Best4Future: DD’s baby blog since conception!

Today when I sat in front of the computer, trying to recall every detail about the labor, I have to say giving birth to my daughter DD was one of the most miraculous and surreal experiences of my life. Although with time flying, a lot of memories faded, the incredulous and awesome feeling of giving birth is still vivid in my mind…

Day 1

When grandma and I went to see the doctor, I didn’t plan to go to labor yet. It was a nice sunny day. We talked about where to have lunch and I said I would order a hearty nice bowl of chicken soup.

The nurse came in and checked my blood pressure. The number was 136/85, a little bit high but not the worst one I ever had. So I didn’t think too much of it. But when the doctor came in, he had a frowning face.

“Your blood pressure is pretty high. I don’t feel comfortable about it.” The doctor said.

“So?…” I wondered.

“I would suggest you to check in the hospital today and have the baby delivered.” He looked directly at me and said.

“An induction?!” I was stunned. I had always daydreamed the typical way I would begin the labor: I would feel mild contractions, backache, and maybe mild diarrhea. I would be excited, relived (the labor has begun), happy and somewhat apprehensive. It probably would happen at midnight. So I would shake M awake and told him “I have contractions now! Call the doctor!”

But now the doctor suggested me to induce the baby. “No, no!” I kept thinking, this wasn’t the way I was supposed to be. I was supposed to have lunch with grandma, go home, and wait for the labor to start naturally. Anyway I wasn’t going to have my baby for another week.

The doctor began to lecture me the danger and risks of not taking actions. “I would suggest at least you take a preeclampsia checkout at the Delivery and Maternity Center of the hospital.” The doctor said.

“Maybe they will find my blood pressure is fine (like last time, see PIH coming back!) and send me home.” I thought myself.

With this thought in my mind, I agreed to go to hospital. The same as last time, first I checked in. Then I was brought in a deliver room and ordered to lie down on a deliver bed. A nurse came in and put on three monitors on my tummy: one was to check my blood pressure every 15 minutes, one was to check baby’s heart beating, and the third one was to check contractions if I had.

However, the numbers of my blood pressure, unlike last time, kept pretty high. Looking at the blood pressure readings, I recalled what the doctor told me earlier in the morning: don’t take a chance with PIH (see PIH? Oh, no!!).  The condition can change from what seems to be normal to very bad within as short as 12 hours. Once the situation worsens, it can threaten the lives of both mother and baby.

Plus, until this moment, the baby was not dropping yet. She was still floating (see Baby not dropping yet). This caused another potential threat that would complicate the labor.

I definitely don’t want to put my baby into danger. Therefore when the doctor came back to talk to me, I agreed to be induced.

Grandma called M and informed him the situation. He came to the hospital quickly. At that time it was around 5 PM in the afternoon.

M accompanied me from 5 to 9 PM in the hospital. During these four hours, I felt the monitor to check contractions on my tummy moving and shivering. The baby kept kicking it from inside.

“She must be really winding up”. I thought, because the graphics on the screen to show her hearting beating fluctuated from 150 to 180, indicating she was awake and quite active.

“She wants to kick this monitor off.” I told M, “the monitor probably is against her butt or back. She doesn’t like that.”

“Well, she will learn not everything will go as the way she wants to.” M said.

By the time M left the hospital, the baby finally calmed down. Her heart beating numbers stayed around 120. She went to sleep.

I told M not to worry about me and have a good sleep. “I will need you tomorrow.” I said. He kissed me goodbye and left.

I lied on the bed, looking around the room and listening to every noise in or outside the room. It was close to midnight. Everybody went to sleep, including my baby. I looked at the roof and wondered: tomorrow by this time I may hold the baby in my arms. Is it really going to happen, after nine-month pregnancy and many years of waiting? Actually it is happening right now…No matter what, tomorrow is going to be a big day.

Related posts:
DD’s birth story, Part 2
DD’s birth story, Part 3

D day is on schedule, but my baby hasn’t dropped yet.

According to What to Expect When You're Expecting: 4th Edition , “Dropping”, also called “lightening”, occurs when the fetus descends into the pelvic cavity. Lightening is the sign that the presenting part, usually the head, is engaged in the upper portion of the bony pelvis. In the first pregnancy, this lightening generally takes place two to four weeks before delivery. In women who have had children previously, it rarely occurs until they go into labor. But as with almost every aspects of pregnancy, exceptions to the rules are the rule.

I don’t feel any pressure on the pelvic or the bladder, or the pelvic joints. My belly is still pretty high, though my appetite is pretty good and I go to bathroom pretty frequently because I drink a lot of fluids everyday. And Monday’s doctor appointment confirmed that my baby is still “floating” free.

I really don’t want to end up with a C-section. So how can I help my baby to drop?

As usual, the first thing I did was to go to Yahoo Answers and posted my question there. I also looked for similar questions asked by members before.

The answers were varied.

Some mother suggested trying a few simple yoga poses. On all fours with hands under shoulders, inhale and tilt the pelvis under, rounding the back into an arc, exhale and arch the back. Keep the neck and shoulders relaxed. She also suggested trying pelvic tilts. Stand with feet wide apart. Bend knees slightly and roll you butt under and then back. Do this back and forth rocking motion.

Some mother thought lying on the left side with a pillow between knees when sleeping. She said this helps relaxing more, puts the baby away from the inferior vena cava, and takes the stress of muscles and ligaments.

One mother’s answer was to try rubbing the belly from the top down apply slight pressure. While another mother warned that there was nothing that you can do. Only nature will do it for you.

One mother said that her first 2 dropped about 10 minutes after she started pushing once she was completely dilated and effaced. She said she wouldn’t try pushing on or messing with anything as it could cause problems with the placenta.

Several women mentioned lots of walking would help the baby drop. This was so far the most common answer.

I probably will try some of their suggestions to see whether they will help. Dear readers, if you have any idea to help baby drop, please leave your comments here.