Piper's Birth Story

Friday the day I turned 30 weeks I started having a tissue spotting that was slightly pink. I had been contracting on and off but they weren't too concerned. They said the tissue matter was minimal and was my cervix possibly changing. I also started walking to the nurses station since I the plan was to go home in a week or so. They wanted me to test the waters in the hospital. I walked once a day. We thought hey it's fine my cervix was the longest they ever measured.. 

For two days straight Sunday and Monday I would contract for hours. They checked me once and my cervix had not dilated. We thought ok we can make it to 32 weeks. Tuesday at 1 am I awoke to go to the restroom and I had blood.. In addition to the blood I had the most clear mucus I've ever seen. Which I had been slowly noticing since Friday, but when mentioned they said it was possibly my mucus plug due to the tissue matter too. But I knew something was definitely wrong, I yelled for Nate to get the nurse right away. Ive never seen Nate spring up so fast from a deep sleep. My nurse Jenny who we loved came rushing in. They called the dr on staff but they didn't want to check my cervix. I bleed till 6 am when the UT specialist came in. I told them what was happening. One resident thought it might be placenta aburbtion, slowly tearing away from the wall. The dr wasn't concerned he thought it was just my cervix changing. Nate actually thought about going into work but I was freaked out. They ordered a biophysical ultrasound. As the ultrasound tech was looking she was assuring me baby is ok and placenta is not tearing.  But I requested they check my fluid. Sure enough I saw the fluid was low. As soon as we got out of ultrasound, we roll past Sandra's office and I tell her that my fluid is low. She said  "ok honey we will do the amnio test." She rushed to get the test. Tested me and sure enough I was leaking and ruptured. I was ok till Sandra left the room. My mom had drove down and arrived at like 5 am. She could tell I was about to break down. Some woman can hang on ruptured but I was having intense back contractions (active labor) plus bleeding. The contraction device toco wasnt picking up my contractions due to the fact that they were in my back. So the staff thought she will hang on. I knew we weren't going to hang on. I cried.. I keep saying I wasn't ready yet.. We needed more time. I finally got it togeather and the nurse came in to tell me they were moving me to labor. They weren't going to except that my mom insisted to Sandra that she had no contractions that they could pick up on her just back labor and that I was born in 45 mins. If my mom wouldn't have insisted that my labor was replicating hers who knows what could have happened. She also insisted they start my IV fluids for antibiotics and mag for brain protection for Piper. 

Before they moved me they checked my cervix once they knew I was ruptured. I was 3 cm dilated at 12:30 pm. Once moved into the labor room, I just kept having back contractions about 5 mins apart. Dr Gei came by and said he thought I could hang on a little longer. My nurse insisted I wear these hideous huge panties and a huge pad.. I literally couldn't stop laughing at it. But soon after my whole bag of water broke and the room suddenly got chaotic. I started crying and yelled Dr Gei lied. Dr Gei was already back in Bellaire and wasn't going to make it. When they checked after my water broke, I was totally effaced and dilated and Piper was in the birth canal. They prepped the room for delivery. It was tense because I was in such denial she was coming. I just made my mom and Nate repeat natural labor, no drugs, csection only if its an emergency. I got my wish for natural labor.. But at one point I wasn't sure I could do it any more. My mom had one leg and nurse Jessica held my other leg. Nate was by my head coaching and trying not to stress too much. 

But after being told for two months never to bear down or push it was intense to push using muscles I forgot I had. One of the residents who thought I might have abruption, wasn't pleased the way my labor was progressing even though I was moving fast and was being so rough. I think if he had stayed he would have fore me. He also told Nate that there were too many cooks in the kitchen and to be quiet. 

Luckily he left the room shortly, Dr Barren and Dr Burg both female docs were gentle yet reaffirming in my ability to go natural with no meds.  They didn't have a time table they just coached me thru pushing. After 20 mins of pushing with contractions 4 mins apart, they gave me pitocin. Because the contractions were so far away Piper wasn't moving down the birth canal. Once the pitocin took effect they were the same intensity yet closer togeather. Piper was born 25 mins later. Once her head was out they said stop pushing. They slowly eased her out and Nate cut the cord. 

Once the cord was cut she was taken to a room right off of ours that I could see and the neonatal team started on her. Her apgar at one minute was 6 and at 5 mins she was an 8 (10 is perfect and many full term babies don't receive that). 

She was put on CPAP to help her lungs fill and taken off to NICU. We had to wait an hour to meet our little girl! 

Next couple pics are from her birthday. 

Piper Makenzie Embley

Born 5/21/13 at 30 weeks 3 days

Weighing at 3lbs 4 oz and 14.9 inches long. 

We are so incredibly blessed.. Please pray she grows and is healthy enough to come home soon. 

Piper is here..shower in Katy

Piper is here.. I will post pics and her birth story soon. 

But my shower invite stated it could be in Katy or at the hospital. I was released yesterday and am commuting to the NICU daily. So the shower is still on for June 1, all are welcome at 2 pm! The shower is at 6607 Crystal Forest Trail, Katy Tx 77493. I so look forward to socializing with all of y'all not from a bed!! 

Promise to post soon on Piper.. Still catching up on rest and breast pumping takes alot out of me! 

Angry uterus

Since I was admitted my uterus has been called irritable. Which is common in high risk short super c.. But this past week it hasn't been irritable. Is been plain out angry! Friday  starting at 3:30 I started contracting. It went from every 30 mins to 10 mins. Than we were every 1 minute. Contracted like this for about 5-6 hours total. The doctors say that if they turn regular, pain is different and pressure than they will check to see if I am progressing into labor. The pain was immensely different. Some I couldn't talk thru.. Just tears in my eyes. I can handle the pain becuz the first thing they ask is do you want meds for pain.. Nope. I want to feel to make sure if its different I know. But every time I would have a big painful contraction Piper's heart rate would dip. She would alway return back to normal level but she has never done that. It scared Nate & I. Finally after a couple hours things slowed.. Sandra threatened me with an IV and magically those babies quit.. Well and my husband water logged me. Fluids!! 

Saturday I woke up at 4:40 am to painful contractions.. Contracted from 4 am to lunch time. Nate was a nervous Nellie.. Pacing the room. He thought ok game time. Yet after water logging again I stopped. Than I was so exhausted I took two huge naps. My mom stayed so Nate could go home and clean the pool filter and take care of house duties such as the cats plus laundry. That's a whole week of contractions people!! Plus they were painful painful Friday and Saturday! I've never woke up in pain. 

While at home our beautiful rocker was delivered. I've only seen it via FaceTime and it is still downstairs in our dining room but its there!! Can't wait to see it in Pipers room. It's an upholstered rocker slipcovered in light pink. I wish I could be at home to nest!! 

Again on Saturday, Piper's hr was dipping. Dr Gei came by late last night (insert dedicated doctor to round at 9 on a weekend when not needed) to speak to me about the contractions and Piper. He recommended we cord map her on Wed.  He thinks she is either wrapped.. Or laying on cord compressing as I contract. Or even I have a cord prolapse which means cord comes first than baby during delivery which would require a csection. We just need to be prepared for whatever it is. He reassured me many babies are wrapped and when we contract it compresses. But we want to be sure where hers is for delivery purposes now since she hates when I contract too! 

As long as I've been here.. It would be disappointing not to have a vaginal natural birth.. But whatever needs to happen to keep my Piper safe!! So pray that the cord is where it needs to be! Also please pray that this cycle of contractions stops! We need 3 more weeks! 

Attached are my 30 week pics! Praise Jesus we are here!! Thanks for your prayers along the Way! 

Pain in back week.. Literally

Well Monday and Tuesday started my cycle of contractions. On Tuesday they got a little closer making me worrisome so I took procardia even though the dr recommended I not due to my accelerated heart rate when on it. I was willing to see how my heart would react to get one more day.. and I did buy time.. But I was still contracting later Tuesday evening so I took it again. Tuesday night was difficult. I felt awful and the contractions- well they are contractions my body hurts. I also learned that My body really can't take the procardia, so we are out of options. They tell me to hydrate, empty my bladder and not bear down during them.. Ok Coach! Got it! Too bad they seem to come all the time now! 

In addition I had this weird pain on my right side high. So they checked my gall bladder, pancreas and liver with blood work and ultrasound. Fortunately they said it is fine. The dr thinks my gall bladder was upset with me from eating alot and being introverted so long. being upside down puts pressure on the organs. So it was a relief.. Had me worried my gall bladder was going to be removed. 

Wednesday was test day.. They went well.. Actually my cervix played nice and it was the best we have ever seen it. The dr actually covered my name and showed the residents and played guess that cervix which no one assumed it was mine. Even though the test was good,  Thing is my cervix is dynamic which means its always changing so they are saying it isn't an accurate length because we have seen what it is really capable of the last 43 days!! All in all I was impressed with the super C! Dr say it was putting on a show and based on my previous lengths they are still cautious. One day it can be long and next it is short and funneling?! 

Yesterday I was still contracting. I typically contract all day every 20-30 mins but than in the evening I will get in a cycle of every ten minutes or less. After Tuesdays episode with my heart rate procardia is totally off the table. 

Yesterday even off the procardia my heart rate got pretty high. So they did an EkG. I'm also not showing signs of DVT which is a blood clot. After the pregnancy I am to get another EKG they said when my fluids return to normal. But the medicine makes me feel so bad.. Literally Tuesday I woke up to my hair soaked and sheets wet! So yesterday freaked me out when off the medication and my heart is still so high! 

It's been a crazy week on the floor too.. Everyone has been running around with their heads cut off!! I've been almost in a constant state of pain due to the contractions. The pain isn't unbearable but where I feel them is low in my groin and in my back.. They are just exhausting. I'm also in pain because Piper is heavier now and she is so low. When I say low they have to put the monitor in my pubic region to find her heart. So I have a lot of pressure from her being low and contracting which pushes her head into my cervix. 

I also started losing my mucus plug :( .. They say she can camp out for awhile but it scares me. I think all the contracting is making it come out.. They say typically it changes the length and dilation of the cervix but Dr Gei said not to check. If so they would be checking daily. He gave me the warning signs of when to check. So we wait and see... This game of constantly waiting. 

Cabin fever

This past week due to my contracting, I wasn't allowed as many freedoms. I stayed in bed.. Scared the contractions would come again & Piper would be here. We cut my shower time from 10 to 5 minutes. 

But I'm losing it in this bed! I want to be outside so bad. I dream of walking 2 miles with my dog and husband like we used to almost daily. I dream of sitting on my pool deck soaking in the rays enjoying my backyard while everything is green & in bloom. I dream of just laying outside hearing, smelling, feeling nature.  I dream of nesting in Piper's nursery. I dream of just being in my house, my stuff, my pets.. The comforts of my home..

That's all they are dreams, cuz this baby has to cook. I know that if I start walking she will come. I know that if I push the limits she will come. I know becuz the pressure and pain I've felt the last week is telling me. Yet my mind is so preoccupied with getting out of this room. 

It's selfish of me to want to do, when we have been given miraculously 4o days of cooking. When we were admitted they thought she wouldn't make it 24 weeks and at 1 lb and 5 oz her likely hood of survival was slim. 

Now we are 29 weeks and 3 days.. With a baby that is growing! She is almost 3 lbs! I'm so thankful for her health and that she has stayed put. 

Yet, my mind is playing games with me. My mind says you need to move. It's innate in humans to move- we were first hunters & scavengers. My mind says you need to be home. My mind says you need to go home and prep for Piper, you're not ready. It longs to nest in the nursery, cuz I won't have that ability once she is here. Praying I won't be in the NICU with her and we will go home. Either way I will have a baby in NICU or a newborn and not be able to nest. 

I'm missing out on the most natural thing a mother does.. Prep for baby. It's disappointing. I adore making spaces in my home special. I wanted to do that for my daughter. 

The best thing for my daughter is rest.. So I lay here while my mind hates this room. I lay here and endure every ache and pain that I'm so highly aware of becuz it's all I think about since I'm not occupied teaching. I lay here and listen to the carts roll by my room, people walking by, jealous of their movement of their hecticness. I want that feeling again, to be so busy- a 100 miles an hour. Instead, I  lay here following my schedule of nurses and dr coming in. Barely sleeping becuz the constant noise, constant checking on me, vitals needed.. It's like I'm a zombie going thru the motions. 

They said I might be able to get a short ride today if I behave.. They say behave as in no contractions. So I will drink water to stay hydrated till my eyes float as nurse Marianne says.. And cross my toes that my body behaves. I need out. Even ten minutes out now isn't enough.. 

Friday Night Update

Well Dr Gei came by later Friday afternoon and said he isn't as worried about my ultrasound. We knew my cervix was dynamic and shortening. We obviously wish it was longer but once it shortens it won't lengthen till after baby is out. The  bag is funneling when cervix funnels but they think it might have been doing that the whole time.. I truly believe her sac is strong due to the progesterone  suppository I am on.. Even though it has caused UTI. We just hope everything stays and we don't dilate or water breaks when I contract. But there will be no contractions this weekend- positive thought! 

The biggest concern from the ultrasound was that Piper is the lowest she has ever been. So Dr Gei recommended that I invert my hips as much as possible. Head down and hips up- it's known as trendelenberg. They are hoping it will take pressure off my cervix and buy us more time which I'm all for.. I just hope she stays head down like she is currently! The only downfall is the blood rushing to my head!  

My partner teacher came by yesterday also! She is so sweet and brought Nate and I this amazing basket of goodies. My school even sent teacher appreciation stuff with her! I was so surprised! It was nice after a really hard week! My favorite thing though was the Mother's Day present! She gifted me chevron bracelets that are my fav colors-turquoise and pink!! I can't wait to to wear them with my watch again. I love seeing Brittney becuz it feels natural.. Like life is almost normal! 

I can't even begin to repay her! She has done so much for me being in the hospital and it makes me so thankful! 

Nate also got us Pappas Mexican food which hit the spot when you've been eating cafeteria food for 37 days! 

Additionally, god has opened my eyes.. Being the floor ambassador I meet and hear about other ladies on the floor. We all talk via IM or text. Yesterday made me feel very thankful for making it as far as we have despite our high risk circumstances! To think we were admitted 23 weeks and Piper was 1lb and 5 oz! We are now 29 weeks 1 day with a 2lb 12 oz little girl who is a fighter!! 

We get what we get & we don't complain

"We get what we get and we don't complain!" That's the Motto in my class.. Not sure I'm upholding it here in the hospital! 

I can say at midnight I was so ecstatic that we made it to 29 weeks! But as I keep saying I want more time.. Lets get to the 30s!! 

So I was positive again for a UTI, which they think might be caused by the hormonal supplement I have to take every night that is irritating to all the girl parts. But the supplement has shown to help strengthen the cervix and sac so it's a sacrifice I make. I've been on the supplement for over two months and I can't say for sure it's keep Piper in but why change it up now?  A lot of the discomfort I was having this week they think was the uti causing contractions. Plus uti are just fun times anyhow! 

There has been lots of talk of wanting to know what my cervix was. Typcially a vaginal exam is usually needed after contractions but it stimulates the cervix and the docs are basically putting their fingers thru the cervix to see if there is dilation. This is fine if you're term but if you're trying to cook a baby and keep what little cervix you have it isn't the best. Plus it isn't accurate and can cause infection to my membranes. So Dr Gei feels the safest thing to do is an ultrasound as it isn't directly touching the cervix. 

We had an ultrasound today and Piper is now 2lbs and 12 oz.. She has grown alot since the last scan two and half weeks ago at 2 lbs. We are super thankful she is growing and becoming so strong! 

Yet as she grows, my cervix shrinks!! Like I have nothing left. I am totally effaced and showing dilation. In addition, every time my cervix changes or Piper moves (she's still head down having a party there) it causes the bag to also move into the funneling of my cervix. Fortunately I haven't shown any signs of leaking or breaking. Plus we are pretty sure that its been doing this for awhile.. It's just now my cervix is gone.  Dr Gei is pleased with my ultrasound though. So if he is confident so am I! 

From what we've been told painful contractions can cause the bag to break and me to dilate more. So now we sit and wait. I definitely lost all wheel chair privileges.  We pray that the uti was the culprit for the contractions and the next ten days on antibiotics we can just cook.. 

But we are getting nearer is what it is..this is what we get. I can't deny my body is changing and Piper doesn't know better than to push on the cervix. 

I know to some of you, you think you've bought a month and a week.. That's amazing. It is amazing but a 30 weeker will spend a big amount of time in the NICU. We are still facing odds that we wouldn't with a term child. When she comes we have a whole new battle to face. As much as I thank god for letting us get here.. I'm just terrified of the journey my lil one will go thru. I don't mean to sound ungrateful but these cards are hard to deal with. It's especially hard after a week ago I had hope of going home and making it to 32+. Now we are waiting to see when Piper arrives. I wasn't ready for that! 

Please pray and I hope all you mamas have a wonderful Mother's Day!