Monday, September 20, 2010

New blog

Hey everyone! 
Now that Kynlee has arrived I have created a new blog, Keeping up with Kynlee, to continue sharing our journey through parenthood for the first time! It is still a work in progress so bare with me! 
 Head on over here to continue following our story!


Keeping up with Kynlee

Friday, September 17, 2010

Kynlee's Arrival

Remember where I left off with this post

Well after waiting forever for the results of my urine test on Thursday afternoon (Aug. 26th), I finally got them around 6:30 p.m. (I had been expecting them around 3 p.m.). My doctor came in and I immediately said, "Can I PLEASE go home?" I was literally begging. I had already planned in my mind to go straight home and take a shower. The next words out of her mouth are ones I will never forget. She replied, "Absolutely not! It's time."

Turns out that my urine contained too much protein and therefore, with my BP problems, it was looking like pre-eclampsia. Still, I pleaded with her to let me go home to shower, get a few more things, and then come back. She said no. I think I was looking for any excuse to leave the hospital because I wasn't ready. Even though I had been begging for Kynlee to come and joking with the doctor about inducing, I truly did not want to induce. Nevertheless, that's what happened.
The nurse let me take a shower at the hospital and then the induction began around 10:00 p.m. that night. Luke and I settled in for the night as best as possible because we knew that this was going to be a long process. Around 6:00 a.m. Friday morning, the doctor came in to break my water. (By this time, MY doctor had gone home... but thankfully the doctor who was on-call that weekend was the other female doc in the office...I really like her, too... and I was so grateful that it was her and not doctor male).  
Speaking of breaking the water... what a gross & painful process!

After the doctor broke my water I was 3 cm dilated but Kynlee was still high and had not dropped. The contractions were becoming more frequent and more intense. I waited about an hour and then received my epidural. I wasn't sure what to expect when it came to the epidural going in, but it wasn't bad at all. The only thing that hurt was the initial numbing medication going in and after that it was a breeze. From this point on I didn't really notice my contractions unless I was watching the monitor. Occasionally I could feel them but it wasn't too bad.

The nurse continued to check my cervix for progress every couple of hours or so but there was no change throughout the day. By 3:00 p.m. (9 hours later) I was still at 3cm (possibly 3.5 cm, she said...haha). The doctor was the one who checked me that time (instead of the nurse) and she said that my cervix was still very high and that she did not see me being able to deliver vaginally.

Ok, let me pause right there and explain something. 

Prior to being in actual labor, I wanted to deliver vaginally (and still wish I'd been able to...). Of course I always knew that there was a possibility of a C-section but I never thought that much into it. I just knew I'd be able to deliver vaginally. Wrong.

With that being said, I CHOSE to have the C-section that afternoon. It was not an emergency C-section at that point. For someone who was so adamant about delivering vaginally, I was quick to change my mind, huh? After waiting so long to meet Kynlee, I was ready. The doctor said that we could wait a few more hours and just SEE if there was more progress & that she wasn't concerned with me only being at 3cm after so long.... she just didn't think I'd deliver vaginally because of how high Kynlee still was. She said she was about 90-something% sure that I would end up having a C-section.

Well, that was all I needed to hear. If the doctor was almost certain that Kynlee would be born via C-section anyway, then there was no point in waiting around a few more hours. The doctor and nurse left the room and gave my hubby and family a chance to talk about it. After some discussion we decided to go ahead with the surgery. The nurse and doctor came back in a few minutes later and we told them that we were ready to have the baby!

Then the hustle and bustle began. Luke was given scrubs to put on and they put socks on me, a hair cap, & laid a heavy robe over me. The anesthesiologist was called in to put more medicine through my epidural line and he stayed with me during the entire procedure. They wheeled my hospital bed out of the room and down the hall to the operating room. Luke had to wait in the hall until I was fully prepped and then they let him come in. By the time he was allowed in I was already cut open. I couldn't feel much of anything except some pressure. I began to get extremely nauseous so the anesthesiologist administered some nausea meds into my line and I quickly felt better. Soon after I felt some REALLY bad pressure that was very uncomfortable and Luke informed me that her head was out! A few seconds later I felt even more intense pressure and then her whole body was out! The C-section did not take long at all.

There were sooo many people in the operating room...nurses, doctors, etc. 
They began stitching/stapling me up and after showing Kynlee to me, they began to clean her up, also. Once she was cleaned up, the anesthesiologist took some family pics of us. He was so nice and talked to me throughout the whole operation to make sure I was okay. He was definitely a blessing that day! I went into the recovery room for about 20 minutes but Luke was able to take Kynlee to the nursery to be weighed & bathed. Of course all the fam was waiting in the hall for him to bring her by :).

There is another story that I need/want to share about her birth day, but this post is already wayyy long so I will make another post for it [eventually].

Kynlee's stats:

Born August 27, 2010 at 4:20 P.M.
6 pounds, 12.5 ounces
19 inches long

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Colic


Hey everyone! I am still adjusting to motherhood and loving every second of it! I have a lot of catching up to do on the blog that will include the birth story and obviously a blog name-change since Kynlee is here now! I can't promise it will be done soon, but it will be done. :)

Special thanks to Lauren from Adventures in the Land of Little Choo Choos for being my guest blogger today! Her post below is about colic. Enjoy! 




When a new mom is pregnant with her first child, she often only envisions the joy that a baby will bring to her life.   She daydreams about sweet, innocent, snuggly babies.   I know that was how I was when I was pregnant with my daughter, Piper.  Unfortunately, life with my  Piper did not start out so sweet.

Hello, my name is Lauren.  And I survived colic.

My first warning should have been at the hospital.  The nurses would say things like "You have yourself a wild one!"  or "Wow, she really can scream, can she?"  Because I was breastfeeding, I was very adamant that Piper not receive a pacifier.  That changed before we left the hospital.  One of the nurses told me that the pacifier would not hurt her.  I could hear the pleading in her voice.  

Piper cried all the time.  It didn't help the situation that she had the loudest cry known to man.  Once, while shopping, Piper started screaming while in her stroller.  A woman actually ran out of the dressing room to see what had happened to the baby she was hearing.  She thought that someone had dropped their child.  Piper was fine, of course.  That was simply  /how she always sounded when she cried.

Having a baby that screamed all the time really added stress to not only my life, but my husband's life as well.  We would get snappy with each other and blame each other for her cries.  There were even a couple of times that I would cry with Piper because it seemed like I could do nothing to satisfy her.

Life went on like this for 3 months.  Finally, on July 4, 2008, she stopped screaming.  I remember it so clearly because we were going to a barbecue at a friend's house.  We knew that we would have to leave early, but we wanted to attempt to celebrate the Fourth.  We were surprised when Piper did not cry the entire day, except for when it was time to eat.  After that day, she only cried when any baby would.

I learned a few things from Piper about dealing with colic during that dark time.  These may not work on all babies, but they worked for us.
  • It isn't your fault that your baby is crying.  Sometimes, telling myself that I was not the reason she was crying was all I had to keep me from completely losing it.
  • It is okay to walk away from your baby if you have had too much.  There were times that I had to put Piper in her crib and leave the room so I could just breath.
  • A baby sling or wrap is often times the only way to keep a colicky baby happy.  You'll just have to trust me on this one.
  • Learn the airplane hold.  This position puts your arms under baby's tummy.  The pressure seemed to give Piper relief from whatever it was that was bothering her
  • No matter what anyone tells you, you cannot spoil a newborn by holding them too much. 
  • Remember, this too, shall pass.  Most babies only have colic for the first few months. Thankfully, this was true for us, too.
If you have any tips or suggestions, please share them.  The more information a person has who is dealing with a colicky baby, the better!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

I'm a MOMMY!

Hey everyone! Sorry it has been so long since I've updated. This update will be short but I just wanted to let you all know that Kynlee has arrived! She was born on August 27, 2010 at 4:20 p.m. She weighed 6 lbs, 12.5 ounces and was 19in. long. She has completely stolen my heart and there is no greater joy that I have than being her mom!

 
 
Birth story to come soon. I am adjusting to being a new mom and learning how to manage my time better but I hope to be back in the blogging world before long :). 


I will be having a guest blogger, Lauren, from Adventures in the Land of Little Choo Choos talking about colic in the next few days so be on the look out for that post!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Follow-Up Appointment

Follow-Up Appointment that sent me straight back to the hospital.

I'm going to try to make this long story short so bare with me!

This morning I went back to the OB for my follow-up appointment from my hospital visit on Monday afternoon/evening. My BP was still a little elevated but not drastic. I spent yesterday and this morning monitoring it myself at home and only one time that I took it was it in the normal range- all others were high. I also woke up with a headache and this has been my 3rd one in a week (Saturday, Monday, and today). The NP was very informative and seemed genuinely concerned. 

I was put on the fetal monitor for 20 minutes in the office. Kynlee was very active and had a great heartbeat the entire time (Praise the Lord)! The NP looked over my blood work from Monday's hospital visit and reassured me that those were fine. After my 20 minutes of fetal monitoring was completed, she came back in the room with some "not so good" news. After looking back at my chart and reports (since she wasn't involved in it on Monday) she noticed that there was a small amount of protein found in my urine. That, combined with the headaches and elevated BP, was enough to put me back in the hospital. You see, on Monday I should have had a 24-hour urine collection done but the [male] OB doctor sent me home without one.

So, here I am. Back in the hospital. Back to monitoring my BP. And now I'm collecting my urine for 24 hours to be tested tomorrow. Oh, and they just did more blood work so I should know those results in about an hour or so. Good news is that I am in an actual delivery room so it is much more spacious and a lot nicer than the other two "observation" rooms I've been in previously. 

The results of my urine test will determine when Kynlee will arrive. While I'd love to meet her as soon as possible, that is not my prayer. My prayer is that God's Will is done and she will come when she is ready-but if they do have to take her early that there will be no complications because of it.

I'll continue to update as I know more. And if you've read this far, thanks for staying with me! I apparently don't know how to make long stories short! ;)

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

OB appt. turned Hospital Visit

Yesterday I went to my 37 week OB appointment. I was expecting it to be pretty normal but that was hardly the case. After checking my blood pressure 3 different times on the digital monitor, and it being high every single time, they got out the manual monitor. It was high then, too. The past few visits prior to yesterday my BP has been high the first time they took it, but by the second time it was within normal range. That wasn't the case yesterday. It started to worry me a little because I have always had excellent BP... like right on to what it should be. 

(BTW, urine was fine- no protein found).
**Update: Apparently there WAS a small amount of protein found in my urine and I didn't find out til 2 days later.**

Next they took me back to a room and checked Kynlee's heartbeat- 143bpm. When the doc came in she measured my belly but I forgot to ask what I was measuring at. I'm sure I'm still measuring ahead, though, since that's been the case the entire pregnancy. She then checked my cervix since I've still been having a lot of cramping and pressure. I was (am?) still dilated to only 1 cm but she said my cervix has thinned more since last week.

I thought I might be leaking amniotic fluid so she checked for that, too. The speculum procedure was very uncomfortable and I'd even say painful--but I wanted to be sure there was plenty of fluid for Kynlee! An ultrasound after confirmed that she still has plenty to "swim" in. (Also confirmed that she is still a girl, lol).
After the ultrasound I was put into an observation-type room. They checked my BP an additional 4 times over the course of an hour while I was in there. It still wouldn't come down low enough to be in the normal range so doc had orders for me to go to the hospital to L&D for monitoring and blood work.

By this time, Luke was getting out of class so I waited a few minutes on him to meet me there before going on to L&D (my doc's office is literally right across the street from the hospital).

We got there, registered, and we were then sent to a very small room with no windows-- I was feeling very claustrophobic! They hooked me up to a BP monitor, a heart rate monitor for Kynlee, and another to check for contractions. The first two BP readings at the hospital were very high, but after that they seemed to settle down some- although still being considered high.

When my urine sample (second one of the day) came back, the doc said I was dehydrated and ordered some IV fluids. They also had to do the blood work so [luckily] I only got stuck once and she took the blood from the vein that the IV was going into.

About an hour later, the nurse came back in and said, "Good news! Your blood work came back fine and you can go home." Well, this WAS good news because I didn't want to stay overnight in the hospital. However, I had only had half of the bag of fluids and I was very annoyed that I had to have them in the first place. (I know, I know-- it's what they thought was best for the baby... but seems like I should have finished the bag off if it was that much of a concern. And if you know me then you know that I HATE IV's. Period.)

I also thought it was strange that my last BP check before I was discharged was still high, but I was allowed to go home anyway. (So what was the purpose of me being there in the first place?).

Bottom line- the nurses were wonderful. The on-call doctor last night was the male doctor in the practice that I do not like AT ALL. And you know what? He never, not ONCE, came into the room to see me or check on me yesterday. A 37+week pregnant woman with high BP and I don't even get to speak with the doctor? I mean is this normal?? (This is the same doc that would never call us back-after several attempts-when I had my kidney stones 5wks ago after I was discharged from hospital and needed to speak with the on-call doc). Ughh I swear I like him less and less as time goes on.

I go back tomorrow morning for a follow-up visit at my OB's office. I will be seeing one of the NP's, though, and not my doc. Please be in prayer that my BP comes down and that I won't have any more dealings with Dr. Male. I'll update when I know more!

My hospital visit at 32.5 weeks

*I've had this post partially written for several weeks now and I forgot to finish! *

So I just realized that I never did an update on my [first] hospital visit since I've been pregnant.
Here's the scoop:
July 21st was a normal day for me. I felt fine the entire day (other than the regular pregnancy woes) and nothing felt out of the ordinary. That night my hubby and I got into bed and I started watching some TV while he read a book.
All of a sudden I had a burning sensation "down there" and knew something wasn't right. I assumed I just had to use the bathroom so that's where I headed. Once I began to pee (or urinate-for those who prefer the politically correct terminology), there was no burning. Just as I was about to head back to bed, I collapsed. An excruciating pain, unlike anything I have ever felt before came over me. It started in the left side of my back and came around to the front, left side of my abdomen.
I called for my husband's help and he could tell by the tone of my voice that something was not right. He rushed and tried to help me. He decided to call my mom and see what she thought we needed to do. The hospital it was. I knew I needed to go to the hospital but I was in such excruciating pain I seriously didn't think I could make it without an ambulance.
I was finally able to throw on a bra while hubby packed a hospital bag.
After what seemed like a LONG ride to the hospital (although it was actually a speedy, quick ride...) we arrived. I was put into a wheelchair and rushed up to the OB floor. They checked my cervix when I got there and found out that I was 1 cm dilated but didn't think I was in labor.
 After several tests I find out that I was passing kidney stones. It was so painful and many say that it's the closest pain to childbirth. I ended up having to stay about 32 hours in the hospital for IV antibiotics and fluids. I was able to go home that Friday morning but remained in pain throughout the weekend and into the following week. It wasn't until I finished my round of antibiotics that they sent me home on that I started to feel better. So... yeah. I definitely have a new appreciation for people that have kidney stones!

*Next post: My [second] hospital visit during this pregnancy. Stay tuned.*





Monday, August 23, 2010

Monday Ramblings

Today I have another OB appointment after lunch. I am anxious to see if I am dilated/effaced anymore. I have been cramping so much and having contractions- so if I were to go in there and no progress has been made, I will definitely feel defeated. This is proving to be the hardest but yet most rewarding thing I have ever had to do.

The pressure is nearly too much to handle at times and getting out of bed- something that used to be a simple task- can now cause a flow of tears.

Of course I want Kynlee to come on her own terms...but I wouldn't mind if that time was now (or at least REALLY soon). I pray that when it is time for her arrival, her lungs are fully developed and she will not have any other problems.

I realize that many first-time moms end up going past their due date before delivering. I can not even think about this right now. The very thought makes me cringe. I don't know how I could make it that long with the way I am already feeling now.

That's it for now. I'll update after my appointment!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Frugal Friday

First off let me just say that I am SO excited about a recent purchase, hence having a special post just about it!

As a prior "Club O" member thru Overstock.com, I had the opportunity to accumulate points through purchases made on my card. After so many points, they would send me a $25 Gift Certificate to use on the website. I have acquired several of these gift cards but many I just put to the side "for a later date." This means that I ended up losing most of them. 
 However, today the hubs and I were cleaning out my car and getting ready to put Kynlee's carseat in (!!!) when I came across one of the gift certificates. I frantically searched the paperwork for an expiration date, expecting it to be expired by now, but still hoping that it hadn't. Down near the bottom in tiny print I see "Expires: December 10, 2010."

YES!!!

I was so excited that I went straight inside and logged onto Overstock.com to begin searching for something, anything to buy (for Kynlee, of course).

I have been trying to decide on a playmat for some tummy time so I started looking at those. I came across the one I actually registered for and was excited to see that it was only $26.49! This is about the same price as it is on other websites/stores, so it wouldn't have been that great of a deal, EXCEPT I had the $25.00 Gift Certificate to use! 
This is a picture of the Tummy Time Fun 'Lady Bug' Playmat:
For whatever reason, the shipping was FREE (although it's usually only $2.95 anyway-very reasonable, in my opinion) so after my gift certificate I ended up only paying $1.49 TOTAL!!! I'm not sure if tax was already included or not, but the $1.49 is all I had to pay!

And that concludes my Frugal Friday shopping adventure! :)




**Disclaimer: This is not a paid post. I received the $25.00 gift certificate for being a Club O member and had to make my own purchases in order to accumulate points for the gift certificate.**

37 Weeks

*Please note: this post is a day early. Tomorrow will be busy for us so I wanted to go ahead & post incase I don't have time to tomorrow. I will actually be 37 weeks tomorrow.*

I made it to 37 weeks! Ever since last week I have noticed that time is almost standing still. I know the last few weeks are just going to creep by. I go back to the doctor on Monday and I'm anxious to see if I have dilated any more. A good thing about being 37wks is that Kynlee is now considered full-term. Actually, anywhere from 37-40wks is full-term and her lungs should be mature enough now. Praise the Lord.:)

Below is the weekly babycenter.com update! 

Your pregnancy: 37 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, her lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)
Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard)...
 
Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.


How your life's changing:

Braxton Hicks contractions may be coming more frequently now and may last longer and be more uncomfortable. You might also notice an increase in vaginal discharge. If you see some "bloody show" (mucus tinged with a tiny amount of blood) in the toilet or in your undies, labor is probably a few days away — or less. (If you have heavier spotting or bleeding, call your caregiver immediately.) Also be sure to ask your caregiver about the results of your Group B strep culture. That way, if the result isn't yet on your chart when you get to the hospital or birth center, you'll be able to give the staff there a timely heads-up if you need antibiotics.

It may be harder than ever to get comfortable enough to sleep well at night. If you can, take it easy through the day — this may be your last chance to do so for quite a while. Keep monitoring your baby's movements, too, and let your caregiver know immediately if you notice a decrease. Though her quarters are getting cozy, she should still be as active as before.

While you're sleeping, you're likely to have some intense dreams. Anxiety both about labor and about becoming a parent can fuel a lot of strange flights of unconscious fancy.
 

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Guest Bloggers Wanted! :)

Hey y'all! 

As many of you know I will be giving birth in just a few short weeks! 
I am expecting to be MIA from the blog for a while and so I want to get some guest bloggers lined up for my readers!

I would love to have blog posts related to pregnancy, labor/delivery, breast-feeding, and postpartum.

If you have a story that you would like to share with my readers, please email me asap at wjordan1019@gmail.com!

Thanks so much!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

36 week appointment/birthday

So yesterday was my 23rd birthday. It was perfect! Luke brought me doughnuts for breakfast from my favorite hometown bakery, Mi-Lady Bakery. Yesterday afternoon we went to my OB appointment (update on that further down) and then went for a pedicure! It was much needed since I haven't had one since my sister's wedding back in June! The guy giving the pedicure massaged my legs/feet for the longest time. It was just what I needed!
 After the pedicure, Luke took me to eat at my favorite Japanese Steakhouse. We shared the Super Crunch Roll (deep fried sushi) and each ordered from the grill (which includes salad and soup). I had the chicken with fried rice and veggies. After the sushi, salad, and soup, I was stuffed so I got the rest of my food to-go.
We then came home for a little bit, let our food settle, and then headed to Walmart in a nearby town. I have gotten so aggravated with our own Walmart because they never have what I need (i.e. limited baby items, no nursing bras, etc.). I was very shocked that this Walmart had a bigger selection than our own, since it is a smaller town. I was able to find a nursing bra, some cotton lounge-style capris for the hospital/ride home, and various items for the baby! Hallelujah!
On our way back home we stopped by my parents' house and visited with them for a while. My granny, sister, and brother-in-law were also there. It was a great ending to a great day!

Tonight we are going out to eat with Luke's family to celebrate my birthday. I am looking forward to it!


36 Week Appt.:

Yesterday I had my 36 week OB appointment. My BP was still a little elevated, but not too bad. Kynlee's heartbeat was 132 bmp. This is the lowest it's ever been, but it's still considered normal I guess. It has always remained between 142-144 bmp or so. She is still measuring ahead...around 39 weeks.

I had to have my Group B Strep test done yesterday and that wasn't very fun but I survived!

Then, doctor A checked my cervix and she could feel Kynlee's head (this explains the intense vaginal pressure I've been feeling lately)! She also said I am dilated 1 cm and that I could go into labor any time now. WHOA!

My luck, I will end up going past my due date. I hope she arrives soon, though! :)

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Sunday Snack

Well for some reason I got the urge to make some ham rolls with cream cheese and parsley flakes this evening after supper! My husband and I are both big fans of ham rolls (him more so than me) and so this was a quick and easy snack to fix. I'm sure you all already know how to make them so I will spare you the step-by-step. Since this was MY first time actually making them [my mom makes them the best ;) ]... I wanted to share a picture.


They're not the prettiest things but I wasn't too concerned with presentation since it's just me and him eating them!


I also like ham rolls that have cream cheese & pineapple or cream cheese & chives. 
What's your favorite kind?

Saturday, August 14, 2010

SIDS

Y'all, I have a confession. 
I am completely terrified of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). 
I worry about it all the time. 
I realize this is our first child but I think I will worry about it with my other children as well (if God so decides to bless us with more). 

The reason for this post today is because I got an email earlier this morning relating to SIDS. Of course I became intrigued and opened it right away. 
Since this is something that is on my mind constantly, I wanted to share with my readers.

First, though, I want to share the following story:

It was a Sunday night in June 2007, in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey. Lisa DeMarco finished nursing 3-week-old Andrew and went to bed. At 10 p.m., her husband, Frank, tried to give Andrew a bottle of pumped breast milk, as had been their custom. But Andrew was uncharacteristically fussy and didn't take it until 1 a.m. On most nights, Frank would then place him in his bassinet in the master bedroom. But this evening, saddened by news that his grandmother had died and trying to calm the baby, Frank fell asleep on the couch holding Andrew against his chest.

The next thing anyone remembers, it was 5 a.m. Lisa ran down the stairs because Andrew hadn't woken up for his 4 a.m. meal. Frank was screaming that Andrew felt lifeless and cold. Lisa immediately began giving Andrew CPR and paramedics arrived within minutes, but it was too late: The baby was a victim of sudden infant death syndrome.

This story touched my heart deeply. I cannot imagine the heartache and grief those parents went through. Losing a child has to be the most horrible thing and something parents should never have to experience.

That being said, the email contained links with useful information about SIDS

Here's some quick info.:

What is it?

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexpected, sudden death of a child under age 1 in which an autopsy does not show an explainable cause of death.

    Increased risks/causes:
    • Babies who sleep on their stomachs
    • Babies who are around cigarette smoke while in the womb or after being born
    • Babies who sleep in the same bed as their parents
    • Babies who have soft bedding in the crib
    • Multiple birth babies (being a twin, triplet, etc.)
    • Premature babies
    • Babies who have a brother or sister who had SIDS
    • Mothers who smoke or use illegal drugs
    • Teen mothers
    • Short time period between pregnancies
    • Late or no prenatal care
    • Situations of poverty
    *SIDS is most likely to occur between 2 and 4 months of age, and 90% occur by 6 months of age. It occurs more often in winter months, with the peak in January. There is also a greater rate of SIDS among Native and African Americans.

    *SIDS affects boys more often than girls. While studies show that babies with the above risk factors are more likely to be affected, the impact or importance of each factor is not well-defined or understood.


    Other recommendations from SIDS experts:
    • Keep your baby in a smoke-free environment.
    • Breastfeed your baby, if possible -- breastfeeding reduces some upper respiratory infections that may influence the development of SIDS.
    • NEVER give honey to a child less than 1 year old -- honey in very young children may cause infant botulism, which may be associated with SIDS.

    Though there are no definite ways of prevention, there are several valid suggestions that can be found here


    Thanks to Google Health and Parents.com for the information! 
     

    36 weeks!

    I am 36 weeks pregnant today! Oh my! In about 4 weeks I will be holding my daughter... it is so surreal! Below is the weekly update from babycenter.com. Enjoy!

     

    Your pregnancy: 36 weeks

    How your baby's growing:

    Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon)...
    ...and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, that will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

    At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.


    How your life's changing:

    Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!

    You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes.

    Even if you're enjoying an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's best to avoid flying (or any travel far from home) during your final month because you can go into labor at any time. In fact, some airlines won't let women on board who are due to deliver within 30 days of the flight.


    Friday, August 13, 2010

    Surprising Facts: The Stages of Labor

    This is another post mainly for my own benefit, but I hope it will help some other first-time moms as well!

     

    Surprising Facts: The stages of labor


    For first-time moms, labor takes an average of 15 hours, though it's not uncommon to last more than 20. (For women who've previously had a vaginal birth, it takes eight hours, on average). (I was the second vaginal birth in my family and mom was in labor with me for over 24 hours...)
    The process of labor and birth is divided into three main stages. Here are the highlights on how childbirth progresses:

    First stage The first stage begins when you start having contractions that progressively dilate and efface your cervix and it ends when your cervix is fully dilated. This stage is divided into two phases, early and active labor.

    It can be tricky to determine exactly when early labor starts. That's because early labor contractions are sometimes hard to distinguish from the inefficient Braxton Hicks contractions that you may have been feeling for some time.

    Unless there are complications or your midwife or doctor has advised you otherwise, expect to sit out most of your early labor at home. (Be sure, though, to check in with your caregiver to make certain.)

    Early labor ends when your cervix is about 4 centimeters dilated and your progress starts to speed up. At this point, you enter what's known as the active phase of labor. Your contractions become more frequent, longer, and stronger.

    The last part of the active phase — when your cervix dilates from 8 to 10 centimeters — is called the transition period because it marks the transition to the second stage of labor. This is the most intense part of the first stage, with contractions that are usually very strong, coming about every two and a half to three minutes and lasting a minute or more.

    Second stage Once your cervix is fully dilated, the second stage of labor begins: the final descent and birth of your baby. This is the "pushing" stage of labor, and it can last anywhere from minutes to a few hours. (It's likely to be quicker if you've previously given birth vaginally.)

    Your baby's head will continue to advance with each push until it "crowns" — the term used to describe the time when the widest part of your baby's head is finally visible. After your baby's head comes out, your midwife or doctor will suction his mouth and nose, and feel around his neck for the umbilical cord. His head then turns to the side as his shoulders rotate inside the pelvis to get into position for their exit. With the next contraction, you'll be coached to push as his shoulders deliver, one at a time, followed by the rest of his body.

    You may feel a wide range of emotions now: euphoria, awe, pride, disbelief, excitement (to name a few), and, of course, intense relief that it's all over. Exhausted as you may be, you'll also probably feel a burst of energy, and any thoughts of sleep will vanish for the time being.
    Third stage The final stage of labor begins immediately after the birth of your baby and ends with the delivery of your placenta. The contractions in the third stage are relatively mild.


    Thursday, August 12, 2010

    I Believe...

    I Believe...


    ...that happiness is a choice. 

    ...in God's love.

    ...that everyone deserves a second chance, but not a third, fourth, & fifth.

    ...in forever.

    ...in the power of God's Word.

    ...in myself.

    ...that I will make mistakes when raising my daughter.

    ...those mistakes will help me grow as a mom.

    ...my husband is my soulmate.

    ...in forgiveness.

    ...experience is the best educator.

    ...in love and marriage.

    ...that best friends should be cherished.

    ...in the power of prayer.

    ...in miracles.

    ...that children are a blessing.

    ...in wishing on shooting stars.

    ...that this baby will forever change me. :)



    I could add sooo much more but I want to hear from you! 
    What do you believe in?



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    Wednesday, August 11, 2010

    One Month Away

    Dear Baby K,

    I cannot believe how fast time truly flies! When I first found out that I was expecting you, I must admit my disappointment when I realized I was only 6 weeks along...I wanted to be much further. Your due date seemed so far away! Let's face it, your mommy is not the most patient person in the world and the sooner you learn that, the better. ;)

    I promise to work on my patience. I really have been getting better at it, I think, although daddy may disagree.
    Everyone told me that the pregnancy would go by so fast. Psh! I didn't believe them. That's something easy to say when they already had their sweet babies in their arms. But you know what? They were right. With only 4.5 weeks left (and just ONE MONTH away from my due date), I am wondering where the time has gone. It also makes me realize that just as fast as this pregnancy has gone so will your childhood. I feel like I will blink and then you'll be off to your first day of high school. I don't want to rush it by any means. I plan to savor each and every precious moment with you. 

    I will never forget seeing you and hearing your heartbeat for the first time on ultrasound. What an indescribable feeling! I know that God was there with us as we experienced it for the first time and while I know that He is always with us, His prescense was made known that day. After we left the doctor's office, we sat in the car for a few minutes just admiring the ultrasound pics. And then it happened. Your daddy teared up and in turn I did the same! That was a very special moment for us. Our love for you even then was so strong and it always will be. You've had him wrapped around your finger since January little one!

    I (we) are so ready to meet you! I can't help but feel anxious about your arrival. When will you decide it's time? Will it be vaginal or C-section? Will there be any complications or will you be an "easy" delivery? Will my water break on its own or will the doctor have to break it? These are just a few questions that are constantly running through my mind. I am trying to remember to leave it in God's hands and that you will come when you are ready :). It's harder said than done, though.

    We love you so much, Kynlee. You are truly a blessing.

    Love, 

    Mommy

    Living With and Understanding PCOS (take 2)

    This is just a continued post from yesterday about PCOS.To read the beginning post, please click here.

    Thanks, WebMD for all the information!

    How is it treated?

    Regular exercise, healthy foods, and weight control are key treatments for PCOS. Medicines to balance hormones may also be used. Getting treatment can reduce unpleasant symptoms and help prevent long-term health problems.
    The first step in managing PCOS is to get regular exercise and eat heart-healthy foods. This can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol and reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease. It can also help you lose weight if you need to.
    • Try to fit in moderate activity and/or vigorous activity on a regular basis. Walking is a great exercise that most people can do.
    • Eat a heart-healthy diet. In general, this diet has lots of vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, and whole grains. It also limits foods that are high in saturated fat, such as meats, cheeses, and fried foods. If you have blood sugar problems, try to eat about the same amount of carbohydrate at each meal. A registered dietitian can help you make a meal plan.
    • Most women with PCOS can benefit from losing weight. Even losing 10lb may help get your hormones in balance and regulate your menstrual cycle. PCOS can make it hard to lose weight, so work with your doctor to make a plan that can help you succeed.
    • If you smoke, consider quitting. Women who smoke have higher androgen levels that may contribute to PCOS symptoms. Smoking also increases the risk for heart disease.
    A doctor may also prescribe medicines, such as:
    • Birth control pills (This made me gain a ton of weight). They can help your periods be regular and can reduce symptoms such as excess facial hair and acne. An androgen-lowering medicine, spironolactone, may be used with birth control pills to help reduce symptoms even more. These medicines are not used if you are trying to get pregnant.
    • A diabetes medicine called metformin. It can help control insulin and blood sugar levels and reduce androgen levels. This lowers your risk for diabetes and heart disease and can help restore regular menstrual cycles and fertility.
    • Fertility medicines, if you are trying to get pregnant.
    It is important to see your doctor for follow-up to make sure treatment is working and adjust it if needed. You may also need regular tests to check for diabetes, high blood pressure, and other possible problems.
    It may take a while for treatments to help with symptoms such as facial hair or acne. In the meantime:
    • Over-the-counter or prescription acne medicines may help with skin problems.
    • Waxing, tweezing, and shaving are easy ways to get rid of unwanted hair. Electrolysis or laser treatments can permanently remove the hair but are more expensive. Your doctor can also prescribe a skin cream that slows hair growth for as long as you use it regularly.

    Tuesday, August 10, 2010

    Living With and Understanding PCOS

    Today I wanted to share some information on a topic that hits close to home for me. That topic is PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. I was first diagnosed with PCOS in January of 2005, although I experienced its wrath long before then.
    All information below was received from the website WebMD in hopes to better educate you (and myself) on PCOS.

    Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) - Topic Overview

    What is  (PCOS)?

    Polycystic ovary syndrome (say "pah-lee-SIS-tik OH-vuh-ree SIN-drohm") is a problem in which a woman’s hormones are out of balance. 
    It can cause problems with your periods and make it difficult to get pregnant.
     (I thank God every day that I am carrying this life inside of me!!!)
    PCOS may also cause unwanted changes in the way you look. If it is not treated, over time it can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease. 
    PCOS is common, affecting as many as 1 in 15 women. Often the symptoms begin in the teen years. Treatment can help control the symptoms and prevent long-term problems.

    What are hormones, and what happens in PCOS?

    Hormones are chemical messengers that trigger many different processes, including growth and energy production. Often, the job of one hormone is to signal the release of another hormone.
    For reasons that are not well understood, in PCOS the hormones get out of balance. One hormone change triggers another, which changes another. This makes a vicious circle of out-of-balance hormones. For example:
    • The sex hormones get out of balance. Normally, the ovaries make a tiny amount of male sex hormones (androgens). In PCOS, they start making slightly more androgens. This may cause you to stop ovulating, get acne, and grow extra facial and body hair.
    • The body may have a problem using insulin, called insulin resistance. When the body doesn't use insulin well, blood sugar levels go up. Over time, this increases your chance of getting diabetes.

    What are the symptoms?

    Symptoms tend to be mild at first. You may have only a few symptoms or a lot of them. The most common symptoms are:
    • Acne.
    • Weight gain and trouble losing weight.
    • Extra hair on the face and body. Often women get thicker and darker facial hair and more hair on the chest, belly, and back.
    • Thinning hair on the scalp.
    • Irregular periods. Often women with PCOS have fewer than nine periods a year. Some women have no periods. Others have very heavy bleeding.
    • Fertility problems. Many women with PCOS have trouble getting pregnant (infertility).
    • Depression.
    Most women with PCOS grow many small cysts on their ovaries. That is why it is called polycystic ovary syndrome. The cysts are not harmful, but lead to hormone imbalances.

    What causes PCOS?

    The symptoms of PCOS are caused by changes in hormone levels. There may be one or more causes for the hormone level changes.
    PCOS seems to run in families, so your chance of having it is higher if other women in your family have PCOS, irregular periods, or diabetes. PCOS can be passed down from either your mother's or father's side. 


    More to come on PCOS in the next post. I don't want to overload you all with too much information at once, but I do hope that you will read up on PCOS, so I will break it down into several posts.

     

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    Monday, August 9, 2010

    Blog Changes

    Hey everyone! Happy Monday! :)

    I need some suggestions, please. Once Kynlee arrives (in about 5 wks!!!), the "theme" of this blog will need to change since I will no longer be Awaiting Kynlee's Arrival. Here's where you come in. I would LOVE some ideas on what my new blog theme/title should be. It will need to relate to me being a mom for the first time and my journey through that...or something of the sort.

    Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! Or, if you'd rather... email me at wjordan1019@gmail.com

    Thanks!

    Sunday, August 8, 2010

    35 weeks!

    I am in awe that in 5 weeks or less I will be a mommy! Though I already feel like a mom having carried her for so long now, I know reality will hit when she enters the world and I cannot wait for that moment! I am sure that it will be an instant love, one that I have never known before!

    Below is the weekly update from babycenter.com

    Your pregnancy: 35 weeks

    How your baby's growing:

    Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon)... (5 days ago she was already weighing in at 5 lbs, 10 ounces)...
    Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

    How your life's changing:


    Your uterus — which was entirely tucked away inside your pelvis when you conceived — now reaches up under your rib cage (I can feel it up there). If you could peek inside your womb, you'd see that there's more baby than amniotic fluid in there now. Your ballooning uterus is crowding your other internal organs, too, which is why you probably have to urinate more often and may be dealing with heartburn (!!!) and other gastrointestinal distress. If you're not grappling with these annoyances, you're one of the lucky few.

    From here on out, you'll start seeing your practitioner every week. Sometime between now and 37 weeks, she'll do a vaginal and rectal culture to check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS)...(this is happening at my next appointment). (Don't worry — the swab is the size of a regular cotton swab, and it won't hurt at all.) GBS is usually harmless in adults, but if you have it and pass it on to your baby during birth, it can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection. Because 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women have the bacteria and don't know it, it's vital to be screened. (The bacteria come and go on their own — that's why you weren't screened earlier in pregnancy.) If you're a GBS carrier, you'll get IV antibiotics during labor, which will greatly reduce your baby's risk of infection.


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