Friday, August 12, 2016

Our Birth Story

Our  Birth Story


 August 4, 2016- Due Date

Anyone who has talked to me about my pregnancy knows how much I wanted Presley to be born on August 4. To us, August 4 is a significant date. It is Coast Guard Day and it is the day (4 years ago) that John proposed to me. I felt like it was fate that Presley's due date was on that day. 

So a few days before the due date I was bouncing on the exercise ball, drinking Raspberry Tea, walking like crazy. Anything you can think of that can induce pregnancy I did… but it wasn't working. So on my due date I was so nervous that it was going to happen. Just seems to unreal that today is the day. 

After talking to my mom, she informed me that your water can leak out instead of fully breaking, which I did not know. So I thought I might be leaking (you can figure out why), so I called my doctor and she she sent me to the hospital to get checked. I was excited that this could be it, but also nervous that this could be it too. 

My mom and I go to the hospital and I get checked. Unfortunately, after the test they say that my water was not leaking. However, they said that it could be, just not enough that the test could pull it up. While I was at the hospital, I did find out that my preferred doctor was on call that night and the next day. So that made me feel like Presley was going to come soon. 

We go home, eat dinner and put everything that we need for the hospital by the door, just in case it happened soon. However, when I was at home I was starting to feel a lot of pain and pressure. I texted John that he better be ready in case she comes soon because it was a different feeling than before. So I go to bed and a little after laying down I felt like a kick/burst and thought it was Presley kicked really hard and then a bunch of water came out and I knew my water broke! So after cleaning up and calling John I go to my moms room and let her know that my water broke. And off we go to the hospital….

I get to the hospital and since I was already there earlier that day it doesn't take long for us to go up to Labor and Delivery. I get there and they test again to find out if it was my water that broke and it was. John arrived very shortly and we were both ready to meet our little angel! Not very long after I got admitted did they call the anesthesiologist and I got my epidural (thank god!). Now it was just the waiting game to see when our little angel wanted to make her debut. 


My mom and John bringing up the stuff from the car 



After getting the epidural, I'm just waiting for Presely to arrive. Really LOVED having the pillow  with me, made such a big difference. 

John arriving with my big pillow :) 


Around 8am (August 5)  they checked again and they saw that I was progressing enough, but not enough to start pushing. So they started to give me pitocin to speed it up a little bit. By 11am they said I was ready to start pushing and the labor begins. 

Overall, it was a very good labor. However, towards the end it was getting very painful. Even with the epidural I could still feel the pain. After the whole experience I found out that they lowered the amount of the epidural and kicked up the amount of pitocin so I could push more. The feeling that I had was more of contractions every 20-30 seconds. Throughout the whole process, my nurse kept telling me how much hair Presley had. The experience was very painful, but I would do it again in a second to have my little angel with me. 


 Here are some pictures of Presley's arrival:



I'm officially a mother! 

My L&D nurse and doctor







Very proud Daddy!

Mema is in LOVE





Mimi is in LOVE 

Proud Uncle



Wednesday, August 3, 2016

40 Weeks


Today Is: August 4, 2016
How far long: 40 weeks
Baby is the Size of: Jackfruit 
Total Weight Gain: 
35 pounds
Stretch Marks: Nope
Sleep: Still uncomfortable to sleep. My hands start to hurt really bad at night.
Best Moment this Week:  My mom came into town. She has helped out so much and I am so grateful for her help! 
Worst Moment this Week: Hands and feet swelling. Plus it is sooooo HOT outside! It is so miserable to go outside. 
Miss Anything: Nothing in particular
Cravings: Daiquiri and dark chocolate still :) 
Queasy or sick: None  
Symptoms: Carpal tunnel in my hands & swelling with my feet
Belly Growth:  42 inches 
Happy or Moody Most of the Time: Happy
Looking Forward To: Baby Z arriving!!!! Please come soon!!! 

From beginning and hopefully to the end (as long as baby girl comes this week!) 

When I first found out I was pregnant to 40 weeks pregnant. Hopefully, I can get back to where I was :) 

36 weeks to 40 weeks. Sure does show some dropping 

Baby Z's bedding :) She is such a princess already! 

Bump from my point of view 


Saturday, July 30, 2016

39 Weeks


Today Is: July 30, 2016
How far long: 39 weeks
Baby is the Size of: Pumpkin
Total Weight Gain: 
35 pounds
Stretch Marks: Nope
Sleep: Still uncomfortable to sleep. My hands start to hurt really bad at night.
Best Moment this Week:  My mom coming into town for Baby Z debut. Now she is welcome to come any time :)  
Worst Moment this Week: Hands hurting a lot more near the knuckles, they say it is carpal tunnel. It should go away once I have Baby Z. 
Miss Anything: Over easy eggs, sushi and frozen drinks. 
Cravings: Daiquiri and dark chocolate still :) 
Queasy or sick: None  
Symptoms: Carpal tunnel in my hands 
Belly Growth:  40 inches (no growth)  
Happy or Moody Most of the Time: Happy
Looking Forward To: Baby Z arriving!!!! 

Yay! Mom is in town, so Baby Z is welcome to come now :) 


Little weird pregnancy craving, cappuccino fudge with key lime pie ice cream :) 



Monday, July 25, 2016

38 Weeks


Today Is: July 25, 2016
How far long: 38 weeks
Baby is the Size of: Spaghetti Squash 
Total Weight Gain: 
34 pounds (went down one pound from last week. Doctor wasn't worried. A sign my body is getting ready for labor).
Stretch Marks: Nope
Sleep: Still getting uncomfortable to sleep. A lot of pressure at night and feeling nauseous at night.
Best Moment this Week:  Finding out that I am 3 cm dilated. Getting very anxious because people go in labor 3 cm dilated and I know it can happen any time. 
Worst Moment this Week: Feeling nauseous at night and feeling VERY full after eating any meal. 
Miss Anything: Frozen drinks… made frozen daiquiri at home to enjoy (virgin of course!)
Cravings: Daiquiri and dark chocolate 
Queasy or sick: Feeling a little nauseous at night 
Symptoms: More and more Braxton Hicks contractions, carpal tunnel in my hands 
Belly Growth:  40 inches (belly growth is still going down. Guess that is proof that I've dropped!)  
Happy or Moody Most of the Time: Happy
Looking Forward To: My mom coming into town to be with me when Baby Z is born, so she has to wait until my mom arrives :) 

Homemade padsicles to help with recovering after Baby Z debut 

Definitely looks like I've dropped! 36 weeks vs 38 weeks 


Wednesday, July 20, 2016

37 Weeks


Today Is: July 20, 2016
How far long: 37 weeks
Baby is the Size of: Winter Melon 
Total Weight Gain: 
35 pounds
Stretch Marks: Nope
Sleep: Getting uncomfortable to sleep. Feeling a lot of pressure and Braxton Hicks contractions occasionally throughout the night.
Best Moment this Week:  Finding out the labor process has started with me being 1 cm dilated. I know I can stay 1 cm for a while, but hoping next doctors appointment that I am more. 
Worst Moment this Week: Being very tired. Just want to sleep a lot. 
Miss Anything: Nothing in particular this week 
Cravings: Peanut M&M's 
Queasy or sick: Nope
Symptoms: Getting some Braxton-Hicks contractions more regularly & actually threw up the other day while feeling well. Looked it up and said that can be a sign that labor is coming on soon. 
Belly Growth:  41inches (belly went down…. not sure why. Does that mean she has dropped?)  
Happy or Moody Most of the Time: Happy
Looking Forward To: Getting everything finalized with the baby stuff, putting everything away. 

Closet dividers that I made for Baby Girl Z's closet. She is more organized and stylist than me lol


Monday, July 11, 2016

36 Weeks


Today Is: July 12, 2016
How far long: 36 weeks
Baby is the Size of: Watermelon 
Total Weight Gain: 
35 pounds
Stretch Marks: Nope
Sleep: Waking up two times a night to go to the bathroom
Best Moment this Week:  Enjoyed a fabulous weekend with John
Worst Moment this Week: Feet still getting very swollen and now my finger joints are starting to hurt  
Miss Anything: Nothing in particular this week 
Cravings: Soft serve ice cream with turtle shell topping! We went to DQ this weekend to get it!  
Queasy or sick: Nope
Symptoms:  My feet and hands getting really swollen & think I am starting to feel some Braxton-Hicks contractions
Belly Growth:  42 inches 
Happy or Moody Most of the Time: Happy
Looking Forward To: My last day working for summer school and I can really start having a summer vacation before Baby Z comes

8 months compared to 9 months

From the beginning to now, 4 weeks to 36 weeks 

Look at the progression!!!

Such a wonderful weekend with my hubby!

Summer time fun! 


Collaboration with Pink Blush Maternity


        When Alisha from PinkBlush Maternity contacted me to do a collaboration I was over the moon! Living in a small town, there aren't any maternity stores nearby (the closest one is two hours away) and a lot of my clothes shopping has to be done online. Being a first time mom and trying to find stylish maternity clothes that you know will fit and embrace your bump online only can be hard. However, with PinkBlush Maternity I wasn't worried. From their user friendly website that has the measurements and pictures of their clothes from every angle I knew exactly what I was getting and didn't feel worried about the clothes not fitting.

        I absolutely love this cute maternity dress! Look how adorable it looks with my bump! I would wear it even when I am not pregnant! It is so stylish! Even when I went out people didn't even think it was a maternity dress and I got so many compliments wearing it. The dress fits true to size, I am wearing a size Medium.



         Since the pattern is so pretty you don't need any big accessories to dress it up. I wore a long gold necklace, but even that wasn't necessary. If my feet weren't so swollen and I could fit into my wedges I feel like it would make the outfit even cuter. But as you can see, sandals work very well with it too. I know when I wear it again when I am not pregnant and my feet are back to normal I will wear it with my wedges.

      My experience with PinkBlush Maternity has been FABULOUS! Here are just some other beautiful pictures that I took with the dress. I just LOVE how great the dress goes with the scenery!