Aa
Jacob Hamilton born 12/28
7 lbs 8 oz
19 7/8 inch
Born at 8:29 PM
Sorry it has been so long. It has been a heck of a week. Here's Jacob's birth story:
I started having contractions on Saturday that were 20-25 minutes apart. Figured more of the same old BH but I continued to have them all night long. DH and I got up the next morning and had sex so as to encourage them to continue. We then went to town (about 20 minutes from our house) and did some shopping at home depot and grocery store. We then came home and I was feeling much more crampy so I went and took a bath in the whirlpool bath. Afterward, I went to lay down on the couch and watch some TV. It seemed like the cramping was rythmic so I started to hold my belly and time them. Sure enough contractions were 5 minutes apart.
I hadn't told DH at this time that the contractions were so close since I wanted them to stay that way for at least an hour. DH was working around the house doing some minor chores and some minor home improvements like touching up paint, etc.
While on the couch I felt a huge gush so I reached down to check to see if my water broke, when I pulled back my hand it was full of blood. Of course, I am panicked at this point, screaming at the top of my lungs for DH who at this time is outside feeding the dogs when I found him. I yelled, it's time to go to the hospital and he was like why and I held up my hand and he freaked. I went to the bathroom to sit on toilet to clean up a bit before leaving. DH brought me clean underwear and some clothes. When I sat down I had another huge gush and the toilet was filled with blood again. DH and I made the 20 minute trip to the hospital in 13 minutes (I called L&D to let them know we were coming in and the situation). When I got to the hospital, I was still bleeding but not quite as bad as at the house. Doctor was already there and waiting when they checked my cervix I was 5 cm dilated and they could not feel my placenta which has been low lying all this time (although they said it had moved enough 2 weeks before). He said he had reviewed my birth plan (not my regular OB) and that we needed to discuss a few things. First he understood that I wanted to go natural (BTW the contractions had not been very bad, very tolerable at this point) but that he was concerned with the bleeding and that he felt we need to go ahead an get an epidural in me and started. He then wanted to push some pitocin (by this time contractions are still tolerable and are 2-3 minutes apart) to get me to open up a lot quicker than my body was working. He was then going to monitor my progress every 10-15 minutes to make sure he could not feel the placenta as I was dilating. 45 minutes later I am opening well, but the bleeding is getting worse and when he checks me he can feel the edge of the placenta beside the babies head. He is doing good, but I am only 6 cm at this point so he advised that due to the excessive bleeding and being able to feel the placenta that he thinks and ER c-section is in order. Of course, you guys all know how badly that has scared me this whole time. So, immediately I am panicked. DH was great though, he really did not want to go in for the c-section, but I was so scared and I told him I needed him.
So, he got dressed and they wheeled me back to the OR. When they delivered Jacob, they came around the side of the curtain and showed him to me. Then DH and Jacob went to the warmer. DH followed Jacob to the nursery while they stitched me up. He got to give him a bath and hold him. They then put him under the light for about 30 minutes. By this time, I was back in my room and DH came to join me. After his light session they brought him to me to hold for the first time. He is so beautiful and I am so glad that all the problems that I have had ended with such a beautiful gift.
He seems to be doing so well. Breastfeeding is going great. He is a feisty eater. Eats for about 30 minutes at a time and then sleeps for about 3-4 hours before wanting to be fed again. My milk came in and I was uncomfortable with the fullness for about a day, but now I seem to have regulated. I can tell when his cries means a changing or a feeding by what my breasts do. If it is a feeding they begin to ache, if it is a changing nothing not even a twitch. His first appt with pediatrician was Friday and he is down to 7 lbs 1 oz, but that is fairly normal since most babies lose weight by the first appt and then gain again. He has 8-10 wet/dirty diapers a day so I know he is getting enough to eat. His dirty diapers have changed from the black tarry meconium to the mustardy movements.
As for recovery, I heeded everyones advice about getting up and moving as soon as possible and it paid off. I had my c-section Sunday afternoon, was up all day Monday and was doing so well instead of keeping me for 3 days they let me go home first thing Tuesday morning. I've been pretty stubborn about taking the pain meds they gave me since it goes to the baby in my milk. They gave me oxycodone to take every 4 hours and 800 mg motrin to take every 8 hours. I took 2 of the oxycodones that day and the motrin. The next day I took only the motrin and by Thursday I was down to one motrin and then Friday I switched to half motrin. I get achy sometimes, but just work through it and if it gets really bad take a half motrin. It usually takes the edge off enough.
I am having one post-partum complication that I did not expect nor did I experience with my DD. I have very bad edema all over. You can push in the skin on my feet and they stay indented for over a minute. I went Friday afternoon to have it checked out and all was clear. Doc said he could give me a diuretic but I refused because I wouldn't be able to breastfeed and would have to supplement for a few days. So, I am on a strict feet up above my heart regimen and I think it is helping some.
All and all, my labor techniques for coping with the contractions was working great but the little guy had different plans for delivery. I am doing good and baby is doing great and that is all that matters. I'll have pics up shortly.
19 7/8 inch
Born at 8:29 PM
Sorry it has been so long. It has been a heck of a week. Here's Jacob's birth story:
I started having contractions on Saturday that were 20-25 minutes apart. Figured more of the same old BH but I continued to have them all night long. DH and I got up the next morning and had sex so as to encourage them to continue. We then went to town (about 20 minutes from our house) and did some shopping at home depot and grocery store. We then came home and I was feeling much more crampy so I went and took a bath in the whirlpool bath. Afterward, I went to lay down on the couch and watch some TV. It seemed like the cramping was rythmic so I started to hold my belly and time them. Sure enough contractions were 5 minutes apart.
I hadn't told DH at this time that the contractions were so close since I wanted them to stay that way for at least an hour. DH was working around the house doing some minor chores and some minor home improvements like touching up paint, etc.
While on the couch I felt a huge gush so I reached down to check to see if my water broke, when I pulled back my hand it was full of blood. Of course, I am panicked at this point, screaming at the top of my lungs for DH who at this time is outside feeding the dogs when I found him. I yelled, it's time to go to the hospital and he was like why and I held up my hand and he freaked. I went to the bathroom to sit on toilet to clean up a bit before leaving. DH brought me clean underwear and some clothes. When I sat down I had another huge gush and the toilet was filled with blood again. DH and I made the 20 minute trip to the hospital in 13 minutes (I called L&D to let them know we were coming in and the situation). When I got to the hospital, I was still bleeding but not quite as bad as at the house. Doctor was already there and waiting when they checked my cervix I was 5 cm dilated and they could not feel my placenta which has been low lying all this time (although they said it had moved enough 2 weeks before). He said he had reviewed my birth plan (not my regular OB) and that we needed to discuss a few things. First he understood that I wanted to go natural (BTW the contractions had not been very bad, very tolerable at this point) but that he was concerned with the bleeding and that he felt we need to go ahead an get an epidural in me and started. He then wanted to push some pitocin (by this time contractions are still tolerable and are 2-3 minutes apart) to get me to open up a lot quicker than my body was working. He was then going to monitor my progress every 10-15 minutes to make sure he could not feel the placenta as I was dilating. 45 minutes later I am opening well, but the bleeding is getting worse and when he checks me he can feel the edge of the placenta beside the babies head. He is doing good, but I am only 6 cm at this point so he advised that due to the excessive bleeding and being able to feel the placenta that he thinks and ER c-section is in order. Of course, you guys all know how badly that has scared me this whole time. So, immediately I am panicked. DH was great though, he really did not want to go in for the c-section, but I was so scared and I told him I needed him.
So, he got dressed and they wheeled me back to the OR. When they delivered Jacob, they came around the side of the curtain and showed him to me. Then DH and Jacob went to the warmer. DH followed Jacob to the nursery while they stitched me up. He got to give him a bath and hold him. They then put him under the light for about 30 minutes. By this time, I was back in my room and DH came to join me. After his light session they brought him to me to hold for the first time. He is so beautiful and I am so glad that all the problems that I have had ended with such a beautiful gift.
He seems to be doing so well. Breastfeeding is going great. He is a feisty eater. Eats for about 30 minutes at a time and then sleeps for about 3-4 hours before wanting to be fed again. My milk came in and I was uncomfortable with the fullness for about a day, but now I seem to have regulated. I can tell when his cries means a changing or a feeding by what my breasts do. If it is a feeding they begin to ache, if it is a changing nothing not even a twitch. His first appt with pediatrician was Friday and he is down to 7 lbs 1 oz, but that is fairly normal since most babies lose weight by the first appt and then gain again. He has 8-10 wet/dirty diapers a day so I know he is getting enough to eat. His dirty diapers have changed from the black tarry meconium to the mustardy movements.
As for recovery, I heeded everyones advice about getting up and moving as soon as possible and it paid off. I had my c-section Sunday afternoon, was up all day Monday and was doing so well instead of keeping me for 3 days they let me go home first thing Tuesday morning. I've been pretty stubborn about taking the pain meds they gave me since it goes to the baby in my milk. They gave me oxycodone to take every 4 hours and 800 mg motrin to take every 8 hours. I took 2 of the oxycodones that day and the motrin. The next day I took only the motrin and by Thursday I was down to one motrin and then Friday I switched to half motrin. I get achy sometimes, but just work through it and if it gets really bad take a half motrin. It usually takes the edge off enough.
I am having one post-partum complication that I did not expect nor did I experience with my DD. I have very bad edema all over. You can push in the skin on my feet and they stay indented for over a minute. I went Friday afternoon to have it checked out and all was clear. Doc said he could give me a diuretic but I refused because I wouldn't be able to breastfeed and would have to supplement for a few days. So, I am on a strict feet up above my heart regimen and I think it is helping some.
All and all, my labor techniques for coping with the contractions was working great but the little guy had different plans for delivery. I am doing good and baby is doing great and that is all that matters. I'll have pics up shortly.
he is adorable! i am also glad to hear that despite all the unplanned events everything turned out just fine. enjoy him :)
I posted in the other forum but wanted to say Congrats again and he is sooo handsome!!
I am so happy you and yur baby boy are doing so well! Congrats! Your son looks adorable!
Congratulations!! I am so happy that everything has worked out. I can completly relate to the shock of being told that you are chaving a C-section, I too was scared, but it worked out for me good in the end, and it sounds like it did for you too. I am sorry that you are experiencing edema, I didnt have any swelling or anything like that, but I have a friend that had a baby 12/3 and she sure did, it took a couple of weeks to completly go away, but she is better now. Hopefully having your feet up will help quickly. I am so glad to hear that Jacob is here and that everything turned out okay, I cannot imagine how scared you must have been to see blood, especially given your pregnancy complications with your placenta... but, congratulations on your delivery and your baby boy!
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