Week 2

Week 2

Thursday:

• Mom-mom Knotts came and spent the day with us on Thursday
• Mommy had a doctor's appointment and we ended up spending a little time in the hospital because of her blood pressure

Friday:

• It was mommy's 32nd birthday!! You are the best gift Mommy has every received!
• Mommy's friend Megan came and spent the day with us.
• You recognize Daddy's voice and always give him little smiles when he comes home from work.

Saturday:

• Doctor's appointment for weight check: 8 pounds (making progress but still not at birth weight)
• Granny, Aunt Meri, Alyssa, and Arihanna came to visit me

Sunday:

• spent the day snuggling with mommy- you love to nestle your head in our necks or roll over onto your side
• Mommy and Daddy love giving you kisses on your sweet cheeks

Monday:

• Daddy stayed home with us for a snow day

Tuesday:

• you love your play mat

Wednesday:

• Doctor's appointment for weight check: 8 pounds

Week 1

Week 1

Day 0: Born February 19th at 6:05 pm.

• 8 pounds 6 ounces & 21 inches
• Head was a little squished and shaped like a cone. Cheeks were very puffy.
• Latched onto mommy's breast without and problems.

Day 1:

• eating every 3 hours (breastfeeding)
• stayed in NICU
• Granny, Pop-pop Wood, Aunt Anna, Aunt Meri, Uncle Brandon, Alyssa, and Arihanna came to see you in the hospital.

Day 2:

• head rounder and swelling has gone down
• went home from hospital
• terrible night: screamed most of the night, Mommy and Daddy took turns holding you, would not latch onto breast and therefore did not eat anything

Day 3:

• had your first pediatrician appointment- went down to 7 pounds 6 ounces
• since you weren't eating we fed you formula with a syringe
• slept great during the day
• met Brodie for the first time- he was very calm around you and would run over anytime he heard you cry
• Mom-mom Knotts came over to spend time with you so mommy and daddy could sleep 

Day 4: 

• Mom-mom and Pop-pop Knotts came to visit- Mom-mom says you are very strong because you can lift your head right up
• you lift your head off our chest when we hold you
• we gave you your first sponge bath and you did not like it

Day 5:

• Doctor's Appointment for weight check: 7 pounds 12 ounces
• Daddy's last day home.
• Mommy loves cuddling with you in the morning.
• Mommy met with a lactation specialist to help your latch. Mommy used a nipple guard and that seemed to help. You started nursing every 3 hours.
• Uncle Rob came to visit you.

Day 6:

• Mom-mom Knotts came to spend the day with us- she changed your diaper for the first time : )
• you started to smile
• you love when Mommy sings "You are My Sunshine"
• still not sleeping well at night- will only sleep if you are on Mommy or Daddy's chest

Day 7:

• Mom-mom Knotts came to spend the day with us
• First time it snowed!!
• Pop-pop Wood came to visit me after work and had dinner with us.

Our Birth Story- Part 4 (Our Baby is Here!!)

Our little peanut came into the world at 6:05 P.M. on Wednesday night. As she sat on my chest and we looked at each other I told her over and over again how beautiful she was and how much I loved her. I looked at Nick and said, "I did it." I could not believe I had actually pushed her out.

Since I had a fever during the labor process and was put on antibiotics the NICU was in the room. Harper was on my chest for only minutes before a nurse came over and took her away. They weighed her and put her in the warmer. Then, she was wheeled away to the NICU center. Nick didn't even have a chance to hold her. 

During this time, I delivered the placenta and Dr. Shima gave a lesson to both Nick and the student nurse on what the purpose of it was. Then, since I had a 2nd degree tear I had to get some stitches. 

I felt pretty good. Nick was over the moon and I was so excited to see my little girl again. I was told that I would be able to breastfeed and hold her again once I was in a postpartum room. So, I waited while my body processed the epidural. While I waited, Nick went out, told his family and brought them back to the nursery to see the baby then to the labor room to see me. I was a ball of hormones and cried as soon as everyone got there. It was so exciting!!

Then...it all came tumbling down. The NICU doctor came in and basically laid everything out on the table. Told me Harper had trouble breathing, I would not be able to breastfeed her if I had a fever still, and Harper would not be able to stay in the room with me. I lost it. It was pretty much the worst case scenario and the exact opposite of what I was told. 

From that moment, I was determined to get some breast milk into my little girl. I called the nurse and told her I was ready to move to another room. She had me stand up and walk to the bathroom. Thankfully when I came out a NICU nurse was standing with some paperwork. She was able to tell me what was really going on and not the worst case scenario of possibilities. I felt a little better but still wanted to get to my room. 

Once I was in the postpartum room my family arrived and brought us dinner. After sitting and talking about the baby they left so Nick and I could finally go see our little one. We walked to the NICU nursery, hoping that at least Nick would be able to go in and hold his little girl for the first time. 

The Lord was on our side. We were both able to go in and hold our bundle of joy and I was able to put her to my breast for the first time. It was an amazing moment. 

For the next two days Harper had to stay in the NICU because she was actually born with a slight fever (99) and had to be put on antibiotics. The nurses were great. They would call me to come and feed her every 3 hours and I was able to go down and hold her whenever I wanted. 

After a few crazy moments involving waiting for Harper's test results and trying to figure out if my blood pressure was too high, on Friday the 21st, we were discharged at 9:00 in the evening. 

Our Birth Story- Part 3

Week 41 Day 4- INDUCTION DAY 3

I was in a deep sleep for 12 hours straight. I woke up around 6:00. Since it was still early, I didn't expect the doctor to be in until 7:00. Nick was feeling the stress of waiting and sleeping on a terrible chair so I told him to go home, work-out, and take a shower. So he left while I waited.  

I walked him out and decided to go to the bathroom and slightly praying that the Foley Bulb would just fall out in the process. As I peed this long rubbery tube dangled between my legs. Around 6:15 Wednesday morning, the nurse came in and took out the Foley bulb. She did a quick check and felt that I was about 5 cm but wanted to get a doctor to double check. She let me shower and get cleaned up.

About 30 minutes later, a doctor from another practice came in and checked my cervix. I was 5 cm and 90% effaced so without any hestitation she broke my water. Warm liquid gushed out of me onto the bed. What a surreal feeling! I had two things cross my mind at this moment. I hope this is actually the fluid and I am not peeing myself and thank you Jesus. The liquid just kept coming and coming. 

I texted Nick and told him what just happened and panic came across his voice. He knew this was it!! He was still at home and needed to get a shower. I told him everything was fine just get back to the hospital as soon as he could. 

At 7AM, there was a switch in doctors and nurses. My labor nurse who I will never forget entered the room and introduced herself, Tana. I was also asked if it would be okay to have a student nurse help out during the day. I agreed. The first thing they did was clean up the room, get a baby warmer, and reset up my all of my monitors. Feeling a little uncomfortable, I asked if I could get a change in bedding and go to the bathroom. She helped me up out of bed. As soon as I stood up, i felt this incredible amount of pressure down low. It was sooooo painful! i thought the baby was going to fall to the ground. I went to the bathroom and then Tana cleaned me up, and put me back into bed.Throughout the day she did this and helped me switch positions. 

The doctor came in around 7:30, and just with my luck, it was Dr. M. The first thing she says is, "Well, lets check this out because sometimes people get different measurement." Ugh, can i just say this woman is seriously always negative.  At 8:00, I decided I wasn't going to continue to feel this incredible pressure if I didn't have to and asked for an epidural. Nick was still not back yet so I text him and told him he needed to hurry.

I finally got an epidural around 8:30. Nick made it back and supported me the whole time. I wouldn't say it was painful but the initial pinch was not good. Tana helped me back into bed and got me comfortable. In moments the pain was gone. 

I made steady progress throughout the day. Around noon, I was 7cm. My mom came back to the hospital at 3:30 to hang out. While she was there the doctor came in and did another check....9cm!!!  

As quick as things were going so well, we had a little set back around 4:30. While my mom was there I told the nurse I was feeling a little loopy. She said I shouldn't feel that way. Turns out I spiked a fever of 102.8. Everyone began to freak out. They covered me with ice and gave me two different IV antibiotics and Tylenol. 

My mom left around 4:30 AND at 4:40 the doctor came in to do a cervix check. 10 CM!!!!! It was time. She had Tana pull up one leg and Nick pulled up the other. Then she told me to push at my next contraction like I had to poop. Breath in and push out- three times for each contraction. The doctor left and from that point we worked on pushing and getting to the point of crowning. I felt each contraction with a tremendous amount of pressure so I told them every time I had to push. 

Once I crowned, Tana called Dr. Shima (who was on call) in to deliver. The room transformed. While everyone was getting ready I continued to push. The doctor got into position and helped me a long to push the baby out. He asked if I wanted to see the baby come out with a mirror but I just couldn't. I pushed from 4:40 to 6:05. 

At 6:05 the doctor told me to put out my hands and take my baby. It felt like she was reaching for me. I grabbed her and put her onto my chest. (I pulled her so close the doctor had to tell say"Whoa"...I apparently forgot she was actually still attached to me. Nick cut the umbilical cord.

Moments I remember...

• Nick always said he never wanted to watch any of it. He watched the whole things and was such an awesome coach. He pushed me the whole time and told me what an awesome job I was doing.
• The first moment the baby's head could be seen. I couldn't but seeing the excitement on everyone's face, especially Nick's, was amazing
• With an epideral, you don't feel a lot, but I still felt a lot of the pressure and there was still pain. 
• I said a lot of things that were absolutely ridiculous.
• Harper's eyes were really big and she looked right at me.

( Note: Due to my fever, it changed some of the procedures of the after-delivery. They had to make sure the baby was not affected so NICU was there to take the baby right away. I was told this from the very beginning. More in Our Birth Story- Part 4)

Our Birth Story- Part 2

Week 41 Day 3- INDUCTION DAY 2

The next morning, Tuesday, February 18th, I woke up and basically spent the morning watching TV. Around mid-morning Dr. Shima took out the Cervidil. I was now 1 cm and 90% effaced. Not much progress at all. I was very discouraged. The nurse allowed me to take a shower and eat some breakfast since I had eaten so very little the entire day before. It was seriously the best french toast I ever had!

Around noon, Dr. Shima came in and gave me a few options. The choices were do another dose of Cervidil, start Pitocin, or insert a Foley Bulb. Dr. Shima really didn't have a strong opinion about any of them so we decided to start Pitocin. If it didn't work then we would move on to plan B. Wasn't really sure what Plan B was but knew there were other options to choose from. The doctor was completely fine with that decision.  

Around 2:00 in the afternoon I was hooked up to an IV of Pitocin. Around the same time my mom came to spend the day with us because we were sure this was the day the baby was going to be born. I walked around and around the room praying for something to happen. I had been experiencing contractions since the night before but they were becoming very strong. As much as they hurt I thought for sure this meant something was happening. At about 5:00 in the evening, I finally decided I couldn't take the pain anymore. Since I was only 1cm dilated, I could not get an epidural instead; so, they were going to give me a pain medicine that would basically put me to sleep. 

About 20 minutes later Dr. Shima came in and said he decided to actually take me off the Pitocin and insert a Foley bulb. Just like that. This was now over 24 hours of an induction, my body was not working, and I was completely discouraged. The insertion of the Foley bulb was very uncomfortable. He had to use a speculum then he inserted a rubbery device that had two balloons. The balloons were inflated with water. If all went well this would cause my cervix to dilate. During the procedure there was a sight uncomfortable feeling but afterwards came with pretty bad cramps on top of strong contractions. The combination was TERRIBLE!!! 

After about an hour of sitting in a rocking chair, breathing with my eyes closed, and squeezing Nick's hand, I begged for pain meds. They gave me Dilaudid with Benadryl which completely knocked me out for the night. 

Our Birth Story- Part 1

On Wednesday, February 19th 2014, we were blessed with the most magnificent, beautiful and precious gift. Our daughter, HARPER GRACE WOOD. Our hearts are full of so much love for this little girl it brings me to tears thinking about it. 

The road to creating Harper was definitely full of ups and downs so I don't know why I was so surprised that the moments leading up to her birth day were also filled with struggles. This is the story of Harper's birth.  

Week 41 & 2 Days- INDUCTION DAY 1

On February 17th, I woke up feeling completely normal. Large, stressed, and ready for this baby to come out; however, no symptoms of labor. I went about a some what normal day. I cleaned the house, finished some last minute packing, and enjoyed a bland diet (crackers, bananas, and water). At 3:00 I called the birth center to find out if they would accept my reservation. Thankfully, there was room and the nurse told us to come in around 4:00 to begin the induction process. 

We arrived at the hospital and went to admissions at 4:00 on the dot with my suitcase in tow. Nick and I walked into the admissions door and the woman at the desk says, "Are you Jessica Wood?" I laugh slightly because she knew who I was. As she tells us to sign in and that it would be a few minutes she says, "Did they tell you that there is no room?" Nick and I look at each other in confusion because how can the Birthcenter fill up in 1 hour since I called. I was so stressed out and just wanted to get the show on the road. We had no idea what they were going to do. After calling up the Birthcenter, the Admissions clerk finds out that the doctor wants to keep me in the hospital and do another non-stress test.   

We took the elevator to the 3rd floor and entered into the Birthcenter, The nurses set me up in a room and began the nonstress test. After a few minutes I found out my "favorite" doctor, Dr. M, was on the floor. This is the doctor I've had several problems with over the past few weeks. Since I was over a week late and had a few bouts of high blood pressure she wanted me to stay. This is the same doctor who, only a little over a week before, wouldn't write me a doctor's note because there was NOTHING wrong with me I was just pregnant.  At 7:00 on Wednesday night I was put into a labor room.

Nick and I basically spent the night hanging out and watching TV. The night nurse came in, hooked me up to monitors, and completed the admissions questions. Finally, around midnight, they put in the Cervidil. (Before insertion I was 1 cm and 80% effaced.) Throughout the night I had very mild contractions but was able to sleep.

Welcome to the World!!

Introducing...

Harper Grace Wood

February 19, 2014

8lbs. 6ozs.

21 inches