Thursday, October 26, 2006
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Going Home...
We were able to go home October 7th. Stailynne was all dressed and ready. She was in her car seat, and I was all packed and ready to go. The nurse took me down in a wheel chair. We got Stailynne buckled into the car, and off we went. HOME! I couldn't have been happier.
I was finally in my own bed again. Me and Stailynne slept in my bed for a couple of hours. I tried my best to feed her when she would wake up, but I found myself in unfamiliar territory. After a while, feeding her began to be excruciating.
The first couple of nights she'd just camp out there for hours. It hurt so bad, but eventually she's fall asleep still latched on. That's when I got a chance to catch some Z's. Then she'd wake up, and I'd switch her to the other side. Painville all over again. After about 2 or 3 days I was sore, and cracked all over. I don't know if I can continue trying to breastfeed her. As an alternative I pumped, but I couldn't seem to get much milk at all. I'd pump for almost an hour and get only 2 to 3 oz. Some days were better than others. If I was lucky I'd get 4 oz. I began to freeze whatever milk I could get out. Though it was upsetting, I had to give her formula. I just couldn't keep up with the demand. Slowly my milk flow became less and less, until there was none left. Stailynne is now strictly a formula-fed baby. It wasn't my original plan, but as long as she's healthy I'm happy.
I was finally in my own bed again. Me and Stailynne slept in my bed for a couple of hours. I tried my best to feed her when she would wake up, but I found myself in unfamiliar territory. After a while, feeding her began to be excruciating.
The first couple of nights she'd just camp out there for hours. It hurt so bad, but eventually she's fall asleep still latched on. That's when I got a chance to catch some Z's. Then she'd wake up, and I'd switch her to the other side. Painville all over again. After about 2 or 3 days I was sore, and cracked all over. I don't know if I can continue trying to breastfeed her. As an alternative I pumped, but I couldn't seem to get much milk at all. I'd pump for almost an hour and get only 2 to 3 oz. Some days were better than others. If I was lucky I'd get 4 oz. I began to freeze whatever milk I could get out. Though it was upsetting, I had to give her formula. I just couldn't keep up with the demand. Slowly my milk flow became less and less, until there was none left. Stailynne is now strictly a formula-fed baby. It wasn't my original plan, but as long as she's healthy I'm happy.
Monday, October 9, 2006
3-Day Well Baby Appt
Today was Stailynne's 4-day well baby appt. the past few days have been exhausting, so i'm glad that my mom was there to help me since tai had to go back to work already.
She picked us up at the house in the morning, and we headed off to Kaiser South for her appt. I was happy that this was going to be our only appt there. Kaiser South is so busy. i know that coz i work there. all of her future appointments are going to be at Elk Grove Kaiser.
We got to her appointment and was escorted to the exam room in the back. I answered all the questions about what her poop looked like, and how many diapers i went through in a day, etc. We took all of her clothes off so that she could be weighed. They measured her length from head to toe, and also around her head.
She had lost weight which made me really sad. I know it had to do with my problems with breastfeeding. i just had no idea what i was doing. and it was obvious that she wasn't getting much to eat. that was probably one of my lowest points as a mother.
The NP went over latching, and tried to show me breastfeeding positions. it's so much harder than it looks! and she also said that she looked a little yellow. that's a sign of hyperbillirubin. yeah that's a big word for jaundice. i know a lot of babies get readmitted into the hospital for this. i was hoping that she didn't have it coz hospitals make me feel so uncomfortable.
we went to the lab to have her blood drawn and had to wait around for an hour for the results. in the mean time, i took her to my department for my co-workers to see.
after an hour, we went back to the clinic and found out that she didn't have to get admitted for jaundice. thank god!
my mom dropped us at home, and back to the couch we slept. i love that couch!!! and back to trying to breastfeed her. gosh it hurts to much.
She picked us up at the house in the morning, and we headed off to Kaiser South for her appt. I was happy that this was going to be our only appt there. Kaiser South is so busy. i know that coz i work there. all of her future appointments are going to be at Elk Grove Kaiser.
We got to her appointment and was escorted to the exam room in the back. I answered all the questions about what her poop looked like, and how many diapers i went through in a day, etc. We took all of her clothes off so that she could be weighed. They measured her length from head to toe, and also around her head.
She had lost weight which made me really sad. I know it had to do with my problems with breastfeeding. i just had no idea what i was doing. and it was obvious that she wasn't getting much to eat. that was probably one of my lowest points as a mother.
The NP went over latching, and tried to show me breastfeeding positions. it's so much harder than it looks! and she also said that she looked a little yellow. that's a sign of hyperbillirubin. yeah that's a big word for jaundice. i know a lot of babies get readmitted into the hospital for this. i was hoping that she didn't have it coz hospitals make me feel so uncomfortable.
we went to the lab to have her blood drawn and had to wait around for an hour for the results. in the mean time, i took her to my department for my co-workers to see.
after an hour, we went back to the clinic and found out that she didn't have to get admitted for jaundice. thank god!
my mom dropped us at home, and back to the couch we slept. i love that couch!!! and back to trying to breastfeed her. gosh it hurts to much.
Saturday, October 7, 2006
After Delivery
I was so glad that it was over. They put Stailynne under my gown so that she could stay warm. They also told me to try to feed her. I honestly thought it was going to be easy. Boy was I wrong. I didn't think it would be this hard to get her to latch on properly. So I tried for a while until they took her to give her a bath, and then they put her under the warmer.
The nurse told me to get up to go to the bathroom, and all I felt was a gush of blood rushing down my leg. It was so painful to walk. All I wanted to was to sleep. I got back onto the bed, and soon after I was already on the Postpartum side. I was hoping for a private room but ended up getting a semi-private one. Luckily they found out that I was an employee so they didn't give me a roommate.
Visitors came by later that night. My parents came by, as well as some of my coworkers. It was nice to see all of the happy faces. Everyone was so excited to see Stailynne. We've all been waiting a long time for her.
Night time came. This was one of the hardest nights to get through for me. I couldn't sleep comfortably because of my stitches. When I tried to move around to get comfortable I would be in so much pain. When I finally was in a good position, Stailynne would wake up to breastfeed. I didn't get much sleep at all. The only sleep I did get was when Tai took Stailynne with him to the other bed. But of course, nurses were in and out of my room at all hours of the night taking my temperature, and getting labs run on the baby. I was just counting down the hours until I was able to go home.
As soon as the day shift nurse came on, I was asking when I could go home. I wanted to be in my own bed. Luckily, Stailynne and I both got the okay to get discharged.
The nurse told me to get up to go to the bathroom, and all I felt was a gush of blood rushing down my leg. It was so painful to walk. All I wanted to was to sleep. I got back onto the bed, and soon after I was already on the Postpartum side. I was hoping for a private room but ended up getting a semi-private one. Luckily they found out that I was an employee so they didn't give me a roommate.
Visitors came by later that night. My parents came by, as well as some of my coworkers. It was nice to see all of the happy faces. Everyone was so excited to see Stailynne. We've all been waiting a long time for her.
Night time came. This was one of the hardest nights to get through for me. I couldn't sleep comfortably because of my stitches. When I tried to move around to get comfortable I would be in so much pain. When I finally was in a good position, Stailynne would wake up to breastfeed. I didn't get much sleep at all. The only sleep I did get was when Tai took Stailynne with him to the other bed. But of course, nurses were in and out of my room at all hours of the night taking my temperature, and getting labs run on the baby. I was just counting down the hours until I was able to go home.
As soon as the day shift nurse came on, I was asking when I could go home. I wanted to be in my own bed. Luckily, Stailynne and I both got the okay to get discharged.
Friday, October 6, 2006
Welcome to the World
Stailynne R. Nguyen
Weight: 6lbs 9 oz.
Length: 17 inches
How long did it take?: 8 hours
When: 10/6/06
Time: 9:01 am
Where: South Sacramento Kaiser Medical Center
LABOR!!!
A week was an under statement! I ended up going into labor about 11 hours after I was discharged from the hospital. I really was not expecting her yet. Tai and I were just going about our normal routine. We ate dinner, watched a movie at home, and went to bed. Around 1:00 am it all started. (A lot of what happened is such a blur. This is from what I can remember and from what people have told me.)
1:00 am~ I began to feel minor aches in my stomach but I ignored them, thinking it was just an upset stomach from something I ate.
2:15 am~ This not just a stomach ache! When the pain kept coming and going I knew that it was time! I woke Tai up, and he began getting really nervous. I called the hospital to let them know that I was in labor. He grabbed the bag and headed to the hospital. Tai called my mom, sister, and sister-in-law to let them know the good news.
2:30 am~ We finally got to the hospital. I waited in the front while he parked the car. My mom, sister, and sister-in-law arrived soon after.
2:40 am~ I went to labor and delivery to check in. They took me to the ultrasound room for triage. I was checked by a nurse midwife, and was told that I was only 1 1/2 cm dilated, which was where I was at yesterday. They told me that if after one hour of walking and no progression that they would send me home with some medication to help me sleep. I was already in so much pain. All I could do is shut my eyes tight, and swing my legs back and forth while I was sitting up on the exam table. Then I tried to walk around the l&d floor a couple of times but that was tough coz I had to stop every couple minutes or so because the contractions were so strong.
3:40 am~ After one hour, they came back to check me. I was hoping and praying that I had made some progress. The midwife said that I was 2 1/2 to 3 cm. They decided to keep me. Thank god! I originally wanted to do this naturally but OMG the pain. I wanted something.
3:50 am~ Finally I'm in a labor room. I think it was room 202A. They began hooking me up to all of the monitors, and tried to start an IV. Yes they TRIED, but did not succeed. I had so many nurses try but they said that I was dehydrated. The pain was getting worse and worse. I wanted to cry.
5:00 am~ I still don't have an IV, so still no pain medication. They already tried 4 times. They had to call a doctor from anesthesia to put the IV in. God bless her! She finally got it in. And I finally was able to get something for the pain. I don't even remember what it was. All I remember is that it took the pain away, at least for a little bit. Tai says that I knocked out right away, and that after about an hour I started feeling the pain again.
6:00 am~ From this point on, I can remember very little. I know Tai was asleep, Jamie and my mom were sitting around trying to pass the time, and Trang (my sister-in-law) was by my side forcing me to drink water. I remember crying a lot and saying I couldn't take the pain anymore. I think I was at least 6 to 7 cm at this time.
7:00 am~ My mom and Jamie had to leave. My mom had to take the kids to school, and pick up Jacob, and Jamie said that she was gonna try to get in at least one class. Tai would call them when I was closer to 10 cm. Meanwhile, the contractions were coming fast and hard. I just wanted my epidural. They said that they couldn't give it to me yet because my labs didn't come back yet. I was not a happy camper. No classes in the world could have prepared me for all of the pain that I was feeling at that moment. And those breathing exercises were NOT working for me. I just wanted her out already!
8:00 am~ I'm 9 cm! Trang called Jamie and told her, so she rushed back to the hospital. Who's in the room with me: Tai, Trang, Jamie, Mom, Jacob, Andrew, and even Tai's auntie.
8:30 am~ I was feeling so much pressure. I told the nurse that I wanted to go to the bathroom. She told me that she was gonna put a catheter in to empty my bladder. I told her that I felt like doing the other thing. I kept hearing it from other people and from the books I was reading about women passing a BM while they're pushing. I was nervous about that. She then realized that was from the pressure from the baby's head. She checked me and I was 10 cm. I was so scared coz I didn't even get my epidural yet, and it was too late. This is when anesthesia decided to grace us with their presence. They called Dr. Klooster for the delivery.
8:55 am~ Dr. Klooster ruptured my bag of water. I had my legs in the stir-ups, and began to push on the doctor's command. After my 3rd push, the doctor told me to stop. I then yelled back "I'M NOT PUSHING!" I guess the cord was wrapped around her neck.
9:00 am~ After they unraveled the cord, I pushed one more time and she came out. Surprisingly I felt no pain during delivery. I think it was from all of the adrenaline rushing through my body. I knew I was close, and that if I just pushed as hard as I could finally get this process over with. Stailynne Nguyen was born October 6, 2006 at 9:01 am, naturally. I was so happy she came out crying and that she had a head full of hair. I finally had my daughter in my arms.
9:05 am~ I had a 2nd degree laceration, so Dr. Klooster was sewing me up while I had Stailynne on my chest. He didn't put enough local so I could feel him stitching when he first started. I'M SO TRIED!
1:00 am~ I began to feel minor aches in my stomach but I ignored them, thinking it was just an upset stomach from something I ate.
2:15 am~ This not just a stomach ache! When the pain kept coming and going I knew that it was time! I woke Tai up, and he began getting really nervous. I called the hospital to let them know that I was in labor. He grabbed the bag and headed to the hospital. Tai called my mom, sister, and sister-in-law to let them know the good news.
2:30 am~ We finally got to the hospital. I waited in the front while he parked the car. My mom, sister, and sister-in-law arrived soon after.
2:40 am~ I went to labor and delivery to check in. They took me to the ultrasound room for triage. I was checked by a nurse midwife, and was told that I was only 1 1/2 cm dilated, which was where I was at yesterday. They told me that if after one hour of walking and no progression that they would send me home with some medication to help me sleep. I was already in so much pain. All I could do is shut my eyes tight, and swing my legs back and forth while I was sitting up on the exam table. Then I tried to walk around the l&d floor a couple of times but that was tough coz I had to stop every couple minutes or so because the contractions were so strong.
3:40 am~ After one hour, they came back to check me. I was hoping and praying that I had made some progress. The midwife said that I was 2 1/2 to 3 cm. They decided to keep me. Thank god! I originally wanted to do this naturally but OMG the pain. I wanted something.
3:50 am~ Finally I'm in a labor room. I think it was room 202A. They began hooking me up to all of the monitors, and tried to start an IV. Yes they TRIED, but did not succeed. I had so many nurses try but they said that I was dehydrated. The pain was getting worse and worse. I wanted to cry.
5:00 am~ I still don't have an IV, so still no pain medication. They already tried 4 times. They had to call a doctor from anesthesia to put the IV in. God bless her! She finally got it in. And I finally was able to get something for the pain. I don't even remember what it was. All I remember is that it took the pain away, at least for a little bit. Tai says that I knocked out right away, and that after about an hour I started feeling the pain again.
6:00 am~ From this point on, I can remember very little. I know Tai was asleep, Jamie and my mom were sitting around trying to pass the time, and Trang (my sister-in-law) was by my side forcing me to drink water. I remember crying a lot and saying I couldn't take the pain anymore. I think I was at least 6 to 7 cm at this time.
7:00 am~ My mom and Jamie had to leave. My mom had to take the kids to school, and pick up Jacob, and Jamie said that she was gonna try to get in at least one class. Tai would call them when I was closer to 10 cm. Meanwhile, the contractions were coming fast and hard. I just wanted my epidural. They said that they couldn't give it to me yet because my labs didn't come back yet. I was not a happy camper. No classes in the world could have prepared me for all of the pain that I was feeling at that moment. And those breathing exercises were NOT working for me. I just wanted her out already!
8:00 am~ I'm 9 cm! Trang called Jamie and told her, so she rushed back to the hospital. Who's in the room with me: Tai, Trang, Jamie, Mom, Jacob, Andrew, and even Tai's auntie.
8:30 am~ I was feeling so much pressure. I told the nurse that I wanted to go to the bathroom. She told me that she was gonna put a catheter in to empty my bladder. I told her that I felt like doing the other thing. I kept hearing it from other people and from the books I was reading about women passing a BM while they're pushing. I was nervous about that. She then realized that was from the pressure from the baby's head. She checked me and I was 10 cm. I was so scared coz I didn't even get my epidural yet, and it was too late. This is when anesthesia decided to grace us with their presence. They called Dr. Klooster for the delivery.
8:55 am~ Dr. Klooster ruptured my bag of water. I had my legs in the stir-ups, and began to push on the doctor's command. After my 3rd push, the doctor told me to stop. I then yelled back "I'M NOT PUSHING!" I guess the cord was wrapped around her neck.
9:00 am~ After they unraveled the cord, I pushed one more time and she came out. Surprisingly I felt no pain during delivery. I think it was from all of the adrenaline rushing through my body. I knew I was close, and that if I just pushed as hard as I could finally get this process over with. Stailynne Nguyen was born October 6, 2006 at 9:01 am, naturally. I was so happy she came out crying and that she had a head full of hair. I finally had my daughter in my arms.
9:05 am~ I had a 2nd degree laceration, so Dr. Klooster was sewing me up while I had Stailynne on my chest. He didn't put enough local so I could feel him stitching when he first started. I'M SO TRIED!
Thursday, October 5, 2006
38 weeks
Weight: 175 lbs
Blood Pressure: 130/90
The good news...
I went to the clinic today to see Dr. Dong. I was especially excited about this one because she was going to check if I was dilated at all.
It turns out that I'm at -1 station and 1 1/2 cm dialted. She said that she expects me to have the baby with in the week. It's nuts how fast the time went. In just another couple of days i should have my little girl in my arms.
The bad news...
She noticed that my blood pressure was a little high again, so back to the clinic I went for a blood pressure obs.
I was on constant monitoring from the blood pressure machine. I was poked at and prodded again. A nurse midwife came in to do an ultrasound to check on the baby. She was checking on how much black space was around the baby. The baby was fine right now, but with increased time, the amount of space would be less and less. In that case, they would have to induce me. And with my blood pressure going up, delivery would be the best option.
Luckily, they let me go home after about three hours, but with strict instructions to call them back about any symptoms I was having.
Home at last. I just want to enjoy these last couple days of just being a duo (me and tai), but I can't wait to see my baby!
Blood Pressure: 130/90
The good news...
I went to the clinic today to see Dr. Dong. I was especially excited about this one because she was going to check if I was dilated at all.
It turns out that I'm at -1 station and 1 1/2 cm dialted. She said that she expects me to have the baby with in the week. It's nuts how fast the time went. In just another couple of days i should have my little girl in my arms.
The bad news...
She noticed that my blood pressure was a little high again, so back to the clinic I went for a blood pressure obs.
I was on constant monitoring from the blood pressure machine. I was poked at and prodded again. A nurse midwife came in to do an ultrasound to check on the baby. She was checking on how much black space was around the baby. The baby was fine right now, but with increased time, the amount of space would be less and less. In that case, they would have to induce me. And with my blood pressure going up, delivery would be the best option.
Luckily, they let me go home after about three hours, but with strict instructions to call them back about any symptoms I was having.
Home at last. I just want to enjoy these last couple days of just being a duo (me and tai), but I can't wait to see my baby!
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