| Our daughter was born December 29! I'll be adding new pictures here. Last Updated 1/13/03
December 28 , 2002 - My water broke at 11PM. I showered and finished packing and we got to the hospital at 2AM. I didn't have any contractions all night and only minor ones the next morning. Since I wasn't progressing, they started pitocin at 2PM on the 29th. I labored for a while without any drugs but the contractions started coming back to back and they were too painful to relax through. I didn't think I could do it without the epidural but by the time the anesthesiologist got there, I was 9 cm dilated. He put the epi in anyway but that was almost unbearable because of the contractions. By the time the epi was in, the baby was half-way out. They could see the head! So, they got the doctor and prepared the table and, in three pushes, Chloe entered the world! December 24 , 2002 - I had an ultrasound today. Since the baby is a little small, they gave me a non-stress test to make sure she's ok. She was fine and they want me to go in for fetal assessment once a week until I deliver. December 18 , 2002 - My GBS test was negative. The doctor checked me and I'm a full 3 cm dilated now. The baby's head is still not engaged but he said that doesn't usually happen until labor with subsequent pregnancies. December 11 , 2002 - My prenatal visits will now be once a week. I was checked today and found to be 2-3 centimeters dilated. The baby's head was still high though and the doctor said I could go into labor anytime between now and mid January. That was absolutely no help at all. I was tested for GBS (Group B Strep) but don't know the results yet. That's just a routine test performed at this stage of pregnancy. If I tested positive, I'll have to have intravenous antibiotics during labor. I really don't want that because I want to be able to move around freely. November 20, 2002 - I had another U/S today at 33 weeks to check the baby's measurements. All her measurements are average and they scheduled another u/s for Christmas Eve... assuming I don't have the baby by then. Her approximate length is 16" and approximate weight is 4 lb. 1 oz. Only 47 days left! My doctor appts. are every 2 weeks now and he still only checks weight, blood pressure, and baby heartrate. September 25, 2002 - Today was a busy day... First, I had my second Level II ultrasound at 25 weeks 2 days to check on the baby's heart. The unltrasound took about an hour and a half... by the end, I was pretty tired of laying there. But at least we got great news... the hole in her heart has closed. Even though it was nothing to worry about, we were still really relieved. They scheduled us for another u/s in 8 weeks to check measurements again. After the ultrasound, Mike had to go to work... but I had my regular check-up to go to. I am measuring right on for 25 weeks at 25 cm. The baby's heart rate was 139. Dr. Ibay asked me if I could feel her moving a lot and as I said yes, she kicked the doppler. I can feel and see her a lot now. Sometimes I just lay there and watch her squirm around in my belly. It's the most awesome feeling. I also found out that my Gestational Diabetes test was negative. September 23, 2002 - Michael took me for my Gestational Diabetes test this morning. I had to fast for it so I thought he should be there to drive me home. It was pretty awful. I had to drink this stuff that tasted like orange soda, except it was a lot sweeter. It would've been ok if it wasn't on an empty stomach but it made me pretty jittery. After waiting for an hour, they took my blood. I was pretty light headed for a while... I was glad I didn't have to drive. August 14, 2002 - I went for my Level II ultrasound at 19 weeks 2 days. Everything looks great and it's still a GIRL! The nurse said there's a hole in her heart that hasn't closed yet so she scheduled another ultrasound in 6 weeks. She said it was nothing to worry about... that it was normal at this stage of pregnancy and it usually closes in a couple of weeks. We found out today that my AFP blood test was negative. July 31, 2002 - I was in PA and NJ visiting family with my son from June 19 to July 15. During that time my mother-in-law was able to convince the doctor she recommended to accept me even though the crisis was not over. She is a NICU nurse and deals with OB's everyday so we trust her recommendations. She was right! We saw Dr. Anthony Ibay for our second visit at 17 weeks 2 days and he was wonderful! He spoke to us first before we even went into the exam room. He was very thorough and personable. We had an ultrasound and he says he's 90% sure it's a girl! We're absolutely thrilled! He scheduled an appt. for a Level II ultrasound and told me to get my AFP blood test done. This tests for high levels of alpha-fetoprotein which may mean the fetus has a higher risk of having a certain type of abnormality. June 13, 2002 - We had our first Doctor's appt. at 10 weeks 3 days. We weren't at all happy with this doctor or the visit but, because of the insurance crisis, we didn't have much of a choice. We didn't get to hear the heartbeat with the doppler which left me a little worried. But I knew that it was still early so all I could do is look forward to my next visit. I had to go to the lab for my first blood work. |
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