Andrew's conversation with my belly today:
Me: Baby's moving...
Andrew: Hello baby, you stop making mommy so uncomfortable.
Andrew impersonating the baby: Well then tell mommy's uterus to knock it off!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
No More IV's Please!
One thing I have decided is that I absolutely hate IV's. We had a little pregnancy scare this weekend and I have to say one of the worst parts of being in the hospital was having an IV.
Friday I was at work and doing great when all of a sudden I had really sharp pains down the right side of my stomach and into my back. It was so bad that I knew it wasn't something I could ignore. After the pain went away I decided to get my boss and tell her I needed to go to the doctor. She started panicking and running all over the place trying to find Andrew. In the mean time, I started walking up and down the sidewalk outside while I called the doctor. They told me to come in to the office. So, what would any normal husband do? Would they just place you in the car and drive the speed limit all the way to the hospital, stopping at every single red light? NO! Andrew plopped me in the car and drove 90-100mph to the hospital, running every red light he could! On the way there I had more really sharp pains and it just made Andrew drive faster and faster.
Once we got to the clinic and checked in the pains stopped and I felt fine. They did a urine sample thinking that I might have a kidney stone but it came back normal. The midwife finally decided to send me to the hospital to get hooked on a monitor and checked to see if I was in labor. Sure enough...I was! I was having really strong contractions (and sharp pains whenever they would peak) and was already 1 1/2cm dilated, 90% effaced with the baby at stage 0. Since I was only 34 weeks they decided to try and stop my labor and keep me overnight to monitor my contractions.
Then came the IV...boy do I hate IV's!! I have such tiny veins that they really had a hard time, and it didn't help that I was freaking out since I was in early labor (Andrew had run to the vet at that time to pick up our dog from her grooming appointment so I was all alone) and I was shivering horribly because I was so cold. They started piling warm blankets all over me and then kept trying to stick me. Finally a different nurse came in and got the IV going. But for some reason it still really hurt! I asked her to check it several times and she just chuckled at me and said it was fine, but later my mom pointed out to her that the hub (I think that's what it's called) was actually turned sideways when it should be straight. So then she started tugging and re-taping everything which hurt even worse! Even after she fixed it the IV was still really painful, so in the middle of the night when a new nurse came in I had her redo the IV in my other hand. That felt so much better, but then the new nurse decided to leave the other IV in my hand in case they needed it later. So there I was with an IV stuck in each hand, and the one that wasn't even being used was the most painful!
Throughout the night they gave me shots (not sure what the drug was called) to stop my contractions. At first the shot didn't do anything. The second time the contractions stopped for a few hours and then came back. At about 2 a.m. they had to give me another shot and that seemed to do the trick. All the while I was confined to my bed, very nauseous, having to get up every hour to go to the bathroom since they were giving me fluids, getting antibiotics since I hadn't done a Strep test yet, getting antihistamine pills to help me sleep, and dealing with the freaking IV's! It was a long and very uncomfortable night.
I was finally fell asleep from about 2:30 a.m.-6 a.m., but those beds are so uncomfortable! My back was killing me and with all of the monitors strapped to me and IV's in the way I just couldn't get comfortable. AND I was really hungry so my tummy was grumbling all night long. In the morning they gave me some toast and orange juice which helped a little. Since I hadn't had anymore contractions they told me I was free to go home. So, I am home and SO happy to have those IV's out of me and to be able to go the bathroom without the nurse having to help me in and out of bed every time. I've got bruises all over from the shots and my back still aches. The doctor said I just have to take it easy and listen to my body. If I don't feel like working then I don't have to and I should drink lots of fluids. We will just pray that Baby stays in there a little bit longer and that when I go into labor that the pain isn't nearly as bad as it was. AND that I won't have to have those stupid IV's in my hands!
Friday I was at work and doing great when all of a sudden I had really sharp pains down the right side of my stomach and into my back. It was so bad that I knew it wasn't something I could ignore. After the pain went away I decided to get my boss and tell her I needed to go to the doctor. She started panicking and running all over the place trying to find Andrew. In the mean time, I started walking up and down the sidewalk outside while I called the doctor. They told me to come in to the office. So, what would any normal husband do? Would they just place you in the car and drive the speed limit all the way to the hospital, stopping at every single red light? NO! Andrew plopped me in the car and drove 90-100mph to the hospital, running every red light he could! On the way there I had more really sharp pains and it just made Andrew drive faster and faster.
Once we got to the clinic and checked in the pains stopped and I felt fine. They did a urine sample thinking that I might have a kidney stone but it came back normal. The midwife finally decided to send me to the hospital to get hooked on a monitor and checked to see if I was in labor. Sure enough...I was! I was having really strong contractions (and sharp pains whenever they would peak) and was already 1 1/2cm dilated, 90% effaced with the baby at stage 0. Since I was only 34 weeks they decided to try and stop my labor and keep me overnight to monitor my contractions.
Then came the IV...boy do I hate IV's!! I have such tiny veins that they really had a hard time, and it didn't help that I was freaking out since I was in early labor (Andrew had run to the vet at that time to pick up our dog from her grooming appointment so I was all alone) and I was shivering horribly because I was so cold. They started piling warm blankets all over me and then kept trying to stick me. Finally a different nurse came in and got the IV going. But for some reason it still really hurt! I asked her to check it several times and she just chuckled at me and said it was fine, but later my mom pointed out to her that the hub (I think that's what it's called) was actually turned sideways when it should be straight. So then she started tugging and re-taping everything which hurt even worse! Even after she fixed it the IV was still really painful, so in the middle of the night when a new nurse came in I had her redo the IV in my other hand. That felt so much better, but then the new nurse decided to leave the other IV in my hand in case they needed it later. So there I was with an IV stuck in each hand, and the one that wasn't even being used was the most painful!
Throughout the night they gave me shots (not sure what the drug was called) to stop my contractions. At first the shot didn't do anything. The second time the contractions stopped for a few hours and then came back. At about 2 a.m. they had to give me another shot and that seemed to do the trick. All the while I was confined to my bed, very nauseous, having to get up every hour to go to the bathroom since they were giving me fluids, getting antibiotics since I hadn't done a Strep test yet, getting antihistamine pills to help me sleep, and dealing with the freaking IV's! It was a long and very uncomfortable night.
I was finally fell asleep from about 2:30 a.m.-6 a.m., but those beds are so uncomfortable! My back was killing me and with all of the monitors strapped to me and IV's in the way I just couldn't get comfortable. AND I was really hungry so my tummy was grumbling all night long. In the morning they gave me some toast and orange juice which helped a little. Since I hadn't had anymore contractions they told me I was free to go home. So, I am home and SO happy to have those IV's out of me and to be able to go the bathroom without the nurse having to help me in and out of bed every time. I've got bruises all over from the shots and my back still aches. The doctor said I just have to take it easy and listen to my body. If I don't feel like working then I don't have to and I should drink lots of fluids. We will just pray that Baby stays in there a little bit longer and that when I go into labor that the pain isn't nearly as bad as it was. AND that I won't have to have those stupid IV's in my hands!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Birth Plan
This weekend Andrew and I had our Child Birth Ed. class at the hospital. It was a very good class (taught by a Doula) and taught me lots of relaxation and breathing techniques that will be helpful for a natural labor (which is what I hope to do!). I think it also gave Andrew some insight on what to expect, since he doesn't do well when I am in pain or sick. The Doula also gave me homework: daily exercises (squats, kegels, butterfly stretches, and back arches), to practice my breathing and relaxation techniques daily, and to create a birth plan!
Some specific things I've put on my birth plan are: to not offer me pain medication, a list of people who are allowed in the room during labor/delivery, for the baby to be placed immediately on my chest for skin on skin after delivery, that Andrew has the choice to stand where he wants during delivery (since he's not sure he wants to watch or not), and items that I want available to me during labor and delivery.
If you have any suggestions for labor/delivery as far as what was helpful for you (either provided by the hospital or that you brought in yourself) please let me know! I've already told Andrew I want a birthing ball at home to sit on and to bring to the hospital with me! I'll take any suggestions you have!!!
Some specific things I've put on my birth plan are: to not offer me pain medication, a list of people who are allowed in the room during labor/delivery, for the baby to be placed immediately on my chest for skin on skin after delivery, that Andrew has the choice to stand where he wants during delivery (since he's not sure he wants to watch or not), and items that I want available to me during labor and delivery.
If you have any suggestions for labor/delivery as far as what was helpful for you (either provided by the hospital or that you brought in yourself) please let me know! I've already told Andrew I want a birthing ball at home to sit on and to bring to the hospital with me! I'll take any suggestions you have!!!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Doctor's Orders
At the doctor last week it was recommended that I no longer make my own laundry detergent and instead switch to Seventh Generation (if I'm looking for something natural-SO EXPENSIVE) or use All Free and Clear. It makes me angry since I've been making my own laundry detergent for a couple years now, but due to some irritating rashes/sensitive skin, my doctor said I should really switch to these brands. I told her my recipe:
Grated Soap
Washing Soda
Baking Soda
and a little bit of Oxy Clean
She specifically said any soaps that are scented and especially Oxy Clean are not good.
Any suggestions on how to change my homemade laundry detergent so that I can avoid these rashes, but also save money????
Grated Soap
Washing Soda
Baking Soda
and a little bit of Oxy Clean
She specifically said any soaps that are scented and especially Oxy Clean are not good.
Any suggestions on how to change my homemade laundry detergent so that I can avoid these rashes, but also save money????
Thursday, September 2, 2010
32 Weeks
I am just reaching 32 weeks in my pregnancy! Life is getting really exciting and I can't wait until Baby Potratz is here to start life with us. I have been experiencing lots of Braxton Hicks, just about every night. Last night I really debated calling the doctor because I was having contractions just about every 10 minutes with lots of cramping and pressure. I ended up just resting and waiting it out which seemed to do the trick. I went to bed early and woke up today with some lower back pain which I figured was just from the contractions. I go to the doctor next week and will definitely mention these issues. Tonight I am feeling pretty good. I took the time to lay down and rest as soon as I got home from work and took a short walk around the block which seems to have kept the Braxton Hicks away for now.
One thing I really enjoy about being pregnant is feeling the baby move. I am able to push on one end of my belly and see a body part push out on the other side. Then I'll push on that part and see another body part push out on the other side. It's so fun! It makes me feel like I'm already playing with my little boy. I've been sleeping pretty well and only have to get up a couple times a night to go to the bathroom and fetal movement doesn't seem to keep me up.
One major change that is taking place is that I'm starting a new job next week! There is a day care on site at the camp where my husband works and they hired me to start full time! What is so great is that the camp is only 15 minutes away from our home, we are able to commute together every day, and I can bring the baby back with me for discounted child care! It's a perfect situation for us, especially financially! I won't have to worry about driving 40 minutes to work and back every day and I'll also save gas money. I will be working with the 3 year old kids on some days and the infants on other days. Either way, I am really excited to get started and can definitely see how God is working in our lives to help us prepare for our little one!
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