going to get all that nesting done? Eric is super active which is a good sign, but causes heartburn around the clock whether I eat or not. Thank heaven for Tums!
Friday, April 4, 2008
Week 33 (about 50 more days to go!)
This week Eric weighs a little over 4 pounds (lift a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled look and his skeleton is hardening.
I had a Dr. appt yesterday and my belly measurement was 34, which tells us that Eric is growing about a week ahead of schedule. His heartbeat sounded good and he wiggled all over the place for the Dr. He is more and more active everyday with his ninjitsu and his feet love to kick my rib cage while his hands punch my bladder. Needless to say, I can't breath very well and I can no longer be more than 10 feet from a bathroom at all times!
I had a Dr. appt yesterday and my belly measurement was 34, which tells us that Eric is growing about a week ahead of schedule. His heartbeat sounded good and he wiggled all over the place for the Dr. He is more and more active everyday with his ninjitsu and his feet love to kick my rib cage while his hands punch my bladder. Needless to say, I can't breath very well and I can no longer be more than 10 feet from a bathroom at all times!
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