Thursday, May 31, 2012

Operation feed yourself

I have to admit that I have been a slacker mom on letting the twins use spoons and forks. I'm not into having to clean up a big mess or having to wash them twice a day. Today, after making some avocado and peach in the blender, I decided to chance it. Here are the results:
 AddieGrace seems to think using you hand and spoon works out for the best.

 Brayden wanted to add extra. Nothing like a blueberry waffle in your peaches and avocado!



All in all it wasn't the huge mess I was expecting. We had some on the floor courtesy of AddieGrace slinging it off of her hands and the swing. Operation feed yourself was a success!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Emma Kate's birth journey

I think it is finally time to right this.  
 During the beginning of my pregnancy I requested a VBA2C with the OB office I went too. They just kept saying okay and moving on. It was no issue at all till I was nearing my due date. I went it for a normal check up and when asked if I had scheduled my section I told them no, I am having a vaginal delivery. The doctor I saw pressured me into scheduling the section. He told me that it was not safe for me to deliver vaginally, even though I had already looked up the research and I knew that it was.  He told me my decision was stupid and that I needed to be alive for my other children. (All of this in front of three of my kids!) I went to my car bawling. I did not want to have surgery again when I felt it was not needed. My next appointment was with another doctor in the practice. She went over my file with me and told me I was a good candidate for a VBA2C. After cancelling my scheduled section I got a call the next day saying that she spoke with the other doctors and they would not let me VBA2C. Once again I was crushed. Why would they keep doing this, yes you can, no you can't. Fast forward to the next appointment, where I was told that if I decided to VBA2C that none of the doctors in the practice would touch me, even if I came into the hospital in active labor! I would be "forced" to have a section. They ended up scheduling the section with a doctor who isn't even in the same office. 
 All this time I had been venting to one of my FB friends who is a doula. Thank Heavens for her!   She went to the appointment with me and the guidelines for the doctors professional organization that stated it was safe for me to VBA2C. He said fine, go for it. He checked me at that appointment and I was still high and not effaced. 


Later that night: 2:30am
My water gushes. I was in labor!!! 
I had this panicky feeling because it was so much fluid. We had to call MIL to come down and watch the other kids and we finally left for the hospital. (Hubby said oh we have plenty of time and took his time getting dressed.) I texted my doula but forgot she didn't get service at her house. She got the message a few hours later and came on to the hospital. I think at that time I was still high and only 1 or 2 centimeters dilated.  We did the yoga ball, we rocked, we did pressure points and I still was progressing like the doctor, who happened to be the same one I had visited that day earlier (Thank goodness), suggested a very small amount of pit. At that point I was ready to get things moving along as well. He was only giving me 18 hours to have this baby and we were quickly approaching that time limit. Boy oh boy did the pit knock things up! I started having contractions upon contractions. I went to stand up and rock some more and we lost Emma's heart beat. Nurses came in to adjust the monitor. We found her heart beat but it kept dropping down. Doctor came in and said I think it is time for a section. 


Emma Kate was born less then ten minutes later via emergency c-section. We had placental eruption. It is very rare, especially since I did not have the risk factors for it. It could not have been predicted. I still would not have changed my decision. I had people suggest me giving birth at home or go to the hospital at the last moment. I am so glad that I did not do either. I wanted to VBA2C the safest way I could and be somewhere that could help if we needed it. I am also extremely grateful to my doula. At the end we had to get the ACLU involved and I know I'd never have made it without her help. With her I made it to 3 centimeters dilated and I do not think that would have ever happened without her support! Thank you, thank you, thank you!




I have a beautiful baby girl.