Version and C-Section in Photos

I pretty much told you all the story of the version and c-section I had done on May 7th. However, I did not post any photos to go along with those stories even though you guys know that we did take a bunch of photos! So, here are some more photos to go along with the birth of our child!

EXTERNAL VERSION PROCEDURE

Me in my hospital gown! And, yes, I got my hair done the day before the procedure. I knew that I may be in a lot of photos if Joey came and I did not want to have bad roots! Haha!

Michael and me waiting for the procedure to start.

Me and Joey's vitals are looking good! The docs can show up anytime now!

Alright, we're really ready to do this...

Okay, the version did not work, so we're going to have the c-section today and meet our son!

CESAREAN SECTION (PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE SOME GRAPHIC PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION)

Me getting ready for surgery

Michael suited up for the big show

The docs starting to take Joey out of my belly

Here comes more of him

Ta-Da! We have a baby!

Michael cutting the cord

The first time we're all together on the outside!

The first time I got to hold Joey after the delivery. As soon as he was cut out of me and cleaned up, the nurses and Michael went to another room with Joey to check everything out on him. I stayed in the operating room so they could put me all back together. We stopped by the baby room on the way to the recovery room so I could see and hold Joey for a minute.

OUR HOSPITAL STAY

Daddy swaddling his baby boy! All that practice on the penguin paid off!

Me and Joey talking with family and friends. Our cell phones had no reception in the hospital, so Michael had to leave our room every so often to update everyone.

Father and son


We're going home!!!!

Introducing Michael Joseph "Joey"!!

Okay, I know it's been a few days since we've updated the blog, but we've been a little busy and then a lot sleep deprived! When I have a little more time, I will give you all the whole story of what happened on May 7. But to summarize, we went in to do the version procedure. We decided to skip the epidural and just try to flip him without any pain meds. He would not flip because his butt was stuck in my pelvis and the version was the most excruciating pain I have ever been in. Luckily, it only lasted a few minutes.

Since Joey would not flip, we went ahead and had a c-section that day. Joey was born on Friday, May 7, 2010 at 1248 PM (Alaska Time). He weighed 8 lbs, 4 oz, and was 20 inches long. Since he was such a big baby, the docs tested his blood sugar. That all turned out great and he checked out fine!

We were able to come home from the hospital on Sunday and we are now trying to learn each other's personalities. I am breastfeeding exclusively and it is definitely a challenge getting over the initial pains and this hell of a learning curve.

We aren't getting much sleep, and I am trying to sleep when Joey sleeps. Hence, why I haven't been able to update you guys as frequently as I would like.

On that note, I need to go. Joey is waking and that means he wants boob! Until I can break away from him again, here a few photos to appease all of you!

A Click Down Memory Lane, 39 weeks in the Making

You may be wondering why the first photo you see when you look at my blog today is a photo of my foot. Well, since I've had some time to stare at my toes waiting on this baby to arrive, I have gotten very annoyed with the way they looked. So, yesterday, I went with a couple of friends to get a polish and design change. I like the above look much better! :) Now Joey can really arrive!

Okay, since tomorrow we may have our baby, I wanted to post all of my baby belly photos starting at week 14. My, how I have grown since September! I remember how I used to think I was so big back when I was four months pregnant, and now I'm like "I was tiny!" back then. Crazy how much your body can change in such a short amount of time.

Here is the photo show starting at this week, Week 39, and going backwards! Enjoy!

39 weeks!

38 weeks

37 weeks

36 weeks

35 weeks

34 weeks

33 weeks

32 weeks

31 weeks

30 weeks

29 weeks

27 weeks

25 weeks

24 weeks

23 weeks

22 weeks

20 weeks

19 weeks

17 weeks

16 weeks

15 weeks

14 weeks-The start of Baby Belly Photos!

How I Really Feel About Being Gutted Like a Fish...

So, a lot of people have been asking me how I feel about possibly having a c-section. I'm okay with this. My sister and I were both born by c-section and we both turned out perfectly! Heehee. The only reason that I want to try the version procedure versus just flat out having the c-section is because vaginal births are supposed to be the best and the least stressful for the baby. I figure that if there is a chance to make this better for Joey, I might as well try it. I mean, isn't that why I have not drank one drop of alcohol, not ate cold lunch meat, stopped eating sushi or medium rare beef or unpasturized cheeses or juice, washed my veggies and fruits so vigilantly, watched my caffeine intake, stopped rollerskating, stopped hiking big mountains, not rode a snowmobile, avoided hot tubs and super hot baths for the past 10 months? I've done all of these things to make Joey's life the best it can possibly be, so why would I stop now? I'm almost to the finish line! I've already gotten over that "wall" (which was week 32-33 for me)! I'm ready to finish this race and receive my gold medal, aka Joey.



If the version does not work, I am completely cool with having a c-section. Luckily, I have an amazing resource, my mother, to learn about c-sections and what to really expect for the recovery. Everyone says that vaginal births are really hard and painful during labor and delivery, but the recovery is not too bad. Whereas, c-sections are relatively easy and pain-free during the delivery, but really hard and painful during recovery. I will have to be super careful with picking up things. I will be able to pick up Joey, but that's about it for awhile. Fortunately, Michael will be off of work for 10 days starting the day Joey is born. My parents will then be up here on May 22 to help out and meet their first grandson!



My only real concern with the c-section is problems with breastfeeding. The "experts" say that breastfeeding after a c-section can be a little harder than after a vaginal birth. First off, after they remove the baby from your insides, they take the baby away to run routine tests and to also stitch me back up! After this is all done, they will bring the baby back to me. Now in all of these classes, they state how a new mother should try to breastfeed sometime during the baby's first hour of life on the outside to get the most successful outcome! Well, if it takes a little while to stitch me up, or the doctor drops his/her watch in me, or Joey is just so cute and irrestible and the nurses are all taking photos of him, I may miss this first hour window. Ahhhh!!



I would like to exclusively breastfeed Joey for the first year of his life, if I'm able. I obviously read way too much information and have attended too many classes. For those of you who are not pregnant, you may not realize how much emphasis the world puts on breastfeeding right now. If you don't breastfeed, then you are the worst person in the world and you are just destroying your child right from the start. This philosophy disgusts me. I've always planned on breastfeeding, and this "YOU MUST BREASTFEED" mentality pisses me off. A lot of women can't breastfeed for various reasons. A lot of women choose not to breastfeed. There is nothing wrong with either of these groups of women. Every woman and their families should not be persecuted for their personal beliefs and choices. You need to do what works best for you and your baby!



This mentality has also made me a freaking nervous emotional wreck. I am so freaked out about all of the mumbo jumbo I have heard about breastfeeding, that this is actually my biggest concern right now. Labor and delivery, the c-section, the version procedure...none of that stresses me out as much as the breastfeeding issue. If I can't breastfeed, then I'm okay with it, but it's something I really want to be able to do. In all of these classes and books, you also hear so many horror stories of breastfeeding. Where are the good stories? Where are the stories of how breastfeeding is not that bad? I really think that if these people would give you just as many good stories as they do bad, then brand new mothers like myself, would not be so scared and stressed out! People should be trying to help new mothers, or parents, out, not scaring the hell out of them. However, I hear that this "scare tactic" attitude only gets worse once you have your child. Everyone is a critic and has an opinion on how you should raise your child.

I guess I should start sharpening my sword, aka my tongue, now in preparation for this battle I have embarked on! Haha!

Flip or Vacate!

First off, to everyone that actually read the last couple of posts and is in "the know", we wanted to thank you if you have actually taken the time out of your day to call or text us to let us know that you are thinking about us right now. It means a lot to Michael and me that you all are so concerned. We've been overwhelmed and so happy by the people that have called us. So, to those of you who have contacted us, thank you! We really do appreciate it. Your call means more to us than you know! :)

Okay, this is the deal with Joey. We did not want to do the version procedure tomorrow because Michael couldn't be there, and just in case we had to have an emergency c-section, we didn't want him to miss the birth. The doctors are all busy on Wednesday, so that day is out of the question,too. The doctor said that since we were going to have to wait until Thursday to do the procedure, then we might as well wait until Friday when I will be 39 weeks, 1 day! Since I will be past the 39-week mark, they can give me the epidural. This will really help with the pain of trying to flip Joey.

If Joey does flip, then we will be sent home and we will wait for Joey to pick his day of birth.

If Joey isn't going to flip, then the doctors are actually going to go ahead and pull him out! Since I will be past the 39-week mark and I will have already received an epidural, it will be safe to do a c-section.

How crazy did this story get?!?!

So, on Friday, we may get to finally meet our son! Joey better flip or vacate the premises!

Not Today, Maybe Tomorrow

You gotta love the military...well, you gotta love doing something in the Labor and Delivery Unit. Things can and will change at the drop of a hat. Michael and I were all ready to go in this morning for the version procedure, when we found out that all of the doctors got called into surgery. So, no procedure for us today.

We will either be getting it done tomorrow or the following day. We'll keep you all posted when we find out what's going on. Maybe Joey will say screw this crap and just come on his own today! Then we won't have to go through any of this stuff! C'mon, Joey! :)

Just Like a Man

38 weeks, 3 days

So, we had our 38-week appointment this past Friday.

Let's start out with the good news. Joey's heart beat was in the 130's which is really good and has been very consistent this whole time! I've also lost 5 lbs in two weeks! That was wonderful to hear, so now, total, I have only gained 40 lbs during this pregnancy which makes me really happy! My uterus also measured 38 weeks, so I'm still growing on schedule. Oh, and my iron has finally increased! I guess really taking the amount of pills I was instructed to take worked!

Okay, now onto the rest of the appointment...

First off, I tested positive for Strep B. Son of a bitch! Did I really pop for every damn thing during this pregnancy?!?! So, once I go into labor, they will give me a bunch of antibiotics to treat the Strep B so it is not passed onto Joey. There's no need to treat me now because it could come back by the time Joey arrives.

Now, onto the big news...Joey is breech, meaning his head is up in my ribs now instead of down by my vagina. Also, Michael, Jill, and myself are all idiots, and thank goodness we're not doctors because Joey has NOT dropped at all! He's not even close to my damn pelvic bone yet.

Anyways, back to the breech part. Our hospital will not deliver a breech baby vaginally, so that means c-section. However, Joey does still have a little space left in there to move around so we're going to try this procedure, external cephalic version, where the doctor tries to manually flip the baby from the outside of my body. This procedure shouldn't cause Joey too much stress, but it can be really painful for me. The doctor did suggest us waiting until after 39 weeks to try this procedure where I can have an epidural so the pain wouldn't be as bad. However, by waiting until 39 weeks, Joey won't have as much room to rotate.


The docs will do this version procedure in labor and delivery, so if there are any complications (placenta ruptures, cord around baby's neck, etc.), they can do an emergency c-section right there on the spot. There's a 40-50% chance that this procedure may not work because Joey just doesn't want to flip. If this happens, then we will just schedule my c-section for sometime after I hit 40-weeks.

The benefit of trying this version is that having a baby vaginally is the least stressful for the baby. If we do the version and it works, then Joey can be born vaginally! If the version fails, no big deal, we'll have a c-section.

This was definitely not what I was expecting to hear at this appointment. Unfortunately, Michael was not able to be at this appointment due to work stuff. I made the decision on what to do and then called Michael immediately to get his input. We both agreed on the decision I had made...

We are going to have the version procedure done this Monday (as long as a lot of ladies do not go into labor that morning! Since it will be done in Labor and Delivery, there may not be a room available if people are popping babies out!). We do not want to lessen Joey's chance to rotate due to a lack of space because I am afraid of the pain. So, we are going to forgo the epidural since we would have to wait until after 39-weeks. If the procedure works, then we'll be sent home and then we'll just wait for Joey to make his debut. If version does not work, then we'll schedule the c-section for sometime after the 40-week mark. I should not deliver this baby on Monday unless there is a complication during the procedure. However, if there is a complication, they will do an emergency c-section on the spot.

The doctor did ask if I felt a big bump up under my boobs. I told her yes and she said that is his head. I feel kind of guilty now because I have been poking that big bump since I thought it was his butt! Michael told me that Joey was doing all of this "wrong side" stuff because he was mad I was poking him! I told Michael that this was all of his fault because he has been saying for months that he wanted Joey to come on May 3 since he has a huge work inspection that day! LOL!

Joey is already acting like a man...making things difficult and being hard-headed! ;)