The Arrival of Our Princess - Who Chose Her Own Birthday
I've finally got a little bit of time to sit down and write this out. It's only taken 9 weeks since she was born and it's taken 2 weeks to write it.
The story begins 3 months from the day. It actually begins from date of conception, but I'm going to be vague from the first bit. ACTUALLY, it begins at the beginning of last year, but that's going to be rather vague too!
~ January 2011 ~
During the middle of the month, AF had arrived. On Boxing Day, DH and I had talked about starting to try for our 2nd child, and wanted to wait till January to start trying. So, when AF arrived, I jumped online to order OPKs/HPTs and a new BBT. And so we waited for AF to leave... and waited and waited.... and still waited until....
~ March 2011 ~
So, AF was still in the house. It was two months and two days long and didn't end. So, I went to the dr who referred me to the gynecologist/obstetrician. He did an internal u/s and discovered that I had/have PCO (Polycystic Ovaries) - funny that, I already knew that! Thing was, I'd never had problems like this before because of the PCO, so I was doubting it. I went to the gyno in the first week of March.
Finally, after two months and one week, AF finally stopped after the gyno gave me something for it. We also had a chat about things to start us with TTC. He prescribed me Metformin (as I had a BT and diagnosed with insulin resistance on the kidneys) and ordered three or four months worth of Day 21 BTs, but because of my erratic AFs (never regular) I continued to use the OPKs and temp.
I had another AF at the end of March, which I expected because I used one of my Day 21 BT forms and it said my progesterone levels were 0, which confirms I didn't ovulate and that I had an annovulary cycle.
~ April 2011 ~
My birthday rolled around, and for my birthday I got to go to a concert, leaving DS with my ILs (the concert was actually on my birthday, and after being told we can't go cause we don't have the cash for it, DH surprised me with tickets )
Little did I know, that night was the night we conceived our DD An extra special reason for my birthday.
I had my Day 21 BT, but late. I got a letter from my gyno saying that my progesterone levels were 13, which confirmed ovulation, but level was too low to maintain a pregnancy. HA!
~ May 2011 ~
Went over to a friends place for DS to have a play date with her DS. Told her I'd been feeling tired and that we were TTC but it was only our 2nd month of actively trying because of the issues I had (with AF being 2 months long)
Now, before doing a HPT - the day I got the letter from my gyno about the BT, I did an OPK. It came out positive, and a dark positive at that! (I think I remember posting bout it here somewhere)
Anyways, after leaving the friends place, I was going to see my dad. I stopped off at a chemist on the way cause I needed to pick up some nappies for DS anyway, and I picked up a HPT.
Got to my dads place and asked them to watch DS while I went to the loo (they didn't know we were trying or what I was doing in the loo) and I POAS and little did I know, I got a BFP (I had an inkling though, from the positive OPK) albeit light, but there was two lines!
~ June 2011 ~
Around the 5 and a half week mark (which was technically still in May, but I'll add it to June) I kept having appts and BTs. The BTs were showing my HCG was rising but my progesterone was staying pretty low, so I had to be on progesterone pessaries. I had to be on them till I was 12weeks, but they were so expensive that I could only buy enough to go to 9 weeks. I went back to the gyno and he said that should be ok, but the second the progesterone levels go down, I need go straight back on them.
~ July 2011 ~
First week of July - Twelve week scan, everything going great!
~ August 2011 ~
Last week of August - 18-20 week scan. We decided at the first scan we weren't going to find out. That was, before all the cleaning out of cleaning out of DSs clothes.
We found out that we're expecting a beautiful little girl, which was a surprise to us because of such a dominate male gene in both sides of the families.
~ October 2011 ~
17th October found us having our appt with the surgeon. Because DS was an emergency c-section, we opted to go for a repeat c-section as I was told that it was virtually impossible for me to give birth naturally (underlying medical condition)
~ November 2011 ~
Everything going ok. Getting used to the idea of two kids and getting things prepared.
~ December 2011 ~
Got through Christmas - and finished work on the 29th of December - at 36wk 2days - and not a moment too soon.
~ January 2011 ~
3rd January - Had my 37 week appointment with the midwife. For a week beforehand, I had tested positive to protein in my pee aand glucose. So I was on weekly visits. Midwife said my BP was a little high and had to get monitored for about an hour an a half
7th January - My belated works christmas party - 37wk3d
11th January - 38 week appt with the dr. BP was high, and protein present again. Was strapped to the CTG machine for 30 minutes before being directed to the hospital for a BT to rule out PE - was told to come back for monitoring on the Friday
13th January - 4 days before scheduled c-section
38wk+2d. 2pm
Went in and got reassessed. Protein still present and BP still high. CTG machine again and this time dr was a bit worried so I was directed to the hospital.
4:30pm
Got monitored and waited for the dr to come and assess the monitoring.
6pm
Dr came and assessed me and said that it was all good and that I had to come in for monitoring every day until the scheduled c-section.
14th January - 3 days before scheduled c-section
38wk+3d
9:30am
Went in for the daily monitoring. Waited for 90 minutes before being seen to.
11:30am
Walked out of the hospital after half an hour of monitoring and they said 'See you tomorrow'
Little did I know I wouldn't be leaving the next day
15th January - 2 days before scheduled c-section
38wk+4d
10:30am
DH was 'umming' and 'ahhhing' about going to the poker final that was going on that day. I told him to go because nothing will happen as it's only monitoring - and it'll probably be the last time he gets to go out to poker for a while cause I'll need him.
He finally decided to go and we organised for FIL to look after DS while MIL took me to the hospital, but only as long as I would
12:00pm
We went over to my ILs. DH left to go to the poker and I called the hospital to see what time I could go in for monitoring. They said 1:30pm so we popped in then.
1:30pm
In for monitoring. Strapped up to the CTG machine and checking everything.
2:30pm
Started feeling tightening in my tummy and recognised them as either BH or contractions. They started coming regularly, at least 3 every 10 minutes and they registered on the machines. She's stopped moving a fair bit so I got some lemonade and she started moving again (to my relief!)
3:30pm
The midwife asked for permission to do an internal examination because the contractions started getting a little bit stronger and showing again on the machine.
I obliged and she checked. I wasn't dilated, but I was thining rather quickly (I dunno how they can tell it's thinning quickly!) So, they'd moved me into an actual single room rather than the monitoring rooms.
By this time, my MIL asked me if I was going to message DH, to which I did say I was going to. I messaged him and he was still in so he said he'd try to get in. At this point, they'd moved me into the single room and said the dr would be around at 6pm with a decision on what we were gonna do.
4:30-5pm
During this time, the contractions were getting stronger but not more frequent.
5:45pm
DH finally rocked up after doing half decent at the poker final, though didn't win any cash.
Told him he was just in time and that the dr was coming in round 15 minutes.
6:10pm
The midwives come in, rolling all the c-section prep stuff and said 'We've talked to the dr and he said see you at 7!'
I just looked at DH and MIL and thought 'Well, it's happening tonight!'
6:50pm
In the theatre, catheter in and all prepped for the c-section. Had the spinal/epi and then the curtain went up
7:10pm
Surgery started and I started feeling sick straight away. Told the anethetist and they fixed me up. Right now, I don't remember much bout this time because, even though it took forever, I was just anxious that our girl would be here before you knew it.
7:57pm
Our beautiful little girl, Katherine Jane, was born into the world. Midwife took some beautiful photos and she was brought to us after they did her stats.
Stats :
Name : Katherine Jane Boyne
Due : 26th January 2012
C-Section Scheduled : 17th January 2012
DOB : 15th January 2012 via c-section
Time : 7:57pm
Weight : 3030g
Legth : 50cm
HC : 35cm
Apgar : 9 + 10
What a nice story. Thanks for sharing it. At least you did not have the day/night before build up of anticipation that seems to be the slowest day/night you will ever have (if that makes sense)
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