A Labor of Love

Well, the big day has come and gone (although I'm sure there are many big days ahead!).   As you may know, I was due on February 16th, which came and went without a sign of Baby Figs.  When talking with the doctor, we agreed to schedule an induction for little munchkin starting on February 22nd.  All the while I was having reservations about starting the process too soon and rushing into delivering this baby.  Little did I know....

Tuesday afternoon we reported to Morton Plant Hospital to start the induction process.  At about 5:30pm they inserted a drug called Cervidil to help get my cervix softer and ready for dilation.  I had to leave that in overnight and they would start Pitocin in the morning to help get contractions started.  Around 7:00 am the nurse started me on the lowest dose of the drug.  Just after 8:00 am my doctor came in and broke my water - and yes, it was disgusting!  The "good" contractions started around 9:30 or 10:00, most of which were in my back.  I labored until noon and when I was checked, I was already 4 cm.  Like a naive, first-timer laborer, I though to myself "so far, this is easy!".  At least I was smart and ordered the epidural right then because the anesthesiologist didn't make it into our room until 1:15pm.  By the time the epidural was in, I was already 7 cm.  Things were moving right along and I thought I would hold our baby before dinner.  At 2:45 I started feeling pressure and was measured at 9cm.  I really couldn't believe how fast my labor was progressing.  Even with the epidural, you could still feel a lot of pressure from the little one's head and I was getting anxious to meet him/her.  While I wasn't experiencing pain, it was very uncomfortable and I couldn't imagine anyone doing it naturally.  By 5:45 I was still only measuring 9 cm and the doctor said it was time for a c-section.  She already thought the baby was on the large side (approximately 8 to 8 1/2 pounds) and was concerned that my pelvis was too small to push the baby out, which is why my labor had stopped progressing.  Scared and crying, I agreed.  I had a feeling we were going to need a c-section for some reason. 


About 6:15 they got me prepped and ready for surgery and wheeled me into the O.R.  Chris joined me by about 6:45 and within 5 minutes they were letting us know that this baby had some chubby cheeks on her and that their 8 1/2 pound guesstimate was way off.  A couple minutes later, Chris and I heard "It's a Girl", which are three words that we did not think we would hear.  I really swore that we were having a boy.  Chris left and went to be by Ella Rose Figueredo and watch her get cleaned up and cut her umbilical cord.  He brought her over to me and I got to kiss on her cheeks (which are huge!) and look at her beautiful face.  I couldn't believe I was looking at, touching and hearing my daughter.  We had waited for this moment for so long that it felt surreal.  Chris left to take Ella to meet the family and to get her first check-up done.  A few minutes later, a nurse came back in to tell me that Ella weighed 9 lbs 13 oz.  I thought I had misheard!!  I have never heard of a baby in either of our families that weighed that much at birth.  And I never thought I was carrying a child that was just 3 ounces short of 10 pounds!!  But, she's here and she's perfect!  We're all just trying to adjust to a crying newborn at 3:00 am!!  Thanks for everyone's continued thoughts and prayers for a healthy, happy newborn!  Below are some pictures from her first days!! 

Last pregnancy picture - February 22nd (40 weeks, 6 days)

Waiting to get hooked up to monitors

Happy parents-to-be (obviously before contractions started)

It's a Girl!  First family photo - February 23rd, 2011

Ella Rose's first weigh in - 9 lbs 13.2 ozs!!!

Proud Grandma Mimi

I could kiss those chubby cheeks all day.

Our sweet little Princess.

Has this entire thing been a hoax?

I've heard from several people that I'm "all belly" or that it looks like I've shoved a basketball up my shirt.  I'm starting to wonder if some of those people are right.  I have had such a great pregnancy with such few symptoms that I'm wondering if I'm actually pregnant!  Seriously though, with each passing week, I am more convinced that a baby will never come and that I will be pregnant forever.  I had another doctor appointment this morning and there are still no changes.  I'm not dilated at all, in fact, the doctor stated I wasn't even close.  And with my due date in two days, this is slightly disheartening.  The only consolation I have is that it's hard to predict when a baby will make it's appearance and there's still some time to go into labor naturally, which is what I'm counting on.  But, in preparation for Plan B (an induction), I have to have a nonstress test on the baby Friday morning, where they will listen to the baby's heartbeat for 30 straight minutes.  Then, if all goes well, we will plan to induce early next week.

Obviously, I have mixed emotions about this.   Who wants to be induced?  I haven't heard good things about pitocin and the entire induction process.  Plus there's a higher chance for c-section and all the extra medicines in my, and the baby's, system.  On the other hand, I don't want the baby to overstay his welcome, which I know can lead to skin problems, low amniotic fluid and placental issues. 

So, we're currently STILL playing the waiting game!  I know Chris is ready for this baby to get here and I'm getting more ready every day.  All I want is this baby to be healthy and happy.  I'm trying to put all of my faith in the Lord that whatever course this baby uses to come into this world will be the best option for us.  Please pray that we go into labor before next Tuesday, and if not, that the delivery is smooth and as stress free as possible.  At the latest, this baby will be here before February 23rd!! 

More to come!!  I hope you all have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Baby Talk and Chili Recipes

I had another doctor appointment today and there's nothing new to report.  I'm still not dilated and I'm a short 9 days away from my due date.  I figure next week (pending I'm still pregnant) that they will begin discussing induction options.  I'm hopeful that they won't induce too soon and will at least allow me to have an appointment on February 21 (especially since my original due date was February 23rd). 

So, since there's not too much to discuss, I figured I'd offer up a recipe this week!  I made this chili last night for the Super Bowl and was told it was good, so I hope you enjoy it!

1lb lean beef
1lb italian sausage
1 onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 can of crushed tomatoes (26 oz)
1 can of tomato puree (26 oz)
1 can diced tomatoes (15 oz)
2 cans chili beans, drained and rinsed (I usually use one chili bean and one black bean)
1/4 cup of chili powder (this time I used a packet of chili mix instead)
2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp ground cayenne pepper
tabasco, red pepper flakes and worcestershire sauce

I saute the onion and green pepper in a little olive oil for a minute or two and then add in all of my ground meat (both the lean beef and sausage).  Once it's browned, I add some worcestershire sauce and all the spices to the meat and mix it together.  Then I add the beans, crushed, diced and tomato puree and stir it all together.  I keep it on the stove top all day over low heat, stirring occasionally.  Obviously, the longer it sits, the better it is!  If you have people who like it a little spicier, consider adding fresh, diced jalapeno in with the onions and green peppers in the beginning or adding red pepper flakes or tabasco when adding the spices.  I usually find only adding mild spice appeals to more people and they can add their own heat at the end.  I usually garnish it with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and tostitos chips to crumble in the chili if any one wants it (that's my favorite way to eat it!).  Hopefully if you have been a victim of the snow and cold weather this winter you can use this to warm up you and your family!  I'll keep you updated if/when the baby comes before next week!!

An update to last week's post.... we had our ultrasound yesterday morning to check and make sure that everything with the baby was ok since we had measured so large the week before.  During the ultrasound they measured the baby's head, leg, and the amniotic fluid.  Everything measured perfectly and right on schedule.  Oh, except for the baby's weight... they're estimating that the baby already weighs 6lb 14oz, which is over a half pound above "average" right now.  Just as we expected, we'll probably have an above average baby (Chris and I both weighed 8lb 1oz at birth, so we're thinking around that size). 

Getting the ultrasound picture of the baby's face was quite difficult.  The baby has dropped far enough to where a clear picture/view of the face was almost impossible.   We did get a picture, but it looks like the baby has a mustache.  :)  I haven't started dilating yet, so, it looks like our little Bean is continuing to develop nicely.  We're hoping that it continues to stay warm and safe for just a couple more weeks! 

I'll try to post another update after next Monday's appointment (although I'm hopeful that there's nothing to report!).