Emergency to the Rescue

Baby Yanis was discharged on Sept 19 at 11 am at the hospital. We were so excited to be with him finally in the comfort of our home. It's hard to see him poked so many times to check his blood tests and his cry is very difficult for me to hear. I can't do nothing about it, the hospital works that way.

First night was okay. Feeding him is a challenge for me. His still very sleepy when I fed him. I tried every possible way the lactation people taught me in the hospital but at times I can't fed him enough. So during the middle of the night, he will wake up and his cry is very loud. I would also assume that due to his circumcision every time he peed or poo, it irritates his tiny little thing down there. So hard to him his cry but you can't do nothing to soothe it and just hope he would stop crying. But once his cleaned and give him reassurance, his a fine baby. 

The second night was tough. Middle of the night, he was awake every hour. I tried to fed him whatever I can but the little one was always awake. I didn't get much sleep. I was also in pain due to my stitches and hemorrhoid problem so dealing with trying to heal myself with a crying baby is a little overwhelming. 

At 11am we have an appointment in Mountain View for his follow up. Hubby checked his body temp. It was a little colder and so he did skin to skin with him. His temperature became stable then. We got to the facility a little late and the lobby was freaking cold. We waited until our name was called. Then came the nurse and we went to the exam room. We got his temperature it went down to 95.5. It's very alarming. The doctor came in and see if we can regulate his body temp with a warm blanket, nothing happened. His cold. The doctor ordered to go to NICU at the hospital. She also saw the yellowing of Yanis skin probably due to Jaundice. So there we head straight to the hospital in emergency. Quite a panic to have our baby in that situation. 

We got to the hospital and greeted by the supervisor in charge for the day. They then take care of him, put all necessary measuring devices and swaddle him with warm blankets. It's very difficult to see him that way to be there in that corner with all those wires. He was then put in an isolette to monitor his body temp and regulating it. Poor little baby. 

He was in the isolette for 3 days and had 2 days light therapy for his Jaundice. I breast feed him as possible as I can get and bottle fed him too. I haven't sleep so good while I was there. I didn't care much about my recovery because the number one goal was to keep baby stable. I though honestly had a mental and physical breakdown the night of Sunday where the emergency took place. Due to the situation with no idea how the day goes, I didn't bring any of my medication for my pain. I suffered all day while walking the hallway of the NICU. It was so painful I almost fainted but tried to be strong for the sake of the baby. But past 9pm I mentally got to my limit and cried so hard. It was devastating for me to be in the situation where the pain is unbearable and here I have a baby who needs extra care. 

There's a happy ending to every bad things. His jaundice went down and his temp is regular with the help of the isolette and later on he managed to be out on the crib. We were discharge friday morning and went home safe. 

We did have a follow up yesterday to see a pediatrician. His temperature is good. His weight now is 4.69 which is still below his birth weight. The doctor recommend Neosure 22 so he could have more calories and that he can gain weight. Feeding time change to every 2 hours. Breast every 10 minutes each and 10 for bottle feed. We can't make it to 2 hours so we adjusted it to 2.5. It seemed worked fine with me and the baby. He poo and peed every time therefore his doing good. We will see the pedia again next week on Friday and see how far along he can gain weight.  

Induced Labor and Delivery Experience

My primary Obgyn schedule an induced labor on Sept 16. She said I will get a call from the hospital any time of the day within the 24 hour period. Husband and I waited all day and anxious when to get the call. Later part of the day at 3pm, I called the office because I didn’t hear anything from the hospital. Dr. W told me to do so and I did. I Apart from that I emailed her too. I got a response from her and the nurse and said that they were delayed. The doctor said in her email she's in the hospital and she made sure she will get me there as soon as possible when a room is available.

Past 11pm, nothing! I said goodnight to my husband and slept. Until 12:30am Sept 17, the labor and delivery manager called and told me to be around an hour or so in the hospital. Husband and I get all our stuff together, showered and head straight. I checked in at the front desk fill out a little form and Dr. W was there. She gave me a big hug and to the nurses "this is my special patient".  That was a reassuring comment.

I was assigned to room 11. How can I forget! So right away, the head nurse checked on me. Asked question and did the internal examination. I was at 1cm dilated. Wow I was surprised. I was even thinking that my cervix is still pretty much closed. I was not expecting any of it. I did observe a few times on nights I did my walk with the husband that the braxton hicks were getting intense.  So that 1cm then comes from that feeling.

At 2:30am started Cervidil, this helps softens and ripening of the cervix. In labor and delivery this allows the baby to pass through. I had lots of contraction within 12 hours. The nurse removed it at 2:30pm. I was in pain. I also tried to walk with it but it’s so painful. But I tried so that I can prepare my body in delivery. I walked the hallway with the husband and saw the labor and delivery manager from the Child Birth Class. She gave me a hug and told me that I am in good hands. After a chitchat with her, I walked. Every step is like climbing a mountain with grasping every breath and contraction pain is not easy.

3:30pm to 5:30pm Pitocin was administered. The difference of effect now is the longevity of the contraction and the interval of each when it happen. I tried my best to stay relax and calm even if the contraction is getting worst. There’s no way to deal with it but it is how it is. It's better than Cervidil where it's through IV. 

Past 5:30pm I was bleeding with a pool of blood. I didn’t see it actually. I was about to go pee and suddenly I felt the water leaked from my behind. I told the husband to check whether it’s the bag of water. To our surprise it was blood. As what he described it was a lot. The nurse called the on call doctor. She came and checked. She wasn’t surprised and so she raptured the bag of water. Then see how far along I was. Barely at 3cm but the cervix was thinning like a rubber band. Basically, just in the 2’s. I was already in pain. I didn’t know at that point how to take all the maximum pain if labor is going to be very slow for me. 

Came 6pm, the contraction is getting more and more painful. Also every contraction followed the amniotic fluid gushed out. I kept on pressing my left thumb and index finger to divert my attention on the pain. But as the minutes go by, it is getting hard and extremely painful. Couple of times I asked the husband if I can hold his hand when the contraction hit me. A couple of times it helped but later on it doesn't do the trick. The pain is just so excruciating. I told the husband to get myself an Epidural shot. He asked me twice or thrice I don’t exactly remember if I am sure on my plan and I told him I can’t take it anymore. The nurse also asked as to what stage am I on pain and I told her on the 8 and 9 scale. So she requested the doctor to come in and I got it before 7pm. Then the relief came to the rescue. Temporarily no more pain, the lower body was numb especially both my feet.

I tried to sleep but I just can’t. The intense monitoring of baby’s heart rate was alarming. The nurse kept on switching me from right to left. We tried every position to keep up his heart at bay. Every contraction, he will have a big deep. It was very concerning. I am so lucky that the nurse on the shift was so attentive in every detail. She closely watched the readings and asked the doctor’s opinion right away.

Since I got the epidural, I can't go to the bathroom. So she did put a catheter. Later on, the baby's heart is still dropping. She asked the doctor about it and the doctor said to have a heart monitor down there. I have 2 tubes hooked up now. After 30 minutes, still the heart rate is not doing any progress at all. Still keep on dropping in every contraction. The doctor decided to have an amniotic fluid back to my uterus. It's another tube passing my vagina. Those hours I was lying all my heavenly goodness out in the open. Also, she put an oxygen that I could breathe to help not only me but the baby inside the womb. 

By the time her night shift is over, she internal exam me by inserting her fingers to my cervix. To her amaze, she didn’t feel the wall on the cervix but the head of the baby from 3cm to 10cm full dilated just like that. She asked for a second opinion from another doctor and also a different nurse, did their internal exam and yes cervix was in full dilation. 30 minutes before the nurse checked, I asked her for another shot of epidural because I was in pain. I haven’t heard anything from her since then. After the internal exam with a different nurse and they all left, when she came back she arranged the table in front of me. She opened the blue kit full of delivery tools. Dr. J came in later and when she checked on me I asked her why I’m trembling. Hands were shaking like uncontrollably and the abdominal pain is over the top. She said it is the sign of labor and the body is ready for delivery.

The delivery was fast. There were a couple of nurses in front and right of me. Hubby was on my right holding my hand. When the push time came, all of them counted on the first push by 10 sec. I made progress because the baby is getting in the right position. Now, they wanted me to do the second push but making it to 15 sec. I was having trouble in the first push with my oxygen on my nose. They took it out and made real hard push counting to 15. I don’t know how I was able to push that long but I did and the baby is crowning. The third push for 10 sec was already a breeze and baby easily came out. I have not heard him cry right away. He was placed under a warmer. Nurses stimulated him and so the cry came. It’s nice to hear the first cry. He was laid on my chest after a few minutes and we were looking at each other and in silence we both said “we did it”.

Day 8 Since Giving Birth

Just an update, I already gave birth to a baby boy via induced labor on Sept 17. It was a successful vaginal delivery. Baby weighs 4.76 at birth and now his weight is at 4.69. He lost 3% of that weight when we were discharge on Sept 19. But later came back in an emergency due to hypothermia and the evidence of Jaundice on Sunday. He was readmitted in NICU. Stayed there for 5 days and was discharge yesterday. Problem with baby is regulating his body temperature. It was hard at first for us since we don't know how bad it could get to him. Now we are aware of what's going on, we are very extra careful. Hubby bought 2 portable heaters and it did work pretty good maintaining his temp in the 98's. We are crossing our fingers that the NICU will be his last visit. Will update soon and post some pics too.

35 weeks Pregnant

Yes yes yes! Another week has passed. It's always been a celebration of mine every time Tuesday passes by. Today I am 35 weeks and 1 day. I wake up with a heavy heartburn. Last night's blood sugar level was high. I've reached to 154 which I believe was my highest in the record. I went out grab a club bacon ranch sandwhich from Jack in the Box and I ate only half of the bread and my sugar level was in sky rocket. It might have something to do with the food or probably because I was already starving when I ate. After an hour I retested and it went to 136 which was still high and I did some in house jogging in the hopes that by morning my sugar will be stabilize. So I wake up and my sugar is at 91. Not that bad, but not good in my range. I have to be less than 90. It means I will raise up my insulin dosage tonight to 7u. As the weeks getting closer to the big day, my sugar level is acting up too.

Anyway, to sum for the week. Baby's ultrasound last week was okay. Yanis is still below the 3 percentile which I was hoping he could a little catch up some bit. But his interval growth follows what he has been doing for months which was not very surprising for the doctors. This somehow could mean that my induction will be push through on the 16th. I wasn't hoping for the 36 week but otherwise I would love to be on the 37th week so I could get full term and at least baby could grow more and I could spend time with him on my belly. Yet, when I talked to Dr. W yesterday, the date is set and everything. Hubby isn't thrilled to have a Virgo baby. He wants a Libra. Maybe we could persuade one doctor to move to a 37 by our next appointment this thursday but I wonder how powerful we could convince our plea. 

Somehow, my taste buds are not really good. My first trimester symptom came back. Good at least, I don't have nausea. The after taste is just awful. But I still eat what I want in moderation. Though, sugary food isn't possible yet. I tried to avoid it as possible. The least I could get is drinking soda and tea. I tried eating cheesecake too but somehow it elevated my sugar level and it increased my insulin dosage so I have to really watch on food. The hormones are just getting my way of eating the food I want but I know one day this will be over. Just to have more patience about it. 

Energy is up and down. There could be one day I am okay and at times I am feeling tired. The only times I noticed getting tired is when my sugar level goes up. I could be tired, thirsty and will be peeing more. Having gestational diabetes is a challenge to undertake. 

As for baby, Yanis is very responsive. Every time I asked him for a kick, though he might not response right away if his not awake but eventually he will get to me with a kick or movement. I really am satisfied with his favor and I have no doubt he will be fine during labor. The concern of IUGR babies is that during labor they don't like it. Dr. W is trying to tell me in advance the possibility of having C Section in case baby is having difficulty. I am hoping not to get one and I am convincing baby Yanis to really be strong for me on the big day. I hope we could both achieve our goal.

So this is it.. this might be my last post for now or not. Will wait and see what happen next. 

34 weeks Pregnant

Today is the day, a milestone that I don't even know in the past I will ever achieved. But it reveals that miracle do happens. I had my NST appointment today with my primary OB and she's happy and always said that she never thought I could still be pregnant. She never has a patient who's baby is an IUGR surpassed the 34 week but my baby proved them that they are wrong. Baby Yanis is the miracle in the making.

 

Now we are looking at 36 induced. She set me up for Sept 16. For now it's tentative, but it will changed depending on my current status at Maternal Fetal Medicine. My Dr just don't want in the last minute that they can't booked me in for a date in case something happen. But I feel Yanis can go on after 36 weeks. Let's wait and see what my baby will do. So far everything is fine. His active and growing strong with a heavy kick.