4 Month Update
Theodore is doing really well! He now rolls over from his belly to his back and then back to his belly. He can also roll well enough to get across the room on occasion. He is very "talkative" making sure we never forget he is around and happy to be here. He also loves to giggle and smile at you as you talk to him!
Birth Story
On January 23rd I woke up at around 4am with what I thought was just another rather strong BH contraction. I went to the bath room as was amazed by all the cervical fluid I had. Some of it was streaked with blood. I then had a few more contractions and was trying to get back to sleep but was unable to get comfortable in bed. I stayed in bed until Shawn got up for work, when I informed him that I thought I might be having real contractions and he should work from home. I spent the day rather pleasantly alternating sitting and spending time with my dog (who I knew would miss me terribly and not understand my absence) and in the bath tub with a good book. I spoke with my Doula and she suggested I go to my chiropractic appointment at 1:30 pm to hopefully help with my back labor. By 3pm my contractions were ranging from 5 minutes apart to 3 minutes apart. They were lasting at least 1 minute each and had been all day so I knew we were in a good labor pattern. But I was starting to suspect all this fluid must be something other than just cervical fluid. Shawn called the midwife and we headed in to the hospital.
In triage they were sure I was wrong about the fluid, I was not. I fessed up about how long it had been leaking and they told me that I would be staying. I was a finger tip dilated and 80% effaced. They told me my room was ready and I was to walk to it. No problem right . . . except it was not ready so I was stuck walking the halls while it was moped. I was not happy and ended up with Shawn holding my hospital gown shut while I did some pelvic rocking on hands and knees in the hall. This was the first sign things were not going to go well. I had written in my birth plan that I did not want an IV but knew it was hospital policy to have a heparin/saline lock inserted. I was not happy but took it. I was drinking and had a milk shake and over all doing well. My doula arrived and helped me A LOT with pain management, we used herbs, the ball in the shower and some other tricks for back labor that seemed to work well. I gave a urine sample and was found to be very dehydrated. I had been drinking like a mad woman all day but leaking fluid I was not able to keep up with my bodies fluid demands. I was forced to accept IV fluids. Because the dehydration had made Theodore’s heart rate go up I had to be monitored in bed. This drastically slowed my labor down. I went in to a slower labor pattern. I was left to hydrate for the night at 100% effaced and 1cm dilated. At 5am while Shawn and Lori (the doula) were sleeping the midwife on duty from that night told me that I was not progressing to her liking and I had to have Pitocin. I was very very unhappy and my arguing with her woke Lori. We asked for a breast pump but lactation had them all locked up and the midwife did not want to let it go till 9am when they could get me one. I was given a grace period until 7am. So we went to work getting my labor moving with herbs and positions that should have placed the head well agenst my cervix. The midwife did not check me again and I was 2cm. I had managed to dilate 1 more on my own, but not good enough for her since we were past the 24 hour mark. At 8am after 28 hours of labor they started the Pitocin drip and I was told I had to stay on the monitors. I labored for 2 hours with very hard back labor. I was uncomfortable and we were getting ready to try some better pain management than bed (we had convinced the midwife they could keep monitors on me while I sat on the birthing ball). She wanted to check me first, I was to 4cm! Progress! She said she wanted a sonogram machine and I did not think much of it. She said “well I thought I felt something odd, he is breach, I felt a foot” I sat straight up in bed and said “WHAT?!” I was told I would have to have a c-section. I was devastated I had done so well and labored so long and was finaly making progress. But they were unwilling to attempt a footling breech delivery. I understood as it would have been a huge risk to both my son and I. The pitocin was finally turned off after 2 hours and I was left to labor another 2 and a half. I still had strong contractions and probably dilated another cm before they finally administered the Spinal and the C-Section happened. Theodore Donald was born at 12:54pm on January 24, 2006. 7 pounds 7 ounces and 21.5 inches long.
After 4 days recovering in the hospital we are now home safe and sound. Breast feeding is going very well and I am glad to be home!
Click here for Theodore's Picture Pages
Ultrasound from 13 Weeks
Ultrasound from 21 Weeks
Ultrasound from 31 weeks (3D)
Also from 31 weeks (not 3D)
A few pictures of the Fur Babies
My Precious Kitty Spice J
Leo when he was still waiting to meet us!
Baby's First Haircut! How Cute!