Before we had left the NICU, the nurses had made sure we had scheduled our first pediatrician appointment and had also made a follow-up appointment with neurosurgery for Ally as well.
The first night was...the first night. In the NICU while we were there Ally rarely cried unless it was getting close to her care time and she was obviously getting hungry, she slept so well otherwise. I guess she was on her best behavior for the nursing staff, because she did NOT sleep well that night at all. Every time I would try to put her down in the crib, she would cry. I ended up sleeping with her most of the night on my chest (I did this quite often with Ben too), which the doctor the next day at our appointment was NOT happy about because it isn't safe. Not much has changed over the following weeks, she often during the night wants to be with me somehow to sleep, and since I also want to sleep I allow it (don't tell our pediatrician!). The doctor had suggested that maybe using the crib wasn't the best thing since it was so big and she was used to a smaller bed in the NICU. This was just as well, because trying to keep Ben in the 'big boy bed' did NOT go well the first night- he got up countless times and tried to climb the ladder to the top bunk where Luke was several times as well, so we ended up putting him to sleep in the crib and then moving him to the bed after he was asleep. Putting Ally in a bassinet solved 2 problems for us!
The NICU staff had told me to try to keep her on the same care time schedule she'd been on while in the NICU, at least for now. I did my best, but it was hard to want to wake her after finally getting her to sleep, so since then we've just kinda been winging it- feeding on demand and changing her whenever needed. She seems to be getting hungrier, because when she cries she usually wants to eat. I can remember with the boys feeding them and an hour later when they were fussy Russell would be holding them and would say, "He's rooting" and I would exclaim "I JUST fed him!" I feel like Ally's getting to that point with eating as well.
On the 20th we went to the neurosurgery follow-up first. This time we met with the actual surgeon and not one of his residents. I wasn't sure what to expect at this appointment. Before we went I was changing Ally's diaper and looked at her tiny body laying on the blanket in front of me. For the first time I started to get worried- without the layers of clothing and blankets, her head did seem a bit large for her scrawny body. So sitting in the doctor's office I was concerned for the first time about what the doctor would have to say.
Some friends of ours have 2 boys, both of whom have had surgery on their hands and feet around the age of 1. Their youngest just had this done a few days ago and she posted before and after pics in the hospital on facebook. Both times I wondered how hard it must be to watch such a young child go into surgery alone, and then I looked at my tiny girl. She might need a shunt, which would mean cutting into my baby's head, through her skull, into her brain, put in a tube that would be run under her skin down her neck, over her collarbone, and into the chest cavity, where there would also be a small incision in the chest to 'catch' the tubing. Although shunt surgery is fairly routine, doesn't take long, and recovery is not terrible, it doesn't mean that it will be easy to watch.
The neurosurgeon came in and measured Ally's head. We discussed briefly her diagnosis of Dandy-Walker and how she had had a head ultrasound at 1 day old in the NICU, but we had not been present for it and not spoken to anyone in neurosurgery about it, but since nothing had come of it thus far it obviously didn't show anything alarming at the time. Then he was quiet for a few minutes, clicking around on the computer. I sat there quietly, wondering what he was doing and why he wasn't saying anything to me. I wondered what he was seeing on the sonogram pictures (that was what I was assuming he was looking at, along with perhaps all the notes from MFM and the NICU) and was getting increasingly paranoid about what he was about to tell me.
He finally finished with the computer and gave me the verdict. Her head size was within the normal range for her age and gender. He could definitely see the Dandy-Walker gap that had been seen in countless sonograms in utero; however, he would not consider her to technically have hydrocephalus at this point. Not to say that it couldn't develop over time, but for now no shunt would be necessary and we would just need to continue to follow up with neurosurgery to watch it, and hopefully over time those follow up appointments would become less and less frequent. He scheduled Ally to return in 2 weeks, and also scheduled another head sonogram to be done before this appointment in order to analyze and compare them. We are not out of the woods yet (and may never be, because hydrocephalus could develop at any point, as we discussed- it could take a lot of time for the fluid to build up to a dangerous level) but for now he is not concerned. I was so relieved! He then asked me what I did, and I told him I taught high school math. He said it sounded like I really knew what I was talking about, and I told him I'd just done a lot of research and reading. Another demonstration of my new ability to advocate for my child.
That afternoon we went to the pediatrician for a follow-up on the follow-up. The appointment went great, we were able to fill in the pediatrician on the good news that the neurosurgeon told us earlier. The most exciting thing, however, was when we weighed Ally. At the appointment last week, she weighed 4 lbs. 7.5 oz. I told the nurse as I went to put her on the scale that I was hoping she had broken 5 lbs but I wasn't getting my hopes up. But my hungry girl not only met my goal, she beat it- 5 lbs, 2 oz! She gained 10.5 oz. in 8 days- more than an ounce a day! I was ecstatic! Part of this may be due to the fact that she still mostly takes pumped breastmilk and it is being fortified with some formula. The NICU staff started doing this to take the 20 calories in 2 oz. of breastmilk up to 22 calories. While it doesn't seem to be that significant, it appears to be making a huge difference! I'm hoping to get to 6 lbs. by her next appointment and with the way she's growing she'll be out of preemie clothes and diapers pretty soon!
Prayers would be very much appreciated for our family. Ally's early arrival has thrown all our family off quite a bit since not all of our affairs were in the order we would have liked them to be and we are all scrambling to adjust, especially now that Ally is home. I will be off until April 9th and then we will have to readjust to a new normal for 2 months. Thanks so much for all your love and support to this point, and your continued interest in our girl.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
March 11th, 2014- The Homecoming
On Sunday night Russell and I visited the NICU for Ally's 9:30 care time and actually remembered to bring her car seat so they could do her car seat study during the night. Everyone that we had spoken with the last several days kept talking about Ally being discharged Tuesday as long as she didn't have any more breathing episodes and she passed her car seat test. Basically, she would be strapped into her car seat for 2 hours with her heart rate, breathing, and oxygen saturation monitors on. All of these monitors need to stay above a certain level for each for the whole 2 hours- if any of them drop too low, she fails the car seat test and has to wait 24 hours to retry. If she fails a second time, then she takes a car bed test and she would be released in a car bed instead of a car seat which we can borrow from the hospital. Usually babies who end up in a car bed stay in it for 3 months.
.JPG)
Monday after dropping off the boys Mom and I showed up at the hospital eager to hear if she had passed. However, we got some not great news- they hadn't been able to do the car seat test because they couldn't adjust the straps to the right level (you practically have to have an engineering degree to work some of these car seats!). The nurse for the day was able to adjust them for us and got her set up in her seat around 10:30, so she would be done in time for her 12:30 care time.
Mom and I chose to stick around during the test. Once the alarms went off when her heart rate went just 1 OVER the requirement, because her hat had gone down over her eyes and she was mad about it! Then, literally minutes before her test was over, her oxygen saturation level went 1 UNDER the requirement, and Mom and I were terrified that she had failed the test with minutes to go. However, it only lasted a minute (you can't touch them while in the car seat except to adjust their hat, etc.) and a few minutes later the nurse came over and said she had passed the car seat test! I guess the rate had not dropped below the requirement, even if it did set off the alarm.
She's ready to rock the car seat test so she can head home!
So as long as there were no episodes the rest of the day and evening, she could go home Tuesday!
Tuesday Mom and I again got to the hospital after dropping off the boys. I was eager to see the verdict during the night. When we got in and went to her bedside, we saw a discharge certificate sitting at her station! She was going home today!
Mom and I had to do a discharge class by video, during which they gave her a shot to fight RSV, which is basically like a cold (which can be very serious for preemies). They got all the paperwork for me and we went through it together, and then we packed up and Mom met us with the van outside! We were free! We picked up lunch and went home to eat, and to try to adjust to this new life.
We had to take Ally with us to pick up the boys that afternoon. Luke was so excited to see his baby sister out of the hospital, and Ben got to see her for the first time ever. He didn't seem too interested at first but he's definitely warmed up to her since. He will kiss her and say "The baby!" (He also steals her hat and paci when we aren't looking.) Luke has been very helpful, wanting to hold her and even asking to help feed her at times. He is very good at trying to calm her down when she's crying too (he also did this with Ben, so it's no surprise, just still very sweet).
Our 3 kids- all home!
We will be somewhat limited in what Ally can do and where she can go for the next several months. Being a preemie, she is more susceptible to illness and the doctors and nurses told us she is not to go out much and we need to be vigilant about germs. We are not usually those parents who make you wash your hands before you hold our baby (we never did that with the boys) but right now we need to be careful with our fragile girl, so thanks for being understanding. Thanks to everyone for the meals and offers of help, and your continued prayers. We have made it out of the NICU, but our Dandy-Walker journey is just beginning.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
March 9th, 2014- The First Week
A basic summary of Ally's first week...
Sunday, March 2nd: Happy Birthday baby girl! (See post on The Arrival!)
Monday: After a fitful night for both Russell and I (me itching all night and regaining my feeling, Russell sleeping on the couch/bed that is sooooo comfy) that afternoon I was freed from all my confines and able to go up to the NICU with Russell, Luke, and Russell's parents. Luke was so excited to meet his baby sister. He did really well with following all the rules of washing up for 2 minutes, putting on the gown, and being quiet and orderly the whole time, especially by her bedside. He was just fascinated with her and so gentle and loving. After a few minutes, Russell took him out and let his Dad come in, who had been in the waiting room with Ben (he's too young to go into the NICU, and even if he was it would NOT be a good idea!). She was still in the open crib with a warmer on above her, and had an iv in her left hand and the oxygen saturation monitor on her foot. She was taking bottles of whatever I could pump and supplementing with formula. I learned about care times, which is every 3 hours for her when they take her temperature, feed, and change her. I can be with her 24/7 but care times are the most interactive times- once you put a baby down from care time they ask that you leave them down so they can be resting.
.jpg)
Tuesday: By now the warmer is off because Ally had gotten too warm so she was obviously trying to regulate her own temperature! She was also increasing her volume of her feeding and really only getting breastmilk and not needing the formula supplement. Since I was in the hospital too I was easily able to make it up to the NICU for a number of her care times. I tried to actually breastfeed her once but she didn't really take to it.
Wednesday: This was the day I was discharged from the hospital. I didn't leave until after lunch so I participated in most of the morning care times. While sitting waiting for one to begin by her bedside I cried a bit since I wouldn't be able to just come up and be with her anytime I wanted- and I was especially limited because I couldn't drive.
Sometime between Tuesday and Wednesday they also put a feeding tube in through her nose. She was getting somewhat better about eating but she often wouldn't take her whole bottle, so this way whatever she didn't take they could put down her tube to make sure she was getting the full amount (they called it the 'big girl plan'). It was interesting because they would also use the tube to first bring up anything that was in her stomach to see what she was digesting and how much she still had left from the last feeding, then put it back in her stomach and continue with that feeding.
Also, at one point today when I went up for her care time they asked me to wait before going in to see her because they were moving her iv. I had thought the whole time how hard it can be to put ivs in (after my c-section my first one had gone bad, and it took them 3 attempts to move it- I usually have pretty good veins too!) so I had wondered how next to impossible it would be to get one into an infant, especially a premie! It turned out they were putting it into the side of her head. They said she did great for them while having it done, and for awhile she almost looked as if she had a bow in her hair!
Thursday: This was the best and worst day in some ways. While I was there for her first care times they gave me some really great news- her volume of feeds had increased dramatically overnight, so they were going to pull her feeding tube and unhook the iv, and if she continued that day doing well they'd take it out completely! I was so thrilled she was doing so well. At one care time I attempted nursing again and she actually took to it and got some nourishment, but we did give her a bottle afterward. She did not eat well for me anytime I tried to feed her that day. I was starting to worry a bit that whenever she came home I wouldn't be able to get her to eat like the nurses could. The nurses said sometimes they get really comfortable with Mommy- nice and warm and cozy- that they sleep more easily and don't eat as much. You need to eat girl if you want outta here!
Friday: At her first care time that I was present for Friday her iv was gone! She also no longer had an oxygen saturation monitor on, so the only 'hook ups' she now had were heart and breathing monitors. Also, for the first time her bilyrubin levels had finally started to decline- everyday she was tested and they went up and up, but she never got to the point where she was considered officially jaundice and in need of the phototherapy light. However, they did tell me that during the night she had had an 'episode' where her breathing had declined, causing her heart rate to decline as well. This is not unusual for premies, (they often forget to breathe!) but this one was severe enough that someone had to intervene (they often bring themselves out of it on their own). As a result, she is on a 5 day count down and has to stay at least 5 more days. However, she is doing so well that they told us we could bring in her car seat to do her car seat test and started talking about her being able to come home if she continued to do well!! I myself also went to the doctor to have my staples removed. I have been feeling great and am healing remarkably well.
Saturday: Mom arrives (she had left Sunday before it was decided to do the c-section in order to avoid the snowy weather headed our way)! She was thrilled to hold her first granddaughter. Since it is tax season, my Dad works 6 days a week and was unable to come, but Mom used their iphones for Dad to facetime with her. Ally continued to do well that day, increase her volume even more, and she even nursed on both sides for one of her feedings that day!
Sunday: Things continue to go well. I was able to attend church that morning and go see her several times that day. We learned that night that she was back to her birth weight of 4 lbs, 5.5 oz.! They continue to talk about sending her home Tuesday provided there were no more episodes like on Thursday and she passes her car seat study. Russell and I brought her car seat that night in order for them to hopefully do the study overnight. We saw another little guy a few beds down pass his car seat study and actually leave the NICU that night and I think Ally got jealous- she did really well for the last few care times we were there for that evening!
.JPG)
She is doing so, so well. For being a little over 5 weeks early, her progress and condition continues to amaze me. I truly believe it is because of the prayers of so many that she wasn't in more serious condition and that she has progressed and improved so quickly, to the point where we are talking discharge on a specific date! Thank you to all who have been praying for Ally. Russell and I are very different in that he is overly concerned with everything dandy-walker related- her head size, getting with neurosurgery, her sonogram(s), while I have been focusing on her eating and being able to come home- in my mind, it is first things first! Hopefully we'll soon have a post with her home coming and then continue our dandy-walker journey as an outpatient. Thanks again for the prayers especially, and the well-wishes, food, and all the offers of help- we are so blessed to be surrounded by such kind, loving, caring people and we love all of you so so much!
Sunday, March 2nd: Happy Birthday baby girl! (See post on The Arrival!)
Monday: After a fitful night for both Russell and I (me itching all night and regaining my feeling, Russell sleeping on the couch/bed that is sooooo comfy) that afternoon I was freed from all my confines and able to go up to the NICU with Russell, Luke, and Russell's parents. Luke was so excited to meet his baby sister. He did really well with following all the rules of washing up for 2 minutes, putting on the gown, and being quiet and orderly the whole time, especially by her bedside. He was just fascinated with her and so gentle and loving. After a few minutes, Russell took him out and let his Dad come in, who had been in the waiting room with Ben (he's too young to go into the NICU, and even if he was it would NOT be a good idea!). She was still in the open crib with a warmer on above her, and had an iv in her left hand and the oxygen saturation monitor on her foot. She was taking bottles of whatever I could pump and supplementing with formula. I learned about care times, which is every 3 hours for her when they take her temperature, feed, and change her. I can be with her 24/7 but care times are the most interactive times- once you put a baby down from care time they ask that you leave them down so they can be resting.
Meeting big brother 'Bubba' in the NICU
They also did a head sonogram on Monday. I wasn't there for it, but we didn't hear much as a result of it so as of now the hydrocephalus appears to not need a shunt. We still need to speak with neurosurgery regarding the results and we should be getting another head sonogram and consult with them 10 -14 days from now...whether still in the NICU or as an outpatient.Tuesday: By now the warmer is off because Ally had gotten too warm so she was obviously trying to regulate her own temperature! She was also increasing her volume of her feeding and really only getting breastmilk and not needing the formula supplement. Since I was in the hospital too I was easily able to make it up to the NICU for a number of her care times. I tried to actually breastfeed her once but she didn't really take to it.
Daddy feeding Ally for the first time. He got her to eat the whole thing!
Sometime between Tuesday and Wednesday they also put a feeding tube in through her nose. She was getting somewhat better about eating but she often wouldn't take her whole bottle, so this way whatever she didn't take they could put down her tube to make sure she was getting the full amount (they called it the 'big girl plan'). It was interesting because they would also use the tube to first bring up anything that was in her stomach to see what she was digesting and how much she still had left from the last feeding, then put it back in her stomach and continue with that feeding.
Also, at one point today when I went up for her care time they asked me to wait before going in to see her because they were moving her iv. I had thought the whole time how hard it can be to put ivs in (after my c-section my first one had gone bad, and it took them 3 attempts to move it- I usually have pretty good veins too!) so I had wondered how next to impossible it would be to get one into an infant, especially a premie! It turned out they were putting it into the side of her head. They said she did great for them while having it done, and for awhile she almost looked as if she had a bow in her hair!
Thursday: This was the best and worst day in some ways. While I was there for her first care times they gave me some really great news- her volume of feeds had increased dramatically overnight, so they were going to pull her feeding tube and unhook the iv, and if she continued that day doing well they'd take it out completely! I was so thrilled she was doing so well. At one care time I attempted nursing again and she actually took to it and got some nourishment, but we did give her a bottle afterward. She did not eat well for me anytime I tried to feed her that day. I was starting to worry a bit that whenever she came home I wouldn't be able to get her to eat like the nurses could. The nurses said sometimes they get really comfortable with Mommy- nice and warm and cozy- that they sleep more easily and don't eat as much. You need to eat girl if you want outta here!
Friday: At her first care time that I was present for Friday her iv was gone! She also no longer had an oxygen saturation monitor on, so the only 'hook ups' she now had were heart and breathing monitors. Also, for the first time her bilyrubin levels had finally started to decline- everyday she was tested and they went up and up, but she never got to the point where she was considered officially jaundice and in need of the phototherapy light. However, they did tell me that during the night she had had an 'episode' where her breathing had declined, causing her heart rate to decline as well. This is not unusual for premies, (they often forget to breathe!) but this one was severe enough that someone had to intervene (they often bring themselves out of it on their own). As a result, she is on a 5 day count down and has to stay at least 5 more days. However, she is doing so well that they told us we could bring in her car seat to do her car seat test and started talking about her being able to come home if she continued to do well!! I myself also went to the doctor to have my staples removed. I have been feeling great and am healing remarkably well.
Saturday: Mom arrives (she had left Sunday before it was decided to do the c-section in order to avoid the snowy weather headed our way)! She was thrilled to hold her first granddaughter. Since it is tax season, my Dad works 6 days a week and was unable to come, but Mom used their iphones for Dad to facetime with her. Ally continued to do well that day, increase her volume even more, and she even nursed on both sides for one of her feedings that day!
With her Nanny!
Thursday, March 6, 2014
March 2nd, 2014- The Arrival!
So we had a pretty uneventful evening Saturday. I told Russell to take the boys and let them sleep at home- they were obviously exhausted and needed to sleep in their own beds- and let his parents get some rest too because they had been caring for them all day and THEY were obviously exhausted too! It also gave Russell a chance to sleep at home and Mom stayed with me at the hospital. My doctor was hoping I would start labor on my own since my water had broken so I was on the monitors and just waiting for contractions to start back up again.
We all had a pretty good night and the waiting game continued on Sunday. I was allowed to eat a regular breakfast, but before lunch my nurse came in and we spoke with her. She said if I was not going to be induced, I really should go to another room and not be in labor and delivery, and sometimes these doctors need me to be a bit 'forceful' if I was serious about having a baby (she was awesome, I really liked her)! I was so torn. I knew I couldn't stay like this forever, but at the same time I was worried about being so early and how Ally would do after delivery. She was doing well on the monitors and I almost wanted to just try and buy her some more time if it would help her, but I knew they wouldn't let me just hang out with such low fluid levels.
The doctor came in just a few minutes after we spoke with the nurse. He told me that since labor wasn't starting he thought we should start pitocin (my nurse swore she didn't say anything to him before he came in!). So she came back in and got me hooked up.
And then we waited some more. Every 20 minutes or so she would come in and bump up the pump level, but I still wasn't feeling anything. After a couple of hours, she came in and told me that the monitors were showing contractions (again, that I couldn't feel) and every time I had one Ally's heart rate dipped, so they were going to pause pitocin.
My doctor came in and said sometimes this happens when there are low fluid levels because when the uterus contracts it squeezes the cord since there isn't fluid around it to cushion it and that causes the heart rate to drop. He wanted to put in a catheter that would pump fluid into my uterus and hopefully help with that.
After an INCREDIBLY painful insertion of the catheter, we got the fluid pumping in and the pitocin started again. About another hour later, the doctor came in again and said she still wasn't tolerating the labor with the help of the fluid and it would really be best to go ahead and have a c-section.
I was so crushed. I had really been hoping that with it being so early I'd be able to go ahead with a regular delivery at least. My nurse was great and she came in and talked with me about my fears of the surgery and the needle and all. She told me that the spinal they would give me was easier and less painful than putting in an iv, and the fact that I wasn't very 'fluffy' would give them a pretty straight shot and it would be nothing.
The anesthesiologist came in and told me about what she would be doing, what I would feel, and that she'd be with me the whole time. Then the nurse took Russell to get him 'dressed up' and another nurse came in to take me to get prepped.
It was the longest walk I'd taken since Friday getting to the hospital. I was so scared (and cold) I was shaking when they put me on the table and I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to be still for the spinal. However, as my nurse had assured me, it truly wasn't that bad and was over very quickly. They had me lay down before I went completely numb and strapped my legs to the table and continued to prep. Russell was able to come in a few minutes later in his garb. He asked how I was feeling and I said, "like my body is made of lead." I asked the anesthesiologist how could anyone possibly push a baby out feeling (or not feeling, in this case) like this? I was thinking of my deliveries of the boys and thought it would have been impossible to know what was going on down there and how hard (or even if!) I was pushing. She responded, "Oh, the body does it mostly for you." Goodness gracious!
.jpg)
They got started and Ally was out in about 15 minutes or so. They lowered the curtain enough for us to see Ally just as she was coming out (and not to be able to see anything else...). Russell said exactly what I had been thinking, "She's so tiny!" And her head did not look that big at all. Russell went with her over to the baby bed where they cleaned her up to take pictures and I looked 'over my shoulder' to watch. I also saw her get weighed, and she weighed in at 4 lbs, 5.5 oz. So she came in a little under what the estimate was, but not a bad weight for 6 weeks premature.
I could hear her crying and they said her breathing was doing great so far. They then took her up to the NICU, and Russell went with her while the doctor finished up with me. He told me the cord had been wrapped around her neck three times, so a natural delivery would never have worked out. Even though it was not what I had wanted, it was the right decision and I'm glad it all turned out ok.
.jpg)
The c-section itself wasn't so bad...but I'm not eager to hop back on that table again. The worst part was at the end- I have never tolerated anesthesia well and as they were 'putting me back together' I started getting nauseous and vomiting- only there was nothing in my stomach to come up. The anesthesiologist actually had to sedate me for about the last 10 minutes so they could finish- I guess the heaving was interfering with putting me back together properly. I woke as they were wheeling me into recovery.
My nurse was waiting for me in recovery. She congratulated me on Ally's birth and how well I had done. (I told you, she was awesome!) We waited for the effects to start wearing off and then they took me in the bed up to the NICU to see Ally before they took me to my room.
When we got to the NICU they gave us an update at her bedside. Ally was doing really well. She was breathing on her own with no help, though occasionally she would 'forget' to breathe. She was also feeding on her own without a feeding tube in the nose or mouth (did have an iv, though), and her coloring was great too. She was in an open crib instead of the incubator under a heat lamp, which was also a great sign. She had very few things attached to her, so we were really happy with her status overall.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Afterwards they took me to my room, and Russell and I slept that night (though my night was a bit restless- the spinal can make you very itchy so I was constantly scratching somewhere, plus I was still getting the feeling back in the lower part of my body). It has been very different from my last 2 deliveries and recoveries, because Ally is not in the room with me. I have to pump for her, so I have to remember to do this every 3 or 4 hours instead of having a baby screaming at me to eat at all hours. I have been able to rest at night, though I set my alarm to wake up and pump. There also haven't been as many people in and out of my room, since all of her monitoring is done upstairs. I have had a few nurses in and out for my vitals and to check on my incision and bleeding, and of course my food being delivered and vital records to get her registered, but that's been about it, so I've had more time to rest (especially at night!).
I am finishing this a bit late, and there is much to update, but we will save that for the next post. Thanks so much for all your prayers and support, and for the calls, texts, visits, emails, etc. We appreciate all the love and support from everyone so much, especially our parents as they have helped us out with caring for the boys and for me too. If anyone wants the web address for our meal calendar, it is below.
We all had a pretty good night and the waiting game continued on Sunday. I was allowed to eat a regular breakfast, but before lunch my nurse came in and we spoke with her. She said if I was not going to be induced, I really should go to another room and not be in labor and delivery, and sometimes these doctors need me to be a bit 'forceful' if I was serious about having a baby (she was awesome, I really liked her)! I was so torn. I knew I couldn't stay like this forever, but at the same time I was worried about being so early and how Ally would do after delivery. She was doing well on the monitors and I almost wanted to just try and buy her some more time if it would help her, but I knew they wouldn't let me just hang out with such low fluid levels.
The doctor came in just a few minutes after we spoke with the nurse. He told me that since labor wasn't starting he thought we should start pitocin (my nurse swore she didn't say anything to him before he came in!). So she came back in and got me hooked up.
And then we waited some more. Every 20 minutes or so she would come in and bump up the pump level, but I still wasn't feeling anything. After a couple of hours, she came in and told me that the monitors were showing contractions (again, that I couldn't feel) and every time I had one Ally's heart rate dipped, so they were going to pause pitocin.
My doctor came in and said sometimes this happens when there are low fluid levels because when the uterus contracts it squeezes the cord since there isn't fluid around it to cushion it and that causes the heart rate to drop. He wanted to put in a catheter that would pump fluid into my uterus and hopefully help with that.
After an INCREDIBLY painful insertion of the catheter, we got the fluid pumping in and the pitocin started again. About another hour later, the doctor came in again and said she still wasn't tolerating the labor with the help of the fluid and it would really be best to go ahead and have a c-section.
I was so crushed. I had really been hoping that with it being so early I'd be able to go ahead with a regular delivery at least. My nurse was great and she came in and talked with me about my fears of the surgery and the needle and all. She told me that the spinal they would give me was easier and less painful than putting in an iv, and the fact that I wasn't very 'fluffy' would give them a pretty straight shot and it would be nothing.
The anesthesiologist came in and told me about what she would be doing, what I would feel, and that she'd be with me the whole time. Then the nurse took Russell to get him 'dressed up' and another nurse came in to take me to get prepped.
It was the longest walk I'd taken since Friday getting to the hospital. I was so scared (and cold) I was shaking when they put me on the table and I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to be still for the spinal. However, as my nurse had assured me, it truly wasn't that bad and was over very quickly. They had me lay down before I went completely numb and strapped my legs to the table and continued to prep. Russell was able to come in a few minutes later in his garb. He asked how I was feeling and I said, "like my body is made of lead." I asked the anesthesiologist how could anyone possibly push a baby out feeling (or not feeling, in this case) like this? I was thinking of my deliveries of the boys and thought it would have been impossible to know what was going on down there and how hard (or even if!) I was pushing. She responded, "Oh, the body does it mostly for you." Goodness gracious!
Russell took a selfie waiting to come in.
I could hear her crying and they said her breathing was doing great so far. They then took her up to the NICU, and Russell went with her while the doctor finished up with me. He told me the cord had been wrapped around her neck three times, so a natural delivery would never have worked out. Even though it was not what I had wanted, it was the right decision and I'm glad it all turned out ok.
Meeting Mommy
My nurse was waiting for me in recovery. She congratulated me on Ally's birth and how well I had done. (I told you, she was awesome!) We waited for the effects to start wearing off and then they took me in the bed up to the NICU to see Ally before they took me to my room.
When we got to the NICU they gave us an update at her bedside. Ally was doing really well. She was breathing on her own with no help, though occasionally she would 'forget' to breathe. She was also feeding on her own without a feeding tube in the nose or mouth (did have an iv, though), and her coloring was great too. She was in an open crib instead of the incubator under a heat lamp, which was also a great sign. She had very few things attached to her, so we were really happy with her status overall.
First picture in the NICU
My favorite...holding Mommy's hand in the NICU
I am finishing this a bit late, and there is much to update, but we will save that for the next post. Thanks so much for all your prayers and support, and for the calls, texts, visits, emails, etc. We appreciate all the love and support from everyone so much, especially our parents as they have helped us out with caring for the boys and for me too. If anyone wants the web address for our meal calendar, it is below.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
March 1st, 2014- The Scare
Well, here we are folks- in the hospital. *Just a warning...I tried not to be too graphic in my descriptions of things below but I did describe some physical events that occurred.*
Friday was a normal day at school. It was also Russell's first day at his new job, so our routine was switching again. Russell now drops the boys off at school/daycare, and I pick them up after school. So when the school day ended I picked them up, drove them home, and we met Russell there to go meet his parents for dinner.
After dinner, we were going to his parents' church and the church where Luke attends Cubbies for a family fun night they were having- inflatables, roller skating, cotton candy and snow cones. As we were leaving the restaurant, I felt a bit of a gush down below. When we got to the church I went to the bathroom to check it out. It wasn't too much fluid, but it did soak my through my underwear onto my pants, but a bit later I felt more and went back to check and it had become a bit pinker and contained a bit more mucus. I decided I needed to call and ask the doctor about it.
The doctor on call returned my call a few minutes later after calling the hospital. I told him what had happened and he said it sounded like bloody show and not to worry about it, just to take it easy the rest of the evening. I felt relieved, because I did NOT want to have a baby that night!
Luke was spending the night with Russell's parents that night so we left with Ben around 8 and got him to bed around 9. Since Luke wasn't there we decided to try him in Luke's bed since he would need to give the crib up pretty soon to Ally. He got up a few times but he was pretty tired and it wasn't long before he was asleep.
We stayed up and watched some tv for a bit, and a little after 10 I decided to get ready for bed. I had just finished up in the bathroom when I felt this strange sensation come over me. I felt lightheaded and dizzy and hot, and then I felt pain in my abdomen. I went and lay down on the bed and called for Russell. He came in and I told him what had happened. He asked what I wanted to do. I was laying there feeling some contraction-like pains (not too horrible, but it worried me) and said we needed to call the doctor again.
When he returned my call this time, I explained what I had been feeling. He said since I was at 34 weeks if I was truly in labor they would not do anything to stop it even though it was a bit early, and I could come in if I wanted to be checked or I could wait and see. My concern was about the fact that they had wanted to do a scheduled delivery and making sure all the necessary people and things were in place. He said not to worry, there were always the necessary people on call and they would be able to handle it. I knew this, but I was just so concerned about it being so early...3 weeks before they had even though about scheduling the delivery. As I was on the phone, the pains and other symptoms went away, so I told him I was feeling better and would try sleeping and see how things were in the morning.
Russell decided to go ahead and have his Dad come get Ben, just in case we would need to go to the hospital. I felt awful having to do that, especially with his first time in the 'big boy bed' and he was doing so well (he was actually sleeping parallel to the pillows- so cute!) but Russell felt it was better safe than sorry.
I actually fell asleep before Russell's dad got there to get him. I woke around 1:30 to use the bathroom, but did it in the dark (in the middle of the night I usually leave the light off because there is a nightlight in there and it's all I really need to see by). I went back to bed, but around 2 I felt another gush. I went back to the bathroom and this time turned on the light and was horrified- I was completely bloody, through the pad, everywhere.
Russell came running when I yelled, and I told him we
needed to get to the hospital. He got me new underwear, a towel, pants, socks, and shoes. I sat there and tried to clean up and put my contacts in, then finished getting dressed. I got my coat and got in the car and started it while I waited for Russell to come out from using the bathroom himself. Then we took off.
I was terrified. I thought for sure I had just lost her. Why else would there be so much blood? I also wasn't feeling any movement. We didn't talk much on the short trip to the hospital but I did tell Russell my fears and tried not to freak out and over analyze what was taking place.
Russell dropped me off at the ER and left to park while I went in. I told the front desk what had happened, filled out a short piece of paper with info, and started crying. The woman asked if I wanted to walk or be wheeled and I told her I didn't care, just get me where we needed to be.
I walked behind her crying the whole way. She took me to the staff elevator. When it opened we got in and she was trying to press the button to take us to the labor & delivery floor. It was giving her a hard time for a few seconds and all I wanted to do was scream 'Make it go! My baby is in trouble!'. I know it was only maybe 20 seconds or so but it felt like forever and I wanted to find out what was going on.
I got up to the correct floor and they took me back and put me in a gown. The nurse was really nice and was asking me what happened as she was hooking me up to the fetal monitor. I got so distracted as she was doing this it was hard to keep talking, especially as she moved it around trying to find where to position it. By then Russell had come in and we both breathed a huge sigh of relief when we heard it pick up the heartbeat. What a great sound!
My doctor then came in. I had called him on the way to the hospital to tell him briefly what had happened and that we were coming in. He looked and checked...the leakage was mostly water with some blood mixed in, and I really wasn't dilated at all. Basically my water was broken and so I would be admitted and probably have a baby fairly soon. He ordered a sonogram and they took me to a room.
Russell decided to go home once I'd settled in. I told him not to worry and I would call him if anything changed. I wasn't in any pain or feeling contractions so probably nothing was going to happen right away but I would call him if it did. The nurse caring for me that the monitors were showing that I was contracting about every 2 minutes! I wasn't feeling a thing so I could hardly believe it.
I was tired and tried to sleep, but it was difficult. Around 4
the sonogram tech came in with the machine. The fluid is definitely lower but everything else looked ok. Ally's heartbeat monitor shows she isn't in distress (except for the occasional dip, which is normal) and she's handling this well.
Around 7 I called home and told my mom what was going on. She said she would come down and could leave around 10:30. Russell came back around 8 after a fitful bit of trying to sleep at home and had called his parents to let them know (since nothing major happened during the night, we didn't want to wake anyone needlessly).
The rest of the day has been a rather boring waiting game. I wasn't allowed to eat since I was 'in labor' and no one seemed to be able to tell me much about what was next, except that
they were not going to give me anything to stop labor since I had made it to 34 weeks (and 1 day).
Russell's parents brought the boys to see me around 12, which was a great distraction for me. Luke immediately asked if Ally was here yet, which we had to tell him no, not yet. I also explained to him that since Ally was a bit early she would have to go to a special part of the hospital and he might not get to hold or even touch her right away, and he seemed to understand that. He was fascinated by my iv and the monitors on my belly and was terrified at the noise it made when I shifted in the bed- he wouldn't even hug me goodbye because of it.
Mom made it down around 1:45 and she came in and we had a chance to catch up. My doctor came in around 2:30 to tell me what was going on.
Basically, my labor had stopped. I never felt the contractions to begin with so I had no idea. Since my water had broken they felt like they wanted to give me up to 36 hours for it to start on its own, then after that they would start probably start pitocin. They actually wanted to try to keep her in for a bit if possible to help her with lung development. She will definitely be in the NICU since she is early, but the length of her stay will depend on her status at birth, plus any complications that develop as a result of the dandy-walker and hydrocephalus. The sonogram tech's measurements show her to be 4 lbs, 11 oz., which isn't a terrible weight, but of course it is an estimate.
So, right now we are playing the waiting game. We are very thankful to Russell's parents for helping with the boys and mom for being here for a little while to allow Russell to rest some to before the show starts! Hopefully the next time we update will be with pictures and some real answers to the many questions we have had for the last 13 weeks.
Thanks for the prayers from everyone. I can tell you all have been praying because this week I've had a real sense of peace that everything was going to work out for our family, I just had to trust and be patient. This obviously wasn't part of that plan but we will take things as they come. And obviously many of you have been praying for a natural delivery, because at this point that is what it looks like we will be having unless there are new developments (but obviously some of you forgot the part about 39 weeks! Just kidding.).
Off to hopefully get some rest and contractions going. Come on Ally girl, lots of people are ready to meet you...especially Mommy.
Friday was a normal day at school. It was also Russell's first day at his new job, so our routine was switching again. Russell now drops the boys off at school/daycare, and I pick them up after school. So when the school day ended I picked them up, drove them home, and we met Russell there to go meet his parents for dinner.
After dinner, we were going to his parents' church and the church where Luke attends Cubbies for a family fun night they were having- inflatables, roller skating, cotton candy and snow cones. As we were leaving the restaurant, I felt a bit of a gush down below. When we got to the church I went to the bathroom to check it out. It wasn't too much fluid, but it did soak my through my underwear onto my pants, but a bit later I felt more and went back to check and it had become a bit pinker and contained a bit more mucus. I decided I needed to call and ask the doctor about it.
The doctor on call returned my call a few minutes later after calling the hospital. I told him what had happened and he said it sounded like bloody show and not to worry about it, just to take it easy the rest of the evening. I felt relieved, because I did NOT want to have a baby that night!
Luke was spending the night with Russell's parents that night so we left with Ben around 8 and got him to bed around 9. Since Luke wasn't there we decided to try him in Luke's bed since he would need to give the crib up pretty soon to Ally. He got up a few times but he was pretty tired and it wasn't long before he was asleep.
We stayed up and watched some tv for a bit, and a little after 10 I decided to get ready for bed. I had just finished up in the bathroom when I felt this strange sensation come over me. I felt lightheaded and dizzy and hot, and then I felt pain in my abdomen. I went and lay down on the bed and called for Russell. He came in and I told him what had happened. He asked what I wanted to do. I was laying there feeling some contraction-like pains (not too horrible, but it worried me) and said we needed to call the doctor again.
When he returned my call this time, I explained what I had been feeling. He said since I was at 34 weeks if I was truly in labor they would not do anything to stop it even though it was a bit early, and I could come in if I wanted to be checked or I could wait and see. My concern was about the fact that they had wanted to do a scheduled delivery and making sure all the necessary people and things were in place. He said not to worry, there were always the necessary people on call and they would be able to handle it. I knew this, but I was just so concerned about it being so early...3 weeks before they had even though about scheduling the delivery. As I was on the phone, the pains and other symptoms went away, so I told him I was feeling better and would try sleeping and see how things were in the morning.
Russell decided to go ahead and have his Dad come get Ben, just in case we would need to go to the hospital. I felt awful having to do that, especially with his first time in the 'big boy bed' and he was doing so well (he was actually sleeping parallel to the pillows- so cute!) but Russell felt it was better safe than sorry.
I actually fell asleep before Russell's dad got there to get him. I woke around 1:30 to use the bathroom, but did it in the dark (in the middle of the night I usually leave the light off because there is a nightlight in there and it's all I really need to see by). I went back to bed, but around 2 I felt another gush. I went back to the bathroom and this time turned on the light and was horrified- I was completely bloody, through the pad, everywhere.
Russell came running when I yelled, and I told him we
needed to get to the hospital. He got me new underwear, a towel, pants, socks, and shoes. I sat there and tried to clean up and put my contacts in, then finished getting dressed. I got my coat and got in the car and started it while I waited for Russell to come out from using the bathroom himself. Then we took off.
I was terrified. I thought for sure I had just lost her. Why else would there be so much blood? I also wasn't feeling any movement. We didn't talk much on the short trip to the hospital but I did tell Russell my fears and tried not to freak out and over analyze what was taking place.
Russell dropped me off at the ER and left to park while I went in. I told the front desk what had happened, filled out a short piece of paper with info, and started crying. The woman asked if I wanted to walk or be wheeled and I told her I didn't care, just get me where we needed to be.
I walked behind her crying the whole way. She took me to the staff elevator. When it opened we got in and she was trying to press the button to take us to the labor & delivery floor. It was giving her a hard time for a few seconds and all I wanted to do was scream 'Make it go! My baby is in trouble!'. I know it was only maybe 20 seconds or so but it felt like forever and I wanted to find out what was going on.
I got up to the correct floor and they took me back and put me in a gown. The nurse was really nice and was asking me what happened as she was hooking me up to the fetal monitor. I got so distracted as she was doing this it was hard to keep talking, especially as she moved it around trying to find where to position it. By then Russell had come in and we both breathed a huge sigh of relief when we heard it pick up the heartbeat. What a great sound!
My doctor then came in. I had called him on the way to the hospital to tell him briefly what had happened and that we were coming in. He looked and checked...the leakage was mostly water with some blood mixed in, and I really wasn't dilated at all. Basically my water was broken and so I would be admitted and probably have a baby fairly soon. He ordered a sonogram and they took me to a room.
Russell decided to go home once I'd settled in. I told him not to worry and I would call him if anything changed. I wasn't in any pain or feeling contractions so probably nothing was going to happen right away but I would call him if it did. The nurse caring for me that the monitors were showing that I was contracting about every 2 minutes! I wasn't feeling a thing so I could hardly believe it.
I was tired and tried to sleep, but it was difficult. Around 4
the sonogram tech came in with the machine. The fluid is definitely lower but everything else looked ok. Ally's heartbeat monitor shows she isn't in distress (except for the occasional dip, which is normal) and she's handling this well.
Around 7 I called home and told my mom what was going on. She said she would come down and could leave around 10:30. Russell came back around 8 after a fitful bit of trying to sleep at home and had called his parents to let them know (since nothing major happened during the night, we didn't want to wake anyone needlessly).
The rest of the day has been a rather boring waiting game. I wasn't allowed to eat since I was 'in labor' and no one seemed to be able to tell me much about what was next, except that
they were not going to give me anything to stop labor since I had made it to 34 weeks (and 1 day).
Russell's parents brought the boys to see me around 12, which was a great distraction for me. Luke immediately asked if Ally was here yet, which we had to tell him no, not yet. I also explained to him that since Ally was a bit early she would have to go to a special part of the hospital and he might not get to hold or even touch her right away, and he seemed to understand that. He was fascinated by my iv and the monitors on my belly and was terrified at the noise it made when I shifted in the bed- he wouldn't even hug me goodbye because of it.
Mom made it down around 1:45 and she came in and we had a chance to catch up. My doctor came in around 2:30 to tell me what was going on.
Basically, my labor had stopped. I never felt the contractions to begin with so I had no idea. Since my water had broken they felt like they wanted to give me up to 36 hours for it to start on its own, then after that they would start probably start pitocin. They actually wanted to try to keep her in for a bit if possible to help her with lung development. She will definitely be in the NICU since she is early, but the length of her stay will depend on her status at birth, plus any complications that develop as a result of the dandy-walker and hydrocephalus. The sonogram tech's measurements show her to be 4 lbs, 11 oz., which isn't a terrible weight, but of course it is an estimate.
So, right now we are playing the waiting game. We are very thankful to Russell's parents for helping with the boys and mom for being here for a little while to allow Russell to rest some to before the show starts! Hopefully the next time we update will be with pictures and some real answers to the many questions we have had for the last 13 weeks.
Thanks for the prayers from everyone. I can tell you all have been praying because this week I've had a real sense of peace that everything was going to work out for our family, I just had to trust and be patient. This obviously wasn't part of that plan but we will take things as they come. And obviously many of you have been praying for a natural delivery, because at this point that is what it looks like we will be having unless there are new developments (but obviously some of you forgot the part about 39 weeks! Just kidding.).
Off to hopefully get some rest and contractions going. Come on Ally girl, lots of people are ready to meet you...especially Mommy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)