Welcome Adyson Mae Doolittle
Born: May 9, 2008
Time: 3:25am
Where: Chattanooga, TN
Weight: 8 lbs 10 oz
Length: 21 inches ?
Time: 3:25am
Where: Chattanooga, TN
Weight: 8 lbs 10 oz
Length: 21 inches ?
Friday, May 9, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Prodomal Labor
I have a lot of catching up. I just haven't felt like writing lately. I have been a little frustrated. Last Thursday I visited my midwife and she checked me and did sweeping of the membranes to see if we could "stir" things up. It definitely stirred things up but not enough to produce a baby as you probably could figure out since I am not writing about having the baby at the moment.
When she checked me (this is last Thursday the 1st), I was dilated to a 2, 80% effaced, but the cervix was still back a ways, but I was very soft. By about 4pm after getting home, I started to have contractions that were 1 to 3 minutes apart. They continued to get stronger but nothing really strong. I called my midwife and she said to call her in an hour. I did and the contractions continued 1 to 3 minutes apart. She said she was coming. My thoughts were that I knew they were not strong enough to warrant a serious concern of having the baby real soon but the fact that they were 1-3 minutes apart definitely gave me concern. I thought surely, if they are this close, this is labor and it would continue till we had a baby.
Operation baby kicked into gear. We called our friend Eileen to pick up the kids, called Marci and Wendy for support, finished picking up the house etc. Midwife got here checked the baby, everything looked great, checked me and I believe at that point which was around 6pm I was a 3 dilated. Wendy, Marci and I started walking up and down the street, I met my assistant Midwife Michelle, and we just kept waiting for labor to kick into a higher gear. When I walked it would get to sometimes 30 seconds apart and very strong. Things stayed about the same. Debi check me at about 930pm and I was at 3 cm dialated, 100% effaced. She said the cervix did come down a little bit. She didn't feel I was really progressing very fast and was concerned with how late it was getting. She wanted me to rest and see if I could sleep. Her and the assistant left for a little bit and I tried to lay down to sleep. It was restless to say the least and I really could not sleep. They came back around 1130pm and suggested that I take some Benadryl and a Tynal to see if that would relax me enough to help me sleep and she would go home because she felt sure that things would probably slow down. There sure is something about having all those years experience. She was right. After a few hours the contractions subsided and I was able to sleep. By morning they all but stopped.
The midwife said I was having prodomal labor (false labor), nothing false about it in my mind. She said it is normal especially in women who have had several children. Your body kicks in a little, then rests. Plus the baby is hanging way out front of me (all those babies have stretched out my muscle!) Which means the baby is not helping put pressure on the cervix to help open it up during a contraction.
By the weekend contractions were every now and then and not strong at all. Tuesday they picked up a little feeling more crampy but no real pattern.
Today, I had another appointment with Debi, she checked me - I am still at a 3, the cervix is still back but she was able to get to the baby easier. She says the baby is bald! She did a little sweeping of the membranes again to see if we could "stir" things up again. I am a little concerned we are going to have more of this prodomal labor again. Of course it is all really good for the baby and me just mentally is exhausting. I am so ready for her to come. I have part of me that wants to do everything to make her come and then the other part that is more rational and listens to the Bradley teacher in me that all is for the baby and that me and/or the baby may need more time and I need to let things be, relax, and wait for her to be ready to come. I will not stay pregnant forever, even though it sure feels like it.
So here we are - contractions are starting again every 3-10 minutes apart, stronger than normal. This time I am not going to concern myself with them until they get a lot stronger. Last time the 1-3 min is what threw me off in how much attention I should have been giving them. I am trying to stay positive and have faith the Lord knows when the right time is. It is 6pm, going to get the kids fed, to bed, and I am going to bed early in hopes to sleep or if the baby is ready have a baby. We will see...
When she checked me (this is last Thursday the 1st), I was dilated to a 2, 80% effaced, but the cervix was still back a ways, but I was very soft. By about 4pm after getting home, I started to have contractions that were 1 to 3 minutes apart. They continued to get stronger but nothing really strong. I called my midwife and she said to call her in an hour. I did and the contractions continued 1 to 3 minutes apart. She said she was coming. My thoughts were that I knew they were not strong enough to warrant a serious concern of having the baby real soon but the fact that they were 1-3 minutes apart definitely gave me concern. I thought surely, if they are this close, this is labor and it would continue till we had a baby.
Operation baby kicked into gear. We called our friend Eileen to pick up the kids, called Marci and Wendy for support, finished picking up the house etc. Midwife got here checked the baby, everything looked great, checked me and I believe at that point which was around 6pm I was a 3 dilated. Wendy, Marci and I started walking up and down the street, I met my assistant Midwife Michelle, and we just kept waiting for labor to kick into a higher gear. When I walked it would get to sometimes 30 seconds apart and very strong. Things stayed about the same. Debi check me at about 930pm and I was at 3 cm dialated, 100% effaced. She said the cervix did come down a little bit. She didn't feel I was really progressing very fast and was concerned with how late it was getting. She wanted me to rest and see if I could sleep. Her and the assistant left for a little bit and I tried to lay down to sleep. It was restless to say the least and I really could not sleep. They came back around 1130pm and suggested that I take some Benadryl and a Tynal to see if that would relax me enough to help me sleep and she would go home because she felt sure that things would probably slow down. There sure is something about having all those years experience. She was right. After a few hours the contractions subsided and I was able to sleep. By morning they all but stopped.
The midwife said I was having prodomal labor (false labor), nothing false about it in my mind. She said it is normal especially in women who have had several children. Your body kicks in a little, then rests. Plus the baby is hanging way out front of me (all those babies have stretched out my muscle!) Which means the baby is not helping put pressure on the cervix to help open it up during a contraction.
By the weekend contractions were every now and then and not strong at all. Tuesday they picked up a little feeling more crampy but no real pattern.
Today, I had another appointment with Debi, she checked me - I am still at a 3, the cervix is still back but she was able to get to the baby easier. She says the baby is bald! She did a little sweeping of the membranes again to see if we could "stir" things up again. I am a little concerned we are going to have more of this prodomal labor again. Of course it is all really good for the baby and me just mentally is exhausting. I am so ready for her to come. I have part of me that wants to do everything to make her come and then the other part that is more rational and listens to the Bradley teacher in me that all is for the baby and that me and/or the baby may need more time and I need to let things be, relax, and wait for her to be ready to come. I will not stay pregnant forever, even though it sure feels like it.
So here we are - contractions are starting again every 3-10 minutes apart, stronger than normal. This time I am not going to concern myself with them until they get a lot stronger. Last time the 1-3 min is what threw me off in how much attention I should have been giving them. I am trying to stay positive and have faith the Lord knows when the right time is. It is 6pm, going to get the kids fed, to bed, and I am going to bed early in hopes to sleep or if the baby is ready have a baby. We will see...
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Fun day with Marci
This morning I re-cleaned the kitchen, picked up and vacuumed downstairs, put laundry away, vacuumed the upstairs-again (Elijah decided to dump his dry raisin bran cereal all over my bedroom floor and hallway.) I also got the kids rooms cleaned. I was able to complete all of this before my friend Marci arrived.Here is a picture of Elijah playing on the computer on Disneychannel.com, taken the other day. He had a good time and picked up on things quickly.
Marci and her little girl, Leah, came over bringing lunch (sushi!), it was sooo yummy, thanks Marci. I gave Marci an early thank you gift for helping out with the delivery of the baby with a box of Sees candy. She wanted to open it right away and so we had a good time trying out the chocoloates. I sure wish there was a Sees candy store around here. They were to die for.
Then we got to work. Marci helped me put the crib together and we rearranged the boys room. Caleb has been sleeping on the floor lately because he has had a hard time getting out of bed to go to the bathroom. We decided to switch the bunk bed into a single 
bed and have two single beds. Marci helped me rearrange it and bring down the box spring from the attic. Thanks Marci, your the best. So far everything is clean in the house. Although as I am typing this I here the kids and am afraid to see what has been destroyed. The job never ends.
I continue to have contractions although most are not too strong. My back has been killing me all night and today, makes it hard to walk around. I don't know if the baby has moved into a different position putting pressure on my back or if it is just my back in general hurting from cleaning a lot. Probably a little of both. I am feeling restless about it but I know I could still have awhile, I just want the anticipation to be over with.
Monday, April 28, 2008
House Blessing Day
I took Caleb to the Chiropractor this morning to get his leg looked at. I had to bring Emma, Loryn, Elijah as well. I wanted to go early enough to bring the girls to preschool right after the appointment. Caleb's leg is all aligned correctly. He is actually starting to walk straighter on it now and is starting to run on it. Nothing stops these kids.
Elijah and I went home after dropping the girls off and Caleb off at school. I felt so tired that we just hung out in the morning then took naps. Both of us didn't want to get up to go get Loryn later on, but we dragged ourselves out of bed and picked her up. Mommy felt like an ice cream so we went to Sonic and got each of us one. The kids really loved that!
I spent the rest of the afternoon on a major house cleaning spree. I don't know if I am nesting or what but I felt the need to have the house spotless. I cleaned the bathrooms down to using the toothbrush and all, swept and mopped all floors, cleaned kitchen, vaccumed etc. Tomorrow I plan on finishing some laundry and putting the crib together as well as cleaning the kids rooms. I keep getting the house to the point where I say, "ok, now I can go into labor, the house is clean, we have food, and I am not tired". But she isn't ready. Not yet. I continue having contractions here and there, and the last two nights have had them every ten minutes or so but they have not been very strong. They stop during the night, and a new day begins with no baby. I really still have awhile just under 2 weeks but here's to hoping. Sunday I had a lot of hot flashes and felt a little nausea. It is all part of the hormones at work. I can say I have had a glimpse of what menopause will be like. We will just say I am not looking forward to it. Well I need to get to bed. Tired after all that cleaning.
Elijah and I went home after dropping the girls off and Caleb off at school. I felt so tired that we just hung out in the morning then took naps. Both of us didn't want to get up to go get Loryn later on, but we dragged ourselves out of bed and picked her up. Mommy felt like an ice cream so we went to Sonic and got each of us one. The kids really loved that!
I spent the rest of the afternoon on a major house cleaning spree. I don't know if I am nesting or what but I felt the need to have the house spotless. I cleaned the bathrooms down to using the toothbrush and all, swept and mopped all floors, cleaned kitchen, vaccumed etc. Tomorrow I plan on finishing some laundry and putting the crib together as well as cleaning the kids rooms. I keep getting the house to the point where I say, "ok, now I can go into labor, the house is clean, we have food, and I am not tired". But she isn't ready. Not yet. I continue having contractions here and there, and the last two nights have had them every ten minutes or so but they have not been very strong. They stop during the night, and a new day begins with no baby. I really still have awhile just under 2 weeks but here's to hoping. Sunday I had a lot of hot flashes and felt a little nausea. It is all part of the hormones at work. I can say I have had a glimpse of what menopause will be like. We will just say I am not looking forward to it. Well I need to get to bed. Tired after all that cleaning.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Progressing...
Well, last Thursday I saw Debi, my midwife and she checked me again. With my other kids I never had them check. How many cm dilated you are doesn't tell you when you will go into labor. The one thing it can tell you is how fast labor may go once you do go into labor. And having a home birth it is to Debi's advantage to have an idea so she knows how quickly she needs to get to me.
Thursday I was dilated to a 2, 80% effaced, and VERY soft. 10 days before I was firm and only a 1, so there is some work going on. Yesterday I lost my mucous plug and today I am feeling a little icky and keep having horrible hot flashes. Who knows when labor will eventually start. My body is definitely getting ready but it could still be awhile.
Saturday we had a neighborhood garage sell. I made a whopping $22! I am not sure it was worth it but at least I tried to make some money off our junk before giving it all away. I am sick of stuff. You have to take care of it and I could use a lot of minimizing in my life at the moment.
This week will start the first week I stop watching my neighbors little girl Emma. She is the 4 year old. I may still be watching the other neighbor but her mom is on call so I know she will be here quick to take Emily and has lots of family as well that can come get her quickly. I couldn't guarantee that Emma could do the same. I will still take her to school as long as I am taking Loryn.
Garage sell is over, baby stuff is ready, office stuff cleaned up, laundry caught up. I am officially ready. I just have to keep the house picked up and stay rested. I am actually looking forward to this week now.
Thursday I was dilated to a 2, 80% effaced, and VERY soft. 10 days before I was firm and only a 1, so there is some work going on. Yesterday I lost my mucous plug and today I am feeling a little icky and keep having horrible hot flashes. Who knows when labor will eventually start. My body is definitely getting ready but it could still be awhile.
Saturday we had a neighborhood garage sell. I made a whopping $22! I am not sure it was worth it but at least I tried to make some money off our junk before giving it all away. I am sick of stuff. You have to take care of it and I could use a lot of minimizing in my life at the moment.
This week will start the first week I stop watching my neighbors little girl Emma. She is the 4 year old. I may still be watching the other neighbor but her mom is on call so I know she will be here quick to take Emily and has lots of family as well that can come get her quickly. I couldn't guarantee that Emma could do the same. I will still take her to school as long as I am taking Loryn.
Garage sell is over, baby stuff is ready, office stuff cleaned up, laundry caught up. I am officially ready. I just have to keep the house picked up and stay rested. I am actually looking forward to this week now.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
No baby yet - update
Lukily there was nothing to the contractions last week. Well, I shouldn't say nothing but not enough to have a baby. I knew the contractions were not real labor but it was a concern that it may be starting too soon being at 36 weeks. It was a precaution to take it easy and try and stop the contractions. Monday, 14th, I saw my midwife and she checked me. I was dilated to 1 cm and 80 % effaced, but the baby was still high up and my cervix was still back. Debi, my midwife, said everything looks great and she is not worried, I can return to normal activity, just don't take any Pitocin. Thank goodness! I was relieved that one, there was nothing to worry about and two, that I could get busy and get things in order. I still had a lot to do.
I spent the rest of the week getting baby clothes washed, and the bassinet put together and going to the store to get all the other baby needs. I continue to have contractions, although most of them are back to normal braxton hicks, just a tightening feeling. I have some afternoons where they get real crampy again and stop me in my tracks but nothing that continues and nothing that gets worse, just lots of pre labor stuff getting ready for the big day.
Sunday, I was 37 weeks and I feel pretty good. Monday, I started to have more crampy contractions but nothing consistent. This is my last week of watching other kids per Ben and I's agreement. Ben has grounded me from watching extra kids. He thinks I am doing too much and am making myself exhausted for no reason. I can handle all the kids, but I do get exhausted and the problem with feeling like that now is that I could go into labor at any time and I really need to be rested to be able to handle it. Plus, my house gets destroyed and I have a hard enough time keeping it clean as it is. And since we are having a home birth I would really like the house to be clean when I go into labor.
Today, Wednesday, I drop the girls off at preschool, and head home with Elijah with what I hope will be a productive morning of picking up the house and cleaning. I also hope to get to organizing things for the garage sale that is happening this Saturday. I am purging, and hope to get rid of most things. I can't even walk in our garage right now. But I can say that my laundry is caught up, a once in a life time achievement. Now I just have to keep it up!
I spent the rest of the week getting baby clothes washed, and the bassinet put together and going to the store to get all the other baby needs. I continue to have contractions, although most of them are back to normal braxton hicks, just a tightening feeling. I have some afternoons where they get real crampy again and stop me in my tracks but nothing that continues and nothing that gets worse, just lots of pre labor stuff getting ready for the big day.
Sunday, I was 37 weeks and I feel pretty good. Monday, I started to have more crampy contractions but nothing consistent. This is my last week of watching other kids per Ben and I's agreement. Ben has grounded me from watching extra kids. He thinks I am doing too much and am making myself exhausted for no reason. I can handle all the kids, but I do get exhausted and the problem with feeling like that now is that I could go into labor at any time and I really need to be rested to be able to handle it. Plus, my house gets destroyed and I have a hard enough time keeping it clean as it is. And since we are having a home birth I would really like the house to be clean when I go into labor.
Today, Wednesday, I drop the girls off at preschool, and head home with Elijah with what I hope will be a productive morning of picking up the house and cleaning. I also hope to get to organizing things for the garage sale that is happening this Saturday. I am purging, and hope to get rid of most things. I can't even walk in our garage right now. But I can say that my laundry is caught up, a once in a life time achievement. Now I just have to keep it up!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Contractions! Not yet!
We had a little scare yesterday. Well it really started Friday night, but continued all day yesterday. I started having a lot of cramping with my contractions, more of the labor type. I wasn't concerned until they seemed to be continuing to happen and wouldn't stop. I have been sick lately and continue to get worse. I am getting no sleep at night and haven't had time for naps either. I don't know if I am just wearing myself out or what it is. This morning I woke up to find I have pink eye. Maybe my immune system is down, whatever it is it sucks and is a little stressing to think of the baby coming too soon. Not only do I not have things ready, we could be looking at a hospital birth instead, as well as concern for the baby's lungs being fully developed and ready to come out.
I called my midwife and she said we need to get them to stop. She said to take a warm bath and get myself to relax. She said, without being able to look at me, it sounded like irritable uterus. She also suggested if the bath didn't work to drink 1/2 of a wine cooler. That was funny! You know being Mormon and all it wasn't really an option.
I get in the bath to relax and a few minutes after Elijah wakes up (he fell asleep in our bed because he refused to take a nap, and he needed one), starts crying and screaming and would not stop. So could I relax? What do you think? Not really. Plus Ben was trying to get ready to go to his boss' surprise birthday party. We ended up all going, even though I probably should have stayed home. I didn't want to be left alone... just in case.
The party was fine, the contractions continued every 20-30 minutes, but started to have more that were less painful. We got home, I took another bath, this time could relax, and then settled in bed. My contractions lessened and by this morning they have mostly stopped and are definitely not as strong. Ben had forbidden me to do anything all day, although I can't help but feel like I need to clean and get things ready. He is finishing putting the dressers together for the boys and says he is going to help pick up the house today.
I have one more weak until it would be OK for the baby to arrive. I will be 37 weeks next Sunday and then I can relax about going into labor. I am going to try to take it a little more easy this week in hopes to not aggravate my uterus to have contractions. At least I will not have our neighbor kid Emma. Her mom is on spring break. Ben says I should not watch anymore kids or take on anything extra until the baby is born. For me that is just hard to do. I'll try. I did want to finish painting, plant some flowers, clean out the flower beds, clean out the garage, get all the laundry caught up, and lots more. I guess something needs to go, at least for a week, and then I get get active again.
The kids were cute this morning eating breakfast. They both HAD to share a chair.
I called my midwife and she said we need to get them to stop. She said to take a warm bath and get myself to relax. She said, without being able to look at me, it sounded like irritable uterus. She also suggested if the bath didn't work to drink 1/2 of a wine cooler. That was funny! You know being Mormon and all it wasn't really an option.
I get in the bath to relax and a few minutes after Elijah wakes up (he fell asleep in our bed because he refused to take a nap, and he needed one), starts crying and screaming and would not stop. So could I relax? What do you think? Not really. Plus Ben was trying to get ready to go to his boss' surprise birthday party. We ended up all going, even though I probably should have stayed home. I didn't want to be left alone... just in case.
The party was fine, the contractions continued every 20-30 minutes, but started to have more that were less painful. We got home, I took another bath, this time could relax, and then settled in bed. My contractions lessened and by this morning they have mostly stopped and are definitely not as strong. Ben had forbidden me to do anything all day, although I can't help but feel like I need to clean and get things ready. He is finishing putting the dressers together for the boys and says he is going to help pick up the house today.
I have one more weak until it would be OK for the baby to arrive. I will be 37 weeks next Sunday and then I can relax about going into labor. I am going to try to take it a little more easy this week in hopes to not aggravate my uterus to have contractions. At least I will not have our neighbor kid Emma. Her mom is on spring break. Ben says I should not watch anymore kids or take on anything extra until the baby is born. For me that is just hard to do. I'll try. I did want to finish painting, plant some flowers, clean out the flower beds, clean out the garage, get all the laundry caught up, and lots more. I guess something needs to go, at least for a week, and then I get get active again.
The kids were cute this morning eating breakfast. They both HAD to share a chair.
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