Day 5: Babies (31 days)

Day 5: Babies

   I don't know much about either of my parent's birth.  My paternal grandmother died before I was born and it somehow never came up with my dad that I can recall.  He too is gone now but his younger brother by about 18 months might have some details.  They (the older of four kids) were both born in the late 1920's so perhaps at home.  All I know about my mom's is that she was born in a hospital and was the biggest of my maternal grandmother's babies.  My mom was born in Belgium in April of 1945 and so somewhere there is a great picture of her at three weeks or so held by her older brother at a V-E celebration.

  I was also suppose to be born in April but for whatever reason labor did not start and even stranger my mother's doctor let her go a full month (never happen now) past.  So late on the 17th of May my mom was having irregular contractions at a prenatal appointment and licm ving a good distance away her doctor admitted her figuring she would be in good labor by the morning ~ luckily for me a nurse decided to put my mom on the monitor that night just to check how the baby (me) was doing with these early contractions (terribly) and even luckier a partner in the practice where my mom was going happened to be in the hospital ~ I was born by emergency c-section and was quite ill for awhile and was first in the hospital where I was born for a couple of weeks and then transferred to Boston Children's for another couple of weeks. So expected mid-April ~ came home mid-June.
Charlie's was on a Sunday morning and by report relatively low-stress and lovely.

I started this blog when Lisbeth was 9 months and have yet to write out her birth story (a goal for the month perhaps); the quick version is ~ a week overdue; 24-36 hours of prodromal earlier labor, appointment on Monday morning finds that I've dilated to 4 cm but there is essentially no fluid surrounding the baby so we augment my labor with Pitocin, a narcotic that makes me paranoid, an epidural that does not fully wear off for a day and a half but finally at 9:44 pm a sweet baby girl :).

Links to the other two:
Liam's
Caitlin's

Baby Elisabeth

Meeting Liam

Sisters together

Following Dara's lead for these 31 days

Caitlin's Birth Story

For those interested, and my own memory

Background: When my due date came and went, and knowing that given my status as an older mom that the perinatologist preferred that the pregnancy not go past the 41st week, an induction date was chosen by our midwife and us.

So on the morning of the induction I called the hospital to find 'no room at the inn' and was told to call back later in the morning.  Actually around 11 am my midwife called to say 'Come in but bring lunch since nothing would probably happen until the afternoon', so we packed a lunch and headed in.  

Around 1pm I was given a dose of Cytotec and after an hour I was beginning to feel stronger contractions, that I needed to focus on breathing through, but my cervix was essentially the same so we ( midwife, Charlie and I) decided to try low dose Pitocin ~ as the baby heart rate monitor was showing the occasional decelerations.

So around 4 pm the Pitocin was started and the contractions did become more regular and stronger, was doing okay with breathing & relaxation but when at 6 pm my cervix was barely changed know that it was going to be awhile opted for an epidural.  Luckily was able to catch the anesthesiologist between cases and by 7 pm was mostly comfortable and all was calm until just after 9 pm when whatever had been occasionally effecting Caitlin's heart rate caused it to REALLy drop for a bit ~ so followed a nerve-wracking hour as I flipped side-to-side, and was given oxygen, and first the midwife and then an OB tried to place internal monitors (he was successful).  This was all very reminiscent of my labor with Liam ~ a period of high anxiety with me worrying about the baby and at what point would the decision for surgery be made and wishing I would just dilate already (!), followed by an eery calm as the baby's heart rate returns to a reassuring pattern and everyone takes a deep breath.

I loose the timeline here a bit, by 10 pm I  think everything had calm down again and I believe around midnight the Pitocin was restarted ~ I know around 12:30 I gave up on trying to sleep and started watching Friends as I was feeling the contractions and a bit 'pushy' and was trying to figure out if I indeed was feeling to urge to push or simply was aware of stronger 'Pit' contractions.  Finally after a half-hour or so I mentioned to my nurse and she went to get my midwife to check and...(cue angels) it was indeed time to push ~ and after approximately 3-4 contractions worth of pushing at 1:26 am out came Miss Caitlin, revealing a nuchal cord and arm (both the umbilical cord and her arm were wrapped around her neck) solving the mystery of why she was occasionally so unhappy with the contractions. Happily with just a bit of drying and stimulation she was willing to cry and in every respect behave as a happily transitioning newborn! (Funny aside: with everyone focused on drying and stimulating the baby, and her laying facing away from me, after a couple of minutes I finally just asked Charlie if we were welcoming a boy or girl.)  

Following the usual immediate postpartum business of placenta delivery, and her being 

dried, footprinted and ID under the warmer came the lovely quiet of a longer snuggle, 

attempt at nursing and marveling that once again we had ridden the labor roller coaster to a successful completion and were cuddling the newest blessing in our lives.

Quick Takes #123 ~ New Baby Edition

1. Born January 8th @ 1:26 am ~ started a recommended induction Monday afternoon and rode the labor roller coaster throughout the afternoon and evening!
2. Caitlin Therese Margaret; named for grandmothers, great-grandmothers ~ and herself!
3. Weighing in at 7lbs 9 ozs she bests both her older siblings entry weights by a pound and half ~ and helped me to fully understand how her squirms could hurt my hips and give me heartburn at the same time.
4. Lisbeth is thrilled by having a baby sister whose OFFICIAL name is still according to her Pencil Player, though we are allowed to call her Caitlin.
5. Liam has charmed me by several times walking over to greet her quietly and asking to hold her.  We are working on getting him to say 'Baby' and he is actually showing interest in adding to his vocabulary.
6. Caitlin currently has a decided yellow tinge which we are working on eliminating, and otherwise sort-of looks like both her sibs but mostly like herself.
7. I am sure there are many a rough day ahead but at the moment I am grateful beyond words and feeling blessed beyond description.  Thank you to all who held us in love and prayers during her birth and first days.

Please visit Conversion Diary for the rest of this week's Quick Takes.

Quick Takes # 122

1. Prayers for our sponsor Jen of Conversion Diary, her baby, and family as they deal with hospitalizations and pregnancy complications.
2. Still here ~ still pregnant! The baby clearly wants a January birthday and has no respect for due dates.  Have discussed with the midwife when best to issue eviction notice ~ probably some time next week.  Updates as warranted, prayers welcomed!
3. Thanks to visiting grandmothers, managed a date night in celebration of our anniversary.  Good food & conversation and came home to find 50% of our extra-uterine children asleep. 
4. Spent a lovely New Years Eve at home with both our moms enjoying a three course fondue dinner (family tradition in C.'s family), some football and watching the ball drop.
5. Having again consulting the Patron Saint Selector on Conversion Diary was given Saint Benedict for 2013, it has been awhile since I've read the Rule of the Benedictine Order but remember much of the daily schedule is about balancing prayer time and work.  Yay! I think his intercession and wisdom will be most useful in the months to come.
6. Have not settled on a word for the year ~ but Rae of There is no wealth but life may have given me my motto for the year ~ Wait out the bad days, give thanks on the good days and never let go of hope.
7. Plans for the weekend: get car inspected and start cleaning up Christmas stuff ~ or you know give birth.

Please visit Hallie's place Moxie Wife, who is hosting this week's Quick Takes while Jen (now home) recovers.

7 Quick Takes #121

1. A week of trying to take in and take hold of the events of last Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary. As the mother of a kindergardener next year ~ and a soon to be born baby many of my thoughts have centered around wanting to hold them very close and how to make this a better world to have to them go out into.
2. This was definitely helped by some of the wonderful posts I found around the web: by Sarah, and Colleen.
3. The wonderful actions of others such as the many police officers who are showing up to create human walls between mourners and protesters.
4. Touching, elegant tributes such as that by the judges and contestants of The Voice.

5. In the rest of life; we are continuing to make ready ~ cards are sent, out of town packages are mailed and while the weekend will include a lot of wrapping (hopefully while watching It's a Wonderful Life) I'm feeling in good shape for Christmas.

6. Baby #3-wise ~ We have the new car seat, newborn clothes are washed, and once the cradle is set-up and hospital bag is packed (hopefully this weekend); will also be in 'good shape' awaiting baby's arrival.

7. Happy Winter, now we await with hope and wonder the coming of the Light!

For more of this week's Quick Takes please visit Conversion Diary!

Quick Takes #120

1. The usually December craziness is made more so by the many, many appointments this particular month brings with it ~ last week had appointments on three days, and this week on four ~ but on the upside Liam's tubes are in place and functioning well and his yearly well check went well.  Midwifery appointments were unremarkable and NST's only significant for everyone vanishing just as I was about to be discharged making me late for pre-school pick-up. Yay for understanding teachers!!
2. My enthusiastic congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with a sincere hope that her experience with hyperemises gravidum is brief and rest of her pregnancy is complication free.
3. Kelly Jo of The Dr & The Mrs ( a lovely blog you may not yet be reading) and I have formed a laundry load a day pact in anticipation of the coming loads of little clothes a newborn brings.  So far I'm doing well, and am realizing that this plans allows for clean clothes fairly constantly ~ and folded clothes whenever I get a chance.
4. Speaking of Baby #3, the car seat is ordered and will hopefully arrive before the baby.  Clothes and blankets have been washed ~ leaving just emptying the cradle and washing that bedding as the outstanding important 'get ready for baby' tasks.
5. Christmas cards mailed ~ aided this year by my favorite preschooler, the stamps may not all be straight but placed with great enthusiasm for sure.
6. Lisa Jo of tales of a gypsy mom this week created a wonderful video tribute to the spaces we all work and create.
7. Plans for the weekend ~TREE!! Having traveled the last several years it has been awhile since we had a tree in the house; so excited!!

Please visit Conversion Diary for the rest of this week's Quick Takes round-up.

5 minute friday: Wonder

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:

Wonder:

        The due date for this coming baby is New Years; I wonder which month will prove to be his/her birth month, which year?  I wonder what kind of Christmas I will make for my other littles; currently feeling good but I know at some point the energy level will take a hit.  I also know that this time and place is so full of wonder and children if given just the smallest of nudges can find amazement and wonder everywhere.  I wonder who this little person is, and if a boy what we should name him.  Wonder and amazement at the wonderful things about to happen most of the time, anxiety only happens a night a little, praise God.

STOP

Please visit tales from a gypsy mom for other 5 minute friday selections.

Quick Takes #115

1. Hit 26 weeks gestation mark this week which also means that the countdown to Baby #3 due date stands at less than 100 days ~ cool and a little intimidating.  Anyone want to explain zone defense to me?
2. Still opting to work with the limited vocabulary, but man can Liam pack a whole lot of charm in his "Hi".
3. Debates start in a week ~ Yes I will be watching (sleeping children allowing), you?
4. Lisbeth is largely adjusting well and liking Pre-K, wrote her name for the first time ~ but nine days in she has asked to wear a dress EVERYDAY so far ~ this is new, different and slightly disconcerting, but also kinda fun.
5. Crazy refs ~ I'm glad the lock-out is over, though it will definitely reduce the bizarreness level of watching the NFL.
6. Hopefully going apple picking on this last weekend in September.
7. Happy October!

Please head to Conversion Diary for the rest of this week's Quick Takes.