Christmas was great, travel to California was just fine, and Emma did really well. She will be hungry soon, so I just have a couple minutes to say I really want her to start sleeping in her bassinet longer than one sleep period at night, and also to figure out what is making her gassy so I can stop eating it. On top of that, mom is here for the week (we got so much done today, and I feel like my house if finally comming back).
Besides asking for some prayer that things with Emma will settle down into a routine again, I have been very very cold the last couple days. Ive been tired, and last ngiht i woke up several times just drowning is sweat. Tonight, after putting on more clothes and turning on the fireplace several times, I decided to go check my temperature. It is usually around 97.7 to 98 degrees (cold, I know.) Tonight it was 100.2, but I had just taken my vitamins, so a half hour later or so I took it again, and it was 101.3. I have taken some tylenol, but really just need to get feeling better, and figure out why I've got a little bit of a feaver.
I browsed all your blogs tonight, and I am so glad that everyone is doing well, and yay Rosie! I am very glad that she is feeling so much better. In the new year all our visiting will be over, and I will have a chance to work with Emma on her sleeping so that I will have time to update a little more.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
emma's birth day
She is still out, so I am going to take a chance that she will stay asleep, and write about the day she was born before I start forgetting things.
* Edit May 28, 2009 I am still trying to finish this, and get all the details down, this time Emma is sitting on the floor with me, sitting up by herself and playing with her bug that Auntie Jenn had for her in Australia.
--
After a very full week and weekend with both our families in town Jason and I survived the Day The World Fell Apart (TM) mostly because it didn't. Saturday, November 29th was my due date. It was also the date of the anniversary party at College Church for his grandparents 60th anniversary. It was also the day of family photos. (These were not just any sort of family photos... they were photos of the WHOLE family: grandparents, their five girls and husbands, and kids, and kids spouses, and kids of kids. Then they broke it down into grandparents with one daughter and her whole family, and into four generation photos for each family... lets just say it took a while.) We survived it, and Emma did not come.
Despite Jason's efforts. :)
Each evening during the family time, we had cousins and siblings over at our house to play Apples to Apples, and In A Pickle. We did this again Saturday night until about midnight (which was typical.) Theses games are a lot of fun, especially with the group we had playing. We laughed and teased each other, the whole bit. Poor Christopher, and always getting distracted, forgetting to play his turn, then I had pregnant brain, and would ask "Is it my turn?" over and over and it was always his. It became our joke when there was a still moment in the game. "Is it my turn?"
I had been having contractions about three to five minutes apart for several weeks, and at one point they were two minutes apart but they didn't have enough intensity to qualify as labor. They did on the other hand, have enough intensity to irritate me immensely, and to be a bit painful. I have had the real thing, and can say from experience, that they were not Braxton Hicks contractions. Throughout that day I had been feeling them regularly, and when we went back to College Church for dinner I could tell that Emma had dropped quite a bit. Andie noticed too, so we crossed our fingers.
Jason and I went to bed around midnight, and I slept typically considering I was 40 weeks pregnant. I woke at 4am and noticed that my contractions were getting a little stronger, so i rolled over so that I could see Jason's clock to time them while I tried to go back to sleep. I did manage to doze a little until 440am and it was then I decided that Finally, I was in labor. I kept timing, and let Jason sleep as long as he could, until around 530am he woke up and I told him what was happening. We talked about weather or not it was time to go and he knew already that I didn't want to sit and wait at the hospital, and I was Not going to be sent home again. We got up at 550am, and left the house at 6am. Jason drove quite fast to St Luke's Downtown and I reminded him several times that it was painful for him to make jerky motions while driving. (In a very kind and patient way, I might add. Really. I was nice to him, he was pretty nervous.)
We had to stop and wait out a couple contractions on the way to Labor and Delivery, but were soon checked in and strapped in to monitors. Katy was our nurse, and gave the good news of "You're a five, that means you get to stay." i teared up a little, and Jason asked, isn't this what you wanted? Of course it was. but that meant that very soon I would be pushing an Enormous (because Swajakoski said she was big) baby out! :| Katy tried to get an IV in four times before we went upstairs to my delivery room, and each time blew my vein. She gave me a break and ran a tub of water for me while we waited for my monitoring to get to half an hour.
Upstairs I got in the tub and started having back labor. Terrible Back Labor. Katy tried my IV two more times, then called someone else to do it. I turned in the tub so that I was was on my knees, leaning over the outside edge. I kept getting dizzy (I thought from the warm water because baths often make me dizzy, but apparently, I am too good at breathing, and was causing myself to hyperventilate.) I don't know who came up to put in my IV, but she did a great job, once it was finally in. I had said to Jason during this time that if it continued to hurt that bad, I would want something. I had another contraction while I was getting the IV (which took an hour an a half from the first prick to the last) and said something to Jason (who was standing in the doorway with Katy) about hurting and I heard Katy say to him "They always say that when they are getting close, that they cant do it." I jumped in and said "Oh i can do it. I just don't want to FEEL it anymore." Katy laughed and remarked about what good hearing I must have. She had meant the comment just for Jason. :)
A few minutes after everyone left the bathroom, I focused on the shine of light on the faucet and the pain started to go away. Katy came to check Emma's heart rate in the tub, and couldn't get it (I wasn't worried, because I could feel her fighting the contractions the whole time) so up I went to a birthing ball beside the bed. She found it, and Emma was fine. The change in temperature made me feel like I could go to the bathroom, so Katy and Jason walked me to the toilet, and that is where i spent the most amount of time. I never peed. but I sat there, starring at the spot of shine on the foot of my IV pole until I told Jason I was ready to push.
He ran out of the room calling for Katy and she walked into the bathroom, looked at me and said "so you think you're ready to push? Well, you're not going to do it there." They walked to the bed and Katy checked my cervix, a ten. Not just a ten, but a "Go call Dr Grissom" ten. There was a little bit of a rush to get things spread out and Dr Grissom was in the room pretty quick. Katy told me I could push a little if I needed to, but otherwise to wait. I was too afraid to push at all, so I tried to wait. Dr Grissom had the same reaction, thinking there was no way that I could be so ready. I hadn't pushed at all yet, and I was a first time mom, and I had only been upstairs for a couple of hours... But I was ready and so was Emma.
I saved Jason from my bits when one of the nurses asked if he wanted my leg I told her that i needed his hand. He was on my right, and Katy was on my left. I told Katy "here comes another one" and she wanted me to push but i was scared it would hurt (the logic I had in these moments is just astounding don't you think? :) She convinced me that it would hurt less to push (not sure why I believed that) so I did. I don't remember exactly how many times I had to push, but I think it was five. Jason was wearing his "I may not be very smart, but I can lift heavy things" shirt, and the dot of the i in lift was my focal point while waiting to push. He was nervous, and wiggling and i told him to "HOLD STILL" and Katy explained why in a nicer way. :) I do remember pushing through my water on the third one and the warm wet and wonderful feeling, of warmth on a very sore area. Also, the pressure that came with losing that cushion. Another push and her head was out. An eternity passed before I could push again, and that's when I most wanted to. I kept asking and everyone in the room kept telling me no. Finally, one last push and Dr Grissom laid a very puffy bloody purplish crying baby on my chest.
Jason cut her cord. It took him two cuts to get through. after the placenta delivered (which also felt kind of soothing because of the warmth) they took Emma to clean her up a bit. Jason followed Emma but was brought back after a minute or two of stitches. I had a grade three tear, it took Dr Grissom much longer to stitch me up than for Emma to be born. There was a second round of shots after I could feel the stitches again, and they gave Emma back to me to serve as a distraction.
Emma was Born at 1002 am Sunday November 30, 2008.
She was 8 pounds 11 ounces and 22 inches long. Emma's Blood sugar was low, and because of that, she had constant foot pricks and tests to make sure it was going up from her feedings.
We had LOTS of visitors throughout the day because most of Jason's family was still in town from the anniversary party. We stayed in the Hospital that night, and came home the next evening. The rest of the story you already know.
Here are photos of Katy, our nurse, trying to get Emma's blood sugar up with a little bit of formula, Jason's and Emma together for the first time, and Emma and I just after she was born.
* Edit May 28, 2009 I am still trying to finish this, and get all the details down, this time Emma is sitting on the floor with me, sitting up by herself and playing with her bug that Auntie Jenn had for her in Australia.
--
After a very full week and weekend with both our families in town Jason and I survived the Day The World Fell Apart (TM) mostly because it didn't. Saturday, November 29th was my due date. It was also the date of the anniversary party at College Church for his grandparents 60th anniversary. It was also the day of family photos. (These were not just any sort of family photos... they were photos of the WHOLE family: grandparents, their five girls and husbands, and kids, and kids spouses, and kids of kids. Then they broke it down into grandparents with one daughter and her whole family, and into four generation photos for each family... lets just say it took a while.) We survived it, and Emma did not come.
Despite Jason's efforts. :)
Each evening during the family time, we had cousins and siblings over at our house to play Apples to Apples, and In A Pickle. We did this again Saturday night until about midnight (which was typical.) Theses games are a lot of fun, especially with the group we had playing. We laughed and teased each other, the whole bit. Poor Christopher, and always getting distracted, forgetting to play his turn, then I had pregnant brain, and would ask "Is it my turn?" over and over and it was always his. It became our joke when there was a still moment in the game. "Is it my turn?"
I had been having contractions about three to five minutes apart for several weeks, and at one point they were two minutes apart but they didn't have enough intensity to qualify as labor. They did on the other hand, have enough intensity to irritate me immensely, and to be a bit painful. I have had the real thing, and can say from experience, that they were not Braxton Hicks contractions. Throughout that day I had been feeling them regularly, and when we went back to College Church for dinner I could tell that Emma had dropped quite a bit. Andie noticed too, so we crossed our fingers.
Jason and I went to bed around midnight, and I slept typically considering I was 40 weeks pregnant. I woke at 4am and noticed that my contractions were getting a little stronger, so i rolled over so that I could see Jason's clock to time them while I tried to go back to sleep. I did manage to doze a little until 440am and it was then I decided that Finally, I was in labor. I kept timing, and let Jason sleep as long as he could, until around 530am he woke up and I told him what was happening. We talked about weather or not it was time to go and he knew already that I didn't want to sit and wait at the hospital, and I was Not going to be sent home again. We got up at 550am, and left the house at 6am. Jason drove quite fast to St Luke's Downtown and I reminded him several times that it was painful for him to make jerky motions while driving. (In a very kind and patient way, I might add. Really. I was nice to him, he was pretty nervous.)
We had to stop and wait out a couple contractions on the way to Labor and Delivery, but were soon checked in and strapped in to monitors. Katy was our nurse, and gave the good news of "You're a five, that means you get to stay." i teared up a little, and Jason asked, isn't this what you wanted? Of course it was. but that meant that very soon I would be pushing an Enormous (because Swajakoski said she was big) baby out! :| Katy tried to get an IV in four times before we went upstairs to my delivery room, and each time blew my vein. She gave me a break and ran a tub of water for me while we waited for my monitoring to get to half an hour.
Upstairs I got in the tub and started having back labor. Terrible Back Labor. Katy tried my IV two more times, then called someone else to do it. I turned in the tub so that I was was on my knees, leaning over the outside edge. I kept getting dizzy (I thought from the warm water because baths often make me dizzy, but apparently, I am too good at breathing, and was causing myself to hyperventilate.) I don't know who came up to put in my IV, but she did a great job, once it was finally in. I had said to Jason during this time that if it continued to hurt that bad, I would want something. I had another contraction while I was getting the IV (which took an hour an a half from the first prick to the last) and said something to Jason (who was standing in the doorway with Katy) about hurting and I heard Katy say to him "They always say that when they are getting close, that they cant do it." I jumped in and said "Oh i can do it. I just don't want to FEEL it anymore." Katy laughed and remarked about what good hearing I must have. She had meant the comment just for Jason. :)
A few minutes after everyone left the bathroom, I focused on the shine of light on the faucet and the pain started to go away. Katy came to check Emma's heart rate in the tub, and couldn't get it (I wasn't worried, because I could feel her fighting the contractions the whole time) so up I went to a birthing ball beside the bed. She found it, and Emma was fine. The change in temperature made me feel like I could go to the bathroom, so Katy and Jason walked me to the toilet, and that is where i spent the most amount of time. I never peed. but I sat there, starring at the spot of shine on the foot of my IV pole until I told Jason I was ready to push.
He ran out of the room calling for Katy and she walked into the bathroom, looked at me and said "so you think you're ready to push? Well, you're not going to do it there." They walked to the bed and Katy checked my cervix, a ten. Not just a ten, but a "Go call Dr Grissom" ten. There was a little bit of a rush to get things spread out and Dr Grissom was in the room pretty quick. Katy told me I could push a little if I needed to, but otherwise to wait. I was too afraid to push at all, so I tried to wait. Dr Grissom had the same reaction, thinking there was no way that I could be so ready. I hadn't pushed at all yet, and I was a first time mom, and I had only been upstairs for a couple of hours... But I was ready and so was Emma.
I saved Jason from my bits when one of the nurses asked if he wanted my leg I told her that i needed his hand. He was on my right, and Katy was on my left. I told Katy "here comes another one" and she wanted me to push but i was scared it would hurt (the logic I had in these moments is just astounding don't you think? :) She convinced me that it would hurt less to push (not sure why I believed that) so I did. I don't remember exactly how many times I had to push, but I think it was five. Jason was wearing his "I may not be very smart, but I can lift heavy things" shirt, and the dot of the i in lift was my focal point while waiting to push. He was nervous, and wiggling and i told him to "HOLD STILL" and Katy explained why in a nicer way. :) I do remember pushing through my water on the third one and the warm wet and wonderful feeling, of warmth on a very sore area. Also, the pressure that came with losing that cushion. Another push and her head was out. An eternity passed before I could push again, and that's when I most wanted to. I kept asking and everyone in the room kept telling me no. Finally, one last push and Dr Grissom laid a very puffy bloody purplish crying baby on my chest.
Jason cut her cord. It took him two cuts to get through. after the placenta delivered (which also felt kind of soothing because of the warmth) they took Emma to clean her up a bit. Jason followed Emma but was brought back after a minute or two of stitches. I had a grade three tear, it took Dr Grissom much longer to stitch me up than for Emma to be born. There was a second round of shots after I could feel the stitches again, and they gave Emma back to me to serve as a distraction.
Emma was Born at 1002 am Sunday November 30, 2008.
She was 8 pounds 11 ounces and 22 inches long. Emma's Blood sugar was low, and because of that, she had constant foot pricks and tests to make sure it was going up from her feedings.
We had LOTS of visitors throughout the day because most of Jason's family was still in town from the anniversary party. We stayed in the Hospital that night, and came home the next evening. The rest of the story you already know.
Here are photos of Katy, our nurse, trying to get Emma's blood sugar up with a little bit of formula, Jason's and Emma together for the first time, and Emma and I just after she was born.
a few minutes
Emma has been fussy, I think her stomache is upset. Mine is, and I dont know what I ate that caused it, but its been almost three days so I'm sure it is getting to her too. Right now, I finally got her to sleep for more than ten minutes and quickly got some dye in my hair (to deal with the very obvious inch and a half of growth in the last six weeks). Now I just need her to stay asleep for another hour so I can let it set, and shower. :)
I have been in a dilema for the last several days, and have joked about it with Sarah, but I think I will ask seriously, for how long is it acceptable to wear maternity clothes (pants) after one is no longer pregnant? I got out all my pants, regular slacks and jeans that I have fit in throughout the last few years, and several larger sizes that I bought for job interviews early in this pregnancy and none of them fit. I know that not all women deal with this, but that many do; my hips are so different now than a year ago, I'm not sure how long it will be, if ever i can fit into some of my clothes. (And by different, I mean much much wider. Really.) If things go well today, I may go buy one pair of pants if I can find a pair that fits okay. We leave for California Friday morning, and though it is fine at home to stay in my maternity pants or pajamas all the time, I dont think I will get away with it as easily for ten days in California. In happier news, last time I stepped on the scale, I had lost twenty five pounds of baby already. There is just a bit much left to go. :)
So wish me luck about pants shopping, I have never had much luck with it, and though I KNOW I need to, it's depressing.
I have been in a dilema for the last several days, and have joked about it with Sarah, but I think I will ask seriously, for how long is it acceptable to wear maternity clothes (pants) after one is no longer pregnant? I got out all my pants, regular slacks and jeans that I have fit in throughout the last few years, and several larger sizes that I bought for job interviews early in this pregnancy and none of them fit. I know that not all women deal with this, but that many do; my hips are so different now than a year ago, I'm not sure how long it will be, if ever i can fit into some of my clothes. (And by different, I mean much much wider. Really.) If things go well today, I may go buy one pair of pants if I can find a pair that fits okay. We leave for California Friday morning, and though it is fine at home to stay in my maternity pants or pajamas all the time, I dont think I will get away with it as easily for ten days in California. In happier news, last time I stepped on the scale, I had lost twenty five pounds of baby already. There is just a bit much left to go. :)
So wish me luck about pants shopping, I have never had much luck with it, and though I KNOW I need to, it's depressing.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
lactation consultants check up
Yesterday at 230 we went to see the ladies at St Lukes again. I just wanted to check on Emma's weight, since she needs to be back up to 8lb 11oz by the 18th, and she was still hanging out at eight pounds for three days in a row. She was so good running errands and only got upset in the car for a minute because of her diaper. When I got to our appointment, she was alert and happy, all on her own. We put her on the scale and she looked up at me and just grinned. Wendy (I think that was her name) got so excited because it was clearly not a gas smile, but one just because she saw me. She was 8lb 6oz on the scale before eating, and gained two more ounces eating, in just twenty minutes instead of taking an our to eat. Wendy said she is doing perfectly, that it appears her PT has worked great, and she finally is taking in enough to gain some weight. I am supposed to keep taking the Fenugreek for a few more weeks, then taper off of it, and my milk supply should be able to sustain itself with just Emma's nursing.
Yesterday was such a good day. I think Emma was fussy for a total of an hour durring the whole day and it was preventable, or fixable every time. Today is going just as well, and when Jason gets back from having new tires put on my car, we are going to give her her very first real bath. I have been using just a wash cloth because she hated her bath in the hospital so much, but hopefully this one will go a little better.
Thank you so much for all the prayers, I am feeling ebtter each day, but ready for my stitches to stop being sore, and to stop feeling so weak. Emma is making progress every day and Jason is finally starting to feel like she doesnt hate him. He is so impatient, and wants her to be cooing and cuddly right now. :)
Yesterday was such a good day. I think Emma was fussy for a total of an hour durring the whole day and it was preventable, or fixable every time. Today is going just as well, and when Jason gets back from having new tires put on my car, we are going to give her her very first real bath. I have been using just a wash cloth because she hated her bath in the hospital so much, but hopefully this one will go a little better.
Thank you so much for all the prayers, I am feeling ebtter each day, but ready for my stitches to stop being sore, and to stop feeling so weak. Emma is making progress every day and Jason is finally starting to feel like she doesnt hate him. He is so impatient, and wants her to be cooing and cuddly right now. :)
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
while emma is calm
I should be using these few moments to clear the laundry off the couch, and unload and reload the dishwasher, but instead I am going to update all of you on the happenings of the week. Eventually I want to write about Emma's delivery, just so I remember everything, but I think its more important to talk about this week for now.
I visited the lactation consultants (Joan) on Wednesday and got a little encouragement and advice as well as a return appointment for Friday afternoon. While we were there Friday, Emma did great. She had been wonderful for the last two days, eating well, sleeping well, I even had time and energy to shower and fix my hair before our appointment Friday. After she had a bit to eat, Joan weighed her again to see what was in her tummy, and she started to get a little fussy. She was still hungry, and had the beginnings of a dirty diaper. (Keep this in mind, Emma does not like to wait for anything. If she is hungry, she wants it NOW. If she is dirty, she wants changed NOW, weather she is actually finished or not. She has no problem making those things known.) Joan was writing down her weight and talking to me before she gave Emma back, and in her fit, she started to turn "dusky" or blueish while she cried. Emma uses up a whole breath (entirely) then gasps for air to cry some more. Joan and Joyce (Sarah, I finally remembered her name) both were quite concerned, and immediately called the resident, who ran up four flights of stairs to check on Emma. No one was telling me anything, I told them, this is just how she cries.
The resident called Emma's doctor, who we had yet to meet, and decided to admit her for a period of 23 hour observation to do some tests and see what was going on. I called Jason and he left work to come be with me. Over the next day, she had two chest xrays, an echo cardiogram, a full set of labs, and continued monitoring of her blood sugar (even though they were all well in the normal range, they continued to poke her feet). There were respiratory therapists who came in the room, looked at her oxygen levels and left (having done nothing), there were many nurses, one of which i did not like at all, and one who was very soft spoken and kind. The nice one was during the late parts of the night, which was so nice, I was too warn out by then.
After we were admitted, they saw one more "episode" when the (not nice) nurse wanted to check her blood sugar after I had already told him that her diaper was dirty and needed changed, and she needed to be fed. He went ahead and poked her heel anyway, and she screamed and her stats started to drop, as she cries then gasps for a new breath. Then, they wouldn't let me do anything to console her till her stats were back up- which took longer because she was upset at being made to stay in her diaper and hunger while being poked. That nurse made me Crazy. (He was the only person that I snapped at while we were there, because he was treating me like I was unintelligent when I explained to him that I hadn't had time to breastfeed, and had to supplement (which she doesn't like) because people kept coming in. He told me, "no, I'm pretty sure you can still breastfeed, it wasn't in her orders against it..." Duh. But it is difficult to get a chest xray of Emma, when shes nursing. Hmm.)
Saturday around eleven the cardiologist came in and explained what they thought the problem might be. Either the two sides of Emma's heart had too much pressure still (it is normal in utero) and hadn't slacked up yet but were pumping too hard to her lungs making it difficult to breath, or a tiny hole that is normal in utero also, was allowing un oxygenated blood to pass through into oxygenated blood. After about forty minutes, the test was finished and Dr Alexander turned to us and said her heart is perfect. She explained everything she had seen and told us that she would tell the pediatritian her results and we should expect to hear from him soon. Before she left the room, Emma woke up and threw a fit because she was hungry. Her stats began to drop and Dr Alexander looked at her, and the numbers and said that the monitor must be wrong. Emma did not look at all like her numbers were that low. She had the nurses who rushed in (everytime they dropped in the eighties for too long) turn on all the lights, and she looked at Emma's whole body. She let me pick her up and nurse her, and instantly she was back at 100%.
She ordered a new monitor placed on Emma's hand instead of foot, and we saw that the foot monitor had been completely inacurate. When it said she was dropping into the seventies, the had monitor still read in the nineties. It was evident to Jason and I that all previous information collected from the foot monitor was worthless. We were greatful to have the cardiologist there to whitness an "episode".
Four hours later Jason asked the front desk what else we were waiting on, and if we could go home. We had not see the pediatrician again, and for that matter, had seen no one besides the nurse who had applied the new monitor to her hand. We were told the Doctor was on her way. Another half hour later, the Doctor was still "on her way". The next time he asked, she would "be here in a few minutes". At Five, two hours after we had first asked for the Doctor, she appeared at our door. Not the pediatrician who had spoke to us that morning, but a different resident than the one who had elected to admit us the night before. The were recomending that we stay for another 24 hours of observation.
Why?
There were no reasons. Not even made up on the spot pretend reasons. THey were considering the fit Emma threw with Dr alexander another "episode" even though it was her opinion (proved by replacing the monitor) that her stats had been inacurate. Their policy was to keep us for 24 hours after the last episode. We were begining to think that even the previous ones, had she been under better light rather thna just a lamp or ambient outside lighting, she would have looked more red than blue simply because the lights had been so dim. The resident was opinionless, and had no information for us whatsoever. We told her we were ready to leave, and she had us fill out paperwork that stated we were leaving against medical advice. The nurse who came in to discharge us informed us that in some cases, the insurance will not pay for cases when people leave AMA. Emma had an entire day of tests, more than Jason and I could ever think of affording on our own, but we felt leaving was still the right thing to do.
We got home around seven Saturday evening and Emma has been perfect since then. We called our insurance, and she is covered for her hospital stay. We saw her pediatrician on Monday and explained to him what happened. He had been told over the phone on friday afternoon that she had "stopped breathing and turned blue". Those things never happened. He checked out out throually and I filled out paperwork for him to recieve all her records from St Lukes. We spent Sunday afternoon with out Sunday school class at Pastor Jim's house, then lounging at home till after dinner. Then Emma and I went with Jason to work for several hours to make up for lost time on Friday.
Emma is not eating quite as well as she was Thursday and Friday last week, I feel like I just cant get her tummy full enough. I started taking Fenugreek yesterday, so that should help, and i am still pumping after most feedings. She does not like to eat any way other than nursing, so I have to poke the tiny tip of a 1ml siringe in the corner of her mouth while she is nursing to get her to drink the pumped milk. We are praying my supply goes up soon, so that we know she is getting enough and begins gaining weight. She has pleanty of dirty and wet diapers, so I am not too concerned, I just want my chubby baby to start gaining weight like she is supposed to.
Jason and I are confident that there is nothing wrong with Emma, but welcome all of your prayers for her. I know that it is possible something was wrong friday afternoon, but the masses of people from our church and friends and family who were praying for her may have been enough for God to take care of whatever the problem was. The hurdle I want most to clear now if making sure she gets enough food. I would really appriciate it if you added that to your list.
I visited the lactation consultants (Joan) on Wednesday and got a little encouragement and advice as well as a return appointment for Friday afternoon. While we were there Friday, Emma did great. She had been wonderful for the last two days, eating well, sleeping well, I even had time and energy to shower and fix my hair before our appointment Friday. After she had a bit to eat, Joan weighed her again to see what was in her tummy, and she started to get a little fussy. She was still hungry, and had the beginnings of a dirty diaper. (Keep this in mind, Emma does not like to wait for anything. If she is hungry, she wants it NOW. If she is dirty, she wants changed NOW, weather she is actually finished or not. She has no problem making those things known.) Joan was writing down her weight and talking to me before she gave Emma back, and in her fit, she started to turn "dusky" or blueish while she cried. Emma uses up a whole breath (entirely) then gasps for air to cry some more. Joan and Joyce (Sarah, I finally remembered her name) both were quite concerned, and immediately called the resident, who ran up four flights of stairs to check on Emma. No one was telling me anything, I told them, this is just how she cries.
The resident called Emma's doctor, who we had yet to meet, and decided to admit her for a period of 23 hour observation to do some tests and see what was going on. I called Jason and he left work to come be with me. Over the next day, she had two chest xrays, an echo cardiogram, a full set of labs, and continued monitoring of her blood sugar (even though they were all well in the normal range, they continued to poke her feet). There were respiratory therapists who came in the room, looked at her oxygen levels and left (having done nothing), there were many nurses, one of which i did not like at all, and one who was very soft spoken and kind. The nice one was during the late parts of the night, which was so nice, I was too warn out by then.
After we were admitted, they saw one more "episode" when the (not nice) nurse wanted to check her blood sugar after I had already told him that her diaper was dirty and needed changed, and she needed to be fed. He went ahead and poked her heel anyway, and she screamed and her stats started to drop, as she cries then gasps for a new breath. Then, they wouldn't let me do anything to console her till her stats were back up- which took longer because she was upset at being made to stay in her diaper and hunger while being poked. That nurse made me Crazy. (He was the only person that I snapped at while we were there, because he was treating me like I was unintelligent when I explained to him that I hadn't had time to breastfeed, and had to supplement (which she doesn't like) because people kept coming in. He told me, "no, I'm pretty sure you can still breastfeed, it wasn't in her orders against it..." Duh. But it is difficult to get a chest xray of Emma, when shes nursing. Hmm.)
Saturday around eleven the cardiologist came in and explained what they thought the problem might be. Either the two sides of Emma's heart had too much pressure still (it is normal in utero) and hadn't slacked up yet but were pumping too hard to her lungs making it difficult to breath, or a tiny hole that is normal in utero also, was allowing un oxygenated blood to pass through into oxygenated blood. After about forty minutes, the test was finished and Dr Alexander turned to us and said her heart is perfect. She explained everything she had seen and told us that she would tell the pediatritian her results and we should expect to hear from him soon. Before she left the room, Emma woke up and threw a fit because she was hungry. Her stats began to drop and Dr Alexander looked at her, and the numbers and said that the monitor must be wrong. Emma did not look at all like her numbers were that low. She had the nurses who rushed in (everytime they dropped in the eighties for too long) turn on all the lights, and she looked at Emma's whole body. She let me pick her up and nurse her, and instantly she was back at 100%.
She ordered a new monitor placed on Emma's hand instead of foot, and we saw that the foot monitor had been completely inacurate. When it said she was dropping into the seventies, the had monitor still read in the nineties. It was evident to Jason and I that all previous information collected from the foot monitor was worthless. We were greatful to have the cardiologist there to whitness an "episode".
Four hours later Jason asked the front desk what else we were waiting on, and if we could go home. We had not see the pediatrician again, and for that matter, had seen no one besides the nurse who had applied the new monitor to her hand. We were told the Doctor was on her way. Another half hour later, the Doctor was still "on her way". The next time he asked, she would "be here in a few minutes". At Five, two hours after we had first asked for the Doctor, she appeared at our door. Not the pediatrician who had spoke to us that morning, but a different resident than the one who had elected to admit us the night before. The were recomending that we stay for another 24 hours of observation.
Why?
There were no reasons. Not even made up on the spot pretend reasons. THey were considering the fit Emma threw with Dr alexander another "episode" even though it was her opinion (proved by replacing the monitor) that her stats had been inacurate. Their policy was to keep us for 24 hours after the last episode. We were begining to think that even the previous ones, had she been under better light rather thna just a lamp or ambient outside lighting, she would have looked more red than blue simply because the lights had been so dim. The resident was opinionless, and had no information for us whatsoever. We told her we were ready to leave, and she had us fill out paperwork that stated we were leaving against medical advice. The nurse who came in to discharge us informed us that in some cases, the insurance will not pay for cases when people leave AMA. Emma had an entire day of tests, more than Jason and I could ever think of affording on our own, but we felt leaving was still the right thing to do.
We got home around seven Saturday evening and Emma has been perfect since then. We called our insurance, and she is covered for her hospital stay. We saw her pediatrician on Monday and explained to him what happened. He had been told over the phone on friday afternoon that she had "stopped breathing and turned blue". Those things never happened. He checked out out throually and I filled out paperwork for him to recieve all her records from St Lukes. We spent Sunday afternoon with out Sunday school class at Pastor Jim's house, then lounging at home till after dinner. Then Emma and I went with Jason to work for several hours to make up for lost time on Friday.
Emma is not eating quite as well as she was Thursday and Friday last week, I feel like I just cant get her tummy full enough. I started taking Fenugreek yesterday, so that should help, and i am still pumping after most feedings. She does not like to eat any way other than nursing, so I have to poke the tiny tip of a 1ml siringe in the corner of her mouth while she is nursing to get her to drink the pumped milk. We are praying my supply goes up soon, so that we know she is getting enough and begins gaining weight. She has pleanty of dirty and wet diapers, so I am not too concerned, I just want my chubby baby to start gaining weight like she is supposed to.
Jason and I are confident that there is nothing wrong with Emma, but welcome all of your prayers for her. I know that it is possible something was wrong friday afternoon, but the masses of people from our church and friends and family who were praying for her may have been enough for God to take care of whatever the problem was. The hurdle I want most to clear now if making sure she gets enough food. I would really appriciate it if you added that to your list.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
she is here!
I have neglected to post mostly because I have NO time. but here is the very short, un capitolized and poorly punctuated version.
emma james fitch was born at 1002 am sunday nov 30. we left home for the hospital at about 550am sunday. she is 22 inches long, and 8 pounds 11 ounces. her head is 14 inches around. (dr swajakoski wasnt kidding when he said she had a big head at 35 weeks!)
she is chubby and healthy, but since leaving the hospital i felt like she wasnt feeding properly and went to see the lactation consultant yesterday. she has lost too much weight and my milk supply just isnt here yet, so we are feeding, suplimenting, pumping. her latch was great, untill after the appointment yesterday because we are switching her back and forth every few minutes to keep her awake and sucking well, she is now really causing me to be sore. the lactaion consultant (joan) said she would be eating about an ounce each time. i feed her some amount of milk from nursing, then she gets about a half an ounce from what i pumped, and she still eats close to an ounce of formula. she is a hungry hungry baby and hopfully my milk supply will catch up with her soon.
there are pictures up at facebook and myspace, and i will add a real post later. in the mean time please pray for the three of us. jasons been back at work since tuesday, so the time he spends with emma is limited, and often she is just screaming. pray that her gas and feeding go away and go up acordingly and that i continue to heal from a very quick delivery that left me very torn and achey as i take care of emma.
she is a beautiful, chubby baby girl, and i am so glad that she is finally here.
emma james fitch was born at 1002 am sunday nov 30. we left home for the hospital at about 550am sunday. she is 22 inches long, and 8 pounds 11 ounces. her head is 14 inches around. (dr swajakoski wasnt kidding when he said she had a big head at 35 weeks!)
she is chubby and healthy, but since leaving the hospital i felt like she wasnt feeding properly and went to see the lactation consultant yesterday. she has lost too much weight and my milk supply just isnt here yet, so we are feeding, suplimenting, pumping. her latch was great, untill after the appointment yesterday because we are switching her back and forth every few minutes to keep her awake and sucking well, she is now really causing me to be sore. the lactaion consultant (joan) said she would be eating about an ounce each time. i feed her some amount of milk from nursing, then she gets about a half an ounce from what i pumped, and she still eats close to an ounce of formula. she is a hungry hungry baby and hopfully my milk supply will catch up with her soon.
there are pictures up at facebook and myspace, and i will add a real post later. in the mean time please pray for the three of us. jasons been back at work since tuesday, so the time he spends with emma is limited, and often she is just screaming. pray that her gas and feeding go away and go up acordingly and that i continue to heal from a very quick delivery that left me very torn and achey as i take care of emma.
she is a beautiful, chubby baby girl, and i am so glad that she is finally here.
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