Kalea Isabelle

I am so sorry for not being able to post until today. Kalea is now 1 month old (4 weeks and 2 days to be exact).

Here is our baby story:

I called the hospital at 5 am on May 17, 2011. My doctor told me to do so, to make sure they are ready for me when I get there at 6 am. Matt and I were at Labor and Delivery by 6 am. When we got there, I got my hospital gown on and we had to wait until my doctor got there at around 7:30-8:00 am.

My doctor was going to break my water first and see if I will go into labor naturally after that. I was 3 cm dilated. She broke my water around 8 am. There was so much water and I don't even remember having that much when I was pregnant with Kai. It was hard to go to the bathroom because I had a trail of water dripping everywhere I went.

I did not start contracting yet, so they decided to wait for 2 hours. By 10 am they thought it would be better to start the pitocin. They put me on a low dose of pitocin and it didn't take long at all (about an hour or so) before I started contracting regularly. My contractions were 3-4 minutes apart at that point. It was pretty bearable. They were strong contractions, but I felt that maybe I can go on without an epidural.

My doctor came back in around 12:30-12:45 pm. I was 5 cm at that point. She asked if I needed an epidural, and I was still torn at that point. I asked her when would be the best time and when will it be too late? She said it usually goes faster after 6 cm.

When she left I started having stronger contractions and they were closer together. They felt so close together that I don't think there was a rest period in between. They were less than a minute a part. I finally asked the nurse for the epidural at that point. They gave me the epidural around 1:45-2:00 pm. The nurse checked and I was 6 cm at that point.

I was feeling so much better after that. I couldn't feel the pain, but I could feel a lot of pressure. It wasn't the same when I was pregnant with Kai. With Kai I felt some pain on one side, but didn't really feel much pressure down there. At one point I couldn't even tell when I was contracting. With this pregnancy, I knew when I was contracting, but I felt no pain.

The nurse came in just as I was feeling a lot of pressure (that was around 2:10-2:15 pm). She wanted to check and see how I was progressing, because my contractions were getting stronger and baby girl's heart rate would fluctuate every time I contracted. They were scared that the umbilical cord might be wrapped around her neck. At that point, I was pretty nervous because that was my biggest fear, since Kai had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck.

She checked to see how dilated I was and said, "You are 10 cm. Let's have this baby." They called my doctor who just left and my doctor had to circle back. They were joking around and said, we should have just told her not leave.

I started pushing around 2:30 pm. By 2:51 pm, Kalea Isabelle Alverson was born. She was 6 lbs. 13 oz., 20 inches long and her head circumference was 13 inches.

Just like her brother, the umbilical cord was also wrapped around her neck. They were able to give her to me as soon as she came out. Matt was able to cut her umbilical cord. According to my doctor, I have one of the longest umbilical cords she had ever seen. I had no idea that was even possible. I though everyone had some sort of standard length. lol!

On her 2nd week check up, Kalea was 7 lbs. 6 oz. She lost some weight after birth, so it was good to know that she was gaining weight again.

I'll check back in when she's 2 months. :)

38 weeks and 4 days

So, I am finally on maternity leave. My last day at work was yesterday. I am so relieved. I cleaned some of baby girl's clothes yesterday. I am feeling very anxious, tired, excited, impatient, and every other feeling you could think of. I am also trying to relish every moment with my little boy while he is still the only child. I know it's going to be so different once baby girl comes, and I want to spend as much quality time with him as possible.
Now to get you caught up on what has been happening the last couple of weeks:

Survey

How far along?: 38 weeks 4 days
How big is baby?: The size of a watermelon..
Stretch marks?: Yes. :(
Maternity clothes: Maternity leggings, dresses, and some long tops..getting too big.
Sleep?: What is that?
Moment this week?: Finding out when I will be getting induced. and my last day at work. :)

Food Cravings?: Cantaloupe, root beer, ice cream, Twix!
Gender?: Baby Girl
Movement? Yes.
What I miss?: SLEEP, balance, good memory, and some strawberry margarita.
Belly button: Out.
What I'm looking forward to?: Seeing and holding my baby girl!

During my 36 week check up I was 1 cm dilated and 80% effaced. I had a trip to the hospital during the weekend due to a stomach bug I caught, which made me vomit everything. They had to hook me up to an IV to make sure mommy and baby were okay. I started having contractions midway through my IV. I wasn't progressing, so I was sent home (Thank goodness!). My contractions eventually stopped the next day.

During my 37 week check up I was 1-2 cm dilated and still 80% effaced. And my last and final check up at 38 weeks I was 2-3 cm dilated and still 80% effaced.

I am scheduled to be induced at 6 am on March 17, 2011 (Tuesday). I asked my doctor if she could break my water first before using any Pitocin. I want to see if I can progress naturally without the help of Pitocin. I also wish that I go before then, so that they don't have to induce me at all. But I know baby girl will come when she is ready. If she doesn't come by Tuesday, I'm afraid we would have to evict her, so that we can finally see her. :)

So, I am finally on maternity leave. My last day at work was today. I am so relieved. I am currently cleaning some of baby girl's clothes. I am feeling very anxious, tired, excited, impatient, and every other feeling you could think of. I am also trying to relish every moment with my little boy while he is still the only child. I know it's going to be so different once baby girl comes, and I want to spend as much quality time with him as possible.

Now to get you caught up on what has been happening the last couple of weeks:

 Survey

How far along?: 33 weeks 4 days
How big is baby?: The size of a Honeydew.
Stretch marks?: Yes. :(
Maternity clothes: Maternity leggings, dresses, and some long tops..getting too big.
Sleep?: Back to no sleep.
Best moment this week?: None this week. Lower back hurts and hips hurt. Everything hurts!
Food Cravings?: Cantaloupe,  root beer, orange juice, Salad, hamburger, blueberry waffles, pancakes, salad, grapefruit, ice cream.  Peanut butter. Twix!
Gender?: Baby Girl
Movement? Yes.
What I miss?: SLEEP, balance, good memory, and some strawberry margarita.
Belly button:  Out.
What I'm looking forward to?: Seeing and holding my baby girl!
Milestone: "Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month."-thebump.com


During my 36 week check up I was 1 cm dilated and 80% effaced. I had a trip to the hospital during the weekend due to a stomach bug I caught, which made me vomit everything. They had to hook me up to an IV to make sure mommy and baby were okay. I started having contractions midway through my IV. I wasn't progressing, so I was sent home (Thank goodness!). My contractions eventually stopped the next day.

During  my 37 week check up I was 1-2 cm dilated and still 80% effaced. And my last and final check up at 38 weeks I was 2-3 cm dilated and still 80% effaced.

I am scheduled to be induced at 6 am on March 17, 2011 (Tuesday). I asked my doctor if she could break my water first before using any pitocin. I want to see if I can progress naturally without the help of pitocin. I also wish that I go before then, so that they don't have to induce me at all. But I know baby girl will come when she is ready. If she doesn't come by Tuesday, I'm afraid we would have to evict her, so that we can finally see her. :)

This may be my last post before I give birth, so my next one will be the birth story. Stay tuned.

38 weeks and 3 days

So, I am finally on maternity leave. My last day at work was today. I am so relieved. I am currently cleaning some of baby girl's clothes. I am feeling very anxious, tired, excited, impatient, and every other feeling you could think of. I am also trying to relish every moment with my little boy while he is still the only child. I know it's going to be so different once baby girl comes, and I want to spend as much quality time with him as possible.

I am scheduled to be induced at 6 am on March 17, 2011 (Tuesday). I asked my doctor if she could break my water first before using any pitocin. I want to see if I can progress naturally without the help of pitocin. During my 36 week check up I was 1 cm dilated and 80% effaced. I had a trip to the hospital during the weekend due to a stomach bug I caught, which made me vomit everything. They had to hook me up to an IV to make sure mommy and baby were okay. I started having contractions midway through my IV.

33 weeks and 4 days

33 weeks
Survey

How far along?: 33 weeks 4 days
How big is baby?: The size of a Honeydew.
Stretch marks?: Yes. :(
Maternity clothes: Maternity leggings, dresses, and some long tops..getting too big.
Sleep?: Back to no sleep.
Best moment this week?: None this week. Lower back hurts and hips hurt. Everything hurts!
Food Cravings?: Cantaloupe,  root beer, orange juice, Salad, hamburger, blueberry waffles, pancakes, salad, grapefruit, ice cream.  Peanut butter. Twix!
Gender?: Baby Girl
Movement? Yes.
What I miss?: SLEEP, balance, good memory, and some strawberry margarita.
Belly button:  Out.
What I'm looking forward to?: Seeing and holding my baby girl!
Milestone: "Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month."-thebump.com


I've been getting a lot of Braxton Hicks the past couple of weeks. I had two strong contractions this evening, but that was it. I feel like she is  lower now because  my hips are hurting a lot more and my back as well. I feel more pressure down there. We had a coping with labor class last week and this Wednesday I will have my 34 week check up and we will also be touring the hospital that same day. I have two baby showers that are coming up. One for family and friends on April 16th and the other one with the people I work with which will be on May 1st.

It's a GIRL!!!!

20 weeks
Survey

How far along?: 20 weeks 1 day
How big is baby?: The size of a Cantaloupe.
Stretch marks?: still have the ones from my first pregnancy.
Maternity clothes: maternity pants and long tops.
Sleep?: Hips are starting to hurt when I sleep.
Best moment this week?: Finding out that the baby is a GIRL and that she is nice and healthy!
Food Cravings?: Mangoes, root beer, Izzie drinks, orange juice, Salad, hamburger, scrambled eggs, blueberry waffles, salad, grapefruit, mangoes! Filipino food. Sometimes Chinese Food. Chocolate. strawberry shortcake.
Gender?: The big day was today. The big ultrasound! We are having a baby girl!!! :)
Movement?: Most definitely!
What I miss?: SLEEP, balance, good memory, and some wine or chardonnay.
Belly button:  Starting to pop out just a little.
What I'm looking forward to?: Buying cute girl stuff!!!
Milestone: "Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!"-thebump.com

Heart Rate: 144
Weight: 123 lbs.