39 Weeks and...

Saturday March 18th was 39 weeks into the pregnancy, so of course we had to take one last bumpie photo!!

This past week we went to a Daddy Boot Camp class at the Naval Hospital which went over a lot of the basics for Dads to be who have had no experience with babies. The instructor had the guys change a diaper on a baby doll but to make it more realistic, he took chocolate pudding and wiped it in various spot on each baby - a hand, the forehead, an ear, a shoulder, the feet, etc. LOL My Mom arrived on Thursday evening, so she has been spending the last couple of days getting settled in and adjusting to the time difference. Saturday we had a Parenting class that all three of us went to at the local Birthing Center and then we had a Hail and Farewell BBQ to go to at our friend's place.

We arrived late to the BBQ because of our Parenting class and we had just gone around to say hello to people before making up a plate of food. I was standing near the kitchen talking to my friend Kryse when I felt a warm gush of fluid down my legs!! I wasn't exactly sure but I turned to Kryse and said, "I think my water just broke, hang on." And I went into the bathroom to see what was going on! Sure enough, my water had broken!!

Carlton came in to check on me and made a call to the Naval Hospital. Once your water breaks, they usually want you to come in right away regardless of whether you have dilated or had contractions. We had time to go home and get our hospital bags (thankfully since neither of us had finished packing a bag yet!). About 15 minutes after my water broke, I had my first contraction which really just felt like a mild cramp. It takes about 25 minutes to drive from our house to the hospital and in that time I had two more contractions that were also like mild cramping.

We got into our room at the hospital and they hooked me up to a fetal monitor to check baby's heartbeat and also a contraction monitor. Although I was 100% sure my water had broken (the jeans I had been wearing were soaked down the legs), the nurses still have to do a vaginal swab to confirm that it was in fact my water. once that was confirmed, they also had to confirm baby's position. He was still breech, so the surgical team had to be called in. Since it was a Saturday, most everyone had to be called to come to the hospital for the surgery. Luckily most of the team was the same team I would have had on Monday, so we were still able to have our Doula join us in the OR.

Monitoring and waiting

Parents to be waiting

Grandma waiting for her new grandson

Carlton in his short scrubs!

We got to the hospital around 6:30pm and we walked to the OR around 9pm for the surgery. Once they gave me the spinal block and got the room organized for the surgery, they let Carlton and our Doula, Lynn, into the OR. Once they got started, it was probably only about ten to fifteen minutes before they got our baby out! They had a camera and TV's up in the OR so we were able to watch as they cut open my uterus and pulled him out!! They took him to the warmer to get him cleaned up a bit and do some measurements. Carlton was able to stay with him and he also got to trim the umbilical cord....apparently our baby chose to pee all over everyone when he was in the warmer!

As soon as he was cleaned up, Carlton was able to bring him over to me and we were able to stay together and bond while they stitched me up. We all went back to our room together for more bonding time!

Morning after

Our Baby Boy was born at 9:41pm on March 18th and weighed in at 6 pounds 7 ounces and measured about 19.5 inches long. Our first night was a bit rough since I was sleepy from the drugs and surgery. the baby was also sleepy from the traumatic day and Carlton was sleepy from it being a long and eventful evening!! Carlton spent the night at the hospital and we had a very happy but somewhat sleepless night. We finally decided on his name around 4am on Sunday!

Welcome Gavin Parker Brinda!!

He is so small!!! We brought a couple newborn outfits with us to the hospital but quickly found out it's just easier to keep him in a diaper and swaddle him in a blanket from the hospital. The nurses have to come in and do so many regular checks, that getting him dressed seemed pointless.

The nurses, doctors, and corpsmen were all wonderful and very helpful!! Our surgical team was great too, very helpful in describing what was going on while I was basically waiting behind the raised curtain. It was definitely surreal to lie on the table and not feel my legs except when they picked them up to move them a bit. Thankfully I didn't have any nausea or any other side effects from the drugs.

My Mom was able to spend most of the daytime with us at the hospital so she could also bond with Gavin. On Monday we had Gavin circumcised, so all three of us went to see that procedure done. It was very quick and fairly painless as far as we could tell. The worst part seemed to be trying to get his legs strapped down to the little table! He did NOT want his legs extended at all!! But he seems to have recovered just fine from all of that and we were discharged from the hospital on Tuesday morning!

First car ride!

Unimpressed with the car ride

The kids (dogs) were introduced to Gavin when we came home (Carlton had already brought a couple blankets home with Gavin's scent on them so they had some idea of what was going on. They were very interested in smelling Gavin but also very gentle. Edge seems to want to be very protective while Bubbles doesn't seem too sure what to make of the baby. They both get very concerned when he cries!

Grammy and Gavin

Gavin and Daddy!

Furry siblings with their new baby brother!

So now we have been getting settled in at home and today (March 22nd) celebrating a very special birthday for me since I got an early birthday present!! I am sure I will have many more pictures to come soon!!

XOXO
Jen

So close!!

We are just about a week away now!! Cannot believe that it is coming up so soon and at the same time it seems like it has been forever! This week the baby is supposed to be the size of a Pomeranian. So he's about 7ish pounds and over 19 inches tall.

Belly is still growing!!

He is very stubborn and still has not moved out of the breech position! As of now, the eviction notice is scheduled to be given on March 20th. We will go into the hospital that morning and if he is still breech, then they will do a c-section. If he has actually turned, then they will induce me. Either way, things will get moving on the 20th!

This past Saturday we took a crash course in Lamaze at the local birthing center (just in case the baby does decide to turn). It was a great class and although it was 6 hours long, it was definitely not boring! The instructor went over many other things besides Lamaze, so it was very educational. This coming week we have our last OB appointment. We also have a Daddy Bootcamp class we are going to on Wednesday night and a Parenting class on Saturday. My Mom is arriving this Thursday which will be just in time for her to get over her jetlag before the birth! I have three more sessions with the Chiropractor this coming week to see if the Webster technique will convince the baby to turn head down. Keep your fingers crossed for us!!

37 Weeks: Good news and Bad News

The good news is that I did not have an emergency c-section today! The bad news is that we are currently looking at a planned c-section. Let me back up a bit....last week we had an OB appointment and the ultrasound showed the baby is still in the breech position. So I was scheduled to go into the hospital Monday morning (at 6am) to have an ECV done (External Cephalic Version). Basically they try to manually manipulate the baby into a heads down position. There is a risk of placenta abruption or just stressing the baby so that an emergency c-section is needed, so I couldn't eat or have anything to drink beforehand. They injected me with a drug to help relax the uterine muscles and then two doctors worked together to try to move the baby. They basically dug their hands into my abdomen while my heart is racing from the drug! So I am trying to stay relaxed and take slow breaths while my heart feels like it's going a mile a minute and four hands are digging into my abdomen. Super fun. They tried twice and the baby didn't move AT ALL! His head is firmly planted at my rib cage on the left side and the doctor couldn't even get his hands between my rib cage and the baby's head. Because they consider the pregnancy a high risk (due to my age and all the hoops we have gone through to get this far) they didn't want to push it too much and decided to stop after the two attempts.

So at this point we are going to be having a planned c-section. I know it's not a huge deal because women have them all the time but I was really hoping to have as natural a birth as possible and obviously a c-section is as far from that as possible. There is a slight chance that he may turn on his own still but only time will tell.

I have had two treatments with a chiropractor using the Webster technique where they work on the ligaments in the pelvic area to help loosen them. Often the baby will not move into the correct position if these ligaments are too tight and there isn't room for the baby to go head down. I was in a car accident many years ago and had two injuries at work that exacerbated my chronic low back issue which has caused my pelvic area to be very tight. The chiropractor is pretty sure that is what has prevented the baby from moving into the head down position. I do plan to keep going to the chiropractor for more treatments in the next couple of weeks to see if it will help. Keep your fingers crossed that he turns before it's time!! We are tentatively scheduled for March 20th as our day for a c-section or induction (if the baby is no longer breech). We should get confirmation of the date in the next few days!

So at 37 weeks the baby is about 6.5 pounds and is considered ready to go if he did come out now. He's the size of a striped skunk now or a honeydew melon. His brain and his lungs are still not fully matured, so the next two weeks should give him time for that. We have washed all the baby clothes we have and they are now put away. The car seats have been cleaned and one of them has been installed so we are ready. We have the baby monitor set up already and now we are just waiting!

I mentioned the maternity photo shoot we did previously and I finally got some time to sit down and go through the pictures!! So here are a few of the wonderful pictures our friend Sarah took for us a couple weeks ago!

Still Breech?

I am fairly sure that Brinda Baby is still in the breech position this week. We have our next doctor appointment tomorrow and she will verify this for us and determine what we should do from here. I have still been doing the whole ironing board position but don't think it's been helping at all. This week the baby is supposed to be the size of a Chihuahua or a head of romaine lettuce.

It is definitely getting more difficult to move around now. I am still having issues with my lower legs on our walks and for the past couple of days my right foot has been hurting as well. We have had to shorten our morning walks a couple times now because I just cannot do the regular distance. I have still been able to do my prenatal workout video and my weightlifting exercises though, so that is good at least!

This past week we went through all the baby clothes we have and finally cut off all the tags and washed everything. One of my Aunt Carol's friends went on a shopping spree at Kohl's and bought us a bunch of baby clothing! We have never even met this woman but according to Carol, she really loves shopping and uses coupons and Kohl's cash to get great deals. This is what she sent us:

So many clothes!! She gave us everything from newborn outfits to a 24 month outfit which is great! So now we have been working to get things put away. I don't feel like I am in the nesting phase per se but my Mom is coming out in about three weeks now and the spare bedroom has been our storage for everything baby!! So we have been trying to clear it out so she can actually use the room once she does get here.

Carlton and I attended a breastfeeding class this past week which was very informative. The nurse teaching it gave lots of good information! She is also the lactation consultant that will be available in the Mother Baby Unit if we need any assistance (or even after we go home). We are signed up for a Lamaze Class in mid-March and also a Parenting class that will go over some safety protocols for bringing baby home.

That is about all for this week!! I hope you are all doing great!!
XOXO
Jen

4-5 Weeks to Go!

We are getting closer to D Day!! Still a month out but we are definitely starting to get ready! Carlton put together the bassinet last week and this weekend we put together the dresser/changing table we bought!

It turned out great!! Now to fill it with supplies!

Brinda Baby is now about 18 inches long and weighs about 6ish pounds. I am not sure if he is still in the breech position or not. It has become difficult to tell now! He is still moving around quite a bit, so for all I know he's doing somersaults and continually changing his position still. The belly is still getting bigger and it is definitely getting a bit more difficult to move around. I've also started having swelling in my feet and ankles which is super fun and sexy!! This week Brinda baby is about the size of a mini-lop rabbit.

We had our first meeting with our doula this past week and she went over our birth plan and also did some breathing exercises with us. We will meet with her again in a couple weeks to go over more techniques that we can both use during labor to help things along. We also plan to take a Lamaze class but it's not being given until mid-March.


We did part of our maternity photo shoot just yesterday but the weather was not cooperating and it's not much fun to take pictures outside in the rain. So we are hoping to do round two today if the weather stays clear! In the meantime, here are some pictures from our Baby Shower last weekend!!

Flip flops - a must on a tropical island.

Local saying on a shirt! Perfect keepsake!

Can't have enough diapers!

More diapers wrapped in a blanket & books!

We had a great time!

We have been showered at 34 weeks!

Our wonderful friend Jessica hosted our Baby Shower this past weekend!! Carlton and I had a wonderful time and enjoyed a lot of great food that our friends brought! It was fun to spend time with our friends and we received a lot of great gifts! I do not have pictures of the shower at this time but will share in the next post! In case anyone wants to check out our registry, here's the link: Brinda Baby Registry

Brinda Baby is now the size of a Quokka! I have never heard of this animal before but it's apparently about the size of a domestic cat and is not afraid of humans. Isn't he cute?? Another comparison is that the baby is the size of a cantaloupe which is definitely what it feels like I am carrying in my belly!! The baby is now about five pounds and still packing on fat to help him regulate his temperature once he is born. I am moving slower and definitely feeling large. I know the belly will still grow but it feels like my skin can't stretch anymore!

So here is the latest belly bump picture at 34 weeks. This was taken at Papa's which is a restaurant up on the hill near the airport that has a great view of the coastline. Carlton and I went there for brunch on Sunday for our Valentine's Day celebration.

Sorry we are so squinty in the picture but we were sitting next to the window and it was very bright outside!

At our last OB appointment, my doctor told us that she would be inducing me between 39 and 40 weeks if I have not gone into labor by then. So this baby's birthday might be sometime between March 18th and March 25th! Also, my Mom has made arrangements to come out for three weeks around that time. It will be great to have an extra pair of hands to help us in those first couple of weeks!

I hope you are all doing great!!

XOXO
Jen

33 Weeks and we are spinning!

According to our OB appointment this past week, the baby is still stubbornly enjoying the breech position. So my doctor recommended a website that gives positions to use to encourage the baby to rotate so that he is head down. Actually there is only one position to get him to turn but another position is recommended to help the ligaments stretch so that your labor is a bit easier. So every day now I have been doing both positions in the hopes that we can avoid having the doctor manually try to adjust him inside the womb (that process does not sound fun!). The position for stretching the ligaments is a forward lean inversion that you hold for 30 seconds. It's not bad at all. The position for getting the baby to turn though involves an ironing board (not very comfortable but thank you to Jessica for lending us her ironing board!) and laying upside down for about 15 minutes (also not very comfortable). Here are a couple pictures so you have the visual!

Forward Leaning Inversion

Breech tilt position

So far I do not think he has turned but sometimes it's hard to tell which end is up!!

At this point, the baby is about 4 pounds and 17 inches long - about the size of a pineapple. He is also about the same size as a ferret!

Other than gaining fat, his skeleton is also hardening in preparation for his arrival. He is still very active when I am sitting still or laying down (right now it feels like he has the hiccups, which is a funny sensation!).

The belly is still growing and getting rounder now. I am definitely moving slower around the house and really do better when I get my daily nap!

One of the gifts Carlton received from Santa Claus this year was a couples massage package at a local resort. So on Superbowl Monday (yes Monday, not Sunday), we went and had our spa treatment in the afternoon! It was wonderful! We both got a body scrub, followed by an hour long massage. Then Carlton had a scalp massage while I got a facial. It was definitely a wonderful way to spend the afternoon!!

This week we will be attending a Childbirth class held at the Naval Hospital, so we should get a tour of the Mother Baby Unit. Also this weekend is the baby shower! We are both looking forward to that, it should be a lot of fun!!

Hope you are enjoying your week!!
XOXO
Jen