Epidurals & Complications with Normal Babies

If you decide you want an epidural, tell the doctor if Novocaine does not work on you. If you've ever had a cavity filled at the dentist you will know pretty quickly if it works, or if you're like me and it does nothing for pain. Before an epidural, they are supposed to give you a local anesthetic to numb the area before they put in a catheter to drip the medicine in your back. However, I felt the shot as well as the entire catheter going down m spine. They said they heard me scream from the waiting room. My son was under a lot of prenatal stress because of this, and a little bit after the epidural his heartbeat dropped down to 30 (120 is normal), three times. On the fourth they decided to take me in for a C-Section. This was the only truly painful part of my labor.
It's very rare that you're like me and intolerant to Novocaine, but since the thing they use to numb you is made of it, you should know going into it if it will work on you or not.

What to Expect for Premature Babies

I was fortunate enough to have a normal, healthy baby at 38 weeks, but my friend did have a premie. Here's what she said to expect if you do.

Being Prepared For A Preemie: 13 Things I Wish That I’d Known

At just 34 weeks, I welcomed Sadie Sara Grace weighing 4lbs. 5oz. After delivery, I held her for literally 2 seconds before they immediately took her to the NICU. For 12 hours, I had no idea what was going on with my daughter, just procedure after procedure. They wouldn’t let my husband see her until about 10 hours after I delivered her. Finally, he was able to hold her, but I still hadn’t seen her since giving birth. Come to find out, she had some severe complications, went into shock and had to revived for a few seconds after intubation. One of the many reasons I wasn’t able to hold her for 12 hours. 
After 4 very long weeks in the NICU, we finally welcomed Sadie home. With her little accessory — a heart monitor. However, we felt blessed she was able to be with us and fought through her journey. While I may be a pro when it comes to being a Mom – I was not a pro at handling a preemie. I remember how hard leaving the hospital was without my baby. It is something that I can’t even explain. Holding back the tears every time I had to leave her behind was heart breaking. Knowing I had a baby but she was not with us, at home, like a new baby should be.
Here is what I wish I would have known when it comes to preparing for a preemie, after the jump. 

- Don't Stress Over the Cords

It may be overwhelming to see cords, PICU lines, and a feeding tube - but, it is all helping your baby. Don't worry if everything alarms when you pick them up for the first times. It happens! 

- Have Faith, They Are In Good Hands

You have to remind yourself, the hospital is the best place for a preemie. If you have any concern ever, always talk to someone. Especially if you aren't happy with your care. And remember, call to check on your baby anytime when you can't be at their side. 

-  Research Your Hospital 

Make sure the hospital where you are delivering has a good NICU. Even if your baby is full term, this is still something you need to know to make sure your baby gets the best care. 

- Prepare the Nursery 

Make sure you do this ahead of time so if you go into labor way before your due date, you're prepared. 

- Preemie Baby Problems

Read about common preemie problems. Apena, Respiratory distress, Jaundice...things you may become familiar with over time.

- Don't Feel Guilty

When you have to leave the hospital, it's okay to cry. Don't feel guilty to not be at the bed side 24/7. You need your rest too!

- They May Have to Go Back

Be prepared. As preemies, they catch things easily and may have to return to the NICU. But remember, it's the best place for them. 

 

 -Make It or Break It Points

Your preemie will need to meet goals. From breathing on his own to being able to maintain body temperature out of the incubator. Your baby will have steps it needs to meet before discharge. Being able to bottle-fed and gaining weight steadily is a must. 

 

 - Be Prepared for Anything

For any emergency once the baby is home. Take an Infant CPR class before your baby comes home. This may even be required for those with apnea monitors. 

 

- Have a Plan

If you have other children, make sure you have a plan or schedule when it comes to visiting your baby in the NICU. Remember, your older children will remember when you aren't there. Don't feel guilty if you have to leave the baby. 

 

- Discharge Day

You will feel a mixture of worry and joy. Remember, your team of doctors will not send a preemie home until they know the baby is ready. 

 

- Finally Home

Once you are home, expect to keep a calm and quiet environment. Preemies are susceptible because their immune systems are still developing. Don't plan on running errands with them just yet! 

 

- They Will Be Okay

Sadie, now 1 year old, with no health issues at all!

 

What to Expect During Delivery

You will be wired up! 2 monitors on your belly (one for baby's heartbeat, one for your contractions), a blood pressure monitor, pulse monitor, and an IV. If you need induced, they'll start you on a medicine called Pitocin that makes contractions stronger. It's scary, but breathe and relax. If you choose to get an epidural, they will also give you a urinary catheter because you lose feeling from the waste down and won't be able to walk to the bathroom. That doesn't hurt at all.

Have you ever gotten Novocaine at the dentist? Did it work? Novocaine doesn't work on me, so if you're the same then TELL YOUR DOCTOR! The stuff they give you to numb your back before they put in the epidural is made of the same stuff as Novocaine, so if you're intolerant to the anesthetic you'll feel the catheter go into your back. That was the only truly painful thing about my labor. If you're ok with it, it's no big deal though, easy peasy :) I don't recommend looking up what happens when they put one in, because it looks worse than it feels.  It's not bad at all, especially if the numbing stuff works.

You'll have a lot of visitors, sometimes when you're in pain. Don't be afraid to (politely) ask for some time to yourself. Reassure them that you'd love them to visit as soon as you're comfortable.

If you have a C-section, it'll take about 45 minutes to get back to the operating room. You'll be too high to notice. Once you get back, they'll prep you and he/she'll be out in no time! The hardest part about a C-section is waiting to be stitched up. Again, you're too high to count time, but all I can tell you is it felt like an eternity. My boyfriend got to take the baby to the recovery room and I waited by myself for the doctors to finish. I only got to see a glimpse of my baby and it killed me to wait. They told me it would be about 45 minutes. Then you have to recover for an hour, but you can bring visitors if they're not too busy. Feel free to sleep now, you deserve it.

Stretch Marks Prevention

I heard you can prevent them using Castor Oil or baby oil, unfortunately I didn't hear about this until after I got them. Once you get them they don't go away so try. Cocoa butter didn't work for me or anyone else I know of. These things happen overnight, if you haven't been able to tell already, so start treating them now.

Will it Hurt?

For me, it didn't hurt that bad. It felt like bad period cramps. I was in labor 7 hours before they took me for the c-section and I only moaned/yelled once. Deep breathing will get you through it, and when the pain gets bad try rubbing up and down your thighs.
When it gets really bad, try standing with a birthing ball. Walking around made the pain go away and when I was standing with the ball I just imagined I was channeling all that pain through my hands into the ball.
The thing that helped the most was counting to 60 over and over again. It came down to 1-20 seconds I felt the contraction coming, 20-45 the pain was intense, then 45-60 was a cooling down period. I lost count a lot, but it helped distract me and get me through it. It also gave me a little predictability so I knew what to expect next.

I don't remember a lot from this stage of labor, but I remember the cool washcloth helped.

Spotting and Water Breaking

This is where is gets a little yucky. You might have a little bleeding toward the end of your pregnancy. This might be a little of what is called the mucus plug, it keeps the baby's fluid in your uterus. It will look a little like old period blood. It sheds a little bit until your water breaks.

Your water might come out clear, but mine was pink and red. This would be the full mucus plug coming out. You'll know when your water breaks, it's not a trickle. It's a gush. You'll feel like you peed your pants but didn't have control over it.

My biggest fear was my water breaking in public. I was sleeping and I woke up because I felt some water and ran to the bathroom. I wish you the same luck.

If you have Group B Strep, you need to call your doctor right away to let them know you've gone into labor. I would save the number in your cell phone. Even if contractions haven't started, they need to set you up before the baby hits the birth canal so they don't get it.

If you don't have Group B Strep, you can chill out until the contractions get bad. Grab something to eat (you can't eat in labor) and take a warm shower to relax before you go to the hospital.

Group B Strep & Testing for Gestational diabetes

At about 25 weeks they'll test you for diabetes of pregnancy. It's pretty common. If you have it, it's no big deal and the doctor will monitor you. Basically, you drink something that tastes like really sugary Hi-C and they'll draw your blood. They do a LOT of drawing blood in pregnancy. Find a good nurse that can draw well and stick with them.

A few weeks later they'll test you for Group B Strep. About 1/1,000 people get this, I was one of the lucky ones who got it. They test by swabbing your cervix with a Q-tip and they'll call you with results. It's quick and easy. If you do have it, they'll have to give you antibiotics when you go into labor so you don't pass it on to the baby. No big deal.

"I can't breathe!" and Side Pains

As your due date comes closer the baby will "drop". You'll start to feel some pressure on your bladder and between your hips that will make it really difficult to walk. I also got winded on short walks. Take your time, but you have to keep moving. It's important for controlling your weight gain and the baby's development. I've also heard it helps with labor because you get really winded when pushing. I never pushed, so I couldn't tell you  if that's true or not.

You also might feel side stitches or pain in your hip muscles. Those are ligaments pulling and stretching in preparation for birth. You're getting close to the end!

You might find you can't lay on your back because it hurts. Your hips might be popping out of place, mine still do from my pregnancy.

Packing A Hospital Bag

Keep a general list of what you will need to pack about a month before you are due. This way, it will be easy to pack and go, especially if you're in a hurry like I was.

You'll need:
-PJs- comfortable ones
-Tooth Brush
-Cell phones & chargers
-A CAMERA!!! with a charger/batteries
-Laptop (you'll be there a few days & probably get bored)
-A comfy pillow/blanket
-Slippers
-An outfit for going home (make it baggy, your swelling will not have gone down yet)
-Hairbrush/ hair ties
-A robe if you have one
-Entertainment for yourself & whoever will be staying with you. This could take a long, long time.
-Snacks that won't go bad sitting out
-Shower stuff
-Deodorant
-Baby clothes & PJ's

Don't forget your car seat.

Annoying the Doctor

Don't be afraid to ask questions or call the office a million times to find out what you can and can't take for nausea, colds, headaches, or anything. They've heard it all before and it's their job. Ask them for a list of meds you are allowed to have.

Prepare Now!

You will need the house to be ready for the baby before you get home from the hospital. Mine was not and it was hard to get the hospital bag ready. The baby can come at any time- Bryson was 2 weeks early. Have your baby shower about 8 weeks before you are due, then try to get everything put away so you know what you still need. Most importantly, try to keep the house clean so it's not a nightmare when you get home from the hospital.

Heartburn, Hair Loss & Weight Gain

OMG- my heartburn during pregnancy was unbearable. I wanted to cry every night and I couldn't sleep. The prenatal vitamins I was taking made it worse. If you're having these problems, try taking 2 Flinstone's chewables every day. That's what my doctor suggested.

<--- My hair fell out during pregnancy and I was super self conscious. Every time I washed it fistfuls of hair came out. Try parting your hair differently or doing pony tails. It will grow back in eventually.

I felt so hideous toward the end because I couldn't fit into any cute clothes, my hair was thinning, everyone thought I was getting fat, and I gained 35 pounds by the time I had him. Make sure you take time to take lots of bubble baths, paint your nails, shave, makeup, and be pretty. You don't look as bad as you think. These are my feet as I was preparing to deliver. I got tired and couldn't finish the other foot :)

Baby Shopping- What You Do and Don't Need

In my pregnancy preparation I got so OCD and anal about everything. I didn't really have any guidance on what to buy other than the baby registry catalog at Babies 'R Us (who thinks you need everything in the store).

The first 3 months, here's everything I've actually USED. The other stuff is sitting in the garage.
-Changing table & pad
-Diaper Bag
-Activity Mat for "tummy time"
-Diaper Genie
-Pack 'n Play (he sleeps here instead of a crib)
-Basinette
-Car Seat
-Infant Bath Tub
-Bottles (9-11oz size... they'll outgrow the 6oz in a few weeks) & Bottle Brush
-Breast pads (whether you're breast feeding or not)
-Baby book
-rocker
-bouncer
-Swing
-Baby Shampoo and Lotion
-Baby Monitor
-Hand Sanitizer
-Diapers (I buy the Target brand- super cheap!!)
-Wipes (Walmart Parent's Choice brand works the best. Huggie's are crap).
-Decorations for your nursery
-Thermometer
-Diaper Rash Cream
-Vaseline (especially if you have a boy)

I would definitely put all this stuff on your registry. If you're going to out on diapers, ask for the size 1.The hospital will give you Newborn Diapers to take home and then you'll just need to buy a small package on your own. 

You DON'T need:
-You will get a bunch of bibs and baby clothes at your shower so don't buy any unless they're really cute.
-The hospital will also give you baby hairbrushes and receiving blankets.
-You won't need any baby toys until 3 months. They won't even look at them. You also won't need a walker or Johnny Jump-Up until he's much older (4-6 months).
-You don't need a feeding chair
-Don't ask for formula because you don't know what your baby will go for yet. The hospital will give you samples.
-Normal washcloths and towels work for the baby's bath time.

Enjoy This Time!

Watch closely for every movement of your belly and cherish the feeling of pregnancy. I wished for mine to be over quickly and now I miss it. I completely forget what most of those feelings are like. Don't be ashamed to be young and pregnant. Cherish it. This is your time with your baby, no one else's.

Dealing With Dads

Although my baby-daddy lives with me, I still had a lot of problems getting him to step up. He was a frequent marijuana user before the baby, so getting him to quit was a huge fight. He went behind my back a lot. Even the day of my baby shower he was trying to buy. He had a hard time just giving in to the fact that we were going to have to suck this up and just get serious. He even tried to break up with me once, he talked to other girls, and spent a lot of time with his crappy friends. I felt like I was the only one being responsible, and because he didn't  have a baby attached to him he could do as he pleased. It made my pregnancy really stressful and I didn't get to enjoy it. I think I still might resent him a little for that.

Fortunately he came around. After the baby was born he did everything for the first 2 weeks while I recovered. We go back and forth between being superdad and being incredibly lazy. Just roll your eyes and keep pulling teeth to get him to do what the baby needs. It's not about how much of a dick he is, so don't even bother telling him off. Just get the job done.

"I want to look bigger" & Losing Friends

When I was pregnant no one could tell. They just think I was gaining weight really quickly. Usually, moms of boys look like a basketball in front. This was me in the OB triage at the hospital about to give birth.

Until people found out I was pregnant I had a horrible time socially. I'm taking college classes at FGCU, so when I started going there most of my high school friends dropped me. When I couldn't party anymore, even more people started ignoring my calls. I spent most of the latter half of my pregnancy in the house by myself while my boyfriend was "enjoying his freedom before the baby".

Even people at FGCU gave me weird looks and wouldn't speak to me. I got a lot of stares and whispers. At the end of month 8 I finally started telling people (although I thought it was pretty obvious) and then school really got fun. They weren't judgmental at all and they were a little relieved that the ice was broken.

I'm not sure what the moral of that story was, but just know it will get better.

When you're feeling lonely everyone says "make new friends". Not so easy when you're pregnant. Try going on MeetUp.com and find some groups to join. It'll get you out of the house and find people with common interests.

Hormones!

Everyone knows that a pregnant woman is not responsible for anything she says or does ;)
Seriously, if you're doing or saying stuff you don't usually do, it's normal. Anything you do, it's normal. Don't sweat it.
PS- your hormones won't go back to their normal pre-pregnancy levels for about 2 years. Just breathe and cut yourself some slack.
PSS- if you have a c-section, it takes your body even longer to adjust. Since your body doesn't realize it gave birth, you still feel pregnant for a few weeks, then your body gets confused and kinda goes haywire.

Dealing With the Public

When is a good time to tell people? The experts say 12 weeks, but if you know you're pregnant you're most likely wanting to shout it to the world. Just do it whenever it is comfortable for you.

As a teen mom, I got a lot of stares when I was pregnant. Especially from the old people. Now, I still get stared down at Walmart. The thing is, they're not staring unless you're looking. Quit looking.

What might happen to you is that once the baby is here, people might not know he/she's yours. When I'm out with my step mom everyone always comes to her with the "cute baby!" comments. It makes me mad, but suppress the urge to scream "he's mine!". They're not doing it on purpose, and sometimes the person that's holding him doesn't know how to respond either.

Growing Into Your Body

Within a week of finding out I was pregnant my jeans stopped fitting. Go buy yourself some maternity pants, but hold off on the shirts. Most of your shirts will fit you until 7-9 months. If they don't, just but some baggier shirts, because maternity clothes are expensive and you can only wear them for this short period of time.

Whether you want to gain weight or you're already trying to lose weight, it's going to come. I had a hard time eating the first 5 months and I thought I needed to force myself to eat for the baby. That's so wrong, eat how you normally would and make sure you take a vitamin. You're going to start uncontrollably shoving everything in your mouth at the end of this so take it slow for now.

Everyone is going to tell you "you can't do ____ you're pregnant". YOU know what your body can and can't do. If you feel like you can still jog, jog. If you can lift it comfortably, then do it. Later in this pregnancy you won't be able to breathe and you'll want to sit all day. Don't force yourself to sit around if you feel like you can still do stuff.

Taking The Test & Announcing You're Pregnant

For me, the scariest part of pregnancy ended up being telling my parents. I don't care how Christian you are or how against abortion you are, it will pop in your head. At least in the back of your head. Here's some reassurance though, it's probably easier to tell whoever you need to tell than you're thinking. You'll probably make a bigger deal of it than they will. Even if you're saying "you don't know my parents they'll kill me" trust me you don't know mine. The bottom line is no one can change the decisions you made or the fact that you're pregnant so any crap you get for it is just noise. Just get it over and people will get over it too.

If you still haven't done it, taking a test is scary. But so is staying up all night thinking of the possibilities. Buy one with a friend if you have to. I would go for the digitals because they're easier and quicker. You don't have to go through this alone- it's scary. Find a friend to go WITH you. If you're like me and never asked for help, you better get used to it because it isn't about you anymore. You'll be needing support a lot soon.

PS- keep your test for the memories :)

How You Know If You're Pregnant

I felt like I had a full bladder all the time. My stomach felt very heavy inside. That's how I kinda knew even before taking a test. I Googled every symptom that came up and it kept screaming pregnancy. It was so accurate that my symptoms matched up to the week I was pregnant (6-7 weeks at the time of taking the test).

If you've never been honest with your parents, now is the time to do so. If you can't come out with "hey, I might be pregnant" you can ease into it like I did. I was very vocal about my symptoms when I began to think it could be a possibility. I claimed it was probably a side effect of the birth control. If you do that, then when it's time to take a test, most likely it will be their idea. My dad asked if there was any possibility I could be, and I said yes and they got me a test that night.

When I took the test, I still didn't think that I could possibly be pregnant. Me of all people, that couldn't be possible even if the symptoms were present. When "Pregnant" came up on the Clear Blue test, my stomach went in my throat. I thought my dad was going to blow up. He actually never yelled or got mad, because we don't believe in abortion. What's done is done, and he said just don't let it happen again. I didn't want to show it, but I was kinda happy and definitely excited.

Birth Control

The pill worked just fine for me, but I always forgot to take it. I was starting to get a little nervous because the relationship I was in was getting pretty serious and I wanted something that would be more reliable. Since I'm a forgetter, I wanted something that I wouldn't have to take everyday, so I Googled birth control options and found the patch. Bingo, I called my OBGYN and she sent the script over the phone. She said I would be okay to start using it right away and I shouldn't have any problems. Not so much! I got pregnant around the first 1-2 weeks on the patch. Some tell me it's because I didn't wait long enough, but I found out on my own it doesn't work for people over 160 pounds and even then the success rate is ridiculously low.

DON'T USE THE PATCH! Be serious about any birth control you use, because it can and will happen the first time you aren't careful.

First Post

At this point in time, my son is 3 months old. There are so many things I wish I would've known during my pregnancy, because 1/2 of what I was told by others ended up being sooooo wrong. I have a couple friends in mind I with this blog- I want to help you guys because being a young mom can be so scary. Our experiences are so different from others'. So here's what I can tell you about my teen pregnancy, birth and post-birth recovery, and the experience of being a teen mom.