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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

The Hospital Bag: Reality Check

Here's is a quick account of what was and was not needed during our hospital stay a couple of weeks ago.  It turns out I may have over packed a little...  It's worth noting that we pulled into the hospital at 8pm and Jackson was born at 12:38am (just 4 hours and 38 minutes later)!  I'll argue that I would have used more of the things I packed had my labor lasted longer (not that I would have wanted that, of course).  I highlighted the items that I found useful and crossed off the items that were not...
  • copy of my birth plan (I think this was useful to think about ahead of time, but you really have no idea how things are going to go until you're in labor and it's best to just go with the flow.  I never took this out of the bag.)
  • ipod & docking station (I listened to my labor playlist for the first couple of hours.  Once things started to get more "intense" I vaguely remember demanding that the music be turned off.) 
  • camera & charger
  • video camera (We forgot to pack this and ended up just using the video function on our camera.)
  • Sex and the City DVDs (I decided not to pack these at the last minute, but I still got my SATC fix...  I caught an episode on E! while nursing.)
  • nursing gown & robe
  • slippers
  • socks
  • nursing camis  (I wanted out of my hospital gown immediately, so these were very useful.)
  • breast pads 
  • sweat pants
  • toiletries (shampoo, body wash, deodorant, toothpaste, etc...)
  • lotion (for massages during labor)
  • tennis ball (for massage, not tennis)
  • heating pad (I didn't use this in the hospital because things moved so quickly, but I used it all day at home to help me through early labor).
  • snacks (power bars, hard candy, mints, crackers)
  • baby book
  • baby blanket
  • going home outfit for Jackson (with hat, mittens)
  • Bundle Me
Things to add at the last minute:
  • pillows (We forgot to bring our pillows and boy did we regret it!  This is partially to blame for the fact that I hardly slept a wink during my hospital stay.)
  • cell phones & charger
  • lap top
  • make-up, brush, hair dryer
  • glasses
  • contact lens case & solution
  • "Water for Elephants" (No time for reading...)
Other items to bring:
  • exercise ball
  • car seat
  • purse
  • boppy
  • diaper bag

Monday, March 14, 2011

Week One Top 10

I can hardly believe that Jackson was born an entire week ago.  The past week has been a whirlwind of doctor visits, diaper changes, breastfeeding, visitors, and, of course, snuggling!  Our lives have been completely turned upside down (but in a good way).  I'm not feeling particularly articulate today (sleep deprivation will do that to you), so I have decided to write a list of the top ten moments this week...

1.  Holding Jackson for the first time.

2.  Watching my husband jump into the role of daddy like a champ- he's a natural!

3.  Jackson gave us quite a scare his first day of life.  His blood sugar was really low and he wasn't able to keep any food down.  As a result, he was sent to the special care nursery a couple of times.  He had to be fed with a feeding tube once, and when he still wasn't able to keep his food down, they ended up having to suction out his stomach.  They almost had to transfer him to the special care nursery so that they could feed him sugar water through an IV, but just in the knick of time his blood sugar came up and he began eating like a champ!

4.  Introducing our friends and family to Jackson.

5.  Bringing our bundle of joy home (this was definitely a "best moment" but also extremely terrifying)!

6.  Realizing that KG is going to be a great (albeit slightly needy and neurotic) big brother (and that he won't have to go live with my parents, as we feared).

7.  Jackson has already had his fair share of peeing incidences- he has peed on the wall, his own face (I felt terrible!!), on me (twice), and on numerous blankets and onesies before I could get his diaper on (obviously my diaper changing skills need some refining).  However, the funniest moment, by far, was when Jackson peed on the home care nurse while she was taking his temperature...

8.  Reading Jackson his first book, "Guess How Much I Love You" (KG also joined us for story time and they were both asleep by the end of it).

9.   Jackson had two doctor appointments this week to ensure that he's gaining enough weight and to make sure that his jaundice was clearing up.  We've had good news on both fronts!  Jackson weighed 5lb. 5oz. when we checked out of the hospital on Tuesday and by Saturday he was up to 5lb. 8oz.
 
10.  Jackson had the hiccups on a daily basis when he was in the womb, but seeing them in person is priceless...


Saturday, March 12, 2011

Speedy Delivery!

Jackson David Hacker was born on Monday, March 7, 2011 at 12:38am.  How I wish I had taken notes of the events as they unfolded because, even though it has only been a week, it all seems like a blur to me... 
I woke up at 4am Sunday morning with contractions.  I had been having lots of contractions for several weeks, but I had a feeling that this was different.  I woke John up and told him that I thought our son would be born on March 7...  I spent most of the day Sunday relaxing (as best as I could) and packing the hospital bag.  By late afternoon, my contractions were coming every 3-5 minutes and were growing in intensity.  John had been out running errands most of the day and when he got home I told him that I was pretty sure I was in labor...  He was thrilled and I was starting to freak out a little bit.  Could I really do this?!
I jumped in the shower to help me through the contractions (and to get cleaned up before heading to the hospital).  At about 6pm I called the hospital to tell them that I thought I was in labor.  They asked me a bunch of questions and said that I was probably in labor, but that I should stay at home for a little while longer to see how things progressed and then call back in an hour...  Well, about 30 minutes later I was having much more intense contractions that were happening about every 2-3 minutes.  I called and said that we would be on our way...
My first bit of irrational/stubborn behavior began as we pulled into the hospital at around 8pm.  I would not let John park in the emergency department lot, as they had advised us on the phone (I told him that this was not an emergency and that I was perfectly capable of walking into the hospital on my own).  Well, the next ramp was quite some distance from labor and delivery.  This wouldn't have been a big deal had I not been doubling over in pain every 2 minutes...  Let's just say it was a long walk into the hospital...
Initially, we were checked into the triage unit.  As I waited for the nurse to come "check" me I started to fear that I wasn't really in labor and that they would send me home.  As it turned out this was very far from the truth- I was already 5cm!!  I was thrilled to be half way there (granted I had the much more difficult part ahead).  I also found out that my doctor was on call that night.  This was unbelievably lucky because my clinic has 25 doctors and you're stuck with whoever happens to be on call.  My anxiety immediately decreased (at least a little bit) because she knew all of the details of my case and assured me that she thought it was a good thing that Jackson was coming a little early given what we had seen on the last couple of ultrasounds.
By 9pm we were settled into our labor suite (which was the biggest one they had) and I was pacing around the room listening to my labor playlist.  Here is where my stubborn behavior came into play again...  I refused narcotics because I was afraid they would make me sick.  Next, the nurse advised me that if I wanted to get an epidural (which I did) that I should probably get it soon.  I told her that I didn't want it yet because I was afraid that it would slow down my progress.  She, very patiently, reminded me that I would need fluids before they could administer the epidural and that, in addition to that, it would take about 45 minutes to insert the epidural.  I agreed to get started on the IV fluids.  My nurse returned at around 9:30 to check my progress- I was 6cm and the contractions were getting extremely uncomfortable.
Thank goodness she pushed me to start on the IV because it was epidural time!  The thought of having an 8cm needle stuck into my spine and having no feeling in my legs scared me to death (but not as much as the thought of giving birth with no pain meds).  The epidural was not that bad...  The worst part was the shock I felt down my legs when they inserted the catheter.  After, about 15 minutes I could feel that my legs were getting really numb but I still had strong pain across my pelvis with every contraction...  My nurse had me roll onto to my side to see if that would help the meds disperse into the area.
Around 10:30 my doctor decided to break my water to help move things along.  This is when things got a little bit scary...  My amniotic fluid had blood in it.  She said there was no way of knowing what may have caused this, but that it could be a sign of something quite serious and that I may have to have an emergency c-section.  I was extremely worried at this point and in excruciating pain.  Things really became blurry after this...
About a half an hour later, the epidural still wasn't working properly.  My contractions were happening every 1-2 minutes and lasting 60-90 seconds (this didn't leave very much recovery time between and I was starting to feel like I couldn't do this much longer).  My nurse said that she'd have the anesthesiologist come back and adjust the epidural, but first my doctor wanted to check my progress.  I was 9cm- there would be no time for adjusting, it was time to push!!  I was told that it would feel "better" to push...
I can't say that it felt better, but at least I knew that we were almost there and that my son would be in my arms soon.  This is what I tried to focus on as I pushed...  After a few pushes I asked, "If I push really hard on the next one, will he be here?"  My doctor said yes.  As I felt my next contraction coming, I gave it everything I had...  A few seconds later, I heard my son's beautiful cry and got to see him for a brief second as John cut the umbilical cord before the neonatal team whisked him away across the room.  They had to check him out before we were able to hold him.  There was also concern about me because my placenta wouldn't come out.  I am not going to go into detail here, but my placenta had to be "manually" removed and this part was far worse than any part of the labor process.  (Once they got it out my doctor said that my placenta and umbilical cord looked smaller than normal.  She sent it to pathology and later in the week I found out that 10% of my placenta had become detached from the uterine wall.  This is what caused the blood in the amniotic fluid and it also was probably the reason why Jackson was so small- he wasn't getting enough nutrients.  Thankfully, he knew that it was best to come out into the real world!)
About an hour after he was born, I was finally able to hold my dear son in my arms.  Words cannot describe...

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

He's Here!!

Well, I packed my bag just in time!  Jackson arrived March 7, 2011.  He weighed in at 5lb 9oz and is 18.75 inches long.  He's a perfect little peanut!  We couldn't be happier!

More to follow...  (it's a little chaotic around here right now)

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Packing the hospital bag...

Now that I could go into labor (or be induced) at any moment, I decided it was probably time to start packing the hospital bag...  This turned out to be a much bigger job than expected.  I know I've probably packed much more than I could ever need, but I've never been a light packer (just ask my hubby).  Here's what's in the bag (so far):
  • copy of my birth plan
  • ipod & docking station
  • camera & charger
  • video camera (NOT for filming the birth!)
  • Sex and the City DVDs (is that wrong?  i figure it will be a good distraction for early labor- before things get too intense...)
  • nursing gown & robe
  • slippers
  • socks
  • nursing camis
  • breast pads 
  • sweat pants
  • toiletries (shampoo, body wash, deodorant, toothpaste, etc...)
  • lotion (for massages during labor)
  • tennis ball (for massage, not tennis)
  • heating pad
  • snacks (power bars, hard candy, mints, crackers)
  • baby book
  • baby blanket
  • going home outfit for Jackson (with hat, mittens)
  • Bundle Me
Things to add at the last minute:
  • pillows (for John & I)
  • cell phones & charger
  • lap top
  • make-up, brush, hair dryer
  • glasses
  • contact lens case & solution
  • "Water for Elephants" (the book I'm currently reading- maybe another good distraction?)
Other items to bring:
  • exercise ball
  • car seat (already in car)
  • purse
  • boppy
  • diaper bag
    Am I missing anything?

    Friday, March 4, 2011

    37 Weeks (+1 Day)


    Baby's Size and Development:  This week I can be much more specific because we had a growth ultrasound on Wednesday.  Jackson was weighing in at about 5 pounds (smaller than he should be).  Although his head is measuring right on track, his abdomen and femurs are measuring about 3-4 weeks behind.  These type of measurements can mean that he isn't getting enough nutrients (nutrients go to the head first to preserve brain development).  As a result, I will be monitored very closely over the next few weeks.

    We had a non-stress test (NST) and biophysical profile (BPP) today, which Jackson and I passed (go team!).  During the NST, I was hooked up to a fetal monitor that measured the response of Jackson's heart rate to his movements.  The BPP was done via ultrasound and evaluated his movement and breathing, as well as the quantity of my amniotic fluid.  The best part of this test was getting to watch Jackson practice his breathing.  We also learned that he already has a full head of hair!

    I will have a NST and BPP done twice a week for the rest of my pregnancy.  We also have an appointment with a perinatologist on Monday morning for a much more in depth ultrasound.  We will find out more about what might be the cause of Jackson's small size.  If they find out that he's not getting enough nutrients there is a chance that I'll be induced right away...  I've also been put on bed rest, at least until Monday's appointment.  (It's going to be a looong weekend!!)

    Weight Gain: 28 pounds

    Sleep:  I've been trying to get as much sleep as possible, which is easier said than done.  The added stress from all these doctor appointments hasn't really helped matters...

    Best Moment This Week:  Hearing Jackson's hiccups during the NST and getting to see his cute little face during the BPP.  (I also got my first pedicure in almost a year, which was pretty amazing!)


    Worst Moment This Week:  Finding out that the doctors are concerned about Jackson's development.  I have never felt more helpless and worried in my life (welcome to motherhood, right?).  I have so many questions right now as to what is going on and what I can do to make it better.  Unfortunately, it seems like it's going to be a "wait and see" kind-of situation.  In the meantime, I am doing my best to stay calm and positive (I don't want Jackson to sense my distress)!

    Appetite/Cravings:  Increased stress and hormones have really killed my appetite, but I've been trying to eat a lot in hopes that Jackson will put on some weight.  I finally caved in and bought some girl scout cookies (lemon chalet cremes and samoas)- that should do the trick! 

    Milestones:  Even though my due date is still 3 weeks away, Jackson is now considered full term!!  This means that most babies are mature enough to fully adjust to life outside of the womb... great news given the fact that he might need to come out early!

    Pregnancy Thoughts:  I'm trying to enjoy every moment of being pregnant since we could have an "outside" baby any day now...

    Tuesday, March 1, 2011

    Labor Playlist

    I love listening to music and, I admit, I've developed a bit of an obsession with making playlists.  You name the occasion or mood and I have a playlist for it.  That being said, it was only natural for me to create a labor playlist.  I'm hoping that it will help me relax through contractions and keep me motivated (and somewhat distracted from the pain) during Jackson's labor.  Here is a sampling of what I'm planning on listening to:
     (Golden Slumbers)
     (In My Life)
    (Is This Love, Three Little Birds, Stir It Up, Waiting In Vain)

    (Sideways, My Way Home, Deep, Hurricane Waters, Nite Becomes Day, D'Artagnan's Theme, Fame)

    (Keep Askin', Healing Hands, The Newspaper, Lifeline)

    (If There's Love, Salvation, Hands of the Saints, Comin' Back, Theresa, Holdin' On)

    (That Western Skyline, Give Me Time, Bedside Manner, Peace In the Valley)

    (Somewhere Over the Rainbow)

    (Bubble Toes, Fortunate Fool, F-Stop Blues, It's All Understood)

    (The End, Birthday, Closer)

    (Closer, Revelry, Cold Desert)

    (Heart Skipped a Beat, Shelter, Infinity, Night Time, Stars)