Graham's Birth Story

I woke up at 5am and had one of the signs of pending labor, bloody show, followed by some intermittent contractions when I went back to bed. I couldn’t sleep knowing that today was likely the day. I got up, made breakfast (eggs and potatoes), started the dishwasher, and took a hot bath. Gwen woke up and joined my in the bath which was really sweet. We then got ready to go to preschool. Once there I wondered if it too ambitious of me, but once I started walking around a little more I felt better. I went to use the bathroom and a group of mothers asked me if I was going to have the baby in there. After preschool I had my scheduled 40 week appointment at 12pm. I was 4cm and 50% effaced. Gwen and I went home and took our daily afternoon nap. When we woke up (3:15pm) I was turning the TV on for her and my water broke. I called Spencer, Mother In Law (who has a 2 hour drive), and a few others who offered to watch Gwen to give them a heads up. Spencer, Gwen, and I then went out to an early dinner of Hot and Sour Soup and Egg Fried Rice (I may have had a few bites of Spencer's orange chicken). Our friend Malia met us there and took Gwen home with her so I could labor at home without having to worry about Gwen. Once home I felt like lying down and had a horrible headache. My contractions had become regular at the restaurant (about 6 minutes apart- but very mild). Now they petered out. Spencer suggested we walk, and I agreed I could meander about the backyard (I was sooooo tired!). It felt good to be outside. Mother in Law arrived, Sister in Law arrived, and not much was happening. Spencer and I went for a walk around the block, I decided I wanted some unfiltered apple juice so we walked to the store and did a mini shopping trip. I continued walking, and was feeling really good. I decided I needed a labor project and wanted to make cookies. Gwen came home with Malia and Farkas and everyone hung our waiting for my contractions to become more regular. Malia helped me make cookies (soft Ginger, with a few dusted in sugar/cayenne pepper for the boys, and in case I needed something spicy), and then granola (which Brynden had to finish toasting for me). I started to feel really tired and had to sit down and a strong contraction hit me (about 9:30pm). I went to lie down in the bedroom. These were very intense contractions and I decided it was time to call Labor and Delivery. I told the nurse I was in labor and she said I sounded too cheerful to be in labor. In the car ride over I had a few of these intense contractions (couldn’t talk through them very well), but I remarked that we probably nailed the timing- I was able to labor at home as long as possible without hitting transition. We also noted that it was 10:30pm and unlikely, though still possible baby would make it on his due date. By the time we got out of the car I couldn’t walk through the contractions very well, and they were close enough together that I was glad we were there. I was horrified when the admitting nurse told me to wait in the lobby while they admitted another Mom- seriously. I felt a bit nauseous and knew I was on the edge. Through the admitting process, I felt worse and worse, hot/cold sweats, a little lightheaded, nauseous, pressure like I had to go to the bathroom, plus contractions. And then they send me to a teeny weenie room- I was too much in labor to comment about anything except notifying everyone I was going to use the bathroom, but there was no way this is where I was going to give birth. It was triage, something I didn’t experience with Gwen. The OB checked me and I was 6 centimeters. They wanted to monitor baby and contractions before officially admitting me (SERIOUSLY!). They finally decided I was indeed in labor, and were convinced my water had broken (I told them it broke at 9pm, just in case labor did stall). I could barely walk to my room, but did not want to sit down in a wheel chair because of the pressure I was feeling. Once in my birthing suite, I started to feel a little more confident and comfortable with the situation. They insisted on a Non Stress Test before letting me have a wireless fetal monitor so I had to get in bed and lie down for another 10 minutes. They also were insistent I have a hep-lock so IV drugs could be administered in case I bled out. This was not likely to happen, but because the OB who delivered Gwen charted my “excessive bleeding" as a hemorrhage, there was no point in trying to argue with these people, and I couldn’t anyway- the contractions were too intense. The IV was put in at 10:30pm (they wrote the time on it). All of a sudden everyone but Spencer were gone- Mother In Law who is with us to see the birth is moving the cars, my nurse has left to get supplies or whatever, and some random guy is setting up a “birthing table” (birthing supplies on a tray for the OB I think). I start having crazy contractions that make me writhe off the bed. I feel a lot of pressure (I had mentioned before I felt a lot of pressure). Then my body starts convulsively pushing, and I can’t stop it. No staff but this random guy is in the room, I am screaming, and thinking Spencer is going to have to catch the baby. I reach down and sure enough, I can feel his head. My nurse appears and I tell her I am trying not to push but the baby is coming. She checks me and says I am 10 cm. It doesn’t mater how many centimeters I am, this baby is coming out, NOW. The OB shows up (one I hadn’t met yet, a Resident, and the third one to see me- I swear they grabbed whoever was in the hall), and she is trying to get me to scoot down on the bed, and get my legs up in stirrups…. I can hardly keep my body on the bed, let alone reposition. I feel baby’s head start to crown, I push and it comes out, I push and his body wriggles out at 11:41. ELEVEN minutes from when they gave me the IV. They set him on my chest and let the cord finish pulsing before clamping it (this makes me happy). Spencer gets to cut the cord. I nurse Graham. He poops on me, and then pees on me. It is awesome. The placenta comes out and we tell them we want to take it home with us. They look at us sideways and agree but tell us there is a release form to sign. The OB sews up a small second-degree tear (likely the same area Gwen tore), and there is no excessive bleeding or hemorrhage. Even so, they make me keep the IV in until 10:30am the next day. This experience was so different than my first, it really caught me off guard. I have to admit, while my past Kaiser experiences were great, I was a little disappointed in them this time. What really matters is I have an amazing beautiful, sweet, and so far easygoing little guy; and hopefully a fast delivery equals a quick recovery.

Gramdolyn Update

We have just been hanging around at home, sleeping, eating, diaper change, sleeping eating, diaper change. Sandee just left today and now we have to pull it together to feed ourselves (and keep our house in a somewhat livable state ;-) these first few days would not have been as pleasant without her help. Graham is just a sweetheart. So far he only cries during diaper changes and when he wants to nurse. I am going to start pumping a little so Spencer can give him a bottle every now and then (nice bonding time for Daddy, and break for Mama- a win win). Gwen has been so excited, as one might imagine, and didn't nap Thursday and Friday, which led to some uncharacteristic naughty behavior. But she napped today, and I think she is calming down. She loves having Daddy home and her and Spencer have been spending a lot of time together. And she loves her little brother and keeps asking to , "Hold it?" We are trying to get her t say him. Graham is gaining weight well and his jaundice has let up (we just need to make sure he gets a little sunshine every day). We took him out for coffee on Thursday after his newborn club check up, and out to breakfast this morning, and then grocery shopping this afternoon. He is, so far, super portable. It makes me very hopeful that I will be able to manage him and Gwen at all our weekly activities we usually do. Will post more photos and birth story soon.

Graham Photo Update

We just got home this afternoon. We had to hang out at the hospital an extra night because Graham was jaundiced due to him and I having different blood types. He is totally fine, nursing well, and already looks like he is filling out a bit. Gwen is sooo cute and way into her little brother.

Graham Spencer Studley

8 lb 3 oz
19.5"
September 20, 2010 11:41 PM

Right on time - HE'S ALMOST HERE!!!

Little baby Studley is on his way: Ambrosia's water broke late this afternoon and after some patient waiting they left for the hospital at 10:05 PM.

Pictures coming soon...

~Auntie Angelique

Best Summer Photo

This is by far one of my favorite photos ever! The wings are from our Playgroups annual Summer Picnic, which was a lot of fun. I have so enjoyed my time being Gwen's Mama. The two of us have done so much together, and I don't think she will remember when it was just her and I, but I will. She will likely never remember a time without little brother in her life. So, any day little guy, we are eagerly anticipating your arrival into our lives, and know once you get here it will be hard to imagine we ever lived without you :-)

Baby Boy Update

There really isn't any update :-) I had my 38 week appointment this week, and there was hardly a point to the appointment (much like most of my prenatal appointments). I am having a regular old pregnancy, no blood pressure issues, moderate weight gain, baby always has a strong heartbeat. I had been measuring on schedule until this week, I measure a week behind, but my OB likes to point out that I hide large babies. She hasn't done any cervix checks, and won't until I am 40 weeks. Spencer and I are taking a "Managing Comfort and Labor " class at Harmony Birth tomorrow, and that should be a nice refresher. Maybe we will pack our hospital bag this weekend. I have my next appointment for 9.20 (my due date) but I am hoping this little guy comes next weekend...we'll see!

*photo was taken August 1st.

First Trip to the Dentist!

Gwen had her first visit to the dentist 9/1! She met with our current dentist's wife who isn't technically a pediatric dentist, but is good with children. Gwen got a little freaked out while we waited since she could hear the loud noises of the patient before us getting his teeth cleaned. She has been to the office before; she came with us our appointment last month when we took turns having our teeth cleaned. When it was Gwen's turn she sat on my lap on the exam chair and let the dentist look in her mouth and tolerated a brief cleaning with cherry toothpaste, and brisk application of strawberry fluoride. There were some tears and Gwen said, "All done- tickles." But apparently it tickled in a bad way. The dentist noted that she has stains in the crevices of her back bottom molars- apparently her crevices are very deep. She said that to prevent them from turning into cavities to keep sweets (including raisins and dried fruit) to one sitting, rather than grazing, since sweets change the PH of your mouth allowing bad bacteria to breed- if I understood her correctly ;-) And then when they are limited to one sitting you can brush afterward. Gwen may have to get sealants when she is a bit older to protect her teeth from cavities- even though they are baby teeth, she will have them for a while. The dentist also said she tends to have more successful visits with children closer to age 3, but we are going back in 6 months for a check up. Between now and then we are going to work on brushing more frequently and practicing spitting so she can start using real toothpaste instead of the baby toothpaste which as far as I can tell is just a tasty gel.