Jax's birth story

Delaney Jaxon

38 weeks and 2 days gestation

1-23-09

3:46PM CST

6 pounds 3.6 ounces

17 inches

APGAR scores 9 and 9

I awoke at 5am on Friday January 23^rd after the best nights sleep I had gotten in weeks. I sat at the computer in the living room checking e-mails and reading message boards while waiting for it to be time for DD Corbin to get up and ready for school. Around 6AM, just before Corbin was due to get up, I decided to get up and go pee before I got busy helping her. When I stood up I got a quick small gush, hoping it was what I thought it was, I hurried off to the bathroom. When I sat down on the toilet it happened again. So with out going pee I stood back up to find clear cloudy toilet water. 15 minutes later it was continuing to leak whenever I changed position. Corbin was up by then but rather then say anything to her I helped her get ready same as ever and put her on the bus at 7AM. I had already woke DH T.J. and gave him a heads up. I had decided as long as there was no contractions I would wait until my OB’s office opened and call them rather then call L&D or go right in. From 7AM to 9AM T.J. and I got things together and made one last run to Wal-Mart so I could pick up some nursing bras. Just after 9AM I called the OB’s office and his nurse told me to head on in to the hospital and she would call and let them know I was coming. Ran to Sonic to get T.J. a bite to eat then off to the hospital.

10AM checked into L&D and told I am only 3cm and 75% effaced. Having a few minor contractions, but nothing serious. Midwife came in and told me my OB would be unavailable till after 3PM, so until then she would handle my labor and or delivery. Since my water had broken at 6 they were only willing to let me go till noon to see if something would happen or if I would need a push. My big concern was they really wanted to use Pitocin to push labor, and I had a rough time of it with Pit during my first L&D. So off I went to walk a bit, first heading over to my unit (all the way across the hospital) to let them know I was there and baby was coming that day. Went back to my room and just kind of hung out waiting with T.J. and his mom. At 12:30ish my favorite L&D nurse Dawn (she was at Corbin’s birth and was my OB instructor in LPN school) checked me and I was still only a 3 with only minor contractions. At this time T.J. went to go fetch Corbin from school. And so the hard part began for me. At 1:15PM still a 3 I was started on Pit. By 1:30 the contractions started with a vengeance. As 3pm arrived I felt like I was being tore in half and knew if it wasn’t over soon I might just cave on the epidural. I was checked and about screamed when she said I was a 7. At 3:15 I was given Demerol IV and they went a head and started to set up the room. Quickly I was telling them the pressure was building and I would soon need to push. I was coached through breathing through several contractions (and told them that even without pushing I could feel the head moving down) until my OB arrived and they started me pushing. Even this seemed harder then with my other two though I know it only last about 15 minutes. Soon Doc was telling me the head was clear and there was no cord around his neck but he had a hand tucked under his chin. I then reached down and pulled him out and up onto my belly where he immediately started to scream. They clamped his cord and just as Corbin (who was by my side for all the delivery) was about to cut it he nearly peed on her. After I delivered the placenta my Doc showed it to Corbin and explained it all to her (have I said before how much I LOVE him). His APGAR scores were 9 and 9, so he is tiny but strong and healthy. I couldn’t be happier that it all turned out so perfect, even though I was disappointed to need the Demerol, and thrilled to death I caught him (something I have wanted to do since before we started TTC). So all in all 9.75 hours from water break to delivery and only 2.5 hours from 3cm start of contractions to delivery. Also I would have never thought it possible but I have fallen even more in love with T.J., he has been so incredible these last few days.

37 week appt

Well as of this AM Dr. says I'm "a solid 2.5cm" 75% and baby is engaged. Not as much progress as I had hoped for but better then being at a stand still. He stripped me and I was pretty crampy this morning but not as bad now so not too hopeful there. He did say he hoped he'd see me this weekend, LoL I think he is in as big a hurry as I am. B/P was good, baby's HR was 155 and weight was -2lbs from pre-PG (he is thrilled with that). So for now I am off work tonight (Friday) and Saturday, then work Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday before I start my leave on Wed. Next appointment is next Friday, where we'll discuss induction for maybe the last week of January (I am hoping he'll do it again like with Corbin).

36 week appt

Had an appointment Friday which was 36 weeks and 2 days. My OB was there (still don't know what was up) but had a great visit. Was -1lb under pre-pregnancy weight, B/P was 117/54, Jax's heartrate was 145 and strong, and I was 1.5 to 2 cm dialated. Things are moving right along! There are 22 days until our due date! Don't think we're waiting that long. Dr. is ready for me to go anytime. He is just so excited every time he realizes how close I am LoL. One of the reasons I love him so much. Worked Thur, Fri, Sat and Sun nights and spent the whole weekend feeling more pressure, and lots of crampiness, with a few good contractions here and there. One of the girls at work swears he dropped Fri night during our shift. So planning on going back to OB on Friday afternoon for next check and my last scheduled night at work is next Tuesday the 20th. Got a few more things we needed today, thanks to some over-time I survived earlier this month. The rest can wait till income taxes for the most part I think. Corbin is getting so excited and keeps trying to guess when Jax will come.

Almost 35 weeks.

Well tomorrow makes 35 weeks. Only 2 weeks till full-term and 5 weeks till the due date. Had my appointment Monday and everything looks great. Jax is big and strong. And I go back the morning of January 9th. Still digesting some news I got yesterday though, it seems my OB/GYN (who I adore!) has taken a 6 week leave of absence and his nurse midwife and the other local OB/GYN are taking his patients for the time being. I've told myself it's no big deal, I have quick and easy labors, it doesn't matter who catches the baby, but I really like him and his midwife is a bit ditzy and I've never met the other OB/GYN at all. I've pretty much decided to just go with the midwife since I at least know her and she'll be doing the rest of my visits, but can't help being disappointed. Hoping I can convince her to induce at 39 weeks like my OB/GYN did with Corbin, if I make it that long. I'm getting to the point where I look and feel like I could easily pop any day. Just trying to hang in there till 37 weeks so I can deliver here rather then being shipped to Columbia Hospital. Still doing great weight wise, 2 pounds under pre-pregnancy.

Snow!

Our first real snow of the season lead to an early out from school. Corbin had a blast playing in it when she first got home. Thanks for the tip on the photo editing program Anne, I'd been wanting to find one easier to use then PSP. Of course, the cold weather has me achy, but not too bad. And I have no where I have to be for the next few days. Corbin is back inside now and drinking some hot chocolate to warm up. Hope everyone is staying warm, I know this cold weather is effecting most of the US.

32 week check up

Well thanks to a stomach bug and BAD UTI I am down 4lbs this visit for -5lbs from pre-pregnancy weight. But everything is measuring well and Jax is looking great. I will actually be 33 weeks tomorrow, so just need to try to make it at least 4 more weeks to full-term, or through 5 more weeks of work.

Me today.

I am 32 weeks and 3 days.

Also I feel really yucky today, I have one of the worst UTIs I've ever had so I called into work for the evening, am drinking lots of water and cranberry juice, started on an OTC med called cystex (after checking with my OB), and will see my doc first thing Monday morning. Otherwise just resting up till then.