Birth Story

Let's start with the day before. May 28th, I got the call from labor & delivery for my pre op instructions. Nothing to eat or drink past 8pm the nurse said. No big deal. I continued with my day as planned, went to my mother-in-law's house for dinner and cake/ice cream for my brother-in-law's birthday (which was the day before). My husband met us there since he was coming home from his work trip and all was great! We went home at a decent time considering we had a check in time of 4am. We put Nicolas to bed, I got some last minute items packed and ready to go, smoozelled with my husband who I missed terribly, and we were off to bed! Unfortunately my mind had other plans in store. I kept thinking..about EVERYTHING! Things that I still needed to pack, things that I still needed to do, things that could possibly go wrong. Like for instance, sometime during the night I heard my husband make a gurgling sound a couple of times. My mind instantly thought of a series of events that would possibly happen.

I'd have to take him to the ER because he was possibly choking.
Then I had to remember what hospital I would have to take him to (oh wait he has similar insurance to me and would go to Kaiser).
OH man! I hope he has his insurance card in his wallet!
At 4am I'd have to leave him to go check in for surgery!
That's in a totally separate building! Would they let me come back to him? No I would have just been cut open!
I can't be by myself!
He has to be with me!
Oh this isn't good, I hope he stops making those choking sounds!

CRAZY!

Anyway, 2:45 am was finally here and I had to get out of bed to start getting ready..yes to get ready! Makeup, hair, dressed (in yoga pants). I was meeting our baby girl and I wanted to be presentable! Before we left I made a point to scoop Nicolas from his slumber to give him a hug and kiss since this would be my first few overnights away from him! (ahhh!)

We left and were checked in at 4:10am. Leave it to us to be late on having a baby!

Once I got back to triage I had an ultrasound to confirm she was in fact still breech. YEP! Onward with surgery we would go. I got all prepped and soon everything was set and I walked with the nurses to the operating room (without Ryan)! The anesthiologist had me sit up with a curled back so he could place my spinal injection (which hurt and made me more nervous that I was husbandless at this point so I started crying). They got me all situated on the table, had the drape in place, and washed me down. Finally they called Ryan back to come be with me and they got started.

I couldn't feel any pain but I did feel like tugging and pressure against my stomach. About 20 minutes later the dr warned me that it would feel like an elephant was sitting on my stomach and that meant they would be taking the baby out!

EEEK!

Seconds later we heard the sweetest cry. A girl cry.

Before she was whisked away to clear her lungs of any fluid and to get cleaned off, the nurse briefly showed her to me and BOY she was small! I didn't know how small until they called out "6lbs 14oz! 18 3/4in long!"

WHAAAAT? How is that possible?!? Do you know how big my first was???

RAEGAN MARIE PETERSEN
BORN: MAY 29TH, 2012
WEIGHT: 6LBS 14OZ
LENGTH: 18 3/4 INCHES

We immediately did skin to skin while I was being "put back together" and it was absolutely amazing! I fell in love all over again! I not only am I lucky to have one product of both my husband and I but I now have TWO! Simply the best feeling in the world!

I was sent to recovery for about and hour or so while they monitored me and baby. By this time both our Momma's were here to check on me and gawk at our beautiful angel!

We were shortly moved to my post partum room and that is when the fun began. I got to hold my baby. I got to feed her. I got to stare at her. I got to kiss her endlessly. Pure bliss.

(picking up where I left off-day two) I'm ready to go home..today I took a shower, did my makeup and did my hair. I HAD to get out of bed. I had to get cleaned. BUT I do think I over did it just a little because tonight I felt the pressure of my incision and had a lot of gas build up to where I had a sharp pain in my right side where I felt like I couldn't take in a deep breath. I drank some nasty chalk medicine and some hot tea and that seemed to do the trick. Like I said though I'm ready to go home and sleep in my own bed and get down a routine with both my babies.

(I'll be posting pictures once I get home and settled. Even with my son I kept our hospital pictures private. I feel like because they are of their first few hours and days of their life, it makes them super precious. So I'll keep the same decision with our baby girl.)

6 days and counting down..

Hello baby girl,

Today I got to see you via ultra sound and hear your precious heartbeat. I am at my 39 week check point with you and as the days go by I realize I am that much closer to meeting you face to face. As predicted, you were still "right side up" which means you will be delivered by c-section. Not my first choice, but today all my nerves were set at ease. I talked to my doctor about the procedure and had her describe what would happen from the moment I check in to the second I go to recovery. There is that slim chance that I could have you before our date on the 29th due to the fact that I am already 3 cm dilated! How did that happen? I must not notice the contractions or not pay that close of attention. Either way, because you are in a breech position, I have to go to the hospital once my contractions get as close as 10 minutes. (Not your average in between time but my doctor doesn't want me to have any stressed situations that could possibly compromise your health. I totally agree.) When I told your daddy what the doctor said, he sternly told me that I need to rest more and not be such a control freak at home. Not to over exert myself with cleaning and doing other household activities. He also said I shouldn't take you and your brother on walks until after you're born. (What he doesn't realize is I am not one to just sit on my butt, ecspecially since your brother is such a rambunctious little bugger) But now that I know how important it is for me to take it easy I will try to do so. I'm glad that over the weekend I was able to get everything in order for you. (blog post to come) The only thing left for us to do is get your crib set up in your (and your brother's) room. There are some things that I still need to get for you that aren't super important but things that are a must have for me.
1. memory book
2. swaddle blanket(s)
3. crib mattress (this is a must obviously but you'll be sleeping in your bassinet for a while)
4. car seat cover (again, not super important but I want to make it girly)

I believe that is all for now precious one. Well now that this day is almost done so 5 days...


p.s. We are so excited that your Uncle Mark is in town from Hawaii for your birth. He can't wait to meet you. I just wish your Auntie Devan, Uncle Chuck and cousin's were here also. Then all our family would be here and everything would be completely perfect!

Baby Shower

Yesterday I had my baby shower...

Can I just say I loved all the PINK that swarmed my house..

(I took like a million pictures but I won't bombard you with all of them)

My color scheme was obviously pink and leopard

I plan on hanging those poms over her bassinet and crib

My best friend Alyssia who helped me! LOVE HER!

My momma and ME!

My mother-in-law and me :)

We played the game "who can dress baby the fastest?"

Clothes, clothes, and more clothes!

Me and my boy!

The only boys at the party!

My darling son!

Everyone decorated a onsie for little miss

Add caption

This day was perfect! I'm ready whenever you are little girl!

May 29th

That's the day..

The day I will have my daughter..

Of course if everything goes according to this new plan..

If you didn't read what the latest is on my pregnancy you can either just scroll down or click here.

My doctor finally called me back yesterday afternoon and we discussed how she didn't feel it was a great idea to have me schedule my cesarean until June due to the fact that her feet are down and the bigger she grows the more likely she could kick and break my water. I have my next visit scheduled for May 23rd and we'll check to see if by some chance she's flipped and then we'll go from there to talk about what my precautions are for labor since she could be a little acrobat and go right back up. On the chance that she's still in a breech position, we'll keep my scheduled cesarean for the 29th. Then once the 29th comes, they'll check me that morning to see if she's made her way down. If she has, I'll be induced and if not everything will go according to the plan of surgery.

The positives of having a scheduled C-section
1. I can PLAN everything up until then.
2. No awful contractions.
3. Longer maternity leave.
4. No..umm..stitching..down there..
5. (maybe) the 6 week no sex rule won't apply
6. I can stay in the hospital longer..that means nurses waiting on me hand and foot (hopefully) ::the obvious downside to that is being away from my first baby :( but I'm sure it will be harder for me than it will be for him::

Although I really wanted to have a June baby (just like me) I realize that I need to let that go and pray that everything goes wonderfully. I'm trying to stay positive and I am looking forward to meeting my baby girl..

20 days.. the countdown begins

Pregnancy Update

Today I had my 37 week prenatal appointment. Everything went smooth in the beginning as it always does. Checked in. Gave my urine sample to check for normal protein. Called back by the M.A. BP was great (120/73) Weight..ehh ok..I'm pregnant, so not a number I like but my gain is still very good. My appointment was just to check if I had dilated any more than my last visit (last monday). My doctor came in, we chatted a bit about after care, birth control, any of my concerns, and basically just caught up from the last time I saw her. (I've been seeing her Nurse Practitioner for my last three appointments or so.) I lied down so she could measure me and check baby's heart rate. By this time princess was moving all around. Her heart rate checked in the low 200's. Not good. My doctor said she would give me a stress test after we were finished with the visit just to make sure she was alright. (My nerves started rocking) She then checks to see my labor progress and she corrected my previous reading by letting me know I was more like 1 maybe 1 1/2 cm dilated.

Then..she tells me she thinks my little sweetheart is breeched. (Legs down). She leaves the room for a quick second and is back with an ultrasound machine. Sure enough. Her head is at the top of my tummy. (OH NO! I want to cry) She again checks her heartrate and everything checks out normal. She must like doing her gymnastics in the morning.

We then talk about my options.

Option number one:: I can schedule a cesarean for when I reach term and if by chance she turns down on her own then I will just be induced to have her vaginally.

Option number two:: I can go in tomorrow morning for a version. Where the doctor hooks me up to an IV and tries to manually (by pressing on my belly) move the baby to turn down. There are some risks by doing this. There is a small percentage that my water could break, there's a small percentage that the umbillical cord will become pressurized, a small percentage that my placenta will tear, severe cramps, heavy bleeding (pretty much there's a chance for things to go bad). All of which if they happen will cause me to have an emergency cesarean. However, if sucessful then I will deliver vaginally whenever she decides to come.

It always seems like when you're in the doctor's office you're questions and concerns leave your head. You can't think clearly when you have just been told this type of news.

What to do..what to do..

I went ahead and scheduled to check in at labor and delivery for the version and if later in the day changed my mind, I could always call and cancel. I want so badly to deliver her the way I'm supposed to. I want my body to listen to what my mind wants. I want my baby to understand and flip on her own so I don't have to go through this crazyness. I want all my fears and concerns to leave my heart and just have everything go as planned.

After talking with my husband (who would support any decision I made), my sister (who's advice I hold very dear), my mom (who brought up very great points), my mother-in-law (who consoled my concerns), and a doctor who I work with who is an ex-obstitrician (who set my mind at ease and made my decision more clear), I knew what I wanted to do.

I went ahead and canceled my version for tomorrow morning. I didn't want there to be any risk for my little one. A c-section is not on my list as it is, so to think that I could possibly have emergency surgery..NO THANK YOU! 

I emailed my doctor to call me so we can schedule my cesarean. In my message, I mentioned how I would like to schedule it as far from my due date as they would allow, to give her as much time to turn on her own as possible. I have yet to hear from her but my next appointment is on May 23 so if I don't talk to her before then, we'll discuss it at that visit.

bigger concerns:: I'M SCARED!! 

When my doctor told me that she was in a breech position I cannot even begin to explain my feelings. It's not supposed to happen like this. This is not how I planned it. I know that this isn't the end of the world but surgery scares the day lights out of me. I've delivered a baby before, I know what to expect. I know how it goes down and to think that I don't know what could happen is beyond my comfort zone.

I know that worse things could happen and I shouldn't complain. However I can get my daughter out allowing both her and I to be healthy, I'm all for it. It just is unsettling to know that when you become pregnant, you think that after 12 weeks you have the green light. Things will run smooth from here on out. What you don't think of is how you have absolutely no idea what goes on inside your belly. Scary stuff. You think your baby is in the safest place and there's no danger. But the reality of it is YOU. DON'T. KNOW.

So for now I will try to think positively. Not focus on what my future delivery could be like. I will talk to my baby girl into flipping for momma and see if that works. I WILL relax more, so I don't cause unnecessary stress to her.

I just want a happy, healthy, beautiful daughter, delivery and recovery.

I FOUND HER!

I recently did a post about what I thought Nicolas would look like before he was born and you can read about that here.

I was mentioning how I didn't yet have a picture of what I thought our little girl would look like until...

It may be a far fetch but I don't care. When I look at this little girl's hair it reminds me of what Nicolas' hair looked like before we cut it. I see her complexion and know that our daughter may be the same. Our girl's hair might be a little lighter like her brother's but it wouldn't be much of a surprise if it came out dark like her daddy's. I'm so eager to see if this picture resembles our angel in any way.

I am so excited to meet our sweet baby girl and I'll have this picture to admire while I wait for her to arrive.

Day 2 of maternity leave

WOW so I thought for sure I'd be able to update my blog everyday since I've been on leave (haha even though this is my second day, I meant to squeeze in a blog yesterday for sure). Nope.

Let me tell you what we did. Well..Monday night I was super excited that I wouldn't have to wake up at my usual early time to get ready for work so I decided to be a rebel and stay up until almost MIDNIGHT! (I know I know I'm really pushing the envelope)

Anyway on Tuesday morning Nicolas decided at 6am it was time to start the day...OH MY!

I thought against making some coffee because I had an overwhelming high on the fact that I was able to clean my house from top to bottom ALL DAY

and I did just that! It felt sooooo good!

I did make sure to take Nicolas outside to play for a bit in between my obsessive cleaning sessions.

By the time my husband came home the entire house was clean, laundry was done, and dinner was served!
I'm sure he could get used to this! (as could I)

Sooo today...

Nicolas did decide to sleep in a little longer (thank goodness..but that was only because when I woke up having to use the bathroom at 2:30am he was awake playing with the mini motorcycle he took with him to bed) 8am is when we both rolled out of bed..AHHHHHH

I needed to go to Target for a few things so we took a shower, got ready and headed out. I also stopped at Once Upon a Child to sell a few baby items that I wasn't able to sell at my mom's garage sale this past weekend. (I was just lugging them in my trunk, because I knew that if they went back in my garage they'd probably stay there for a few months before even being touched!)

playing at Once Upon a Child while I waited for my $$!

Then back to our cozy home so munchkin could take his nap because MAN was he ready for it! After he woke up we paid a trip to my Aunt's house to drop off her birthday card.

We had a great two days so far and I'm excited to see what this summer brings..(a baby obviously but I mean all our activities..)

Counting down..my last month

please pay no attention to my outtie of a belly button.. :)

Dear R________,

Today marks my last month with you. It is definitely bittersweet. On one hand I cannot wait to meet you and kiss your sweet face, dainty hands and lovable toes. On the other hand I know I will miss the feeling of you from the inside. I read a quote a while back that said

"No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. 

After all, you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside." 

Those words could not speak more truth. With both you and your brother, I fell in love with you when I heard your heartbeat for the first time. I found out I was expecting (again with you and your brother) at two weeks along. I had a "feeling" something was different and boy was I right! I loved being pregnant and it seemed like time flew by. I love you with every ounce of my soul.Your daddy and I cannot wait to completely fall in love with you once we meet face to face. I will miss you being a part of me. I will miss all the attention I get from carrying you. I will miss all the smiles and excitement you bring me when you wiggle and squirm around in my tummy (however it is nothing like the break dancing your brother did, and for that, I thank you darling). I will miss grazing my hands over my baby bump as if I'm lightly touching your cheek. I will miss dressing for a pregnant physic. HOWEVER, there is so much to look forward to. These last 30 days or so (depending when you decide to arrive) I will cherish every kick, every dance, every poke of you trying to break free from my belly.

At my appointment today my nurse, upon examination, said that I am currently 2 cm dialated and 60% effaced. (probably TMI, oh well) I don't think I'll be very late with this pregnancy like I was with my son...10 days to be exact.

8MONTHS! (pregnancy update)

Today marks my 32 week milestone. BOY did I never think it would come this quick! Yet here we are.

-At this stage in my pregnancy (my SECOND time around) I love love LOVE the satisfaction I get when other (older) veteran moms ask about my pregnancy probably thinking that this is my first since I am semi-young. Then I "lay-it" on them that NOPE it's my second! Like BOOYA! I've done this before! No need to hear your first-time-mom advice!

When I was pregnant with Nicolas, a co-worker of mine asked me when I was approaching my 4th month if I had morning sickness. When I told her no, she asked again how far along I was and then said "oh well you're still early on, it'll come." As if I didn't know what I was talking about. Or that I clearly couldn't be different. It almost makes me have a smirk that not only did I not get sick with my first but that I didn't with my second either. And now that I'm expecting again, when women ask me if it's my first and learn that it's not, the conversation ends. I guess I'm not that interesting to talk to if they can't tell me horror stories about becoming a mom.

-EVERYTHING gives me heartburn. Not unbearable but still uncomfortable.

-I have been getting crazy leg cramps. EVERY night. Some so bad they make me jump out of bed before I'm even fully awake. I usually drink a glass full of water and eat a banana (always have those suckers stocked because they are Nicolas' favorite!) Then walk it off. I'm sure I look crazy in the middle of the night walking aimlessly around my dark house, banana in one hand, water in the other and half way sleeping still.

-I've had to catch my breath when I get in my car, mainly because I've usually just gotten my 30+ pound kid strapped in. But even still I notice I have to do daily activities at a more steady pace so I don't start panting like a fat girl.

-It's getting noticeably harder and harder to put on my socks and shoes. Could it be because I have this ginormous bump in the way? Possibly. I want to paint my toe nails but I have a gift certificate I'll probably put to good use soon. I cannot wait for flip flop-everyday-maternity leave!

-Yoga pants are my new BFF! So comfy and yet not so lazy looking. I can still look way more presentable in them than your average sweat pant. Which on weekends makes for a lovely outfit.  

-When I was pregnant the first time, I wanted "regular" food. Dinner food. Comfort food. With this pregnancy, I could literally eat a cupcake for breakfast. Cookies for lunch. Ice cream for dinner. With candy snacks all throughout the day. My sweet tooth has intensified beyond my wildest dreams.

-Lately I've been so energetic (maybe all the sweets have something to do with that?). From the second I wake up I feel like I could run a marathon. I've cleaned the house from top to bottom everyday since Friday. My laundry is low, my sink is free of dishes (except for tonight because I'm blogging and then going to bed), makes this mom happy happy HAPPY!

-Looking at the calander, I have 4 weeks left before my maternity leave can kick into full gear. When I went on leave before Nicolas was born it was merely because I wanted to be lazy. (haha) But this time I want to enjoy the spring time with my favorite toddler! (Also if I can save a little $ from daycare I'm all for it)

-Because I only have 4 weeks left of work, technically 3 beacuse the last week I'll be training my temp replacement where I normally make them work for me (I'm mean I know), that means I only have 8 weeks left of being pregnant! HOLY COW! When it's put in that description, I don't have a lot of time to savor my belly before my baby gets here! It's crazy when I think that soon I'll be a mommy of TWO! At first I was scared, not going to lie. But now I'm excited. More than excited. I don't think there's a word to describe it really. I know it will be hard but what truly is easy? Everything is a learning experience. I also take pride in the fact that my husband and I got Nicolas on a schedule quickly and have stuck to a schedule no matter what! (That's honestly the trick, kids need that day-to-day routine to function, I didn't need to read it in a book to learn that one because I still have to have a routine that allows me to function) I know that once we get "in the groove" of things there will be nothing to worry about. I'm confident in my mothering techniques that I'll be fine with whatever the future brings. And just in case I need a helping hand, I'll know where to look.

-The one thing that I am "biting at the bit" about is going into labor. NOT actual labor because I remember what that was like and if I survived it once I know I'll survive again. But the thought of my water breaking or timing my contractions makes me so anxious I can hardly breathe. I'm a "planner" by nature and the unknown freaks me the heck out! My biggest concern out of the two is that my water will break. I'm a semi-germaphobe so the thought of leaking fluid anytime-anywhere makes me want to throw up! It's absolutely disgusting! Like what if it happens on my couch? I'll never want to sit- or have anyone else for that matter- sit in that spot. EVER. Or heaven forbid it happen in my bed. (GAG) We would DEFINITELY have to purchase a new mattress because there is NO WAY we would be able to clean it! I've voiced my concern of this to my husband and his suggestion was to have a towel handy for wherever I sit or when I go to bed. What I don't think he realizes it that a towel is NOT going to soak it all up! I wouldn't even want to go to the hospital, I'd just want to forever take a shower so I wouldn't feel so gross. Anyway you get my point I'm sure. Contractions however, I want to be aware of them. I don't want them to come out of the blue. I had to be induced with Nicolas and that was PERFECT because Ryan could read on the monitor when the needle was going crazy and tell me to brace myself because a "big" one was coming. AWESOME! I could prepare! (Control freak much?? YES!) I asked in my appointment today how long they would wait before I could talk about being induced and my nurse told me 41 weeks without a doubt. Music to my ears! (So precious little girl please be patient and let mommy plan your arrival. Thank you sweets!)

-(Which brings me to my next topic) I'm such a hopeless romantic. My technical due date is May 28th per my Dr. but when I went in for my 20 week sonogram the tech said I was more like June 1st. So unless it was significantly off (by more than 7 days) they won't change it in the computer. June 4th would mark my 41st week and would be when I would get induced if it came down to it. Well, 6 years ago on June 7th is when my husband and I officially started dating. How sweet would that be for our little girl to be born on the day her parents became exclusive 6 years prior? That day would have double meaning in our hearts forever! (Something definitely I will bring up to my Dr. if everything goes as planned..fingers crossed)

-Now for the numbers..BP 120/71 (PERFECT!) Weight gained total so far- 24lbs! (Super excited about that for sure! Although if I keep eating sugar I'm sure that will change.) Baby's heartbeat- At a steady pace in the 140's.

8+/- weeks...56+/- days...1,344+/- hours until we meet our baby girl!