Nathan's Birth Story

36 weeks

We're ready!  (Well, almost ready...let's have Dad and Jake come home from their trip up north first.)  I washed up the little guy's take home outfit (one long sleeve, one short...who knows if it will be 50 or 80 degrees), bought a box of diapers and wipes (I forgot how small those newborn diapers are!), cleaned the house, have narrowed his name down to two (we'll meet him first and then decide), organized drawers and cabinets, planned meals for the week, went to a movie with Sarah, am halfway through a book, and have been getting really good sleep.  Whew.  It is going to be a long time before I can say I can do all those things in a weekend.  :)

I have been feeling good (so thankful for the medication that helps) and the little guy has been proving to be a rock star at his twice weekly appointments.  He is definitely very low and I have been having quite a few contractions now and again so I am hopeful that he won't need much coaxing to come out and meet us next week.  I've got a lot of people praying for an efficient, manageable, and safe delivery so if you are so inclined to join the group it is much appreciated!

Right now we are scheduled to check in Monday morning (June 6) around 7:30 am and the good news is we are delivering here in Hastings!  My regular doctor, although back from maternity leave, happens to be off that week.  She has assigned me to another doc who I like to refer to as "the absent-minded professor".  I've only met her once (Scott has yet to meet her) but she has been doing this a long time and I have complete confidence in her.    

All reports from Bemidji are great - Jake is having a blast with Grandma and Cindy and we'll get the fishing report upon Scott's return from Canada.  Thanks for checking in!

35 weeks

Two weeks and counting!  This picture was taken upon me returning home from my doctor appointment where they scheduled my induction for Monday, June 6th.  Notice the fake smile?  I am still trying to wrap my head around this whole process.  Obviously inductions are very common...heck, now days people schedule them to coordinate with vacations or big events.  For me personally, it makes me anxious.  But hey, as long as baby is safe and sound that is all that matters.  I kind of need to quit being a wuss, right?  :)

Now, back to that "Things I have to do in less than 2 weeks!" list.

Sweet Pea

34 weeks

Once again the little man has passed his BPP (Biophysical Profile) with flying colors.  My appointment didn't take very long because the tech got all of the measurements she needed right away.  I will have a consult with the doctor a week from today.  I suspect he/she will want another bile level test done.  The good news is that in comparison to other cholestasis cases, my bile levels are relatively low right now and hopefully they will stay that way.  The odd news is that after asking the nurse about this disorder and how common it is, she told me that she doesn't see cases of this often, but in the last two weeks there have been 4 or 5 moms with cases of it.  I would really like to do a research study.  Let me rephrase that - I would like someone else to do a research study. 

I am amazed by this ultrasound technology and although I still think these 3-D images are a bit strange, it is kind of neat to get a sneak peak of our little guy.  With the amount of appointments I have over the next three weeks this baby is going to have a photo book filled before he is actually born.  We obviously want baby to hang out as close to full term as he can (as long as he is safe) but no matter when they decide to induce, we are very excited to have him in our arms.  Now, we just need to figure out what we are going to name him.

Pregnancy update

The test results are in and the doctor has diagnosed cholestasis.  From the American Pregnancy Association website:  "Cholestasis of pregnancy is a condition in which the normal flow of bile in the gallbladder is affected by the high amounts of pregnancy hormones. Cholestasis is more common in the last trimester of pregnancy when hormones are at their peak, but it usually goes away within a few days after delivery."  

I have transferred my care to the specialists and for the next few weeks will spend two days a week in Woodbury doing a biophysical profile on baby.  This includes an ultrasound checking amniotic fluid, his movements, tone, and practice breathing.  Then they monitor his heart rate for 20-40 minutes.  As long as baby is happy I will go until about week 37 (around the first week of June) and do an amniocentesis to check the amniotic fluid to make sure baby's lungs are mature.  As soon as he is ready to breathe on his own they will induce labor.  I will be delivering at United in St. Paul.

I am not sleeping well and the itching is maddening.  Hopefully the medication they prescribed will help a bit.  This is definitely not the "short labor and water birth" that I had hoped for.  With Jacob my water broke at home, we labored with our doula, headed to the hospital, and within a total of eight hours and no drugs, Jacob was here safe and sound.  The process over the next few weeks is going to be a bit more challenging on many different levels but we are so thankful that they are keeping a close eye on him.  I have a high school friend that has dealt with this with two of her pregnancies and she was blessed with two healthy babies.  It was reassuring corresponding with her and nice to have someone empathize with the crazy symptoms.

That is the latest from here.  My first appointment is on Friday and away we go.  Baby will be here before we know it!

Thanks for checking in and now I shall attempt a nap.

33 weeks

The countdown is on!  Especially due to some new developments in the last few weeks.  I started noticing some strange itching on the palms of my hands and soles of my feet.  This irritating type of itching would seem to come and go, but I couldn't relieve it with lotion or scratching.  It then moved on to my arms, ankles, legs, shoulders...you name it.  When it didn't improve I had a blood test to check my liver function levels.  My doctor suggested that I see a specialist so off to the specialist we went.  My liver tests came back elevated, but not so high that he was overly concerned.  This week we will get back the results of my bile acid tests to see if we are dealing with a case of Cholestasis.  If that is the case, there is medication which he can prescribe and most likely I will be induced around 37 weeks.  If it isn't the case, I hope he has some other great suggestions (he recommended Benadryl and Hydro-cortisone cream) because I already have sleep deprivation due to waking up with this horrible itching.  It seems to be worse first thing in the morning and at night, but if you can imagine a bunch of No-See-Ums (you know...those tiny little black bugs that bite) biting you from the inside out, well then you can imagine why I can't sleep well.  This, along with heartburn, and limited bladder capabilities...well let's just say I am ready to get little man here safe and sound so I can move on to sleep deprivation from nursing throughout the night.    

The good news is that baby is very healthy.  They did a series of tests including checking all of his measurements (he is measuring 4 days ahead of schedule and has a large head...surprise, surprise), amniotic fluid, practice breathing and then monitored his heart rate for 20 minutes.  He tolerated a contraction perfectly well.  We also walked away with our first ever 3-D ultrasound photograph.  The ultrasound tech told us he already has hair and it seems to me his chin structure looks exactly like Jacob's. 

We'll keep you posted and in the meantime, we appreciate your prayers for baby's continued good health and safe delivery, and some sound answers and relief for mama. 

Thanks for checking in!

Before and After

Jake's old room...

with toddler bed.

Jake's new room...with giant bed

and his own handmade wall art (with the help of Dad of course).

Former guest room

with the bed that Jacob now sleeps in.  Our guests now sleep in a tent in the living room.

New nursery...

for new baby boy coming in June.

Wall decor from talented Etsy artists.

30 weeks

10 weeks to go!

My sweet Jacob.

Mom, now can I have a cookie?  (Every now and again I bribe my child with a treat so that he will do things that I want him to do...like pose for pictures.)

I can use my muscles to help you hold up baby brother.

Um, Mom, I can't fit all the way around.  P.S.  This is the 3rd time in his life that he has worn jeans.  The first was at 5 months, the second was yesterday and today was the third.  

June babies

This is taken of my friend Kris and me way back in November...just a couple of months along.  Our due dates are 4 days apart. 

Don't mind us...look at those great windows!

Kris doesn't know if she is having a boy or girl.  Any guesses?

28 weeks

Hello month seven!  I think I have officially gone from feeling like I have a cute baby bump to feeling like I have an over sized basketball shoved in my stomach.  And you know how firm a basketball is?  That is almost how firm my belly is.  It doesn't make for an easy time doing laundry, picking up toys, or reading books to Jacob (he now has to sit next to me).  And you should see me in yoga.  Now that is a sight.

Overall I am feeling pretty good - but all of my friends with more than one kid were right.  It is so different (and a lot more work being pregnant) when you have another one.  I remember sleeping like a princess right up until the last couple of weeks before Jacob was born.  I was in great shape and could actually get full workouts in.  Now I am already finding myself in the recliner in the middle of the night and sucking wind going up a set of stairs.  And regular heartburn.  Awesome.   

But all complaining aside, the little guy is healthy and strong and we are so thankful for him and excited for June.  He has his kicks now and again but this one really likes to stretch out.  The nursery is almost finished.  This has been a fun project for me because I didn't really get to do a nursery for Jake since we knew going to be in Rochester for such a short time. 

The only thing I am stressed about at this point is what we are going to name him.  Today Jacob asked me what his baby's name was going to be.  We just don't know.

Speaking of Jacob, he got a haircut today and whenever he gets a haircut he looks older.  He's doing great in his new big bed - once he finally gets to sleep anyway.  The bedtime routine has become such a fiasco.  Stalling and not staying in bed.  I don't know if it is daylight savings, his new room, little brother on the way, or what...but for the moment, bedtime for this 3 year old is quite the challenge. 

I will leave you with a couple of pictures of Jake fresh out of the bath.  And I am off to get my Tums. 

6 month baby hippo

Time is flying by...we're heading into our 6th month and we're excited, confounded and terrified all at the same time.  Scott is excited about the days of sanity friendly hormone levels that lie ahead (for Nikki's sake of course), Jacob is trying to figure out how the brother of his is going to get out and what he's going to eat, and Nikki is starting to count down the days to her summer of sleep deprivation.  Seriously though, we're all doing great and looking forward to the arrival of #2. 

24 weeks

circa 25 weeks with Jacob

Somebody already loves his little brother

It...

Here's Baby!

When I go in for these appointments I can't help but think of the Friends episode where Rachel is looking at her ultrasound and can't see the baby.  Some of the views like the profile are obvious, but I have to laugh when I am looking at what I see as a blob and the tech knows exactly what she is looking at.   Although the ultrasound tech doesn't go over specifics, she assured me the heart is healthy and arms/legs/fingers/toes are all in tact.  Unfortunately for her, the little one wouldn't stop moving.  We were the 8th ultrasound of what I gathered to be a very long day and by her deep breaths she had to dig deep to find the patience to wait for our little one to cooperate to get the measurements needed.  She finally got them though and we got our first out-of-focus glimpse of the handsome little man / beautiful little girl.

If I had to place a bet on the sex based on early pregnancy I would guess a girl given it was quite different from Jacob, but after seeing this profile and comparing it to Jacob's ultrasound picture I'd put money on a boy.  It remains a mystery though and if you planning on making a blanket (ahem, Mom) go with yellow. 

5 month baby bump

6 pack and a pound

20 weeks

Baby bump...then and now

Circa week 19 with Jacob.

Week 16 with Baby #2.  Showing much sooner this time around! 

3 month baby bump

195 days to go!  Although I am definitely still tired, I have finally mustered up some energy to get to the gym a couple of times in the last week.  Pathetic, really.  Especially when I think about how great of shape I was in when I got pregnant with Jacob.  But back then, I wasn't a full-time mommy and Scott and I did whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted, all of the time.  He he.  Those were the days.  But here's the bright side...when everyone is watching their diet and making New Year's resolutions to lose weight...I will plan on continuing to gain weight.  Hooray!  More leftover Christmas cookies for me!  Just kidding.  Sort of.  

Morning / evening sickness has dissipated and although I wouldn't call it severe...it was definitely noticeable.  Small meals throughout the day make me most happy...particularly grapefruit and cereal. 

We keep going back and forth as to whether or not we will find out the sex of this baby.  We found out with Jacob and decided on his name even before he was born.  We may change things up a bit this time around and hold out for the surprise.  I can tell you this though...it will definitely be a boy or a girl.

A sweet sweet sound...

that I heard today was Baby #2's beating heart.  My doc (and I absolutely love her by the way) found it right away...beating strong and moving around a lot.   It always makes it feel that much more real.  Baby (we're going to have to come up with a more creative name than Baby #2) is due at the end of June.  It seems like a long time from now with all of this snow on the ground, doesn't it?  So there it is.  It's official.  Let the baby bump begin.