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Our newest addition, Micah, has finally arrived. He was 7 lbs. 7 oz. and 20 ½ inches long. He was born at 12:30 a.m. on February 25th and, yes, my husband did make it in time for the birth! I went in to have my cervix softened on Tuesday (the 24th) at 7 p.m. and the waiting room was FULL of people. They told me there wasn’t a bed for me at the moment, but they’d get to me as soon as they could (not encouraging when you’ve just been dropped off at the hospital and no one is with you!). I was already having some contractions, but I’d been having them off and on for over a week so I wasn’t sure if this was the real thing or not. Just in case, though, I’d called Rick to let him know and tell him he might want to fly in that night instead of the next day. All I knew was I didn’t want to get sent home from the hospital because of lack of bed space. As I sat there, the contractions started getting stronger and closer together and more people kept coming into the waiting room/small admittance lobby. I begin to panic because there were at least three other ladies standing there with very swollen bellies and the admitting person was saying something about two ambulance brought in that had priority. Just so you know, this room is specifically for women going into labor, not general admittance. Then the challenge became, “Is Rick on his way?!” He had been debating on taking the next morning flight and someone pick him up which would put him at the hospital around noon the next day. Wouldn’t work! I called Rick hoping I wouldn’t get a hold of him (because that would mean, most likely, that he was on a plane). Then I called my mom to tell her I was in labor. She called her sister who came over to my house to watch the kids so my mom could come be with me. After that I called our friend, Heather, to find out if her older children were on the way to airport to pick up Rick. Thankfully they were! Rick had decided to come that night and would be at the hospital by 11 p.m. or so. Rick got there around 11 p.m. and as soon as he started to talk to me, my contractions started changing from really uncomfortable to downright painful! It was like my body was waiting for him to get there. Soon after that my dad arrived (he always comes for the births). At 11:50 a.m. I finally let the midwife break my water knowing that the birth would happen soon after. When she did, the water was thick with meconium and very little water which was a little scary. The baby’s heart rate (when they first started monitoring me when I was admitted) kept dipping way down when I was having contractions like he was under stress so this might have had something do with the meconium. Anyway, I probably pushed for 20 minutes or so and then he arrived covered in the meconium. He was whisked quickly away where the NICU team worked with him in the room to make sure he was okay. He was so late, that the placenta had become calcified. His nails were very long, hair a little longer than the other kids, and he didn’t have that coating on him. All signs that he was DEFINITELY overdue. Because of his low abgar score 3 (not 5); respiratory issues (the poop was in his lungs and he kept gagging and spitting it up); and his temperature kept dropping below normal, they ended up keeping Micah and I for an extra day. He wasn’t peeing or pooping and they wanted to see that happen before they released him. So, even though he was born early on the 25th, it was the afternoon of the 27th before we got to leave. He finally peed before we left the hospital (with the help of a little baby formula) and he’s been pretty regular since. They really stressed how important this was for his bodily functions to work right. Saturday he finally had a healthy bowel movement and my kids and I all cheered. It was very funny to see 6 people get that excited over poop. We’d been praying for him. |
Posted in Baby
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Just a quick update on Baby. After going almost two weeks over the due date that the midwife gave me - February 12 - I had a AFI (checks amniotic fluid), an NST (non-stress test), and another OB appointment yesterday. The baby looks and sounds fine and the AFI was fine too. All this in mind, and considering the fact that my husband has been working 5 hours from here and we're only seeing him once a week usually, we've decided to go ahead with an induction. It will be easier for Rick to be here as opposed to hoping that he can drive or fly up here on time when I go into labor, plus there may just be a reason the baby hasn't been able to come out yet. Thankfully, the ultrasound showed that the baby's head is in the right position (praise God!) so I won't have to have a c-section unless there are other complications. My husband is already figuring out his trip up here and will probably be here tonight, my dad will be here, and my other children will be watched over by my mom while I'm in the hospital. The Lord is good! |
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No baby yet, in case you are checking, but he's not in the right position at the moment either. My midwife has guessed at February 12 to be the due date and, as of last week, he was in breech position and yesterday he was transverse. Fun! I've been to the chiropractor twice now to try a method called Webster's method to turn the baby, and I've done some of the other things mentioned on various websites for turning babies. Hopefully he moves on his own. I really don't want to do the external version or have a C-section. Oh, and the really fun thing is, because my husband's job ended (the company went bankrupt - thanks to our fantastic economy) the insurance we had is now expired. We were under the impression that Cobra would send paperwork and we would be able to just continue our insurance through them. It didn't happen. Our fault for not checking, but now we're trying to get some kind of coverage. Not what I expected to do during the 40th week of pregnancy. The worse case scenario would be we would have to pay privately (yikes!) and have a C-section (more expensive). The blessing is he found another job quickly, so he is employed, but it doesn't offer insurance. So, if you think about us, we'd appreciate any prayers in this regard. Thanks! |
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I just thought I'd update anyone who is interested... I am still pregnant and expect to be until sometime between the 5th and the 10th. My midwife is guesstimating the 12th, but will see. It always seems like the last month drags. For another fun twist in the whole scheme of things, my husband just got a job with a liquidation company and has been in Long Beach, CA (except for two very brief trips back overnight) since then. He is closing down two major computer / electronics stores and will have to be there until, at least, the end of March. He was hoping to get home more, but it's keeping busy so far. He planned on coming home today (via plane) for the day and leaving tomorrow morning, but one of the kids started throwing up on Friday night and my mom (we share a house with her) was sick also and he didn't want to risk getting the virus. Can't blame him! So our plan is for him to drive or fly home to Central California as soon as I go into labor. It would be easier having a better idea about the due date, but we don't so we're just playing it by ear. The plan is to stay with him after the baby is born in a hotel or an apartment - the blessing of homeschooling - but its kind of hard to plan. If you think about it, please pray that all the details would be work out and that we'd be able to find an "affordable" place to stay and that all the things that need to be resolved would be. The hotel where he's staying would be the cheapest, but with six kids, really cramped. If we get an apartment, will have more space, but no furniture, and additional bills (electricity, etc.). I don't want to accumulate or take too many items because we'll just be moving on again in just a few weeks. So... it just makes it interesting. Also pray for my husband and I as we're apart during this time. It's not always easy. |
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Today we went to the midwife's office for our first ultrasound! When I went in last week, I was thinking that my due date was February 20 - my calculation since that was my first visit during this pregnancy. I was quickly corrected by the nurse who told me according to my last period, I was due on January 20! Yikes! It was a little surprising because I'm usually right on, but this time I got mixed up. Anyway, at the ultrasound today the tech said I was measuring 30 to 31 weeks, not 33 weeks (which would change the due date from Jan. 20 to anywhere between Feb. 4 and 11. I'm so far along that its hard to get an accurate "reading". But, no matter what, I'm glad that I don't have to wait until Feb. 20. What a blessing! By the way, it's a BOY! |
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Did I mention I was pregnant? This newest one is due on his/her "big" brother's birthday - February 20. Our youngest, at the moment, will be two on that day so we shall see when this newest one will make its appearance on that day or be late like Josiah was. My husband's birthday is March 3 so that would be nice also. |
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Finally, our newest little one has arrived. We had a boy and named him Josiah. He was born today, February 20, 2007 at 2:19 p.m. and he was 8 lbs., 20 1/2 inches long. I am so relieved to have it over and be able to hold him in my arms (as well as giving other people a chance to hold him - 9 months is a long time!) I had an amazing birth experience! My midwives were awesome, Christian women with great senses of humor. When I wasn't in intense pain, we were able to joke and just enjoy the whole experience. I had a water birth and it was so much better than any of my other births. Being on your back during hard labor is insane! I was able to pray and focus on what my body was doing instead of panicky in the midst of the pain. It made such a big difference. When I finally felt it was time to push, it only took 8 or 9 minutes and he was out (of course it felt like an hour!). I got to touch the baby's head as he was coming out and then Rick and one of the midwives grabbed him and pulled him out of the water. My mom, Rick and I are all extremely tired from lack of sleep, but are in good spirits. My kids did great, obeyed and stayed out of the room. I did yell during the pushing and it kind of surprised and scared them, but I had prepared them ahead of time so it wasn't bad. So far he's slept a lot and nursed a bit and seems very alert. I'm blessed! |
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I woke up at 12:30 this morning to discover my water had broken. First time for me. I called the midwife and she came out and discovered that the baby's head is down, but not down where it belongs. I'm only dilated to 1 cm and wasn't having any contractions so she started having me take blue cohosh every 1/2 hour. Contractions have started and are slowly getting more intense. She says if the baby hasn't dropped farther down by 6 a.m., I'll have to go to the hospital. Pray that the Lord's will be done, but I'd really like to not have to go if at all possible. Update: She checked me again and the baby had moved into a much better position. She's very encouraged - so am I. Still taking the cohosh. |
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I’m still pregnant. Yesterday I was officially a week over my due date. |
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No baby news. I guess this little one just likes hanging out in my warm womb vs. coming out to snow and cold temperatures. Can't blame 'em. Hopefully he or she will arrive before my mom leaves on Saturday. If she has to, she can change her ticket to Monday. |
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Tomorrow is my due date. We'll see if he or she actually comes. My track record, so far, has been pretty good. The first was induced, so that doesn't count; the second and third were both born a day early; and the fourth was born on her due date. So far this little person hasn't been cooperative. He/she keeps bopping around in there. He will get into the right position and then pop up again. The midwife was here and said that his head was down, but that he had his hands over his face. Makes it hard to slide down any farther. I'm just praying that he makes the transition here soon. My mom is flying out, which is really nice because my dh went back to work on Saturday after a week off of work. I was worried about what to do with the other four, but this will help a lot. She'll be here for 10 days or so, so hopefully during that time period the baby actually comes. It would be disappointing if she came out and totally missed the baby's birth because it decided not to show up for another couple of weeks. The weather has been really cold here lately. With the wind chill, it's been -20 degrees, etc. and hard to keep this house warm. I'm bemoaning the 50 to 70 degree weather in California that I'm missing out on. My kids are going stir-crazy because it has been too cold to let them play outside. I'm restless because of the cold, and the fact that I just want to be done with this pregnancy. It seems like I've been pregnant forever. |
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I'm rather annoyed with my body. I went to bed with my back hurting and it was so bad in the middle of the night that it kept me awake for a couple of hours. I finally got up at 3:30 a.m. with my husband. I started having contractions and eventually they got to be four minutes a part and fairly strong. My dh finished his vacation yesterday and today is first day back, but I didn't want him to stay home if they weren't going to turn into anything. I called the midwife, he left for work, and about an hour and a half later the midwife came. By that time, my contractions had lessened in strength and were a lot farther apart. When she checked me I was still only dilated to one centimeter, the baby had moved farther up (not even in the birth canal), and she didn't want to give me blue and black cohosh to help things along because I just wasn't far enough along. I was just glad I had sent my husband to work and not kept him home, but I felt bad for getting Chris and her daughter (and apprentice) out of bed for nothing. I keep thinking, I've done this four times (not including miscarriages). You'd think my body and my brain would know when it's time. It sure felt like it. I guess my body is just pushing the baby into position. I guess when I see the baby's head crowning, I'll know it's time! |
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Well, I've been having some contractions. I called the midwife and talked to her for a bit and we decided I should lie down and rest and drink some water to see if that would stop them. She's still concerned that it might be in the wrong position and because my stomach was upset today and I didn't have enough water, she thinks I am probably dehydrated and would rather have me be safe than in labor. The contractions did stop, but I still have a lot of pressure down there and in my back. As it stands now, unless the contractions get stronger tonight, she'll stop by tomorrow to see if the baby's head is in the right spot. My appointment wasn't supposed to be until Tuesday, but she and I just want to make sure. On another note, my 5 year old son has been especially sweet. He is a typical boy - filled with energy, loud noises, and occasionally too rough with his sisters, but he does have a precious heart. Yesterday he asked if he could pray for me. Of course I said, "yes". He then proceeded to pray that the baby would come out safely, that I would be safe, that the baby wouldn't hurt me by kicking me, and that it would turn the right way. I was so touched by how much thought he put into what he prayed and the fact that it was out of the blue. It wasn't family devotion time - he just stopped in the middle of playing with his cars and asked. I love my little guy. Update: The midwife came today and checked me. Thankfully, God answered our prayers and the baby is head down now and in the right position. After she left, I did have some contractions. I figured I could walk them (typically what I do to get labor really going) or I could have a good night's sleep and hope I go into labor tomorrow. With my last one, I went to the hospital at 8:30 p.m. and didn't have her until about 7 a.m. the next morning. I never got any decent sleep for a couple of days after that. I'd rather - if given the choice - start this one so I don't labor all night. I really want this one to be born tomorrow. All of my kids have been born on a day divisible by 5 (5,10, 15, 20). The 25 came and went, but tomorrow is the 30th and I can always hope. I like patterns. |
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The ultrasound showed that the baby is heading, kind of down, but still a bit tilted. I have a lot of amniotic fluid which is causing the floatiness of the baby. They seemed optimistic that the baby would be able to move head down and not get lodged in the transverse position. The midwife is supposed to come and try to move the baby into the right position now that she knows how it is positioned. I was a bit discouraged yesterday, but the Lord is the sustainer of us all. Please pray for the baby to turn and position itself correctly. Also pray for GiffordBabyJournal, cptwentworth, and LivingByDailyGrace. Christi at GiffordBabyJournal is due on Feb. 8 also, but the baby was in the breech position and they were talking about doing a C-section. I haven't heard if she's had it yet. Karen at LivingByDailyGrace is, unless she's had it since the 22nd, overdue and would love to go into labor, of course. Her husband is UnderDog. FYI, he's had a couple of funny posts regarding pregnancy and the baby the last few days. Cptwentworth, I believe, is due on the 10th. She was having some health challenges and experiencing the "fun" of barely able to function because she was so pregnant and tired. In Him, Marla |
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I had an appointment with my midwife yesterday. Two weeks ago the baby was head down. Now the baby seems to be sideways. This is my fifth full-term pregnancy and I've never had a baby be sideways at almost 38 weeks. After looking through my trusty, What to Expect When You're Expecting book, I can't find anything in there about a baby being sideways at this point - just head down or breech. My midwife told me to put my head down on the floor and stick my bottom up in the air to help encourage the baby into the right position. I'm also going in for an ultrasound on Thursday to determine exactly how the baby is positioned. Any advice about how to get the baby into the right position and then keep it there? Any ideas why a baby would pop back out again? |
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Last Wednesday, on the way to church, I had a lot of back pain and Braxton Hicks. On top of that, it started to snow a little. As I mentioned before, we live an hour from church...and I have a midwife...who's going to deliver this baby at my home. On top of that, I had just dropped off my husband at his work, so the complete circuit from church to his work to our home is an 1 1/2 hours. At that point, I realized I didn't want to be that far from home if I actually went into labor and started having contractions. I visualized myself stopping on the side of the freeway every 5 minutes to have a contraction and trying to explain to a very helpful - yet inquisitive - police officer why I couldn't just go to the nearest hospital to deliver. "I'm fine, Officer. I'm just in labor." "I'll escort you to the hospital." "No, thank you, sir," I'd say. "I need to go home." "Excuse me, ma'am, but didn't you just say were in labor? Don't most people want to leave their home at this point?" Anyway, I decided that even though my due date is 18 days away, I don't want to head that far without another adult until I have this baby, so I missed church today. A friend of mine offered to come get us and drive us in. Keep in mind that she lives almost an hour away and she would have to do that round trip twice. It was very sweet of her to offer, but that's a lot of driving. Plus we would have had to leave at 8:00 a.m. after all of us picked up my dh last night at 10:30 p.m. Groggy, cranky kids. Fat, pregnant mommy. I didn't even think to ask what kind of vehicle my friend drives since she is single. I don't know if we could have all squeezed in anyway. Consequently, I've been in my pajamas all day (true confessions). It's my birthday and that's how I'm celebrating. My husband is off tomorrow and he and the kids are going to make me a cake and I'll make a nice dinner (versus the mac n' cheese, hot dog, corn and salad extravaganza of this evening!) and pretend that tomorrow is my b-day instead. Not that it really matters. I just like celebrating it with my hubby and kids. |
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Good news! I'm not dead and I'm still solidly planted on Terra Firma. It seems like forever since I blogged, and I'm tired of seeing my last entry every time I pull up this page. Only five more weeks to go and I'm glad. I feel tired, clumsy, cranky and sore and I'm ready to have this baby. Unfortunately, we still haven't gathered all of the necessary baby paraphenalia together. When we moved from California, we left a lot of unnecessary (at the time) items behind, and now we have to acquire more of the same. It would be helpful knowing if this one is a boy or girl, but part of the joy of homebirth is the lack of knowledge in that department. Hope the baby looks good in white and cream. So far, we still haven't settled on any girl baby names. I've given my husband the suggestions given to me, but nothing has stuck so far. We do like Natasha (even if it is only three syllables), but it means "born on Christmas Day" and I like names that have meanings that fit or have are spiritual. The other ones I'm considering are Ivana (a feminine, Slavic-version of John) which means "Yahweh is gracious", but I don't know how Rick will react to it; and Elysia (a-LEE-SEE-a) which either means "noble" or "blissful". Any comments on any of these names and your reactions to them? |
Posted in Baby
As of today, I only have two months left of
my pregnancy. Yeah! I'll be relieved to be done with the aches and
pains, but very glad to hold that new little one in my arms. We're still not positive what we'll name her, if it's a girl. All of our girls, so far, have Russian or Slavic-sounding names and our son has a Biblical name.  I haven't
found another Slavic name that I really like (all of the girls have
four syllable names and the ones I'm finding have three syllables. They
just don't go with the flow - sigh!)  Any suggestions for pretty
Russian or Slavic female names that have four syllables? Because I
don't want to use my children's names on this blog, I won't be able to
say whether or not we've already used that particular name, but if we
end up using your suggestion, I'll let you know.
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Today I had my first appointment
with the midwife, Chris, and her daughter, Billie Jo. Billie Jo is her
apprentice and mother of five. Chris had seven children (the youngest
is 19) and she homeschooled them. I am so in good company! After 22 weeks of pregnancy, I was finally able to hear the baby's heartbeat and his/her kicks. I am measuring just a little bigger, but that's pretty normal for someone who has had several children, she said. From some things she said, I figured she was a Christian, and it was confirmed by reading the packet of information she gave me. It gave her testimony of when she was saved and how her thinking towards many things, including home birth, was changed after that. I really believe that God brought her to us and that she will be a wonderful midwife for us. There are lots of midwives in Wisconsin, and I am sure they are all very competent, but what are the odds that we would find one who is a Christian, delivers in this area, views her practice as a ministry, is very nice and easy to talk to, and is very reasonably priced? Too many factors to assume it was happenstance. Thank you, Lord. |