Siobhan is officially a big sister!
Aneira was born last night, October 25th at 11:45pm,
weighing 8 pounds 4ounces, 20.5 inches long.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
Eviction Notice
As we didn't really think we'd be delivering early, we had to return home to pick up our hospital bag and Tic Tac's car seat. Also, as it was a Friday, Siobhan had stayed home. Plus, once we were admitted to the hospital, I wouldn't be given any solid foods until after delivery. So while I enjoyed one last warm shower as a pregnant mom, Damith and Siobhan made us yummy sandwiches!
We are thankful to Siew Gin and Alan, as they watched Siobhan while we headed to the hospital.
We were admitted to the hospital close to 3:30pm and soon thereafter hooked up to monitors for both myself and Tic Tac. Within the hour, I was started on Pitocin, the synthetic form of Oxytocin (a natural hormone produced by a mother's body that causes uterine contractions). The contractions were slow in coming and didn't feel as painful in my back as they were with Siobhan. We even got in a few walking laps around the delivery ward! After four hours, I had only dilated another two centimeter, so now I was at four centimeters and 90% effaced (where my cervix softens, shortens and becomes thinner in preparation for delivery).
Since Tic Tac's heart rate was still in the normal range, the doctor gave us the options of continuing to wait for the remaining 10% effacement (which could take however long) or the doctor could break my water. The doctor warned us that the labor contractions would increase quickly once she broke my water and suggested if I wanted the epidural to get it prior. Since I wasn't having back labor pains, I was hesitant in wanting to get the epidural.
That hesitation was short-lived!
Once I was happily numbed, the doctor returned around 9:00pm to break my water. In so doing, she noticed meconium, the black sticky stool mixed with the amniotic fluid. Normally, meconium isn't passed by baby until after birth, but in some cases babies can pass it while still in the uterus. There is the possibility that Tic Tac may breathe meconium into her lungs, or it can block her airway right after birth. Because of the severity, Tic Tac now has a NICU nurse assigned to her as well as a regular delivery nurse and she would be under more intense observation for 48 hours following delivery. Best case scenario is that at delivery Tic Tac doesn't take a breathe immediately, allowing the nurses to suction her nose and mouth, preventing her from breathing in the meconium.
Surprisingly, the contractions were not intensifying and the nurse had to increase the Pitocin. However, by 11:25pm, we were approaching delivery mode. The nurse called the doctor in and the contractions stopped while the doctor was in the room. The doctor joked that Tic Tac suddenly had stage fright and left the room. Literally as the door was closing after the doctor walked out of the room, the contractions started again! I started pushing at 11:30pm and six contractions later, Tic Tac was delivered at 11:45pm.
Those few seconds during which the nurses suctioned Tic Tac's nose and mouth seemed to last forever. We were all smiles when we heard her first cry!
We are thankful to Siew Gin and Alan, as they watched Siobhan while we headed to the hospital.
We were admitted to the hospital close to 3:30pm and soon thereafter hooked up to monitors for both myself and Tic Tac. Within the hour, I was started on Pitocin, the synthetic form of Oxytocin (a natural hormone produced by a mother's body that causes uterine contractions). The contractions were slow in coming and didn't feel as painful in my back as they were with Siobhan. We even got in a few walking laps around the delivery ward! After four hours, I had only dilated another two centimeter, so now I was at four centimeters and 90% effaced (where my cervix softens, shortens and becomes thinner in preparation for delivery).
Since Tic Tac's heart rate was still in the normal range, the doctor gave us the options of continuing to wait for the remaining 10% effacement (which could take however long) or the doctor could break my water. The doctor warned us that the labor contractions would increase quickly once she broke my water and suggested if I wanted the epidural to get it prior. Since I wasn't having back labor pains, I was hesitant in wanting to get the epidural.
That hesitation was short-lived!
Once I was happily numbed, the doctor returned around 9:00pm to break my water. In so doing, she noticed meconium, the black sticky stool mixed with the amniotic fluid. Normally, meconium isn't passed by baby until after birth, but in some cases babies can pass it while still in the uterus. There is the possibility that Tic Tac may breathe meconium into her lungs, or it can block her airway right after birth. Because of the severity, Tic Tac now has a NICU nurse assigned to her as well as a regular delivery nurse and she would be under more intense observation for 48 hours following delivery. Best case scenario is that at delivery Tic Tac doesn't take a breathe immediately, allowing the nurses to suction her nose and mouth, preventing her from breathing in the meconium.
Surprisingly, the contractions were not intensifying and the nurse had to increase the Pitocin. However, by 11:25pm, we were approaching delivery mode. The nurse called the doctor in and the contractions stopped while the doctor was in the room. The doctor joked that Tic Tac suddenly had stage fright and left the room. Literally as the door was closing after the doctor walked out of the room, the contractions started again! I started pushing at 11:30pm and six contractions later, Tic Tac was delivered at 11:45pm.
Those few seconds during which the nurses suctioned Tic Tac's nose and mouth seemed to last forever. We were all smiles when we heard her first cry!
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| Welcome to the world little one! |
Tic Tac Week Thirty-nine
Tic Tac is the size of a watermelon!
This week started with minimal movement from Tic Tac. As we had our OB appointment on Tuesday morning, we weren't terribly concerned.
At the appointment, my belly measured 39cm and I was still dilated at 2cm. During the exam, the doctor listened to baby's heart rate and it was still in the 150s (normal range). But due to the reduced movement, she ordered a fetal non-stress test just to be safe.
A fetal non-stress test (NST) is a simple, non-invasive test performed at the doctor's office to measure the fetal heart rate in response to its own movements. The test is 'non-stress' because no stress is placed on the fetus during the test. For the test, two belts are attached to my abdomen ~ one to measure baby's heart rate and the other to measure contractions. As adequate oxygen is required for fetal activity and heart rate to be within the normal ranges (110 to 160 beats per minute), healthy babies will respond with an increase heart rate during times of movement and decreased heart rate while resting. When oxygen levels are low, the fetus may not respond normally, thus indicating the baby is under distress or is not receiving enough oxygen because of placental or umbilical cord problems.
The test results showed that Tic Tac is still healthy and active. The doctor advised us that if we don't feel baby's movements, to drink some juice and lay on my side for 2 hours. During those two hours, I need to feel at least 10 movements. If I don't, then we need to call the doctor's office as another non-stress test will probably be performed.
The last few days have been a bit stressful as we are now consciously on movement alert. Tic Tac is generally more active in the mornings, but not today and thus another two hour monitoring. As she moved only eight times, the doctor asked us to come in for another non stress test. Once again, the results looked good. However, the doctor suggested we have an ultrasound as I didn't 'feel' movement during the NST.
During the ultrasound, the technician measured and monitored Tic Tac's vitals (heart, lungs, amniotic fluid levels, etc). Everything looked normal, but no movement was seen or felt during the 30-minute ultrasound. The doctor came in to see how we were doing and based on the minimal movements and that we are at 39 weeks, she says, "let's have ourselves a baby today."
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Fridays
We introduced the months and days of the weeks to Siobhan earlier in the year and even bought an interactive calendar, but she didn't really start to understand them until recently when she started learning them at pre-school. As she stays home with mommy on Fridays, she has started asking us each morning what day it is. We use this as a learning opportunity in that we tell her what day it is, but also review the remaining days left in the week until the weekend. She gets so excited on Thursdays because she realizes she only has one more day of pre-school before she gets to stay home with mommy and then daddy and Nandi over the weekend!
Within the last few weeks, she has regularly been asking when baby sister will come out. As baby sister is due on November 1, which happens to fall on Siobhan's favorite day of the week ~ Friday ~ we have been counting down the Fridays. Thus this morning while dropping her off at pre-school, she excitedly shared that baby sister will be here in two more Fridays! I was so proud and stunned as she hadn't asked in the past week (3 weeks from due date). Is she understanding subtraction, did she on her own figure out only two Fridays were left?! Sorry, I digressed...I was so proud until I shared the news with Damith. He smiled and said, "What are you going to tell her if baby sister doesn't come in two more Fridays?" Hmmm......
Friday, October 11, 2013
Tic Tac Week Thirty-eight
At this week's appointment, belly continues to measure on target (38 cm). Also, starting with this appointment, we will have internal exams to check if my cervix is changing. As of now, I am 2cm dilated and we are excited as this means baby and body are starting to get ready for delivery. But we also know from being pregnant with Siobhan, that early dilation doesn't really mean much as I can stay at 2cm for quite some time. We also learned my results for Group B Strep were negative so no worries about passing this along to baby nor having to take antibiotics at delivery. We also discussed our 'birthing plan', which is the same as with Siobhan: to not really have a set plan and to decide how to react when we are actually at the hospital.
Since I am still having nasal congestion from the cold/flu virus I've had for almost the past month, I had an appointment with our ENT after our OB appointment and he confirmed what I had been feeling and dreading...a sinus infection. After his office confirmed with our OB office of the pregnancy safety of the medication, I am now on a five day course of antibiotics. Even just a few days into the course, I am feeling back to normal and loving it!
This week, I also decided it was time to pack our hospital bag and wash our carseat cover. With these last few items now marked off my 'nesting' list, we are ready for Tic Tac to arrive, so now we wait...
Tic Tac Week Thirty-seven
Starting this week, baby girl is considered full-term! This means that if I go into labor, her lungs are developed enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. She weighs about 6.5 pounds and measuring an average of 19 inches long, the size of a crenshaw melon.
Her growth slows down dramatically this week, with her now gaining about half an ounce each day. She is simulating breathing by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, sucking her thumb, blinking and pivoting from side to side. Also, all of her girlie parts (vagina, clitoris and labia majora) are now well developed. Her hiccups have increased to about five times per day; I can almost count on her waking with the hiccups! :)
Also, starting with this week, we will have weekly OB appointments until Tic Tac is born. My belly continues to grow, measuring 37 cm this week. When we mentioned that baby girl loves kicking me up under the ribs, the doctor said that she may be cuddling up against my kidneys because of the warmth.
The doctor tested me for Group B streptococcus. This is a common bacterium often carried in the intestines or lower genital tract. Group B Strep is usually harmless in adults, but can cause serious illness in newborns. As it is a bacteria, it is recommended that pregnant women be tested with every pregnancy. The doctor said that about 25% of women have Group B Strep. We will find out the results of the test at next week's appointment. If the group B strep test is negative, no action is needed. However, if the test is positive, I will receive antibiotics during labor to prevent group B Strep disease in baby girl.
Her growth slows down dramatically this week, with her now gaining about half an ounce each day. She is simulating breathing by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, sucking her thumb, blinking and pivoting from side to side. Also, all of her girlie parts (vagina, clitoris and labia majora) are now well developed. Her hiccups have increased to about five times per day; I can almost count on her waking with the hiccups! :)
Also, starting with this week, we will have weekly OB appointments until Tic Tac is born. My belly continues to grow, measuring 37 cm this week. When we mentioned that baby girl loves kicking me up under the ribs, the doctor said that she may be cuddling up against my kidneys because of the warmth.
The doctor tested me for Group B streptococcus. This is a common bacterium often carried in the intestines or lower genital tract. Group B Strep is usually harmless in adults, but can cause serious illness in newborns. As it is a bacteria, it is recommended that pregnant women be tested with every pregnancy. The doctor said that about 25% of women have Group B Strep. We will find out the results of the test at next week's appointment. If the group B strep test is negative, no action is needed. However, if the test is positive, I will receive antibiotics during labor to prevent group B Strep disease in baby girl.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Tic Tac Week Thirty-six
Baby girl is about 18.5 inches long and weighs approximately 6 pounds, about the size of a small pumpkin. She is shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin from the amniotic fluid. Fetal kicks are suppose to feel more like a sliding motion, but I am not sure she knows this yet as she still jabs at times! She is also now putting her foot up under my right ribs like Siobhan used to.
At this week's OB appointment, my belly measured 36 cm, so we continue to be right on schedule. I am also back on track with my weight gain, only 2.4 pounds for the last two weeks. This actually surprised me because I haven't really had much of an appetite due to being sick with a flu virus the last two weeks. With this illness, I have been having terrible coughing fits and this caused us some concern because I started having lower abdominal pains. After answering many questions of what I was feeling and experiencing, the doctor calmed us and advised cough suppressants. She also reminded us that as long as I continued to feel fetal movement and not experiencing contractions or bleeding, baby girl is still okay.
After measuring my belly, the doctor applied a bit of pressure to my lower abdomen and belly to feel baby and we were surprised when the doctor said that baby girl is already in the 'head down position'! This now explains the sudden onset of rib kicks.
Also, as we weren't sure of what strand of flu virus I had, and since we are entering the flu season, I received my flu shot for the year.
Four more weeks!
At this week's OB appointment, my belly measured 36 cm, so we continue to be right on schedule. I am also back on track with my weight gain, only 2.4 pounds for the last two weeks. This actually surprised me because I haven't really had much of an appetite due to being sick with a flu virus the last two weeks. With this illness, I have been having terrible coughing fits and this caused us some concern because I started having lower abdominal pains. After answering many questions of what I was feeling and experiencing, the doctor calmed us and advised cough suppressants. She also reminded us that as long as I continued to feel fetal movement and not experiencing contractions or bleeding, baby girl is still okay.
After measuring my belly, the doctor applied a bit of pressure to my lower abdomen and belly to feel baby and we were surprised when the doctor said that baby girl is already in the 'head down position'! This now explains the sudden onset of rib kicks.
Also, as we weren't sure of what strand of flu virus I had, and since we are entering the flu season, I received my flu shot for the year.
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| Damith liked my examination of our pumpkin... I was just trying to find the pretty clean side! |
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