The Birth Story of Audrie Kate Nehls

The birth story really started 10 tens days before the actual birth. For those of you reading this blog, you already know about most of those 10 days, but I will give a short recap. I was put in the hospital on bed rest on July 23 because my doctor found high levels of protein in my urine. The next day I was diagnosed with mild pre-eclampsia. Then they tested my blood sugars because Audrie was so big, and then I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Then the next day my doctor had me tested for an infection, which I had of course...so I had many things going against me when just a week before my pregnancy was "normal" or so we thought. 

Thursday, July 30, we had a sonogram with a high-risk doctor. He looked at my amniotic fluid and said it was at an 8.7 and anything below an 8 is dangerous. He said I would have another sonogram the next Monday and if my fluid levels dropped they might consider inducing or a c-section. Well, Sunday night (Aug 2) I was eating my chicken strips waiting on GT to come visit, and a nurse came into my room and said the high-risk doctor came in early since he had so many patients to see and he wanted to see me right then. So, I put down my chicken strips, put on my slippers and went down the hall. He checked my fluid and said it was between 6 and 7. He said he would call my doc and see if she wanted to induce me that night or observe me through-out the night. Well, my doc choose to have me observed overnight. That means we were put in this tiny tiny room with a bed and a chair. I was hooked up to an IV and had a external fetal monitor hooked up to my belly all night. This was one of the worst experiences of this whole ordeal. They could only get a good heartbeat when I was on my back. Well, being on your back is one of the most uncomfortable positions for a pregnant woman especially when it is 2 am and you just want to sleep. So every 15 minutes the nurse would come in and have to move the monitor. Then every time  I had to use the restroom they had to unhook my monitors and carry the iv pole to the bathroom...AH! It was verrryy frustrating. So, I slept about 2 hours total that whole night.

The next morning, Monday, August 3. A nurse came and got us for a sonogram at 7:30 am. My levels had dropped to under 6. The high-risk doctor said this meant that my placenta was sick and the only way to make it better is to have the baby. Then my doc and the high-risk doc were contemplating whether I could be induced or if I would need a c-section. The high-risk doc said that women with pre-eclampsia have difficult labors and usually end up with a c-section anyway. So they decided that my doc would check me to see if I had any progression and if I didnt then we would have to do a c-section. Doc checked me and I was dilated  between 2-3 cm and I was 70% effaced. WOOHOO! 

So it all begins. I was brought into a Labor & Delivery room. My doc came in and broke my water (what little water there was), then she put in an internal fetal monitor (which I did not know that is what she was doing, but I didnt have a choice) and a catheter. The nurse came in around 8:30 am and hooked me up to pitocin and magnesium sulfate. The "mag" was given to me for the pre-eclampsia. The issue is they usually give "mag" to patients who go into pre-term labor to stop contractions. So here I am on medicine (pitocin) to make contractions stronger and on "mag" which causes them to slow down. We all thought I would be in labor for a long time. My doc told me that I had to have an epidural for two reasons: 1) to keep my blood pressure down during labor and 2) if I had to have a c-section, she wanted me to be awake and without the epidural they would have to put me completely to sleep. SO about 10:30 am the CRNA came in a gave me the epidural. I am not going to lie, at this point I was ready for the epidural. I was strapped to the bed with tubes in all parts of my body. My water had been broke and I was on pitocin. I was already experiencing pretty bad contractions and was relieved to get the epidural. 

At around 11 am the nurse checked me and I was 5 cm dilated and my cervix was completely thinned out. The doc came and checked me on her lunch break. She said the same thing, and asked me not to have the baby until 5 (she acted like she was kidding but I know she wasnt). At 3:00 pm, the nurse came in and I told her that I felt like I was ready to push so she checked me a sure enough I was completely dilated and effaced, the baby was at 0 station. The doc wanted me to be in labor a little longer before pushing to see if Audrie would move down some (or because she wanted to see her other patients first). So at 3:30, we began pushing. Even though I had the epidural, this is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. It started out rather easy. It was GT and my mom on either side of me, my nurse and a nurse assistant. Then doc came in around 4:15...and like 3 other nurses came in with her and the really hard pushing started. I was trying to relax and do deep breathing in between pushes and the nurses and doc where just chatting away about anything and everything. There was one annoying nurse in there that kept saying "push, push, push, push" during each contraction. I wanted to hit her, but I got her back later by throwing up all of her. So...then at 5:46, I did a few good pushes and Audrie was here. And like I said, I puked everywhere. 

GT told me that the doc was pulling my placenta out. I am glad I didnt know this because it would have made me very mad. I was trying to look at Audrie as she was getting cleaned off and everything else. The doc then told me I had a 3rd degree tear but she wouldnt tell me how many stitches she put in me.

After about 15 minutes (which felt like 10 hours), they handed Audrie to me. Honestly, I was so tired and overwhelmed, I didnt know what to think or how to feel. I just kept thinking, I cant believe I just gave birth! 

Everything was healthy with mama and baby after the birth! We have had some difficulties feeding...We thought it was due to my milk not coming in quick enough, but it is actually because Audrie is 4 weeks early so her development is behind a month. So, we are having to make some adjustments and feeding time can be very stressful. I know it is worth it and it will get easier. 

I could not have imagined how wonderful it is to be a mom. I already have this overwhelming feeling to protect her and not wanting her to grow up--and she is 5 days old! GT has been so awesome through all of this. He is up with me helping feed and doing whatever needs to be done. He is so amazing, I dont know what I would do without him. He is also the only way I could have made it pushing during labor. I was ready to give up, but GT kept me going...Audrie is one lucky girl to have such an awesome daddy!!!!!!!!

So here we are at day 5. We are exhausted and I have been crying alot. But they arent sad tears, and sometimes I dont even know why I am crying, but it feels good to get it out. Yesterday, we met with a lactation nurse. Audrie weighed 7 lbs 10 oz, so we switched formulas and are giving her more now. We have this little contraption we use when feeding where she still breast feeds but also get formula. We go back Tuesday to get her PKU done and she will have another weigh-in. Hopefully, she will have gained some of that weight back. 

That is about it for now. Tonight is GT and I's first night home alone with her. My mom has been here since Wednesday helping us out. Of course, I cried for like 2 hours when she left. I think we will be going to stay with her next week some. We will see how things go....

She is here!!!!!

If you havent already heard Audrie Kate was born Monday, August 3. She weighed 8 lbs 7 oz and was 20 inches long! When I have time, I am going to write out the whole birth story, hope to do it soon so I dont forget anything! 

Here are a few pics that will have to do for now...hopefully soon we will be on a routine...but right now, we are pretty tired and having some feeding issues that keep things exciting around here!

We Are Having a Giant!

Today we met with another high-risk doctor. They come to this hospital on Mondays and Thursdays, they switch out each time. So we had a new one today, Dr. Magee, I believe. I really liked him. He told GT that at week 4 when Audrie smiles at him, she will have him wrapped around his finger, HAHA! I know it! GT has no idea yet! 

Anyway, so his weight estimate today is that Audrie weighs 8 lbs 12 oz. He told us that they are usually off a pound either way. We are hoping it is the under a pound way. I cant imagine her being 9 lb 12 oz-that would be nutso. So I think him and my doc are considering me starting insulin tomorrow since my blood sugars arent exactly where we want them to keep Audrie from gaining weight so rapidly.

So my question is...She is so BIG-why cant we take her out now???? Well the main answer is lung development. Babies whose mama's have the GD, usually have poor lung development. The test they use to determine lung development is amniocentesis. Basically they take some of the amniotic fluid and test it--somehow they can tell. Well, of course we have a complication with that. My fluid level is at an 8. When I gets below an 8, they take the baby. AND the amniotic fluid in the uterus is under my belly, so it is really low and the doc would have to go through my hip to get it, which he said would be extremely painful and I would not like him for it. 

Im not going to lie- I am ready to get her out :)  However, I understand why we are keeping her in. My biggest concern is that she continues growing and gets too big where my doc feels a C-Section is necessary. Why would that happen? Well, I am glad you asked. Doctors biggest concern with a large baby (macrosomia) is shoulder dystocia. This is when they babies head comes out but the shoulders do not. This is extremely dangerous. It only happens in 1% of births and it does not happen all the time with a baby that has macrosomia. There are alot of factors involved including the woman's pelvis, the size of the babies shoulders, etc... So what does a doctor do if shoulder dystocia happens? The doctor can do a few maneuvers to try to ease the babies shoulders between the pelvis bones---2 worst case scenarios: they have to break the babies arm and pull him/her out or push the baby back into the uterus and perform a C-Section (verrrryyyy dangerous)! So, this is something that could be an issue, but again only happens in 1% of birth. Plenty of women give birth to big babies, but it is my first baby and I have no idea how my pelvis is spreading or not spreading...I will ask my doctor how we check and when we begin checking those things.

I still am holding on to a little hope that we will be able to give birth naturally. Depending on if my doctor will allow me to be induced or not. The reason we wouldnt be able to do it naturally is if during labor my blood pressure spikes, then doc will want to give me an epidural to make it go down. I was talking with my night nurse about this issue...she told me that what happens is usually when I woman experiences pain then her blood pressure will go up. SO if me and GT are able to practice our relaxation techniques and I am able to work with the pain and not get tense and continue abdominal breathing then maybe we can keep the BP down and have her naturally. Another good thing is that shoulder dystocia is less likely to happen if I am pushing in a squatting or hands and knees position. Well, a woman cannot get in those positions if she has had an epidural. I will be bringing that to my doctor's attention...

To conclude things, please do not think that we do not have Audrie's best interest in mind. We certainly do, but just because I have these complications does not mean we forget all we have learned. We still strongly believe that natural child birth is the best option for us at this point. We have done alot of work researching and studying things to help with the child birth. We arent just saying we are doing it naturally and leaving it at that. However, we do value our docs opinion and respect her medical knowledge. We would prefer to do it naturally and will keep hoping for it, even though we know it might not happen. 

Debbie Downer...

Well since yesterday, I started on an antibiotic for an infection I have. The medicine makes me sick. I looked it up on the internet, it is not a class B med, and it is not FDA approved for pregnant women. They have studied it in lab rats and they got cancer. So it is not confirmed but they think the medicine when taken during pregnancy could lead to child hood cancer for the baby or cancer later in life. Wonderful. I guess ignorance really is bliss. But then when I say something to my doc, its like well we cant keep you having the infection it could hurt the baby. So what do you do? I dont feel like I have a choice. Prior to coming into the hospital I was taking NO medication, not even my prenatal pill (opps.) Now I am taking like 5 pills a day! Pre-natal pill, iron pill, antibiotic, stool softner and something else for heart burn. Although, I told my doc I wanted to continue taking tums so I could just take it when I had really bad heart burn, but no, I must be on some sort of prescription heart burn pill and take it everyday :(

So, the doc came by this morning. I asked if GT and I could do some things we learned to prepare for labor right now. She said no, because it could induce my labor. Then she said she would not begin to check my progress until we know when we want labor to start. I asked her if we were still planning on inducing at 37 weeks. She said she didnt know, that the high-risk doctors I see will help determine that. It discouraged me a little because I am a planner and I dont like to not know. And  I dont like to think that I might be here under bed rest for longer than 2 weeks. I know it will be what is best for Audrie so I will get through it. 

THEN the nurse came in and said when they tested my urine it showed a +2 of protein, so I have to do another 24 hour urine catch. Fun times. I think I am most frustrated because I am trying really hard. I am sticking to the diet (I dont really have a choice) and I am staying in bed (again really no choice)...but I am doing everything I have been ordered to do, and my blood pressure is still high, they are still finding protein in my urine and my sugar levels arent were my doctor wants them. I guess I just feel kind of helpless...I do know that this is what is best. and hopefully once it is all over and I am holding Audrie, I will forget about all of this! Especially since GT and I want 4 kids! 

Thanks for all the thought and prayers! We are so blessed. 

Busy Day at the Hospital

So I am not sure how it happens, but this morning has been so busy, I am just now getting to blog. How can you be busy on bedrest?????

SO last night went well. It was my first night to spend by myself, and I loved it! I really enjoyed my mom being here, but she snores and so does GT! I tried ear plugs, but they hurt my ears, so anyway, I am glad to get so much needed rest. 

Early this morning we met with the perinatologist, Dr. Payne. He did a sonogram on little Audrie. He estimates she is 7 lbs 9 oz, which is alot better than 8 lbs 4 oz! So I am guessing she will be at ab 9 lbs when born. He got a view of the top of her head but thats all he could see because her head is already really low in the birth canal. She will def. have a cone head for a few days after birth! I asked the doc about her head being so low, he said "She is on the runway!" I thought that was humorous. They are putting her sonograms on DVD, but I cant do anything until they finalize the dvd, which they wont do until all my sono's are done, but when it is I will try to post it. You cant see her face or anything since her head is so low in the canal, but I still find it interesting to look at. 

So thats the excitement of today. We had some visitors yesterday which makes time go by so much faster! And they brought coloring books and crossword puzzles which I am very grateful for! :)  I sent GT home today to clean house and I am actually enjoying being by myself for a few hours--maybe now I can get my thank you notes from my baby showers written! It is about time!

I met with the dietician an hour ago (not really my fav person although she was extremely sweet). Lydia and diets are not friends. She kept talking about my diet when I go home. I dont think I am still going to have diabetes when I go home???? Unless my doc lets me go home before Audrie is born, but I dont think she is. Either way, GT and I have already committed to eating better and exercising more- we have a baby to think of now, and we need to be healthy! but I am not calling a diet or I wont do it! :)

Thats all for now! I am going to write thank you notes and color. My bestfriend, Jessica is coming today to stay with me for awhile, I am looking forward to that---she doesnt snore!

 

A BIG baby!

Yesterday was pretty uneventful. Blood pressure kept going up and down, but not too high. Getting used to the diabetic diet is pretty tough. I am constantly hungry, but I lost 3 pounds since yesterday. I think it is all fluid- but hey, 3 pounds is good! My sugar is getting alot better so they think they will be able to control the diabetes with diet alone and not have to give me insulin. 

The nurses here are so great. I had a new one this morning and I told her they think Audrie is 8 pounds, she said " I heard, she is already 8 pounds 4 ounces." Well, I didnt know about the 4 ounces, but I think its funny. Like I am a crazy medical marvel because I have a 8 lb 4 oz baby at 34 weeks, well today 35. I guess all the maternity nurses know about me and Audrie. GT and I would be the ones to have an extremely large baby. I am ok with it, a little sad, because she has some really cute newborn outfits that she wont be able to fit in to. :( 

So the newest medical update. They found lukocytes in my urine this morning. It could be sign of infection. T he nurse did a catheter (just a temp. one), then she did a swab and my Group B test. She said it could be bladder infection or other type of infection. I am like, "just add it to the list". Sometimes I feel like they are just finding things, but then at the same time, I am glad to be here, if I wasnt maybe no one would have found it and infections in that area can be dangerous to the baby. Who knows. I am sure my health insurance loves it... 

I will update later when I get the results. If you cant tell, I am already extremely bored out of my mind and I still have atleast 2 weeks! AH! 

More bad news...wa..wa...

To start out with the good news, my new room is so much bigger! This end of the hall is quieter and the room seems darker. So that all means more sleep! Thank you Jesus! 

Yesterday when they tested my urine, I had high levels of glucose so my doc ordered blood sugar testing after every meal. After lunch my sugar was 165 then after dinner it was 151. They took it again first thing this morning after not eating anything..it was 118, i got really excited since it was so low, then the doc told me it was supposed to be under 80 first thing in the morning...boo...So she officially diagnosed me as having gestational diabetes. That makes a little sense to the reason why Audrie is already so BIG! Doc said Monday a "high-risk" doctor will do another sonogram on me and get a more accurate reading to see how big she is and to see if there is any fluid around her kidneys, which happens sometimes the doc says. 

I feel alot better today. I got up took a shower, washed my hair and actually put on make-up! I have a feeling though when they come test my blood pressure it will not be good...  :(  but at least I will look pretty and feel pretty :)  

I am sure there will be more updates to come. And just so you know, when they put you on a diabetic diet in the hospital, it is NO fun! Especially when your preggo and hungry all the time. BUT I am doing this for a good cause and we want to make sure Audrie is healthy! After she is born, I am eating a snickers! :)