Tuesday, September 30, 2008
When to come by and visit?
Hi Everybody! I'm so excited and want everyone to come and visit and hang out. Heather mostly wants to sleep. Could change at any time, right? If you want to come by and visit, just text my cell phone at 510-912-7323 to see where we are at. If you don't know, we are at Alta Bates in Berkeley (Ashby and Telegraph) Room 4303.
Grandparents!
Happy, Happy Grandparents!We are resting, eating, and having short visits today.
She's nursing like a champ!
Just slept for 3 hours. Feels like a nightful.
Ta Da!
The little button reads, "It's My Birthday!"
Little Baby Bug Green was born on 9/30/08 at 12:43am weighing in at 7 pounds 10 ounces.
Monday, September 29, 2008
10pm Update
She's at 8cm and at +1 station. Progress! Pushing time is close! Midwife will check back in two hours. As soon as she gets 10cm, we're pushin' this baby OUT! Heather's in great spirits. Thank you again for all of your posts. She loves hearing them.
Matt
Matt
The 8pm Update
Hi People,
We are at 8pm and still at 6cm. The baby is at -1 station. (That means its super low!) Heather feels good, refreshed, and rested.
We have a plan now. We are going to turn down the epidural, give her some sugar water, turn on the lights, and switch the music to more upbeat tunes. If she hasn't dilated in 2 hours, then we're bringin' on the pitocin at 10pm.
We're almost there. Whoo Hoo!
-Matt
We are at 8pm and still at 6cm. The baby is at -1 station. (That means its super low!) Heather feels good, refreshed, and rested.
We have a plan now. We are going to turn down the epidural, give her some sugar water, turn on the lights, and switch the music to more upbeat tunes. If she hasn't dilated in 2 hours, then we're bringin' on the pitocin at 10pm.
We're almost there. Whoo Hoo!
-Matt
Heather is doing great!
Wheh! What a night! Damn that was hard. Especially from 4:30 - 6:30am. What has made it so hard for Heather is that she has been having back labor even though the baby head is anterior. Her contractions have been activating her muscles around her sacrum and low back rather than her uterus. Our Doula, Janelle, made the suggestion to have an acupuncturist come over to relieve the pain. Geraldine did a fantastic job of relieving the back spasms that allowed the uterine contractions to kick in around 10:30am this morning. My parents then came by to pick us up and take us to the hospital.
As soon as Heather walked into triage, she felt so relieved. At 12:30pm, she was 5cm dilated and contracting heavily. When we got to the room, the decision was pretty clear to get an epidural. She was laughing/crying at the idea of a nap, a chance to escape the constant gripping of the contractions.
Right now, she is asleep. Whoah.....what a relief for me. So stressful to see my sweetheart struggle for so long.
Thank you all for all of your comments. I read them to her as we were leaving the house to come here to the hospital. She started to cry and that felt good.
I'm going to lay down cause I haven't slept for a good many hours? days?
Thank you all for your support.
As soon as Heather walked into triage, she felt so relieved. At 12:30pm, she was 5cm dilated and contracting heavily. When we got to the room, the decision was pretty clear to get an epidural. She was laughing/crying at the idea of a nap, a chance to escape the constant gripping of the contractions.
Right now, she is asleep. Whoah.....what a relief for me. So stressful to see my sweetheart struggle for so long.
Thank you all for all of your comments. I read them to her as we were leaving the house to come here to the hospital. She started to cry and that felt good.
I'm going to lay down cause I haven't slept for a good many hours? days?
Thank you all for your support.
Still at home
It's 9:50am. We've been going intensely strong since 7pm last night. Acupuncturist is coming very soon. If that doesn't significantly loosen her up, it's off to the hospital.
Sounds like we're doing a home birth, huh? Yes, the plan was to go to the hospital. Things constantly change. We'll write about it more when we finally get to the other side.
Please send Heather your wishes. She's being a real trooper with all the pain she's experiencing. It make a real difference to read what you all have wrote.
-Matt
Sounds like we're doing a home birth, huh? Yes, the plan was to go to the hospital. Things constantly change. We'll write about it more when we finally get to the other side.
Please send Heather your wishes. She's being a real trooper with all the pain she's experiencing. It make a real difference to read what you all have wrote.
-Matt
Sunday, September 28, 2008
She's Jammin'
Contractions 2-3 min apart. We are in Active Labor. Chillin' at home until we have to go to hospital. Will let you know when that happens.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
The SLOW start of labor
Well, we just returned home from the hospital. It seems my water breaking may actually have only been the mucus plug. What a crazy afternoon/evening.
After waking up from a nap at 3pm, I was dribbling, then dripping fluid. The fluid was brown. I thought it looked like old blood, but I was concerned it might have been meconium - the baby's first poop. My midwife felt the same and recommended we get it checked out at the hospital.
We decided to eat lunch first, granted I was too excited/nervous to eat much. Matt proceeded to finish packing the bags in case they wouldn't let us return home. He was awesome. I mostly loitered, having periodic mild contractions.
We got on the road and to the hospital close to 6pm. From the description and the tissue sample I brought with me from home, the nurse was sure it was only my mucus plug. The brown was definitely old blood (meconium is green) and there wasn't very much. They did a non-stress test to measure the baby's heart rate - it was great. They took a cotton swab sample from my vagina to analyze it for amniotic fluid - it came back positive. Our nurse was surprised, but there are factors that could give a false positive reading and we met those. She went to get midwife approval for us to go home...
SHIFT CHANGE - man, not a fun time to be waiting at the hospital - we were there for 3 hours, mostly because of this. Our nurse had to go, the midwives on call were all changing over and the technician for the ultrasound went home.
Our nurse, Cindy, was awesome. She waited until a new midwife gave an opinion. Get an ultrasound and check fluid levels. Okay. Little did we know the tech had left and we had to wait for the on-call tech to come in. Grumble.
I measured 7.5 - yeah, I don't really know what that means either. On Wednesday, I was 9.5 and was told that was great. Tonight, there was less awesomeness with the reading. We waited now for the OB on duty to say, "go home." But, she didn't. She wanted to check me with a speculum. She wanted me to lay down for another 10 minutes to 'collect fluid' for her to check it the membrane really was ruptured or not. We had had it, however. We went in for a meconium check - that was clear. My waters, if broken, are only leaking a little, in fact I hadn't leaked any onto the pad since basically putting it on. I am not having strong or regular contractions. We decided not to wait for another test that seemed unnecessary.
We are finally home. Our parents are still in Southern California. And, we will return to the hospital to have the baby when labor become active. And, as precautions, I won't use the labor tub, will take my temperature regularly to monitor any signs of fever and on Monday morning we will see the midwife and have another ultrasound and non-stress test.
After waking up from a nap at 3pm, I was dribbling, then dripping fluid. The fluid was brown. I thought it looked like old blood, but I was concerned it might have been meconium - the baby's first poop. My midwife felt the same and recommended we get it checked out at the hospital.
We decided to eat lunch first, granted I was too excited/nervous to eat much. Matt proceeded to finish packing the bags in case they wouldn't let us return home. He was awesome. I mostly loitered, having periodic mild contractions.
We got on the road and to the hospital close to 6pm. From the description and the tissue sample I brought with me from home, the nurse was sure it was only my mucus plug. The brown was definitely old blood (meconium is green) and there wasn't very much. They did a non-stress test to measure the baby's heart rate - it was great. They took a cotton swab sample from my vagina to analyze it for amniotic fluid - it came back positive. Our nurse was surprised, but there are factors that could give a false positive reading and we met those. She went to get midwife approval for us to go home...
SHIFT CHANGE - man, not a fun time to be waiting at the hospital - we were there for 3 hours, mostly because of this. Our nurse had to go, the midwives on call were all changing over and the technician for the ultrasound went home.
Our nurse, Cindy, was awesome. She waited until a new midwife gave an opinion. Get an ultrasound and check fluid levels. Okay. Little did we know the tech had left and we had to wait for the on-call tech to come in. Grumble.
I measured 7.5 - yeah, I don't really know what that means either. On Wednesday, I was 9.5 and was told that was great. Tonight, there was less awesomeness with the reading. We waited now for the OB on duty to say, "go home." But, she didn't. She wanted to check me with a speculum. She wanted me to lay down for another 10 minutes to 'collect fluid' for her to check it the membrane really was ruptured or not. We had had it, however. We went in for a meconium check - that was clear. My waters, if broken, are only leaking a little, in fact I hadn't leaked any onto the pad since basically putting it on. I am not having strong or regular contractions. We decided not to wait for another test that seemed unnecessary.
We are finally home. Our parents are still in Southern California. And, we will return to the hospital to have the baby when labor become active. And, as precautions, I won't use the labor tub, will take my temperature regularly to monitor any signs of fever and on Monday morning we will see the midwife and have another ultrasound and non-stress test.
9/27/08
Ok People...........Game On!
Water has broke and we're a little suspicious of the color. On our way to the hospital for initial check. We expect to come home again to labor here AND we have our bags packed just in case it's a quick one (which Heather is feeling is going to be true). We'll see. We'll keep you updated. Holy Cow!
Water has broke and we're a little suspicious of the color. On our way to the hospital for initial check. We expect to come home again to labor here AND we have our bags packed just in case it's a quick one (which Heather is feeling is going to be true). We'll see. We'll keep you updated. Holy Cow!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The "Due Date" has arrived
The "due date" has come and will likely go without much fanfare. The baby has not 'engaged' or dropped into my pelvis, although she is lower this week than last.According to my LMP (Last Menstrual Period) I am due today. According to an ultrasound done at 11 weeks, I am due Thursday 9/25. That is a good thing - meaning the baby has a couple of extra days to hang out before anyone gets too nervous. As most of you know, the due date is just the average day, the middle day, within a birthing window. From 37 - 42.5 weeks. Babies come anytime in there and are considered "right on time". Good to know.
Here is a picture of the labor tub we have set up in our kitchen... the plan is for it to ease my muscles during the labor. We can fill it with hot water from the sink. Neato . If my water breaks early in labor then I won't be using the tub, but statistically, early water breaking is less common than I'd thought. So, here's hoping I get to soak in a hot tub during labor!
If possible, Matt and I are going to stop thinking about the upcoming birth and just focus on us having together/spontaneous time. We are very prepared and now must get out of our high vibrational heads and into our low vibrational bodies.
Tonight we're going out on a date!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Awaiting the cousins!
Heather and Elizabeth are cookin' up the cousins! Tuesday is Heather's due date and Jan 9th is Elizabeth's due date.
We're doing all that couples need to do in order to induce. Almost there!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Estimates and False Alarms
WE ARE SO EXCITED!!!
We're really just playing the waiting game now. Matt and I took a birth prep class taught by my yoga instructor last Sunday - it focused on how the partner could help ease moms discomforts during labor. It was great. Then, on Monday night, after my regular yoga class, I felt really weird. When Matt came home, he saw it in my eyes. I went to bed fairly early after a wonderful leg massage from him. He, however, stayed up late doing all the laundry, the dishes, paid all the bills, and cleaned up the whole house. I woke up feeling totally normal again. I described it as "the baby crawled back up."
Tuesday was a great day. Matt took the day off work and we spent the whole day together. After cleaning out the fridge, we met again with our doula and ran through what might happen during labor. She felt my belly and declared that I have a lot of amniotic fluid for the baby to float in and suggested more weight baring exercises (not swimming) to help the baby drop. So, we walked down to the local mall (2 miles) and saw "Burn After Reading," ate dinner at Chili's, and walked back. I took a bath and went straight to bed. It felt really good to do that much walking, I was just slow and tuckered out by the end.
Wednesday night we had a laugh, though. I woke up with weird, uncomfortable sensations through out my abdomen. I didn't feel any tightening like I would expect with contraction, but the sensations were coming in waves and hitting me in my lower abdomen most strongly. Matt woke up to my deep breathing and thought I was in labor. He was so excited he couldn't fall back asleep. I just rolled over and the pains went away. I woke up figuring it was the baby in a weird position or just what I ate the night before. Poor Matt was exhausted. We laughed about it and hoped I wouldn't go into labor that night - my partner needs sleep.
Funny, our friend Janelle was giving birth Wed. night/Thurs. morn right around that time. Way to go mama! She brought another little girl into the world.
Thursday, I went to the midwife and all is good. She said to expect the baby after the due date. She, the baby, is lower down a bit, but still pretty high up. Her heartbeat is strong and she has been settled into my left side for three weeks now. Apparently, that is the most common spot for a baby to settle before birth. Somehow, they know it is a good position for the twisting they will need to do to navigate through the actual birth.
Friday I did go swimming - I just had to get weightless for a while, and I made a lasagna to freeze.
Okay, baby. I've nested. You ready?
We're really just playing the waiting game now. Matt and I took a birth prep class taught by my yoga instructor last Sunday - it focused on how the partner could help ease moms discomforts during labor. It was great. Then, on Monday night, after my regular yoga class, I felt really weird. When Matt came home, he saw it in my eyes. I went to bed fairly early after a wonderful leg massage from him. He, however, stayed up late doing all the laundry, the dishes, paid all the bills, and cleaned up the whole house. I woke up feeling totally normal again. I described it as "the baby crawled back up."
Tuesday was a great day. Matt took the day off work and we spent the whole day together. After cleaning out the fridge, we met again with our doula and ran through what might happen during labor. She felt my belly and declared that I have a lot of amniotic fluid for the baby to float in and suggested more weight baring exercises (not swimming) to help the baby drop. So, we walked down to the local mall (2 miles) and saw "Burn After Reading," ate dinner at Chili's, and walked back. I took a bath and went straight to bed. It felt really good to do that much walking, I was just slow and tuckered out by the end.
Wednesday night we had a laugh, though. I woke up with weird, uncomfortable sensations through out my abdomen. I didn't feel any tightening like I would expect with contraction, but the sensations were coming in waves and hitting me in my lower abdomen most strongly. Matt woke up to my deep breathing and thought I was in labor. He was so excited he couldn't fall back asleep. I just rolled over and the pains went away. I woke up figuring it was the baby in a weird position or just what I ate the night before. Poor Matt was exhausted. We laughed about it and hoped I wouldn't go into labor that night - my partner needs sleep.
Funny, our friend Janelle was giving birth Wed. night/Thurs. morn right around that time. Way to go mama! She brought another little girl into the world.
Thursday, I went to the midwife and all is good. She said to expect the baby after the due date. She, the baby, is lower down a bit, but still pretty high up. Her heartbeat is strong and she has been settled into my left side for three weeks now. Apparently, that is the most common spot for a baby to settle before birth. Somehow, they know it is a good position for the twisting they will need to do to navigate through the actual birth.
Friday I did go swimming - I just had to get weightless for a while, and I made a lasagna to freeze.
Okay, baby. I've nested. You ready?
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Photo Shoot
Here are samples of the pictures we took with Sandy Davis - our mother-in-law, once removed. ;-) We had a great time posing for the camera, loving each other and hamming it up. Sandy was a real pro, battling morning traffic on Hwy 80 from Hercules through Berkeley to get to our house 
at 8am and capture the morning light.
As for momma-to-be, I'm feeling more sensations in my hips, legs and lower abdomen, but I wouldn't say the baby has dropped. Not yet. She is definitely squirmy - she flipped sides yesterday and then back again today.
Matt and I went
to Babies R'Us and got the last items on the list. That was satisfying. I then spent the day shopping and got my nails done - a fun treat. So today, with bright pink toenails, a new dress and fun necklace, I had an amazing CranioSacral session with our friend Sirena, took myself out to lunch at a cafe and read for two hours (Fossil Hunter - a fun sci-fi thriller written by the father of one of my students), then went food shopping at my favorite market in Berkeley, the Berkeley Bowl. I have a book of coupons (MetroGuide) which expire in Novemeber, so I've been intentionally using as many as I could. Saved $12 on Monday and $16 today. Today, however, I left little presents around the store for other shoppers - 50 cents here, 75 cents there - as many of the products I never use or really didn't need, etc
. I felt a bit like Santa Claus.
We have our next appointment with the midwife tomorrow. Then, I plan to finally put up the last of the towel rods.
**Matt made me pose with the drill, but I did get into it.**
at 8am and capture the morning light.As for momma-to-be, I'm feeling more sensations in my hips, legs and lower abdomen, but I wouldn't say the baby has dropped. Not yet. She is definitely squirmy - she flipped sides yesterday and then back again today.
Matt and I went
to Babies R'Us and got the last items on the list. That was satisfying. I then spent the day shopping and got my nails done - a fun treat. So today, with bright pink toenails, a new dress and fun necklace, I had an amazing CranioSacral session with our friend Sirena, took myself out to lunch at a cafe and read for two hours (Fossil Hunter - a fun sci-fi thriller written by the father of one of my students), then went food shopping at my favorite market in Berkeley, the Berkeley Bowl. I have a book of coupons (MetroGuide) which expire in Novemeber, so I've been intentionally using as many as I could. Saved $12 on Monday and $16 today. Today, however, I left little presents around the store for other shoppers - 50 cents here, 75 cents there - as many of the products I never use or really didn't need, etc
. I felt a bit like Santa Claus.We have our next appointment with the midwife tomorrow. Then, I plan to finally put up the last of the towel rods.
**Matt made me pose with the drill, but I did get into it.**
Thursday, September 4, 2008
37 weeks and going strong!
I (Heather) am feeling good. Definitely on the tired side of things. And this heat wave is not helping. This past weekend we went to the Oakland Art and Soul festival and bought a cool painting and a fun hat for Matt. We also found a great sheep skin rug at a lawn sale at a Church down the street. Got it for $20! (See photos)
We are at 37 weeks and we just had our midwife appointment. Everything is measuring normal. We are feeling so blessed. All tests for any complications have all come up negative. Woo Hoo!
Midwife is estimating baby will be about 7.5 lbs by due date (Sept 23rd). We'll see if the little one waits that long. Probably not this week though, she is still sitting high and comfortable.
We'll keep you posted!
Congrats go out to our friends who gave birth this past week.
All three had boys.
Julia on Friday at 11:33pm,
Melani on Saturday at 11:32pm,
and Ali on Wednesday at 11:02am.
We're so proud of each of these amazing women and their partners.
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