Our Baby

pregnancy due date

Mar 22, 2012

35 weeks to Birth

I know it has taken me a long while to write this but I have been really busy with Miss MaKayla. I cannot believe I did not finish up my 35 week to 37 week post, but everything went so fast after Thanksgiving. As Paul Havey would say, now the rest of the story. 
 At our 35 week appointment Dr. Rister decided we should have another ultrasound and he was thinking of taking her at 37 weeks. On the day of our ultrasound, December 6, Dr. Rister decided it was best to take MaKayla the following week. Based on my original due date MaKayla would be exactly 37 weeks; however, going by our 6 week ultrasound she would be 36 ½ weeks. I am a little nervous about her being born so early. Also, on the day of our ultrasound we also had our breastfeeding class, which was very helpful. The LC (lactation consultant) is wonderful and very knowledgeable.  
Toward the end of the week Dr. Rister had me come in for two steroid shots and a stress test. Those steroid shots hurt so bad, I could hardly walk for the next few days. Dr. Rister gave me the shots to help MaKayla’s lungs develop. We also had a stress test, which I do not think we did too well on, but Dr. Rister did not say anything. MaKayla only moved once during the whole stress test.  I did have a panic attack Friday night because I checked my blood sugar twice that day and once it was 230 and the other time at 260. My blood sugar had never been over 180, so I called Dr. Amar. Come to find out the steroid shots can make your blood sugar rise, who knew. Well my primary care physician did ask me about at MaKayla’s two week appointment. I thought I wish someone would have told me sooner.
I decided to take off work Monday and Tuesday before having MaKayla. One I needed to finish up things around the house and two, I had time that needed to be used before the end of the year. It was nice to have two relaxing days. I was able to organize the house and finish packing everything for the hospital. Finally, December 14, 2011 came; it was time to delivery MaKayla.
We did not have to be at the hospital until 9:30 am. It was a very relaxing morning; however, I was still nervous about having the c-section. Several of our friends and family members showed up at the hospital and it was nice to have them around. At 11:00 am, Dr. Rister came in and said we could go into the OR early. We were able to head into the OR around 11:30 am. I had to go into the OR by myself at first until they had me cut open and ready to pull MaKayla out. First thing that happen in the OR was for them to do the spinal block, which I was really nervous about. The nurse said it will feel like a bee sting. The nurse was right about the bee sting, this was the stuff they numbed me with in the back. The anesthesiologist had a hard time getting to catheter into my back because my back is slight curve. I had a back injury my 8th grade year and I had scar tissue from that injury. About this time Dr. Rister came into the room and put his hand on my shoulder and helped me move around so they could get the catheter in my back. It was not too bad,  I was just nervous about the whole process. At one point they made my foot jump which was really weird. We finally got the spinal block in and it was not that bad. Next time I will not be as nervous. At this time they allowed Mark to come into the OR to be with me. I was so happy to see him in the room. Over the next few minutes they worked on pulling MaKayla out. It was funny because at one point I heard them stay she was stuck in there. Poor little girl was not ready to come out yet. Finally at 12:18 pm, we heard MaKayla crying. It was so wonderful to finally hear her. Then Dr. Rister lifted her above the curtain so we could see her. My first thought was that she looked us like me, and Mark agreed. I started crying because I was so happy to see her.
They took MaKayla over to weigh, measure, and clean her. MaKayla weighed 6 pounds 7 ounces, even though the first reading said 9 ounces. They said she measured 17 ½ inches but when she was measured two days later she was 19 inches. So we are going with 19 inches. In the OR MaKayla had some breathing issues, which we were expecting and they needed to take her to the nursery. Before they took her away I did get to hold her for a few minutes. I was so happy to finally hold her. At this point they took MaKayla away and Mark went with her. As for me, I was taken to the recovery room.
I was so emotional after MaKayla’s birth; I just could not stop crying. The nurse asked me if I wanted anyone to come back. I said I just want my mom. They brought my mom back; however, I did not realize no one told our friends and family that MaKayla was born. They just said my mom needs to come back. This made everyone panic that something had happen to me or MaKayla. It was so nice though to talk with my mom and I got to tell her all about MaKayla. Then my mom went to get my dad so they could visit with me for a little while and then my in laws came back. Finally, everyone went down to the nursery to see MaKayla; however, they were in for a big surprise. My friend April was there timing MaKayla’s breathing and said her breathing was off. At that point Mark, who was in the nursery with MaKayla, signed to everyone that she was going to be heading to the NICU. Of course we knew this was a possibility, Dr. Rister told us she had a 60% chance of going to NICU.
After they took MaKayla to NICU, Mom, Mark, and April came to recovery to tell me what was going on with MaKayla. Shortly after, the Physician Assistant from NICU came to speak with us. MaKayla had low blood sugar and she was having a hard time breathing due to immature lungs. April’s babies had been in NICU before and she is a nurse. April gave me great advice during recovery and made me feel better. After being in recovery for a while I started to get nauseous and nothing was happening, so the anesthesiologist allowed for me to have additional medication. He was great, he was always checking on me and my pain level. I was very impress with him. After I was released from recovery we went to the Labor and Delivery room because our hospital room was not ready. Finally about 4:00 pm we were able to move into the postpartum rooms and I was able to have liquid food. Around 5:00 pm Dr. Rister came to check on me and cleared me to go to NICU.
At 5:45 pm, Mark and my cousin Zach (who is like my little brother) wheeled me up to NICU. At first the nurses told me I would not have time to make it to NICU, because they close at 6:30 pm. I said I did not care; I was going to try and make. I think they did not want to have to move me into a wheel chair.
 I knew what to expect in NICU, since I had visited my friend April baby in May. I am glad I had that experience because it made things a lot easier. When we arrived at the NICU we had to call for them to let us in, they are very strict on visitations. Once inside of NICU you have to wash your hands for three minutes and put on scrubs. Zachary wheeled me in the see MaKayla since he had not seen her yet. I was so excited to see her. The first thing she did was grab my finger. I could tell she recognized her mommy. The bad part was, right before I came up to NICU they gave me a pain shot. While I was sitting with MaKayla, I was getting hot because she was under heat lamps. Within a few minutes I was sick at my stomach throwing up. The NICU nurses said not to worry, because they have sick moms up there all of the time. They have moms who have started bleeding, passed out, throw up, etc… So that made me feel a little better. At 6:30 pm we had to leave because they were closing the NICU for a shift change. I went back to the room and a nurse met me to discuss pumping. Since, MaKayla was in NICU I was unable to nurse her, so I had to pump to get my milk to come in. I am thankful that the hospital is breastfeeding friendly and offers a lot of support.  At 10 pm Mark and I decided we wanted to see her again. This was the first time Mark and I was able to see her together. When we first walked in she was crying, but the minute she heard our voices she calmed down.  This concludes the day of MaKayla’s birth and end of my pregnancy blog. I am going to create a new blog for parenting and it will be connected to this blog, just like our infertility blog.