Kaydriana is here!

Mother's Day I was awaken by Tim bearing gifts from him and our unborn daughter. I was bummed that Kaydriana wasn't here before Mother's Day but daddy did a good job surprising me with the new Reebok Easy Tone sneakers and a beautiful Karen Kane dress (that I could wear that day and post pregnancy).
I woke up with period like cramps that went on all day. We had brunch with Tim's family at his sisters and had to ask him to take bumps and turns lightly because they kind of hurt.
After we got home I decided to drive 45 minutes to Marysville to surprise my mom at work. I had some stronger waves of cramps, but I was determined so I made the trek. I got home about 5pm and definitely knew I was feeling contractions, but with as many ups and downs we had over the past few days I didn't want to get too excited. Around 6 I pulled up Contraction Master online and started to time my contractions. They were anywhere from 7-14 minutes a part. I continued to track them, Tim went to bed around 7 and they were getting stronger and closer. I kept telling myself they would stop. At 10 I went to lay in bed to try and sleep. I even set my alarm for work the next morning. In about 20 minutes I had 4 contractions. So I woke up, came down stairs and grabbed my birthing ball. At 11:15 I called Labor and Delivery and told them what I was experiencing. They said if I really wanted to come in I could but if I was doing ok at home I should stay home for as long as I could. So I kept laboring by myself. At 1230am I couldn't do it by myself anymore so I woke Tim up and he did such a great job rubbing my back through my contractions. Finally at 145am I couldn't take it anymore. I called the hospital and told them I was coming.
We get to the hospital and they bring us in the "staging" room where they plan to monitor me for at least an hour before admitting me to see if I'm really that close to labor. I was still only a good 2cm, but because it was a slow night and I was Group B Strep positive they decided to admit me. Tim and I were so relieved!
So we get into our LD room, I'm handling the contractions ok, I've got the birthing ball and leaning over it through contractions. We also walked the halls stopping to use the rails as contractions came.
About 6am the nurse comes in and checks me and I'm about 3cm. She says that I have some decisions to make. I didn't want an epidural until I was 4-5 cm, however the anesthesiologist has a c-section scheduled for 730 so I could either get the epidural before or wait 1.5-2 hours after the c-section. Who knew what I'd be feeling 2 hours from then but I decided to wait until 7am to see how I dilated. At 7 Dr. Graham comes in and I'm 3.5-4cm and she is going to break my water. So I decided to get the epidural.
Then sleep... blissful sleep! I had already been awake for 24 hours. I slept hard for about 2 hours and then dozed through out the day. At 3pm the nurse checks me and I'm about 6-7cm dilated so she thinks it won't be long until I'll get to start pushing. However, they think that Kaydriana is sunny side up, meaning she is not going to be coming out vaginally if she doesn't turn around given her size. Not what I wanted to hear. During this time I'm feeling my contractions and need a top off of my epidural. I'll never forget, we were watching Oprah and a girl got the "Harpo Hook up" and got to meet Justin Timberlake. :) Then it's pushing time. Dr. Graham attempted to turn Kaydriana a bit in hopes that with pushing she'll continue to turn. I start pushing while on my back and I'm really not feeling I'm producing results. About 30-40 min into it I get to lay on my left side. When I start feeling a contraction coming on I grab my right leg, Tim grabs my right foot and I push hard for 10 seconds/3 times during each contraction.
I'm feeling the contractions enough where I have to try and breath through them because they are so painful.
I go back onto my back to finish pushing. Dr Graham comes in and is surprised how well my pushing is going and that Kaydriana is cresting. Tim is taking pictures since I can't see whats going on. Things progress and her head is out and Dr Graham tells me to stop pushing - oh wow was that painful!!! A few moments later Dr Graham says I just have one contraction to push and she'll be out so I push with all of my might and all of sudden a huge feeling of relief as she is taken out of my body. I just see a hand flying and her being taken away. Everything is a whirlwind. I'm crying and shaking and Tim is watching our daughter be wiped off. They bring her over to me, remove the top of my gown and I get to hold her skin to skin. I'm getting teary eyed just reliving that amazing moment. I get to lay there like that for 15 minutes or so while Tim is calling our parents and Dr Graham is stitching me up and working on getting the placenta out.
Kaydriana was born 5:42 PM, 9lbs and 2oz, 21.5 inches long. Over 24 hours of labor and about 1.5 hours of pushing...
Wow is all I can say. Tim says it was the coolest thing he had ever seen. I don't know if labor was what I expected, but becoming parents and meeting Kaydriana was far more amazing than I ever thought possible! We are so in love!

40 weeks continued...

So I had my appointment at 11 today. Since I'm sitting here typing this out, needless to say I'm not in labor.
It was cute, when I walked in, Krista (Dr Grahams assistant who I love!) said, "happy due date!". When Dr Graham came in I asked her about the possibility of stripping my membranes which is where she seperates the cervix from the sac. She told me she did that the last time I saw her. I had no clue! When I remember her last checking me I was only 1cm dilated and 0% effaced. She said that if my body isn't ready it isn't ready. So she checked and stripped me again. It makes sense now that when SHE "checks" me it always hurts and bleeds. When the nurse practitioners check me they only check me and it doesn't hurt.
Anyway, I'm still only about 2cm dilated and a bit softer than last check which was 50%. She didn't give me an exact percentage this time. So of course I was bummed with those results.
Then we went into what to expect next. I have a non-stress test on Friday morning. I guess that's normal to do when you're past your due date. Then assuming I'm still pregnant, I'll have another dr appt and non-stress test on Tuesday. She then told me that she is going to have Krista set up an induction date for late next week. So at least she'll be here by May 14th. But I'm still hoping she comes before Mothers Day!

40 weeks!

Here I am at 40 weeks!! Today is the day (that I should/could/wish) I was having my baby.Since I’ve caused confusion on what my due date is/was, I’ll explain it to you. I know exactly how many days my cycles are and the exact date of conception so according to my calculations, Kaydriana’s due date is 5/5. My doctor (like most) goes on the typical 28 day cycle and the date of my last period. So she has my due date down as 5/4. For a while there I was telling people my due date was 5/1 because at my first in depth ultra sound Kaydriana was measuring ahead of schedule: 5/1. Well, I then learned that those measurements don’t change my due date. So basically I’m choosing to go along with my doctors due date of 5/4 because I’m hoping that means Dr. Graham will induce me sooner than later.
I don’t particularly want to go through the process of being induced. From what I’ve heard getting chemically induced causes stronger contractions and because your body isn’t naturally progressing the process can be slower. However, if that’s what my doctor recommends, then I’m going to go for it. Especially if my body decides not to cooperate with going into labor naturally by a reasonable date.
Today I have an appointment with Doctor Graham. I was thinking of waiting to post my next post until after my appt, but in the hopes that I won’t have an opportunity to (cuz maybe I’ll be in the hospital? J) I decided to post this now and if I have a chance, I’ll post another one sharing the results of my latest appointment. I’m going to ask her about stripping my membranes to get labor started. There is no guarantee it will, but it worked for my sister so I’m crossing my fingers. I’m also going to ask her about scheduling an induction date. That way if I don’t go into labor on my own in a couple of days, perhaps I’ll have a particular date to focus on and look forward to.
The only upside to Kaydriana arriving later rather than sooner is the date I’d have to return to work. I’m taking 16 weeks paid time off. So if she’s isn’t born for another week then I’ll be out until Labor Day. However, I don’t know if my employees will survive me if I’m pregnant for much longer.
Can I just say I am proud of the fact that I have worked up until my due date!? I’ve only missed 2 full days of work my entire pregnancy!Below is a little something I put together based on some of the dumb questions or comments I have encountered during my pregnancy. I do have to say that for those who read my blog, I really haven’t been annoyed or offended by any of your comments. 90% of the below come from the people I work with that I don’t have a personal relationship with. Hence their comments/questions annoy me J
Tips on Surviving a Pregnant Woman
1. If you are not my friend or relative, please do not ask me if I intend to breast feed.
2. I don’t need you to point out that I look tired. I probably do, but I’m also thinking I look good today so by you pointing out I look tired makes me feel like my efforts of getting showered and make up on was futile.
3. Yes, I know my feet/ankles are swollen. Yes, they do hurt. Yes, I do put them up when I can, and No, my doctor is not concerned about toxemia.
4. Don’t ask me if I’m allowed to eat that. If I’m eating it, I’m eating it. Mind your own business.
5. If I’m not currently in a conversation with you regarding my pregnancy, please do not spit out unsolicited advice.
6. “You look huge!” is not a compliment and it’s not helpful. “You are glowing/beautiful/doing a great job” those are acceptable comments.
7. Not to sound ungrateful, but if you’re going to purchase something for me that’s not on the registry, a gift receipt is helpful. If I can’t use it, and can’t return it, then what else am I supposed to do with it?
8. If I share that I’m really ready to go into labor and hold my baby (AKA – cannot wait to no longer be pregnant) please don’t point out that my brother was 6 weeks late. Love you, but that is not helpful, mom!
9. If you are a co-worker or employee (someone I do not speak to on a personal level) I’d prefer not to share with you how each one of my doctors visits went.
10. If I tell you I’m feeling fine. I’m feeling fine. Do not ask, “Really? Are you sure?” If I wanted to go into more detail with you regarding how I’m feeling I will.
11. If you are not my friend or relative, do not ask me how much weight I’ve gained or I’ve developed stretch marks.
12. Never, under any circumstance is it appropriate to point out that it looks like I’m having twins. I’m pretty sure my regular check ups with my doctor would have determined that.
13. When I tell you that I haven’t slept in days, it is not helpful or supportive to say that that is Mother Nature’s way of preparing me to not sleep when baby is here. I’m tired now – I need sleep now.
14. If I showed up to work that means I’m still pregnant. Thanks for inquiring.
15. In general it’s always polite to hold the door open for a woman or if someone has only one grocery item in their cart behind you to let them go first. If it’s a pregnant woman, don’t be a jerk! My feet and back hurt and common courtesy would be so appreciated.
16. Yes, I am going for that second/third helpings. And yes, I do plan on working out to lose the baby weight.
17. If I don’t know you (or barely know you) please don’t ask if you can touch my belly. I really don’t want you to, but how do I tell you that without sounding like a you know what?