We are home!
Danielle is absolutely beautiful. It was a tough journey, but she is in the world, safe and sound. Danielle Anastasia was born on April 4th, 2011 at 11:51 at 7.4 pounds and 20.5 inches. She is beautiful and healthy. She has really long legs for the spawn of a Hobbit and a Dwarf and has Eric's monkey toes. Hair and eye color is yet to really be decided. I hope that she had red hair and hazel or green eyes. *crosses fingers*
On the 3rd we went in to Medical because I had been having contractions and got the bloody show. I wasn't dilated enough, so they sent me home. Not long after that the doctor called, (who hadn't seen me previously, only a nurse checked me) wanting me to come back due to high blood pressure. Apparently it was very high. We went back, got checked again, then was offered induction because my blood pressure was not any better and was at a dangerous level. He did not want us to wait until Thursday. So viola, I got admitted then induced.
Oh goodness, that was terrible! I was given something to thin the cervix and cause the cervix to dilate. The down side were horrible, horrible cramps that were worse than contractions. That had also caused contractions. In fact, instead of getting the pictocin 12 hours later to put me in labor since that stuff causes contractions, I went into labor early. That didn't exactly matter though.
My cervix did not want to cooperate. It would not thin on one side one little inch, and eventually I did have to get an epidural because the contractions and the cramps were too much to handle. And I did try to wait and not always get a dose of it when I was in pain, but when you are in that much pain from the cramps and all the positions they tried to get me in to coax Daniel into proper position and get that one little inch left of the cervix to dilate, nothing worked for hours. Not even pitocin. So in the end, with everything against me, after 14 hours of labor, I had to get a cesarean.
That was the last thing I wanted. I had been so afraid of medical induction for that reason. I remember crying when Dr Schipper finally told me that it had to be done for mine and Danielle's sake. So we went ahead and did it, despite my fears. We tried everything from medicine to positions to pushing, that was the last resort.
And it turned out okay. Seriously. We are home now, safe and sound after only two days in the hospital. The only drawback is that she doesn't take to breastfeeding too well, but once the milk comes in, things should get easier. She is a little cuddle bug, will likely end up being spoiled, but that it okay. She is here, she is safe, I can breathe now.
As for myself, I am tender and a bit sore. Movement is limited, but I have great people here helping me out and my wonderful husband. Right now my only concerns is me and Danielle. Everything else is for others to worry about.
But the pain is not as bad as expected and everyone at Medical said that I was recovering incredibly well. I still have high blood pressure, which is being monitored, but otherwise I am happy, if a little tired. A nap is soon to follow this while I have the chance to. Danielle is in safe hands in the other room. She is safe, period. For that I am so, so glad. We faced the worse case scenario for giving birth without facing the absolute worse thing. We both made it. We are all home. Thank the gods.
Though to note, I won't say that it is all mumbo jumbo, but the natural ways of self induction did not work for me, so I will not be putting my stamp of approval on the methods, though sex is scientifically proven to work. It is everything else that I tried that had no real grounding. So pineapple, evening primrose, all those methods, they did not work. Maybe it will work for you, but not for me. So get all your information and facts before trying the old wives tales. I think that being so anxious to have Danielle naturally was more of a hindrance than anything else. For future moms, seriously just relax and let things happen. It is going to be okay in the end. But at least I got valuable learning experiences and everything still turned out just fine. Danielle is here and safe! That is all that I can ask for.
On the 3rd we went in to Medical because I had been having contractions and got the bloody show. I wasn't dilated enough, so they sent me home. Not long after that the doctor called, (who hadn't seen me previously, only a nurse checked me) wanting me to come back due to high blood pressure. Apparently it was very high. We went back, got checked again, then was offered induction because my blood pressure was not any better and was at a dangerous level. He did not want us to wait until Thursday. So viola, I got admitted then induced.
Oh goodness, that was terrible! I was given something to thin the cervix and cause the cervix to dilate. The down side were horrible, horrible cramps that were worse than contractions. That had also caused contractions. In fact, instead of getting the pictocin 12 hours later to put me in labor since that stuff causes contractions, I went into labor early. That didn't exactly matter though.
My cervix did not want to cooperate. It would not thin on one side one little inch, and eventually I did have to get an epidural because the contractions and the cramps were too much to handle. And I did try to wait and not always get a dose of it when I was in pain, but when you are in that much pain from the cramps and all the positions they tried to get me in to coax Daniel into proper position and get that one little inch left of the cervix to dilate, nothing worked for hours. Not even pitocin. So in the end, with everything against me, after 14 hours of labor, I had to get a cesarean.
That was the last thing I wanted. I had been so afraid of medical induction for that reason. I remember crying when Dr Schipper finally told me that it had to be done for mine and Danielle's sake. So we went ahead and did it, despite my fears. We tried everything from medicine to positions to pushing, that was the last resort.
And it turned out okay. Seriously. We are home now, safe and sound after only two days in the hospital. The only drawback is that she doesn't take to breastfeeding too well, but once the milk comes in, things should get easier. She is a little cuddle bug, will likely end up being spoiled, but that it okay. She is here, she is safe, I can breathe now.
As for myself, I am tender and a bit sore. Movement is limited, but I have great people here helping me out and my wonderful husband. Right now my only concerns is me and Danielle. Everything else is for others to worry about.
But the pain is not as bad as expected and everyone at Medical said that I was recovering incredibly well. I still have high blood pressure, which is being monitored, but otherwise I am happy, if a little tired. A nap is soon to follow this while I have the chance to. Danielle is in safe hands in the other room. She is safe, period. For that I am so, so glad. We faced the worse case scenario for giving birth without facing the absolute worse thing. We both made it. We are all home. Thank the gods.
Though to note, I won't say that it is all mumbo jumbo, but the natural ways of self induction did not work for me, so I will not be putting my stamp of approval on the methods, though sex is scientifically proven to work. It is everything else that I tried that had no real grounding. So pineapple, evening primrose, all those methods, they did not work. Maybe it will work for you, but not for me. So get all your information and facts before trying the old wives tales. I think that being so anxious to have Danielle naturally was more of a hindrance than anything else. For future moms, seriously just relax and let things happen. It is going to be okay in the end. But at least I got valuable learning experiences and everything still turned out just fine. Danielle is here and safe! That is all that I can ask for.