Hospital Tour

We had our last childbirth education class last night. 10 couples started the class - on the last day there were 6 left.


The first hour was spent in the meeting room talking about car seat safety and proper installation. It was a very powerful presentation and she brought up a lot of points that I hadn't thought about. Items that they make & sell in stores that really are dangerous to babies in car seats if you're in the wrong situation. Her motto - If it doesn't come with the car seat don't use it.

• the mirrors
• the toy bars
• the bundleme's
• the extra cushion straps

Of course she knows parents are going to use the items above she just cautions and educates on what could happen. Make sure those mirrors are anchored well because if you're in a front on collision that becomes a projectile right into the baby's face. ETC...

We also learned about proper installation. Since the beginning of the year I think she said she had installed 100 seats and only 6 of those had been installed correctly by the parents to begin with. We are definitely calling Huntley's police department and making an apt for a car seat check this weekend.

The second half of the class was the Labor and Delivery hospital tour. The new Sherman Hospital is quite nice. The Labor and Delivery unit is on the third floor at the south end of the hospital. As soon as you get out of the elevator you walk into this calm, subdued atmosphere - there's a glass wall that you have to get buzzed past to enter the unit. At one end is the labor and delivery rooms and the other is postpartum. The rooms are nice. They're big enough with huge bathrooms. Sherman prides itself on being the only hospital around that doesn't separate mom and baby (unless they have to) after birth. Meaning - when you deliver baby is taken to the side of the room where she is placed in a heater, weighed, measured, bathed right there. * Dads remember to take pictures! You, baby and dad are then left in the delivery room for 1-2 hours to recover and finally moved to your postpartum room.

While we were touring the L&D room one of the dads from our class who's wife's water had broken earlier that day came to give us an update. She was doing well. Had no clue she was contracting until her water broke, had the epidural now and was around 5 centimeters. He was all smiles and just waiting for their little Ryley Ann to show up.

We also peeked into the operating room for Csections and NICU where the father that was discussed from Class #5 (short umbilical cord) came out to chat. Their baby is doing very well - he was born at 33 weeks and weighed 4lb 6oz. He was improving fast, breathing on his own and if all is good can go home in a week or so. They were staying at the hospital in a courtesy suite so that she is able to bring expressed breastmilk to him anytime needed. It turns out that the gestational diabetes that she had was a blessing because if they hadn't been monitoring her for that so closely they probably would have never seen that the baby was under distress and they could have lost him. Miracles do happen.

On the way out a doula that was there and on the tour for another couple asked me how far along I was. When I said 36 weeks she was a bit shocked. By the way I'm carrying she could've sworn I was more like 38. She commented that I'm low, the baby's already in position (which we know from the doctors apt this week) and she'd be surprised if I held out to my due date. She wasn't even sure I'd make it another two weeks. We will see - I'll ask my doctor next Monday what she feels.

On to the 1 Week Appointments

Today was Kelly's 34 week checkup. Somewhere along the way, we got messed up because we are 35w 4d and just getting the 34 week... oh well, it does not matter much to me. This appointment started like all the others, but we had a flashback to our early appointments where Kelly's Blood Pressure was a bit high (180/79).



We went to see the doctor instead of rechecking the BP. We sat around for a little bit, but were still seen quite quickly. Kelly had a strep swab today, and then we got our usual listen to the heart. I asked the doctor if she could tell where the baby was positioned. She felt around on Kelly's belly and determined our little girl was head down like she should be. She even showed me how and where to feel and I was quite impressed when I felt the little sphere. I also determined that for the past few weeks (possibly months) I have been speaking to my daughters butt. I hope she does not have the sense of humor that my mother does. Mom suggested that my daughter may eventually turn her back side to me and say "speak a little louder, I can't hear you." I also hope that she does not act like Ace Ventura Pet Detective.



Back to the story, Kelly, got her first internal exam today. An exam that let the doctor proclaim, we are not at all dilated, maybe 25% effaced, and that she was "not quite sure that was her head." This statement made Kelly and I a bit nervous and worried. That feeling was put to rest when she took us to the ultra sound room to take a better look. I think both of us were excited to get another chance to see her, but we were nervous at the same time. As the doctor put the wand on the belly, we got an immediate look at baby girl's head and brain. She IS turned and ready to go. We were even told that she may very well have been turned for quite some time. Perhaps this is why the doctor felt a bony little something down there. It is possible that our little girl has been doing a head stand for so long, she is starting to get a little bit of a cone head.

For the past few weeks, Kelly has a had a problem area below her rib cage on the left side of her stomach. We used the impromptu ultra sound to see that it is the resting spot for her rump. Apparently when Kelly leans forward at her desk or at a table, it is a little painful as if the girl is pushing back. Perhaps she is.

Prior to leaving the office, the doctor did want Kelly's blood pressure to be re-taken. Due to her recent activity (internal exam, worrying the baby was breach, walking back and forth to the ultra sound room) the BP reading was still high. This got her a drink of cold water and a waiting spell in the lobby. Eventually Kelly's BP dropped back into a normal range and we were free to go.

Now we get to move to one appointment a week. We are exactly one calendar month from our calculated due date of April 29. It is way beyond exciting now.

Patrick

Vote Now!!!

Outfit # 1




Outfit # 2

Which outfit do you prefer? Vote above.

Closet - Before & After - Pat did such a great job!

A Father - To - Be Weighs in on Pregnancy

Hello everyone!

It sure has been a while since I last checked in and I find myself nearing the end of stage one. Today we hit 35 weeks. Taking a step back and thinking about the obvious, I accept the fact that we have only 5 weeks of pregnancy left. As Kelly mentioned earlier, another couple from our Child Birth Education class delivered early. It is a shocking reminder that not everything in life is fair or easy. It is also a time to look at my emerging family and be happy and thankful for our continued health. Kelly is, undoubtedly, handling pregnancy terrifically. She has taken every twist and turn in stride and makes this being pregnant thing look easy. One of my co-workers commented on her recently... "Kelly looks fantastic. Most people look worn down by the eighth month but she looks great." I have to say, my co-worker is right. And yes, I am definitely a proud husband. If this time is any judge of what kind of mother Kelly will be, this will be one lucky girl.

I figured it was time to revisit my list of questions from week 25...

1. Registering was a breeze, it is long gone and we got a whole bunch of stuff at the shower. Thank you everyone.
2. Pick a name - Down to 2
3. Get THE room ready - One or two shelves and some picture hanging and this one is done.
4. Kelly has a hard time NOT feeling the baby. Kick count is ongoing and always successful.
5. Still don't know how the dog will react, but he has approximately 27 seconds to learn once the little girl comes home.
6. The shower was on Feb 27th and it looks like everyone had fun. Again, thank you everyone for your generosity.
7. I will get one week of parental leave, Kelly will get 6-8 weeks depending on the doctor's decision. She will also get a week of parental leave.
8. We found daycare at a lovely families home in Crystal Lake.
9. About $170 a week for the charge
10. Probably need like 4 more jobs.
11. Still don't know if anyone is hiring.
12. A whole bunch of drawings have passed. Somebody is gonna Lotto, but probably won't be me.
13. I bought a St. Patty Day raffle ticket.. nothing doing.
14. Yes, Kelly wanted breakfast.


Some of the more fun things I have learned....
1. There are three types of breathing for Kelly.
2. I will need to tell her break the seat belt and go to the basement.
3. Kelly does not get cravings.
4. I am pretty sure I have eaten more pickles than Kelly has.

Well, that pretty much sums up my past few weeks... I am off to hit dinner and relax for a bit.

Hope everyone is doing well.


Patrick

Bowling at Lakes

We went to Lakes Bowl last night with Mike and Lisa. Fun was had by all. It had been a long time for bowling and every ones scores showed it.

Playfully accused of trying to walk out with a ball under my shirt Lisa thought this would be a great picture.

Updates

Childbirth classes 4 and 5 have passed. No huge updates -
Class 4 we watched a video on C-sections and went over all the breathing techniques again. She also taught us how to push (not something to practice until the actual time to push) but she said something about thinking there was a seat belt around your abdomen and trying to break it free.
Class 5 (last night) was a visit from a pediatrician. Yet another woman from our class had to deliver her baby pre-term. This time there was distress due to umbilical cord issues and she was set to deliver yesterday/today at 33 weeks. Out of the 10 couples in class on day one we now are down to 7.

We hit 35 weeks tomorrow - 5 weeks (or so) left - she'll be here soon!