Monday- follow up on failed induction

This morning between 7:30 and 8:00 Wayne and I were to go into L & D @ the hospital. I had to have a non-stress test done to check on the baby and of course to check my blood pressure. Incredibly, my bp went down about 15 points...so that was enough to make the doc happy and not make me have to have more cytotec inserted. The baby was very active in the time I was on the monitor...and the heart rate was excellent. They did not do an internal exam, as my uterus was "irritated" from all the stuff that happened to it on Fri and Sat. They don't really think I have dilated much more anyway. The only thing that could have happened is maybe I have effaced a bit more- but I am not counting on that either :)

After I left the hospital Sat afternoon, I continued to have unpleasant and sometimes painful contractions and a very crampy feeling down low- but I guess that is to be expected, and it will probably continue to happen until I deliver. Sunday and today I also have experienced some painful contractions and cramping :( So I will look forward to this being a daily occurance...but at least it's better than what was happening on Sat.
I was released today and put on bed rest. I have another appt on Thursday, same time, same place. I will do the non-stress test and maybe have an internal. They will check my BP...if it is still good, then I am free to go and return on Monday. Dr wants to have the baby out of me early still because of my lab results. BP meds and diuretics are not an option, they only mask the symptoms- not make them disappear. At this stage with increased BP it can decrease blood flow to the uterus, thus reducing baby's supply of oxygen. What can also happen is the placenta becomes unhealthy and is no longer able to supply a sufficient amount of nutrients and such to the baby. So it really is important to get the baby out...but because my BP has gone down some, we have a little bit of time to play with, and it's no longer a dire emergency like it was over the weekend. Doc also says that my uterus will have been doing something for over a week, and on Monday will maybe respond better to an induction. So, that's the word of the day!

Failed Induction

So I had a dr appt Friday @ 9:45. The appt wasn't for anything special, just a routine weekly OB check. Well, my BP was too high. And the first thing the dr said was that my face was really puffy. She checked my hands and feet, and they were swollen as well, but that's nothing new. So I was 36w6d and I knew I was going to have an internal exam as well as the GBS test done. I had to wait for what seemed like forever, because she had so many other patients to see. So she came back and did my exam...uterus was very posterior and not any progress as far as dilation or effacement. But she wanted to talk to me about my BP. The last several weeks my BP has been increasing, and it was 138/82. So she sent me over to the hospital for a non-stress test and some blood work. I was on the monitors for a long time, and everything was fine with baby and I was having no contractions. However, my blood work did not come back as good. My kidneys are not functioning as they should be. So she wanted me to come back that evening at 7 for an induction using cytotec. Because I trust my doctor so much, I followed her advice, even though I am not really for induction- especially at 37 weeks.

We (my mom, Wayne and me) showed up at the hospital at 7:25 pm. I got the first dose at 7:55 pm. Once it was inserted, I had to lie on my side for 30 minutes, then flat on my back for 2 hours, then I could get up and move around for 1 hour- and repeat all over again. I had a total of 3 doses and then my uterus began contracting really regularly and pretty intense. So I was no longer a candidate for the cytotec since it can cause hyperstimulation on the uterus. This was at 5 am Saturday morning. So my advice was to take a bit of a nap since I had not slept at all during the night. I think I slept about 15-30 minutes. Then I was pretty much up...phone calls, visitors, etc. I walked the halls for what felt like 5 miles, used the jacuzzi tub, sat on the birthing ball and just tried to stay upright to help things along. However by the time my doc came at noon, no more progress had been made since I was examined at 5 am and 7 am. So, for a total I made it to -3 station (I was not even registering before), very posterior to more of an anterior position, 0 dilation to a 2 dilation, 0 effacement to 50% effaced. Very disappointing to me...especially after 17 hours in the hospital :( But when you think these things take days to happen at home (or wherever) to begin preparing our bodies for labor...I did pretty good- considering.

So, today not much has happened. I feel contractions, but nothing to write home about. Some pain in the region below. So it does not appear my body will do anything more on it's own. Therefore, tomorrow I am to go into the hospital at 8am for a NST and to have an internal exam. If the exam shows my uterus has not progressed any further and I am not having a contraction pattern, they will try 1 more cytotec. If nothing happens with that...then it will depend what my BP is. If it is good, then I can choose to have the pitocin or I can choose to go home. If it is too high, they will admit me and I will not have a choice- but have to have the pitocin. My big worry is that the pit will be too much, too soon- my body is not ready (Fri and Sat proved that) and I will end up having to have a c-section. What happens, happens...I just want the baby and me to be fine. This afternoon my BP was 145/92. When I was in the hospital it had gone down...I was surprised considering I felt really stressed out!! Anyway, that's all I have to say!

Baby Shower

Today was my baby shower. Here is a picture of my cousin Vanessa and I. She is scheduled to go in tomorrow to be induced. She has been dilated to 4 cm for over a month, and the doc thinks it's about time. Her EDD is this Wed, Feb 21st. So she is plenty ready :) I am 36w1d in this pic. The clock is ticking down for me too!

I got lots of gifts, and things that I can use. But most importantly, I got the carseat and a bassinet! Without those 2 things, we were out of luck :)

Ok, gotta run, just wanted to post this real quick like!

Knitting...

Several years ago (my first husband was in Bosnia and I was home for a vacation- I think it was 1996), my Auntie Pam tried to teach my how to crochet. Just a very simple stitch required to make button socks. Well, I could not do this for some reason! I was not coordinated enough apparantly!

Fast forward to Quilt Camp '04. This is about the time that the fun fur yarn became really popular (at least in our area) in making scarves and hats. At camp, one of my Aunt's friends was going to teach a class on knitting and how to make these. Well I figured maybe I could knit, since crocheting for me, seemed hopeless. So I went and bought some pretty yarn and matching fun fur and my needles. By the end of the weekend, I had practiced, practiced and practiced...and FINALLY learned something new :) I never learned how to make a hat though. Then later on, I read about the round looms you could buy to make the hats. So I went out and bought the looms. I brought it home, really excited. I pulled out the instructions and was like, "What?!" I could not for the life of me figure it out...they were very poor instructions. So I just put it away with my yarn.

Now fast forward to a few weeks ago. A friend of mine, who had no talent for crafty things whatsoever, gave me a hat she made for my little man. A few days later, I went to my Aunt Jodie's house for Vanessa's baby shower and saw that she had a whole stack of those hats! She is not too crafty either. So I left there thinking, "If those 2 can make them, then surley I should be able to." So I went online in hopes of finding better directions than the ones provided in the kit. No such luck! But I found tons of feedback people had provided saying this was so easy!! That really encouraged me. It was about 9:30 pm and I could not sleep. So I went out to the storage shed (where my crafting stuff not used all the time are stored) and found the kit. I brought it in, read the instructions and started. I used some left over yarn that was nothing special. I made a section that was about 7" long. Then I put it away. The next evening, I started on a hat that was supposed to be for MacKenzie to match a scarf that I had already made (but I did not give it to her when it was finished, because it was supposed to be a set). I did very well on it :) They are beautiful, vibrant colors :) Today I went to go get them to take a photo, but they weren't where they are supposed to be! So my guess is that MacKenzie wore them to school today. I will have to nab them when she gets home and take a quick shot.

Since making MacKenzie's I have also made one for myself, one for little man, and I have started another one for little man...or someone else's little man (maybe Vanessa's or Stephanie's...if "it" turns out to be a boy). Wayne wants one now too...but he has so many beanies/stocking hats that I don't think he needs one...and I am sure he wouldn't wear it!!! I am now figuring how I can make just a headband instead of the actual hat. I know it wouldn't be too hard...just have to slow down and think about it before and while I am working on it :)

Ok, pic will follow later tonight...ballet class is right after MacKenzie gets off the bus.

2 very pregnant girls :)

This picture was taken about 3 weeks ago. Vanessa and her husband, Jeremy, invited us to a George Strait concert. Wayne and I gladly went and we all had a wonderful time. Vanessa is now 9 days from her due date...and extremely uncomfortable. She has been dilated to a 3-4 for the last 2-3 weeks. She was really hoping for a baby by now...but as of this morning- NOTHING!!! My baby shower is a week from today, and I REALLY want her to have little Oliver by then- I am so anxious to hold him :) I want the 3 of them there...Vanessa, Mayzie and Oliver!!! Hurry up little man!

Child Birth Education Classes

Since Wayne is a first time father, I thought it would be beneficial to take a course together. We spoke to the doc about it. I asked her if she thought we should take the refresher course (1 two hour class) or the normal course (2 hours once a week for 6 weeks). She said either would be ok. Her advice was to call the instructor of the course and talk about what each one covers. During my conversation with her (Janet) I thought to myself, "Wayne should not get away with 2 hours! He thinks he knows EVERYTHING about labor and delivery from having delivered so many calves, so let's see what he really knows about HUMANS!"

So we have been to 4 classes so far, and 2 more to go! The last class is Valentine's Day. Anyway, last week for the last hour one of the docs from my practice came in and gave ultrasounds (nothing diagnostic, just fun to look at ones) to the majority of us in the class. Some women declined, which was fine with me :) So I was the first one up there. They hooked the machine to the TV and everyone could see...it was pretty cool! Anyway, little man has finally turned head down...although Dr. Plant said he wasn't committed, just like my doc said. But I felt some relief in knowing he was "almost" where he is suposed to be :) We saw him "breathing" on the u/s. At about 33-34 weeks they begin breathing amniotic fluid to get the muscles into practice. We watched his heart beat and chest rise from the "breaths". We were not able to really see much detail of his face because he was turned with his face towards my spine (no wonder it hurts so bad)! But we could see his little hands and arms bunched around his face, too cute! Doc went down to see if we were able to see his boy parts. Nope...too smashed up in there to see very well. We (the doc) did see the scrotum and the umbilical cord was between his legs. They did not have the bed positioned very well (the head needed to be propped up a bit higher) so my view wasn't that great. Anyway...now that the doc pushed around on my stomach and showed me what was what, I have been doing it daily, and he is still right where he should be. So I am not sure if I will be getting another u/s or not. Whatever is fine with me. Since it is a new year, I have not met my $500 deductible...and u/s's are about $300... So, unless it's ordered for a REAL medical purpose, it just seems like a waste of money. But I will do whatever the Dr. orders! Ok, gonna run, or walk I should say. It is FINALLY sorta nice (40 degrees) and I have some mail I am going to walk down to the mailbox!