Luke's Birth Story

The Staples slogan, "That was easy" summarizes my labor with Luke but here is the long version! The induction was postponed until Saturday, December 21st (two days past my due date) because it was crazy busy at the hospital. Since I was an elective induction I was the first one rescheduled. Although I was disappointed, it was nice to get last minute errands and Christmas shopping done, spend time with Granny and Granddaddy and just soak up the last few days of pregnancy! Also, Dr. Weno was on call all weekend. She has been my doctor with Davis, through 7 cycles of Clomid, and this pregnancy!

On Saturday morning, I must have checked my phone a dozen times hoping the hospital was not calling to reschedule again! Granny and Granddaddy made a big breakfast for Jason and me. I could barely eat I was so nervous. Davis woke up right before we were leaving. I was so glad to see him! We took one last picture before we left.

We checked in at 0802 and got settled into our room.

My nurse Gina came in and started the admission process. By 0845, Pitocin was running and my antibiotic was started. I was 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced. Dr. Weno came in and said I could have the epidural whenever and she would break my water after I was comfortable. I knew I wanted the epidural but wanted to wait until the Pitocin started to work before getting it. As we waited for the contractions to get more uncomfortable, I sat in the rocking chair and visited with Gina and Jason.

Around 11, Granny and Granddaddy brought Davis up to see me and pick up Jason for lunch at Sub City. He did pretty good although he didn't like that I had an IV.

I was beginning to feel the contractions more so decided to go ahead and call for the epidural. I knew since it was the weekend it could be awhile. The anesthesiologist was on the way so I asked Dr. Weno to go ahead and break my water.  I was ready for labor to really kick in! At 1155, she broke my water. I was still 3 cm. I was starting to get more uncomfortable by the time Dr. Shockley was done with the epidural. By 1230 I was comfortable with a fabulous epidural!

At 1320, Gina checked me and I was 4-5cm/100%. I was keeping Gina busy! I started to feel really out of it and my blood pressure had dropped. She gave me a couple of doses of Ephedrine and that helped everything not be so fuzzy. At 1400, I was 7cm dilated. I was finally beginning to feel better so I took a nap for a bit.

When Gina was giving report to Deanna at 1500, Dr. Weno came in and checked on me. She checked me and I was complete! We did a couple of practice pushes and then she had me stop. They got everything ready and soon I started pushing again. After only 3 or 4 contractions and at 1521, we were ready for Dr. Weno to announce.......

"It's

A

BOY!!"

Dr. Weno placed our boy on me and Jason cut the cord. The feeling I got to have our baby on me was pure joy. I was 99.9% sure I was having a girl and had told everyone that. Melissa and I had looked on the ultrasound and were sure we had seen girl parts! Jason and I didn't even have a boy named picked out! Here's audio of our reaction to "It's a boy!"

Brother was taken over to the warmer for more stimulation. His APGARs were 9,9. They did his measurements and soon he was back in my arms. He was 8 pounds 3 ounces and 20 1/4 inches long.

Jason texted my parents that baby was here and to bring Davis when he got up from his nap. Here's big brother meeting brother:

He did not tell them the gender of the baby. When they arrived, he said, "Well would you like to meet your new grandson?" Both of their mouths were wide open and they thought we were kidding! I wished we would have taped their reaction. Taking in their #4 grandson:

We had a wonderful hospital stay. Most of it was debating on a name for our baby boy. Finally on Sunday night we decided on Luke Steven Brown. Steven is my Dad and brother's name and we just liked the name Luke! 

The Staples slogan "That was easy" definitely summarizes my labor experience. Seven hours after being admitted to the hospital, less than three hours of actual labor, and maybe three or four contractions of pushing, I had our baby boy in my arms!

Dear Charlie

Dear Charlie,

I hope you enjoy your last day growing inside because tomorrow is going to be much different. We are going to a place that is very familiar to you. We will not rush straight to the locker room to change and then to nurses station C to check the assignment. This time mommy will be the patient and not the nurse. Daddy will be with us. Big Brother will be at home with Granny and Granddaddy

Once I get settled into bed, you are going to feel two things pressing down on you. One will reassure all of us that you are doing well and the other will let us know how often everything is tightening around you. Try not to kick or punch these monitors off of you. After awhile I will sit in the rocking chair and rock you but as the tightening around you gets closer and closer it will be back to bed for both of us.

Soon everything you have been swimming around in and cushioning you will be gone. This is when your job gets very important. You will need to look down and keep an eye on your cord. You do not want it to get above your head or around your neck like Big Brother. At some point when the tightening is really close and really strong and I can't "just breathe through it" anymore, I will sit on the side of bed. I will try not to startle you by jumping or moving at all for a few minutes. Then we are going to lay down. We will be in bed for the rest of the day and depending on you maybe into the night as well.

Whenever you decide to move way down (the sooner the better) there is going to be a lot of commotion in the room. You may hear someone counting and yes, they know how to count higher than ten. Your head may hurt a little bit but if you don't stay put for a long time it won't be as bad for you or mommy. The next thing you may notice is a light but don't look up at it, try to keep looking down. Keep your eye on the cord. After a while you are going to feel some hands that are much bigger than yours cradle your head. By then Mommy and Daddy are going to be so excited and Mommy may be crying. Then you will feel a finger under your armpit and then you will be free. Dr. Weno is going to look at you and announce if you are a boy or girl. Either daddy or someone will cut your cord and then that would be a great time to let us hear you cry.

Depending on how much you are crying and how you look, you may go straight to mommy or the warmer. There will be a warm blanket to lay you on and then the nurse is going to rub you with the blanket. You just keep crying. At some point you may feel a mask covering your mouth and nose and if you do take lots of breaths and it will go away sooner. Please remember to keep breathing, big brother had trouble at first and forgot to do that. Then after a few minutes you are going to be cold for a little bit when they lay you on something really hard. There will be lots of pictures taken and then an announcement as to how much you weigh. If you are still crying and looking good, they will put a hat and diaper on you and place you on my chest. That is going to be the best feeling of the day.

Charlie, I cannot wait to hold you in my arms and look into your eyes. I am so excited to see if you are a girl (like I expect) or a boy, have red hair like I did when I was a newborn and how much you look like Daddy. We will be shocked if you are a boy because Mommy snooped a little too much on the ultrasound. You will meet Big Brother depending on how early in the day you come and the weather. He is so excited. He loves to feel your hiccups and will laugh hysterically as you move across my belly. Don't worry, baby, we will start calling you your real name tomorrow

Love,

Mommy

40 weeks

Well, our Tuesday induction had to be postponed to Saturday so here we are on our due date! At my appointment this week, the heart rate was 130. I gained a pound from my last visit (13 pound weight gain total). I thought for sure I would be further dilated because of the stronger contractions and cramping I have been having but my exam this week was unchanged from last week. Granny and Granddaddy are here so this has given us some more time with them and we have been able to get to do some more Christmas shopping. I feel fine and am so excited to meet our precious little one!

39 weeks

At our appointment this week. Charlie's heart beat was 144. I have regained the pound I lost from last week (12 pound weight gain total). Thankfully I measure perfectly so Dr. Weno has not been concerned about a small baby. My exam this week was 2 cm/50% so I asked to move up the induction day to Tuesday (39 weeks, 5 days). Dr. Weno will be on call until 12 and then Dr. Hines takes over. Unfortunately Dr. Weno won't be able to stay for the delivery because she has to be in Iowa City that afternoon. I was proud of myself though since I turned down to be induced right at 39 weeks.  Mom and Dad get here the day before so now it is wait and see if Charlie decides to come earlier!  I feel pretty good still. I have noticed more cramping with the stronger contractions but Tylenol and a glass of water helps. I am soaking up the one on one time with the boy, relishing every kick, punch & hiccup from Charlie, and looking forward to becoming a family of four.

38 weeks

38 weeks. Charlie weighs almost 7 pounds and is 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). Charlie is a strong kicker and seems to be quite content in not meeting us anytime soon

At my 37 week appointment, Charlie's heart beat was 145 and I had gained one pound from the week before (12 pounds so far). Dr. Weno checked me and I was still the same (FT).

At my 38 week appointment this week, Charlie was moving all around when we were listening to the heart beat so it was 158. I actually lost a pound over Thanksgiving. I had tried to go without Zofran and was really sick that night and the following morning. Dr. Weno checked me and I was 1 cm/50% so at least all the Braxton Hicks contractions are doing something! I asked her about the possibility of an induction. I can have it anytime after 39 weeks! I am scheduled for two days after my due date but may move it up depending on next week's exam.

36 weeks

36 weeks:  Charlie weighs almost 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long (about the size of a head of romaine lettuce).Big brother loves to feel Charlie's hiccups!

At my appointment this week, the heart rate was 145. I didn't gain any weight from 2 weeks ago. When Dr. Weno checked me, I was a fingertip. I have had bad upper left back pain over the last couple of weeks. By the end of the day, it is difficult to reach for anything and carry Davis. Usually once I lay down it, gets much better. Charlie is more active and I absolutely love feeling our sweet baby moving around

34 weeks

Charlie weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like a cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long.

At my appointment this week, the heart rate was 134. Dr. Weno was very happy with my weight gain this time. I gained 3 pounds since last visit (11 pounds so far). I am still taking a half of Zofran every morning but other than normal pregnancy aches, I feel great. I have noticed more Braxton Hicks contractions over the last week. I cannot believe that we are 6-7 weeks away from meeting our sweet baby

32 weeks

By now, Charlie weighs 3 3/4 pounds (about the size of a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus.

At my appointment this week the heart rate was in the 150s. I lost a pound from my last visit. I need to pack on the pounds, Dr. Weno would like me to gain 15 pounds total (8 so far) for this pregnancy. Charlie is still not head down but she said since it is my 2nd, Charlie has extra room and may not be head down until 36 weeks. Charlie is very active at night and in the wee hours of the morning. Other than being tired and not having much of an appetite, I feel great! After meals, it helps to stretch my arms over my head to give me more room so Davis always says, "Mommy stretch!" and we all stretch.

30 weeks

Charlie weighs almost 3 pounds, about the size of a large cabbage and is over 15 3/4 inches long!

At my appointment this week, the heart rate was 140. I passed my glucose test for gestational diabetes! Dr. Weno said Charlie is laying sideways so hopefully it will turn on its own! I only gained 1 pound from my last visit so I have gained 9 pounds so far. Thankfully I am measuring right where I should be. In the last week, the belly has really "popped." 

28 weeks. Hello, third trimester!

Charlie weighs 2 1/4 pounds (about the size of a large eggplant) and is close to 15 inches long.

‎28 weeks marks the beginning of the third trimester! Over the last few weeks, the biggest discomfort is the rib pain, particularly on the right side. It helps if I stretch my arms out over my head! My hips feel really tight so it helps to do stretches for that. I have had only a few Braxton Hicks contractions but otherwise feel great!

At my appointment this week, Charlie's heartbeat was 140 and then I had my glucose test for gestational diabetes. They'll let me know if I passed at my next appointment or call me if I did not. I have gained a total of 8 pounds so far. My favorite snacks are pickles and I still love fruit.

I notice my whole belly shifting when Charlie is moving a lot. Charlie is super active now, particularly when I am laying down resting, if I have my hand on my belly or Davis puts a car on my belly. Davis loves talking to baby and will sometimes rest his head on it.

24 weeks

 Charlie 2.0 is about a foot long, similar to the length of an ear of corn.

 

Charlie is considered to be viable now! This is huge because now if Charlie was born, it could live outside of the womb. Granted it would be a long NICU stay and a long road. Let's just continue to grow baby inside mom.

At my appointment, the heart rate was 144. I had not gained any weight from my last visit. I get full very fast and don't have much of an appetite. Banana bread is a favorite!

I have started taking 1/2 pill of Zofran every morning and most days have little nausea. Most mornings, Charlie wakes me up with hiccups. Over the last few weeks, I have noticed more movement throughout the day. My hips and back are starting to get sore and I have occasional Braxton Hicks contractions. I have to really focus on making sure I drink enough water!

20 weeks

At our 20 weeks appointment, we had our first ultrasound. It was amazing to see Charlie moving The arms all around! The pictures and video weren't nearly as good as last time. Davis enjoyed seeing the baby on the ultrasound and pointed to the screen saying, "Baby!" The heart rate was 133. 

I have been feeling much better and way different than last time! I am still tired and go to bed by 2000 or shortly after Davis is in bed. I tried to go without Zofran for one day and ended up being really nauseated and sick for two days. Ugh. I am definitely feeling Charlie move and it truly is my favorite part of being pregnant! I feel it the most at night when I lay on my right side. I have round ligament pain occasionally,, always seem to have a stuffy nose, and have noticed a few Braxton Hicks contractions but not bad enough to take Tylenol. I have to eat about every two hours and right now I love fruit, especially grapes and oranges. I have gained 2 pounds so far. I only gained a total of 12 pounds with Davis. Thankfully he was still healthy.

Ultrasound Pictures

Perfect spine

 You may be a labor and delivery nurse if....you get excited for a 3 vessel cord!

 Perfect heart

 Cute little foot

 
                                           My little Seminole, working on the tomahawk chop!

                                                         Our little 9 oz bundle of joy!

 Cute little face with the arms bent and hands over the ears!