It's a BOY! Allen's Birth Story

First I had to show a picture of how perfect he is!
Adam and I went into labor and delivery 5:30 am on Friday. I got checked in and my IV put in right away, shortly after my doctor came in and broke my water. I got a bag of fluid hung, penicillin since I tested GBS positive, and pitocin. I got checked and was dilated to 4 cm and 80-90% effaced. I was taking to the pitocin really well so they upped the dosage. Shortly after I asked to get up and walk around to help push baby against my cervix. Adam and I would walk 15-20 steps and I would get a contraction. I would use Adam's arms to support me and I would blow through the contraction. We made 3-4 laps around the L and D wing and I wanted to go back to my room. My nurse came in and checked me again and I was 5+ cm dilated. They set up the birthing cart and started getting everything ready since I was progressing so nicely. Shortly after that my Mom and Dad arrived and my contractions were getting crazy strong, and very close together. I kept talking to Adam and decided that at this point maybe getting an epidural might be right for me because I didn't know if I would be able to handle much more. This was awful for me to come to a realization about because I wanted to go all natural, no types of drugs. I also told my parents when they got there that I didn't care that they were in the room, but it wasn't pretty since my contractions were so bad. 

I paged my nurse and said that I wanted an epidural and to page anesthesiology. They did and I just had to wait for him/her to get there. This made me break down a little, but I knew I was doing only what I could handle. This is when everything went crazy painful, crazy fast. I had my parents leave and I got checked again and I was 9+ cm and almost ready to start pushing. My mind went straight to thinking about the epidural and how I wasn't going to be getting it. I was excited and upset at the same time. I then screamed and told my nurse I had the urge to push, sure enough I was 10 cm dilated. The anesthesiologist walked in and my nurse goes she's 9-10 we won't be needed you, I waved him goodbye and tried to just breathe. WAY, WAY easier said than done. 

I began to push and my pushes were actually doing something and I could feel everything that I was doing. In between pushes I was put on oxygen to make sure that baby was getting enough. I got to the point of feeling intense pressure and knew that baby was so close. My doctor was brought into the room and after 3-4 more good pushes baby was out. I got to the point where my stomach was flat and I could see what I was doing. I saw the top of baby's head and I didn't care if I was having a contraction to help or not I was not letting baby slip back up. I was getting baby out! 

The umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck and he was slightly blue. Adam was able to cut the cord and they brought baby directly over to the warming table. Before he was brought over it was announced he was a boy and I couldn't help, but cry with happiness. 

Oh I also forgot before my pushes got real intense Katie showed up to help coach me and to take pictures for us. Adam and Katie went over to the warming table with baby and I was left to push out my afterbirth. I was completely exhausted. My doctor assured me that it would only take one small push, nothing like pushing baby out. She rubbed my lower abdomen I gave one small push and the placenta was out. I didn't tear and didn't get an episiotomy either. I got a small abrasion on the inside that required two stitches. 

Allen Lloyd Jamerson was born 10/26/12 at 12:50 pm weighing 7 pounds 4 ounces and 20 inches long.

Shortly after Allen was all wrapped up and I was able to hold my son for the first time. Can you see the joy in my face? Words cannot describe the feelings that were running through me when he was handed to me from Adam. It was so crazy to think that he was inside me and now he's on the outside and he's so perfect!

My labor was 7 hours long and I had 1 hour of pushing. I progressed from a 5 to a 10 in less than an hour. My doctor joked with me that morning that she wanted me to have a baby before 3 we sure did beat that time. My doctor was so happy with how great I did and she told me that I was made to have babies with how my labor went.That was something great to hear. 

Allen and I were doing great after labor. He did so good the first night, he slept well, he fed really well. We were told that we would be able to leave any time after 1 on Saturday. We were discharged at 6 pm yesterday and got to enjoy home. 

My parents helped us once we got home to introduce Allen to the pets. First he met Dexter and Chevy and then met Emma. Ace was last to meet Allen since he was so wound up. My parents are here for the weekend to help us with anything that we needed and take care of the dogs when we were in the hospital. 

Allen's birth story is simply amazing and I can't believe that this is how it all happened. Adam and I have been praying since we found out we were pregnant that the pregnancy and baby would be healthy and that I would have an easy delivery. I don't think I could've asked for an easier delivery. God truly was on our side through labor. I could feel him there with us. That was an amazing feeling as well. God has tenfold blessed Adam and I in our marriage and he has now blessed us with an amazing son. I can't wait to watch him grow.
I'm sure I'm forgetting some things about the amazing day and I will try my best to update this post if I did forget something big and am also going to do my best to update of how life of being a mommy is going!

WAY LATE...WEEK 38

Baby is the size of a pumpkin

How far along: 38 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 37 pounds and I'm super puffy

Maternity clothes: Very big all over so I'm wearing whatever fits

Stretch marks: Just still the one

Sleep: Very restless, more like barely sleeping

Best moment of the week: Finding out I'm getting induced on Friday

Miss anything: Wearing my wedding rings

Movement: Butt poking out and baby rolling 

Food cravings: Any kind of cereal

Have you started to show: Still 36 cm which means baby really did drop

Gender prediction: I think boy

Labor signs: Dilated 3 cm and 75% effaced

Belly button in or out: 50/50

Wedding rings on or off: Off and being worn on a necklace. Thank you hypertension

Happy or moody: Happy with some emotional breakdowns

Looking forward to: Friday

A Long Night and Today a Wake up Call

Oh where to begin, I have so much running through my mind. Yesterday I felt completely miserable. After going to the doctor on Thursday I got a headache that would not go away. I tried to get a hold of my doctor almost all day on Friday and finally got a hold of my nurse. She suggested that with the headache I had that would not go away with necessary measures that I go into labor and delivery to get monitored. I waited for Adam to come home and up to Kenosha we went. I got checked in and directly hooked up to monitors and an IV line was put in in case I was staying overnight. I had blood drawn, a urine sample taken (was told that I would be doing a 24 hour urine sample) interesting to say the least, and had my bp taken every 15 minutes. The doctor on call was in surgery and was being let know what was going on with me. The doctor finally came in and talked to me after which seemed forever. My labs came back ok, but one of my labs was elevated and it was of slight concern. He was also worried about my headache. I was given IV fluid bolus which means I got the whole bag of fluid in an hour, fentanyl to try and get rid of the pain of my headache, and something else to help with my nausea. The doctor told me that fentanyl is some strong stuff and it's like taking some shots followed by a beer, the only problem is that it wears off quickly. So I was given all of this fun and holy crap did the fentanyl hit quickly. I felt drunk almost instantly. It was suggested that I try and sleep. Way easier said than done since I still had the bp cuff on and it was going off every 15 minutes. My pain in my head had not gone down at all. The doctor came back in and was still not happy with how it had not gone down, my nausea was gone completely though. I was asked if I would be able to take an oral pill if prescribed it and I said yes. I was prescribed a migraine medicine to see if that would work at all. I was also given more IV fluid, slower this time though. I was then told to wait to see if this would work. Finally around 1 am my pain was decreased and then shortly went away. We were told they would let the doctor know and go from there. Around 2, I was discharged and sent home back to bed rest and to make sure I go to my doctor's appointment on Monday. They said my bp was ok and that my headache most likely started off as a bp headache and then turned into a migraine. Very happy that my headache is gone. It was a very long night to say the least. Adam and I got home and didn't make it to bed until 3 something. He got up and went to the academy today on roughly 3 hours of sleep, I feel awful. I'm ready for him to get home and get into bed because I know he is tired. So I'm still collecting my pee until 3 and I get to drop it off. They want to know if protein is present in it because that is a sign I'm preeclamptic. Ready for this to be done because it's super weird. Now just to get through the weekend and onto Monday to see my doctor. 

Now onto the wake up call. I have Celiac and have since the first of the year. My diet since finding out has been 100% gluten-free since finding out. Yes I have had the occasional mishap which has not been fun on my system. I just recently found my all time favorite bread. It is made by Udi's Gluten Free Foods. Well today while on Facebook they made a post asking whether you avoid hygiene products and cosmetics that contain gluten. This thought never never never crossed my mind. There's so many products that I use every day that I don't eat but they may contain gluten. These products may be effecting me and I don't even realize. HOLY CRAP!!!!! So now I will be seriously thinking about this, reading labels, and discussing with Adam what he thinks. I may be changing up a whole bunch of items in the house and that's scary. Let alone talk about expensive and with me off of work since Bambino has been crazy since week 34 it makes it even more scary financially. 

Oh the joys of having an auto-immune disease and realizing how much of my life it effects. 

37 Weeks and an Interesting Doctor Visit

Baby is now the size of a winter melon, whatever melon that is I've never heard of it before.

How far along: 37 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 36 pounds and I'm puffy

Maternity clothes: I feel like barely anything fits so whatever covers my belly I wear

Stretch marks: More like mark, one on my belly

Sleep: Sleep has been awful!

Best moment of the week: Seeing that baby dropped

Miss anything: My fleece jackets zipping and sleep

Movement: Turning and moving like crazy

Food cravings: Captain Crunch Berries

Have you started to show: Still 36 cm which means baby really did drop

Gender prediction: I think boy

Labor signs: Still having irregular contractions, dilated 1-2 cm and 50% effaced 

Belly button in or out: 50/50

Wedding rings on or off: Off and being worn on a necklace. Thank you puffy hands

Happy or moody: Happy with some emotional breakdowns

Looking forward to: Monday checkup with doctor

So today before doctor came in my blood pressure was high. I got checked by doctor told that baby did drop so my feeling was right. I am dilated 1-2 centimeters and 5o% effaced. She then told me since my blood pressure was high that she was going to have Gigi come back in and check it again. When it got checked again it came down but was still high for me. My blood pressure has been amazing and super low through my whole pregnancy and for it to be where it was was slightly alarming. My doctor told me I looked puffy and I completely agreed with her. I feel like a balloon and I'm pretty sure I have a slight pregnancy waddle which I am NOT happy about. 

So I go back on Monday to the doctor to get my blood pressure checked and we are going to go from there. I am also basically back on bed rest. From what it sounds like there is a chance that I will be induced on Monday if my blood pressure is still high. I am ok with this because I'm anxious to meet baby A and I want whatever is best for baby and I. I don't want to mess around with high blood pressure/hypertension and it turn into preeclampsia. 

Very curious  to see how the weekend goes and how my checkup on Monday goes.

36 Weeks

Baby is the size of a honeydew melon.

How far along: 36 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 32 pounds and I don't even want to think about it. I think my face is getting fat and I'm NOT happy

Maternity clothes: Mix and match

Stretch marks: Still just one on the front of my belly

Sleep: Extremely restless

Best moment of the week: Being released to normal activity

Miss anything: Good sleep

Movement: Moving like crazy

Food cravings:Chocolate

Have you started to show: Measured at 36 cm today

Gender prediction:Still leaning more towards boy

Labor signs: Contractions have not stopped since last Tuesday. I'm dilated to 1 cm and 25% effaced

Belly button in or out: Close to popping or that's what it looks like

Wedding rings on or off: Mostly off and I'm beyond sad about this

Happy or moody: Happy 

Looking forward to: Figuring some things out after this weekend.

Well I have been released from bed rest for at least the time being. I am to resume normal activity through the weekend and see how it goes. Doctor said I'm in early labor and she does not know how long it could last. If I go from early labor to full active labor they will not stop it. Very exciting but somewhat nerve wracking at the same time. I'm to see how the weekend goes since I'm always having contractions but they aren't consistent yet. Today my contractions have been strong, inconsistent and a pain when they are in my back. As I'm typing I'm having a back contraction. I think those are the worst because it makes my whole lower back hurt. Very curious to see how the rest of the weekend goes with my contractions. If they become too much then I will not be returning to work, and this is very bittersweet for me. I know though that if I can't do my normal activity with my contractions there is no way that I can work full time with infants and have contractions. A lot is up in the air until Sunday and I'm very curious as to what is going to happen. I'm planning on spending the weekend in Freeport this weekend since Adam has a test tomorrow and class on Saturday and Sunday from 7-6. Oh the joys of him being in the fire academy. Since I've been released it will be nice to get out of the house and spend some family time in Freeport. This also might be the last "long distance" trip that I take before baby is here. Also this all depends on how tomorrow goes and what Bambino decides to do. I have always felt like baby would come early I just don't know if I was/am prepared for this early, but if baby is ready there is no stopping him/her and I'm just along for the ride. Updates soon to come with how the weekend goes.

Week 35 and 6 days on Bed Rest

Baby is the size of a coconut. 

This post I'm going to talk more about bed rest than answer my normal weekly questions. Plus I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow that will better answer those questions. Bed rest has been interesting. In the middle of these six days we had another baby shower. It turned out amazing and we got so many great things from our friends and family. Also during bed rest I finished and mailed out thank you's from the first baby shower, and this week I will be finishing off thank you's for this most recent shower. Mailing out thank you's to specifically thank each and every person is super important to me. I have been still having contractions but they are very random and not consistent. I have been doing my best to sit or lay down while on bed rest. I have a book that I have managed somehow to last 6 days, which is so unusual for me. I have found lots of things to keep me occupied so I think that's why I have made this book last so long. 

On Monday Adam and I ran some quick errands and got the last of the items that we needed for baby. The nursery is officially ready and that makes me so excited for baby A. I need to take some pictures of the finished nursery. It has turned out simply amazing.

I am very excited for my doctor's appointment tomorrow to see what she says.

Bed Rest Day 1

Ok so here begins my path of bed rest. Very curious to see how this goes. I'm currently on bed rest until next Thursday. I'm scheduled with a two week appointment then and I was told we will discuss further what she would like me to do. Plus she really is hoping that I can make it to 36 weeks which will be next Wednesday. Hence the bed rest. I have officially hit 35 weeks today.
 I'm still feeling a little overwhelmed about last night and our visit to the hospital. Last nights sleep was very restless and I'm pretty sure I was having some slight contractions while in bed. They were nothing like earlier yesterday so I just tried to get some sleep which was way easier said than done. I'm now under Adam law as Adam likes to call it that if I wake up to go pee, wake up and can't sleep or anything like that, I am supposed to wake him up. With last night being so restless I felt like I was constantly waking Adam up. I hope he's not too tired today and I'm very curious to see how long this law lasts. =] 

When we got home last night and ever since I've been home Chevy will NOT leave my side. I think it's really sweet and it's like he's taking care of me. Bring on the many pictures of Chevy by little Bambino. I asked on Facebook for book suggestions because bring on the reading while I'm on bed rest or I may go crazy. Thank you everyone for the suggestions I have a list to go and check out and see if anything sparks my interest. 

As many of you may know and for those of you that don't know I'm working full time at a KinderCare in the area as the lead teacher in the infant room. Well for right now I'm not working until I get word from my doctor. Nothing I can really do when I'm under doctor's orders and it is probably best for baby and I for me to be off for the time being. I really do so much at work that it's really good for me to have some rest. 

Hoping baby stays calm and that no more contractions come any time soon. I'm dying to meet baby, but for one he or she needs to cook longer, I'm still unprepared for their arrival and I would like to be a little more ready. 

Here's to day one of bed rest and to see how this goes.

Week 34 and a Hospital Visit

Baby is the size of a butternut squash.

How far along: 34Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 30 pounds and I don't want to talk about it

Maternity clothes: Tons of mixing going on

Stretch marks: One on my belly and it's a pain in my rear

Sleep: Restless and getting up at least once a night to pee

Best moment of the week: Maternity pictures

Miss anything: Consistent sleep

Movement: Holy acrobat the last couple days

Food cravings: Hashbrowns

Have you started to show: Still measuring 33 cm

Gender prediction:Still feeling like a boy

Labor signs: Had a lovely evening in the hospital due to contractions

Belly button in or out:In and out

Wedding rings on or off: On and off depends on the day

Happy or moody: Happy 

Looking forward to: Talking to my doctor tomorrow

How I really feel about week 34 thanks to today. 

I am still working full time at KinderCare even with being 34 weeks pregnant. Today at work around 3:10 pm I started feeling super intense contractions. Contractions that I knew were more than just Braxton Hicks. I told my boss and immediately started crying about the unknown of what was going on. I called my doctor's office and left a message with the nurse. In the meantime I tried getting a hold of Adam which wasn't working out that great which was making me even more upset. The nurse then called me  back and asked what was going on. I explained to her that I was having inconsistent contractions and they were getting painful. She told me that since I'm before 37 weeks I needed to go into labor and delivery and get monitored. Adam then finally called me back and we picked a place halfway in between our jobs to meet. I told my boss and headed to the hospital. 

Adam and I checked in and I was immediately hooked up to monitors. I was in fact having contractions and they were not happy with me having them while I'm 34 weeks. The nurse came in and told me that I was slightly dehydrated and they were going to run an IV to give me fluids to rule out dehydration, they also gave me a shot of something I can't pronounce nor do I remember the name to hopefully stop the contractions and relax my uterus. I do know that the shot was not magnesium sulfate. The shot of fun as I will call it gave me instant shakes. I was prewarned that this may happen and man did I ever. Got an IV for the first time ever. I was terrified of getting it done and it honestly wasn't that bad. WHEW. My contractions eventually slowed down and then stopped. I finished off my fluids and was given the okay to head home. Adam had been caring for me and waiting on me hand and foot. I'm calling my actual doctor in the morning to see what she would like me to do, whether it be less hours at work, bedrest, or that I'm ok to go. I have tomorrow off and am looking forward to rest. Thank you to everyone who was worried about us. It was great to hear all of your wonderful thoughts and hearing that you all care so much. Keeping baby in the oven as long as I can. Even though I'm dying to meet the little booger I think he or she can afford to stay in a little longer.