Hi, I haven't forgotten about this! Just wanted to give a quick update and mention that we are going to move our site over to Xanga and turn it into more of a family blog. Of course, a lot of it will still be about Nathan I'm sure. ;) I like the flexibility of what I'm able to do with Xanga better, so I'm going to print the entries of this blog and then move to the new site.
I'll post the new site here soon.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Nathan's Birth Story!
Hi all!!! So I think everyone knows that Nathan is here by now...and I am finally getting around to posting his birth story, so here it is:
Nathan Alexander Whippo was born on January 31, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. weighing 9 pounds, 1 ounce, and 23 inches long! We went to the hospital at about 8:00 the night before to start being induced. (He was a week late and the doctor could tell he was big.) I had been in early labor all throughout that day anyway. When we got there they gave me one medicine to help things progress (not the Pitocin, that came later) and up until midnight the contractions were steadily picking up. Jon and I walked around the halls for a while. After a while I decided to take an Ambien and morphine shot. My doctor had ordered them for me so I could try to get some rest, as I had not been sleeping well toward the end of my pregnancy. So I was able to get some sleep and it took the edge off of the pain.
By 4:30 am the morphine was wearing off and the contractions were pretty intense, but Jon was very supportive and encouraging. At 6:00 when they came to give me my Pitocin, I decided to ask for them to do the epidural at the same time, which worked out well because the anesthesiologist was just finishing up with a C-section down the hall. I went into the hospital figuring I would try to make it without the epi, but at the same time keeping an open mind and not being opposed to having one. It was my best friend that day and I am SO glad I decided to get it!!! Some people experience pain when getting it but the process was really not bad for me. It was working wonderfully until after a while I started to feel pain coming back in different spots, until it was back altogether and I could feel everything. The nurses didn't know what was going on and were trying to figure it out, when one of them realized my epidural drip was disconnected. What happened was they gave me an instant shot of pain medicine into my IV to give me relief until the actual epidural kicked in, then that initial medicine was supposed to wear off and the epidural would keep flowing to provide the continual pain relief. Apparently my overnight nurse had forgotten to connect the actual epidural before she got off her shift and left, so that's why I started to feel the pain again after the first medicine wore off! :\ They got the guy who did the epi back in the room and got me hooked up once again.
At some point my water broke. They put an internal monitor on Nathan's head, as he was so low that he kept coming off the regular monitor. I progressed very quickly from 7 to 10 centimeters and then pushed for one hour with the help of Jon, my doctor, and two of the most wonderful nurses we could have asked for. They gave me oxygen because Nathan's heart rate either sped up or dropped a little, I can't remember which one. Things were going fine until Nathan's head got stuck, and his heart rate on the monitor was dropping. (I didn't know this at the time, just knew that they were having me push a lot more and harder than I already was.) His shoulder was stuck (known as shoulder dystocia) and that often means the umbilical cord is pinched which is dangerous, and by this point it was too late for a C-section, so we had to get him out quickly. After all sorts of tugging and prying and shoving (which I am so thankful I couldn't feel!) they managed to get him out. The cord was loosely around his neck and easily removed. They laid him on me and he was blue/purple, Jon cut the cord and they took him over to the warming light and gave him some oxygen. He was rather shell-shocked by the whole experience but began to cry and was doing fine. His color turned a nice pink and he was looking great (as you can see in the early pictures)! I only got to hold him for about 10 minutes before they had to take him to the nursery, but I did get to nurse him right away and I was really thankful for that. Jon went with him to the nursery and gave him a sponge bath.
I did end up tearing, which I think is pretty obvious given the struggle to get him out, but they did not need to use a vacuum or forceps to get him out, and obviously we avoided a C-section, so that was great. Recovery has been sore to say the least but I'm feeling a lot better now and can actually sit without pain. :\ In the hospital and now since being home, Nathan has been such a good, content baby! He nurses like a champ, almost exactly every two hours during the day and then he is able to go for 3- or 4-hour stretches at night. It really works out perfectly because we are able to get some decent sleep between feedings at night, and I wouldn't want him to go any longer between feedings right now anyway, as he's still so young. He is alert all day long, which is so fun but what we are dealing with lately is that he just won't sleep all day. I've never met a 3-week-old who doesn't take naps, and it is baffling! By evening he is a lot crankier if he hasn't slept so I do what I can to get him to fall asleep during the day. It is getting better.
He really is just so content though. We could not have a greater blessing from God than this kid! He is just now starting to smile on purpose. He can smile at me and completely make my whole day. :D I'm also starting to pump milk for bottles so that Jon can give him the occasional bottle. Then when we need to leave him for longer stretches of time, or go to church or a movie and actually sit through the whole thing, we can. I am greatly enjoying BFing him and hope to continue for as long as possible (up to one year if I can, but right now I am setting a smaller goal of six months). It caught me off guard how much I love him...you really don't know what it's like to love your own child until you have him, and I didn't know I could love him this much. It makes making any necessary sacrifices much easier when I know I'm doing what I believe is best for him. He is a lot of fun and we are really enjoying him!! :)
I am going to try to keep this blog updated still with things about Nathan; it may not be as frequently as before but I am going to try to write here on a semi-regular basis. I think everyone has seen pictures one way or another, but I will post some on here soon, too. Bye for now!
Nathan Alexander Whippo was born on January 31, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. weighing 9 pounds, 1 ounce, and 23 inches long! We went to the hospital at about 8:00 the night before to start being induced. (He was a week late and the doctor could tell he was big.) I had been in early labor all throughout that day anyway. When we got there they gave me one medicine to help things progress (not the Pitocin, that came later) and up until midnight the contractions were steadily picking up. Jon and I walked around the halls for a while. After a while I decided to take an Ambien and morphine shot. My doctor had ordered them for me so I could try to get some rest, as I had not been sleeping well toward the end of my pregnancy. So I was able to get some sleep and it took the edge off of the pain.
By 4:30 am the morphine was wearing off and the contractions were pretty intense, but Jon was very supportive and encouraging. At 6:00 when they came to give me my Pitocin, I decided to ask for them to do the epidural at the same time, which worked out well because the anesthesiologist was just finishing up with a C-section down the hall. I went into the hospital figuring I would try to make it without the epi, but at the same time keeping an open mind and not being opposed to having one. It was my best friend that day and I am SO glad I decided to get it!!! Some people experience pain when getting it but the process was really not bad for me. It was working wonderfully until after a while I started to feel pain coming back in different spots, until it was back altogether and I could feel everything. The nurses didn't know what was going on and were trying to figure it out, when one of them realized my epidural drip was disconnected. What happened was they gave me an instant shot of pain medicine into my IV to give me relief until the actual epidural kicked in, then that initial medicine was supposed to wear off and the epidural would keep flowing to provide the continual pain relief. Apparently my overnight nurse had forgotten to connect the actual epidural before she got off her shift and left, so that's why I started to feel the pain again after the first medicine wore off! :\ They got the guy who did the epi back in the room and got me hooked up once again.
At some point my water broke. They put an internal monitor on Nathan's head, as he was so low that he kept coming off the regular monitor. I progressed very quickly from 7 to 10 centimeters and then pushed for one hour with the help of Jon, my doctor, and two of the most wonderful nurses we could have asked for. They gave me oxygen because Nathan's heart rate either sped up or dropped a little, I can't remember which one. Things were going fine until Nathan's head got stuck, and his heart rate on the monitor was dropping. (I didn't know this at the time, just knew that they were having me push a lot more and harder than I already was.) His shoulder was stuck (known as shoulder dystocia) and that often means the umbilical cord is pinched which is dangerous, and by this point it was too late for a C-section, so we had to get him out quickly. After all sorts of tugging and prying and shoving (which I am so thankful I couldn't feel!) they managed to get him out. The cord was loosely around his neck and easily removed. They laid him on me and he was blue/purple, Jon cut the cord and they took him over to the warming light and gave him some oxygen. He was rather shell-shocked by the whole experience but began to cry and was doing fine. His color turned a nice pink and he was looking great (as you can see in the early pictures)! I only got to hold him for about 10 minutes before they had to take him to the nursery, but I did get to nurse him right away and I was really thankful for that. Jon went with him to the nursery and gave him a sponge bath.
I did end up tearing, which I think is pretty obvious given the struggle to get him out, but they did not need to use a vacuum or forceps to get him out, and obviously we avoided a C-section, so that was great. Recovery has been sore to say the least but I'm feeling a lot better now and can actually sit without pain. :\ In the hospital and now since being home, Nathan has been such a good, content baby! He nurses like a champ, almost exactly every two hours during the day and then he is able to go for 3- or 4-hour stretches at night. It really works out perfectly because we are able to get some decent sleep between feedings at night, and I wouldn't want him to go any longer between feedings right now anyway, as he's still so young. He is alert all day long, which is so fun but what we are dealing with lately is that he just won't sleep all day. I've never met a 3-week-old who doesn't take naps, and it is baffling! By evening he is a lot crankier if he hasn't slept so I do what I can to get him to fall asleep during the day. It is getting better.
He really is just so content though. We could not have a greater blessing from God than this kid! He is just now starting to smile on purpose. He can smile at me and completely make my whole day. :D I'm also starting to pump milk for bottles so that Jon can give him the occasional bottle. Then when we need to leave him for longer stretches of time, or go to church or a movie and actually sit through the whole thing, we can. I am greatly enjoying BFing him and hope to continue for as long as possible (up to one year if I can, but right now I am setting a smaller goal of six months). It caught me off guard how much I love him...you really don't know what it's like to love your own child until you have him, and I didn't know I could love him this much. It makes making any necessary sacrifices much easier when I know I'm doing what I believe is best for him. He is a lot of fun and we are really enjoying him!! :)
I am going to try to keep this blog updated still with things about Nathan; it may not be as frequently as before but I am going to try to write here on a semi-regular basis. I think everyone has seen pictures one way or another, but I will post some on here soon, too. Bye for now!
Friday, January 25, 2008
Doctor update again
We went to the doctor again today. I've been still having the occasional contraction now and then, but not very many and nothing painful. He listened to the heartbeat, and said (just by feeling my stomach) that Nathan is already getting pretty big. He also put me on the monitor which measures both the heart rate and baby's movements...everything looks great there.
So we decided that if Nathan doesn't come on his own beforehand, then I will go to the hospital on Thursday to be induced! So the plan is, unless I go into labor on my own sooner, we have an appointment with the doctor Wednesday and he'll check me to see if I've made any more progress on my own, then Thursday morning we'll start calling the hospital to see if they have a room available, and when they would be ready for us to come in.
I thought I would be disappointed at the thought of facing an induction, but really it is just nice to have a date now. Now with the "threat" of induction upon him, Nathan could still come on his own between now and then. If not, then we'll definitely have our baby by Thursday or early Friday at the latest! :)
So we decided that if Nathan doesn't come on his own beforehand, then I will go to the hospital on Thursday to be induced! So the plan is, unless I go into labor on my own sooner, we have an appointment with the doctor Wednesday and he'll check me to see if I've made any more progress on my own, then Thursday morning we'll start calling the hospital to see if they have a room available, and when they would be ready for us to come in.
I thought I would be disappointed at the thought of facing an induction, but really it is just nice to have a date now. Now with the "threat" of induction upon him, Nathan could still come on his own between now and then. If not, then we'll definitely have our baby by Thursday or early Friday at the latest! :)
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Come on, Nathan!
Due tomorrow and still no sign of Nathan! Well, only a few signs, I should say. We are just keeping in mind that many first time pregnancies go beyond the due date, which is really just an estimate. We really, really want him here...but for now, we're just thankful for every extra night of good sleep!
Go ahead and leave some messages to Nathan. Let him know we all want to meet him! :)
Go ahead and leave some messages to Nathan. Let him know we all want to meet him! :)
Friday, January 18, 2008
Update from Doctor
My appointment went well. I am only about "a fingertip" (less than a centimeter) dialated according to the doctor, but Nathan has definitely dropped. I believe the doctor's words were, "WOW....! He IS really low!" So things could definitely start happening any time now. Our next appointment is next Friday morning but hopefully we won't make it til then!
Here is a picture from today (39 weeks):
Here is a picture from today (39 weeks):
Hi Everyone
Hello once again!
My doctor got called out for an emergency C-section this morning, so my appointment has been changed from 9:30 to 12:15. I will update again after that.
Jon and I (well, I can't really take any credit for it) installed the carseat yesterday. What a pain that was, but at least now it's in! We also bought a swing. Here is a picture of it. It can move forward/backward, and side to side, and is built very well. That was the last "big" thing we wanted to get before Nathan's arrival!
My doctor got called out for an emergency C-section this morning, so my appointment has been changed from 9:30 to 12:15. I will update again after that.
Jon and I (well, I can't really take any credit for it) installed the carseat yesterday. What a pain that was, but at least now it's in! We also bought a swing. Here is a picture of it. It can move forward/backward, and side to side, and is built very well. That was the last "big" thing we wanted to get before Nathan's arrival!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
I'm still here!
Hello...
I suppose I owe everyone an update! We've been pretty busy and I just haven't had a lot to say, really. Nathan is still doing well, and I think he might be engaged now...he probably was sooner actually, and I just didn't realize that was what I've been feeling. I have contractions on a daily or almost-daily basis, but nothing truly painful or progressing. I'm not TOO uncomfortable, though my back aches quite a bit after walking for a long time.
::Edit:: Okay, I don't know what I was thinking. I just walked around Walmart for about 20 minutes and I am most definitely, very uncomfortable!
The doctor appointments have been rather uneventful as well. We have another one on Friday, the 18th. The doctor said we will "see if things start picking up" at that appointment so hopefully he will check to see if I am at all dialated or effaced.
If we make it to this Thursday, Nathan will be due in just ONE MORE WEEK!
It's still early, but if you're reading this please pray that I won't end up having to be induced. I would prefer to avoid that unless it is absolutely necessary for Nathan's or my own well being. Being induced typically causes the contractions to come much stronger without as much time in between to "recover." It also makes you more likely to have a significant tear, more likely to need a c-section, more likely to have a longer and more intense labor, and less likely to go naturally. I am not opposed to drugs at all (the epidural might become my best friend!) but I would at least like to try going naturally first. We'll see how it all goes. You really can't plan for these things!
Also...a BIG THANKS again to our friends who gave us Nathan's stroller! :)
I suppose I owe everyone an update! We've been pretty busy and I just haven't had a lot to say, really. Nathan is still doing well, and I think he might be engaged now...he probably was sooner actually, and I just didn't realize that was what I've been feeling. I have contractions on a daily or almost-daily basis, but nothing truly painful or progressing. I'm not TOO uncomfortable, though my back aches quite a bit after walking for a long time.
::Edit:: Okay, I don't know what I was thinking. I just walked around Walmart for about 20 minutes and I am most definitely, very uncomfortable!
The doctor appointments have been rather uneventful as well. We have another one on Friday, the 18th. The doctor said we will "see if things start picking up" at that appointment so hopefully he will check to see if I am at all dialated or effaced.
If we make it to this Thursday, Nathan will be due in just ONE MORE WEEK!
It's still early, but if you're reading this please pray that I won't end up having to be induced. I would prefer to avoid that unless it is absolutely necessary for Nathan's or my own well being. Being induced typically causes the contractions to come much stronger without as much time in between to "recover." It also makes you more likely to have a significant tear, more likely to need a c-section, more likely to have a longer and more intense labor, and less likely to go naturally. I am not opposed to drugs at all (the epidural might become my best friend!) but I would at least like to try going naturally first. We'll see how it all goes. You really can't plan for these things!
Also...a BIG THANKS again to our friends who gave us Nathan's stroller! :)
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