Saturday, May 28, 2011

Labor and Delivery

So it all began with a midwife appointment on Wednesday. I was 40 weeks and 5 days pregnant.  They told me it didn't look like Miss Kenzie would be coming on her own so it was time to consider induction since I wasn't even dilating.  We all agreed that it was the best decision even though it wasn't how we wanted to do things.  (you know it's time when your "midwife" says it is) We scheduled our induction for Monday night and to start the pitocin on Tuesday morning.  When we got into the car, I cried. And cried, and cried, and cried.  I wasn't wanting to go this route nor did I want to wait any longer.  I wasn't sleeping anymore and she was getting quite painful to carry since she was STILL facing the wrong direction.

When we got home, Brady spoke up and told me to call and move the induction up since there wasn't really a reason to wait any longer.  Thankfully, they had a bed available for the following evening. Which would mean I could have Kenzie on Friday(my 23rd birthday).  At this point, I was just relieved to hear she would be coming sooner than later.

Thursday morning came, and I repacked my bags since we'd be staying an extra night.  I caught up on laundry, and cleaned the kitchen and bathrooms.  My mind wasn't on any one task though, so I'm not thinking I was very thorough.  I'm sure my mother in law got a kick out of watching me walk in circles around the house trying to remember what I had in my hand and what I came to this room for.  :-)

It's now 4:15pm and we have to be at the hospital at 5pm.  We get everything loaded in the car.  I go to sit down on the passenger side of the car and the entire front of my pants rip in two.  I seriously thought my water had broke.  We all got a good laugh which I really needed since I was tense.  So we finally make it to the hospital and get our room.  Things are good.  The midwife Jan came in and inserted the Cervidil.  She said this would help get my body ready for contractions and so that I would be able to dilate when they started the pitocin the following morning.  She also mentioned that for a very small amount of women, the Cervidil can start labor and bring contractions. They kept me on the monitors to watch the baby's heart beat and see if any contractions would start.

9:30pm Brady brings me Chick-fil-a for dinner.  The nurse won't let me off the monitors to try and get Kenzie to flip on her own.  She was following hospital protocol but my midwife would have let me.

10:30pm Contractions start and are strong enough that I'm using breathing techniques to get through them. They are about 2 mins apart.  

11:30pm Midwife Jan comes in and asks me why I hadn't spoke up about having painful contractions.  My reply was something along the lines of, "Isn't this why I'm here, so that I can go into labor?!?"  She then removed the cervidil(which normally needs 12 hours to work) and gave me a little bit of pain meds so I could sleep through the night since we would be having a long day on Friday.

5am I am at 3cm. I was able to get about 4 hours of sleep.  Contractions are still 2 mins apart and are getting stronger.

7am Midwife Christi comes in to check on me.  Says things are looking great, we won't need any pitocin!

12pm  contractions are CRAZY STRONG!!!! Back labor is horrendous!  Midwife Christi suggests I use the yoga ball to help with the back labor and try and get Miss Kenzie to flip.  I end up throwing up my dinner at this point since the back pain is so strong.  I say something like "I'm done, I just want to go home now.  I don't want to do this anymore."

1pm Christi now suggested that I try and use the bed and have Brady help put counter pressure on my lower back to help with the pain and Kenzie may have an easier time turning.  (I am currently on no medicines)

1:30pm  Kenzie is still facing the wrong way. And I'm at 6cm.  I'm not able to breath through the contractions anymore.  It's more of a yelling moan sound that is coming out.  I'm crying and no one knows how to help me.  My back is the only thing that hurts... I can't even feel the true contractions, just back labor.  At this point my contractions are about 30 seconds apart, lasting between 60- 90 seconds long.  I know I said some things I shouldn't at this point because I was mad that I didn't get any breaks in between to relax.

2pm Christi is now suggesting that I truly consider getting an epidural because I'm so tense that I'm not dilating anymore and Kenzie can't turn since I'm so tense.

2:05  The anesthesiologist walks through the door.  I tell him that he's my hero.

2:15 BLISS!!!!! Christi tries to break my water since I have so much amniotic fluid.  She thinks this will help the contractions get stronger.  She also thinks that having the epi will allow me to relax enough that Kenzie can turn and get engaged.

3:30 Contractions have stopped almost completely.  Christi is now forced to give me pitocin to make the contractions come back.

5pm Christi wakes me up to check me.  7cm.  So she turns up the pitocin some more. Christi leaves the hospital for a meeting and Midwife Lauren takes over. Christi makes me promise that I'll wait to have the baby until she gets back around 8:30. 

8pm Lauren wakes me up and checks me. 10cm and I'm ready to push!!!!!  Family came in to wish me good luck as Lauren gets the room ready for our adventure.

8:20  Christi isn't back, but she's been called. My mom and Brady helped hold my legs for the pushing my Brady's mom is in the background ready to take pictures.  Lauren is ready to help get this baby girl out.

8:30 I am able to feel the contractions and when I need to push, I am also able to feel where I need to push at.  I was telling them when I was going to push not the other way around.  I start talking about wanting to try natural again next time as long as I don't have back labor.

8:44pm SHE's HERE!!!! Full head of hair. I got to help catch her.  She is absolutely beautiful!

8:48pm Brady cuts the umbilical cord, Kenzie reaches up and hold his finger as he does this.  Very sweet moment for everyone.

8:50pm Christi runs in the door yelling "did I make it?". She is still in her street clothes.  poor girl!

9pm The umbilical cord breaks from the placenta before it's delivered.  Very odd.

Turns out the umbilical cord was attached more to the amniotic sac than the placenta.  Had anyone seen this on an ultrasound, they wouldn't have let me deliver vaginally.  I would have been rushed to get a c-section.  But Kenzie was born perfectly fine and facing the correct way.  Only a few stitches were placed, and recover hasn't been bad at all.


Kenzie Rose McDaniel
Weight: 6lbs 8oz
Length: 18 1/4inches long
Eyes: blue
Hair: black
She has her mommy's nose and her daddy's toes.


 

Monday, May 23, 2011

Kenzie Rose McDaniel

After 21 hours in labor, she has finally arrived!  Kenzie was born on May 20th (my bday) at 8:44pm.  For being 41weeks and 0days, she was a whopping 6lbs and 8oz.  We love her to death already!! She is the perfect little girl. She has her daddy wrapped around her tiny little fingers.  It doesn't matter how mad she is, if she hears his voice, she will immediately stop crying and try to find him.  It's the cutest thing ever.  Plus she looks just like him too!  All I've heard is that she has my nose and eyebrows. lol





My brother in law made her a website he is putting some of the pictures on.  I apologize that the video on the bottom of the website makes it look like I don't care about my new baby, but I had just endured 23 hours of no food and I was STARVING!!!  Plus, it was my birthday too!!!!  Birth story coming soon! 

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Eviction Notice

Ok We give up!!!!  When the midwife recommends you get an induction because she doesn't think the baby is going to come on her own... it's time!  Apparently my daughter is stubborn enough that she won't get into the correct position long enough for me to even dilate.  It's definitely not the route we wanted to take, but at least I'll have a baby soon.  Turns out Thursday night we will check in the hospital to be prepped.  And then on May 20th (my 23rd birthday) they will start the pitocin.  Hopefully she will be out that day, which means... Mommy and Kenzie will share a birthday.  I've been totally against it for so long, but now I just want to be holding her.

 I'm up late again right now because she won't stop moving.  She's too big now and it's pretty painful. She only ever gets this active when I am laying down.  NOT COOL!  I really, really want and at this point, NEED to sleep.  I can't wait for this to be all over with! I promise to update again as soon as I can. It may have to wait until I'm home for the hospital though.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

belly video

This is what Kenzie does ALL NIGHT LONG these days.  You'd think she'd give up and get out.  She's about to receive an eviction notice! 

283 days

283 days of being pregnant.  I'm convinced that I'll be pregnant forever.  Apparently my daughter doesn't want to meet me as much as I want to meet her.  No I haven't had ANY contractions, and no I don't sleep much at night. Yes I've been trying to do things to naturally induce.  Yes my legs are going to be extremely toned by the end of this bc of the amount of miles I've walked and lunges I've done.  No I don't want to hear about your child birth story today. Yes I'd love for you to help get my mind off of waiting.

Things not to say to a pregnant woman at 36 weeks or more...(this is not meant to make anyone feel horrible, I promise... just a little preggo humor/venting)

"Wow you look like your about to pop" (Grrr....)
"She's going to come out any day now" (I've been hearing it for 3 weeks now, still not here.)
"Are you ready?" (no, I'm just holding my legs together cause I don't want to meet her yet)
"How do you feel?" (do you really want to know, or are you being polite?")
"Are you sleeping much?" (no, not really at all)
"You should try______ to induce. It works every time!" ( maybe, maybe not.  You don't think I haven't been googling 'natural ways to induce' during my free time?!?!)
"You're waddle is so cute" (no comment)
"She's going to come tomorrow, I just know it!" (epic FAIL!!!! still no baby)
"Well, you look great" (but I don't feel like it)
"Maybe you got your dates wrong" (no but thanks anyways)
"Your shirt's too small" (thanks for noticing)
"Now when is your due date?"  (3 days ago... thanks for reminding me)
"You'll forget all about this part later." (I understand that, but I can't forget it right now)
"I only gained (insert rediculous number here) pounds when I was pregnant"
"How's your cervix?" (Look stranger- I don't know you and I don't want to get that personal with you)
"Mine kid came 3 weeks early" (good for you!)
"She's still not here?" or "You still haven't had that baby yet?" (does it look like I'm still pregnant?)
"when are you going to induce?" (when it's medically necessary)
"You're going to NEED an epidural. You're crazy for turning it down. (thanks a lot for being so supportive!)

And last but not least-
"I've determined you're going to carry her as long as an elephant does.  Did you know their gestational period is 2 years?!?"  (Sir, I know we're at church, but I'm about to punch you if you don't walk away right now!)*** yes this really happened on Sunday.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Due date- came and went

Still no baby girl to cuddle with.  It's interesting to hear how bold people get when suggesting ways to induce.  Right now, I'm just doing a lot of walking and lunges.  I've tried a few other things, too.  I haven't had even one contraction in several weeks.  Apparently I have a very strong willed little girl on my hands.  I promise I will try and keep you guys posted as she starts showing signs of coming out!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Waiting sucks...

Sunday marked the first (and hopefully only) Mother's Day I had to face without my daughter.  Yes I did cry a little.  At church, they had the baby dedication.  I was pretty jealous of all the mom's that have their kids in their arms already.  I can't believe she's due in 3 days!  Time has passed so quickly these last 9 months, but now the passing minutes feel like hours.  Her nursery is mostly done.  There are still a few things that haven't been hung on the wall, but it'll come.  I officially packed our hospital bags on Monday (yes I am a procrastinator).  I haven't had any contractions this past week, but I've had a lot of back pain.  I'm pretty convinced she's going to stay inside her nice warm home forever!  Miss Priss is still moving front to back- faces the wrong direction as soon as I get up from a laying down position.  I think that she thinks it's a game.  She's quite the kicker, and loves to push on my ribs.  Monkey girl takes after her daddy!   I do have a midwife appointment today at 2pm.  I've done everything I can think of to stay active and naturally induce. (except eating/drinking things like caster oil- I'm just not ready to go that extreme yet) I've NEVER washed our white Civic since we bought it 3 years ago, but this week, I hand washed it, vacuumed it and scrubbed a bunch of stains out of it.  Plus installed the carseat, the nosy mommy mirror, and the sun shade.  I've been making Brady go with me on walks at the mall, dog park, walmart... he isn't too fond of it though.  And still NO contractions!  Not even one this week.

On a funny note- both of Kenzie's grandma's have bags that are packed and in the car too!  They both live about an hour or so away from the hospital, so they have to be ready at a moments notice. :-)  My mom loves to cut people off on the phone when I call right now, "Can you hold on a sec? My daughter is due to have a baby any day now, let me make sure this isn't an emergency."  She's too funny!  Brady's mom has been coming to town everyday since Eddie works in town and takes the car with him.  She doesn't want to miss out on Kenzie's arrival.  I think I should dub our house the "hub" or "basecamp" until she's about a year old when things calm down again.  lol

In other news,  Brady threw out his neck around 5am on Tuesday morning.  Great timing!  So now neither of us are sleeping and both want massages and are both grumpy.  The McDaniel household is a happy place right now.  Oh well.

***** As for important info for you guys-  I am delivering at St Lukes Baptist Hospital in the Medical Center.  Here is the website with directions.   http://www.baptisthealthsystem.com/directions.aspx.  As long as everything goes smoothly, we should only be staying one night.  Parking is $1 per hour, just so you know. There are 3 floors I could be on, so you'll just have to call before you come visit or ask at the front desk.  It may be more convenient to wait until we get home to visit since the hospital is pretty far from most people, plus our room is supposed to be extremely small. (like only fits 4 people in it) We shall see.