Holden
Born April 19, 2010 at 6:44PM. 7lbs, 7 oz. 19.5 inches.
Details to come...
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Eviction Notice
Today I am 40 weeks and 4 days pregnant! I went for antepartum testing at the hospital just to make sure that the little guy is doing well and that my amniotic levels are okay. For the first test, I was hooked up to a fetal monitor for 20 minutes while they evaluated his heart rate. At first, Bill and I were completely freaked out. Holden’s heart rate went as high as 173bpm to as low as 108bpm. We were like, “What is going on?!” But then the nurse explained to us that that was actually a really good sign. As we learned, babies, up until they are a few weeks old, have heart rates that vary dramatically depending on their activity. So, when Holden moved, his heart would race, and when he rested, it would drop. As always, he was super active and interactive. He would respond to everything from the monitors being on my stomach to the sound of Bill’s voice. He was so active that they kept me on the monitor for longer than 20 minutes because they had a difficult time calculating a baseline heart rate. But again, the nurses said that they are never concerned that there is too much activity, so even though he is a super active boy, it is a really good sign for his well being. And we were happy to hear that for this portion of the testing, he scored an 8 out of 8.
The next test was for my amniotic levels, which are completely normal and fine. There was no concern at all.
After the antepartum testing, I saw my OB. She said that while everything looks great, she doesn’t like to have patients go passed 41 weeks. So, unless Holden comes before Monday morning, my plans for a completely natural, drug-free delivery will not have a chance to materialize and I will have to be induced with Pitocin. Though, my doctor, probably sensing my disappointment, said that I actually have *ear muffs for the sensitive* a very favorable cervix and am already almost 3cm dilated, so I will probably just need a little push from the Pitocin, but will then be able to achieve the remainder of my delivery goals. And because of the condition that I am in now, I may not even make it to Monday morning, in which case I wouldn’t even need drug intervention to be induced.
While the possibility of having to be induced is disappointing, I have had such an amazing pregnancy that I can’t really complain. And more importantly, I am so happy and reassured that my little boy is doing so well. Plus, as Bill pointed out, we now know that by this Tuesday we will definitely, and finally, be holding him in our arms. Four days to go and Bill and I will officially be known as Daddy and Mommy!
Friday, April 9, 2010
All Packed Up, But Baby’s a No Go
So, even though my due date is not until next Monday, for the last two weeks I have been in a state where my doctor said I could go into labor at anytime. But the baby seems content to stay put and we have found ourselves in the not so fun waiting period. I’m a planner and as much as I have prepared myself to accept the unknown and have been told a thousand times that even with all the advancement in medicine there is still no predicting just when the baby will come, I am finding the waiting stressful. People keep telling me that everything will work out and be fine and that I don’t need to worry, but I can’t help myself. I worry, and that’s why I like to plan. But perhaps this is one of my first lessons in parenting--- patience and flexibility.
One thing that I can look forward to is that maybe he will be born on Saturday. Wouldn’t 4-10-2010 be a cool birthday? Did you hear that, Holden? 4-10-2010. Why don’t you aim for that date, little guy.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Little Boy, You are so Loved
Did I ever tell you about my amazing little boy? Not even born yet, he has already charmed his mommy and daddy with his funny little personality. And he is already a daddy’s boy!
A few months ago, I noticed that the little guy started responding to sound, especially to the sound of Bill’s voice. Whenever Bill speaks, Holden starts kicking and jumping around with a little more enthusiasm than usual. This was somewhat confirmed when one weekend Bill went away to a conference. Holden did his normal “playing” but when Bill came back home and he heard his voice again, I felt and saw kicks of excitement, like, “Hey! Where have you been? I’ve missed you!”
When I first told Bill about my observations, I think he thought I was a little delusional. But one day, in an effort to convince him that I was not crazy, I told him to talk to my belly and watch what happens. Bill put his hand on my stomach and said, “Hi, little guy. How are you?”
*POW!* Bill got a huge kick to the hand! At first, it took Bill off guard and he backed up a little and said, “Whoa!” But then immediately, we both started laughing. Neither of us expected that big of a reaction. What a funny little boy we have.
After that, it wasn’t long before Bill bought a book with bedtime stories and started reading to the little guy. And Holden loved it! As Bill read, Holden would jump and dance and spin. I kept saying, “Look! See him!” And Bill kept saying, “I can’t read and look at the same time!” Haha.
Recently, I have noticed that Holden has been responding to touch, which has blown my mind. A couple of weeks ago, he flipped so that he is now upside down. A funny side effect of this is that he now sticks his cute little butt up towards my chest. And he sticks it so far out that I can practically cup it in my hand. The first time that he did it, I put my hand on him and I think it may have spooked him because he quickly moved away. Out of instinct, the next few times he did it, I again put my hand on him, and again he quickly moved away. But then one time he actually moved back. I thought, “Is this really happening?” I started rubbing his little bum and back, and he stayed still. After a bit, I took my hand off my belly, but he pushed against where my hand was—hard. I put my hand back and started rubbing again and he relaxed and stayed still. I couldn’t believe it. Was he trying to say “More, please”? Whatever the reason, this has become a little routine of ours. He pushes against me and I give him a little back rub. And more often than not, if I stop, he pushes out even harder.
One day, he pushed out really hard against my ribs. It was uncomfortable, so I tried to coax him to move, but I didn’t want to push him. Rubbing him only seems to make him stay in place, so this time I tickled him a little. He immediately started wriggling around. It was so darn cute!
So now we have a daily routine of back rubs and when he jams himself under my ribs or in my hip, I just tickle him a little until he wriggles his way out. And everyday, Bill talks to him and also gives him a little back rub. It is so sweet watching how Holden reacts to his daddy. It makes us yearn for him to be here even more so that we can hold him and kiss him. Not even born yet, he is such a loved little boy.
A few months ago, I noticed that the little guy started responding to sound, especially to the sound of Bill’s voice. Whenever Bill speaks, Holden starts kicking and jumping around with a little more enthusiasm than usual. This was somewhat confirmed when one weekend Bill went away to a conference. Holden did his normal “playing” but when Bill came back home and he heard his voice again, I felt and saw kicks of excitement, like, “Hey! Where have you been? I’ve missed you!”
When I first told Bill about my observations, I think he thought I was a little delusional. But one day, in an effort to convince him that I was not crazy, I told him to talk to my belly and watch what happens. Bill put his hand on my stomach and said, “Hi, little guy. How are you?”
*POW!* Bill got a huge kick to the hand! At first, it took Bill off guard and he backed up a little and said, “Whoa!” But then immediately, we both started laughing. Neither of us expected that big of a reaction. What a funny little boy we have.
After that, it wasn’t long before Bill bought a book with bedtime stories and started reading to the little guy. And Holden loved it! As Bill read, Holden would jump and dance and spin. I kept saying, “Look! See him!” And Bill kept saying, “I can’t read and look at the same time!” Haha.
Recently, I have noticed that Holden has been responding to touch, which has blown my mind. A couple of weeks ago, he flipped so that he is now upside down. A funny side effect of this is that he now sticks his cute little butt up towards my chest. And he sticks it so far out that I can practically cup it in my hand. The first time that he did it, I put my hand on him and I think it may have spooked him because he quickly moved away. Out of instinct, the next few times he did it, I again put my hand on him, and again he quickly moved away. But then one time he actually moved back. I thought, “Is this really happening?” I started rubbing his little bum and back, and he stayed still. After a bit, I took my hand off my belly, but he pushed against where my hand was—hard. I put my hand back and started rubbing again and he relaxed and stayed still. I couldn’t believe it. Was he trying to say “More, please”? Whatever the reason, this has become a little routine of ours. He pushes against me and I give him a little back rub. And more often than not, if I stop, he pushes out even harder.
One day, he pushed out really hard against my ribs. It was uncomfortable, so I tried to coax him to move, but I didn’t want to push him. Rubbing him only seems to make him stay in place, so this time I tickled him a little. He immediately started wriggling around. It was so darn cute!
So now we have a daily routine of back rubs and when he jams himself under my ribs or in my hip, I just tickle him a little until he wriggles his way out. And everyday, Bill talks to him and also gives him a little back rub. It is so sweet watching how Holden reacts to his daddy. It makes us yearn for him to be here even more so that we can hold him and kiss him. Not even born yet, he is such a loved little boy.
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