This morning, when Theresa came in at shift change, I laid there with one eye open trying to remember where I was because I was so deeply asleep. What a great sign! I’m becoming comfy and even having dreams at night. It was great to have her here this morning as I woke up; we chatted for about 10 minutes about my situation (this was the first time she had been my nurse since my stay here started), about natural childbirth (she had those plans for her labor, too; but, they unfortunately didn’t work out), and her 16 month old baby!
I was instantly in a good mood due to the socializing and relaxed a little before the big event of the day: AN ULTRASOUND! Dr. P’s patients have one every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; and, it’s so much fun to see baby on that screen. Everything was great with Jenaleigh. The tech commented on how much hair she has (!), her beautiful spine, and how she was practice breathing ‘like a horse’!
Yesterday, a friend from Sweetwater called to chat and asked the question that I asked myself just 3 days ago, “How are you NOT going crazy in there?” Thanks to advice from another expectant bedridden Mama, I’m using a schedule to help keep me on track and to make things feel more “normal”. Here's a glimpse into it for those of you wondering how I'm making it without going bonkers!
7:30 Wake UP! This is when breakfast comes in and the new nurse usually makes her rounds.
8:30 After eating I watch some of the Today Show and catch up on my e-mails & the nurse puts me on the fetal monitor for about half an hour.
9:30 Shower (one of my favorite parts of the day) OR if it’s ultrasound day I wait for later to take a shower! I learned that lesson the hard way – on Monday I had just taken a nice long shower when they asked for me in U/S. I came back from U/S gooped up with the gel all over me!
10:30 Ultrasounds on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays
11:30 LUNCH TIME! (I wish it wasn’t so early, but oh well!)
12:30 Go for a walk. While I am here in the hospital, I’m not on complete bedrest. Dr. P doesn’t think that would be good for me – I’d go crazy! So, when Daniel’s here we’ll take a walk or when I’m here by myself, I get up to at least move around the room.
1:00 Daily Devotional. The great thing about being here in the hospital is that I have so much time for Bible study and prayer. I’ve also been listening to some wonderful lessons by great gospel preachers over at polishingthepulpit.com
2:00 Read/Blog/Internet Time. I’ve found the most fun game ever on Yahoo! Games – “Draw My Thing”. It’s like Pictionary and you actually get to play with people live over the Internet!
4:30 SUPPER TIME! (Again, it’s so early that I’m usually famished by bed time. I’m trying to save a little bit from each meal, like a roll, muffin, etc, for later)
5:00 Studying/Blogging/Reading
7:00 Daniel and Martha time! When Daniel gets back I plan on taking an hour or two each night for the board and card games he’s bringing back with him to help us have a little fun!
9:00 Baby Monitoring & T.V. (if anything’s on…)
10:30 Sleep Time!
3:00 Briefly wake up to take my Mag Ox pill, then drift back off into la-la land!
See it’s not that so bad, is it? This hospital stay’s going to be a breeze!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Pretty Cool Guy
My husband’s a pretty cool guy (of course, if you know him, I don’t need to tell you that twice!). Well, yesterday this pretty cool guy went to WalMart back home to pick up a site-to-store order that I had placed. This order included two essentials for baby. The first: a mattress for the crib. The second: … a breast pump! Did I mention that he’s a pretty cool guy? Honestly, what other husband would walk out of WalMart with his head held high carrying a breast pump? Mine did!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Coming to Terms | Day 6 of Hospital 'Bedrest'
Both Daniel and I woke up this morning a little groggy (it’s amazing how tired I can be even though all I’m doing is resting all day!) My sleepiness is probably due to pregnancy, but I'm sure Daniel's is due to sleeping on a fold out chair/couch! Yuck!
After we got geared up, we walked over to the McDonald’s (in Kosairs, connected to this hospital through a walkway) where I indulged in a sausage egg and biscuit. It was the first time Daniel and I had eaten together outside of the hospital room since last Wednesday! What a treat – like a real life date!
Daniel then had to leave to go back to Hardin. He’ll only be gone until Thursday, and when he comes back he'll be loaded down with items from my lengthy list (including clothes, pillows, pictures, cards, etc!) I'm definitely looking forward to his return as it can get awfully lonely... BUT, the nurses are great and have been a lot more chatty with me today since they've noticed he's gone.
On the medical front, I learned that I will have to give myself a daily shot of blood thinner until baby gets here. I haven’t quite come to grip with how I’m going to do that. The pain itself isn’t intolerable, just the action of sticking something in me and the pushing down to inject a liquid through my body. Gives me the shivers!
I also did a lot of research on Protein S Deficiency and learned from Dr. P that I’ll have to be induced (either through stripping of membranes or medication) so that I can be taken off of the blood thinner prior to delivery to prevent hemorrhaging and so I can have an epidural if the need arises. Scary stuff!
It’s still difficult for me to believe that I had all of these “plans” for a natural childbirth that are crumbling as each day goes by. But, I’m pretty at peace with the lessened control and the disappointment has almost completely faded. I know she’ll get here the safest way possible and that’s enough joy to fill me for awhile!
After we got geared up, we walked over to the McDonald’s (in Kosairs, connected to this hospital through a walkway) where I indulged in a sausage egg and biscuit. It was the first time Daniel and I had eaten together outside of the hospital room since last Wednesday! What a treat – like a real life date!
Daniel then had to leave to go back to Hardin. He’ll only be gone until Thursday, and when he comes back he'll be loaded down with items from my lengthy list (including clothes, pillows, pictures, cards, etc!) I'm definitely looking forward to his return as it can get awfully lonely... BUT, the nurses are great and have been a lot more chatty with me today since they've noticed he's gone.
On the medical front, I learned that I will have to give myself a daily shot of blood thinner until baby gets here. I haven’t quite come to grip with how I’m going to do that. The pain itself isn’t intolerable, just the action of sticking something in me and the pushing down to inject a liquid through my body. Gives me the shivers!
I also did a lot of research on Protein S Deficiency and learned from Dr. P that I’ll have to be induced (either through stripping of membranes or medication) so that I can be taken off of the blood thinner prior to delivery to prevent hemorrhaging and so I can have an epidural if the need arises. Scary stuff!
It’s still difficult for me to believe that I had all of these “plans” for a natural childbirth that are crumbling as each day goes by. But, I’m pretty at peace with the lessened control and the disappointment has almost completely faded. I know she’ll get here the safest way possible and that’s enough joy to fill me for awhile!
Hospital Bedrest: The Background
I have been woefully negligent of this blog. But, now since I've got a lot more time to spend on the computer (read on to find out why), I thought I'd revive it in the last few weeks of pregnancy. It's my hope to keep you all updated with what's going on in our lives through this avenue and to share some of my other musings along the way...
*Warning* Lots of medical info is in this post. It may be boring to you. If it is, don't read it! ;-)
A couple of weeks ago (at 30W) I went in and complained about menstrual like cramping. So, the doc checked me and determined I had bacterial vaginosis and that I was effaced 50% with the outside of my cervix dilated to 3 cm, but the inside still closed.
We got that cleared up; but last Wednesday (at 32W) I started having cramping which was beginning to become pretty painful. So, after about 2 and a half hours of debating back and forth, Daniel and I decided to go on into L&D to have things checked out. (Read some of Daniel's thoughts about that day here: http://thechristianpractice.com/2011/03/28/but-i-dont-feel-bad/)
They put me on a monitor and weren't seeing any full on contractions, but rather a lot of little uterine activity. Finally the nurse checked me, then the midwife checked me, and then the doc checked me... The latter two felt that I was 2 cm, still about 50% effaced. Since there is no NICU care anywhere close to Mayfield, they called the perinatologist at Norton Hospital in Louisville (about 3.5 hours from home -- where they have the highest level NICU) who they routinely work with. He (the peri, Dr. P) thought it would be best if they transferred me, since they didn't know if they could stop the dilation there in Mayfield.
After they decided to transfer me, the nurses swarmed in, got me prepped (IV's, cath, etc) for the helicopter ride, which happened to be one of the most turbulent that the EMT had ever experienced (just adding the funness!). (You can read much more about that tomorrow at www.thechristianpractice.com)
Once I arrived on land in Louisville, they gave me more things to stop contractions, steroids for her lungs, and antibiotics in case of group b strep. I didn't stop cramping until they gave me morphine at about 4 in the morning. Dr. P was optimistic that I would be able to go home in a few days.
Fast forward a “few days” and my fetal fibronectin test came back positive and Dr. P found out I have a protein s deficiency (blood clotting disorder). {Side note: The PSD was probably what caused the blood clot which led to the spotting that I experienced early in the first trimester.}So, those two factors contributed to him wanting me to stay here in the hospital until I am 35 weeks (which is the time at which I could safely deliver at Jackson Purchase).
With this protein s deficiency I'm taking a daily injection of a blood thinner. Because of this, there is a likelihood that they will want to induce me between 38-40 weeks (the blood thinner takes 24 hours to get out of your system, which means absolutely no epidural if I'm on the shot; therefore if a c-section was needed I'd not have that as an option...) But, if they induce they can have me off the shot a day before in case an epi is needed. Also, while on blood thinners the risk of bleeding even from an un-medicated vaginal birth seems to be greater.
After I’m released from the hospital at 35W, I’ll still be under the care of the midwife and OBGYNs in Mayfield. But, most of my other plans are out the window right now; however, I am beyond thankful that all of this happened, so they could catch the protein s deficiency which can apparently cause clots in the placenta and cord late in pregnancy leading to fetal death.
Right now I'm on day 6 of hospital bedrest with about 15 left! So, tune in daily to see what's going on with me and baby!
-Martha
*Warning* Lots of medical info is in this post. It may be boring to you. If it is, don't read it! ;-)
A couple of weeks ago (at 30W) I went in and complained about menstrual like cramping. So, the doc checked me and determined I had bacterial vaginosis and that I was effaced 50% with the outside of my cervix dilated to 3 cm, but the inside still closed.
We got that cleared up; but last Wednesday (at 32W) I started having cramping which was beginning to become pretty painful. So, after about 2 and a half hours of debating back and forth, Daniel and I decided to go on into L&D to have things checked out. (Read some of Daniel's thoughts about that day here: http://thechristianpractice.com/2011/03/28/but-i-dont-feel-bad/)
They put me on a monitor and weren't seeing any full on contractions, but rather a lot of little uterine activity. Finally the nurse checked me, then the midwife checked me, and then the doc checked me... The latter two felt that I was 2 cm, still about 50% effaced. Since there is no NICU care anywhere close to Mayfield, they called the perinatologist at Norton Hospital in Louisville (about 3.5 hours from home -- where they have the highest level NICU) who they routinely work with. He (the peri, Dr. P) thought it would be best if they transferred me, since they didn't know if they could stop the dilation there in Mayfield.
After they decided to transfer me, the nurses swarmed in, got me prepped (IV's, cath, etc) for the helicopter ride, which happened to be one of the most turbulent that the EMT had ever experienced (just adding the funness!). (You can read much more about that tomorrow at www.thechristianpractice.com)
Once I arrived on land in Louisville, they gave me more things to stop contractions, steroids for her lungs, and antibiotics in case of group b strep. I didn't stop cramping until they gave me morphine at about 4 in the morning. Dr. P was optimistic that I would be able to go home in a few days.
Fast forward a “few days” and my fetal fibronectin test came back positive and Dr. P found out I have a protein s deficiency (blood clotting disorder). {Side note: The PSD was probably what caused the blood clot which led to the spotting that I experienced early in the first trimester.}So, those two factors contributed to him wanting me to stay here in the hospital until I am 35 weeks (which is the time at which I could safely deliver at Jackson Purchase).
With this protein s deficiency I'm taking a daily injection of a blood thinner. Because of this, there is a likelihood that they will want to induce me between 38-40 weeks (the blood thinner takes 24 hours to get out of your system, which means absolutely no epidural if I'm on the shot; therefore if a c-section was needed I'd not have that as an option...) But, if they induce they can have me off the shot a day before in case an epi is needed. Also, while on blood thinners the risk of bleeding even from an un-medicated vaginal birth seems to be greater.
After I’m released from the hospital at 35W, I’ll still be under the care of the midwife and OBGYNs in Mayfield. But, most of my other plans are out the window right now; however, I am beyond thankful that all of this happened, so they could catch the protein s deficiency which can apparently cause clots in the placenta and cord late in pregnancy leading to fetal death.
Right now I'm on day 6 of hospital bedrest with about 15 left! So, tune in daily to see what's going on with me and baby!
-Martha
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Girl = Pink?
I love pink just as much as the next gal. Seriously, I do! But my baby girl's outfits, blankets, or room decor will not be limited to the color pink. First of all, we'd love to reuse decor for baby #2 and secondly, I'm a girl and I like other colors. Won't she? Just sayin'! (And yes, I do realize that my blog color scheme is pink and black ... I do still like pink. This isn't a ban against all pink, it's a welcome for other colors as well!)
Hopefully I'll have pics of the nursery (green and brown) to post soon, but for now here's a picture of the bedding and theme I chose: (Picture from BabySuperMall.com NOT our actual nursery)
Hopefully I'll have pics of the nursery (green and brown) to post soon, but for now here's a picture of the bedding and theme I chose: (Picture from BabySuperMall.com NOT our actual nursery)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Say Goodbye, Say Hello
We're so excited about our move to Hardin; everything has been WONDERFUL so far. We love the church family here, the small town life, and the proximity to my parents!
But, I do have to admit, I'm super bummed about leaving our loving little birth center in Madisonville behind. Hopefully, we'll still be able to follow through with our plans for a natural birth, even though we'll be in a hospital setting.
At least we'll still get to be under the care of a midwife (Candy, who I already LOVE!) And, we're also seriously thinking about hiring a doula to be a support during the labor process (perhaps more for Daniel's sake than for mine!) I know everything will work out!
But, I do have to admit, I'm super bummed about leaving our loving little birth center in Madisonville behind. Hopefully, we'll still be able to follow through with our plans for a natural birth, even though we'll be in a hospital setting.
At least we'll still get to be under the care of a midwife (Candy, who I already LOVE!) And, we're also seriously thinking about hiring a doula to be a support during the labor process (perhaps more for Daniel's sake than for mine!) I know everything will work out!
Goodbye Women's Wellness & Maternity Center...
One of the rooms where I would have possibly given birth:
Hello Jackson Purchase Medical Center and Candy Riehl, CNM!
One of the L&D rooms at Jackson Purchase... Not too hospital-y... I think it'll do!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
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