Week 38 + 6 Days: (Week 39-Is This Finally It?)

8/22/2013

Dear Brookelynn, 

This week you are about 7.25 pounds and 20 inches long, the size of a mini watermelon! Although the doctor said you are about 7.1 pounds but it could go a pound in either direction at this time. You are ready for the outside world.  You are continuing to develop a layer of fat and loosing the vernix and lanugo that protected you in the womb, it was interesting to see that shedding in the ultrasound. My placentas are still hard at work providing you with antibodies at this time. We are ready for you to meet us!

This week has been long as we anticipate your grand entrance, we are hoping we don't have a repeat as we did before. My beautiful tan has faded from the medicine they gave me to induce labor now but I have been graced with awful headaches and nausea.  In addition, I have been having consistent cramps since Saturday night (almost a week). It's been a rough week but I keep thinking about your chunky cheeks and how happy I will be once you are in my arms.  I just can't wait! 

We will be arriving at Kaiser, Roseville at 6:15 AM to begin round two of induction. I have been hard at work making sure my cervix is ready for round two!  I have been doing squats, walking around a little, eating pineapple pizza and spicy food.  I have been having more contractions but nothing too serious. I just am hoping for 2 cm! So we can start the pictocin! Fingers and toes crossed! 

Hopefully, the next letter I write to you will be about your birthday! (Auntie Rachelle will be so happy if you arrive on the 23rd so you can share birthdays!). -XOX!

Week 38-A Failed Induction

8/16/2013

Dear Brookelynn,

At 38 weeks you are about 6.8 pounds and 19.75 inches long the size of a leek! This week has been the most eventful yet...

Every last detail was ready for your arrival, the floors were mopped, the sheets were washed, the yards were clean, Paisley was sent to GeeGee & Glammy's house, and I was mentally prepared, however, I wasn't prepared to not have you due to a failed induction.  I was so confident that I was already experiencing early labor signs before our planned trip to the hospital. We went to the hospital in Roseville on Saturday (August 10th) at 6:00 PM and by 8:00 PM I was started on an oral medication to help ripen my unfavorable cervix. By this time I was so confident since my pelvic exam went so smoothly (with a male doctor even, a first for me) I just knew with the help of my hypnosis and meditation practice you would be here within 24 hours as the doctor had hoped.  

The nurse suggested that everyone go home to get rest. Your Daddy stayed with me and was pretty miserable, I told him to suck it up since I have been miserable for nine months!  And he did. Glammy was unsure if she should leave me but I wanted everyone to get a good nights rest since nothing exiting was going to happen that night. 

By Midnight when it was time for my second dose of medication I was having consistent contractions (12 per hour), though they were not painful and I only really knew I was having them because of my continuous monitoring. 

My night doctor came in and gave me benedryl through my IV to help me go to sleep it took effect immediately but of course I was uncomfortable with contractions every three minutes, a hard bed, and with nurses checking on me every 30 minutes so I didn't sleep.

It was finally morning and I had to get a blood test, I was extremely nauseated so they gave me Zofran through my IV, I instantly felt better.  At 7:00 AM the nurse gave me my third dose of medication since my contractions were finally slowing down and then that's when things changed...nothing was happening.  

GeeGee, Glammy, Unkie, and Rachelle all came back to the hospital anticipating you would be arriving later that day (the 11th) or early the next morning (the 12th). Glammy & Rachelle decided they better go get lunch (Unkie went along ) and they went to the cupcake shop to get your birthday celebration items leaving me with GeeGee and your Daddy. 

At 2:30 PM a resident came in to check my cervix and that's when I knew the induction wasn't working! The exam was the most painful experience of my life, you had moved and were so far up in my abdomen that the doctor couldn't even feel my cervix, it burned so bad I just wanted to scream but I held it together as best as I could. She said I hadn't dialated at all and my cervix at best had only effaced to 50%. 

Glammy and Rachelle returned and I immediately started crying because I thought it was my fault that the exam didn't go as well as the first.  They said they weren't going to leave me again and would be there for me for the next exam. 

At 4:00 PM my nurse from the night before was back and I told her about my experience and she said that she was going to find the best doctor around when my next exam was needed or she would do it herself because she too knew how well I did with the first exam. She gave me another dose of medication. 

I took a shower, Rachelle gave me an up-do and a foot massage, and I ate a sandwich from Panera.

Around 9:30 PM my nurse asked if I was ready to be necked again although nothing was happening and I was very discouraged. I was scared from the second exam but agreed. And she was right, she found a great doctor (Dr. Hernried) who was able to explain to me that the pain I was feeling was not from my anxiety but because of your position inside me. She checked me and with Glammy and Rachelle I was able to get through it much better even though it still hurt. Your Daddy had to leave the room this time because he felt so bad for the pain I experienced earlier. That's when we had to make the decision to call the induction a failure.  I had been given the maximum dose of medication to ripen the cervix before Pictocin would be given and nothing had changed.  If I choose to continue it would be up to 6 days of unnecessary pain and would end in a c-section. I decided to go home to be comfortable and your Daddy agreed.  We had an ultrasound and got to see you which was very reassuring. 

The good news was after being monitored for two days we learned my preeclampsia was well managed and reduced to a standing of mild. You were also perfect and not even phased by the contractions I had, had. You just were not ready to come out. We made it home and were in bed by early Monday morning around 2:30 AM. 

On Tuesday we went back and saw the specialist in Roseville (The first doctor to check me, Dr. Mentakis...he is a miracle worker in my opinion). My NST showed I was still having consistent contractions.  Dr. Mentokis then checked my cervix via ultrasound and said it was still not dialated and was effacing on its own now...but we were finally told why the medicine didn't work.  As if Mommy didn't have enough problems, my cervix is apparently thicker (much thicker) than average.  On Tuesday it was finally effaced to what the average women starts with. He checked my fluids which are more than enough and then he measured you and found you are in the 78% growth range...now I'm scared to death you may be too big to come out...but we will see at our next appointment on Monday. 

Finally, I had another NST today and there are no contractions. So at this point I am not sure where we stand. I hope there is some improvement before our next attempt but I guess we will learn next week as our adventure continues! 

Dr. Mentokis says with a good epidural I'll be fine and we are going to attempt a vaginal delivery one more time, but at least this time I won't have to do the walk of shame since if it fails I will have a c-section. At least I can leave with more than an arm full of bruises.  In all seriousness though it was a blessing you got to stay in a little bit longer so you were not considered a late preemie. The right time will be here soon-XOX!

Week 37-Full Term: The Nest is Ready!

8/9/2013

Dear Brookelynn,

I can't believe we are here, we made it to full term!  I think we make an excellent team.  Being full term means all of your organs are fully developed and prepared for the world outside Mommy's tummy!  At 37 weeks you are the size of a Swiss chard, weighing 6.3 pounds and 19.25 inches long. This week the specialist measured you and you were measuring exactly to your due date and weighed 6.1 pounds, so you are perfect. We also discussed having you early, so we are scheduled to be induced on Saturday evening at 5:15. I'm a little nervous about the unknown, but I know we have the best medical team and an amazing support system to help us through, we are tough girls! And Mommy has her secret weapon, hypnosis.  

It's a good thing they decided to induce us early because I don't think it would be much longer before you arrived on your own. I have many of the pre labor signals.  An increase in vaginal discharge-Check,  'engagement' or the sensation of the baby dropping-Check,  Braxton Hicks (and major cramping)-Check,  slight weight loss (down 1.5 pounds)-Check,  Dull lower back pain-Check,  Frequent bowel movements-Check,  Building pressure and cramping in the pelvic/rectal area-Semi Check,  A feeling of restlessness-Double Check, and the last sign of approaching labor will have to be discovered at the hospital, softening, thinning, or dilation of the cervix...although my guess is that it is effaced and dilated at least to some degree considering my cervical contractions and loss of the mucus plug.  

Everything is ready for you to arrive!  Our little 'nest' is all prepared!  I can't wait to write about your birthday and the events leading up to it! -XOX! 

Week 36-The Stork is on its Way!

8/2/2013

Dear Brookelynn, 

We have made it to 36 weeks, you are the size of a Crenshaw melon about 18.75 inches long, weighing about 5.75 pounds.  On Monday we will get a more accurate measurement via ultrasound. You are all developed and Daddy and I got to see your lungs.  The specialist was very happy when he looked at you and said, "Thank you, Baby!" because your lungs were our last concern for development but they are perfect! By the end of this week you will be considered full term...and you may make your grand entrance into the world since Mommy has begun to develop another high risk condition, we will also find this out on Monday as well. 

Your due to arrive on August 30th, but the specialist scheduled for us to be induced on August 23rd because he doesn't feel going to term is necessary given Mommy's placenta issues.  However, Mommy has what's called pre-preeclampsia.  My blood pressure goes from high to low, I'm extremely dizzy, my nausea is increasing again (I even threw up), I have persistent headaches (and since I'm allergic to Tylenol, it's pretty miserable), my hands and feet are becoming more swollen each day, as well as my face now, and I have shortness of breath every night. These are all signs preeclampsia but to confirm my diagnosis Mommy had to collect her urine for a full 24 hours to be tested for protein.  The test results show that I'm developing preeclampsia. Unfortunately the only cure for this is to deliver the placenta or in my case the placentas. This means you are getting evicted!  The specialist believes we should move the induction up before things get worse and we will finalize our game plan on Monday when we see him! I'm all for delivering next week before things get any worse, I hate to say this but I need my body back so it can repair itself.  

Speaking of repairing my body, Daddy bought me a very fancy Pilates Machine.  I can't wait to use it and get back into shape. It's my pre-push present, since Mommy's fingers are like little sausages I have to wait for a little while before I can get my real push present! 

Oh, the good news is I at least don't have to have a round of penicillin while delivering since the Strep B tests came back negative.  Mommy officially doesn't have two pregnancy issues now.  

In addition to the development of preeclampsia this week, I have officially lost two chunks of my mucus plug, it's not as gross as everyone says, but the good news about that is my body is already preparing for labor on its own which will make induction a little bit easier. I have started to have contractions as well, nothing too horrible but I can feel things changing which is also great news. And you have significantly dropped which means you are ready to meet us too! 

So, in preparation of your birthday Daddy also set up an appointment for Mommy to be hypnotized!  I truly hope it helps me to relax and keep my muscles from tensing up so the process of bringing you to your birthday is as easy as cutting your birthday cake, which Glammy is in charge of bringing to the hospital!  The hypnotist specializes in fear and anxiety so I believe it's worth a try! I go tomorrow in the early afternoon...it's also your Unkie's birthday tomorrow and he can't wait to meet you...but I'm ok waiting till next Friday! So don't try to surprise us! 

Here's to Monday and finding out are new game plan!  Hopefully, the next time I write to you, you will be in my arms staring up at me with your bright big eyes! I can't wait! -XOX! 

Week 35

7/25/2013

Dear Brookelynn,

This week you are the size of a honeydew melon 18 inches and 5.25 pounds. We are almost full term, only two more weeks to go!  The best news is that today marks a huge milestone in your development, at this point all of your major organs are complete.  There is no need for medical intervention if you decided to join us early, the doctors wouldn't try to stop you, but with that said you can hang out for another two weeks, but I won't complain if you decide to come before we reach the 39th week mark...I'm not really looking forward to being induced, but...if we have to we will get through it just like we do everything else, but hey at least the doctor doesn't want me to go all the way to 40 weeks! 

A big event in the news occurred this week your future husband was born, he's a little Prince. Prince George Alexander Louis was born in England to Prince William and Kate Middleton.  I'm sure you will find your very own Prince one day but it is kind of special that you are born in the same year as the first Royal baby for the family. 

As for Mommy I'm pretty sleepy these days, I continue to go to the doctor twice a week and have had some funny experiences.  I may have lost a small part of my mucus plug this week as well but I'm not quite sure. I do know that I'm having more contractions according to my non stress test but I continue to only feel them in my cervix, the nurse said that's good because it will make induction easier if my cervix is dilated. Fingers crossed! And my belly has dropped a little. 

The funniest story for the week was when I was icing my hoha because it was swollen (one of the many joys of pregnancy) and when I got up to go to the bathroom my pants were soaked! As well as my underwear. I was pretty sure that my water did not break because my panty liner was not wet on top. And my pants were hard where it was wet from the starch of the corn. Ha, ha! But Glammy, Unkie, and Mommy had a good laugh. GeeGee and Unkie were concerned still so they investigated the bag of corn I was using and it did have a hole in it!  I don't think I have ever seen your Unkie laugh so hard before. 

In other news I went shopping again and got you, your 6 month picture outfits!  I couldn't resist! -XOX! Here's to a few more weeks before we get to meet you! 

Week 34

7/19/2013

Dear Brookelynn,

This week you are 17.75 inches long and the size of an average cantaloupe, weighing in at about 4.75!  You sure are getting big!  The waxy protective coating called vernix is getting thicker now.  Your lungs are continuing to develop to prepare you to breath outside the womb. 

As for Mommy, I'm exhausted but I keep moving...every night I have to wrap my feet, put my stomach band on, wrist band (due to my new symptom...loss of feeling and tingling in my right hand. The doctor says its normal...I have just about every normal pregnancy problem and they keep multiplying), and I have to ice my hoha, feet, and hand! Every inch of my body is swollen and the doctor says I could easily have 10-15 pounds of water retention! 

This week we had two doctors visits and NSTs. Everything still looks good but you are quite the mover.  You only cooperated the entire time when Glammy went. It was interesting to see the small contractions happening in my uterus but Mommy doesn't feel them yet. The nurse said its quite possible that I won't and I will only have cervical contractions (those I feel, but they don't hurt...they just shock me), however, I don't think Mommy will be that lucky considering everything else we have gone through.  Pregnancy just isn't for Mommy, but that's ok we can still have a little brother named Blake he just might not come to us the same way you did, but we will love him just the same! 

It's crazy to think we are only 3 weeks away from full term! Fingers and toes crossed we make it to 35 weeks so your lungs can finish developing! -XOX! 

Week 33

7/12/2013

Dear Brookelynn,

You are getting bigger by the week and we are getting closer to your birthday everyday.  I'm getting more excited for that day to come but I'm also a little afraid, because we don't know exactly what will happen.  And as you know Mommy is a planner and likes to know what to expect before things happen.  But, that's ok, we will get through it just like we have everything else so far. I truly believe it will be a fairy tale ending to this long and scary baby bump story and it will mark the beginning of our next chapter together...Life with Brookelynn! 

At 33 weeks you should be the size of a pineapple, 17 inches and 4.25 pounds, however, my sweet chunky monkey you are still measuring one week larger which is amazing considering our complications!  So, since you are measuring 34 weeks in size you are the size of an average cantaloupe, 17.75 inches and 4.75 pounds.  But, we will stick to our schedule for now since things can change as we are continued to be watched.  The doctors say you will continue to gain half a pound a week from now until birth if things continue as they are. Your skeleton is also hardening with the exception of your skull, which will not fuse together completely but will overlap to allow you to grow all the way until,early adulthood. 

As for Mommy, the nurses say I'm really tiny but as you grow so will Mommy's weight. I will gain about a pound a week...it's hard to lug around this extra weight for me since I'm not used to it, but I did get a belly band that seems to be helping my muscles a lot!

This week has been entertaining and full of appointments.  Mommy and Daddy took an 8 hour Lamaze, labor and delivery class which was very long, boring, and not very helpful! We tried to make the best of it.  We learned one breathing technique that will work for me if I have to use one, its kind of a game that can be used as distraction. We also learned there are only two birthing positions that can be used with an epidural and once it is inserted you can't have food. Basically, the class focused on natural birth and breast feeding which just isn't Mommy's thing. 

I have been pretty tired this week and my eyes are becoming puffy which is also a normal pregnancy symptom.  I think I just about have or have had all of them. We met with our regularly gynecologist and she said everything looks great and we also had an ultrasound this week, you are so cute.  Even the technician said.  I think you look just like Unkie Jessie when he was a baby.  The specialist said everything looks great but that we will still keep up with our two to three appointments per week. 

After all those appointments I had my first Non Stress Test (NST). Well, you cooperated for five minutes before you went MIA.  Then they tried to find you again but couldn't. So they called a more experienced nurse in who said that I was too small for the straps and they had to cut them (I liked hearing that!). Well, they found you after a while but you only cooperated for another ten minutes.  The nurses then tried to talk to you, I told them that wouldn't work because you stop moving whenever you know anyone other than me is touching my belly. I have to snap my fingers to signal anyone to feel you move to out smart you.  Then they put a vibrating paddle on my belly and that pissed you off royally!  You threw a fit! The doctor luckily didn't make me wait another 20 minutes! And the best part is we get to do this twice a week until you arrive, it should be interesting! 

Well, 49 more days or less until your grand entrance into the world! -XOX!