Birth Story

So it has been quite a long time!  I’m sorry for not keeping up with this blog but it has been quite the few months.  The end of my pregnancy was exhausting; from finding out the baby was breech to getting a cold just prior to delivery (coughing after a c-section is not recommended by me!).  And then we were all of a sudden new parents and it took me until now to actually be able to sit down and think of what to write. 

On September 19^th we were blessed with a healthy 5lb 14oz baby girl.  We welcomed Elise Amelia Robertson into the world at 8:01pm.  She was in a hurry… her c-section was scheduled for the next day but she wanted to meet her new family sooner.  The funny thing is, before I knew she was breech, I was taking bets on the day she was going to be born.  I chose the 19^th at 8pm!  Mother’s intuition?

Birth Story:

I started having contractions very early the morning of the 18^th.  I woke up to use the bathroom around 12am… nothing unusual.  Went back to lie down and I started to feel tightening in my abdomen.  I thought, “Is this it?”  So, I laid there for about 30 minutes and timed them.  They were coming every 6 or 7 minutes.  I thought to myself, “the bathroom and kitchen is a disaster, I have to clean before I have this baby! And I have to wake Mike up to vacuum!”  (Mind you… not to tell him I might be in labor).  So I got up at 1 or 2am… continuing to time these weak contractions, and cleaned.  I kept debating if I should wake Mike.  At 3am I was done cleaning and so were my contractions.  I went back to sleep, upset and disappointed that the baby wasn't coming that day.

I had actually made a big deal about Mike getting the 19^th off, which he did.  When we woke up that day, he asked me what I wanted to do and I said, “have a baby and make jam!"

The morning of the 19th!  They don't get much lap time anymore!  

We had so many raspberries this year and most of them went to waste
but I was determined to make jam before having this baby!

I started having contractions sporadically around 2pm.  We went for an hour walk around the neighborhood and the contractions got closer together and were a little stronger.  We came home and I told Mike that he should eat and rest.  He made a pizza and I couldn’t resist.  I wanted to have something in my stomach and pizza sounded delicious.  So we shared the pizza.  After that, the contractions were about 4-5 minutes apart but not strong at all.  It was around 6pm that Mike called the on-call doc.  He told us to head to the hospital (I was actually a little in shock that he did).  Even though we really liked this doctor, I was a little disappointed that I wasn’t going to have my doctor deliver this baby.  We got to the hospital; I got in a hospital gown, all the while thinking this was a waste of time.  I got hooked up to the monitors and my contractions were real and really close together.  I asked the nurse if she thought I was going to be admitted.  She said it depends on the doctor but it looked like I was going to have a baby tonight!  Mike and I got nervous at that point.  It was 7pm when one nurse said MY doctor’s name and I asked if she was the one who was going to deliver.  She said that she was helping out the other doctor and heard that I was in labor and decided she would come down and take a look at me.  She was on her way and she wanted to deliver at 7:30.  At that point, I was shocked and so happy she was the one to deliver.  I called my family and Mike tried calling his family.  My mom was mad that we didn’t call her sooner.  Mike’s mom was at the grocery store and wasn’t answering her phone.  He said he must have called her 30 times.  I called my sister about 10 times until I finally just texted her that the baby was on the way.  The only person that made it in time to see me before surgery was my mom.  She was shocked and worried and wanted to cry when they rolled me out for surgery.

She wasn't very happy with me.

It's a strange feeling walking into an operating room.  The OR was chilly and it was much larger than I expected.  The anesthesiologist came in and explained that I would be getting a spinal block.  This was the thing I was most nervous about since becoming pregnant.  I wasn’t able to keep still and hold the position.  Thank goodness Mike was in there (I had read many birth stories and most dads are not allowed in until the mom was prepped for surgery).  He held me and my hand tight… my heart rate shot up to 150ish and I really wanted to cry.  Once that was over, I was able to relax a little better.  Then all my insides are out on display.  I don't think I really thought about it then… but how weird it was for me to go through surgery awake!  All I felt was a little jostling and some pulling and I kept looking over at Mike and telling him how strange this was.  

Right before becoming parents!

It took about 10-15 minutes and I heard my doctor say, “Your baby is about to come out… Mike do you want to tell her the sex?”  I also heard her say, “Look at all that hair!”  About 2 minutes later, she called Mike to look, I heard the baby cry, and he said, “it’s a girl and she has a lot of dark hair!”  I saw her and I was shocked!  I never expected our baby to have hair on her head for some reason!  

I was so happy! I’ve never seen Mike have such a big smile on his face.  She went over to the warmer to get cleaned up. It was so surreal at this point.  Mike cried when he brought her over to see me.  We got a few moments to ourselves behind the blanket of doctors and had our anesthesiologist snap some pictures.  

Then the two of them were off.  It took them about 30 minutes to close me up.  I often wonder what those 30 minutes were like for Mike… but I think those should only be shared with him and his daughter.  

I was taken to recovery and was greeted by my baby girl lying on her daddy’s chest. She was a champ at nursing that first time.  She nursed for almost the entire time we were in recovery.  Once we were deemed stable, it was off to the "mom baby unit" where everyone was able to meet the newest part of our family.  This new little life brought so much happiness to everyone.  Everyone fell in love with her instantly!

Welcome to our crazy family, Elise!  You are the best thing that has ever happened to your daddy and I!

Week 31 of Pregnancy

Where the heck are these weeks going?  So crazy!  9 more weeks to go and Mike and I will have a precious little one.

Our Baby:

I have many different apps that tell me how big the baby is getting every week.  These last few weeks, I have gotten many mixed sizes but I will give you my favorite.  The baby is now 18 inches long and 3.5 pounds (about the size of a head of Romaine lettuce).  This little one is now able to turn their head from side to side and do lots and lots of flips inside my uterus.  Fat is still accumulating and will keep accumulating until it is born!

Physical Changes:

I don’t feel like I have gone through many changes this last week.  My belly may have or may have not gotten bigger.  One big change… though it doesn’t have to really deal with me… is that the baby will push against one side and I can actually feel the little one (probably a little butt).  If I push against the spot the baby will move like crazy… Mike keeps telling me to stop because it must be comfortable if it keeps going to the same spot but I can’t help it sometimes… its so amazing to actually (between muscles, skin, and uterus) be able to feel the baby and see my belly move in all different directions!

How I am feeling:

I am feeling pretty good.  Sleep has been a lot better this week (besides waking up 3-4 times to use the restroom).  Breathing is still getting harder and my heart rate shoots up if I go up and down our stairs.  Other than that… all is good!

Odds and Ends:

Mike is turning 27 tomorrow and this will be the last birthday we get to celebrate without having a little on in tow (outside the uterus)!  I’m pretty sure all of our birthdays will bring a much different meaning once we have our little baby to help us celebrate them. 

We are having a mini-vacation in Colorado Springs.  Mike loves the zoo and so we are going to the Cheyenne Mountain zoo for his birthday!  More to come on the festivities this coming week.

Hope everyone has a great last weekend of July!  I know I am very happy to celebrate it with my husband and welcome in August.  

Week 30 of Pregnancy

TEN more weeks to go!  This number is very welcomed in our book!  It seems so far along 3-0 weeks!

Our Baby:

This week isn’t too exciting with new growth.  Our baby is about 3 pounds and still the same length as last week (~17 inches).  The only big difference (which is quite a big difference) is that our baby’s brain is beginning to form folds for more surface area.  The baby is kicking and doing back flips like no one’s business but I can tell when I need to take it a lot slower because the baby will starts to slow down a little… that is my sign to just lay down and catch up on some rest.. 

How I am feeling:

I was feeling pretty dang good during the first part of this week but then one day I had a really horrible stomach ache and I felt extremely lousy.  I finally put two and two together and discovered that I am becoming either lactose intolerant or sensitive.  Surprisingly, this is quite common during pregnancy.  Your body is so focused on growing a baby and supplying all the hormones that the pregnancy needs that it stops wanting to do some things… like digest lactose.   I don’t know about you, but I have never heard of a pregnant woman not being able to eat ice cream by the pint or gallon-full.  Luckily, Mike ran out and got me some coconut milk “ice cream” which eased my craving. 

Water works can be turned on in seconds flat… that is all I will say about that. 

Physical changes:

I’m noticing that my feet are getting a lot more swollen through the day.  My hips have started to put the hormone, relaxin, to use and they have been quite sore from spreading.  I look at my profile and I hardly recognize the body that I have now.  I’m starting to embrace my growing belly more and more… especially when I see it move and jive during the day but my hips, butt, and thighs are a whole different story… they can go bye-bye!

Braxton Hicks’ contractions have started and they keep me on my toes.  Sometimes they hurt and sometimes they are just really uncomfortable. 

What I am eating:

I didn’t write about this last week but these were cravings from then.  I had a huge craving for powdered donuts.  Mike and I polished off a box of them in a day (It was my reward for passing my glucose test!).  I also had a sample of Malt Vinegar and sea salt chips from Costco… I couldn’t stop thinking about them so we got a bag.  I skillfully polished those off in two days flat.  Carbs are my best friend and I only eat chicken and fish because I have to. 

Odds and Ends:

We finished our childbirth class.  I was probably the worst student in there.  Mike tried to make me participate in “practice” exercises but I just do not believe that practicing on how I should breath will make a difference come labor.  I’ve never been a fan of synchronized breathing and I don’t think I will even think about it when I’m doubled over in pain with a contraction. I did discover that I liked the rebozo (a labor tool which is really just a large scarf or pashmina used to take pressure off of your back) and the birthing ball.  We also learned some labor positions that will hopefully help.  So, I guess it wasn't all a waste.

Mike has been great and he knows exactly what I want during the birth process.  There was an exercise in class where we were given 15 or so cards with two outcomes and he chose all the right outcomes really quickly.  I was looking around the room and most of the other guys looked clueless and I saw the women just grab the cards from them and place them how they wanted them.  I think he will do great come D-day!

Here’s to 30 weeks with 10 or so more to go! 

Week 29 of Pregnancy

As I am going through the week, it seems like it is going quite slow but then I look back and yet another week has passed.  This week has been pretty uneventful… no real news to report!

Our Baby:

This little one is now the size of a butternut squash and weighing in around 3 pounds, already!  He/she is around 17 inches tall, which is almost as tall it will be when it is born!  And I can sure feel it!  The eyes are open now and it is able to distinguish between light and dark but not night and day… as I can feel it squirming every time I wake up in the middle of the night… usually bouncing on my bladder.

Our baby is putting on weight like crazy…mostly fat, which is why it is moving all over the place now (it has lots of energy from that newly formed fat!)

How I am feeling:

I’m still getting emotional almost everyday… I cried this morning because the lady at Century Link wasn’t very nice to me on the phone.  I feel huge and I am definitely not used to feeling that way… which puts more emotional pressure on me.  I’m also getting a little antsy about labor and delivery and how it is going to go about. 

Physical changes:
As I said before, I feel huge and I still have 10.5 weeks to go!  The heat and humidity is really getting to me so I feel tired really quickly if I am outside for too long.  My belly button is slowly on its decent outward… which I am actually looking forward to (I think it will be fun to have an outy for a little while).  My wedding ring is getting tighter by the day and my legs are larger at night than in the morning. 

I think after this week, I might stop weighing myself weekly… especially since I am at the doctor’s office every 2 weeks.  But this week I gained 1.6 pounds… so I am up 20.6 pounds pre-pregnancy.  My doc says I am gaining weight perfectly!

Odds and Ends:

We have scheduled a couple of appointments with pediatricians for a meet and greet.  I’m sure both of us are going to be quiet as we always are and the appointments will go fast. 

Our renovation list will be in full swing next week with the new bath tub going in.  And then tiling will be the next big project for Mike.  I think we are both looking forward to a new and clean area!

We bought our paint for the nursery and our bedroom, which will probably be painted in the next month or so. 

It seems so close yet so far away.  Weekly counting sounds a lot quicker than saying we still have 2 ½ months or all of the summer heat left.   We can’t wait for all of the waiting to be over!

Week 28 of Pregnancy

I feel like I haven’t written anything for quite sometime!  It has been pretty busy around here and with the newly formed (again) nausea and tiredness…I haven’t been very motivated.

But look at the time flying!  I am finally in my 3^rd trimester and I couldn’t be happier or more anxious!  We are in week 28 and even though I didn’t post anything about week 27… I am hoping my readers do not mind. 

Our Baby

This little one has grown so much in the last two weeks!  Our jelly belly weighs in at just over 2 ¼ pounds and is about 15” long!  He/she is now able to blink their eyes and also has eyelashes to bat at us!  Some studies have found that babies at this stage can distinguish its parents’ voices. 

Sometimes when the baby thrashes around it takes me by surprise and makes me jump a little.  There is a definite difference between the last 2 weeks concerning movement.  I now can feel it almost all the time and Mike will usually be able to feel a movement or two once he touches my belly.  

How I am feeling

I feel almost like I did in the first trimester but now I have this big belly to lug around.  Nausea has come back on an almost daily basis and I get so exhausted so quickly.  I also haven’t been sleeping very well and I know that when I have a bad night’s sleep, I’ll usually have a hormonal day along with nausea. 

My emotions have been all over the place from being ecstatic one day to a nervous wreck the next.  One thing is for certain, I am very excited to meet our little one.  I am also very excited for pregnancy to be over with in the next 12 or so weeks.  I am not one of those people who enjoy pregnancy but at the same time I find it so amazing that my body is growing another human.  

I am not having many cravings.  Just a few Cheetos here and there.  I am becoming more and more picky especially with some stomach problems I have been experiencing.

Physical Changes:

I have become much more winded doing small activities like climbing the stairs and watering the garden.  I also have started walking much slower and eating slower (anyone who knows me knows how fast I can usually eat, so this is a big difference for me and for the people around me). 

My wedding ring has just started to become snug even when I put it on in the morning...

I gained one pound each week so I am up 2 pounds from my last update.  My total pregnancy weight gain is +19 pounds.

Odds and Ends

Mike and I have had 2 childbirth classes so far and are going to tour the hospital in the coming weeks.

We also started our baby registry, which was really fun.   I am excited to get everything here after the baby is born!

Our last 4^th of July with just the two of us was really fun.  We went to a BBQ and then went to the park to watch fireworks.  Mike took me to his favorite viewing spot and they were spectacular and very close…we had ash falling on us. 

I have started to dread these weekly photos because I feel like I look so frumpy and tired!

Can't see my feet anymore!

Week 26 of Pregnancy

Our Baby:

Our little one is now as long as an English cucumber and weighs in around 1 2/3 lb.  It is starting to open his/her eyes and is starting to sense light (when a flashlight is shown on my belly… it wiggles a little)!  Hair and eye color are starting to become distinguished and it is also starting to plump!  The baby is growing by leaps and bounds and will start to gain ½ lb every week soon.

How I am feeling:

I am feeling pretty good, though I am really tired and I can’t sleep too well.  I’m also starting to get very nervous and anxious…however, I can’t pinpoint what it is.  I feel a little overwhelmed with what has to be done to the house before we get a little one here.  Our bathtub needs to be changed out, we are building a closet in our bedroom, the carpets and couch need to be professionally cleaned, the nursery needs to be painted, I still have to pick out everything for the nursery, our office needs to be moved, and the house needs a deep cleaning.  Every Friday that passes by, I start panicking a little more.  Plus, with not being able to set up the nursery, I feel so unprepared.  Just lots to do!

Physical Changes:

No real changes here except for my weight and my bigger belly.  I am up 1.3 lbs from last week, making my total weight gain +17 lbs.  My belly button is starting to become shallower and shallower.  A lot of aches and pains in my hip and leg regions are starting.  Swimming helps a bunch with relieving those plus it is a pretty easy exercise for me to do…because walking sometimes becomes cumbersome. 

What I am craving:

My diet has pretty much leveled out now and I don’t necessarily have many cravings.  I’ll sometimes crave Cheetos but that is about it.  My cranberry kick has died down a bit but it still tastes very good!

Odds and Ends:

This baby’s Aunt’s birthday is today!  Happy Birthday to the best sister in the world!

Week 25 of Pregnancy

Our Baby

This week our baby is as big as an eggplant!  Weighing in at about 1 ½ lb!  The lungs are almost fully developed and the nostrils are starting to open up which allows for some practice breaths before birth.

  

How I am feeling:

I am feeling pretty great!  I seriously do not have anything to complain about this week! 

Mike and I went swimming for the first time this summer and it felt great!  I did get a little ligament pain afterwards but I think it helped get my energy level up again.  I’ll most likely be buying a pool pass for the summer. 

The baby is kicking on a very regular basis already and seems to have a schedule set!  Kicks early in the morning to wake me up, then stops after I eat breakfast, starts again around 2 or 3, then stops for a nap around 4, tells me to eat around 7, then stops after dinner, then starts up around 8-9, and I think it sleeps throughout the night… hopeful thinking?

Physical changes:

I don’t know if I am overanalyzing things or what… my belly seems to growing at a constant pace but I feel like my hips and butt have once again doubled in size! 

My weight gain for this week was 1.9 lbs for a total of +15.7 lbs!

Things I am craving:

I’m still craving Eggo waffles and cranberry juice.  Not too much news on this front!  

Some things you don’t really know before getting pregnant:

1. You get back fat and love handles… I’ve heard moms talk about this but I never thought it would happen to me L

2. You get cellulite… I am hoping this goes away after the baby is born!  Not to sound condescending but, I never knew I valued my body so much. 

3. Once your bump starts getting large enough to tell you are pregnant… you join a secret community of pregnant moms.  You notice every single one and they notice you. 

  

Garden Update No. 1

Last week, we finally got to plant our veggies!  

We are a wee bit late but better late than never.  Here is a list of what we planted:

~Black Krim Tomatoes

~Cherry Tomatoes

~Early Treat Tomatoes

~Carrots

~Ceasar’s Lettuce blend

~Baby Red Lettuce blend

~Poblano peppers

~Anaheim peppers

~Tomatillos

~Eggplant

~Serrano peppers

~Bell Peppers

~Habanero peppers

~Cucumbers

~Summer Squash

~Zucchini

~Watermelon

~Peas

~Cantaloupe

~Pumpkins

~Fennel

~Okra

Wow!  I didn’t realize how much we actually planted until I wrote it down!  Our raspberries are coming in nicely and I am starting to think that we need to plant a different strawberry plant next year, as we only have a few plants with fruit (but squirrels or rabbits always eat them before I get to them anyways). 

No sprouts from the seeds yet but I’m hoping to see some in the next 4-5 days.  Our seedlings are acclimating well. 

I wish we had put in a watering system but maybe that will be next year’s project for the garden. 

Our peonies have popped and instead of having them fall to the ground outside, I cut a few stems and made an arrangement for our kitchen! 

I also noticed this amazing rainbow while I was trying to get some pictures of the newly planted veggies.  The pictures really do not do this rainbow justice; I'm pretty sure this was the most amazing one I have ever seen.  It was almost turning into a quadruple rainbow.

We have ONE whole peach growing on our peach tree!  I’m actually pretty surprised we have the one due to that May 1^st snow storm.  I was noticing a lot of ants crawling around that tree about 2 weeks ago but when we got home from our trip, I found all these little ladybugs instead… and no more ants!

 

I love being outside but with the temps soaring so early this year, I'm not quite sure how much I will be able to soak up the sun.  At least there are early mornings and late nights that I can appreciate!

Happy Gardening!

Week 24 of Pregnancy

Our Baby

I’m pretty awestruck that I am 6 months pregnant already.  Time has sure flown!

The baby is as long as an ear of corn and weighs about 1 ½ pounds!  It has gained 4oz  (ish) in just one week!  Crazy… It seems like it was only a few weeks ago that we were excited that it was 1oz. 

Our little one is starting to sprout hair, though the color is not apparent yet… fitting for the ear of corn! 

How I am feeling

Much better than last week.  Around midweek I started to get my energy back and my ligament pains got much better.  I’m sleeping better, although, I am getting up to pee a lot more… maybe because I am keeping up with my water intake finally.  I think I am doing better emotionally, however, if any of you reading this know me, you know how shy I can be.  This week I have noticed that I have gone even more inward than normal.  It isn’t so much shyness as it is just a lot of thinking, mostly about the baby but about my family, Mike, finances etc as well. I think I’m just starting to prepare myself for what is coming in the next 16 weeks and how it may or may not turn everything upside down for a while. 

Physical Changes

My belly is still, of course, getting bigger.  My linea nigra is becoming more apparent and I feel like I am getting small dark spots around my mouth, which indicates the “mask of pregnancy.”   I gained 1.6 pounds making my total weight gain +13.8 and right on target.  I am kind of surprised I didn’t gain more because I have been extremely hungry this week.  Speaking of hunger…

What I am craving

Sadly, I am craving Cheetos, Cranberry juice, and Eggo Waffles (Not together…yikes).  Mike and I were at Home Depot this week and I got an overwhelming craving for a hot dog and Cheetos.  The hot dog craving went away but I had to have Cheetos.  I blame Home Depot.  I’ve gone through a box of Eggo Waffles this week (at least they are the whole wheat ones…).  Last night was the first night that I had a midnight craving for cranberry juice… drank right out of the container, which is totally not something I would do. 

All together, it has been a much better week and I’m happy to report that there are only 16 weeks left!