Life Is Good!

Father and I fell asleep, even though we are the ones that got all the sleep.. That's Mother taking the picture, she should be sleeping too!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Maddox Clayton Miller
Born Nov. 29th @ 11:37PM
6lbs 0oz - 18 inches



I was just born minutes ago! They checked me out, cleaned me up and put this weird goop in my eyes! But I'm doing pretty good because my daddy is holding me!

Everything Mom can remember about giving birth to me.... (not much.. ha!):

Maddox Clayton was born at 11:37PM on November 29th. He weighed 6lbs 0oz and was 18 inches long. I was exactly 36 weeks along.

+ Labor started at 4:30AM with menstrually (front & back) contractions, 10 minutes apart.
+ Called my mommy around 11AM with the same contractions, 5 minutes apart.
+ Called doc, called L&D, called mom to let her know I needed to go in.
+ BF had school 10am-3pm, so I made him go. My mom has Monday's off of work.
+ Mom came & picked me up in the company truck (apartment building truck), equipped with snow plow lol.. her BF had her car at the doc office.
+ Got to L&D at noon.
+ Went in bathrrom to put on gown & robe, pulled down pants and my water broke! Sparing my pants!
+ Contractions stayed the same then grew further apart.
+ got SUPER tired, hungry etc.. and decided on Pitocin around 8-9pm or so.
+ Had "pushing" contractions & nasuea at the same time & threw up once, around 10:30pm
+ They wouldn't let me push for a long time (and I hated them for that)
+ delivery was about 30 minutes.
+ Sunny side up.. Don't remember the scientific term!
+ 2 - first degree tears.
+ no pain meds
+ antibiotic for group b, because I was not tested yet.
+ BF was absolutely wonderful!
+ Mom helped out a bunch and I AM glad she stayed for the delivery.

I'll post more when I find out more... have to watch the video first! LOL

Labor & Delivery AGAIN!

Yesterday, I woke up at 5am with menstrually low back pain.. that I THOUGHT was just pain from being uncomfortable in bed. I went online for a little bit, put in some laundry, drank a BIG (32oz) glass of water, and looked at the Thanksgiving Day ad's with MIL til about 8am. Went back down to bed, slept for an hour and woke up at 9am with even worse (but non-menstrually) low back pains (that were constant). I wanted to sleep till 10am before getting up and taking a shower but I couldn't get back to bed, so I took a hot shower and the back pain went away..

I am not so sure (anymore) that they were just normal back pains though..

I went about my Thanksgiving day (still leaking).. went to bed, woke up for work this morning, went to work.. got out at 1:30pm.. I went potty right before I left and discovered that now my fluid was leaking off of the pad and onto my undies.. So I decided that I would call Doc when I got home.

Called the office, he wasn't in, but another OB there said to go over to L&D, called there to let them know I was coming.. Got there a little before 2pm. They did the same tests over again, found that the fern test was again negative. She says that two things are possible. I could have a high leak that they are not able to detect, or (even though it does not look or smell like urine) it could be Maddox pressing down on my bladder.

So I thought that soon after that I would be getting released (was in there for only 2 hours on Wed). So we waited and waited and finally she comes in... with a syringe full of SOMETHING.. I was totally confused. And she tells me that I am having contractions (which I felt some of them but didn't know they were contractions) and that I needed a shot of terbutaline to stop them. So I got that and about an hour/1.5 hours she came back in, checked, I was still contracting and went to get me another shot (and some OJ).

Finally, soon after the second shot, I stopped contracting. She gave me grahm crackers while she tried to get a hold of the OB at my clinic to see if I could eat. Then I got to order food.. Got that an hour later and then I got to leave about a half hour after that.

I had a MASSIVE headache by the end of all this. I just got out of the shower about 20 minutes ago.. and I still have a headache, but its not even half as bad as it was.

Clayton got to wheel me down to the parking lot in a wheel chair! Which I was thankful for because of my headache.. And I was still feeling super shaky from the shots.

So we spent 5.5 hours in the hospital.

Those shots were the worst I've had in my life. They stung like a bitch (and I have always been one that begged for shots when I was little.. and now that I am older, get them with no problems).. I was gripping my arm after that.. And then they made me sooooo coooold and super shaky, I could hardly hold anything.. and I couldn't reach for anything for about 2 minutes after I received the shot..

I really hope I do not feel any contractions at home or work till at least Monday. If I get contractions anytime after 11:59PM on Sunday.. They will just let me go into labor and deliver.. I DO NOT want that shot again.

Anyways.. so that's my story! And now I am going to go lay in bed and try to get rid of this headache (completely) and fall asleep!

Labor & Delivery and Contractions (mom again)

Yesterday, I woke up at 5am with menstrually low back pain.. that I THOUGHT was just pain from being uncomfortable in bed. I went online for a little bit, put in some laundry, drank a BIG (32oz) glass of water, and looked at the Thanksgiving Day ad's with MIL til about 8am. Went back down to bed, slept for an hour and woke up at 9am with even worse (but non-menstrually) low back pains (that were constant). I wanted to sleep till 10am before getting up and taking a shower but I couldn't get back to bed, so I took a hot shower and the back pain went away..

I am not so sure (anymore) that they were just normal back pains though..

I went about my Thanksgiving day (still leaking).. went to bed, woke up for work this morning, went to work.. got out at 1:30pm.. I went potty right before I left and discovered that now my fluid was leaking off of the pad and onto my undies.. So I decided that I would call Doc when I got home.

Called the office, he wasn't in, but another OB there said to go over to L&D, called there to let them know I was coming.. Got there a little before 2pm. They did the same tests over again, found that the fern test was again negative. She says that two things are possible. I could have a high leak that they are not able to detect, or (even though it does not look or smell like urine) it could be Maddox pressing down on my bladder.

So I thought that soon after that I would be getting released (was in there for only 2 hours on Wed). So we waited and waited and finally she comes in... with a syringe full of SOMETHING.. I was totally confused. And she tells me that I am having contractions (which I felt some of them but didn't know they were contractions) and that I needed a shot of terbutaline to stop them. So I got that and about an hour/1.5 hours she came back in, checked, I was still contracting and went to get me another shot (and some OJ).

Finally, soon after the second shot, I stopped contracting. She gave me grahm crackers while she tried to get a hold of the OB at my clinic to see if I could eat. Then I got to order food.. Got that an hour later and then I got to leave about a half hour after that.

I had a MASSIVE headache by the end of all this. I just got out of the shower about 20 minutes ago.. and I still have a headache, but its not even half as bad as it was.

Clayton got to wheel me down to the parking lot in a wheel chair! Which I was thankful for because of my headache.. And I was still feeling super shaky from the shots.

So we spent 5.5 hours in the hospital.

Those shots were the worst I've had in my life. They stung like a bitch (and I have always been one that begged for shots when I was little.. and now that I am older, get them with no problems).. I was gripping my arm after that.. And then they made me sooooo coooold and super shaky, I could hardly hold anything.. and I couldn't reach for anything for about 2 minutes after I received the shot..

I really hope I do not feel any contractions at home or work till at least Monday. If I get contractions anytime after 11:59PM on Sunday.. They will just let me go into labor and deliver.. I DO NOT want that shot again.

Anyways.. so that's my story! And now I am going to go lay in bed and try to get rid of this headache (completely) and fall asleep!

Yesterday's Trip to Labor & Delivery..

For the past week I have been leaking fluid.. and I was pretty sure that it was not urine... After being PG for 8 months, I think I know what it feels like, looks like, and smells like to squirt a little pee (when I sneeze, cough, etc) LOL.. But still, I spent a week second guessing myself..

After reading in the "Beginnings: Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond" book that I got at OB education "Warning Signs of Preterm Labor: change or increase in vaginal discharge and ruptured membranes (a slow leak, steady trickle, or sudden gush)" and my "change AND increase in vaginal discharge" was the addition (to my reg discharge), a slow leak of fluid.. and after looking it up online and seeing the same thing.. and then consulting my "pregnancy support group" (webmd: 3rd Tri message board).. I decided to call my doctor.

I never got a hold of him, the lady at the desk told me to go straight to Labor & Delivery.. and so I called them and they told me to come in.

I went in, was there for 2 hours. Had the "fern test" done and a non-stress test done.

Apparently, when amniotic fluid dries, it looks like a fern.. and so my results on the fern test.. as the nurse put it "the test was not conclusive but did not grow any fern"..

So pretty much her answer to my "am I leaking amniotic fluid?" question would be "I don't know".

And the non-stress test.. Maddox wasn't moving as much as they wanted him to, so they stuffed me full of grape jelly (EW!) and apple juice.. and then gave me this little thing that I had to push a button on every time he moved. They couldn't tell the difference between his movement and my cramping.. and this button put a mark on the chart whenever I pushed it.

So anyways.. At discharge, the nurse gave me a print out of the preterm labor sheet from my pregnancy book (the page that brought me into L&D in the first place) and pointed out where it said "change or increase in vaginal discharge" and on my discharge papers it says to contact my doctor or Birth Center if I have Loss of Fluid from Vagina..

BUT, I was being discharged from L&D after 2 hours of being there FOR a loss of fluid from my vagina.. and they couldn't tell me anything.. and if I were to call them when I leaked again, I would have been calling them from their parking lot.. and then again 3 times from work.. So.. I am totally confused.. and I don't see any point in calling them if they couldn't tell me anything anyways.. and I don't want to spend 2 hours every single day in L&D.. because if I am having this loss EVERY night, AND 3-4 times while I am at work, I would be calling them 5 times a day......

Unity Hospital Sucks!

Mom and Diane want me to call the hospital again today. I just don't see any point. Nothing has changed and they will probably do the exact same thing.. And who wants to lay in a birthing room for two hours hooked up to monitors, being stuffed with icky grape jelly and apple juice on Thanksgiving.

I just want my mashed potatoes, gravy, corn and turkey from my mommies house.... and then I'll be just fine! I don't want to go to work Fri, Sat, Sun, or Monday though..........

Mom's rant about Unity & Leaking Fluid

For the past week I have been leaking fluid.. and I was pretty sure that it was not urine... After being PG for 8 months, I think I know what it feels like, looks like, and smells like to squirt a little pee (when I sneeze, cough, etc) LOL.. But still, I spent a week second guessing myself..

After reading in the "Beginnings: Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond" book that I got at OB education "Warning Signs of Preterm Labor: change or increase in vaginal discharge and ruptured membranes (a slow leak, steady trickle, or sudden gush)" and my "change AND increase in vaginal discharge" was the addition (to my reg discharge), a slow leak of fluid.. and after looking it up online and seeing the same thing.. and then consulting my "pregnancy support group" (webmd: 3rd Tri message board).. I decided to call my doctor.

I never got a hold of him, the lady at the desk told me to go straight to Labor & Delivery.. and so I called them and they told me to come in.

I went in, was there for 2 hours. Had the "fern test" done and a non-stress test done.

Apparently, when amniotic fluid dries, it looks like a fern.. and so my results on the fern test.. as the nurse put it "the test was not conclusive but did not grow any fern"..

So pretty much her answer to my "am I leaking amniotic fluid?" question would be "I don't know".

And the non-stress test.. Maddox wasn't moving as much as they wanted him to, so they stuffed me full of grape jelly (EW!) and apple juice.. and then gave me this little thing that I had to push a button on every time he moved. They couldn't tell the difference between his movement and my cramping.. and this button put a mark on the chart whenever I pushed it.

So anyways.. At discharge, the nurse gave me a print out of the preterm labor sheet from my pregnancy book (the page that brought me into L&D in the first place) and pointed out where it said "change or increase in vaginal discharge" and on my discharge papers it says to contact my doctor or Birth Center if I have Loss of Fluid from Vagina..

BUT, I was being discharged from L&D after 2 hours of being there FOR a loss of fluid from my vagina.. and they couldn't tell me anything.. and if I were to call them when I leaked again, I would have been calling them from their parking lot.. and then again 3 times from work.. So.. I am totally confused.. and I don't see any point in calling them if they couldn't tell me anything anyways.. and I don't want to spend 2 hours every single day in L&D.. because if I am having this loss EVERY night, AND 3-4 times while I am at work, I would be calling them 5 times a day......

Unity Hosptial Sucks!

Week 36 (22nd-28th)

Your baby measures about 20.7 inches from head to toe and weighs about 6 pounds. The baby may drop lower in your abdomen, usually assuming the head-down position after having frequently assumed other positions during early pregnancy. The brain has been developing rapidly, and your baby is practicing blinking.

Belly Shot! 35 Weeks!

Mom talks about the Childbirth Class

I dreaded going to this class because its 12 hours split between 2 days (9am-3pm each day).

It wasn't too bad though.. because there was a 10 minute break during the first half (9-11:30am), then we got an hour lunch (11:30-12:30pm), then another 10 minute break for the last half. And we are getting a $50 gift cert to Target for completing the classes....

Some of the "students" got to leave at 2:30pm because they were not going to be delivering at the hospital (delivering at a different hospital, home, or birth center), but the rest of us went on a short tour from 2:30-3pm.

I had already been to the ER, the Family Lounge, the Maternity Ward, Nursery, and was in one of the Birthing Rooms for a short period of time.. But it was nice to actually get to see that the birthing rooms DO have a bathtub and how the beds come apart for different birthing positions. I was only in the Birthing room for about a half hour after my Nephew was born, 4 years ago.. and so I never really got to "see" the room.. since I was paying more attention to my sister and Dante.

Alot of the information I already knew, but it was nice to hear it again (and nice to hear the new stuff), and to know that Clayton was hearing it all too. I'm sure he is curious about it, but reading pregnancy and baby sites probably isn't very interesting to him LOL.. And he got to learn how to use "touch therapy" on me for labor and how to help me with breathing.

The only bad and funny parts were that I was SUUUUPER tired.. and the teacher (although she was a woman) reminded me of Mr. Garrison from South Park.. She said "mmkay" just like him.. and everytime she said it.. I couldn't help but giggle inside.. and a few times outside too LOL.

I got a banana nut muffin and lemonade on my first break, panera bread (sierra turkey sandwich & sour dough roll) and caribou coffee (caramel cooler w/ chocolate and turtle treats), and a poppyseed muffin on my second break.. and they were all very good!

Ok.. That's all though. Going back again tomorrow. Going to go to bed early tonight so that I am not so dead tired there... Clayton was probably even more tired. He worked 10pm-6am Thursday night/Friday morning and slept till 3pm on Friday.. So he was up till 3am last night (playing a stupid PC game)... That'll teach him! (probably not).

Week 34 (8th-14th)

Your baby measures about 19.8 inches from head to toe and weighs about 5 pounds. Baby is probably settling into the head-down position, although it might not be final. Organs are now almost fully mature, except for lungs, and the skin is pink instead of red. Fingernails reach the ends of fingers, but toenails are not yet fully grown. Baby might have lots of hair. Movements are less frequent because of the tight fit.