First things first, our first doctor appointment is Wednesday June 16th.
The first doctor appointment went well. Mom got pretty sick driving back though, after the bloodwork at the lab. She had snacks to help her get home. We were there from 4:30 to 6:30. The nurse midwife did an exam, got mom's ob history (that took a while), and even tried to find a heartbeat. (We're measuring large, which is probably normal for a 6th pregnancy).
The next appointment is Monday July 12th, with an ultrasound right before the dr visit.
Well, the ultrasound was NOT followed by a dr visit, the dr got sick and had to go home and cancel all his appointments, but we are seeing him July 15th, and Dad even gets to go because he has to do something there in town, at the Walmart.
The ultrasound was a painful experience, for many reasons, but we got some great pictures of me!
Here I am from behind, you can see my back, the back of my head (Do I have hair yet?) and my thighs.
Doctor appointment went, well, quickly on July 15th. Mom's gained a pound, BP is good, we heard my heartbeat. (it's at 154) We talked more with the nurse than the doctor, the doctor comes in, says any questions, and then leaves. Gotta love these "get to know you" chats hehe. Anyways, all is well, and we're set for another appointment August 12, when we'll be 16 1/2 weeks.
The appt was changed to August 11th. Everything is measuring great, I'm right under Mom's belly button. We heard my heart rate again (138) and Mom gained another pound. BP was a tiny bit high. We talked to the nurse midwife and set up an appointment with a perinatologist (for a better ultrasound, more detailed, we can get away with it because of Mom's obstetrical history). We don't NEED the reassurance but the ultrasound is a good idea. That will be August 23rd. Mom also had to do some labwork to check for infections. Otherwise, we're in for another appt on the September 9th when we'll be 20 1/2 weeks. Woohoo, halfway!
We may change doctors after that... the doctor is leaving his practice and turning it over to another doctor, and we are not sure what is going to be best for us. We'd like to stay closer to home, for sure... but we'll see!
Here are pictures from my August 23rd ultrasound. Mom and Dad drove a long way to the perinatologist. Michael, Benjamin, Emilie and Nathanael stayed at a friend's house for a few hours. It was a great experience, and Mom and Dad got to watch me for a while and the perinatologist was wonderful at explaining everything they were seeing. They said I was 7 ounces, and right on track for my due date in every way... Next appt is September 9th. Oh, and my heart rate was 134.
Here is my cute little baby face... upside down. I have a nicely shaped head, of course.
My next appt was actually September 16th. We had to change it. Everything is going well with me, my heart rate is 151 and I move all the time, Mom can even see me move but noone else can feel me yet, it seems.
We are looking for a new doctor, closer, because this doctor is moving and will be at a hospital even further away from us here. Not a good thing when Mom goes from start to finish in less than 2 hours. We might have to go with a doctor that insurance doesn't cover as well as the one we are seeing now, but hopefully things work out. Mom's blood pressure is tracking high, not good, but Grandma thinks that might be because our basement has flooded 4-5 times in the last month, driving an hour to get to my appts, and life in general. They may medicate.
We do not have a next appt, because of the deal with the doctor, and need to find a new one before Friday, September 24th so records can be transferred easily and quickly. We'll keep everyone posted!
One good piece of news is that Mom found a pediatrician for all of us young'uns, which includes ME!
OK~! We have a new dr's office, as of about 15 minutes ago(September 20th). Our next appt will be September 30th, another "first" appointment, and then an appt with a doctor or nurse practitioner on October 5th. Talk about getting to know someone all over again. The records are being forwarded this week and we will now deliver at a hospital only 20 minutes from the house. This is after countless phone calls to OB offices around the county, and long conversations with everyone from distant midwives to our insurance, several different departments. Mom feels like she's been on the phone all day, and so do my big brothers and sister! And that's in addition to our trips to the store and post office this morning.
Ok, September 30th appt. Blood pressure is way down, well, to normal levels. Maybe it's the shorter drive, having someone with us to watch the kids, and not having had to deal with a flood in over a week. However, Mom WAS dealing with the second day of kids alone without Dad, after a combined YW/YM meeting the night before, and another day and a half without him including a Cub Scout meeting... so who knows, why would that bring her blood pressure down? LOL. They took it twice, even. Mom gained a pound, and for the first time in her memory did NOT have to give a urine sample. (oh, goody) It was basically just going over OB history and figuring things out... Next appt is October 25th. Mom will see the doctor that day, one of 4 that MAY make it in time to delivery me.
October 25th appointment- kind of a waste of time. The OB was running late, and they let Mom leave with a new appointment time and labwork orders because Mom told them we were moving anyways and not delivering with any of the doctors there anyways. They shut the door and started talking about us the minute she told them we were moving hehehe. We did hear my heartbeat, and had great blood pressure and everything else. We will have one more appointment (maintenance, just keeping an eye on everything, heartbeat, blood pressure, etc) and then all my records will be transferred to the new OB, whoever that will be. Mom has to get her glucose tested and such, that nasty orange drink (you'd think they'd get some new flavors...) Next appointment is November 8th, so we're getting down to the last few months where we go every 2 weeks and then every week til I'm here! Tada! I bet you all just can't wait.
November 6th Mom went and got her glucose tested, after a few days of stomach flu running through our family, and then sinus problems. Ugh! I didn't feel well either. November 8th we saw the nurse midwife again, scheduled a time to come pick up records to bring to the new doctor in Texas. Mom lost weight (a few pounds), had great blood pressure, my heartrate was great. We still don't have a name. Mom is busy getting ready to move to Texas, which isn't that easy on me because she is guilty of doing too much. Like today! Someone tell her to stop worrying!
We're moved! I'm gonna be a TEXAS baby! (not a Pennsylvania native like my DAD!)
Our November 30th appt with the new doctor turned into a December 2nd appt . The new doctor has been described to us as the "cowboy doctor" and that he reminded some of a "country vet". This thrilled Mom and Dad, and fit our initial impression of him. That he would let things happen as they should, and was there in case of emergency. No induction because of past quick labors, no unnecessary procedures or retests because the records were not as thorough as they should be... Mom has lost more weight, but I am growing and doing fine. I am head down, measuring right on for my dates, heartrate is great, possibly around 3 lbs. Mom is still recovering from a difficult month and a half of moving, but we are glad we are here. Mom had a dream that I was born Christmas Eve... I guess it would serve her right after what she did to HER mom and dad. (Mom was due end of January as well...) We want to do a tour of the birthing center of the hospital soon. (maybe Saturday).
Next appt is December 16th unless there's another emergency C-Section for our cowboy doctor.
On December 16th everything went as planned, not a long wait, everything looks good, I'm still head down and ready to scoot out of here when the time comes and not a moment sooner. We were thrilled to find out that our Doctor would not stop labor from this point onward, as I would do just fine with the great NICU here if I happened to come this early. Well, I am a week away from when Michael came and he did just fine! I also probably outweigh him. The doctor tried to tell Mom all sorts of things about being pregnant and this stage of my development... nothing Mom didn't already know. She kind of laughs about it. I am looking forward to my debut, sooner or later, can't you just hardly wait? Our next appointment is December 30th. We also set up appts for every week until my due date. (3 more appointments after the 30th, we'll see where we are at, then)
On December 18th my family (and I) went to the hospital to see where I would most likely be born. The main entrance is under construction so the "entrance" is by the emergency room entrance. They have valet parking, great news Mom! (um, and Dad) There were no signs directing us where to go, but we asked around. The tour was really cool from what I could here. The labor and delivery area is very secure, and even the smaller room we looked at was very nice, with room for Dad to sleep and a big bed that folds out of the wall after the whole delivery thing is over... AND a jacuzzi tub, which Mom seemed to like the idea of. I guess this sort of place is one of the first things I'll see if we make it to the hospital, right? Mom pre-registered and took care of all sorts of paperwork, and then everyone got to go see the nursery and even Nathanael saw the babies.
I guess we'll get to that point when we get there... Mom still needs to pack her bags and bag for the older kids, and set up my bed, and we're ready for me to get here!
On December 30th the appointment went rather well. We were surprised by the NST (non stress test), where they hook Mom up to two monitors (one to track my heart rate, one to track any contractions Mom might have while on the monitor). They had not told Mom about this previously, and she was not too thrilled about it. (she had two of these a week with Joseph). However, it went very well and of course I did great. They also let us know that we'd be doing this every week until I get out of here. (not because Mom is high risk, or even medium risk, but because she's had 5 children they are treating that as a risk and they'd rather play it safe). Not much else new, blood pressure is slightly elevated, Mom gained a pound, oh, and they tested for Group B Strep. So mostly same old same old. We have not been checked for effacement or dilation yet, but I am sure that will happen soon as well. Our next appt is January 6th, and we'll keep you posted! I am keeping my mom aware of my presence even though I don't have much room left, so she'll probably tell you about that if you call, email, or instant message her. Don't listen too much, I'm really a nice little person.
Our appt on January 6th didn't go much differently than our appt on December 30th. The NST went fine, we had one contraction on there. Mom forgot to ask for the results of the Group B Strep test, but we'll ask next week. She's gained one more pound. They also checked for effacement/dilation and neither is happening at all yet, we're 0 and high and dry. I am head down but not engaged or even very low yet, so it's not likely that I'm coming in this next week, but if I do, Mom will have plenty of warning. She remembers that with her fast labors, she was usually at least 3-4 cm dilated at the appt before. We'll keep you posted! Have a great week! (no, no name yet)
Our appt on January 13th went way overtime... we were there 2 hours. However, this was just because the doctor got way behind, which he apologized for. Group B Strep test was negative, NST was perfect (of course), no contractions on record, no changes in cervical dilation, Mom gained some weight (which probably just means that I gained weight), BP is fine, my head is still down (not like there's room to move!) and life is good. Everything looks just peachy. Doctor again said that if he was a betting man, that I wouldn't come until after the next appt, but he wouldn't bet the whole farm because it still could happen. Next appt is January 20th, so we'll either have a birth announcement on here or more "same old same old" about the doctor appointment.
Our appt on January 20th went great. (I think). NST looks great, Mom's blood pressure is a little higher but not too high, and she's lost 3 lbs. Mom's dilated to a 3 1/2 and 60 percent effaced, plus the doctor stripped her membranes, which has already started a few more contractions. The doctor doesn't want to have her go too far past her due date, which is Monday, so our next appt is January 24th. He would like to induce since she's so close anyways, but will wait for 2 weeks after the due date before he insists on it. Dad will come with Mom on Monday if I have not arrived by then. I'm on my way!
January 20th UPDATED
Samuel James Valencic arrived at 11:36 pm. So much for waiting until Monday.
Thursday at my doctor appt the dr stripped my membranes, as I was 39 1/2 weeks, 3 1/2 cm and 65 % effaced and he felt it was a good thing to do. Well, I started contracting immediately and felt similar to when I was in labor. I didn't think I was in labor, but with how fast I go noone wanted to take any chances so I got Tom back home from work (where he had just returned after his long lunch for my dr appt). We dropped the kids off at a friend's house with everything they needed (packed bag) and went to the hospital around 4 pm.
I was thinner at the hospital and the dr told them to have me stay. Well, I contracted for 6 hours or so with not much happening (nurses kept saying oh, you're a 5, maybe a 6) I would have been able to tell if I'd been further, but the doctor came a little after 10 pm and said there was no further dilation (from his estimate of 3 1/2 to 4) but I was thinner and as I was contracting, he was just going to break my water and see what happened. I was so frustrated, I knew by the time I had been at the hospital an hour or so that I wasn't in labor, but hoping that the doctor would get there soon and break my water. I was also hurting (but not in labor) and just wanted to go home lol...
As far as pain relief, Tom reminded me several times that the only times I've gotten the epidural (with my 2 inductions) they took effect after the baby was born.
So, doctor broke my water about 10-10:30 pm, I am not sure when it was but he showed up around 10 and chatted a while lol. Immediately I knew we were on our way, but told Tom that if there was no progress pretty soon I was getting pain relief, lol, I wasn't going to go through MY sort of labor for 6 hours (constant no break contractions, 90 seconds long and less than 2 minutes apart) I suddenly felt the need to push between around 11:10 and 11:20? I wasn't really in any condition to watch the clock. They tried to check me (they thought I was at an 8) but Samuel still was dodging being checked LOL. They called the doctor, who got there quickly. I honestly didn't trust anyone in the room besides Tom to deliver the baby and it is extremely difficult not to push when the urge is that strong... so I was on my side with Tom holding me and rubbing my back and well, making sure people knew I needed to push lol. Doctor got there, things were ready quickly, (though not quickly enough to me) and after two pushes Samuel was born. He got 9s on his apgars, it was neat, Tom got to cut the cord for the first time, and doctor handed me Samuel immediately after he was crying, it was so wonderful. Every doctor does things differently, and believe me, we know what we have liked and not liked.
Afterpains are incredibly painful, 6th time around I knew to expect it lol. No tearing, no epsiotomy, but I think that's because I was really paying attention while pushing and not pushing when they told me not to... like delivering shoulders and stuff like that. The worst obvious thing when you look at me are the IV bruises... they had a lot of trouble with those.
![[Roll Eyes]](http://www.parenthoodplace.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif)
He seems really tiny compared to Emilie, Joseph, and Nathanael, and has tiny little feet! (remember, Nat's were HUGE, still are lol, they were the first thing I noticed about him when he was born).
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