I'm proud to announce the birth of our second son, Milo Wallace on Friday, October 10, at 6:15 pm! 
I am in love!
He was 8 lbs 12.7 oz, and 20.5 inches long. His head measured 13.45 inches, and his chest, 14 inches. He lost 2 oz at the hospital.
Although we did not get our birth center birth, but we were able to come home Saturday afternoon, and I'm feeling very good.
Here's a slightly abreviated version of our labor and birth. . . .
I went in for my ultrasound on Thursday at 1:00 pm. It took a long time, and I hadn't eaten lunch, and when I was done, I hightailed it over to the chiropractor. I had just enough time to stop at BK for a snack, and then back to birth care for my MW visit and ultrasound results. I knew things weren't going to be great with my BP, and the BB's movements, because I'd been on the go all day, and he was always most active when I rested.
Angela checked me and I was 2 cm dialated, and 0 station. My BP was still a bit elevated (130/89), but since the BB had slept through the ultrasound, they wanted to do another nst. BB slept through most of that as well.
So we did another ultrasound, this time to check the blood flow/fluid around the BB, and check again for some specific types of movements. When we went for the second ultrasound, I started to get worried, because having heard the word 'induction' once, I was pretty sure if I didn't wow them with fantastic numbers, they'd be suggesting it again.
The second US showed decreased fluid around the baby, and although all the BB's anatomy looked fine, he didn't see whole body flexes or big head turns. So he only scored a 7 out of 10 on the whatever scale they were using to rate the environment for the baby. Angela called me into the back room and told me that basically, there were enough small things adding up between my state and the baby's state, that she was starting to get worried. She really wanted me to go to the hospital that night to be induced. She gave me the choice of going home, but said she'd want me back in the next morning for another NST. At that point, I kind of just gave up. I was soooo tired, and running down there three times a week was more tiring than anything else. ANd The whole, one day things are fine the next day they're not the day after that they're fine again, was making me so exhausted emotionally, I knew it wasn't good for the baby for me to be under so much stress. Angela hugged me while I cried, and then I called DH, so we could decide what to do.
By the time all was said and done, it was 9:00 that night when we got to the hospital. Angela met us there. We discussed options, and decided to break my water to see if I started labor, mostly because even if the BB went into distress, Angela was willing to do a sterile saline infusion, and buy us som,e time. It seemed like the least risky option. At 11:30 pm she broke my water and it was clear. Milo's heart tones stayed wonderful, and my BP had gone down. Painful contractions started right away, but never fell into a pattern until around 12:30 Friday, anfter trying a breast pump, and spending some time in the whirlpool. It was a blessing that my temp stayed down, and Milo stayed happy. Contractions started spacing out, so I got out of the tub, and went back to our room. I still wasn't sure I was in labor, but ctrx were getting harder and harder to deal with, and I had not moved past 4 cm in over 6 hours. I had gone from 70% to 90% effaced, but I had not dialated.
When the next MW got there, I had been doubting I would be able to continue, and if she checked me and I still hadn't progressed, and I needed ptiocin, I thought if ctrx stayed this way, and got even closer together I would need pain releif. I was convinced I was headed for pit and an epidural.
Maribeth got there, and checked me and I was almost 7 cm!!!!! I was so happy, I cried hysterically. I was very glad I had just sent DH out for some dinner for himself, because it would have totally freaked him out. My mom was there by then, and I think she understood. Maribeth just stroked my hair, and kept saying, 'You're so strong, you're doing great, you're so strong, you're working so hard!' Then I knew I could do it, I knew if I'd made it to 7, I'd hit transition soon, and we'd have our baby. I was actually IN transition then, but didn't know it!
In the next hour, I wimpered through ctrx that wrapped around my back, and shot down each leg. Soon a nurse wanted me to lay down so they could run another strip with the FM, and I flipped out, saying no, it hurts, I can't do this, etc, etc. 
She said, 'Honey get up on the bed, we need to check you' and I said no way they'd just checked me and it hurt too bad to lay down. 'Oh, yeah' she said, 'it sounds like we really need to check you'. (really? OK!) So I got one knee up on the bed, and got stopped by a ctx, and DH says I got hung up there for a few ctrx, but I can't remember. Somehow, I got up on the bed, but I couldn't get layed down, and so I tuurned around and hung onto the bed for dear life.
They checked me that way, and I was 10 with a lip. Maribeth told me if I could let her push on the lip, I could push, and I'd probably be able to deliver soon. So that's what we did. I pushed for 25 minutes, no tears, just one small skid mark, which I actually have no clue where it is, because I can't feel it. DH was actually able to catch Milo, because of me being semi upright, and he immediatly dropped him on the bed. He was really cheesy! I was able to tunr right around and hold him, and I got to hold him for a good long time.
So the cascade of interventions I feared did not take place, and I have a very healthy little boy, and I feel really good.
I'll try to catch up on every one else later, Milo needs me!
I am in love!He was 8 lbs 12.7 oz, and 20.5 inches long. His head measured 13.45 inches, and his chest, 14 inches. He lost 2 oz at the hospital.
Although we did not get our birth center birth, but we were able to come home Saturday afternoon, and I'm feeling very good.
Here's a slightly abreviated version of our labor and birth. . . .
I went in for my ultrasound on Thursday at 1:00 pm. It took a long time, and I hadn't eaten lunch, and when I was done, I hightailed it over to the chiropractor. I had just enough time to stop at BK for a snack, and then back to birth care for my MW visit and ultrasound results. I knew things weren't going to be great with my BP, and the BB's movements, because I'd been on the go all day, and he was always most active when I rested.
Angela checked me and I was 2 cm dialated, and 0 station. My BP was still a bit elevated (130/89), but since the BB had slept through the ultrasound, they wanted to do another nst. BB slept through most of that as well.
So we did another ultrasound, this time to check the blood flow/fluid around the BB, and check again for some specific types of movements. When we went for the second ultrasound, I started to get worried, because having heard the word 'induction' once, I was pretty sure if I didn't wow them with fantastic numbers, they'd be suggesting it again.The second US showed decreased fluid around the baby, and although all the BB's anatomy looked fine, he didn't see whole body flexes or big head turns. So he only scored a 7 out of 10 on the whatever scale they were using to rate the environment for the baby. Angela called me into the back room and told me that basically, there were enough small things adding up between my state and the baby's state, that she was starting to get worried. She really wanted me to go to the hospital that night to be induced. She gave me the choice of going home, but said she'd want me back in the next morning for another NST. At that point, I kind of just gave up. I was soooo tired, and running down there three times a week was more tiring than anything else. ANd The whole, one day things are fine the next day they're not the day after that they're fine again, was making me so exhausted emotionally, I knew it wasn't good for the baby for me to be under so much stress. Angela hugged me while I cried, and then I called DH, so we could decide what to do.
By the time all was said and done, it was 9:00 that night when we got to the hospital. Angela met us there. We discussed options, and decided to break my water to see if I started labor, mostly because even if the BB went into distress, Angela was willing to do a sterile saline infusion, and buy us som,e time. It seemed like the least risky option. At 11:30 pm she broke my water and it was clear. Milo's heart tones stayed wonderful, and my BP had gone down. Painful contractions started right away, but never fell into a pattern until around 12:30 Friday, anfter trying a breast pump, and spending some time in the whirlpool. It was a blessing that my temp stayed down, and Milo stayed happy. Contractions started spacing out, so I got out of the tub, and went back to our room. I still wasn't sure I was in labor, but ctrx were getting harder and harder to deal with, and I had not moved past 4 cm in over 6 hours. I had gone from 70% to 90% effaced, but I had not dialated.
When the next MW got there, I had been doubting I would be able to continue, and if she checked me and I still hadn't progressed, and I needed ptiocin, I thought if ctrx stayed this way, and got even closer together I would need pain releif. I was convinced I was headed for pit and an epidural.
Maribeth got there, and checked me and I was almost 7 cm!!!!! I was so happy, I cried hysterically. I was very glad I had just sent DH out for some dinner for himself, because it would have totally freaked him out. My mom was there by then, and I think she understood. Maribeth just stroked my hair, and kept saying, 'You're so strong, you're doing great, you're so strong, you're working so hard!' Then I knew I could do it, I knew if I'd made it to 7, I'd hit transition soon, and we'd have our baby. I was actually IN transition then, but didn't know it!
In the next hour, I wimpered through ctrx that wrapped around my back, and shot down each leg. Soon a nurse wanted me to lay down so they could run another strip with the FM, and I flipped out, saying no, it hurts, I can't do this, etc, etc. She said, 'Honey get up on the bed, we need to check you' and I said no way they'd just checked me and it hurt too bad to lay down. 'Oh, yeah' she said, 'it sounds like we really need to check you'. (really? OK!) So I got one knee up on the bed, and got stopped by a ctx, and DH says I got hung up there for a few ctrx, but I can't remember. Somehow, I got up on the bed, but I couldn't get layed down, and so I tuurned around and hung onto the bed for dear life.They checked me that way, and I was 10 with a lip. Maribeth told me if I could let her push on the lip, I could push, and I'd probably be able to deliver soon. So that's what we did. I pushed for 25 minutes, no tears, just one small skid mark, which I actually have no clue where it is, because I can't feel it. DH was actually able to catch Milo, because of me being semi upright, and he immediatly dropped him on the bed. He was really cheesy! I was able to tunr right around and hold him, and I got to hold him for a good long time.
So the cascade of interventions I feared did not take place, and I have a very healthy little boy, and I feel really good.
I'll try to catch up on every one else later, Milo needs me!
Milo and congratulations to your family
:
Rest up and give baby Milo lots of kisses!!
: Welcome, Milo!!
