My story of induction

I was scheduled for induction on the afternoon of Sunday, September 1, 2013 at Mercy. Baby Liam decided to finally arrive at 9:24 PM on Tuesday September 3, 2013. We remained in Labor and Delivery until 4:30 AM Wednesday September 4. (Yes, this is abnormal.) We were discharged from the hospital about 2PM on Thursday September 5. 

I logged as much as possible during my stay. It was just random blurbs of the timeline. It's taken a few days to get it in order for reading. Ok, honesty, it took me over a week to have time to get back to the computer to edit this entry. (Some of the tenses are past or present, I didn't care to change them all.) 

Note - I was being induced at 39 weeks because of the gestational diabetes diagnosis. Even though my GD was controlled by medication and diet, they (doctors?) still prefer to induce to prevent complications of high birth rate or placenta problems. 

Here it is - My Induction Story

Sunday September 1, 2013

The phone call came about 2:30 PM, my bed was ready. The car was already loaded and we were ready to go. We stopped at McDonald's to get some cheeseburgers and ran by the post office to mail my Baby Shower thank you notes, and got to the hospital around 3. I was checked into my room by 3:30.

They checked and I was only 1 CM dilated. (Same as the previous Friday.) They hooked up my IV and monitored the baby heart rate and my contractions for a while. It turns out I was having contractions and did not feel them. I was able to order dinner and eat. Luckily I wasn't being starved to death during my stay. While we waited, Jason and I watched Field of Dreams. I had never seen it! We had to keep pausing our movie when I was being checked.  

Around 9 PM the doctor gave me the 12-hour induction drug. It has to be placed near the cervix - which is very painful. (I edited out some of my commentary from the placement of the drug....it's better that way.) 

Even though I had an IV, I was still drinking lots of water. And around 11PM I was sprinting to the bathroom to pee for like the thousandth time since I got there. I tried to sleep. I am very uncomfortable from the contractions. It's hard to get all comfy in bed with an IV in one arm and two monitors strapped around my abdomen. I wish I had an early morning induction... I wish I would have slept more during the day (yesterday). And then during a 3 AM pee break my (wireless & waterproof) fetal monitor fell in the toilet. I felt bad for the nurse who had to fish it out.

Monday September 2, 2013

2PM. No baby yet. At 9 AM they checked and I was still only 1 CM dilated. So they did the 12-hour drug again. I was fortunately able to take a shower and go see my friend Alexsis and her new son, Cole, for 15 minutes. At the rate I am going they will be discharged before I give birth. I was able to eat lunch and napped on and off. I have to wait to be checked around 10 PM. At that point they will make a decision to do the 4-hour induction drug or the foley bulb. At this rate though, he's not coming until Tuesday.

Note - My parents, thinking I would be induced on Monday afternoon, told me they had planned to come Tuesday evening and Baby G better be here by then. I hated that added pressure for a less than 24-hour induction and birth experience. And that was why I didn't want waiting room warriors.. too much pressure and stress about giving birth on someone else's timeline. Especially when it turns out I was only 1 CM dilated. When my doctor changed my induction date to Sunday the 1st I lied and told very very few people. My friend Alexsis knew because she was already in the hospital with her new son. I told Dee in case I needed help with Monday (my dog), and Jason told his brother in case we needed his help. 

5:30 PM - Still only dilated 1 CM. Good news - I can eat dinner. Bad news - This kiddo is comfy. Super comfy. 

We spend the evening watching Harry Potter #6. We bought a handful of movies and are watching those and Cardinal baseball games. 

Around 8 PM I started to have regular contractions. I was starting to feel them more, but I still had to wait until almost 11PM to be checked again. 

11PM rolls around - and I am still only 1 CM dilated. I'm annoyed now. And in pain. I have nicknamed the cervical checks, vagina torture. And I still think that's a nice way to describe this process. The next step is using the foley bulb. You can feel free to google that - but again, it's not a walk in the park. This whole process sucks. 

General FYI-- I am still in "induction". Even with contractions, I am not considered in labor. 

Tuesday September 3, 2013

Midnight. Hopefully today is Baby G's birthday. He would share his birthday with Dave Ramsey! I am waiting an hour to be checked again. I am ready to be done. This is emotionally, mentally, and physically draining.

1 AM - The foley bulb has worked!!! I am 4.5 cm dilated. The most joyous part has finally arrived!! I can get an epidural!!! I take a quick shower since I won't be able to move after the EPI. Oh wonderful EPI, my new BFF. No pain, no pain, no pain... I can sleep through the contractions, I have a catheter and don't have to get up anymore. Everything is all tingling and there is no pain during cervical checks. (And no more crying).

I sleep. And sleep. Oh it's nice. My water breaks at 4:30 AM and they check my, I am 5 CM dilated. And am still not considered in active labor quite yet.

I always wonder how women calculate how long they were in labor when they say things like they labored for 24 hours or 40 hours with their child. When do they start counting? I would probably count from when I got the EPI, or maybe a little before that, but I won't count the 34 hours prior where they were trying to get my body ready. Of course, the big deadline is when your water breaks. The doctor's want the child out within 24 hours of your water breaking. 

9AM Tuesday September 3, 2013

I am now considered in active labor. I am 6-7 CM dilated. Whew whoo!! Progress has been made. We are currently watching Top Gun. 

When the nurse checked me around 3 PM she noticed my EPI was bleeding. I had complained that I was more uncomfortable during contractions, but I didn't know what was normal so I wasn't aware that something was wrong. Once my EPI was redone, I was much more comfortable. 

At 530 PM was finally 9.5 CM. During this time I discussed with doctor how I can push the baby out if I can't feel anything (which turns out wouldn't be a problem.) 

During the new few hours, my blood pressure and temperature kept rising. The doctors were concerned about this. I was too. I hated that my blood pressure was being taken every 15 minutes. It got annoying having it taken so much and being able to see my blood pressure continuing to rise. 

Around 7 PM I was finally 10 CM. My doctor wanted me to try some "test pushes." I think they tell FTM's (first time moms) that to trick them into actually starting to push. Baby G still hadn't descended all the way down (really, he was comfy and not ready to come out), so the test pushes should help move him down. 

I wasn't able to log during the next few hours - so this is all from memory a week later. 

Pushing was painful. My epidural had wore off. During the latest stages of pushing, my Epidural drug actually ran out. Maybe the epidural just lessons the pain of contractions but cannot actually eliminate the pain from pushing. I was in a lot of pain during each push. I no longer wanted to do it. And pushing wasn't making a ton of progress either. 

Eventually, after almost two hours of pushing, my blood pressure was raising with each push and Baby G's heart rate was dropping. I trust my doctor fully and the decision was made to use vacuum to aid with the birth. And Baby G was born at 9:24 PM. He weighed 8 pounds and 3 ounces and 21.5 inches long. 

While Mercy encourages immediate skin to skin contact, I wasn't able to do that because due to vacuum extraction and the falling heart rate they needed to examine him. 

Jason was able to hold him almost right away.... I had to wait almost two hours. Usually you spend only two hours after delivery in the Labor and Delivery room before being moved to postpartum. Due to complications, I remained in the room until 4:30AM - an extra 5 hours. 

Jason and Liam

So the complications..... I haven't spoken about the complications with many people, and I wasn't aware of these two possible complications so I want to share so other people will be aware. 

After birth, you have to deliver the placenta. (I was aware of this.) It usually happens within half an hour of giving birth. It didn't for me and I wasn't aware that it could or would be a problem. I was also still in a lot of pain. They wound up giving me a shot of the Epidural drug and morphine. (Which morphine sucks - it made my body feel like it was on fire.) My doctor had to check with the main OBGYN in the hospital to determine the protocol for the placenta complication. A few options were considered with the final option being a D&C (Dilation and Curettage) which means a surgeon would extract the placenta. Fortunately, additional pitocin and another drug aided with the placenta delivery. I'm not sure the timeline, but I know it wasn't long after my doctor inserted the second drug that my placenta delivered. 

It still wasn't over. 

My uterus wouldn't constrict after the placenta delivery. This is another complication that can be a problem. In order to help constrict my uterus, the nurses and doctors are constantly pushing on it. This also aids in "clearing" it out and making sure all the blood clots are out of it. All in all, another painful experience. It took awhile, but eventually it did constrict and was getting smaller. 

By the time we were being moved to postpartum around 4:30 AM, I was very much physically exhausted. And mentally drained. And so full of confusing emotions. I was in a lot of pain from being poked and prodded at for three days, and I was super swollen from the 3 days of IV fluids.

And thus ends the story of my induction and birth of my first (and most likely only) child. 

Some of the good - 

Almost every nurse we encountered was amazing. Very helpful, answered my questions, was helpful with anything I needed or asked about. The postpartum nurses are really great too - especially with helping new parents establish newborn care and breast feeding. We had some additional questions and the lactation nurses stopped by to talk to us. (And we called them after being home.) 

The rooms are great. The labor and delivery rooms are huge with large bathrooms which include jet tubs and the most amazing showers!  The postpartum rooms are smaller, but comfy, especially for the dad's sleeping. They talk of redoing the postpartum rooms - mostly the bathroom needs to be redone. It is such a let down after the L&D bathroom. 

The meals are great. You are given a huge menu and told to choose 1 item entree, and then 1 item from this list, 2 from this list, ect. It winds up with a lot of extra food sometimes, especially if your eyes are bigger than your stomach!

Freezer Stash

So in order to get ready for baby, I've been throwing together casseroles. (As noted in previous blogs.)

 

We bought a new freezer a few weeks ago. It was right before we picked up our beef from Crooked Creek Beef. Our landlord had left his 5 cubic foot deep freeze for us, and we were torn on if we should buy another deep freeze or splurge for a larger upright freezer. We went with the Kenmore 13.7 cubic foot from Sears. I like using Sears for larger items. We got our Treadmill from Sears and for $79 dollars they deliver AND put it together. Nordic track wants like $300 to deliver and put it together. Delivery for the freezer was $69 and they moved it downstairs (had to take off a few doors and the handrail) and did a great job. Always reward your delivery men! I offered them Gatorade and they were very happy.

Only took one month to fill it!

 

So after picking up beef, splitting it with the neighbors, and making a lot of casseroles, here's what it looks like now.

 

Freezer Goodies

18 Cups of Chili

20 Black Bean Soups (thanks Mom!)

6 Chicken Enchiladas Casseroles + ingredients to make another one

6 Beef Enchilada Casseroles + ingredients to make another one

8 Tater Tot Casseroles

6 Lasagnas (Thanks Mom!!)

1 Sloppy Joe (Just defrost, heat, add buns.)

12 1-pound ground beef

5-pounds ground turkey (Sam's Club purchase)

2  1-pounds of ground pork

Hot Dogs, Brats, and Sausages

12 premade hamburgers

Steaks, steaks, and more steaks.

 

Other deep freeze goodies

2 pack of Bertolli Chicken Florentine & Farfalle (Sam's Club purchase). Easy skillet meal to throw together.

Pepperoni & Mozzarella Cheese to make homemade pizzas

6 Salmon filets

7 Twice Baked Potatoes

4 Carmel Apple Tartlets

10 Potatoes au Gratin

4 16-ounce bags of Broccoli & Cheese

2 boxes Toaster Strudels

2 frozen DiGiorno pizzas

 

The items from Kansas City Steak & Omaha Steaks were the "Freebies" earlier this year when I made a few purchases. I can eat the twice baked potatoes with GD, but can't have the apple tarts or potatoes au gratin. We also purchased the toaster strudels before GD also. The pizzas are mostly for Jason for when I was traveling.

 

Our upstairs freezer includes goodies like Eggos, frozen veggies, ice cream, tater tots, maybe some frozen fruit.. you know.. frozen odds and ends.

So yes, that's 31 main casserole meals.. at one a week, it gets us to mid-March. We'll probably make 1-2 a week and be done with it around the end of the year!
 

So in summary, if there is another major power outage, please come to my house and help me eat this all or take it off my hands!

 

 

 

 

How GD is saving me....

Today is a Terracon BBQ (for employees, no spousal invites).

 

And the pregnant lady requested I make my mini-Oreo Cheesecakes. So I did. Because she's awesome and deserves them.

 

Jason & I picked up the ingredients on Sunday. And yea, I totally ripped open that family size bag of oreos on Sunday night. I had 3. I had *1* more on Monday.

 

If I didn't have GD, Jason would have probably had to pick up another package of Oreos on the way home from work Monday night. And this morning? Oreo Cheesecakes sound pretty delicious for breakfast. But alas, I'm pretty sure eating a handful of them will send my blood sugar soaring!

 

So... having GD is saving me from some major purging. In fact, while I have stopped losing weight, my weight gain now is very minimal and I haven't recovered from my almost 6 pound weight loss during the first 10 days when I started my GD diet. I am at the same weight gain that I was in the beginning of May, two months ago. However, my stomach is a lot larger, so the weight is being shifted around my body somehow.

 

The recipe for the cheesecakes are available here (along with more delicious pictures.) The ones I made last night don't look like this... I think I over beat the batter. I also didn't do a good job reading the instructions and dumped most of the ingredients into the mixing bowl in a random order.

 

Note - the recipe actually makes 32-35 cupcakes. Keep extra cookies on hand in case you have extra batter! (No, I didn't eat them, I crushed them to mix into the cheesecake batter.)

Oreo Cookies and Cream Cheesecakes

(from Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes)
Makes 30

• 42 Oreo, cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, 30 left whole and 12 coarsely chopped
• 908 grams (2 pounds or about 3 2/3 packages) cream cheese, room temperature
• 225 grams (1 cup) sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
• 230 g (1 cup or 8 ounces) sour cream
• Pinch of salt

1. Preheat oven to 275° F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Place 1 whole Oreo cookie in the bottom of each lined muffin cup.
 
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese on medium-high speed until smooth, scraping down sides of the bowl as needed. Gradually add the sugar, and beat until combined. Beat in the vanilla.
 
3. Drizzle in eggs, a little at a time, beating to combine and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add in sour cream and salt, beat to combine. Using a large spatula, fold in the chopped Oreo cookies.
 
4. Divide batter evenly among the cookie-filled muffin cups, fill each cup almost to the top. Bake, rotating muffin tins halfway through, until the filling is set, about 22 to 28 minutes. Transfer the muffins tins to a wire rack to cool completely. Refrigerate (in the muffin tins) at least 4 hours (or overnight). Remove from tins just before serving.

 

 

10 Weeks!!

Even though I am officially 29 weeks... I just don't see myself getting to September. Sometimes I think I'll be lucky to make it halfway through August. I think some of the worry is coming from the fact that things aren't done and there is a lot I want to do and not a lot of empty weekends.

My doctor's appointment was canceled Friday afternoon but I was able to send my glucose numbers to my doctor. I was prescribed Glyburide, a small dose, for at bedtime. This should help my fasting numbers. Most of my breakfast numbers are ok. I have a couple high ones, but it's all a learning experience. All my lunch numbers are fabulous! I have a lot more high dinner hits and need to concentrate on eating wiser, especially when I am outside the house.

I have to be wiser about some snacks too. While I want to eat the entire box of toaster strudels or container of cookies, it's not really a good idea for baby. Tonight's snack was strawberries, sugar free Hershey's syrup, and cool whip. And a cheese stick. I always need to eat protein with a snack. Ice cream & Cheese Stick, Hummus & Cheese Stick, Eggo & Cheese Stick, Cookies & Cheese sticks. 

Because of the GD, I will start weekly ultrasounds at week 32 which is July 12. Week 36 (Aug 9) is a longer US including a growth scan to measure the baby. I could be ready to delivery anytime after this. If I go with my hypothesis of Week 37 - I'm giving birth between August 16th and August 22. And I think August 20th will be it. It's right in between Grandpa's & Melissa's Birthday. Just a guess. Today we joked that Melissa will never get to celebrate her birthday by herself. 

In June 2011 I predicted the Cardinals would win the World Series that year on Thursday October 27th. (Yes, I have the saved screenshot from facebook!) I was one day off, but it's because of a rain delay. I could be totally right on Baby G gracing us with his presence on August 20th. 

Things I want to do:

• Sleep.
• Eat a donut.
• Sleep some more.

Wait, what is this list? Looks like my hopes and dreams.  

Things I need to do:

• Deep clean kitchen floor. I hope to tackle this next weekend the 28th and 29th. Volunteers are welcome!
• Paint nursery. (I won't actually do this, but it needs done.)
• Wash all baby clothes.
• Wash all diapers.
• Clean everything. Clean everything again.
• Get nursery organized. All the furniture is put together and in there, but the closet still needs cleaned out and redone.

Things planned for the summer:

• Lake trip!  
• Cardinals Game! We have tickets to a few games.
• Baby Shower!
• Shopping! 

I'm working on creating a "chore" chart. It's nothing too complicated, but I hate cleaning and push it off until the house is so dirty that I can turn on the attic fan and it sucks all the dog hair and dust out. (Ok, just kidding....) I think I'm going to divide it up by rooms. If I can dedicate 15 minutes an evening to cleaning one room, Jason won't have to spend two hours on the weekends (after mowing the lawn) vacuuming. Yea, I said that. I don't vacuum, I used to, but I married a man that does it! But I feel bad because it's not hard, I can do it. I just know that he will. So part of this is for me. Because I am more than capable of cleaning. I just need to stop putting it off. So that's the new plan. One room a day, 15 minutes each day. Of course the kitchen will get 5 minutes a day of making sure the dishwasher is emptied/filled and counters are cleaned off.

Got my Highlander in for an oil change. I rolled over 90,000 miles recently. Firestone informed me that my timing belt is the next important thing I need to take care of. Couple things - at least if my timing belt calls it quits, it won't kill my engine like some old cars. But I will be stranded.... and well, it's summer. I'm pregnant. And most of my driving is to Springfield and back. Being stranded on my way to the gym, not a huge deal.... being stranded on a hot summer day while 7 or 8 months pregnant? Yea... that's ok. We'll go ahead and spend the $400 to replace my timing belt. Since I plan to drive the car forever, and the timing belt won't last forever, it will be a good investment.

Tonight was nice... Jason is helping his brother rearrange furniture so Monday and I have been curled up in bed. We watched Mission Impossible 2 (Thanks Amazon Prime) and ate french fries. Just kidding! I had that snack, Monday didn't get any. And no french fries right now. My sister jokes that she always gives Monday french fries. She might, whatever.

Next weekend Jason & his brother are having a HUGE yard sale at their Mom's house. They have a lot of stuff to sell - some of their mom's furniture, and she collected older "antique" pieces, and just all the normal stuff you have when a parent dies and need to clean out their household.  Hopefully they are able to clear it all out so Tim & Crystal can make the house 110% theirs. (So next weekend I get the weekend to myself again.)

On Saturday July 6 Jason has to go to Terracon Bloomington to clean out the office. Him and 4 other coworkers are going up to bring everything back. So I get Saturday to myself! I hope A will be here, but she's still trying to figure out her travel schedule that week.

Now enterting the 3rd trimester!

Only 12 weeks to go! Which seems like 3 months but it's really like 2.5.

Baby G is kicking and very active! He rolls around and responds to his (secret) name. My abs are getting quite a workout from growing a human.

I had some great doctor appointments these past couple days and learned a lot more helpful info about GD. Meeting with the actual OBGYN was the best. I've mostly been seeing residents and since my actual doctor (who I do love) is still on her own maternity leave, I got to finally meet with Dr. W. Who is fabulous! She will actually deliver Baby G and if needed, help with the c-section.

According to the doctor's office, I've only gained 12 pounds so far this pregnancy. And with the controlled diet I shouldn't see much weight gain above that. According to my own chart, and recent weight loss, I've gained 16. I'm cool with that. It's better then the projected 30 had. But I'm not worried - if I gain weight, I gain weight, the baby needs it.

My doctor will not let me go past my due date. So Baby G will make his grand appearance before September 7! If I am able to maintain my sugar levels, then I can go up to my due date. If it's too hard to control with diet, exercise, medication and/or insulin, they'll induce me between 38 and 39 weeks. If Baby G is too big, it'll be a scheduled c-section. I don't want that. I don't want to shove a baby outta my vajaja either, but the kid has to come out.

One of the hardest things about a GD diet and monitoring is that I test 2 hours after a meal. This isn't a huge deal after breakfast, but at lunch and dinner I'm not eating enough and am hungry an hour after eating. This isn't a big deal but I have to test at 2 hours after eating, and I don't want to throw off my numbers by eating more. Mostly, I'll think "Oh, I'm eating this and that" and forget to prep "that" until half hour after I'm done eating.

I had ice cream Thursday night! I was craving it and so we headed to the grocery store to check it out. I wound up picking out Edy's Slow Churned Smores. :) I've been craving Smores since we set up or fire pit and kept seeing the Smores kit at Sam's Club. But can't have them now. I can't imagine how many carbs are in a smore. I like the Smore ice cream bcause it's like Rocky Road where the nuts are replaced with graham cracker. It was a good treat and my fasting number the next morning was a-ok. I did eat a cheese stick right before the ice cream. I have to balance carbs and protein.

It's also recommended I eat around 1800 calories a day. I'm not sure if I should have like 2 cheese sticks with each meal to help me get there or steak with each meal. It's a juggling act.

As of today (Saturday), I've been following the GD diet for 10 days and have lost 5.6 pounds. It sounds like a *ton*, especially for a pregnant chick, but I honestly think it's kinda fake. I ate a lot of junk a few weeks ago that probably packed on some extra sodium and water weight. As long as the baby is growing well, my doctor won't be concerned with weight loss. As I learn how to eat more and hit my 1800 calorie mark, I shouldn't see much more weight loss. I think. I've read that I need around 2100 calories during my 3rd trimester if I am sedentary. Well now I have to walk 30-minutes almost every day, so I need more to make up those (minimal) calories burned. Remember though that the baby will get the nutrients he needs. He'll take it from my fat, bones, hair, nails, skins.... and I'm still taking my vitamins at night. My vitamin list - I take a prenatal, DHA, B-12, and a calcium. Hopefully Baby G is getting everything he needs from those.

 

I spend a lot more time building recipes in spark and making sure I'm within the carb limit. Grandma made my favorite dessert for lunch tomorrow. It's called "Meghan's Cherry Delight" and is the easiest thing to make. It's an angel food cake ripped into pieces, covered with instant vanilla pudding, and then once that is chilled, spread cherry pie filling on top. See picture. From the last time she made it, Father's Day 2008. (Thanks Facebook for dating things!)

 

While we don't want to tell Grandma that I have GD, mom tried to explain to her that with the family history of Type 2 Diabetes that the doctor has me watching my sugars. Then Grandma pulls out her "I made it with sugar free ingredients!" comments she always uses. The crazy thing I have learned (and that grandma has been told but doesn't listen to), is that Sugar Free or Fat Free or Low Fat things have MORE carbs and worse ingredients then just eating full-fat items. Check out the labels for yogurt and salad dressing the next time you are at the store!

 

So yea, tomorrow's desert - none for Meghan. :( And it's MY dessert. It's named after me! But it's ok. I can probably take home a small dish to eat before bed. And come baby day, grandma can make me another one. I've also added Olive Garden to a list of wants after the baby is born. I'm glad they post their nutritional info, it's a wake up call to not eat there!

 

Tonight's dinner is Tortellini Soup. I can eat 1/2 of a roll with it. And a movie with my honey. We got Gangster Squad (I think?) from Red Box.

After the movie - WHOA. Do not EAT while watching Gangster Squad. That's why I get for not knowing what all a movie was about before renting it. I got it, Mobsters, Mickey Cohen, some deaths expected. Movie was good overall. But no need to lie at the end. Cohen is a real mobster, but you can't change the end of to make the movie look better. That'd be like changing the end of Titanic from the ship sinking and 99% of the people dying to the engine catching fire and people were on board for days without working toilets. Ok, maybe Gangster Squad wasn't that drastic, but it might as well have been! It was good though. I like it. I laughed, I cried, I groaned... worth the $1.29.

Finally finished switching the nursery and office. Almost have the office completely cleaned and organized. Will post a picture later. Nursery isn't painted yet, so pictures of that will come way later. The main furniture is assembled and in there. Waiting on (to buy) my rocker/recliner from Weekends Only.

Happy Father's Day Sunday!