I Have Cramps

I’ve only now had a chance to post this. So last Friday, April 12, I was having contractions faster than normal. So I had Luci time my contractions. It was going around 5-7 minutes apart. I originally had a doc appointment with my OB/GYN to check the baby’s status if she was going to be cephalic this time, but I called them to ask if I should go to the hospital now or still keep my appointment.  They said to go ahead and go to the hospital. So, Luci and I dropped off Lauren to our family friend’s house to babysit and off we went to the hospital.

We went to a different hospital  from the hospital where I gave birth to Dani and Lauren. They didn’t have a Labor & Delivery department there anymore, which made me sad, as I wanted all my kids to be born in the same hospital. Ah well. So we went there, and it took us a while to navigate the area as it was a bunch of hospitals in one place. We finally found our way and went to the Labor & Delivery (L&D) area.  The process of me checking in and “suited up” didn’t take too long.

They monitored me for a while, checking the baby’s heartbeat and my contractions. There was a doc that came by and gave me the “fastest sonogram on earth” to check if the baby was cephalic. Sure enough, and thankfully, she was! It took about 5 seconds to check which made me laugh. So they continued with monitoring me and the baby. It took some time, and I was still at 1cm. At this point, my doc had recommended I go home for a while until I feel if my contractions were getting stronger. I had to call the doc’s office to make sure because she wanted to induce me that day anyway, if in case the baby is cephalic. She didn’t realize it was this day she wanted it, so she said to stay. Thank goodness for that, because I didn’t want to go back home. I wanted to have the baby already, hehe.

They gave me some induction medicine and my contractions started getting closer and I went from 1cm to 3cm in 2 hours after that. The contractions were getting a little bit painful at this time, and I asked if they could start my epidural, which they did. I forgot how painful the epidural is when first inserted, but once I felt the medicine go through my legs, it was all good. However, I felt all jelly-like and all relaxed that I couldn’t keep my eyes open. Fortunately, at this time, I went from 3cm to 7cm within an hour or so (so fast!). I could see the contraction monitor go up so high and I didn’t feel a thing. So thankful of the epidural, lol.

After a few more minutes, the nurse had asked me to start pushing. I could actually feel the baby push on her own already. Even though I had the epidural, I still felt the baby, which was good because I wanted to at least feel that part of the delivery. After 3 pushes, the head was starting to poke out. Then the nurse asked me to do a really big-deep-breath-raise-your-legs-up kind of push and they had to stop me quickly because the baby was ready to come out! The doc was called and after her preparations and such, one big final push got Leslie out. It was such a relief to hear her cry and cry, she did! Everyone was so surprised on how she cried (such big lungs) and marveled at her shock of hair. They put her in NICU for observation to check her blood sugar due to my diabetes.  While they did that, I was taken to OR to have my tubal ligation procedure done (I had requested it before delivery). This means Leslie is my last child to bring into the world. It took about 45 minutes to do my procedure and I slept through it all (they told me I was snoring, lol).

So, here is Leslie Samantha. Born April 13, 2013 at 1:08am, weighing 6 lbs. 10.8 oz. with 19 inches in length.  Welcome, Baby Leslie!

So, there might be a possibility I will be induced on the 12th. My OB/GYN doesn’t want to take any chances on having the baby breech again. If not on the 12th, it could be on the 15th, or the 17th. Stay tuned. :)

So, saw the doc last Friday and we learned that Leslie is breech. To those that don’t know this, it means the baby’s head is up on my belly, not head down where it’s supposed to be  especially this close to the due date. This concerns me, because I’m almost due in 3 weeks. I read somewhere that 4% of mothers have this predicament. If Leslie is still head up, I might have to get a C-section which I do not want. Not concerned about the surgery itself, but more of the recovery time.

I’m reading up on different ways for Leslie to turn. I read somewhere to put a bag of frozen vegetables or ice pack on top of the belly where baby’s head is supposed to be. Babies, like most, like warmth and they will turn away from the cold. Another one I read about was to sit up straight without using the backrest. There is a reason for this somewhere. Also, use a birthing ball, or exercise ball. Since I didn’t have the last one, I am trying the first two. Also trying to get hubby and kids to talk below my belly button, so Leslie can listen down there (kinda awkward, though, because it’s close to my crotch, lol). Also trying to play music closer to my pelvis so Leslie would listen there.  So many things to try, but silly me, not making too much effort. I guess it’s because I’m lazy. :P

The doc will monitor the baby every week with sonogram and hopefully by then the baby has turned again and stayed there. The doc also said she would like to induce me early than later, but I asked her to wait till after the 16th as I want to get enough PTO from work as much as possible as I might not be covered (paid) for my leave for the 12 weeks I requested (though my company listed my request for 9 weeks only, but no biggie).

That’s how it’s going so far. I’ll let y’all know if Leslie is head down after my doc appointment Friday.