Introducing Andrew Thomas Becker

Andrew Thomas Becker was born Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 7:47 pm.  He weighs 7 lbs 5 oz and is 20.5 inches long.

On Friday, May 25th contractions started right before Ethan's nap around 1:00.  The contractions came every 15 minutes and were painful but manageable at that point.  Around 2:00 I called Chris at work.  He had just been given the option to leave work at 2:15 due to the upcoming Memorial Day holiday.  By the time Chris came home, contractions were every five minutes and lasting for one minute.  We made the decision to head to the hospital.  We called Kathy and asked her to come take Ethan.  By the time she arrived, contractions were coming every 3 minutes and were getting fairly painful.

After arriving at Good Samaritan Hospital, we were instructed to sit in the waiting room until a nurse could assist us.  We sat for a miserable hour as the contractions intensified but began to space out.  After being checked in the triage room, it was determined that I remained 2 cm dilated, just as I had been at my previous appointment on Monday.  We were sent home that night with orders to keep my doctor's appointment for Tuesday and return to the hospital when the contractions were more intense.  I was crushed and feeling extremely defeated.  In my mind, if I wasn't experiencing labor just now, I didn't know what I could handle!

Contractions continued all night long ranging from 3 to 15 minutes apart.  I couldn't even attempt to sleep laying down so I tried the rocking chair.  I spent the night and much of the morning in an enormous amount of pain and slept very little.  However, I was terrified to return to the hospital just to be told to go back home.

Around 1:00 on Saturday, we decided to go back to hospital expecting to be sent home again.  We thought it would be wiser to be spent back home around 4:00 as opposed to 9:30 like the night before.  Contractions had really slowed down and were anywhere from 10-15 minutes apart and felt relatively weak.  In fact, we stopped to get ice cream before going to the hospital.

When we returned to the hospital, yet again, I was given a room in labor and delivery immediately rather than in the waiting room  because triage was full.  I was checked fairly early where it was determined that I was dilated 5-6 cm!  From there, everything seemed to go so quickly!  I was immediately given an epidural and the doctor broke my water around 4:30 to place an internal monitor on baby.  I was check again around 6:45 pm and was dilated 8 cm. 

Dad and Linda arrived around this time but weren't able to stay long in the room.  Almost as soon as they got there, I felt an incredible amount of pressure.  When checked, I was AC (almost complete.)  Literally two minutes later, my doctor returned to the room, checked, and said it was time to push!!!!  After just a few pushes, baby's heart rate started to drop and I became terrified that another c-section was in the future.  Instead the doctor used forceps and Andrew arrived quickly after.

I ended up with a second degree tear but overall, delivery and recovery has been so much better with the VBAC.

38 Weeks

I had a doctor's appointment today.  Weight is up 26 lbs and blood pressure was a bit high.  I was expecting high blood pressure due to the fact that I had just received a call saying Ethan had gotten sick.  The good news is that I'm 2 cm dilated and thinning at this point!  Everything else is looking good.  Next appointment is Tuesday at 39 weeks 3 days.

"Loving Two"

"Loving Two"

I walk along holding your two year old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly, I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: How could I ever love another child as I love you? Then she is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you've never shared me before. I hear you telling me in your own way, "Please love only me." And I hear myself telling you in mine, "I can't." I know, in fact, that I never can again. You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship that we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again. But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I'm afraid to let you see me enjoying her- as though I am betraying you. But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection. More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast. But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times -- only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other. I watch how she adores you -- as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of her new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven't taken something from you, I've given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you. I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you--only differently. And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you'll never share my love. There's enough of that for both of you--you each have your own supply. I love you both. And I thank you both for blessing my life. ~Author unknown

37 Weeks: Full Term

How far along: 37 Weeks 2 days

Total weight gain: 25 lbs.  Not bad for full term

How much does baby weigh: around 6 lbs

Maternity clothes: I've outgrown most of them.  Thank goodness for cozy jammy pants and yoga pants

Stretch marks:  I haven't noticed anything new

Sleep:  I still wake up every two hours or so but I'm not sure if that's because of baby or Ethan.  Ethan's been having trouble staying asleep at night and we've had to go in at least once most nights.  I'm really looking forward to my naps now that I'm on leave.

Best moment this week:  Finding out that I've made progress.  As of today I'm 1 cm!  It may not sound like much but it was enough to keep the doctor from scheduling a repeat c section today.

Movement:  Still lots of movement on the left side.  It's actually becoming a bit painful at times.

Food cravings:  Sour Patch Kids...mmm!

Belly button in or out:  Half and half.  The top is starting to pop out a bit.  It's kinda weird since that never happened with Ethan.

What I miss: walking freely without feeling like I'm carrying a bowling ball

What I'm looking forward to:  getting this baby out soon :)

VBAC frustration

Today I had my weekly appointment with my regular doctor.  She kept making comments about how a VBAC isn't looking good because I had no progress as of Friday.  Then she tried to say how size could be an issue even though baby measured 58% at the growth ultrasound today.  I just didn't like how she kept mentioning that baby may have to come via c/s for this reason and that reason.  I even had to have her reiterate herself that I'm allowed to go to 41 weeks because even THAT sounded questionable from her.  I guess this is the point where I have to stick to my guns unless medical necessity comes into play.