I want to remember these memories forever. I want them engrained in my brain to cherish. But just as the details of Sampson's pregnancy, labor, delivery, and first days have started to fade away....so are these. While I want to remember every detail, every speck of every moment... I do not have that kind of brain power. I am a mom, and I have what is infamously called 'Mom Brain'. Plus I am convinced that God has given us this lapse in memory so we can forget the reason why the final 9th month of pregnancy feels like it lasts an eternity. As moms we say we would relive it all over again to have our precious little ones in our arms a million times. But when I really think about it, and when my husband recalls his thoughts and feelings about the 2nd and 3rd trimester...I'll be surprised if this isn't our 2nd and final rodeo. But THAT is for another time, much further away, to revisit and finalize... because I definitely am not ready for that nail in the coffin of lasts. Today, I am 3 weeks 5 days postpartum. It's sad/crazy/relieving/blessed/etc to think it's been 'that long' already. There are so many memories that have been made already. From amazing to devastating to amazing and wonderful and all in between. The one word I can say at this point is .... gratitude. I am so very grateful that I am able to tell my story as it is and we are so blessed. Anyway, the time leading up to September 29, 2017 are ones that Mom Brain wants you to forget, but I have lingering thoughts and memories that I'd like to jot down so bare with me. When we decided that Sam needed a sibling, we didn't expect that the first month trying would stick. So when I felt those first prenancy signs and I was certain I was psyching myself out. Slight nausea, extreme fatigue, aversion to wine, and extreme fatigue...wait, I said that already? It was much too soon to really take a test, but the box came with three so what was one wasted test, right? Well those two lines came through before I could wipe and flush. And the margaritas I was planning the next day with girlfriends turned into water with lemon. 😂 On the good days, I felt really good. I love the general idea and feeling of pregnancy. I truly enjoyed every kick, every hiccup, every ninja roll. I actually loved my belly bump, I miss it already. But the not so good days...I can see why Dominic hated my 2nd and 3rd trimesters. While I am thankful to not have morning sickness or gestational diabetes, I do have to worry about gestational hypertension and the aches of my pelvis and hips separating...to the point that in the right angle- grinded my pelvic bones together when I walked. It was very painful and became so that I couldn't do workouts or really just walk in general. The final 3 or so weeks I could only sleep in roughly 1.5 hour increments before waking up and painfully having to roll over to my other side. I don't say this for pity or eye rolls or anything but just simply to remember and honor every women's aches and pains and sacrifices that it sometimes takes to bring our precious babies into this world. When I was pregnant with Sam, I didn't pay attention much to my blood pressure readings until the end when I was unfortunately emergency induced in the safety of ending the pregnancy and hopefully avoiding preeclampsia. I was 38 weeks, and very very swollen with the summer heat. I was medically required to have a magnesium IV after delivery to treat my high blood pressure and prevent symptoms of what could have been a dangerous situation. I certainly wanted to avoid a repeat experience. This pregnancy was different. I was 25 lbs lighter to start with and had developed much healthier eating and workout habits. I was very diligent and mindful of my blood pressure readings and weight gain with every appointment. Thankfully this summer was on the milder side and we had quite a few days without a lot of super excessive heat that helped my water retention. BUT 50% of women that experience gestational hypertension in one pregnancy are likely to develop the same fate in another pregnancy. The same reasons why those that have hypertension outside of pregnancy are not the same causes of gestational hypertension. It is not caused by high salt, carbs, etc I'm told by my doctor....although I do believe a healthier lifestyle with lower processed foods/carbs, and salt do aid in overall wellness in general. So with that being said, I carried my 2nd pregnancy up until week 39.... 39 weeks 5 days/Thursday I had my regular weekly appointment. My BP reading was high (over 140/90, the early stages of what could develop into preeclampsia) and I was asked to come in early the next morning for a recheck. If the recheck was lower...then the high reading today was just a fluke and I could carry on being pregnant until I went into labor on my own. If the recheck was the same or higher I would have to discuss another induction. So Friday morning came, 39 weeks 6 days, and the recheck was slightly higher. I was given the option to wait it out and definitely be induced on Sunday if I didn't go on my own or be induced today. The benefits of being able to move around more in labor and be less sick today outweighed the desire to go on my own and have the risk of becoming more sick by Sunday. So Dominic and I packed our final bags and headed to the hospital to make our family of three...a family of four. To Be Continued in Labor and Delivery..... Final Picture as a Family of 3
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September 2017
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