Earth Day Birth Day

Saturday night I spent a few hours chatting with LeeAnn online.  Throughout the conversation, from say, 10pm-12am, I was crampy and having contractions but I just disregarded them.  By the time I got off the computer and headed upstairs, I thought maybe I should start timing them to see if they were anywhere near regular.  I laid down in bed at 12:30am and for about 45 minutes my contractions were every 3-4 minutes apart.  I told Ryan we were probably going to need to head to the hospital.

I called L&D, because neither of us could remember how close together contractions should be before going in.  They said 5 minutes.  Oh!  We called Ry's dad to come over and I called Jane (who was photographing the labor and delivery for me) to let her know I'd be going in and would get ahold of her once I was admitted.  Then I took a shower.  And did my hair and makeup.  All the while, my contractions were 1.5-2 minutes apart.  I decided to hurry up on my hair as I was getting a little worried I'd be the crazy mom who delivers in the car because I had to do my hair HAHA!

On the way, Jane texted that she'd just meet us there.  My deliver with Hudson was only 5 hours and I'd been so paranoid Jane would miss this delivery.  I was put on labor monitor at around 2am and at that point my contractions had spaced out to 4 minutes but were much stronger/painful.  My nurse, Stacey (such a sweet nurse!), checked me at 2:30 and I was 2cm.  She said she'd check me around 4am and hopefully I'd be progressing so they could admit me.  I prayed I would!

At 3:45 I was 3cm and they admitted me to room 414.  YAY! 

By 5:15 my contractions were getting really painful although I was only 4cm dilated.  Stacey had been offering me pain medication for about an hour and a half but I told her I'd wait.  At this point I decided to get my epidural as I was getting really uncomfortable and having a hard time relaxing during the contractions. 

My epidural arrived at 5:45am.  YAY!  I was really nervous this time getting the epidural and jumped when she first poked me.  Then I started worrying that I would be paralyzed or the epidural wouldn't work and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to go through labor because I was having a hard time relaxing and focusing already.  

Once the anesthesiologist was done I noticed my right leg was tingling but my left leg and left side still felt more of the contraction.  Then the epidural pump wasn't working so they had to get a new pump.  Finally, about 20 minutes later, I felt numb and the epidural was working.  However.... my right side got a LOT more of the meds than my left and I ended up with a completely DEAD to the world right leg.  I could move my toes on my right foot but that was it.  It was dead weight.  It felt so weird!

7am I was 4-5 cm dilated. 

This part of the morning felt like such a loooong waiting game.  Ry, Jane and I rested a bit and just... waited.  

At 11am I was about 6cm dilated, my cervix had thinned out and my bag of water was bulging.  The nurse (Linda) called the doctor who would deliver (Dr. Vendola) so he could come break my water.  

Dr. Vendola came in around 12:45 to introduce himself and break my water.  He said I was about 5-6 cm.  Baby Girl had had a bowel movement already so they would have to check her after she was born. 

Within half an hour to 45 minutes I was feeling contractions on my left side and around my back.  I started shivering and shaking and couldn't stop.  I was completely dilated and ready to go!  

Dr. Vendola came in and as soon as he was in position and I had a contraction, she was born!  It was just 2 pushes and Miss Amelia Jane Barczak entered the world!

I couldn't believe how tiny she was! When the placed her on my stomach the first thing I noticed was her dark hair and her dark eyelashes.  She was beautiful.  I was so amazed that the day had finally arrived and I finally had the daughter I'd been wishing and praying for.  She was perfect.  

Amelia Jane Barczak
Sunday April 22, 2012

6lbs 6oz  18 inches long 

Born at 1:50pm

38 Week Appointment

Friday I had my 38 week appointment. I was dilated to 2 and she scheduled my induction for Wednesday. The check was super painful.Hudson went with me and thought it was hilarious that i took my skirt off and was sitting on the table without pants haha! Im sure he thinks these baby doctors make his mom crazy... I per in cups and sit on the table without pants on! Everything looked good and in order!

The rest of the day sis was moving like a wild woman and I had contractions and cramps on and off. At one point the contractions were 2-4 minutes apart for about and hour but subsided when I got up to walk around.

37 Weeks

Another uneventful appointment... everything sounded great, going great etc.  A few notes:

• I have a "tentative" induction date for the 25th, which is exactly 39 weeks.  She will check me next Friday at my 38 week appointment and we'll schedule then.   Obviously, if she comes earlier I won't be induced.
• She said she expects the baby will be in the 7lb range.  I told her I was concerned she was going to be huge because everyone comments on how ginormous I am.  She said I am carrying a lot of extra fluid (I'm assuming she noted that as she squished the baby around my belly), and also because of the way I'm carrying her- completely out front and high.  GAH.  So, that was relieving to not know I'd be delivering a 17lb baby.  HAHA!
• I've been having a lot of pain in my right wrist lately, and first thought it was because I was sleeping on it wrong.  However, I always sleep on my right arm, and its never bothered me until the past week or so.  She said it likely is carpal tunnel, from the fluid retention and swelling, and I could use a brace if that helped.  
• Sleeping has been terrible.  I'm only able to sleep on my side and that ends up pinching a nerve in my hip, and combined with my wrist hurting (and having nowhere else to put my arm/wrist while I'm on my side), I'm not all that comfortable.  I've also had really bad heartburn the past few nights, which I haven't had much this pregnancy.  Most nights I lie in bed until 2 or 3am and wish I could fall asleep.    Thank goodness I'm working half days and have been able to nap with Hudson in the afternoons.
• Yesterday I was sick all day... flu-stomach bug type symptoms.  I was hoping it was a sign of labor soon but no such luck. 
• This afternoon/evening I had quite a few crampy contractions, and I went grocery shopping and had contractions the entire time.  Nothing regular or very strong and once I got home and laid down for a bit they've gone away.   Uncomfortable, but I welcome them... all the more closer to labor I'm getting! YAY!!

Here I am... in all my additional 52#'s of glory.  EEEK.   That's 12lbs more than I gained with each of the boys.... and combine that with the fact that I started this pregnancy 12lbs heavier than normal.... disgusting.  Oh well.  

And the swelling feet.  The other day it was pretty cold out so I had to wear shoes to work (not flip flops).  First off, most of my shoes are too tight (uh... ya think... look at those sausages!!), and then by the evening I had Hudson pull off my socks and I about died looking at my fat ankles!  EWW.  

You know you're huge when...

Saw this on Baby Center pregnancy board... cracked up at so many of them.  I can so relate to these!

You know you're huge when....

• You can't open the window above the kitchen sink because your belly is in the way.
• You knock your toddler over because you cant see them under your belly
• You have your kid stand on the coffee table for you to tie his shoes
• Your belly touches the steering wheel!
• You can no longer squeeze the shopping cart past you in the check out lane and have to step in with the cashier behind you to move the cart forward.
• You attempt to get into your car as normal, but don't make it, and only one cheek makes it onto the seat. Then you try to shut the door anyway to save face, only to slam your other cheek and have to try again. 
• You pee all over your hands when trying to give a urine sample at the doctor's office b/c you can't see where the hell you're putting the cup down there and you're just winging it and hoping for the best.
• You look at your jeans and go "yeahhh not about to happen" as you reach for your sweat pants.  Again.
• You cant reach the bottom of the washer to get your clothes out (not so much with this pregnancy... we have a front load now, but been there, done that with the boys' pregnancies!)
• Your boobs rest on your belly.
• You have to assume the sumo wrestler position to pick things up. You know, feet spread apart, hands on knees, grunting while bending over and standing back up...
• Your belly button completely disappears...it is stretched FLAT!

36 Weeks

Another uneventful appointment.  I am glad to be able to say that, though.  My bp was back to more of my normal rate this week, and I was measuring at 37 weeks.  I asked about induction at 38 weeks if I was dilated (as it went with Hudson's pregnancy), but she said "the rules have changed and we can't induce until 39 weeks."  Rules schmules.   She said she'd check me at 38 weeks and strip my membranes and hopefully, if I was dilated, it would kick start things.  Well I'm going to spend the next couple weeks gathering any sort of home induction method I can find online LOL!

Luckily I'm not THAT terribly uncomfortable most days, YET, but I know I'm just entering Hell Zone and the next few weeks are going to be rotten.  I'm trying to keep my spirits up but I hate feeling so tired, achy, out of breath and just... fat.  Ugh.  I don't think it'd be so bad if I was the type of person who actually enjoyed being a couch potato and liked to sit and do nothing all day, but I'm too much of a busy body to just sit.  And right now I feel so immobile and uncomfortable and tired that I can't keep up with my motivation.  I have so many things I want to be doing in the yard, or around the house, but I'm just physically not up to it.  Its frustrating.

The boys are getting more and more anxious for sissy's arrival as well.  They ask all the time when she will be here, and each doctor's appointment they get their hopes up that I'm heading there to "get the baby out"  HAHA!  I am ridiculously excited to watch them meet her for the first time!

I'm down to pretty much nothing to wear.  Luckily I wear a lot of skirts normally, and have been able to wear a lot of my flowy, peasanty skirts on warmer days.  Spring break has been nice since I can sit around in my jammies or Ryan's basketball shorts and t-shirts.  I'm dreading the next few weeks of work because I have hardly any work clothes left that cover my belly or fit my thighs/butt/waist.  UGH.

This past week I've been a crafting fool.  I've made tons of baby bibs (and gifted a few to a friend expecting her first little girl this fall!) with lots of my scrappy pieces of fabric.  They're easy and fun to make so I think I might just keep on making them and sell some on Etsy.  I also picked out some of my favorite outfits for baby girl, up to like 12 months, and made matching headbands for the outfits.  I was on a roll with felt and jersey knit materials.  I will have to take pictures to share.  And of course, once she fits into all the outfits I'll definitely be taking pictures!   (because I'm pretty sure that's about how long a headband will stay on a baby LOL!)

So to sum up this week, uneventful.  My next appointment is on Friday.