@chelseaandkin - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag

@chelseaandkin

Chelsea. Wife to Aaron. Mama to Carter (June 2014), Thea (May 2017), Tessa (April 2020), and Austin (March 2022).

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Austin’s birth story

On March 15, I arrived at the hospital for 8AM for my induction. They started an IV for antibiotics, and got everything set up. The doctor came up around 8:40AM to break my water, I was at 2cm and stretchy. Water broke and slowly leaked out, no big gush.

They gave me misoprostol orally, every hour, to bring on contractions.

Around 9:30, I met with the GP who was in charge of assessing Austin for esophageal atresia. We discussed the plan (pass a feeding tube, do an X-ray). As we discussed that, A LOT of my waters came out. He left until delivery time.

Around 10:30AM, contractions were finally starting. Super irregular but they started. So I laboured and relaxed. At 11:15 they checked me, I was 3-4cm and his head was engaged.

I continued labouring and they kept giving me those pills which made the contractions a lot more intense, and things sped up. They checked me around 1PM and I was 6-7cm. Then transition hit. I asked about an epidural, the wait was gonna be at least an hour, so I knew that wasn’t happening. So I tried the gas & air. It did nothing for the pain, but the happy feeling was nice. And it reminded me to breathe.

I told them I felt pressure and that he would be coming soon. They rushed to get everything set up and everyone paged in (2 doctors, and a bunch of nurses). They did not all make it. Fetal ejection reflex kicked in, my body started pushing him out. Fast. Fortunately the GP made it but my OB did not. The nurse delivered him. He did have the cord around his neck but it didn’t do anything. He came out screaming, scored beautifully on his apgars. He was born at 2:40PM.

The OB and my midwife arrived just after the birth, so while the GP assessed for the atresia, I birthed the placenta (which was so tiny compared to the girls’) and got cleaned up. No tearing.

The GP passed the feeding tube with no issue and didn’t feel it necessary to expose him to an X-ray because he was confident with it. So I got to hold my boy and that was that. ❤️

On March 15, 2022 we welcomed our fourth and (absolute) final little babe. Despite the crazy pregnancy he put us through, he is absolutely perfect. ❤️

Austin Derek

8lbs 5oz, 21.5 in

2:40 PM

Induction Plans

So I went to the hospital this morning, met the doctor that will be inducing me and some nurses. They were great. Rooms are all private and cute.

We did a NST but babe didn’t wanna cooperate. He just cuddled into the placenta and hid his heart rate for most of it. So that was fun. They did my pre-labour blood work so that we don’t need to do it tomorrow.

I was about 2cm dilated, cervix was “stretchy” and soft. So no Cervadil or anything needed. They did a stretch and sweep but nothing has come of it aside from some cramping. That’s not making me overly optimistic about this labour. 😂

I go back tomorrow morning at 8AM for them to break my water and he should come out fairly quick after that. Fingers crossed that this isn’t my longest labour.🤞🏻this pregnancy has been so hit and miss that I don’t even know what to expect at this point.

After having contractions on and off all day today, I’m exhausted.

I have to call the hospital in the morning to go in for a cervical assessment apparently. Or so said my OB but he’s not even here so idk.

Really hoping that the contractions today did something and I’ll be dilated enough that they keep me instead of making me go back again on Tuesday. 😩🤣

Like just break my water and babe will be out so fast, thank youuuuu.

OB Appt

So we have a plan. I have to call on Monday, they’ll bring me in and assess my cervix. They’ll give me Cervadil or whatever for 24hrs if my cervix needs it (im fairly certain that it does not).

From there, they plan on inducing me on Tuesday. They’ll break my water and out he’ll come. I’ll be 39+2 that day.

So in one week, at most, I’m having a baby. Fingers crossed that I go into labour before then. 🥲

So my midwives will not be the ones delivering this baby. 🥲

So that sucks. But they will be coming for right after the delivery and doing all of my postpartum care and baby’s care. So that’s good at least.

I meet with the OB in a couple of hours to get our induction plan/date 🤞🏻

38 Weeks

Had my BPP ultrasound today. He’s weighing approximately 8lbs 2oz, so not terribly large. But there’s also a +/- a pound to that estimate.

She obviously couldn’t tell me the results of the other stuff like fluid levels, breathing practice, etc. So hopefully the report gets sent over asap.

I go back to the OB tomorrow to see what he wants to do. I’d still prefer to be induced so that I can get antibiotics for the GBS.

I’ve been able to control my sugars pretty well, as long as I don’t eat too many carbs. Which sucks. I just want a bowl of ice cream or like, chocolate. But nope. I’m eating apples instead. 🥲

OB Consult

So things are chaotic. I met with the OB today, he’s alright. He wanted to send me to a diabetes doctor but that doesn’t make sense to do since I can literally deliver any time now instead.

Plan right now is for me to get an ultrasound done on Monday (BPP), which I have to drive over an hour away for because it’s SO last minute. So that’s fun.

Then I go back to him on Tuesday and we will go over it and make a plan. As of right now, it seems like we’re inducing on the 14th/15th of March. But the ultrasound can change that.

I think he’s transferring my care, which idk if that means that my midwives can’t be there for my delivery? I hope not. I prefer midwives for my delivery.

I’m supposed to have an appointment with my midwives on Monday, but they’re gonna call first. And I can’t call them to tell them that I have an ultrasound out of town so I won’t be here without calling the emergency line because they’re closed for the weekend now. So like idk what to do??🤷🏼‍♀️ I guess I just leave it and wait for the call on Monday. Like idk.

So yeah, looks like we’re having a baby in like 10 days.

I have my OB consult tomorrow afternoon.

I’m really hoping they induce me. I’ve come to peace with that happening. Like I’m good, just please do it. 😂

On Sunday I’ll be the same gestation that I was when we started Carters induction (38w). Which is wild. I don’t feel like I’m that far along.

Im not sure what they’re going to do tomorrow, my midwives said that they may do an ultrasound or NST. They may not. Idk. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I have my hospital bag packed juuuust in case they throw me a curve ball but I highly doubt that they’ll induce me on the spot. But who knows, this whole pregnancy has been curve balls. 🥲

Midwife Appointment - 37 Weeks

BP is good

baby’s HR was about 145bpm

Measuring 38.5 this week

I am GBS+ and now have GD.

I am waiting on an OB consult

Might be induced at 39 weeks, won’t know for sure until I have the OB consult.

Might need a BPP and NST. Again, OB consult. So the OB better get back to them soon. 😂

At this point, I don’t even mind an induction. This pregnancy has been a lot. Plus the only way to get the 2 doses of antibiotics are for me to be induced, so I’m fine with it.

Aaaand add being slightly anemic to my list of pregnancy complaints. 😂😂

36w4d

Found out that I’m GBS + again. I’m so annoyed. That’s 2/4 of my pregnancies now.

All I wanted this pregnancy was a homebirth. But no. Now?

Baby might not have a working esophagus. Which means surgery when he’s born (if he has the defect). And MORE people at my birth.

Might have late onset GD (getting tested tomorrow). Which means bigger baby if I can’t control my sugars and possible sugar issues for him after birth.

GBS+. Which normally I wouldn’t care, but my last labour was 1.5 hours. That’s not long enough for GBS treatment. Which puts him at risk for GBS infection after birth.

PLUS our ABO incompatibility. So he’ll be jaundiced.

So after birth he will have jaundice, at risk for low sugars, at risk of GBS infection, and possibly need surgery and a transfer to a specialty hospital.

At this point I’m just considering asking my midwives to induce me early so I can get the fucking GBS treatment to take one thing off of his list of possible issues.

All I wanted from this last pregnancy was a homebirth. That was it. 🥲 I’m so stressed and overwhelmed.

36 Weeks - Midwife

Blood pressure was 110/70

Baby’s heart rate was about 130bpm

Measuring 40 weeks 🥲

My sugars are starting to rise, so we’re doing a random glucose test to check that.

If there aren’t a crazy amount of babies being born, we will start stretch and sweeps around 39 weeks.

Did my GBS swab, so hopefully that is negative. 🤞🏻

I’m really hoping he decides to come early. This sciatica is getting so bad, and my pelvis is gradually getting worse. I’m so sore. 💀

35w3d

Old stretch marks curtesy of Thea’s pregnancy. And scars from my surgery. 😂

This kiddo is quite comfortable cooking, me on the other hand, I have awful sciatica pain. To the point that I’m limping and doing curbside grocery orders because ouch.

5 weeks until we meet this boy!

33 weeks

And I think it just hit me that we could have a baby in like 4 weeks.

My babies don’t come early, but the idea that we COULD. Carter was induced at 38 weeks.

Oof the nesting is gonna kick in now. And I’m second guessing his name. Again. But I don’t think I want to change it. 😂

MFM Appointment

BP was 110/77

I’ve gained like 30lbs but idc🤷🏼‍♀️

Baby weighs 4lbs 10oz

Fluid level is normal, but high end of normal. Which isn’t uncommon for me, my kids had a lot of fluid.

Stomach measured normal.

Did a GD test while there, they actually got my vein on the first try. That never happens.

As far as the esophageal atresia goes, we don’t know for sure. Everything looked good today and there were no signs of it.

BUT. It’s only ever diagnosed 1/3 of the time in pregnancies, it’s usually found after birth. So because he already had signs, we can’t take it off the table completely.

This means that our plan for a home birth is out the window, he needs to be born in the hospital where he can get checked immediately. Before he is allowed to latch. They’ll have to try and place a feeding tube and see that it goes into the stomach.

If it does, he’s clear. If it doesn’t, he will be transferred to Sick Kids Hospital and will have surgery.

So yeah, we really don’t know for certain until he’s born in 8 weeks. So now we will be mentally preparing ourselves for the possibility of a NICU stay, while simultaneously hoping that it doesn’t come to that. 🥲

The MFM also wants me to have a growth scan done in 4 weeks to check on his growth. Which is kind of annoying since I’ve already delivered a ten pounder with no issues but whatever. 🤷🏼‍♀️

29+3

Ok so we changed his name, but he has one now. 😂 no one really knows it so we might keep it from everyone, even family. Because I just don’t wanna hear any more opinions. 😂

I go for my covid booster tomorrow, so that’ll be fun. The second dose knocked me down the next day so I’m expecting a similar reaction.

I’ve been having a lot of tailbone and sciatica pain lately. So far no pelvic pain though, so that’s been nice. 😂

I go to my second and hopefully last MFM appt in 2 weeks where we will hopefully be told that he is perfectly healthy. 🤞🏻

Also, I have nothing ready so I should probably get on that soon. I think we’re going to move the big kids into a room together for a while and put Tessa in the small room alone and hope that she sleeps through the night that way. She keeps ending up in my bed in the middle of the night which just isn’t gonna work with a newborn. 🥲💀

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