Another week in the hospital..

Well, I thought that I had dodged the high blood pressure bullet. Not so much though. After Malorie was born I started having really bad neck pains. The pain got so bad that I initially thought it might have had something to do with my blood pressure. So I checked and it was 178/115. So I called my DR and they on call nurse told me that was way to high and to go on to the hospital. I get there and the ER DR checks me out and doesn't feel comfortable giving me BP meds but sends me home with steroids for what he thinks is a pinched nerve, then tells me to follow up with my OB on Monday.

Monday I call and get in to see my DR around 4pm. BP was still very elevated. She prescribes a BP medication then tells me to go home rest for 30 mins and call if it has not come down to 150/99. If it had not come down then I would need to be admitted until it lowers or they can regulate it with BP meds. In the meantime the pain in my neck is nearly unbearable and the steroids haven't helped at all.

So that night I go home and do as they say except I gave myself 1 hour instead of 30 mins. Still my bp was really elevated. So I had no other choice but to call. I called and they tell me to go straight there and I would need to leave the baby at home in order to rest and relax as much as possible. That stressed me out more then anything and I'm sure didn't help my bp at ALL.

After 4 days in the hospital and several drugs and medications along with several DRs the bp was somewhat under control and I was sent home with 3 different bp meds. My pain in my neck was caused by 2 severe ear infections that had infected my eustachian tubes and causing pain in my neck. My glads were extremely swollen and my throat was swollen and red. But, I never had pain in my throat or a fever of any kind.

Now almost 3 weeks after birth I still have one lingering ear infection and some pain which I'm managing with some strong pain meds. BP is still up and down but the gap in between is getting smaller and smaller. I still have about 6 weeks of definite need for bp meds, but realistically I have about 3-4 months of bp therapy needed.

Hopefully things will settle down soon. :)

Malorie's Birth Story..

So here's how the birth of Malorie went for us. First of all we were totally shocked when, after going into early labor at 35 weeks, that at 39 weeks I ended up having to be induced. With Caden I was induced at 39 weeks as well do to high blood pressure, so that was the real reason for inducing at 39 weeks again. Apparently you have a much higher risk of pre-eclampsia and postpartum hypertension the second time around if you had it the first. Well, good news is that I did not develop too bad of a case of pre-eclampsia, my blood pressure was elevated approximately by 30 points, but it did not progress into post partum hypertention like last time. And I was really greatful for that. I think part of that is because I didn't gain as much weight (50 with Caden and 30 with Malorie).

I was scheduled to arrive at the hospital between 5-5:30am to sign paper work and pay. Even though I had already registered online... which I think it just a waste of time if they are going to make you do it all over again at the hospital. Anyway, I get up to L&D at about 6am. They take me back to my room and start getting me prepared. First thing's first.. IV. I'm not a huge fan of shots but I can tolorate them to a degree. As long as it doesn't last too long I'm good. Well, the nurse gets me numb (thank GOD) and starts to insert the IV. One minute goes by, then another and I look at her and she says "Good think you're numb - I can't seem to get this IV to thread, bare with me for a minute." At that point I was ready to vomit. It took longer then a minute and that's my max on IV. Plus even though I was numb I could feel the IV moving around trying to get through. I should have known then that things were NOT going to go as well as they did the first time around. So after what seemed like FOREVER she finally took the IV out (leaving me bruised still today) and reinserted it in a better location. Whew... and I didn't puke.. yet!

7:00AM
Nurses do rotation. So that nurse was out the door and in comes nurse number 2 and 3. Nurse number 2 was an older women who didn't care for the room I was placed in so she immediately has me moved to a different room. Nurse number 3 was a transfere from another hospital and was training that day.

8:00AM
Pitocin was started. Every 30 mins the dose was increased if my contractions were not 4-5 mins apart. (BTW I stared off at 4cm when I got to the hospital - not far to go.) We increased the dose 3 times before we were said and done.

8:15AM
Dr. comes to check on me and breaks my water. Pain started right then and there and did not stop until after delivery.

9:00AM
Begging for the epidural!!! This was the part that had me the MOST nervous. With Caden we had a slight hiccup and I was so scared that it was going to happen again. So I talked with the anesthsiolologist as long as I could before I finally said "just do it!" He gets the epidural placed and I anxiously wait for it to take affect!

9:15AM
Dr comes back to check in on me before leaving for her office to make sure she doesn't have to come right back. I was dilated to 6-7cm. Progress but anticipated delivery was not thought to be for another 2-3 hours. She leaves and at that point I realize that I could still feel pain. So I start pressing the button.

9:30AM
No luck.. Still feeling pain on my right side. I call for the nurse and she reccomends me rolling over to my right side to help. So I try that and in the mean time I can tell things are progressing much quicker then they had originally thought.

10:00AM
At this point I'm in sever pain and starting to panick because I now realize that the epidural is not going to work for me this time. I call the nurse back in asking for something to be done. She says she is going to call the anesthsiologist back to replace the epidural. She leaves...

10:15AM
The nurse came back and askes to check me since I seem to be in extreme pain. I was an 8-9cm. She looks at me and says "I'm sorry there is no time to replace the epidural you will have to deliver the baby"!!! AHHHHHHHHH Are you kidding me!!!!!!!!!!!! I was not prepared for this!!! I started to feel sick, probably from pain, transition or from fear that I was about to deliver a baby only half numb!!!!!!! Nurse leaves again.....

10:20AM
I tell Michael to go get the nurse the baby is COMING OUT! She runs back in with another nurse and checks me, I'm 10cm and ready to go! She runs back out to call the DR and tells me to try not to move. Kind of hard to do when you can feel everything on one side and contractions are coming every 30 seconds with no relief at ALL!

10:25AM
Nurse preps and puts my feet up for delivery, then takes them back down and says "we should not have done that, please don't push until the DR arrives"... My thoughts are YEAH RIGHT!

10:27AM
In walks the DR. She starts preparing, getting everything ready and gloves on. "No pushing until I say to". Again.. I'm not sure I have a choice! I was just hoping she would slide right out!

10:30AM
PUSH!!! I could feel ever contraction... I pushed once, out pops the head, twice out comes her shoulders, three out comes the rest of her body!

10:31AM
Malorie enters the world! They place her on my lap and wipe her off. In walks the anesthsiologist "did you need me"... Seriously! AHHHH no more pain though!

10:32AM
Nurse says, "that wasn't so bad was it"! I coudln't see my face but I'm sure it was one of complete horror! I said, "I'm completely traumatized and will not be doing this again". But, I have to say after all of that.. It was worth it!

Miss Malorie was born on January 25th, 2010 at 10:31AM weighed 7lbs 12oz (bigger then we all thought she would be) and 19 inches long! We love you Malorie! :)

Malorie Elizabeth Davis

She's here!!! Malorie Elizabeth Davis was born on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 10:31am. She weighed 7lbs and 12oz and 19 inches long :) She's so sweet and cuddly! We are really enjoying her! Here are a few pics - Enjoy!

Getting Induced!!!!

Well we finally have a date!!! I will be induced on Monday, January 25th, 2010! I'm so ready to meet this little girl. The dr was pretty surprised to see me at my appt on Tuesday. I have made progress and it looks like when she does come it will not take long (crossing fingers). Stay tuned! 4 days and counting!!!!

We made it to 36 weeks!

And now I'm wondering after all of the "is she coming or isn't she coming" if I'll get to the last week of January and have to be induced! But, either way we are in the clear and she is free to come at anytime! I'm getting more uncomfortable by the day! We are all ready for her to be here but I think I can say that I'm most ready.. or so is my body at least :)

Caden can't wait to meet his little sister. He has a bear that looks just like his bear that he plans to give to Malorie. He keeps asking me when we can go to the hostipital (the way he says it) to get Malorie so he can bring her bear and give it to her! So cute!

I saw the dr today, I'm seeing her every week from now until the baby is born. She said progress is happening and she really doesn't expect me to make it much longer.. But, I have heard that before. I'll believe it when it happens. Stay tuned for the latest on her arrival and the progress getting there!

35 weeks and she's trying to arrive!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas Holiday! It's starting to look like Malorie is making strides to be born earlier then she needs to be!! I spent last Tuesday in the hospital on meds to try and stop contracts and last night I spent in the hospital until 5am trying to stop early labor. They gave me every medication under the sun and the contractions just kept coming. Finally they said we have done all we can and sent me home with a prescription that is supposed to help slow down the onset of early labor. So far so good today, but looks like it wont be much longer now.

BP looks good and her weight is over 5lbs so they aren't too concerend if she wants to come early at this point. They feel confident that she will be healthy enough should it come to that. My poor body has been totally inhabited!! I'm not sure how much bigger I can get before it just gives up :)

Keep praying I can keep her in for at least 2 more weeks!!

~heather

5 Weeks Left!

Well really 6 based on my due date but because of previous blood pressure problems they plan to induce a week early. I can't believe it!! Time has really flown by for us! It was like yesterday when I finally realized I was even pregnant.

We have been getting things ready for Miss Malorie to arrive. The room is ready, her clothes are ready, bags are packed.. Yes, I'm a very overly prepared, overly organized OCD individual :) That's not a bad thing right ;)

Caden seems to be understanding what's going on to some degree. I can tell because he starting to act out in ways he never has before. I think he sees how much we are putting into preparing for Malorie to arrive and plus I haven't been as involved with him as much as I used to be just because the bigger I get the harder it is to chase after him. But, I think all in all things will work out just fine and he will love her as much as we do!

We are ready for Christmas to come and for the new year to be here!! This year is definitely going to be a year of "new things" starting with Malorie's arrival!! We can't wait! Here are a few photos from when I was 31 weeks along.. as well as Malorie's room.