Im home and the cerclage is out!

Well, it's all taken care of. I had the cerclage removed today. It hurt like hell but im ok. Im bleeding a bit and having some cramps but otherwise i'm ok. Im still 1cm dilated but now im 50% effaced. So there has been change.

Now we play the waiting game. I could go into labor any minute, or it could be weeks.

I have some spring cleaning to do today. As long as I can get that done before Chase arrives then everything will be fine :)

Cerclage is coming out tomorrow!

Im kinda nervous to tell you the truth. I've been dilated to 1cm for 3 weeks now. The cerclage is holding me shut (which means it's doing it's job) but I could dilate more as soon as it's removed. The doctors also said that I could go into labor afterwards. There's no guarantee of course, but just incase im getting everything ready. I'll have my bags ready to go and loaded into the car incase that's what happens.

Oh..back to being nervous. Im nervous because I will only be 35 weeks and 5 days pregnant. Im afraid that if he IS born tomorrow, that he may not be ready. What if his lungs aren't strong enough? What if he's wisked away to the NICU? What if my plan on delivering 100% naturally with NO interventions is compromised? All these things are going through my head. I just want everything to be perfect. I know that's not always possible, but I sure don't want him taken away from me. That will compromise breastfeeding and I REALLY don't want that to happen.

After they remove the cerclage, I am to stay around the hospital just incase I do go into labor so I don't have that far drive to get back there. Guess we'll see how it goes huh?

I'll update tomorrow when I get home unless I go into labor lol

Had my baby shower on Saturday

If it weren't for DF's family, I would have had only 2 guests (who didn't even stay). That part sucks but atleast it turned out ok.

I wasn't thrilled with everyone drinking and huddling in the corner but oh well. I just felt really left out at times. Like I was looking in from the outside (if that makes sense). Atleast they participated in the games though. That part was a lot of fun. Even still, some of them complained that there were "to many games", but there were only 6 games and 2 of them could be played through out the shower (like no saying the word baby, and, at the end of the shower, whoever has the dirty diaper wins a prize).

Don't get me wrong, im so greatful they were there, but it could have gone smoother. All in all it was nice.

I got a lot of nice stuff though.

High chair
Baby bouncer
Clothes (serveral outfits)
Rattles, pacifiers, socks, bibs
Baby blankets
Burp clothes
Picture frames
Scrapbooking stuff
3 baby carriers
Activity mats
Candles
Book Ends
Wall decor
Several photo albums (one made out of pewter)
Avent breastfeeding system
Changing pad and cover
Travel changing pad
Silver baby silverwear
Wipes
Gift sets
Baby bath products
Shopping cart cover

and some other things I cant remember at the moment lol

My aunt got sick and couldnt fly so she's having babies r us deliver the gifts she got for me (travel system stroller and a playpen with bassinet insert). My mom is also having something delivered...the changing table I wanted. It was an online only purchase.

Unfortunately on the way down to my moms, I remembered that I didn't grab my memory card. That means I didn't get any pics. We got a small amount of video but im not sure if im even on it. I really wanted pics but I guess it wasn't meant to be.

Anywho, my mom did a superb job with the food (she does catering), games, room arrangements, and prizes. Everyone said how wonderful it was and how it was "the best shower they've ever been too".

Im glad to be home though. Mom lives 3 hours from me and I missed sleeping in my own bed. A huge california king. That darn full size was a bitch to sleep in. I mean, DF is 6'5", and im pregnant. WE NEED OUR ROOM! lol

Anywho, that's my shower in a nutshell lol

Big news from the Doctor

Well, I had yet another appointment yesterday. I've only gained 2.2 pounds in the past 2 weeks so that's good. I was expecting it to say that i gained 10 pounds lol. I've been eating a LOT. Im also measuring about a week and a half ahead. I think this little guy is gonna be tall!

Im still dilated to 1cm but the internal part of my cervix is closed (thanks to the cerclage). That's good news to me.

Now the BIG news....

On Tuesday, April 24th, they will be removing my cerclage!! That's only 6 days away! I'll be 35 weeks and 5 days pregnant. The doctor said to have my hospital bag packed incase I go into labor. There's no guarantee that I will, but it is possible and better to be prepared. I can't believe that baby Chase could be here next week. Im not ready to not be pregnant lol. Also, I don't have everything I need yet. Hopefully i'll get those things at my baby shower this weekend.

Please keep your fingers and toes crossed that if I do have this baby soon, that he's completely healthy and capable of life outside the womb without intervention.

First birth as a doula

Well, im FINALLY home from one VERY draining birth. My first client as a doula.. WOOHOO! Please bare with me during this post. I've yet to sleep and am VERY out of it.

I got the call at 4am yesterday morning (April 5th). My client was being admitted to the hospital but was only 1-2 cm dilated. She'd been laboring (prodromal labor) for 28 hours before being admitted though and her ctx were 3 minutes apart.

Not long after I arrived, they were setting up her IV. She had GBS so she had to have antibiotics every 4 hours through the entire birth.

After a couple hours they checked her again and she was 3cm, 80% effaced and -1 station. Change is good so she was is positive spirits. That is, until 3 hours later when they checked again and she was in the same spot. That's when they gave her the choice of going home or having pitocin. She decided on the pit.

They started her pit drip at 1 wnd upped it by 2, every 30 minutes. After a whole she decided on an epi. I held her off for several hours but she couldn't take it anymore and so they started her epi.

I went to grab lunch (around 2:30pm yesterday) and by the time I came back, her water had broken on it's own. YAY! The baby's heartbeat dropped a little so they gave her oxygen. That worked just fine and everything went on as normal.

At her next vaginal exam, she was 5 cm, 90% effacted and -1 station. Sadly though, that's the same as her exam after that. This is when the doctors started threatening a c-section. It had been a REALLY long day, she was tired and had been laboring for quite a while. I told her that we're gonna avoid a c-section at all costs, so it's time to get her pelvis open. SO we pulled out the squat bar. This helped her dilate another 2 cm in only an hour. That was SUCH great news.

By this time the epidural was giving her problems. She was only numb on the right side of her body. It just wasn't working. They tried fixing it but nothing worked at all. I felt so bad for her. She just wanted a break so she could sleep.

The nurses and docts lef tthe room and the baby's heartbeat dropped. It went from 150 to 75, to 36, to nothing. I freakout out internally and made her flip positions right away. This helped to bring the baby back to normal. I believe the cord was compressed. Everything was ok after that though.

All night long she labored. She was SUCH a tropper. Little by little she dilated but it took FOREVER! After 28 hours she was finally able to start pushing, HOWEVER, the docs told her that the baby's head was transverse and only at +1 station. If she didnt get her baby down lower within the hour, they're were doing a c-section.

So away we went with pushing. All hour long we had her squattingand pushing. She did SO well! As tired as she was, she kept on going. After an hour the doctor checked her again and there was change. Baby got lower into the pelvis and the head was in the correct position. So now she was given another hour to get the baby even lower.

Since things were going so well, they let me help her birth without assistance. I was able to sit at the foot of the bed with warm washcloths on her pereniun. When she had a contraction she would push for me. It was AMAZING! I could see the baby's head bumling in that area and even saw some dark hair. I can't tell you how beautiful and empowering it was to wipe her, clean her, and "mother" her, while also assisting in the birth.

Sadly, after 30 hours of painful labor (2 hours of pushing) the docs decided on a c-section. I can't say I blame them (or her for wanting it at that point). The baby wasn't doing so well. Her heartbeat was up to 210 and it was no longer worth her attempting a vaginal birth. So, they prepped her for surgery, got the room ready and away she went.

Her daughter was born via c-section at 11:11am this morning at a whopping 10 pounds even and 22 inches long. She GORGEOUS and doing well. Mom is a little loppy from not sleeping and also receiving a slight sedative to allow her some rest. She's is good spirits though and is anxiously waiting to breastfeed.

So, that was my first experience being a doula. Im a littel sad that she ended up with a c-section, but I know I did EVERYTHING I possibly could to help. Baby girl was just way to big to come out.

Mom and dad (and grandma and grandma) thanked me over and over again for everything. It really was a great feeling to know I was wanted and needed and did help a lot.

I know there's so much I left out (like the maneuvers i used, the sponge baths I gave, etc) but I haven't slept in about 35-36 hours. My back is killing me, im exhausted and I really wanna go lay down.

Anywho, thanks for listening. Im heading to bed lol.

Large update

Well, the doula workshop was a BLAST!!! I loved it! I got to be the test dummy since im pregnant. I got all kinds of massages and accupressure. LOVED IT! My instructor was phenominal! I admire her VERY much!

The last day was bitter-sweet. I was glad to have completed the workshop but it was sad to leave everyone behind. I met some amazing women there, and they have all inspired me.

When I got home, I had an email wiaiting for me from a potential client. We talked for a bit and decided to meet. I met with her on Monday after her Dr appointment. They're gonna induce her tomorrow! Im so excited. This will be my first official birth as a doula! I hope everything goes smoothly and she's happy with the support I provide her.

On another note, I had my bi-weekly check yesterday. Oddly enough (even though im not due until May 24th), I am already starting to dilate. My external OS is opening. I still have my cerclage in so it's helping to keep me closed inside. That however, will be coming out May 1st. I can't believe how fast this pregnancy went by. It's NUTS!

My baby shower is this month. Im so excited. I hope lots of people come. It's more fun with a large group. I'll post pics afterwards. It's not until April 21st though so you have to wait a few weeks for pics and info :)

Well, i'll be 33 weeks tomorrow. I guess I really am hitting the home stretch.