Baby # 3 birth story

It was thanksgiving day. We decided to celebrate thanksgiving the Saturday before with Sarah, Kevin, Theo, and Cali in case something were to happen. Your estimated due date was Sunday 11/27/22. El

Camino is very big in induction so my planned induction call was anytime Friday after midnight to be seen anytime that weekend.  

That actually thanksgiving day it was very relaxing. Played with the kids and made gingerbread houses.

After an nice calm Thanksgiving day (Thursday 11/24/22) around ~11pm my water broke right as I was laying down to sleep next to Luna in our bed. Everyone was still awake and we were getting ready to go to bed. I felt a quick splash of liquid running out of me and wetting my underwear. I instantly jumped up and ran to the bathroom. This was my first real experience of water gushing out of me without any real control.  In the bathroom my underwear was wet, so Phong told me to call the hospital. 

11:04pm called hospital. On call told me I should get a call back within 35 minutes and if I did not really a call back by 11:39pm, to call them back. Phong said we should just leave and wait in the hospital parking lot in case. As we got into the minivan I felt some small gushing again and told Phong to get me a towel to place under me in case. It was a new car!

11:30pm Arrived at hospital and just waiting for the call back. Called them at 11:39pm but received a call on the other line at 11:40pm.

11:40pm hospital called me back. Nurse told me to come in base on my symptoms and having positive strep B, would need to start antibiotics right away.  

Check in 12:09am - got lost after going through security because the door to go into labor and delivery says authorized personnel only. Went into the unit and saw a front desk of nurses but no one told them I was arriving but they saw my chart previously (due to a potential call for induction) and said it was perfect timing. I was known as the patient with two placentas (bilobal placenta).

Asked to poop and use the bathroom because I did not want to poop during the labor. Due to constant constipation could only poop little hardened poops. 

11/25- received my own room for preparation for labor. Started at 1am antibiotics for GBS ampicillin 

2am epidural - it was pretty easy receiving the epidural. Had felt a small pinch in the back. They controlled the level of epidural so I couldn’t not increase it. Nurse did see contractions on the machine but I did not feel anything. 

5am- still 4 cm. Received Second dose of ampicillin. Start pitocin to induce contractions.  

Was very Sleepy and could not sleep. Phong was snoring alway. He went to the bathroom and while that was happening , 2 nurses came in and told me to switch positions. They said the baby heart rate went down to 70bpm so they made me go on my hands/knees to start to back up again to normal. Phong came out of the bathroom very confused.  They had to turn off pitocin. 

7am restarted pitocin. 

7:30am switching of nurses/doctors. Nurse Becky. She pronounced my name correctly because her favorite cousin is named Marlana. I let her know my best friend’s name is Becky. While she was in taking me I asked her if I was allowed to use the bathroom because I felt like I needed to poop. She was thinking maybe it was contractions and checked my cervix. 

She checked my crevice and it was 9cm. Went to grab Dr.Erin Chong. They gave me enough epidural to not have pain but can still feel pressure which they said was normal.

 When it was go time- I tried to yell phong name to tell him and he didn’t wake up. The nurse also went up to his face and yelled at him to wake up like 3 times.

He still didn’t wake up hahaha until she had to push him.

Tobi- baby nurse. Becky- mommy nurse.

Pushed for 3 contractions, each time was 3 pushes. Total less than 30 minutes .

It was pretty calm. 

Only 3 people . The doctor , my nurse. And baby nurse.. only three contractions and with each contraction made me push 3 times. Started crowning at 2nd contraction.

  No blanket or cover so phong was able to see everything. Each time I felt pressure, pushed and breathed. Pooped like 2 pieces the first time. I felt it and it was my first time feeling that! They didn’t say anything and it was after the first push so they cleaned it up

Second contraction push- felt it crowned and the pressure.  I felt it just being in the middle. 

Third contraction l push- could see the baby silent cry. Then finally cried. Phong announced its a girl? He wasn’t sure until the doctor confirmed yes it is a girl. 

I only needed two stitches, and I saw the two placentas. 

 Baby born on 7:58 am

7 lb 4 ounces 20 inches 7:58am

Apgar 9 

Weight 3.29 kg

39 weeks 5 days 

Baby #2 Birth Story

Estimated Due Date:December 24 2016 Birth Day: Friday December 16, 2016 10:31am 18 inches, 6 lb 8.6 oz It was a typical Thursday. I worked the opening shift and got off work at 4pm and went over to my parents house for a family diner. Got home around 10 pm and was on my computer planning Christmas dinner when I felt a small gush on my underwear. I thought I peed myself which is typically normal when your 39 weeks pregnant. But then it happened again 5 minutes later...and 30 minutes later. I thought maybe my water broke but it didn't feel like how the tv and movies make it out to be where there a huge gush of water. It just felt like a small leak. I still thought that it was because I peed myself because I had no contractions or any pain at all.  My husband told me to call the office and the doctor on call told me to come in just to check it out. 
Midnight 12/16/16 Checked into the hospital. The doctor tested if it was the amniotic fluid leaking. This is about a 30 minute test.  12:30 am Tested positive. I am leaking amniotic fluid. I am not allowed to leave the hospital. The plan is to induce the labor with pitocin (oxytocin). The doctor said that if my water breaks I should be having contractions but I look completely normal ( called me the minority) and is worried that nothing has started. Checked my cervix, only 3 cm dilated.  Hours later.... 7:45am  At the level of Oxytocin 14 mL/hr. Max dose is 20mL/hr per nurse. Magic number that patients usually start having contractions is 10 mL/hr.  
Current Situation: NO CONTRACTIONS ... or contractions that I feel. 
I was hooked up into a monitor and could hear the baby's heartbeat. Everything sounds normal. Nurse Jane asked if I felt THAT contraction...my response, that was a contraction? I thought it was gas. Based on the readings, my contractions were every 3-6 minutes but I didn't even feel anything at all.  Pain level from 0-10: ZERO 8:50am Based on readings, my contractions are every 1 to 3 minutes.
9:00am Different doctor comes in. MY cervix is 5cm dilated. She said that even though my bag is leaking, it is still there and she will completely pop it. Once it is popped it should be go time! 9:10am  GET ME THE EPIDURAL!!!!  FEELING THE PAIN of my contractions. Giving Phong the evil eye because he put me in this situation.  9:45am Pain Level is at its max. Anesthesiologist FINALLY comes. My contractions are every 3 minutes and I am in excruciating pain. It is in my stomach and that its making me bear down on my butt. It takes the anesthesiologist 4 tries to get to the right spot. She gives me an initial dose but because I am so late in the game I don't have a IV attached.  Phong looks pale, like hes about to pass out. The nurse told him to sit down and drink some apple juice and asks the other nurse to just watch over him.  9:50am Pain Level back at 0 I am happy as a clam, I am smiling and laughing. I can't feel my legs or butt so the nurses have to help hold them up for me. My midwife comes in and helps me with the birthing process. She checks my cervix and feels that the baby is right there. My contractions are slowing down from every 3 minutes to 5 minutes. With each contraction, I bear down and pushed the baby. It was a calming and very beautiful experience. I love my midwife and the nurses.  10:31am Baby is born! Yay! She is crying and loud. No tears = no stitches. DOUBLE YAY.

Moon Yut: The 30 day Birthday

Our Little King is already 1 month old!

To celebrate we are planned a Moon Yut celebration also known as a Red Egg and Ginger Party.  Traditionally, the reason why we celebrate the one month was due to the high infant mortality rate in China before the 1900s. After the one month, it is safe to say that the child will live. This is also a time to reintroduce the mother after her resting period (see my recovery period post).
 At the Moon Yut, guests attending usually bring gifts of lucky money in red envelopes. As a thank you, the baby's parents give red eggs and ginger as gifts to the guests hence the name. The eggs are important because they represent renewal of life and fertility. Its round shape means harmony and happiness in life. The egg is dyed red because the color means good fortune and prosperity.This egg is also rubbed on the baby's forehead.\

The baby's head is usually shaved during the feast. The girls head is shaved before the image of the 'Mother'-the goddess of Children and the boys head is shaved before the ancestral table. This is to mark the point of the child's independent existence. 
A child's formal name is picked out by grandparents. This is not announced until the one month mark.   Instead of shaving and rubbing his head at the restaurant, we did these traditions at home. My mom made a set up of sugar cane, two boiled eggs, and rice. The egg and rice was rubbed across his forehead and my mom fed him a bit of sugar cane. They also snipped a piece of his hair and was given red envelopes.

He didn't really enjoy the head on his head but he did like the sugar cane and red envelopes!

Recovery Process: 30 day confinement period

I volunteered or 'my mom made me' go through the 30 day confinement period. I wanted to research it and see what the meaning of it was and the rules.

History lesson:

This is a Chinese custom called the 'sitting month' lasting 30 days in which the mother and child stay home and recover after childbirth . Depending on family and which part of China you are from, traditions may be different. What is common among the differences is it involves the yin (negative/cold) and yang (positive/hot) and to be a healthy individual you need a balance. 

 After childbirth your body is imbalanced, more yin and less yang, due to the lost of blood and energy during labor =so your body is more cold.  

During this month you are trying to get:

MORE YANG =eat hot foods/stay indoors 

AVOID YIN=avoid the cold and outside.

The reason behind this is to increase breast milk for nursing, helps restore the energy level of the mother and child, promote blood circulation, and strengthen your joints. Basically to make sure your body is back to being balanced.

This is my experience with it.

1. No washing of hair or body because it is believed the water will put more yin into the body and cause arthritis, asthma, and severe aches and pains in the future. Warm boiled water or water boiled with ginger root or Chinese herbs are okay.  

This takes a lot of dedication. It took my mom about an hour to prepare everything and get it boiled. So I would bathe about every three days. Ingredients were lemongrass leaves, ginger roots, and orange peels. Surprisingly I didn't really mind this. It was nice to be in the steam. The ginger bath definitely made my hair and body very warm and hot. My hair actually became very soft.

2. Along with avoiding the outside, make sure to put on layers of clothing, such as long sleeve shirts, socks, and slippers. 

Even if your house is 70 degrees, I still had to wear socks and a sweater. Thank goodness it's the winter. I can't imagine doing this during the summer. It is because you want to kept the warmth in and make sure you don't get any wind.

3. Eat foods that are more yang/hot. Eating raw vegetables and fruit is not allowed because they are considered cold foods. Foods that are more yang are chicken, ginger, dates, rice wine, eggs, vinegar, red vinegar.

It/s definitely not easy because some of the Chinese herbs and ingredients used are expensive. And not everything tasted so great so my mom would make me eat everything. No leftovers!
Since I don't eat meat my mom made salty fish for me and steamed it in ginger. Basically anything cooked in ginger is okay because ginger is a hot food. Ginger rice, ginger fish, ginger soup, everyday ALL DAY!
All the ginger my mom prepared. Right is the image of dried ginger peels on a 5 foot long table.

A photo of my 30 day meals:

These are the main ideas of the 30 day period and I am done!
My take on it is that it only lasts 30 days so it doesn't hurt to try it. I do feel relaxed especially since I don't have to worry about cooking and I am down almost to my pre-pregnancy weight. Can't wait until I fit into my jeans again!

My Birth Story

2:45am

I shot up and ran to the bathroom. I had intense stomach cramps. I had Chipotle for dinner so I thought it may have been the cheese or sour cream from my burrito bowl.  In the back of my mind I did think 'Maybe I am in labor' but today is my due date and babies are never born on their due date. I still kept track of my stomach cramps and the pain was coming every 5 minutes, lasting about a minute each time. From birthing class, they tell you that that is the time you should be going to the hospital.  

Instead of listening to reason, I took a shower and washed my hair. 

The hot shower made me feel a bit better. Afterwards I blowdryed my hair and then went to bed. 

3:30am

Shot right back up and ran to the bathroom. I was literally bearing down against the bathroom sink. The mister woke up and found me on the bathroom huffing and puffing. 

'ARE YOU IN LABOR???' He asked

My contractions were now 3 minutes apart and still lasting about a minute long. 

That 10 minute car ride was the longest 10 minutes. Contractions were so painful- like you had bad sushi and couldn't get off the toilet all night pain. I was holding his hand the whole ride there and yelled at him for slowing down when it was a yellow light. He later told the nurse he didn't know I was that strong. 

Conversation on the way to the hospital:

 Me: You know when we go running and you tell me that I'm doing a great job and to keep running?

Hubby: Yes.

Me: And I tell you to shut up because it's distracting? Well, SHUT UP!

4:00am

After entering in through the ER entrance, the nurse Christine from labor and delivery came to pick me up with a wheelchair. I kept grunting and flailing in pain. After checking me thoroughly I was 6 cm dilated. 

Here is a visual aid:

Basically, an object the size of a watermelon comes out of that 10cm hole so 

YES I GOT THE EPIDURAL!!!! 

Receiving it didn't hurt as much as I imagined it to. The pain in my stomach subsided but I could still feel the pain waist down. I felt a little cheated because my sister told me I wouldn't be able to walk or feel my legs. Well, I was able to feel everything below. 

Me: It just feels like I need to poop.

Nurse: Well this is going to be the biggest poop of your life

Time went by so fast. 

I went from 6cm to 7cm to 8 cm within an hour. 

There was a pressure to push so my nurse asked the doctor to break my water. 

5:35am

Pushing didn't hurt as much as the contractions, it was more exhausting because your breathing each time you have the pressure to push. 

Nurse: "Don't scream. Try to breathe in through your nose and out through the mouth' 

Me: "BUT I CAN'T HELP IT!!!!" You just want to grunt it out. 

6:00am

The doctor comes to you when it is go time. Before then it is all nurses. The doctor mentioned that the baby had a lot of hair and I'm like how do you know?

They brought out a mirror for me to see. It was amazing.  I used it as a tool to help me push because when they tell you how great your doing,  you can't tell how far along you are. I could see the head 

come out each time I pushed and all that hair on its head!

At one point I couldn't push because I was so tired I asked them to take the baby out but it hadn't 

come out far enough. 'Can you push it back in?????' The last final pushes were the hardest but when 

it happened I heard the baby wail so loud.

6:19am

It's a boy!

He was so teeny tiny but I loved him so much. And of course the husband cut the umbilical cord.

I feel very lucky to have created this handsome little man with few problems. No 22 hour labor, no hemorrhoids... just a very healthy baby boy.

Nurse: 'Next time you have a baby, come at the 3rd contraction.' 

And that my friends is our birth story. 

Can't wait to watch him grow up. 

Halloween Post: The Teal Pumpkin Project

This is my favorite week because halloween is coming soon!!!!

Since we are having a bundle of joy coming soon, I wanted to support children with food allergies by being involved in the Teal Pumpkin Project. 

Since my energy level has been up and down, I spray painted it teal with a gold stem and printed out the flyer to announce that we have both candy and non-candy items for children.

It's not too late to be involved! 

 To learn more click #tealpumpkinproject Our other lawn decorations:

I have to work tomorrow so I'm sad I won't be there to see the kids costume. Hopefully next year. 

Week 36

Saw the doctor today and everything is going well. Baby's heart beat is 140 bpm and sounds normal. It's been kicking like crazy making it feel tight in certain areas. It did feel painful this morning like the baby is hitting my hip bone. The doctor felt around and mentioned that it is very low and its head is settled down there= head first, no breaching! Love that everything has been uneventful so far. Uneventful is good especially when carrying a baby.

WEEK 36

CRAVING Sweets! Georgetown Cupcakes and Ice cream. 

DRINKING Kung Fu tea Boba- Signature White Gourd Tea is currently my favorite

SLEEPING I nap and still get tired afterwards. I can sleep throughout the night but I always wake up at 6am to pee. 

WEARING 

I have succumb to wearing slippers. Flats are too uncomfortable especially since my edema is just going over the top. It started traveling from my feet now to my hands while I was working. The sensation is numbing and feels hot. I told my husband and this is how the conversation ended.

I was small during the first and semester trimester but recently gain a bit of weight. It really is true, you gain 1 to 1 and 1/2 lb a week in the last month.

FEELING tired and energetic. Does that make sense? Yesterday I was willing to walk 1/2 mile to get cupcakes when normally I can't walk a block down to mail out thank you cards without having to pee.

LOVING the foot and back rubs the mister gives me at the end of the day. It's nice to just hang out and cherish the moments of just us two. 

I am also loving that my belly can multitask as a table.