It's A Girl!!!!!

The wait is over, our little bundle is finally here and as you all know by now it's a girl!!!! Surprising isn't it? After an 18 year girl dry spell on all three sides of my family we finally have another girl in the family, and Matt' s immediate family is also light on girls. It was about time, break out the pink and bows!

Unfortunately we didn't get to have our VBAC, but at 41 weeks and 1 day I was ready to be done and so was my body. We went in for the repeat c-section and my blood pressure was up so they ran labs on me again as they had done when I was monitored in L&D at 40 weeks for pre-eclampsia but this time they came back positive. I would have to be put on magnesium sulfate again which we really wanted to avoid because of the terrible side effects for both me and the baby. We also found out because they had 4 unplanned c-sections already that day, they were running very late and my doctor had to be on a plane at a certain time, so we also didn't get to have my doctor deliver, but the doctor that did deliver just happen to be the one other doctor we have seen in the practice so that worked out well. Since I was now high risk because of the pre-e I would be in one of the intensive care rooms on the old post-partum floor and wouldn't get to stay in the new state of the art "tower" rooms...everything that could go wrong right off the bat did, but once she was here, it didn't matter.

Since my doctor was aware of our very difficult c-section with Logan and all the things I felt left out of because of it, he ordered that they not start my magnesium until after delivery, which really made a huge difference and I was awake and able to enjoy this delivery. I went back about an hour later than planned, and they got me ready to go, I got a spinal block rather than the epidural this time, and while it hurt a lot more and took a lot more time than my epidural did to be placed, I had much better pain relief during this section. Once the spinal was in they let Matt in and got down to business. The c-section took longer than my first because of scar tissue from the last one and I also had another problem they had to fix that was a result of my last section, so getting to the baby took longer than it would have other wise, which was nerve racking. Once they got her out they dropped the drape so I could see her as I had requested (with Logan I didn't get to see him until much later and he was all wrapped up already) and Matt got a picture. Seeing her right away was amazing and my first thoughts were that I could see Logan in her, and that she looked huge! She didn't cry until they go her under the warmer, it's always nerve wracking until you here the first cry, but boy once she started she sounded loud and healthy. They had Matt come over and he got to cut the remainder of the cord which is something else we didn't get to do with Logan, but since my doctor is so awesome he made sure all these things happened for us this time. Once Matt was done he came over by me and showed me some pictures he took on the camera. They weighed her and she came in at a whopping 8lbs 4.5oz (almost a pound bigger than Logan) and 20.25 inches (a little shorter than Logan). Her apgars were awesome at 8/9. She did have the umbilical cord wrapped around her body, which might have been the reason she never fully engaged and started labor, and in the long run was probably a good thing. If I had gone into labor the cord would have been compressed at some point during labor and delivery which would have effected her heart rate which happens to to be the number one indicator of scar rupture in VBAC births and I would have been hauled off for an emergency c-section. I believe that God was watching over us and this really was the safest way for her to get here and that's why I never went into labor. Once they got her all wrapped up the nurse brought her over to me and I actually got to hold her (with help) while still laying on the operating table, and it was awesome. Matt took her while they finished up with me and we took some more pictures before heading to recovery.

They started my magnesium once we were in recovery, I tried to feed her but she didn't want to eat and then Matt went and got the family to come see her. I think everyone except for my Mom who thought she was a girl along, was pleasantly surprised to meet Ava! Everyone got a chance to hold her, and eventually I started to feel the effects of the magnesium and by then it was time to move over to the post-partum floor, so we said our goodbyes and we moved over to our room. Ava was taken up to the nursery for her bath and look over and I was given another boost of magnesium which I really reacted too, luckily my Mom was still with us and she kept me cooled off with towels during the 20 minutes of magnesium hell. Eventually I started to feel a little better and Ava was brought back to us and I was able to feed her. I did much better overall this time around and was even able to leave a day early which was great because I missed Logan so much and just wanted to be home with him.

All in all this birth experience was like night and day compared to Logan's birth. It was very healing in a way. Having Ava with us the whole time and knowing she was healthy was a prayer answered, and when we all went home together this time, another answered prayer. It was such a long road to get her here and now that she is here we can't imagine life with out her. She is so beautiful and we are so thankful for our new bundle.

We thank you all for your well wishes, we are all doing well and just getting adjusted to being a family of four now!

NST and LAST OB Appointment!

Went in for my NST (non-stress test) and LAST OB visit (whoo hoo!). The baby wasn't cooperating at first and we had a hard time picking up the heartbeat which was the scariest thing ever, but eventually we got the heartbeat but I had to hold the monitor on myself pressing it into my stomach which was very uncomfortable, but they said not to worry that baby was just laying in a bad position. SO eventually we got enough of a tracing and the baby looked fine. On to the OB appointment, blood pressure still perfect, no progress has been made though. So we pretty much just sit tight. If I go into labor or my water breaks then wonderful, otherwise we go in Thursday for a repeat c-section. We have done everything we possibly could to try to avoid going through major surgery this time, but it's looking like it's not going to happen.

My wonderful doctor has been so supportive and he promises this c-section experience will be different...I hope so. So we are getting last minute stuff taken care of and trying to arrange care for Logan since I will need more help at the hospital from Matt since recovery will be rough again. If I have the c-section I won't be leaving the hospital until next Monday which unfortunately is Logan's birthday so we are trying to get last minute stuff done so we can have a little celebration for him on his real birthday and of course his party the following Saturday, it's going to be tight but we will get it done. So for sure in 3 days we will have our next bundle here with us and everyone will finally know boy or girl!

We Have a C-Section Date

My doctor's office called with my official C-Section date. If I don't go into labor before it will be on Thursday October 8 at 1:30pm. So we have an end in sight one way or another...unfortunately the baby and Logan's birthday's will only be four days apart so we are hoping I don't last that long, but this baby sure is stubborn!

40 Week Update & A Trip To L&D...

Well we watched my due date come and go again and still no baby...bummer. Went to my 40 week OB appointment and when they took my blood pressure it was a bit high and I was spilling protein again, not good for someone that had blood pressure issues in a previous pregnancy. I got checked and I haven't made any progress since last week, so inducing me is out right now, so I was sent over to L&D (Labor and Delivery) to have blood labs drawn and be monitored for blood pressure, baby, and contractions. We were there all day, but the good news is my high blood pressure reading seems to have been a fluke, my pressures (aside from the first one they took in L&D which they don't count cause every women's first one is high because of stress of being there etc.) were textbook, I am having no other symptoms of pre-eclampsia other than the protein in my urine, which the one that is raised is the first one that starts to elevate in later pregnancy and I was told it wasn't a big deal, and lab work came back perfect, baby is moving around perfect with good heart tones, so I was sent on home....eventually. Since my doctor did an internal in the office he also did another sweep, which started up some pretty good contractions, the most labor like ones I have had so far and they were coming pretty darn close together and lasted for 2+ hours, they thought maybe I might have to stay and we were hopeful I was really in labor this time, but alas they spaced out and I was sent home with orders to take it east and come back tomorrow for another blood pressure check.

So back we went today and my blood pressure was perfect once again 120/80 so still we wait for this baby to make an appearance. I go back to the doctor on Monday for a NST (non-stress test) to make sure the baby is doing good still now that I have a post-date pregnancy and an OB visit and they are going to put me on the calender for a c-section after the 41st week if I don't go on my own. So that is all for now, we are hanging in there but I am ready to be done for sure!