We like to call this little episode "When TJ broke mommy"
9 days post partum - June 18th - I felt a little off. I called my mom to come over that afternoon to watch TJ so I could take a nap. I woke up a couple hours later, around 3pm, and just started gushing blood when I got out of bed. I made it to the bathroom and screamed for my mom or Jim (who luckily was working from home). We called the emergency line at my OB's office and spoke with a nurse. She said to sit on a bad and see if it soaked through within 30 minutes, she would call me back. It soaked through almost immediately. I was feeling light headed, dizzy and hot and my mom and Jim tried to get me to eat something. After about an hour there was no stopping in sight so we decided I needed to go to the hospital. When I stood up huge blood clots just fell out of me. This happened twice more. On the third attempt of me getting up to get downstairs in the car I passed out completely, taking my mom down with me on the bathroom floor. I was out about a minute and woke up to Jim on the phone with 911.
The ambulance showed up shortly there after and loaded me. The entire way to the hospital I still have these huge blood clots (about the size of a dinner plate) coming out. In the emergency room they check me out and call the doctor on call at my office which happened to be the doctor that delivered me. The started an ultrasound to see if they could see where the bleeding was coming from about the time my doctor came. She dove into action demanding blood be sent down and calling for the OR to be prepped. I was taken into surgery for an emergency D&C. Unfortunately, I had eaten shortly before so had to be intubated. Luckily, I came through with all the parts I went in with - my biggest fear was losing them.
I was in the hospital until Sunday afternoon. I had 2 IVs, one in each arm pumping me with antibiotics and fluids. I had 3 units of blood during and just after my surgery. The hospital was wonderful and watched me like a hawk. I had a little setback on Saturday with an allergic reaction when they tried to give me plasma. Funny, considering how much of that I donated in college for beer money. :-)
The worst part of the ordeal was being away from my new baby and leaving poor Jim in such a state with a newborn at home by himself and almost losing his wife. Everyone I talked to commented on what a close call it was. That if I was home by myself I probably wouldn't have been able to get to a phone and would have bled out and died. We thank God that both Jim and my mom were home with me!
Jim's mom came back to town to help out at home and Jim did bring TJ to visit me each day. Luckily, I was able to pump at the hospital and send milk home for him so he was only on formula for about a day. Even one day on that stuff made him stink though! Yuck! lol
Everything is perfectly fine with me now. The doctors aren't sure if this was a fluke since most post postpartum hemorrhaging happens within 48 hours of giving birth. I could also have Von Willebrand's disease, a blood clotting disorder that only appears during pregnancy. They're running tests now to find out if I have that but I haven't heard back with the results yet. I'll worry and cross that bridge when we're ready for our next child.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Catching up!
I wanted to continue this blog to keep track of the baby's growth and milestones. Unfortunately, life gets away from you. Especially with a little one! I have 3 months of catching up to do here!
Introducing....
Thomas James VanDeCasteele
June 9, 2009
9 lbs 5 oz
20 3/4 inches
TJ's entrance into the world was rather unremarkable. I woke up the morning on the 8th with contractions about 10-15 minutes apart. I spent the morning and afternoon timing and convincing myself this wasn't really it. At this point I was 5 days past my due date and hadn't had a contraction or braxton hicks at all. I really thought I was going to have to be induced. In fact, my doctor had scheduled an induction to take place on the 12th. At my 39th and 40th week appointments there was little change. I was still dilated to about 2 and 100% effaced. It was a total stand still.
But going back to June 8th... Jim worked from home that day to keep an eye on me in case things suddenly progressed. I spent the day walking around the house and timing. Jim and I had a fun afternoon (since he actually had a rather slow day work wise) playing monopoly and stratego. By late afternoon the contractions were about 5 minutes apart but not too painful. I gave it a couple more hours and they were still 3-5 minutes apart. I debated back and forth about when to go to the hospital. At this point, the contractions were coming quick but still not as painful as I thought they should be and I didn't feel the baby dropping too low.
We went to the hospital around 7pm. Before admitting me, they checked and I was still only 2-3 centimeters dilated. Hearing that gave me a bit of an anxiety attack and I started to panic that I wasn't progressing like I should be. Jim and I walked around the labor and delivery floor for an hour and still no change. The nurse seemed very tempted to send me home but at this point the contractions were getting close to unbearable. I think it was the anxiety and panic of not being dilated any further after 15 hours of contractions that made me lose focus on laboring. Luckily, she did admit me. Around 10pm I received an epidural and finally relaxed. My parents came to the hospital to wait for the little guys arrival and we all hunkered down for the night.
I couldn't sleep at all that night, I was way too excited for the little guy to come. Around 2am I was checked and up to 5 centimeters dilated - finally progress! My poor husband and parents really suffered that night with only 1 chair and a love seat to camp out on. Plus, I was extremely hot and kept asking the temperature to be set lower and lower - everyone was freezing! Around 5am my epidural started wearing off and I could feel the contractions and lots of pressure. I called the nurse in and she checked me - 9 centimeters! She started prepping for the delivery. Around 6am I started pushing. It was helpful to be able to feel the contractions and I think the pain made me push harder to get him out and everything over with. My nurse said I was an excellent pusher and the baby would be here within the hour! (Most first timers take 2-3 hours of pushing)
Sure enough Thomas came into the world at 6:57am on June 9th. The doctor commented right away on what a big baby he was! Jim cut the cord and the nurses checked him out. He was perfect in every way except a bit pale - not the typical red, shriveled, screaming baby. He didn't look like a newborn at all. TJ did decide to try and wedge his arm and hand out with his shoulders and ended up tearing me pretty good. While the nurses were cleaning him up the doctor went to stitch me up with no epidural. That was more painful then the actual birth! In the end everyone was health and ecstatic.
Introducing....
Thomas James VanDeCasteele
June 9, 2009
9 lbs 5 oz
20 3/4 inches
TJ's entrance into the world was rather unremarkable. I woke up the morning on the 8th with contractions about 10-15 minutes apart. I spent the morning and afternoon timing and convincing myself this wasn't really it. At this point I was 5 days past my due date and hadn't had a contraction or braxton hicks at all. I really thought I was going to have to be induced. In fact, my doctor had scheduled an induction to take place on the 12th. At my 39th and 40th week appointments there was little change. I was still dilated to about 2 and 100% effaced. It was a total stand still.
But going back to June 8th... Jim worked from home that day to keep an eye on me in case things suddenly progressed. I spent the day walking around the house and timing. Jim and I had a fun afternoon (since he actually had a rather slow day work wise) playing monopoly and stratego. By late afternoon the contractions were about 5 minutes apart but not too painful. I gave it a couple more hours and they were still 3-5 minutes apart. I debated back and forth about when to go to the hospital. At this point, the contractions were coming quick but still not as painful as I thought they should be and I didn't feel the baby dropping too low.
We went to the hospital around 7pm. Before admitting me, they checked and I was still only 2-3 centimeters dilated. Hearing that gave me a bit of an anxiety attack and I started to panic that I wasn't progressing like I should be. Jim and I walked around the labor and delivery floor for an hour and still no change. The nurse seemed very tempted to send me home but at this point the contractions were getting close to unbearable. I think it was the anxiety and panic of not being dilated any further after 15 hours of contractions that made me lose focus on laboring. Luckily, she did admit me. Around 10pm I received an epidural and finally relaxed. My parents came to the hospital to wait for the little guys arrival and we all hunkered down for the night.
I couldn't sleep at all that night, I was way too excited for the little guy to come. Around 2am I was checked and up to 5 centimeters dilated - finally progress! My poor husband and parents really suffered that night with only 1 chair and a love seat to camp out on. Plus, I was extremely hot and kept asking the temperature to be set lower and lower - everyone was freezing! Around 5am my epidural started wearing off and I could feel the contractions and lots of pressure. I called the nurse in and she checked me - 9 centimeters! She started prepping for the delivery. Around 6am I started pushing. It was helpful to be able to feel the contractions and I think the pain made me push harder to get him out and everything over with. My nurse said I was an excellent pusher and the baby would be here within the hour! (Most first timers take 2-3 hours of pushing)
Sure enough Thomas came into the world at 6:57am on June 9th. The doctor commented right away on what a big baby he was! Jim cut the cord and the nurses checked him out. He was perfect in every way except a bit pale - not the typical red, shriveled, screaming baby. He didn't look like a newborn at all. TJ did decide to try and wedge his arm and hand out with his shoulders and ended up tearing me pretty good. While the nurses were cleaning him up the doctor went to stitch me up with no epidural. That was more painful then the actual birth! In the end everyone was health and ecstatic.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Still Pregnant!
And huge! I'll be 39 weeks in just two days so about a week away from my due date. This little guy must not be so little. He's riding WAY out in front, it's ridiculous really. Barely any of my maternity clothes fit anymore so that is making life interesting. I've been having weekly appointments for the past several weeks, starting at 36 weeks. Everything is still looking great with both me and the baby which is why I haven't posted anything lately, nothing to report! I don't think I could have had a better pregnancy really. Boring is good!
At my 36 week appointment I was dilated to 1 cm and 75% effaced already - doctor was surprised! That also happened to be the week we were moving the office so all the packing (I did way too much) I'm sure progressed things. At 37 weeks I had was almost 2 cm and at 38 weeks I was a full 2 and 85% effaced. So we're making slow but steady progress. The doctor estimates the baby is over 7 pounds right now. He's still very active and strong. He gets in some pretty painful kicks maneuvers. He's still head down and still favors hanging out on my right side which makes me pretty lopsided. It's amusing at least.
38 weeks
At my 36 week appointment I was dilated to 1 cm and 75% effaced already - doctor was surprised! That also happened to be the week we were moving the office so all the packing (I did way too much) I'm sure progressed things. At 37 weeks I had was almost 2 cm and at 38 weeks I was a full 2 and 85% effaced. So we're making slow but steady progress. The doctor estimates the baby is over 7 pounds right now. He's still very active and strong. He gets in some pretty painful kicks maneuvers. He's still head down and still favors hanging out on my right side which makes me pretty lopsided. It's amusing at least.
38 weeks
Thursday, April 2, 2009
30 week update
Last Friday (March 27) was my 30 week appointment. I am now going to the doctor every two weeks. My sugar levels tested normal from my glucose blood draw (tests for gestational diabetes). My blood pressure was 102/60, the baby's heart beat was 142, and I've gained 8 pounds overall. In other words everything looks absolutely perfect! I don't have any swelling or stretch marks (yet!) so keep your fingers crossed. In other amazing news the baby is measuring at 32 weeks - 2 weeks ahead of where I am! Either he had a major growth spurt, he'll come a little early, or he'll be a BIG baby. I'm voting for the latter. The doctor said to expect him to be over 8 pounds since Jim and I were both good size babies.
Baby Vandy has also been hanging out head down and he'll most likely stay that way. He's definitely nice and comfy in there. He's incredibly active and becoming interactive. We can play with him now - he'll push or kick on the same spots we press from the outside back and forth for quiet a while. He will also move his foot and push back on different spots that I press on my belly. It's very entertaining! I think I was annoying him one evening by doing this for hours. But he got me back later that night when I was trying to go to sleep and he had all 4 limbs flailing for quite awhile. He is definitely getting stronger. His movements are almost impossible to ignore (hence I couldn't fall alseep until he stopped) and you can see my whole belly shake when he gets going. The doctor wants me to start doing kick counts to make sure he's still moving as he gets less and less room. I just laughed, I'd be better off counting the time he isn't moving.
Here are some 30 week belly pics
Today I'm 31 weeks - only 9 weeks to go!
Baby Vandy has also been hanging out head down and he'll most likely stay that way. He's definitely nice and comfy in there. He's incredibly active and becoming interactive. We can play with him now - he'll push or kick on the same spots we press from the outside back and forth for quiet a while. He will also move his foot and push back on different spots that I press on my belly. It's very entertaining! I think I was annoying him one evening by doing this for hours. But he got me back later that night when I was trying to go to sleep and he had all 4 limbs flailing for quite awhile. He is definitely getting stronger. His movements are almost impossible to ignore (hence I couldn't fall alseep until he stopped) and you can see my whole belly shake when he gets going. The doctor wants me to start doing kick counts to make sure he's still moving as he gets less and less room. I just laughed, I'd be better off counting the time he isn't moving.
Here are some 30 week belly pics
Today I'm 31 weeks - only 9 weeks to go!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
26 Weeks!
And officially less than 100 days to go! Wow, that seems like a big hurdle.
According to babycenter.com the baby is about 14 inches from head to heel and weight just under 2 pounds. I can feel every little move he makes now and I'm starting to distinguish between the moves - especially when he does a full body roll!
The last week or two I was having some fairly intense round ligament pains but those have subsided now. It's starting to get a bit more difficult to move around, mostly getting up from sitting on the floor or when I've been laying on the couch too long. Also, bending over takes some preparation! Luckily, I haven't been gaining weight anywhere but my belly so I've ended up with a cute round little ball. If I can keep this up, losing the weight shouldn't be too bad! Right now I'm just desperately awaiting spring and nice weather so Lucy and I can get out and take some walks. Spending all this time indoors vegging is making me a bit stir crazy.
Jim and I painted the nursery last weekend, a nice soft yellow. He also hung the roman shades and the curtain rods. We already have the glider and ottoman and the crib has been ordered. Hopefully that comes within the next week. This weekend my mom and I are painting round 1 of the strips. It's all starting to come together and I can't wait to see the final product - should be very cute!
Here's some pictures taken this morning of my little soccer ball!
According to babycenter.com the baby is about 14 inches from head to heel and weight just under 2 pounds. I can feel every little move he makes now and I'm starting to distinguish between the moves - especially when he does a full body roll!
The last week or two I was having some fairly intense round ligament pains but those have subsided now. It's starting to get a bit more difficult to move around, mostly getting up from sitting on the floor or when I've been laying on the couch too long. Also, bending over takes some preparation! Luckily, I haven't been gaining weight anywhere but my belly so I've ended up with a cute round little ball. If I can keep this up, losing the weight shouldn't be too bad! Right now I'm just desperately awaiting spring and nice weather so Lucy and I can get out and take some walks. Spending all this time indoors vegging is making me a bit stir crazy.
Jim and I painted the nursery last weekend, a nice soft yellow. He also hung the roman shades and the curtain rods. We already have the glider and ottoman and the crib has been ordered. Hopefully that comes within the next week. This weekend my mom and I are painting round 1 of the strips. It's all starting to come together and I can't wait to see the final product - should be very cute!
Here's some pictures taken this morning of my little soccer ball!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
20 weeks today!
I'm exactly half way through this pregnancy today! CRAZY!
A week ago today I had my 19 week appointment and my first Ultrasound. Jim came along for the ultrasound and they checked and measured everything. We could see all four chambers of the heart and watch it pump, the tech checked the baby's lungs, diaphragm, kidneys, stomach etc. She also measured the head and femur bone. The baby is measuring right on schedule and weighs about 2/3 of a pound right now! The last thing she checked for was the sex and...
It's a BOY!
We got to bring home some fantastic profile pictures. You can see his nose, both lips, and his chin so clearly. Technology is amazing. We are both ecstatic it's a boy, though we would have been either way. We honestly had no preference. I'm just excited to be able to buy boy things and I think Jim is already planning on installing a basketball hoop next summer. :-)
I've been feeling the baby move more and more each day. Actually he was going nuts this morning on the car ride to work and is still moving around as I type this. It's such a cool, yet indescribable feeling.
I have been feeling fantastic. Never had a bit of morning sickness at all. I also haven't been sick sick (knock on wood) so haven't had to take any kind of medications. I still haven't gained any weight but the doctor said it's fine since I wasn't underweight (HA!) to begin with. Gaining on 10-15 pounds total would be just fine. I am starting to show and I think the weight is just shifting from other places. :-) I still get full really fast and can only eat small portions, which is probably why I haven't gained. Surprisingly I haven't had any huge cravings. I contribute that to my "normal" crazy unusual appetite and food combinations. I've only had Jim make a craving run once! I think that's pretty good. :-)
A week ago today I had my 19 week appointment and my first Ultrasound. Jim came along for the ultrasound and they checked and measured everything. We could see all four chambers of the heart and watch it pump, the tech checked the baby's lungs, diaphragm, kidneys, stomach etc. She also measured the head and femur bone. The baby is measuring right on schedule and weighs about 2/3 of a pound right now! The last thing she checked for was the sex and...
It's a BOY!
We got to bring home some fantastic profile pictures. You can see his nose, both lips, and his chin so clearly. Technology is amazing. We are both ecstatic it's a boy, though we would have been either way. We honestly had no preference. I'm just excited to be able to buy boy things and I think Jim is already planning on installing a basketball hoop next summer. :-)
I've been feeling the baby move more and more each day. Actually he was going nuts this morning on the car ride to work and is still moving around as I type this. It's such a cool, yet indescribable feeling.
I have been feeling fantastic. Never had a bit of morning sickness at all. I also haven't been sick sick (knock on wood) so haven't had to take any kind of medications. I still haven't gained any weight but the doctor said it's fine since I wasn't underweight (HA!) to begin with. Gaining on 10-15 pounds total would be just fine. I am starting to show and I think the weight is just shifting from other places. :-) I still get full really fast and can only eat small portions, which is probably why I haven't gained. Surprisingly I haven't had any huge cravings. I contribute that to my "normal" crazy unusual appetite and food combinations. I've only had Jim make a craving run once! I think that's pretty good. :-)
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