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Lisa's Journal
Expecting June 2004
Mon May 31, 2004
The Birth - Memorial Day
We decided to call my parents and tell them we were coming over for the day. My sister (30wks pg) and I were pooped from the past few days of chasing 3 kids and we needed the extra hands. We spent a nice relaxing day chatting, eating and watching the kids play.
We left their house at 7pm to avoid the heat of the day, though it was still 95deg. I drank a liter of water on the way home and had a DQ Blizzard too, noticed some good contractions every few minutes. This wasn't abnormal; I'd been having them every 11-20 minutes for the past few days, especially in the car.
On the way home, we had to stop at an auto store for something and I had to get out of the car. Sitting was just too much. I chalked it up to all the water since I had to pee really bad. Usually, a full bladder gave me contractions too. Short stop, when we were several blocks from home, I had a huge contraction I almost had to breathe through. We pulled into the garage at 7:54 pm and I jumped out to go pee. Kids were all sleeping and very hot so we got them in and gave them water, dressed them for bed and I read a quick story. I had to stop in the middle of it to lean over the couch during a contraction. Still thinking it was the heat and full bladder...
I was antsy to put the kids in bed and was hit with yet another contraction. Dumped the kids in bed deserting my sister and went to the restroom again. Duane was piddling in the garage, came in to kiss the kids good-night then went back out. I had a few more contractions resting on the couch, decided I'd better shower and then lie down to stop them. Worked before right? Well, I knew I was doomed when I had 3 contractions in the shower. I got out, dressed, and went to find my sister telling her to watch me and time. I knew it was labor and the hard "had to breathe through" contractions lasting about a minute every 2 minutes were a pretty good sign too.
I went in to tell Duane, but as I got to our bedroom another contraction hit and all I could say was, "Pool. Now!" My poor man was deep in thought and jumped up not knowing what I'd said. But he figured it out after I repeated myself. I cried for a minute praying a general prayer for strength and safety. I couldn't muster anything else as I was surprised at the intensity and quickness of the labor. I helped get the pool set up having to stop and run to my shower for each contraction. I really didn't want more to clean up if my water broke. The contractions were very intense and I was feeling pushy. I checked myself and found my cervix about 7-8cm and the bag of water sitting right there waiting to pop and let my baby out!
Once the pool was set up I got in and sat with the hose on my belly while it filled, barking orders to Amy and Duane. Contractions spaced out to every 3-4 minutes in the pool and I was doing fine breathing through them. At first I liked to lean over the edge onto a chair and pillow, but soon the pressure got to be too much and I liked lying back with my arms over the edge, sometimes with my feet up on the other side, sometimes in the pool. (I have to wonder if this didn't slow my labor down, but I was able to cope this way, not upright.)
Contractions pretty much stayed the same until about 11 pm. During this time I drank water, ate some ice. I had eaten a huge steak dinner at 6 pm that night and had ice cream on the way home and was feeling quite full! Each time the baby moved it brought on a contraction followed by the real one. With the quick onset of labor, I never had time to empty my bowels so I had lots of stinky gas and thankfully some good pooper scoopers. We used Nathaniel's bug net (it has to be replaced now) now I wish I had gotten a fishy net.
I started to feel my body pushing and had to vocalize through the last half of contractions. I was also getting very tired and starting to fall asleep between contractions. They were nice enough to space out and I had good 3 minute breaks to sleep. I think this is when transition started. I just wanted to sleep, I didn't want to push! Every once in a while I'd get up on my knees and lean over the pool, but the pressure was so intense and my lower back was in such pain, I'd go back to my "happy spot" reclining. After about an hour if this, I had no cervix, just that bag of water in the way still! I never felt the urge to push, but I had one mighty contraction that my body just bared down with. There was so much pressure I started to put my hand down there for support, my waters broke with such a force it stung my palm. I knew it was over then. It was time for the baby to come whether I was ready or not. I got a little pep talk from my support and hopped up on my knees in the middle of the pool.
Pushing was different in water. It was almost easier since my body was doing most of the work but as soon as I gave a mighty push that sweet soft head full of hair was on my palms and I just let it slowly slide out. Oh what intense pressure that stretching brought, not pain but incredible force that was uncontrollable and quite scary if I hadn't known what was going on. As soon as the head was out all I could breathlessly say was "head's out, head's out." Waiting for the next contraction was very difficult! I just wanted to push but had no energy and no desire either so I had to wait with this head sticking out my crotch. I was thinking how funny it must look, and relishing every sensation. I could feel the ear, nose and eyes and the furry soft hair floating in the water. The head started to rotate and turned to my right leg. With the next contraction, I gave one more mighty push and felt the lower shoulder move out and I rose up just a bit and out slid the rest of the baby so quick I lost my grip. I quickly scooped the slippery body up and sat back against the side of the pool. A towel was quickly placed over the baby and I started to regain my non labor focus.
I was hoping to be able to tell the baby's sex by looking at the face, but I was looking at a spitting image of Nathaniel, a little old man newborn. So I busied myself with checking the cord and held it between baby and my hand so I could feel the strong pulse. The next few minutes were spent watching the baby transition to life with air and looking at fingers and toes. There were a few squeaks and some mucus draining out the mouth but for the most part, the baby was stretching and slowly becoming aware of the surroundings. After 3 or 4 minutes I noticed a few shallow breaths and my placenta was detaching. When the baby was breathing on its own and looking around, I finally heard everyone asking what the sex was, so took a peek and much to my surprise saw it was a girl! I was a bit relieved because we only had a girl's name picked out but was really surprised it wasn't a boy. (Murphy's Law)
The placenta was ready to come out but took a while, probably 15 minutes after birth I was ready to just get out and see if gravity would help it. The water was getting cool so Duane got the honor of putting the hat on the baby. The cord was white, limp, and not pulsing so I cut it and handed her off to daddy. Placenta came out fine a few minutes later. It was fairly small (a little bigger than a salad plate) and looked perfect.
I got out of the pool, used the rest room, showered, and then got settled in to nurse my new daughter for the first time. What bliss! (And no perineum trauma what-so-ever.)
Elyana Joy Schmidt
born on May 31, 2004, 11:55pm
7lbs 7oz, 20"
Wed May 26, 2004
39 weeks
Today I finished 30 hours of data entry over the past 10 days. I'm pooped - working from home is hard work. My kids will appreciate my undivided attention again.
I walked a lot yesterday and sense changes again. I feel pressure all the time, sitting is intolerable and just want to be off my feet, but yet have energy. Lots of discharge again (eww, I know, but it's for the record) and I feel the need for solitude, but yet I'm not irritable and handled whatever the kids threw at me today just fine. My nightly bundle of ctxs are still happening - last night I went to bed early just to get them to stop. I wasn't ready for a baby.
Oh, I've outgrown my maternity clothes. I have one shirt (getting tight) I can wear out and one pair of jean shorts. *sigh* I'm not buying more either - I just can't do it! Get me a mumu.
We really need to get some names hammered down for this baby. We keep changing our minds!
Dh has come to the realization that the birth is soon. He is calling to check on me 2x a day. So cute. He's harboring too much fear and is having second thoughs about UC. Worries me a bit. My sister will be here tomorrow for a week so hopefully she'll be here for the birth!
Tue May 18, 2004
38 weeks
I awoke last Sunday morning to a VERY low baby. I always forget just how low they can go w/o actually coming out!
When I stand in one place for several minutes I feel like I have a golf ball stuck "up there" - a very odd sensation for sure. Continuing to have several hours of daily "labor" but of course it's nothing like real labor as I'm slowly recalling.
Dh was watching the nightly in-utero aerobic class and amazingly asked me if I ever got bruised form the baby. He also wondered if the baby could hurt the placenta by kicking and rolling. at least he's interested!
Last night I was only up once to use the restroom! I feel mostly rested today and ready to tackle the 3 days worth of dishes on my kitchen counter and some laundry!
Sat May 08, 2004
It's another whine
I no longer feel like my belly is mine. It is so out there that is sways the opposite of my waddling hips. I'm measuring 42cm (I know, quit measuring!) and wonk my kid's heads continuously with this protruding torpedo. My womb is no longer something I recognize. It feels like a foreign growth.
Baby has slowed WAY down. Whe s/he does move, it hurts like the dickens. I'm ready to duct tape my hips together too. Feels like I'm coming apart at the seams. So it's time right? All my supplies are ready and waiting finally and there is at least 5 dinners of spaghetti frozen. I'll make 4 more dinners of something and pray we get some dinners from other people too!
I can endure this another 4 weeks I know it! It's the heat getting to me. Time to hybernate in the airconditioning.
Thu May 06, 2004
Birth Dream of sorts
I won't say it was a perfect birth dream, because it was in a hospital, I don't feel any significance in that part, actually, I think it was just a corny dream not having to do anything with this pending birth. But for the record...
I was helping 2 other ladies at the hospital, one a friend who just wanted me to be outside the door. Fine, I can do that. The other was my mother! I kept yelling at her because she'd have one intervention after another even though I kept warning her not to.
A while later it was my turn, everyone disappeared but my nurse and she kept asking what interventions I wanted and I hem-hawed about choosing some so as not to make her mad. Next thing I know, the nurse comes in telling me I had a baby girl, 24" long between 7 & 9 lbs. Dark hair, and they had her dressed like a punk rocker in black lace.
I had gained 48 lbs during the pregnancy and when I went home, I had lost that plus 40 more!
** Bhs have picked up the past few days. Always in sets and not spiratic. A good thing! Baby is still LOA or ROA, not much movment, lots of hic-ups still, and occasional kicks that make me wonder how my BOW survives and I'm not bruised on the outside.
Sat May 01, 2004
Almost 36 weeks - getting antsy
At the beginning of this pregnancy, I prayed for a big baby, for some reason that was on my heart to pray for. I think I'm going to get one too. Big to me would be anything over 7 lbs though!
Baby has been mostly ROA or LOA, but has decided to spend more time just plain anterior with it's back aligned down my midline. This is causing me much grief in the walking department unless I hold the head off my pubic bone. Aye, the pressure and shooting pains!
My birth pool is here and I ordered a few supplies today as well. Just need to get something to protect the mattress and a fill/drain kit for the pool. Wash a few newborn clothes and I'm set.
Another month or so to go!
Wed Apr 21, 2004
34 weeks, nothing new
Boring, boring pregnancy wise. I did order the birth pool and next paycheck I'll order some supplies/herbs. See the order of priority.
I've been cleaning clutter - that is kid toys. I'm not sure how they get so much "stuff" because we don't buy it. I tossed out at least 15 stuffed animals, and things like the lincoln logs - never played with (way to hard for little kids) and when/if we have use for some, we'll buy it then (maybe). No use storing stuff for years.
I have in the back of my mind to declutter in case we move. We have to move soon!! AHHH - I go insane thinking about our late bills and debt. We've needed to sell our house for 2 years because the payments are just too high. But dh just won't do it. So, sooner than later we will most likely be moving and I will start making that process easier as part of my nesting. Otherwise I'd have nothing to do but read Dr Seuss and squish play-doh all day.
Later this week I'll hit dh's desk...he's got paper work from before we were married stacked and who knows what else! All my 'stuff' is at my parent's still maybe next month while I continue the baby waiting game.
Sun Apr 04, 2004
32 weeks
Found the babe's heartbeat with my stethoscope. Beating away at 156. I was excited! I find myself getting too hung up on my weight gain. Suppose I need it since it's about the same as I've gained with my other pregnancies.
Babe's been head down for the last few weeks. Everything seems normal again after a few days last week of nasty sharp, knife stabbing cervical/vaginal pains.
I went through all our newborn clothes this weekend. If it's a girl, she'll be wearing nothing but white onsies. A boy, he'll have some blue onsies for this summer. LOL Somehow I have 47 newborn onsies...geesh! And I only bought one of them...It really made me feel blessed. My mom and dad (and others) have provided us with so much for their grandkids. I am overwhelmed by their generosity and need to thank them more often.
Now, only 4 more ladies who have journals to birth before me! I'm getting more and more ready, not quite there yet though.
Mon Mar 15, 2004
My Birthday
Well, I felt obligated to add something today. The kids and I had a great day doing dishes, reading, and playing outside. But at dinner, they acted like they had the devil in them. Strange! Not sure who they were!
I'm trying to figure out why I'm SO ready to give birth this time. I dream several times a week about delivering premature. I feel like I am further along in the pregnancy than I am. I'm trying to figure out why I'm SO ready to give birth this time. Dh is quite uninvolved with this pregnancy. He's never felt the baby except once when I made him. I'm all alone so to speak. My mom is only so supportive - she isn't into birth nor does she understand my need for privacy with regards to it. But she's the grandma and a great one at that! My sister is far away and I don't have any other close friends who can relate to anything remotely natural about childbirth so I'm the odd one out. thbttt!
I'm also very exhausted with little ones now and I've hit the "large and uncomfortable" phase. I think I'm just ready to share this 'burden' a bit. Though I have to admit, I LOVE and cherish my few minutes each night that I get alone with this baby before I fall asleep. I'm already more attached to this precious babe than any other while they were inutero. I feel bonded and ready to meet him/her. Maybe that is the MAIN difference. I've never been this ready for a baby, spiritually or mentally.
Hmmm, just thoughts...lots of those.
Wed Mar 10, 2004
28 weeks
The last week I've been feeling great. Finally past the worst of the pelvic pain and can start walking for real now. I'm sure that is helping my energy, I actually have some left at the end of the day and it's wonderful!
The only thing that's not wonderful is the heat has found us. Yes, I'm whining. It's been in the low 90s all week and winter wasn't long enough! 60's to 90's isn't an easy transition to make overnight, especially when you're pregnant.
Babe is fine. Lots of action and occasionally hiccoughs. I'm getting excited!!
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