March 1999 WEEK 1 After an emergency ceserean, Amy’s first week was spent in hospital. Thankfully she is a very good baby. I’ve had some problems with breastfeeding but it seems to be going okay. WEEK 2 Home from hospital. I’m still sore from the operation, but Kevin and my mum have been a great help around the house. Had a few short shopping trips. Towards the end of the week, I found it impossible to walk, then my right leg swelled up and I was admitted back into hospital with a DVT (Deep Vein Trombosis) or blood clot. Amy is putting on plenty of weight and passed with flying colours at her two week check-up. WEEK 3 In hospital. Thankfully Amy was able to stay with me since I was breastfeeding. I was in a lot of pain and confined to bed. Amy was wonderful and slept through most of the night, only waking for a feed about 2.30am. WEEK 4 Home again. It’s still difficult for me to get around, so mum’s been called in again to help me, since Kevin’s got lots of work to do. It’s taken a few days for Amy to settle down again but she’s continued to sleep most of the night.

Amy’s Birth Story

Amy’s Birth Story

Amy was born on her due date of the 4th March
by emergency ceaserean.

Stats Weight:3170 grams Length:48 cm Head Circumference:34 cm

On Tuesday 2nd I realised I hadn’t felt her
move all day and went to the hospital to have a trace (of her heartbeat)
at about 10pm. Her heartbeat dropped for a few minutes but returned to
normal and we went home about 11pm. The next day my doctor asked me to
have another trace, which showed up fine. He then said for me to have another
trace on the 4th, just before me weekly appointment with him. As you will
have guessed by now we didn’t quite make it to then.

Just after 12am on the 4th I started to have
contractions. My mucus plug had come away earlier in the afternoon. The
contractions weren’t too bad and I let my husband get some more sleep.
I used a hot water bottle on my back (since the first sign a contraction
was coming was severe backache) and had a nice warm bath. At about 2.30
I thought my waters had broken (we later found out they hadn’t) and called
the hospital. At this stage the contractions were about 5 mins apart, they
said till wait

until they were 3 mins apart and then go in.
We arrived at the hospital about 3.37 only to be told we should have waited
till they were 3mins for an hour. Oh, well. My temperature was up a bit
so they advised me to stay there.

At 8am my ob arrived, ruptured my membranes
and order a Syntocin IV to get things going. Baby’s heartrate was being
monitored through her scalp. By 9:30 the Syn drip is actually running.
Shortly after this I needed to go to the bathroom, where I was sick. Back
in bed my husband noticed the babys hart rate had slowed to 50bpm
(should be 160bpm) and went to get the nurse. The doctor arrived at the
same time, 10:15am and an injection (briconil sp?)was given to stop Syntocin
and all contractions and halt labour. At the 10.30am they began to prepare
for an Emergency C-Section. At this point I was pretty out of it. Unfortunately
because they needed to get Amy out so fast, a general was used instead
of an epidural, so my husband couldn’t be with me.

At 11:17 Amy was born. There was a lot of
merconium present so she didn’t breathe properly

straight away. First APGAR was 4, second was
9. After suctioning lungs, she was put on manual respiration for about
1 minute before she started breathing by herself. At 11:35 Amy was given
to my husband. She was fine by this point. Shortly after she was put on
a warming table, given vit K

needle, blood sugar taken, and a bath (according
to Kevin this was very messy because of the merconium… It was EVERYWHERE)

When I started to wake I was shivering with
cold and remember the nurses gossiping. I was also in considerable pain.
Desperate to see my daughter and husband, I declined further pain relief
because I would have had to stay in recovery longer. At about 1pm I was
wheeled into my room and Amy

was placed across my chest. I’ll never forget
those big blue eyes looking up at me.

The stay in hospital was hard, though I recovered
well from the operation. The c-section was just such a shock, and I really
had no idea what to expect.

We arrived home last Wed and Amy seems to
have settled in well, sleeping for most of the night. Our only problem
has been breastfeeding but we are slowly getting better. And she was already
back over her birthweight before we left the hospital.

Heres some photos taken 4th March

Amy’s official baby portrait taken in hospital

Amy was born on 4th March 1999 at 11:15 (UTC -1100)

Brief Story….

March 3….

21:30 libby had back ache…

March 4….

01:00 contractions start

02:20 called hospital

03:37 arrive at hospital

08:05 Dr. Davis ruptures membranes and ordered a Syntocin IV.

09:30 Syn drip is actually running

10:10 Babys hart rate slowes to 50bpm (should be 160bpm)

10:15 Injection (briconil sp?) to stop Syntocin and all contractions
and halt labour.

10:30 Preparation for Emergency C-Section

At this point i was told to go away as Libby went into surgery. As
it was an emergency, a general was used instead of an epidural. Thats why
i couldn’t be in there with her.

11:17 Baby Amy was born. There was a lot of merconium present
so she didn’t breathe properly straight away. First APGAR was very low
(still don’t know numbers). After suctioning lungs, she was put on manual
respiration for about 1 minute before she started breathing by herself.

11:35 Baby was given to me (Kevin). She was fine by this point.

11:45 Baby was put on a warming table. given vit K needle, blood
sugar taken, and a bath (remember the merconium… It was EVERYWHERE)

13:00 Libby was awake, and saw Amy.

13:30 Linda and David (waiting patiently) finally saw her.

Stats

Weight:3170 grams

Length:48 cm

HC:34 cm

Heres some photots… (click on them for a full size version…)

New Photos 1999/03/05

New Photos 1999/03/06

Libby’s Pregnancy Diary

Libby’s Pregnancy
Diary

NOTE: Please only read if you interested
in hearing what pregnancy is really like.

1st Trimester

2nd Trimester

3rd Trimester

Thursday 3rd December (27 weeks)

Decided to go and see a physio today since
my back has been very, very sore - particularly after a day at work. The
main thing she said I needed was massage - still trying to talk Kevin into
that one. She also gave me some exercises and said to use a heat pad.

Monday 14th December (28 weeks)

Not too much to report. Baby is very active
between about 5pm and 9pm. This is good because they appartantly keep to
the same schedule when they are born, which means she’ll be awake when
Kev gets hom from work. I’m finding it increasingly difficult to find a
comfy position to sleep in, and I suppose this will only get worse. I seem
to starting to really pop out now. Up til now most people have just thought
I’ve been putting on weight. Most of my Christmas shopping is done. Just
as well because I’m not too good on my feet for too long, especially witth
the weather being as horribly hot as it’s been the last few days.

Thursday 17th December (29 weeks)

Had my last monthly appointment with Dr Davis
today. He is really very happy with how I am going. And my glucose test
was fine.

Saturday 26th December (30 weeks)

Well, I’m rather glad Christmas is over. I
really enjoyed myself and even though I tried to take it easy, I am still
rather exhausted. At least it was relatively cool. Baby got quite a few
presents, including another bear and some clothes.

Wednesday 30th December (31 weeks)

Kevin and I have been doing up the nursery
this week and I think it looks great. We used our Christmas money to take
out our lay-by, plus had a spending spree. The room looks wonderful - now
we just need the baby to make it complete. Speaking of whom, she is very,
very active these days.

Thursday 31st December

First fortnightly visit with Dr Davis. Nothing
to report as everything is going well. Kevin is working tonight so it’ll
be a nice, quite new year. I’ve ordered pizza for tea and plan on having
a nice bubble bath and then going to bed to read.

Monday 4th January, 1999

We’re on holidays at Nelson’s Bay with mum
and dad this week. Baby is getting stronger by the minute. It’s so weird
having a book resting on my stomach and it almost bouncing out my hands
when she kicks. It’s been so very hot, but luckily the house is air conditioned.
I’m finding it hard to find a comfy position to sleep in now and have been
using pillows to try and keep my back from hurting.

Thursday 14th January (33 weeks)

Another appointment with Dr. Davis - everything
is going fine. My feet and hands are pretty swollen now but I’m told that’s
very common. I’m still craving Chocolate Billabongs (Ice Creams) so have
to keep a good stock in the freezer. Kev’s really good about getting out
of bed to get them for me.

Wednesay 27th January (35 weeks)

I’m now onto weekly appointments. Kevin came
to my appointment with me today which was good since I wasn’t feeling all
to good (which is unusual for me in the afternoon). Dr Davis wants me to
have another ultrasound to check the size of the baby - which means we’ll
get to see her again. I just hope I can book it for Thurs or Fri since
Kev will be interstate next week.

I’m having a lot more trouble sleeping now
and can only sleep on my side. Plus I’m thirsty and drinking a lot, therefore
I’m going to the toilet a lot. I think it’s going to be a very long month
until this baby arrives. Still I shouldn’t complain, I know I’ve had it
very easy.

Thursday 28th January

Unfortunately I can’t have the ultrasound
until Tuesday, which means Kev won’t be here. But at least he can watch
the video. I asked my mum to come with me, so she’s all excited.

Sunday 31st January

Leanne and mum hosted a baby shower for me
today. I had a great time. We played a few games, the baby gots lots of
wonderful things, and it was nice to catch with everyone.

Tuesday 2nd February

The ultrasound went fine - there are no problems.
And best of all, she’s still a girl!!! She’s still measuring tall and for
the second time I was asked if my husband was tall (which he’s not). She’s
about 7 pounds which means she should be about 8 pounds around her due
date. She really looks like a baby now, rather than just a skeleton.

Thursday 4th February (36 weeks)

Dr Davis is happy with everything. He wasn’t
concerned about her size at all. My hands have been very swollen this week
with Carpel Tunnel Syndrom. Still can’t complain too much.

Saturday 6th February

Went to our birth classes today. They were
very informative, even though we already knew a lot of the stuff. And were
able to clarify the hospital procedures which has dispelled the few concerns
I had. Kevin was also taught how to give me a back massage - now I just
have to hope he remembers how.

We’re both very excited now. It’s going to
be a long couple of weeks.

Wednesday 10th February (38 weeeks)

Everything still going well. Baby has dropped
down in the last week. I’m feeling suprisingly well, considering how hot
it has been.

Yesterday we booked our trip to Florida in
November. So before this baby is even born her first overseas trip is planned.

Last night I had a really awful dream that
I went into labour, only to loose the baby - it wasn’t a very nice feeling.
My doctor goes in holidays this week, so knowing my luck the baby will
decide to come now. Not that we mind, we’re all ready to meet her.

Tuesday 2nd March (39 weeks)

Well, we’re nearing the due date now. I’m
feeling rather relaxed and quite comfortable. I expected to feel real awful
at this stage because you hear so many mothers saying they were sick of
being pregnant. Lucky for me I don’t feel this way. Family and friends
are a lot more impatient for this baby to be born than I am. Every morning
the first question Kevin asks is “Are you having a baby today?” As though
I know the answer to that. I’m still keeping fairly busy - doing jobs and
errands in the morning and relaxing with a book in the late afternoon.
The only problem I’m really having is that because baby is pressing on
my bladder, it isn’t very comfortable to do much walking. Luckily my mum
has been taking the dogs for a walk for me. My next doctors appointment
is on Thursday.