Moms to Be Part 3

[MinnieFan4ever]

I haven't had a chance to catch up, but just wanted to let you know...

Caleb Joseph arrived 4/16 5:40 pm
9lbs 14.5 oz 21 inches
He was premature he was born at 36 weeks 5 days.

Story:

I was having contractions at work about 10 minutes apart. I called MD at 12:00. Went to hospital to be checked. They moved to 5 minutes before I got there, about 1/2 an hour drive, then 2-3 minutes while I was being monitored.

He kept watching me for a little bit as I wasn't dilated, but I don't that's why I had my first csection. But he said it was like I wasn't even pregnant...go figure.

So he watched for another 1/2 an hour, but got me ready, IV, labs, etc. He checked head position and it hurt. Head was right at my incision scars from my other 2. At that point he said, no choice if the incisions were sore, he had to take me. Contractions weren't getting any better w/hydration and now risk tearing incision.

I was in OR within 10 minutes. It took 20 minutes to get to baby due to scar tissue from other 2 csections I had so much fluid when he broke thru, the fluid went all the way to the wall. I know, probalby TMI, but that's just crazy.

I was in about an hour after cleaning up all of the adhesions, I had a ton. Now onto baby. He was good when he was born about 1-2 hours later he started to have trouble breathing. They put the hood on him and it really wasn't helping. 12midnight the call was made to mass general to have him transported. the team was here before 1am and they ran tests, decided to intubate him before they went. Then they did xray to check tube placement and he had pneumothorax and partially collapsed lung. MD came down to me, discussed and put in chest tube. So with all the work they did to stabalize him it was 5 am when they brought him in to see me before he went off via ambulance to Boston.

He had his chest tube removed about 10pm yesterday. They were playing with his oxygen all day today to make sure he could tolerate not having the respirator and at about 7:30pm he decided he was done w/it and pulled it out!! So, I talked to them about 45 minutes after that and he was doing great. He had a feeding tube in, which he was getting sugar water in. They removed that and were going to feed him some formula. They need to watch him there for 24 hours before he can come back here. There is a level 2 nursery here, so he can come back here once cleared from respirator status.

I'm here until Monday, but if he isn't ready, yet...I can stay as a "border" and stay on the ward and just wont have the nursing care. No biggie, as long as I can be with him. It's been tough being here and he's in Boston. My hubby goes in and spends the entire day with him, visiting me before and after.

So there's my story...long story but it's been a tough couple of days, but he's strong. He must look very strange in the NICU being a premie and being born almost 10lbs... I do make big babies. He peed 4 times in the OR before they weighed him. He probably would have been 10 lbs if they had weighed him right away, but they had the specialist all ready in OR to check him out knowing he was early.

ETA: He was born on what would have been my grandfathers 85th birthday. My entire family said he was going to be born that day from the day they found out I was pregnant....

Wow, you have been through a lot. I am glad both you and your baby are doing well. It must have been very scary. This Mothers Day will be extra special for you.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I'm a little irritated though. I packed up all the baby shower stuff we didn't need (or was size Newborn.. yeah, up to 8lbs, Lucas will get lots of use out of that.. )to return and while she was doing it, I thought she missed something and when I calculated it in my head when I got home, she missed a $10 package of receiving blankets. I have no proof though and I hate myself for not speaking up! Grr.
DH says I shouldn't be too upset. We went to the Humane Society fundraiser tonight and I won a door prize (a huge basket full of flowers from a local landscaping business which we drove straight to my mother and said "happy early mothers day" ) and I also won a Longaberger Cake Basket w/ liner and protector. Retails at $117 total.
I guess thats not tooooo bad but I'm still irritated over the receiving blankets!







Welcome Caleb!!!

Awesome prizes!
Was gonna say though, don't be too surprised...all that newborn stuff that you THINK looks to small is generally either too big or ALL that fits!! Hang on to a few things!

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

Thanks -- 3 months I need to keep chugging along... My goal is August. My birthday is August 8th, babies for my birthday would be cool.....

CUTE KIDDISM

My DH asked my 5 year old "Do you know what Daddy does at work?" & got The Answer.... "make money to go to DisneyWorld!" That's my boy!

Since I don't know if we'll be up for a trip next year, babies & all, we were pondering taking the money the we would have spent on a trip next year & putting it aside as a savings plan to buy into DVC..... still sort of pondering that. In like 2 years we'd have the bulk of the money to buy in, maybe finance a tiny part. Seems like a good idea, until we think about all that we'd like to do in the house, and how all it takes is money...... Don't know that we'd have the willpower to not touch it..... still thinking 'bout it.

My husband and I bought into DVC in 2002. It was the BEST thing we have ever done. I know it will be hard not to touch the money. One thing we did when were saving, we opened a savings account in a different bank. We called it our Disney Bank.

 

[harleyquinn]

Welcome Caleb Joesph!!!
raysnkaysmom ...Welcome Ellasen Victoria!! Born April 4. 7lbs, 7oz, 19 inches!
Scornelius ... due April 12 ... It's a surprise!
sailors_wfe ... due April 22 ... It's a girl!
lulugirl ... due April 28 ... It's a surprise!
TiggerStac ... Welcome Caleb Joesph!!! Born April 16.
9lbs 14.5 oz 21 inches!
purvislets ... due May 4 ... It's a boy!
Mr. & Mrs. Smith ... due May 4 ... It's staying a surprise!
cseca ... due May 4 ... It's staying a surprise!
december ... due May 19 ... It's a girl!
caitty13 ... due May 28 ... It's a girl!
Piecey ... due June 3 ... It's a boy!
SDFgirl ... due June 3 ... It's a girl!
ShootingStarMom2 ... due June 12 ... It's a boy!
Mommy2Abby ... due June 13 ... It's a surprise!
rparmfamily ... due June 20 ... It's a girl!
Disney Ron ... due June 23 ... It's a girl!
MinnieFan4ever ... due June 27 ... It's a girl!
Ride Junkie... due June 28 ... It's a girl!
Disney Khi ... due June 28 ... It's a surprise!
robnkris ... due July 2 ... It's a boy!
mmkk ... due July 2 ... It's a boy!
NEM ... due July 4 ... It's a boy!
Gator Mickey ... due July 8 ... It's a girl!
DisneyDiva2006 ... due July 9 ... It's a surprise!
vetrik ... due July 9 ... It's a surprise!
goodeats ... due July 10 ... It's a girl!
luckyfin ... due July 17 ... It's a surprise!
harleyquinn ... due July 28 ... It's a girl!
jaleaton... due July 28 ... It's a girl!
MelessaG ... due July 31 ... It's a girl!
HomeSweetDisney ... due August 2 ... It's a boy!
Quennifer2008 ... due August 2 ... It's a surprise!
Fintastic ... due August 19 ... It's a boy!
DannysMom ... due September 5 ... It's a twin surprise!
kami2199 ... due September 7 ... It's a surprise!
Skylarr ... due September 7 ... It's a boy!
Maggimus ... due September 14 ... It's a boy!
MyZoeJane ... due September 16 ... It's a surprise!
helloirishkitty ... due September 23 ... It's a surprise!
connorlevismom ... due October 2 ... It's a surprise!
IHeartTink ... October 5 ... It's a surprise!
Adi12982 ... October 16 ... It's a surprise!
KristEn87 ... due November 19... It's a surprise!
CandleontheWater ... due November 19... It's a surprise!
sbell111 ... due November 26... It's a surprise!
ecteacher23 ... due December 3... It's a surprise!
ZachnElli ... due December 8... It's a surprise!
taraprather ... due December 15... It's a surprise!​

I haven't had a chance to catch up, but just wanted to let you know...

Caleb Joseph arrived 4/16 5:40 pm
9lbs 14.5 oz 21 inches
He was premature he was born at 36 weeks 5 days.

Story:

I was having contractions at work about 10 minutes apart. I called MD at 12:00. Went to hospital to be checked. They moved to 5 minutes before I got there, about 1/2 an hour drive, then 2-3 minutes while I was being monitored.

He kept watching me for a little bit as I wasn't dilated, but I don't that's why I had my first csection. But he said it was like I wasn't even pregnant...go figure.

So he watched for another 1/2 an hour, but got me ready, IV, labs, etc. He checked head position and it hurt. Head was right at my incision scars from my other 2. At that point he said, no choice if the incisions were sore, he had to take me. Contractions weren't getting any better w/hydration and now risk tearing incision.

I was in OR within 10 minutes. It took 20 minutes to get to baby due to scar tissue from other 2 csections I had so much fluid when he broke thru, the fluid went all the way to the wall. I know, probalby TMI, but that's just crazy.

I was in about an hour after cleaning up all of the adhesions, I had a ton. Now onto baby. He was good when he was born about 1-2 hours later he started to have trouble breathing. They put the hood on him and it really wasn't helping. 12midnight the call was made to mass general to have him transported. the team was here before 1am and they ran tests, decided to intubate him before they went. Then they did xray to check tube placement and he had pneumothorax and partially collapsed lung. MD came down to me, discussed and put in chest tube. So with all the work they did to stabalize him it was 5 am when they brought him in to see me before he went off via ambulance to Boston.

He had his chest tube removed about 10pm yesterday. They were playing with his oxygen all day today to make sure he could tolerate not having the respirator and at about 7:30pm he decided he was done w/it and pulled it out!! So, I talked to them about 45 minutes after that and he was doing great. He had a feeding tube in, which he was getting sugar water in. They removed that and were going to feed him some formula. They need to watch him there for 24 hours before he can come back here. There is a level 2 nursery here, so he can come back here once cleared from respirator status.

I'm here until Monday, but if he isn't ready, yet...I can stay as a "border" and stay on the ward and just wont have the nursing care. No biggie, as long as I can be with him. It's been tough being here and he's in Boston. My hubby goes in and spends the entire day with him, visiting me before and after.

So there's my story...long story but it's been a tough couple of days, but he's strong. He must look very strange in the NICU being a premie and being born almost 10lbs... I do make big babies. He peed 4 times in the OR before they weighed him. He probably would have been 10 lbs if they had weighed him right away, but they had the specialist all ready in OR to check him out knowing he was early.

ETA: He was born on what would have been my grandfathers 85th birthday. My entire family said he was going to be born that day from the day they found out I was pregnant....

Wow! Congrats!

 

[Piecey]

Awesome prizes!
Was gonna say though, don't be too surprised...all that newborn stuff that you THINK looks to small is generally either too big or ALL that fits!! Hang on to a few things!

I kept a couple packages of onsies.. returned the $10 cutesy outfits that say "Up to 8lbs"... Dr. said she'll induce when he gets close to 9, so given that ultrasounds are usually +/- a pound I still figure he'd be too big to get much use out of the cutesy outfits.
I might rebuy them in a bigger size, haven't decided yet. Holding on to the gift card for now (or whats left after I bought the thermometer, alcohol swabs, bottle liners, etc. that we still needed)

 

[TiggerStac]

Thanks everyone. He continues to progress. Depending on what is going on in the Level 2 nursery here, he could be back tonight or tomorrow.

They had a set of 35 week twins delivered that are in 2 of the 3 beds in there right now, so they are full. but something could change before the end of the day. The only worry I have is that he is in Boston and the Marathon is tomorrow. Hubby assures me he's far enough from all the action...but still. I used to know Boston really well, but we moved out to the sticks almost 10 years ago and I've only gone in a few times since then.

Hubby is feeding him now, which is huge! It's the first time he's got to hold him, I can't wait until I can. He will be here for a few days in the level 2 Special care nursery. He'll have a few goals before he can go home. They did put a nasal cannula in but his on just as "whisp" of o2. They left feeding tube in, as he's just learning to eat. Then he has to keep body temp up, which hasn't been a problem due to his size. So it's just getting him completely off the oxygen and feeding on his own. Progress!!

 

[december]

I'm so glad he is making progress-I can't even imagine what this is like for you!

I'm going to share a tip from the May ivillage board, that our father on here may not want to hear about!

Take some large feminine pads and saturate with witch hazel, then freeze in ziploc bags. Some of the mothers swore by this, and since it is so cheap I thought why not! I just did 12 pads, and put the ziplocs inside a grocery bag so no one will open my freezer and see a bunch of pads!!! I'd hate to think about some of dh's coaching buddies coming by to help with the kids and finding that little surprise!

 

[Piecey]

Take some large feminine pads and saturate with witch hazel, then freeze in ziploc bags. Some of the mothers swore by this, and since it is so cheap I thought why not! I just did 12 pads, and put the ziplocs inside a grocery bag so no one will open my freezer and see a bunch of pads!!! I'd hate to think about some of dh's coaching buddies coming by to help with the kids and finding that little surprise!

Okay, but what do you use the pads for?


I just finished returning all my baby shower stuff and re-using the credit. I think it took me a half hour in Sears to spend $8 bucks because I just grabbed a 3-piece Pooh outfit set from Clearance and it rang up 50% off the already clearanced price. Nothing like a deal, but it took me forever to find that! There is soooo much more stuff for little girls!

Maggie- There is usually a guy outside Krogers on Sunday that gives out papers, trying to get you to subscribe. Today, in your honor, I took one and will try to be a better couponer. I haven't looked at them yet, though. Might not be anything worth using... but the thought was there.
I had two trips to Krogers today- they've got the 15pk of Coca-Cola cans 3/$10 and you also get a free bag of Combos ($1.99) and 2 free boxes of Cheez-Its ($6.16). So that is my deal of the day!

 

[DannysMom]

Okay, but what do you use the pads for?

Yep, that's a FTM question alrighty.
If you deliver v@ginally, it is *sore* down there for a while, at least a week, maybe two or longer. So the chilled pad is put in your underwear, to soothe things.

I can't say that I was that uncomfortable for that long, but my baby was good deal smaller than most. What I did use was a squirt bottle of warm water for about a week, when & after I peed, as I did have a episeotomy. So until I healed up a bit peeing stung some.

 

[december]

Some hospitals have pads with ice packs built in. My kids are so old I honestly don't remember! The witch hazel frozen into the pad is a kind of do it yourself solution! I think the witch hazel was like $1.20, and the pads are a must anyway for a few weeks, so it doesn't hurt to try.

 

[mmkk]

I'm so glad he is making progress-I can't even imagine what this is like for you!

I'm going to share a tip from the May ivillage board, that our father on here may not want to hear about!

Take some large feminine pads and saturate with witch hazel, then freeze in ziploc bags. Some of the mothers swore by this, and since it is so cheap I thought why not! I just did 12 pads, and put the ziplocs inside a grocery bag so no one will open my freezer and see a bunch of pads!!! I'd hate to think about some of dh's coaching buddies coming by to help with the kids and finding that little surprise!

Thanks for the tip! I definitely remember those first couple of weeks after delivery! SOOOO SORE!

Tiggerstac-I'm sending prayers your way, but it sounds like things are looking brighter!

 

[Piecey]

So, are we talking disposable pads? Like Always?
I'm such a newbie.

 

[Disney Ron]

Some hospitals have pads with ice packs built in. My kids are so old I honestly don't remember! The witch hazel frozen into the pad is a kind of do it yourself solution! I think the witch hazel was like $1.20, and the pads are a must anyway for a few weeks, so it doesn't hurt to try.

My hospital had these when DS when born. They were great.

Congratulations Tiggerstac. Glad to hear he is improving.

 

[ShootingStarMom2]

Okay, but what do you use the pads for?

Oh mercy! Those "parts" after delivery will need some cooling for sure. Our hospital takes newborn diapers and slices them open in the middle. They take a pad and soak it and put it in the sliced part and freeze the whole thing. Once frozen the sliced part stays closed and it won't leak because it's a diaper. Tried it at home with a few and it worked great. I told the nurse I took the Phillips caplet she gave me but really didn't. I just hid it in my makeup bag. This time, I'm taking it for sure.

The newborn clothes might surprise you. Well, the onesies anyway. DH was only 6lbs 9oz and didn't wear the newborn size for weeks. We bought a package of preemie onesies because he was skinny and everything fell off him or was super long. I remember thinking, he'll never fit into this shirt and he was swimming in it.

Welcome Caleb! Hoping you feel stronger everyday.

 

[Piecey]

Okay, I'm 100% blonde and I DID buy pads awhile ago (the really, really big super absorbant ones) I just couldn't figure out why you'd freeze them with Witch Hazel.

I don't think I've ever used or even seen Witch Hazel before?? That is the part that I got totally lost!

 

[december]

I've never used witch hazel either. This will be my first attempt at it! I read the label when I picked it up this morning, and it is good for alot of things.

 

[harleyquinn]

This is one of those conversations i think I'll try to ignore, but file in the 'remember closer to delivery' category! lol

Though I read the exact advice in at least 2 of the books I read.

I think witch hazel numbs things right?

 

[Piecey]

Hm.

I guess it couldn't hurt... I've got an empty freezer at the other house
Did you just use disposable ones, like Always? I guess I'm still a bit confused. I'm slow, though! I'll figure it out.



Maggie, here is what I found in the paper helpful to us:
2- $1.50 off any package of Huggies Diapers
1- $2.00 off any package of Huggies Overnites Diapers
1- $0.75 off any package of Huggies Wipes (64ct+) NOT subject to doubling.
1- $1.00 off any Huggies Bath & Body Products

Rite Aid's ad has Huggies Jumbo Pack's for $5.99 after "Single Rebate Check" (I have no idea what a Single Rebate Check is, though??)
OR I've heard K*Mart is doubling coupons that are up to $2, so it'd be $4 off. Apparently participation is scattered, so I'm going to ask before I buy!
Rite Aid's limit is 1 "check" per transaction, so I'm going to pop in one after work tomorrow and see if I can figure it out.
Hey, I think I'm getting into this couponing thing

 

[Piecey]

Sarah! You're in double digits!

 

[Maggimus]

As far as the witch hazel/pad talk...(which is on target with my couponing)... I got 3 12packs of Tucks w/ witch hazel yesterday. I hear that a lot of people use these, and i had great coupons + a sale that made them free. Has anyone used these upon delivery?

Piecey- Im so impressed with your couponing and budgeting techniques! KEEP THOSE COUPONS. Do NOT throw any away before they expire. Ill keep you posted on stores/sales where stuff is free or close to it. I promise there will be some-- you wont even think a .50cent coupon will make something free-- but it will!



Congrats on the new baby! Sending prayers, definitely!! Hoping for progress, please keep us up to date!