Baby girl!

Our baby girl, Claire Adele, finally arrived!

June, 14, 2012

8lb 1oz & 20-1/2 inches

My birth story:

My due date was Friday, June 15th and all week I had been having on/off contractions especially when we would go for evening walks. I kept thinking this was it, timing contractions, but they would stop and another day would pass. My water broke with Wesley, but I was sure this time I would go in with normal contractions.

Nope! At 3 am, I was lying in bed trying to go back to sleep after lugging myself to the bathroom when trickle, trickle ... my water broke! (Again! With Wesley it broke at 4:45am). I called to Matt sleeping in the next room with Wesley and he appeared looking pretty dazed and confused. Here we go again! We got everything in order, my parents came over to stay with Wesley, and the two of us headed for the hospital at 4am.

We got set up in Triage with a wonderful nurse who got my IV in with 1 poke and checked me at 1.5cm - even though I had really good contractions. I was upset I wasn't further along. She was really supportive of my natural birth plan - probably after knowing I did it the first time, they take you more seriously. We were in our room by 5:30am and the walking began, round and round the Labor and Delivery floor. By 8:30am, the doctor (same one who delivered Wesley) checked me at 2cm and put me on a low dose of pitocin. I told him I was holding off on the epidural for natural, and he said, "OK." (This was the man who didn't talk to me through Wesley's labor because I was natural ... maybe someone spiked his coffee?). My mom arrived at that time and we all walked halls together, I labored in the room watching TV, listened to my iTunes-- all the while my contractions were all over the place and they kept raising my pitocin (finally to an 8). Then things started really moving and when I got checked at Noon, I made a guess I was at 4cm and was right. Active Labor had begun.

And it was active! We went back to the halls where our nurse told us to show everyone what "real labor" was like. Oh we showed them all ... every contraction I had to fall into Matt and moan (Bradley training). It got so frequent and intense that even some nurses stopped to make sure I was okay. At one point one of the OBs had to tell her, "She's just having a contraction ... and bonding [with her husband]." Probably not a usual site to be seen on the floor where most women are strapped to their beds. Anyway, things got super rough. I went back to the room to labor on the birthing ball and use Matt to hold me up so I wouldn't roll off. At 2:45pm, I decided to get into the showers and got checked at 7-8cm -- I went from Active to Transition in less than 3 hours! 

In the shower, it was brutal - the pain was so intense! The nurse kept saying, "this is going to go so quickly! Tell me if you feel rectal pressure and we'll move to the bed." She wasn't leaving us - she knew this was it. I was only in the shower for 5 minutes before feeling pressure and getting back on the bed over a birthing ball - at every contraction they would rock me and apply counter pressure to my back but I was going crazy!  I couldn't center myself the contractions were so intense that I kept on screaming - "Help me!" I got checked again when I felt too much pressure and her head was right there but I had just a small lip of cervix left and that was the pain - she was bearing down on it.

they called the doctor right away and when he got there I felt calmer because I knew this was it. At 3:06pm I was complete and at 3:14pm she was born - maybe I pushed 2 times it was that quick!

They raised her up and put her on my chest immediately and it was pure love at first sight. Matt kissed me, everyone was happy and all that pain was forgotten.

39 weeks 5 days ... Waiting game

What to do with a 39w pregnant belly:

39 weeks 1 day

This is the longest now I have been pregnant. Wesley was born at 39 weeks. I thought for sure I would have this baby pretty early too, but all my last appointments have been disappointing -- not dilated, not contracting ... My 39 week appointment was particularly enervating because the doctor told me that if I come in at 40 weeks then they will schedule an induction. The last thing I want is an induction -- they have a higher risk of leading to C-sections and there is no way a true induction can be done au natural. I was "technically" induced with Wesley - i.e. I was on pitocin because of my water breaking - but it was a "whiff" according to the nurse. So I managed it without an epidural. I guess we just wait and see when this baby will be ready ...

I am pretty ready - I was looking at my list of things to do and get from my Getting Ready for Baby post:

• Swing - got it from a friend
• Co-sleeper - found one for $80 at a kids consignment shop (down the street from me, what could be better?)
• Booster chair - for Wesley. Just bought one.
• Stroller - the double we bought a while back off Craigslist for under $200, and my mom bought us the Uppa Baby rumble seat.
• Nursery - Done! It's been painted, decorated, and our office is now in the closet.

Bags are almost packed ... any day now ...

30 weeks

I have not been chronicling this pregnancy, which I'm pretty sure if typical when you're busy running after a 20-month old. But I am saddened that Matt and I haven't even taken any photos (he was my photographer with Wesley). I snuck in this picture on March 25th (28 weeks) when Matt was painting the baby's room and we were all up there offering support bugging him.

I feel like we still have so much to do to prepare for this new baby. We haven't even cracked open our Bradley Birthing notes and we're still hoping to go natural (i.e. no epidural) for this birth too. At the very least, I need to re-read Ina May's book for inspiration and confidence.

Getting ready for baby

I have a little over 4 months to get everything I need for Baby #2. I don't need much, honestly, and I'm really into de-clutering my life so the last thing I want to do is buy more. Plus, now that I am officially no longer working, finances have to be examined with a fine tooth comb.

So what do I need - or think I need ...

Swing - With 2 kids, I can see using this as a place to put baby when I need to take care of Wesley, or maybe this baby might nap in one. BORROWING FROM FRIEND

Co-sleeper - We had a cradle with Wesley and I didn't like it in our room. I'll put it in another room, and get this which attaches to our bed and will make night nursing easier - I hope. TRY CRAIGSLIST

Booster chair - I won't need this until the baby needs Wesley's high chair, and then Wesley can use a booster. COMB RESALE SHOPS, GARAGE SALES

Double-Stroller -- Here's where I can get into trouble. I can outfit the Uppababy with the rumble seat for Wesley for $100, but I've read it's not good for long outings. That might not be an issue, but if it is, a good double stroller will probably come in handy (one where both kids can recline and sleep). The ones I want, even on Craigslist, are $300+ and I've set my limit at $150. Must have good tires, be easy to maneuver ... my wishlist is endless. LIVE ON CRAIGSLIST, ASK FRIENDS TO BORROW

That's really all I can think of ... not too bad.

The only other thing to get done is to finish the "office/nursery" - paint, make an office station, decorate -- the fun stuff!

20 week ultrasound

Friday morning we had our 20-week ultrasound to see how Baby #2 is doing -- and to find out the gender.

I've always wanted to know the gender, but Matt wanted to be surprised with #1 so I played along.  With #2, we were like, "Just tell us already." I thought Matt would want to be surprised again, but he was on board and actually went in to the ultrasound with ants in his pants ready to find out.  For practical reasons, it would be nice to know the gender so I know whether I can keep or donate all of Wesley's boy clothes. For other unpractical reasons, I'd like to be prepared for 2 boys and a lifetime of man/boy stink and clodhopper shoes around the house (on a positive side though, I'd never have to go to American Girl and spend a fortune). 

Matt feels that this is a baby girl, and I still feel boy so ...

Profile

...guess we'll have to wait until the delivery room to find out who's right!

Did we change our minds in the ultrasound room? No ... we didn't. The baby had his/her legs closed shut the entire time! At first I was thinking, "What, we're not going to find out?" A little perturbed. Then it sunk in. This baby already has a mind of it's own and if it doesn't want to open his/her legs and show us, well then. So it is. (Although a friend was joking that with it's legs shut, it must be a girl!)

Wiggly toes!

The ultrasound went smooth. It was a pretty docile kid, as opposed to Wesley who was flipping around all over the place. We did get to see the most adorable thing though -- the picture above of it's leg and foot: it was wiggling it's toes! We died of laughter it was so cute and incredible. Already a toe wiggler like daddy.

12-week appointment

I normally wouldn't have a 12-week ultrasound picture to post, but the doppler couldn't pick up the baby's heartbeat so we had to confirm it with the ultrasound.   It showed that the baby implanted opposite where it normally does (anterior placenta) so it would make detecting a heartbeat more difficult. The baby was one active little bugger - flipping around and moving his/her arms and legs - and for the first time we saw a beautiful profile (Wesley was always in a weird position - usually head on).

Here's pictures of 12-week old Baby Freeman #2:

8 weeks

As if the nausea, tiredness, and -- first time this morning -- vomiting was not enough to tell me I'm pregnant, we had our first OB appointment this morning and ultrasound to confirm it.

There is a bean in the belly -- measuring 8w2d (based on my last period, I am 8 weeks today, so measuring ahead) and with a heartbeat of 171. The doctor was very happy for us and for the first time lying on the table staring at the screen, I cried.

Surprise!

We've been trying, but it's always a surprise to see that + sign!

I tested at 3w5d -- pretty early, but I wanted to start my progesterone as soon as possible (since I don't know at what point my levels can't sustain a pregnancy).  Today I am 5w3d -- still very early but I am still posting since I did last time, and I believe in full disclosure.

I am no longer considered high-risk by my OB. So I was promptly put on progesterone, but no blood tests to check levels and no early ultra sounds like last time. I could have requested them, but I didn't.  My first doctor's appointment is at 8 weeks. The morning sickness is helping me stay positive that this will be a viable pregnancy, since I'm feeling like I did with Wesley, but there is always worry.

But we are very excited, too, at the prospect of a new baby and that Wesley will be a big brother. I know that it'll be tough having 2 children not even 2 years apart, but I'm not getting any younger. In fact I was thrilled when I calculated the due date ... JUNE 15, 2012 ... and I'll still be 36 even if the baby goes overdue.

Praying hard for our little June-bug!

The real pregnancy

Being pregnant, I loved taking cute pictures of my bump ... but I was organizing some photos and found this one that Matt took (when I wasn't looking).  The middle of July (10 days before Wes was born), hot as Hades, feet swollen, reading a baby book...  Very glamorous!

It's a BOY!!!

"You've got to see the baby!" -- Seinfeld

Our new baby boy made his grand appearance into the world on:
July 25, 2010 at 11:17PM
Weight: 8lbs 9oz
Length: 21 inches

We are so in love with him!

Here's the birth story:

Saw the doctor Friday July 23rd and was told I was 2 cm dilated. I felt it was imminent so I went through our birthing books post-it noting all pages for Matt to read. He removed them all, sending me into a panic that I would birth alone. Saturday night, we had dinner with friends and I felt fine. Went to bed at midnight and woke up with water trickling down my leg -- my water broke in bed! It was 4:45AM and I ran downstairs to wake Matt up. It was surreal. We packed up our bags (which we started but never finished) and got to the hospital at 6AM. Got set up in Triage ( still 2 cm, 2 IV pokes --1 of my veins blew-- and started on the penicillan) and was in my room by 6:45am.

The doctor on duty (one of the nice women OBs) came in and suggested I walk to get going because her partner, who would be on duty in 2 hours, would want me on pitocin. So instead of sleeping, we walked the halls, did labor lunges, etc and my contractions got more regular. My mom showed up around 10am. My contractions were good, I saw the Doctor and I was put only on a small dose of pitocin. That made them a little stronger - i.e. as we walked the halls, I would stop and close my eyes through each one. The next time I got checked I was 4cm! Progressing! Of course the doc was miffed I was not on an epidural at this point, and I asked the nurse, "Does he not like me?" He was then called a "curmudgeon." Through active labor (4-6 cm) I labored in the room on the birthing ball, against my mom & Matt, visual imaging... it worked fine.

At 6cm, I was feeling it strong so we got in the shower and Matt had the jets on my back as I sat on the stool. He was absolutely the most amazing labor coach in the entire world. He was my rock, my savior through it all. He calmed me in the shower to relax me, and I did visual imaging of running a marathon. Then we switched to laboring on the toilet and Matt was kneeling in front of me on the hard floor until the nurse brought him a pillow. When she came back and asked "How are you feeling?" He said, "I'm fine thanks." and the nurse is like, "No I mean her." Matt has been laughing about that ever since! By this point he probably felt like he needed some relief ... and me too. I had to ask for some drugs by this point. I did not want an epidural, so I got checked at 7-8cm and was given Stadol. For 1 hour, I could relax having the pain down 1 notch, and Matt held my hand. I remember telling the nurse, "I don't need 0 pain, I can deal with pain, just not this much."

When the pain came back (with full force) I asked for more drugs. By then I was 9 cm and if she gave me any Stadol it barely worked. But I quickly advanced to 10 cm (the doctor came in for the 3rd time and declared I was complete and left) and a new nurse, one who was trained at different types of pushing methods, came to start us pushing. This was 9PM. So for the next 2 HOURS I pushed in different positions, with the squat bar, across the balance call, with a sheet tied to the squat bar ... I can barely remember how I felt. With every contraction I just tried to bare down, but about 45 minutes before the birth is when things got serious - more nurses came in to help me everyone was calling me a trooper and encouraging me every step of the way. Matt had one leg, my mom had the other and I was pulling on these bars against the bed as the head crowned. The doctor finally arrived and helped me along. When the baby came out, sure I felt the ring of fire, but by that point who the hell cared. I got a 2nd degree tear (no episiotomy, yeah!) which I did feel. It was sweet relief as he was born at 11:17PM.

Unfortunately, he had the umbilical cord around his neck and body so he was blue and limp. I did not know anything, but Matt and my mom saw it - the agony they must have felt. He had to get rushed with the nurses so Matt could never cut the cord and I couldn't have him on my chest. The NICU nurses and doctors were called to recessitate him and when he was deemed good, he got weighed, wrapped and finally brought to us. While all that was happening, Matt stood by my side as I delivered the placenta and stitched me up (which took forever and hurt despite the local anesthetic - I kept saying, "Ow, Ow" and knew that if I hadn't just labored 18+ hours I would have lept off the bed).

I was so happy that I did this as natural as possible, I was determined and I did it which amazed me as much as it did everyone else. The next day, one of the nurses even came to visit me to tell me that @ L&D I was a hero and it was the most amazing birth she's seen. As well, she said Matt was one of the best labor coaches she had ever seen. It made the 2 of us feel so great -- we can't stop talking about it. (and I will never post-it note anything for him again!)

But we finally had our little boy in our arms and were the happiest people ever. As I wrote in his baby book, "Your father and I have dreamed of you, and now you have come true."

38 weeks 5 days

Here is some good news ...

1 - I only gained 1/2 lb from last week (instead of my typical 3 lbs/week).
2 - I am now 2 centimeters dilated and 75% effaced
3 - Blood pressure, Non-Stress Test ... all good. Baby is looking great according to the doctor.
4 - I had 1 very large contraction on the monitor, so the doctor declared I was in "labor." I felt it this time, but I wouldn't have known how large it was if it wasn't for the monitor. Sometimes technology is bad.
5 - I have a very favorable cervix.

click on photo to enlarge

Other news ...
If I don't deliver this baby by my due date, then they would encourage me to get an induction. Not my 1st choice. The doctor said we can weigh the pros and cons, but with the way I am progressing, he would lean towards that. I asked if they would give me cervadil first (so I wouldn't get started on straight pitocin), but with my favorable cervix, it's not necessary to be at the hospital 12 hours ahead of time for that. Although, he said that sometimes cervadil can jump start the labor so that's an option. Then he said, "We're talking about all this but this might not even be an issue, you can go into labor in a few days..."

Let's hope!

Chinese Gender Prediction Calendar

According to the Chinese Gender calendar, I'm having a girl. We'll see how right that is (because almost everyone feels this is a boy, including me & Matt).

The prediction works like this: you enter in your age at conception (34) and the month you conceived (November).

If this is true, then we had better come up with a girl's name. We haven't thought much about it because our intuition tells us it's a BOY!

If you want in on Matt's "Guess the Baby's Date" game, email us or comment -- Date the baby will arrive, time, & gender. I think there may be a prize? His work has a NCAA/Baby Squares game going on (as Matt's the keeper of the Basketball squares at work, they thought this was funny).

37 weeks 5 days ... 39 lbs gained

'Nuff said.

Saturday in the City

This Saturday, Matt and I went into the city to get our baby shower loot. His work colleagues were so generous, they pretty much finished off our registry and got us so much stuff. I couldn't believe it, we were so touched!

We had breakfast on the way downtown at Bleeding Heart Bakery (Oak Park location).
It just so happened they were also filming Transformers 3 on LaSalle which we had to pass to get to Matt's building from where we parked. So there we are walking down the street with a pallet of baby gifts, running into tourists (who don't move, by the way) -- and getting stuck having to wait because they were filming a scene. We got stuck both times (going to the car with the loot, and going back to the building with the empty pallet). And it was a hot day.

I wanted to stay downtown and hang out, but I was hot and big and walking around is just getting too much. So instead we opted for Brunch at Prairie Fire. I had delicious Chilequiles & a banana, orange, mango smoothie and Matt had banana bread french toast and a mimosa. I hear dinner there is great too, but Brunch was great and the place was fairly empty (at 1PM) so we got seated easy (they have outdoor seating too).

Strep B

So I am Strep B positive ... ugh! That doctor in Mexico was right ...

So I'll get treated with penicillin when I get to the hospital. This site says that the best is to get the antibiotics 4 hours before you give birth. I just don't want to be hooked to an IV line while laboring since I want to labor naturally and move/shower/ etc. But from what I understand (from the nurse) I'll just get treated once and then it can be removed. Still. What a drag.

On a positive note, my mom is getting me a pre-natal massage for my birthday. I hope I can get my appointment in before I go into labor! I am so looking forward to this because I am so sore and sleeping is now officially sucky. Matt sees me in modified child's pose and comes over to massage my back (the best feeling ever). This weekend he gave me a leg/arm massage this weekend that if I wasn't already married to him, I would have married him!

I'm officially ready to have this baby. I think he/she is done baking.

Matt's work Shower - cake

Matt's colleagues at work are throwing him a baby shower today.


They emailed me to surprise him, and I was planning on going. But Matt got wind of the plans and when he saw me bumbling around the house told me that he didn't feel comfortable with me taking the train downtown and then a cab to his work, all in this 95 degree heat. I had to agree with him, I thought I could make it, but this is why I'm working from home this month -- commuting, heat, enormous belly ... mixed together does not a good margarita make.

So he sent me a picture of the Baby shower cake ... Isn't it cute? I am so sad to miss this...

35 weeks 5 days appointment

This morning Matt and I went in the first of my weekly OB appointments. They are starting the Non-Stress Tests on me because of my age (if I were a Sequoia, I'd be a sapling).

The Non-Stress Test is this: you recline and they strap you to the monitor. One strap checks the heart rate, the other checks contractions. Everytime you feel the baby move, you click on the clicker (like Jeopardy). You sit like that for 1/2 an hour and the nurse and doctor come in to talk and check on the progress. Everyone likes to stare at the monitor (Matt was glued to it). I'm glued to my belly because that's what matters to me (and I'm focused on the baby's movement so I can click). It's called a Non-stress test because it doesn't cause stress to the baby (but my heart rate was 100, so guess who's getting it all).

When the doctor came in and we started talking (episiotemies for example) she asked if I was feeling contractions. I said no. She said, "well you've had 4 of them since we've been talking, but the best kind of contractions are the ones that don't cause pain." The nurse seemed surprised that I didn't feel them. So then I started thinking about it more -- and sure, OK, I felt something. My belly tightened a little, I had a little more pressure down there, but nothing to write home about or to even make me take notice. I probably had at least 8 contractions during that 1/2 hour and some measured quite large on the monitor. Matt would tell me afterwards, "You just had a contraction." I was glad I wasn't looking at the monitor.

So the NST was fine - the baby is doing exactly what it should, was moving good and still had a resting/steady heart rate of 140's. Then I got swabbed for the Strep B test. 30% of people carry this bacteria and it causes no harm to you, but if you have a vaginal birth you can pass it to the baby with dire effects, so they treat you with antibiotics when you get admitted. I told the Doctor that I'm anxious for the results because a doctor in Mexico (at our Ixtapa resort) told me I was a carrier by checking my throat. She said there's no way for him to tell by that and even if I am a carrier, he had a 30% of being right. So we had a good laugh about that.

Finally, she decided to give me a cervical check because I had so many contractions and I'm already 1 centimeter dialated! I read a little on this and it's nothing too big, but as a first-timer I'm pretty thrilled and I read that sometimes it takes forever for someone to get to 1 cm. So I'm thinking positive!

As of today, if the baby comes, they will not stop my labor (and she added a 5-6 lber is a nice size to deliver).

Work Baby Shower

I had my baby shower at work today -- everyone was so sweet! They had cupcakes and lemonade and fresh flowers on the table. They were so generous getting us a nice gift certificate from Target (this will come in handy!), a book, and 2 sleep gowns.

Surprise!

The table all set up

Check out my cleav.age!

This was also like a "Send-off" because it was my last day in the office.

For the rest of the time up to my delivery, I will work from home. There was just too much liability being so far from my hospital, doctor, & home. I'm glad I was able to work this out with my manager and am very grateful because commuting to work the last 2 weeks has been a strain on me.

Showered with Love

We had the best shower, Matt and I were so emotional afterward (feeling the love!) Most of our friends were able to make it, along with some of my mom's friends, and our dear family. There were about 21 people, so it was intimate and fun.

When I got there, my family had already set the restaurant up with Sunflowers centerpieces (my favorite flower) and surprised me with a white rose corsage. The had a lovely cake with a beautiful saying, and the restaurant had the lunch menu typed up at everyone's place setting. It was really lovely!
As everyone arrived, little hors d'oeuvres were passed around (stuffed mushrooms and goat cheese puffs). We all mingled and sipped cocktails (well, I had ice tea but a mimosa would have been better). It was great catching up with friends and showing off the belly and the cankles. Everyone said I looked good, but the photos show a different story (I'm B-I-G). In fact, when I took a picture with my aunt, she brushed my butt and said, "What's this?" Then she gave it a nice squeeze! More to love, I say.


My cousins were the "hostesses with the mostesses" and gave a nice speech and put the games together. They had "Guess how many gumballs in the bottle" during the appetizers. And during lunch, they had a quiz "How well do you know the Mama?" No surprise that my best friend from high school won (Matt wasn't eligible but I made him play and he got 1 wrong - automatic FAIL - ha ha!).
Lunch started off with salad with strawberries, oranges, and almonds in a champagne vinaigrette, followed by pan-seared chicken breast with mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and asparagus.
Before dessert, everyone got string and had to guess how large my belly was. That meant I had to go around and have everyone tie the string around my waist. I thought that was the most fun, especially trying my aunt's string which was so long I called it the "Jon & K.ate + 8" belly string. Only 1 of my friends made it too small (thank you Stephanie).

Finally dessert -- the cake and Italian pastries, and rum cake from my mom's friend -- and present opening. Everyone was so generous and we received some much needed items to welcome our little one. Our last present was the car seat from my grandma & grandpa and everyone said, "Now you can take the baby home!"
It was just such a lovely afternoon, we can't thank everyone enough who made this so memorable. Matt was so overcome with emotions, he said it was the best day ever.