Nurses

For the most part I loved my stay at the hospital. The first of three baby nurses was great. She advised me on the normal stuff when it came to breastfeeding and had suggestions about foreseen problems. She was overly helpful and very nice. But I don’t have anything nice to say about the other two nurses. The second nurse just wasn’t friendly or helpful. She just made me feel uncomfortable. She even stood and watched me breastfeed. I mean when it was my first go at it I understood because I had never done it before and appreciated the pointers. But this woman didn’t say anything to me let alone give me advice. The third and final nurse to “assist” us was the worst. She seemed friendly but by the end of our stay I realized that she was a tad bit on the forgetful side. The first thing that put me off was she made me stop nursing Joaquin so that she could take him to see the pediatrician. I know that the doctor was making his rounds at that time but they had just urged me to breastfeed as long as the baby wanted and stressed how crutial it was to nurse him at that point so that he would get used to it. They gave me a four pack of ready-made formula in case I would need it. I didn't want it; I was determined to breastfeed but whatever. When they brought him back from the nursery we were given the go ahead to head home. I started packing up when I noticed that only three of the four bottles of formula were there. I was curious as to if it had just fallen out of the cart or if they had used it, but I kept my mouth shut and didn’t say anything. I just wanted to get home.
After getting home, Joaquin started spitting up. You know, the thick white stuff you'd only see after feeding a baby formula. It could've even been from breastmilk but seeing as how my milk hadn't come in yet, I knew that nurse had used the missing bottle of formula.
As for my nurses, one was super great while the other shouldn’t have been allowed to work. The night shift nurse had the shakes so bad that it caused her voice to shake. It was almost as if she had Parkinson’s. She would start talking randomly about only God knows what and it didn’t even seem like she was directing the “talk” to anyone real. It kind of seemed like she had “invisible friends.” Of course she had to be the one to take out part of my IV. I was so scared that she was going to rip it out of my arm! That’s how bad her shakes were.
My mom ended up staying with me that night while my husband was at work. She told me that when she left that morning Nurse Shakes was talking to herself. She was sitting down the hall from the other nurses all alone using an iPod. She was talking about how so and so has been pregnant for a year and still hasn’t had her baby. And then she went on talking about something else. My mom just walked away and soon heard the nurse say “Well, goodbye!” She said it was really freaky and agreed with me that she shouldn’t be working, let alone as a nurse.

After a few days the hospital called me to check on how the baby and I were doing and to allow me to give opinions of went at their facilities. Oh man! It was finally my chance. So I let this lady know about the worst of the baby nurses [who gave Joaquin formula when I told her not to] and the nurse with Parkinson’s. I didn’t remember the name of the baby nurse but I knew when her shift was. Thankfully the lady on the phone seemed just appalled as I was about both nurses and said things would be done thanks to my complaints! Wahoo!
So hopefully, if I ever go back to that maternity ward those ladies won’t be there.

Labor & Delivery

On January 5th my day started out by going to the doctor for my 40 week appointment, at that point I was so ready to not be pregnant anymore; I had really hoped that I wouldn’t have had to go for yet another visit to the doctor. After the routine weight check and the millionth time of peeing in a cup, I met with the nurse practitioner and was hooked up the non-stress test. After checking me [and baby] she informed me that I was all ready to go. That if I wanted, they could induce me.


Even though I loved the thought of not being pregnant anymore, I still wasn’t fond of the idea of using chemicals to bring on labor. I had also heard that contractions are much stronger after you’ve been induced. So after thinking it over and making a pro-con list with Marcos we decided not to do it and just wait. By the look that appeared on the face of the NP, she thought I was crazy. But I didn’t care.

Marcos works second shift and doesn’t get home until after midnight, any time between midnight and three in the morning. As soon he got the job, I started praying that I’d go into labor either on Sunday (his day off) or in the morning. I mean, what woman wants to be in the hospital, in labor, alone? Not me!
So, that day after getting home from the doctor hubby left for work. And there I sat, like every other day until late that afternoon when the contractions started. I wasn’t really sure if they were real. They weren’t consistent and didn’t seem to be progressing much. I even started ‘journaling’ the times when I had them in order to keep track. By the time Marcos got home my contractions had become more regular and by 4AM they were about five minutes apart. So of we went to hospital.

After going through a million questions in the triage, I was told that my doctor wanted to start me on some meds to speed up my contractions. I wasn’t too pleased, but I didn’t want to complain at that point. By 7/7:30AM I was throwing up because my contractions were so strong. [Thanks to the meds!] That was by far way worse than the contractions themselves which were pretty darn painful to begin with. So not being able to control my vomiting (Oh and my body was shaking extremely out of control. It was almost as if I didn’t have any control over stopping it.) I made the decision to have an epidural.
Now, this whole pregnancy I had been telling people and myself that I wanted delivery to be as natural as possible. So I was kind of disappointed in myself at first for having help. I will also admit that I was a little nervous about getting an epidural, more so than the thought of pushing a baby out of my body. But once that catheter was in and started working, I loved it. I even got to rest while I waited for the labor to progress. My water did break on its own, which I was happy for. That was at about 11 o’clock. By 11:50AM our son was out!

I was just as excited for the birth as any other mother would be. They put the baby right into my lap as soon as he was born. But I found it kind of annoying that the nurses coach you even after the birth. “Hold him. It’s your baby!” I know all of that. “Look at him!” It felt almost as if they didn’t think I wanted him. All I was doing was trying to catch my breath. I mean, come on! I just pushed for nearly an hour.

Other than being sick during labor, it wasn't a bad experience. From all the stories and TV shows on the subject, I expected it to be much worse. And maybe it would have been if I would have gone 100% natural. I don't think I'll ever find out. If I get pregnant again, I am for sure getting that epidural and this time it will be before I get sick!

Finally!

Well, the last time I blogged I was complaining that I was two days late. That same afternoon (late afternoon) my contractions started. They weren't really constant and I wasn't even sure if they were contractions until late that night. At around one the next morning is when they started to "progress" and actually seem like contractions. And by 4 am we were at the hospital with my contractions being 5 minutes apart.
That morning, the morning of January 6th, our son was born! A son! I have a son! I'M A MOM!
He was born super healthy, measuring 20 inches and weighing in at exactly 7 pounds. Oh, and by the way, he's the cutest little boy I've ever seen!
So as you can probably imagine by reading this, I didn't have to be induced! I am very proud of this and very proud of the fact that I didn't need to have a c-section. They did end up giving me meds to help my contractions progress faster, which I now know makes me sick. [I was throwing up like crazy]. I also ended up having an epidural, which I didn't plan on. I'm pretty sure that if the oxytocin hadn't made me super sick that I could have gone without it. But to any of you who are nervous about getting one or not sure because of horror stories you've heard, don't sweat it. It was pretty much painless to 'install' and from there on it was smooth sailing. With having the epidural, labor and delivery was a piece of cake!
The absolute worst part are the first few days of being home. The aches and pains plus the newness of being a mommy is just overwhelming. It isn't bad, it was just unexpected for me. Thankfully I have my parents close and an amazing husband who have helped me out so I don't lose my mind and have given me the chance to shower! (Thanks guys!)
So if you are pregnant or thinking about becoming so, it's all good. Don't worry! The "bad" parts aren't bad, they are just unexpected times and moments that you'll know how to take care of in no time.
Want to know something else cool? A week after the delivery, I could fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans! No more belly, at all! And...!!! No stretch marks! Mama Bee worked! [If only I would have used it on my boobs more! Yes, they are huge now. And thankfully are no longer engorged!]
I hope to blog more. I have been journaling and have more on labor, the somewhat creepy nurse and more. I just haven't had the chance to type it. Stay tuned.

ps. Our son is three and a half weeks old!

Two Days Late

To be induced or not to be?
That is the question.

Had my appointment this morning.
It started out as usual. Had my first non stress test today.
Not too bad, just slightly uncomfortable.
The unusual yet funny thing is that during the exam the doctor informed us that she could feel the facial features of the baby. [What? That's possible?] I was slightly shocked but it only made me want to see that face so much more.
The doctor also reported that I'm all ready to go and could give birth now if I wanted. She asked if I wanted to be induced today or tomorrow night. After thinking about it, I made the difficult decision to just wait and see if I can go into labor on my own. As much as I would love the back pain to be over with and to be able to sleep in whatever position I'd like, I just couldn't say yes to that.
So I went ahead and made an appointment for Monday. If baby still hasn't come, I'll be heading to the maternity ward to be induced. Prayerfully I won't have to wait 'til then.
Oh baby. You have my go ahead to come on out!

Oh! And did I mention that we're moving? Yeah. We are. I'll let you know how that goes.
I think that may have been the main reason I didn't agree to being induced yet. I want to be all moved in before baby comes. That makes sense doesn't it?

One Day Late

Well so far this little one is one day late. Hopefully I won't be posting too many similar blogs to let you know that I still haven't gone into labor.

I have yet another doctor's appointment tomorrow. One I wish I didn't have to go to. Yes, it will be the same old same old. I was just hoping that this baby would be out by then. I sure hope it's [the baby] not too comfy in there. We want him [or her] out!

One thing I've been thinking about. I've heard and read that baby should become less active as the due date approaches. That because of the lack of room in there, baby has a harder time moving around. Well, let me just tell you! To any of you gals who are worried that baby moves too much or anything of the sort, don't worry. My baby is still extremely active, mostly when I'm trying to go to sleep. [I just thought I'd share that tid bit of information].

Now, I know you are all anxious to hear from me that I've gone into labor or even just had the baby.
Not to disappoint or anything, I just don't think that I'll be logging on once I go into labor and I know that I won't be logging on within the first few days, at least, of the baby being born.
But there will be news coming, eventually. So don't fret.
Soon enough some of you will be getting calls from my husband, my dad and of course my mom. The rest of you will be hearing it through the phone tree or grapevine. But you will all hear. And see, eventually.
So hold your horses people!
If I have to be patient, so do you!