In the past week, we have had lots of appointments to ask questions and do our best to make a decision about how Madelyn will be born.
Because of my medical history with my back and the surgeries I have had in the past 4-5 years, we felt like it would be a good idea to go see Dr. Idiculla. She was the head doctor in charge of my rehabilitation and I go to see her on a yearly basis. Tyler and I both had many questions about how labor and delivery would affect my back and the rods and screws that are in place. We also have many concerns about how an epidural would work too because my spine is fused in the place that most epidurals are done.
Of course, I got online to start finding information and I found only scary things that had no good news. Tyler threatened to block Google if I didn't stop reading online until we knew more from talking to my doctors.
On Monday, I went to see Dr. Idiculla at Heartland in St. Joe. Tyler wasn't able to go with me, but my mom went along to ask questions and to help me remember everything that was said. Surprisingly, the doctor wasn't concerned at all with my back. She was more concerned with the nerve damage that had occured before and how a large baby or prolonged labor could damage all of the progress I had made. A very long story short, she recommended that I have the baby via C-section and more likely than not with general anesthesia, rather than an epidural.
We had a regular scheduled OB appointment on Thursday. Tyler and I were both there and went over all of our concerns about my history and shared the information that Dr. Idiculla gave to us. Dr. Driskell, our OB doctor, gave us her opinion and told us the risks of both options. I left that appointment feeling very overwhelmed and stressed because there is so much unknown and we have lots of decisions to make. I was at a place that I didn't feel we even had a good option to choose. Tyler, on the other hand, left the appointment feeling very good and he had a strong feeling that a C-section will be the best option for both Me and Madelyn.
We still have a consultation appointment with the Anestheisa department at St. Lukes on the 28th. At that appointment, we will be able to go over my medical history and learn what our options are for pain management. There are a couple of possibilites for using an epidural or spinal block. I'm just not sure where the doctors stand on their willingness to even try it or how the scar tissue that I have in my back will affect the effectiveness of the procedure. If an epidural isn't an option or does not take, and I have an C-section, the only option is General Anesthesia - where I will be put completely out and Tyler won't be allowed in the room. It's not ideal and hopefully it isn't the option that we will have to take, but we have to make sure we make the best decision for both mom and baby.
We won't have to make a decision until the first week of January, so we're doing our best to get all of the information in the mean time and we will talk with the doctors again to make a decision. Either way, we don't have much time until Madelyn is here and we won't have to worry about all of this anymore.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Checking Off The To Do List
This weekend we made a list of all of the things around the house that we need to be done before Madelyn arrives.
My (Bre) family came down to help us with our list and after a long day yesterday, I really feel like we are ready. The car seat bases are in the car, the stroller is put together, the nursery is ready and clothes are put away. Bottles are washed and have a place in the kitchen cabinets. The pack and play is set up in the basement with diaper changing supplies ready to go. The garage is completely organized and cleaned out so that we have plenty of space for getting in and out of the car.
The only other thing that still needs to be done is to pack the hopsital bags, but we have it started and plan to get it finished this week.
We still have 48 days until our due date, but having all of those major things done just makes me feel so much better. If Madelyn decided to come early, everything is ready and we would be prepared to bring her home with everything in it's perfect place.
That also means that after Christmas, we will have plenty of time to do all of the nesting things. I have a linen closet that I'd love to re-organize and all kinds of cabinets that could use some sprucing up! It also means that if I'm just too tired, that the major things are done and I can take time to relax and enjoy what time we have left before our daughter arrives.
My (Bre) family came down to help us with our list and after a long day yesterday, I really feel like we are ready. The car seat bases are in the car, the stroller is put together, the nursery is ready and clothes are put away. Bottles are washed and have a place in the kitchen cabinets. The pack and play is set up in the basement with diaper changing supplies ready to go. The garage is completely organized and cleaned out so that we have plenty of space for getting in and out of the car.
The only other thing that still needs to be done is to pack the hopsital bags, but we have it started and plan to get it finished this week.
We still have 48 days until our due date, but having all of those major things done just makes me feel so much better. If Madelyn decided to come early, everything is ready and we would be prepared to bring her home with everything in it's perfect place.
That also means that after Christmas, we will have plenty of time to do all of the nesting things. I have a linen closet that I'd love to re-organize and all kinds of cabinets that could use some sprucing up! It also means that if I'm just too tired, that the major things are done and I can take time to relax and enjoy what time we have left before our daughter arrives.
Baby Showers
We have been so lucky to have friends and family that have offered to host a Baby Shower for us. We recently had one with Bre's friends and family and another with Tyler's friends and family. Let's just say that Madelyn is a LUCKY girl. She has already gotten so many wonderful gifts has a closet FULL of cute clothes!
It was so much fun to spend time with our friends and family at each shower. Here's are a few pictures of one of the showers. I will add others as I get them.
It was so much fun to spend time with our friends and family at each shower. Here's are a few pictures of one of the showers. I will add others as I get them.
Mom & Dad on Baby Shower Day
And She Has a NAME!!!
(This post was supposed to be published about a month ago, but I'm still not an efficient blogger and it's just now getting posted...)
After months and months of thinking, we finally decided that our baby girl's name will be Madelyn Elise Sidwell. It took us a very long time to finally know that that was the perfect name for her, but we love it and it's going to fit her perfectly.
We both really liked Madelyn when we were brainstorming girl names and it's the one name that has stuck with us the entire time. Her middle name, Elise, is my (Bre's) sister's middle name. It was important to both us of to have part of her name with a family meaning.
The one hesitation that we had was the fact that a nickname of "Maddy" could happen. When I picture my daughter in my head, I don't see a Maddy. I see a Madelyn. If someday she decideds that she wants to be called Maddy, then so be it. But until that day happens, her name is Madelyn and we love it!
We have agreed on a boy's name a few years ago and we wanted our girl's name to fit with it if our next child is a boy. Madelyn Elise fit that perfectly and we're happy to finally know that our daughter has a name and we don't have to call her "the baby" any more.
After months and months of thinking, we finally decided that our baby girl's name will be Madelyn Elise Sidwell. It took us a very long time to finally know that that was the perfect name for her, but we love it and it's going to fit her perfectly.
We both really liked Madelyn when we were brainstorming girl names and it's the one name that has stuck with us the entire time. Her middle name, Elise, is my (Bre's) sister's middle name. It was important to both us of to have part of her name with a family meaning.
The one hesitation that we had was the fact that a nickname of "Maddy" could happen. When I picture my daughter in my head, I don't see a Maddy. I see a Madelyn. If someday she decideds that she wants to be called Maddy, then so be it. But until that day happens, her name is Madelyn and we love it!
We have agreed on a boy's name a few years ago and we wanted our girl's name to fit with it if our next child is a boy. Madelyn Elise fit that perfectly and we're happy to finally know that our daughter has a name and we don't have to call her "the baby" any more.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Baby Shower
Last week my co-workers at Americo threw me a Baby Shower. It was really nice, they brought in food and decorated the aisle we work on with everything pink and ordered a delicious cake.
We got lots of wonderful gifts for our little girl and I've been working this week to find the perfect place in her room for each gift. She has gotten some of the cutest clothes and I can't wait to dress her in each outfit as she grows. She's going to be one well dressed woman!
Here are a couple of my favorite things we got that day. Could it be because they're sparkly and pink?!?
We are so lucky to have co-workers, friends and family who have given us such great gifts for our little girl!
3D Sonogram
Last Saturday we went for a 3D Sonogram. Even before we got pregnant, we had decided that we didn't want to have a 3D scan, but I had a change of heart and decided that I REALLY wanted to have it done. After looking up prices and information, I talked Tyler into agreeing to have it done. He thought it was kind of silly, but he said we could do it, so I called to get it scheduled.
Both of our moms and my sister came down to go to the appointment with us. It was at a house that the owners have turned into a Maternity dream. There is a little baby boutique with the cutest clothes, a second hand maternity clothing store, a maternity spa and the room for the 3D Ultrasounds. It was a great place to go because it was so cozy and we were welcome to bring our families with us.
We hadn't had an ultrasound since week 20 when we found out that Baby Sidwell is a girl, so we were excited to see her and even more excited to see her sweet little face in 3D!
The experience was so neat! She was kicking and Tyler had put his hand on my stomach and was poking her back after each kick. We could see her smile on the screen when he would poke back, which was about the neatest thing yet! Of course, both Grandmas were shrieking with happiness to see her face and each time they would make noise, our baby would smile and react.
The scan was about 30 minutes and it was the greatest time to interact with her and to see her face. They reconfirmed that she's a girl (which was something in the back of my mind that has been a worry. Everything we have is pink and I keep hearing stories about how a baby is born opposite of the gender that the parents were told).
We have a DVD with the scan that we can watch again and again and a CD with 70 images of her that we were able to print off. I've got a framed picture of her smiling on my desk at work and it's just so sweet to look at and imagine how much cuter she will be in person in just a couple more months.
Both of our moms and my sister came down to go to the appointment with us. It was at a house that the owners have turned into a Maternity dream. There is a little baby boutique with the cutest clothes, a second hand maternity clothing store, a maternity spa and the room for the 3D Ultrasounds. It was a great place to go because it was so cozy and we were welcome to bring our families with us.
We hadn't had an ultrasound since week 20 when we found out that Baby Sidwell is a girl, so we were excited to see her and even more excited to see her sweet little face in 3D!
The experience was so neat! She was kicking and Tyler had put his hand on my stomach and was poking her back after each kick. We could see her smile on the screen when he would poke back, which was about the neatest thing yet! Of course, both Grandmas were shrieking with happiness to see her face and each time they would make noise, our baby would smile and react.
The scan was about 30 minutes and it was the greatest time to interact with her and to see her face. They reconfirmed that she's a girl (which was something in the back of my mind that has been a worry. Everything we have is pink and I keep hearing stories about how a baby is born opposite of the gender that the parents were told).
We have a DVD with the scan that we can watch again and again and a CD with 70 images of her that we were able to print off. I've got a framed picture of her smiling on my desk at work and it's just so sweet to look at and imagine how much cuter she will be in person in just a couple more months.
Baby Class
For the past two Monday evenings, we have gone to the hospital for a few hours for our "Childbirth Prep Class." I like to call it Baby Class, but the name doesn't matter. So far, so good. It's a little hard to come straight home from work and head there until 9, but we only have one more session and we'll be done.
The first class was a little boring. There was lots of lecture and videos about the stages of labor and how the whole process works. The second part of the class was about massage and ways that Tyler can help me through labor by using massage. That was the best part of the night for me! I got to be the recipient of several different types of massage while Tyler practiced the techniques, which was WONDERFUL!
Our second class, we learned about the different labor positions and got to walk through the labor stations while I practiced my breathing and Tyler helped with massage. It was actually pretty fun. Even though it was a quiet time with theraputic harp music playing, Tyler and I were the only couple that was laughing during a few stations. It was just funny to look at ourselves and we couldn't stay serious... oh well!
The last part of the class was about the interventions of labor. We started our list of many questions for when we have our consultation with Anesthesia. Because of my history with back injury and surgeries, we have MANY MANY questions about having an epidural and what our options and risks are. We will meet with the doctors for that in late December and we'll know more about what our plan will be once we have a chance to meet with them.
So, we've got one more class. The teacher told us that we'll talk about C-Sections and then take a tour of the Maternity Ward. I'm really looking forward to getting to see the unit and more of the hospital. We've only got 10 weeks left until our sweet baby girl is here!
The first class was a little boring. There was lots of lecture and videos about the stages of labor and how the whole process works. The second part of the class was about massage and ways that Tyler can help me through labor by using massage. That was the best part of the night for me! I got to be the recipient of several different types of massage while Tyler practiced the techniques, which was WONDERFUL!
Our second class, we learned about the different labor positions and got to walk through the labor stations while I practiced my breathing and Tyler helped with massage. It was actually pretty fun. Even though it was a quiet time with theraputic harp music playing, Tyler and I were the only couple that was laughing during a few stations. It was just funny to look at ourselves and we couldn't stay serious... oh well!
The last part of the class was about the interventions of labor. We started our list of many questions for when we have our consultation with Anesthesia. Because of my history with back injury and surgeries, we have MANY MANY questions about having an epidural and what our options and risks are. We will meet with the doctors for that in late December and we'll know more about what our plan will be once we have a chance to meet with them.
So, we've got one more class. The teacher told us that we'll talk about C-Sections and then take a tour of the Maternity Ward. I'm really looking forward to getting to see the unit and more of the hospital. We've only got 10 weeks left until our sweet baby girl is here!
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