Morgan Ann Has Arrived!!!!

Morgan Ann joined our family Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at 8:40 pm. She was 9 days early.

I went in Wednesday morning at 8:15 for my usual weekly (39 wks) check-up with the doctor to see if I had made anymore progress from the week prior (at 38 wks I was dialated to 1 cm). I went in thinking that maybe I had dialated another cm but that nothing else had really changed. Well, when the tech took my blood pressure she seemed to think that she was reading it wrong, so after about 4 tries she finally gets my doctor to come take it(and after another 2 tries) she gets the same thing....150/100. Yikes!!!! The doctor takes me back to one of the exam rooms and proceeds to tell me that she thinks it's best to get the process going now to deliver because my BP is too high and it's just not good for me or Morgan. I asked her what exactly she meant by the "now" part and she asked, "do you have someone that can pick up your stuff and meet you at the hospital now? I'd like to induce you this morning." What!?!?!?!?!?!?! So I made the call to John, who was by all accounts completely surprised and like me totally unprepaired to hear that kind of news, lol. So at 9:45 am, Wednesday morning, I was in a hospital bed, hooked up to the Pitocin, and thinking to myself, "this is not at all what I thought my day was going to be like, lol!"

Here are some more pictures and her stats:

Morgan Ann:
7.8 lbs
20 inches long...
And a head FULL of black hair (just like her daddy) :)

Mommy meeting her daughter for the first time

Morgan getting her first bath

Mommy & Daddy can't believe they made such a beautiful little girl!!

Daddy's Little Girl

Now that we have that wild hair tamed, lol.......

Your Pregnancy: A Week-by-Week Guide

You are 39 Weeks Pregnant!

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOU
Are you cleaning house for the first time in months? This may be your "nesting instinct" at work. You may find this a good time to "stock up" on groceries, cook and freeze some meals, and plan for the first few weeks with your new baby.
Some women begin to "turn inward" at this time of their pregnancy, thinking about the work ahead. They may seek the support of other women who have given birth, talk to their mothers, read voraciously or may just want to be alone.
Heartburn and constipation are two of the most common physical complaints at this time. Psyllium and water can relieve constipation. Try keeping a little something in your stomach at all times to avoid heartburn. Avoid large meals and don't eat just before heading to bed. You may also find it helpful to sleep with your head elevated.
You are continuing to make amniotic fluid but the rate of absorption may outpace the amount you make, so levels may start to decrease a bit. Be sure to alert your care provider if you have any leaking of fluid. It can be difficult to tell the difference between leaking of urine and amniotic fluid. A good way to check is to recline in bed for an hour after emptying your bladder. If upon arising, fluid trickles out, it is most likely amniotic fluid. Regardless, it is always best to have this checked out.
You are probably feeling very large -- and very uncomfortable -- at this point of your pregnancy. If possible, don't just stay at home. Go out! It might be some time before you have the chance to go out to dinner and see a movie alone with your partner!

Funny, I just cleaned the whole main floor of our house this last weekend. I paid for it this morning, but it always feels so good to finally have some energy that I feel like I need to take advantage of it and get as much done as I can before it dwindles away again. I think the lack of energy has been the hardest thing on me during this pregnancy. I have felt so useless and I hate that.
Let's see, the constipation has never really been an issue for me, but heartburn....that's been hell! I have to sleep with my head elevated and I keep Tums on hand at all times. I'm so not use to dealing with this, it really sucks!
It always amuses me when these updates say things like, "You are probably feeling very large -- and very uncomfortable." Probably?!?!?!?!?! Are you people kidding me!!!!!! You're damn right I feel huge and uncomfortable! Sometimes I wonder if it is a man that writes these things.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BABY
Your baby probably weighs at least six pounds and is approximately 19 inches long. There are many signs that your baby is full term: There is no longer any "lanugo" (fine downy hair) on the back and shoulders; fingernails now extend beyond your baby's fingertips; he or she holds limbs well flexed and the chest is prominent with tissue below the nipples. If your baby is a boy, the testes are now in the scrotum, or palpable in the inguinal canals.

I just want her to be here already. I want to see her and be amazed at the combination of John and I in her. Hurry up girl!

EATING FOR TWO
During the final weeks, as your baby experiences rapid growth, nutrition becomes more important than ever. Continue to take your prenatal vitamins and boost your iron intake. Also, boost your water intake. This can help to prevent dehydration during labor.

FACT OF THE WEEK
An episiotomy is an incision made between the vagina and the anus, which, some practitioners claim, may help women avoid severe tearing as the baby comes into the world. Typically doctors are more likely to perform episiotomies than midwives.
The ongoing debate is whether it's better for a woman to tear naturally or to be cut. Women should know that they may not tear at all -- especially if they follow their body's urge to push and have their practitioner or partner support their perineum as they give birth. It is wise to evaluate your practitioner's view of this procedure and to define your own desires.
In the meantime, there are indications that perineal massage can help stretch this sensitive area before labor and can make it easier for a woman to give birth with little or no natural tearing.

Let's all say the dreaded scary word together....E P I S I O T O M Y. Ugh....just saying that word gives me the chills. I honestly think that besides the health of mom and baby, the episiotomy is the biggest fear for most women going through labor...with good reason I suppose. I've just come to the conclusion that there's really nothing I can do about it so why freak myself out. If it happens it happens and with everything else in life, you deal with it and then move on.

Your Pregnancy: A Week-by-Week Guide

You are 38 Weeks Pregnant!

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOU

Your baby is truly "full term" and could really arrive at any time!

Around this time, you may "lose" your mucus plug. It can look like thick, slippery brown discharge or an actual "plug." Some women never experience this. For others, it may occur just before labor, or any time in the last month of pregnancy.

Remember to keep track of your little one's movements and call your practitioner if you notice any drop in frequency or change in the pattern.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BABY

During the next two weeks your baby will gain weight, as fat is stored to help maintain body temperature and glucose levels. Your baby might still have vernix (that creamy coating that protects the skin), but it is mostly confined to skin creases and folds and the back and neck. Your baby has a firm grasp reflex now. If a light is shown on your belly, your baby will now turn towards it. This is called the "orienting response."

Your baby may weigh six to six and one half pounds at this point or he or she may weigh eight pounds or more! At around 18 1/2 inches long, he or she would look very well developed if born today. Your baby would not need any special care at this point.

The "lanugo" or fine downy hair that covered most of your baby's body in the second trimester is mostly gone now, or present only on the upper back and shoulders.

FACT OF THE WEEK

While the lithotomy position (mother on her back with legs elevated in stirrups) is gradually losing favor as the ideal birth position, some providers continue to insist on this position at the time of birth. The moment of birth is not the time to discuss your care providers preferences, so it is important to talk this over now.

Consider alternative positions:

Side lying: Takes the weight and pressure of the uterus off of the major blood vessels and the perineum. The upper leg can be lifted or grasped by the mother when she pushes.

Semi-sitting: This position assists gravity in bringing the baby down into and through the pelvis.

Squatting: This position "opens" your pelvis and assists gravity. When not instructed in the "proper way" to birth a baby, most women spontaneously choose an upright squatting position in which to give birth.

These alternative positions sound nice and all, but doctors do not allow any other position other then the traditional Lithotomy for delivery. As long as OB doctors have to pay the highest in malpractice insurance we will never be able to try any other position....unless you choose to use a midwife. So it kind of bugs me when sites like this "recommend" these other positions knowing full well that they are not available to laboring women.

Our Little Girls Nursery....

Here are some pictures of our little girls nursery and what she will be wearing when we bring her home from the hospital. Enjoy!

Here is her Coming Home outfit.

A closer look....

This is only a portion of her clothes so far

Her Crib and dresser. Never mind the bassinet in front of the dresser, she will be sleeping in that in our room for the first few weeks.

Close up of her crib

Her other dresser

Okay, so I'm completely exhausted today. :( The last few nights I feel like I've gotten zero sleep because of contractions. Up until last week I haven't really had many BH (Braxton Hicks) contractions but now I seem to be getting them all night long and at this point I'm starting to wonder if they really are just BH contractions or if they may be real contractions. I know the BH's are not suppose to hurt but sometimes the ones I experience get pretty uncomfortable. The only thing that's helping me not to worry too much is the fact that there seems to be no pattern or consistency to them....not yet anyway. Guess I'll just talk to the Doc at my next appointment...see what she says.

We went to our birthing class last Saturday and I must say that it was a great class and really helped me to let go of some of my anxiety about the labor and delivery. The instructor was a labor/delivery nurse that works at the hospital we will deliver at and she gave us a lot of great advice and insight into the whole process. I really feel like now I know more of what to expect once we are in the hospital...it's quite a relief!

Anyway, we have the nursery pretty much put together, I'll take pictures tonight and post them here tomorrow. It's soooooo cute!

Your Pregnancy: A Week-by-Week Guide

You are 37 Weeks Pregnant!

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOU
Congratulations! Even though you are about three weeks from your due date, if your baby weighs over five and one half pounds and you finish the 37th week, your baby is considered "full term." In most cases, nothing will be done to stop your labor once it starts.
You may be counting the days until your baby's official due date. Remember that only about five percent of babies are born on their due date -- including those with a due date determined by ultrasound! Don't set yourself up for disappointment by concentrating heavily on the "magic" day.
If you are having your first baby your baby may have "dropped" into your pelvis. The process of engagement or "lightening" in a woman who has already given birth is a phenomenon usually reserved for labor. True engagement is the fixing of the fetal presenting part -- usually the head -- at the level of the mid pelvis, or at the level of the ischial spines.

This girl has dropped. I'm peeing every other hour it seems and the pressure down low is very noticeable. I feel like I'm able to eat a little more then I use to and can breath a little easier now too. I honestly think that I will go into labor somewhere close to my due date....maybe a couple days before or after. Guess we'll just have to wait and see if I'm right. :)

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BABY

Gaining one half to one ounce each day, your baby is growing rapidly. Most babies are larger than five pounds, eight ounces now and have enough fat stores to keep their temperature stable in the extra uterine environment.

I know hitting the 37 week milestone has been a relief for me. I feel so much better knowing that from this point on she is ready and able to survive if she had too on her own.

EATING FOR TWO
Here's a refreshing way to get those fruits in your diet:

Raspberry Lemonade Smoothie
2 cups lemonade
1/2 pint fresh raspberries
2 cups ice
Optional garnish: three slices or wedges of lemon

Combine ice and lemonade in a blender until the ice is crushed. Add raspberries and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and garnish with lemon wedges.

This is actually one of the few recipes they've given on here that sounds really good! I'll have to try it.

FACT OF THE WEEK

· If you are giving birth outside of your home, it's a good idea to pack your bag long before the first contraction. While the list below is not all-inclusive, it does suggest some essential items to bring. Remember that your hospital stay is usually short, so it's better to pack light.

· Camera: Bring along several rolls of indoor film and/or a video camera and an extra video battery pack. If you take the video camera, bring a tripod. More than one proud papa has forgotten to take the video in the midst of excitement.

· Clothes: A nightgown for you, if desired. An extra set of clothes for you (including socks to keep your feet warm). Keep your going-home outfit loose since most women leave the hospital looking (temporarily) like they are about four months pregnant. Don't forget a newborn outfit for baby.

· Snacks: Your labor partner may not get an opportunity to leave the room. Having food on hand can be a real lifesaver. Many hospitals will feed you, but not your partner!

· Tylenol: Hospitals or birth centers may charge exorbitant rates for medications. Be sure to check with your practitioner before taking any medications -- prescription or over-the-counter.

· Toiletries: Hairbrush, makeup and other toiletries: Be prepared for all the photo opportunities!

· Celebratory drink: Champagne or non-alcoholic bubbly drink: Toast "To life!"

· Mindless reading material: Just in case you're in for a long wait.

· Baby car seat: Your baby will not be released without one. Read your manual before leaving for the hospital.

· Optional: CD or cassette player, massage oil, candy to keep your mouth moist and extra food for you in case the idea of hospital food really turns you off!

I just put my hospital bag together. Still some small things I need to add, but for the most part we are ready to go if need be.

Good News!

Well, we have some good news. Baby girl has turned herself around. She's no longer breech. Yay! It seems that finally things are starting to fall into place....FINALLY!

We have finally gotten around to picking a pediatrician. We meet with him Thursday. Monday we are having the carpets stretched and cleaned in the house. We've already painted the walls in the nursery, just need to do the stenciling work and do some touch-up. Monday night we will start setting up the crib and bring up her dressers. My mom has washed all her little clothes for us and my hospital bag is packed and ready to go. The days (28) are counting down fast, but I think we are finally getting ahead of it all. At least just in time for us to fall behind again once she gets here. :)

We have our Birthing class Saturday. It's an all day 8-5 class and should be pretty interesting. I'm not totally sure I'm looking forward to this class, lol! I think it's either gonna completely calm me down, or completely freak me out. Ugh....

I'm still swelling like a balloon but my blood pressure is again fairly stable so they are still just watching me. When they were checking to see if she was head down the Dr. also said that everything was still tight and closed, which is good. But ever since that check I've been having a lot of cramping and/or not so comfortable contractions. Nothing consistent or anything to worry about (it's normal) but just more then I'm use too and a little bit more uncomfortable. Oh yeah, when they did the ultrasound just to make sure she was head down I was able to see how she was positioned in there and found out what it was that John and I have been feeling moving around so much and pushing out just down and to the right of my belly button...it's her little tushie! Thought that was cute and had to share!

Well, that's all I've got for now. Have a great weekend!

Your Pregnancy: A Week-by-Week Guide

You are 36 Weeks Pregnant!

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOU

Welcome to the last month of your pregnancy. You may find it very hard to get in a comfortable position! Sleeping on your side with one or two pillows between your legs and one at your back may be comforting. If you have difficulty sleeping, try drinking warm milk, chicken broth or "sleepy time tea." And then, just as you get to sleep, you might need to get up again ... to use the bathroom.
You may have your first internal exam to see if your cervix has softened, thinned (effaced), dilated, or if your baby's head is dipping into your pelvis. Keep in mind that many women go to full term despite total effacement, a centimeter or two of dilatation and a fully engaged fetal head. Likewise, a woman whose cervix is "long, thick and closed" may give birth the next day.

I "may" find it hard to find a comfortable sleeping position? Really? You think? Duh!!!! I think my lack of sleep is showing right now, lol. I am so tired all the time it seems. If (and that's a BIG if) I do happen to find a some what comfortable position, it doesn't last long because inevitably, I will have to get up and pee for maybe the second or third time that night. Not to mention that my lower back and hips are KILLING me so sleeping on my sides is a constant challenge (after the 4th month, pregnant women are told to not sleep on their backs, only their side).
As far as internals go (ohhh sounds like so much fun, huh? NOT!) I think I have my first next week (37 wks) to see if she is still breech. So that appointment should be interesting. I can't believe that if she is still breech, it would mean that she could be here in less then 3 weeks! Yikes!!!!! We're not ready yet!!!!!

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BABY

Your baby weighs about 5 to 5 1/2 pounds and is approximately 16 1/2 to 17 inches in length. Even though your baby is gaining rapidly, you may find that your weight is beginning to stabilize. Some mothers even lose one to two pounds during the final month while others continue to gain about one pound per week.

Well, I'm one of the unlucky ones that has continued to gain about a pound a week (go figure!). My total weight gain so far has been I think 22-23 lbs. I was really hoping to not go over the 20 mark. Oh well, I am taking some comfort in the fact that I think darn near half that 22 lbs is fluid retention and not actual fat. I feel like that girl in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory that blew up like a blueberry, lol! I only have two pairs of flip flops that fit my feet anymore and I can't were any rings on my fingers because they've swollen up so much. Don't even get me started on how puffy my face is!

EATING FOR TWO

Eating nutritiously isn't just for proper fetal growth or maternal weight management. In fact, studies indicate that good nutrition may help to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the mysterious and abrupt death in infants that peaks in incidence between two and four months and affects around 5,000 babies each year. Here are some pregnancy risk factors that increase the incidence of SIDS:

• Mothers who eat poorly during pregnancy
• Mothers who smoke during pregnancy
• Mothers who have used heroin or cocaine during pregnancy
• Mothers who don't get regular prenatal checkups

Okay, I know that eating healthy is very important during pregnancy, but to suggest that SIDS could be caused by a mothers poor diet I think is ridiculous. I swear they'll scare mothers with anything just to get them to do what they think they should do, even scare them with SIDS. I also don't think it has anything to do with whether a woman gets regular prenatal checkups either. Obviously it's extremely important to have these checkups for a million different reasons, but SIDS I don't think is one of them. Enough with the scare tatics....

FACT OF THE WEEK

What exactly is a non-stress test? Performed at a birth center or hospital, this procedure evaluates your baby's well being through an external fetal monitor.
The test lasts from 20 minutes to an hour and records fetal heart rate and movements. Two small monitors are placed on your abdomen, and information is relayed to an external monitoring machine. Your practitioner may suggest a non-stress test if you have experienced any of the following:

· Gestational diabetes

· High blood pressure

· Diminishing fetal movement or a sudden increase in fetal movement followed by little movement

· A post due-date pregnancy