Pictures

We have made a couple of web albums of Athena. Check them out.

Here is the album from her first few days, http://picasaweb.google.com/nicwolfe/AthenaSFirstFewDays?authkey=Gv1sRgCN6YoJ2Mx8KcogE#

Here is the web album from her first week, http://picasaweb.google.com/nicwolfe/AthenaSFirstWeek?authkey=Gv1sRgCOHWpv71qOCBOQ#

We'll be taking lots of pictures and will post as often as we can

Athena Rose Barefoot is here!

Athena Rose Barefoot was born on Friday August 21st at 6:50 am. She weighed 7lbs 6oz and was 20 inches long. She was almost 2 weeks late. She is healthy and we are so thankful to finally have her here.

The labor and delivery were long and it did not go according to how I had planned, but having her here and healthy makes it all ok.

We went into the hospital on Wednesday August 19th to start the induction process. Our midwife did not feel comfortable having us go too much longer, and I was afraid that the longer we waited, I would be at risk of more aggressive interventions. We got to the hospital at noon on Wednesday and they did not have a labor room, so they put us in one of the recovery/post partum rooms. The labor and delivery rooms are bigger than the other rooms. Luckily, we were assured that no one was in a rush for the baby to be born and they were happy to take things slowly. We probably waited about 2 hours before anyone came in to check me out and start the process. First, they hooked me to the fetal monitor and it turned out that I had been having contractions. It felt to me like Athena was just stretching out, so I wasn't interpreting those feelings as contractions. They checked me out and I was effaced, but not dilated at all. We talked about the options to start the induction process and because I was already having some contractions, they did not want to start with the prostaglandin gel. The gel is applied to the cervix to help "ripen" it and can cause contractions. So, we decided to start at the lowest level and work our way up.

We decided to start with the foley bulb. This is a catheter that is placed up past the cervix and is inflated with saline to help the cervix dilate. The bulb falls out when the cervix is 3 centimeters dilated. Joe and I had brought Scrabble with us, so once the bulb was inserted, we started a game. Joe also went out and got us some food and we just hung out and waited. The bulb took several hours until it was finally ready to come out. The next step was to start the Pitocin.

When we first got to the hospital, the anesthesiologists came into talk to me about medication options. I knew what my options were and really wanted to do it unmedicated. We talked and I told them that I was committed to doing this as natural and unmedicated as possible. After the foley bulb came out, they started the Pitocin. I told them I wanted to start at the lowest amount, which was 1 miliunit. They started with that and increased it by 1 every 30-60 minutes. Once they started the Pitocin, the contractions started pretty much right away. After they had increased it a bit, the contractions got stronger and were coming closer together. This was already the middle of the night Wednesday/Thursdsay. It got to the point where the contractions were coming one on top of another and there was not much of a break between them. On top of that, Athena was facing the wrong way and the back of her head was pressing against the base of my spine, so I was having really bad back labor. Once the Pitocin was up to 6, I was in a lot of pain and we talked to the doctors about stopping the Pitocin so I could get some rest. They cut the Pitocin in half and Joe and I made it through the night. At about 9am, we called our doula to have her come to the hospital. By that time too my mom and Elana had driven up from LA and were at our house.

By the time Judith, our doula got there, they had started increasing the Pitcocin again and the contractions were strong and coming one right after the other. My mom and Elana got to the hospital by the early afternoon. By later that afternoon, I had not dilated anymore and was in a lot of pain because of the back labor. At that point, the doula and the midwife both suggested that I get an epidural because I was not able to relax enough to open up. After about 15 hours of labor, I agreed to the epidural. They came to administer the epidural in the late afternoon/early evening on Thursday. I was nervous about the epidural because I didn't like the idea of something going into my spinal area or of my lower half being numb. They did a great job and while I couldn't feel any of the contractions, I could still wiggle my toes and my lower legs were kind of tingly. Once the epidural kicked in, they started to increased the Pitocin more rapidly.

By about 2:30-ish that morning, I could feel the pressure of her coming down. I couldn't feel the pain of the contractions, but I could feel the pressure. At that point, I started to push. I pushed for about 2 1/2 hours and the baby could not make it past the pubic bone beause she was facing the wrong way. Somewhere in the 5am hour, the OB came in to talk about assisted delivery using either forceps or the vacuum extractor. We weren't too happy about either, but knew she needed some help getting out. We talked about all of the risks and benefits of each and decided to start with the forceps. They also wanted to do it in the operating room just in case they had to do an emergency c-section. I told them that more than anything, I did not want a c-section and they assured me they did not want to do one, but had to keep all options open and wanted to be safe. So, Joe got suited up and we went into the OR. There were no less than about 12 people in there. There was also a lot of meconium in the fluid, so they told us when she came out, she needed to go straight to the pediatricians for them to suction her lungs to make sure she did not inhale any of the meconium. So, in the OR, the group of pediatricians were in the corner at the warming table waiting for her.

They tried to place the forceps, but couldn't get around the pubic bone, so had to go for the vacuum. The placed the vacuum and in two pushes she popped right out, thankfully. Joe got to cut the cord and they handed her over to the pediatricians. It took them about 5 minutes with her until I finally got to hold her and see her face. Joe was over there with her.

There is truly no way to express how it feels to see and hold your baby for the first time. It was definitely one of the most powerful moments in our lives and we just marvel at her everyday.

She'll be here soon

I am now 10 days overdue and we have been going in for antenatal testing every two days for the past week. We have our induction scheduled for Wednesday, August 19th. It could take a few days until she's born, but at least we know she's coming soon.

I'll start posting more regularly once we're settled in at the hospital and then after she's born.

Anyday now

Well, the 8th came and went and now we are just waiting for her to come. As you can see I am pretty big - it doesn't seem like I can get much bigger. It's really just been in the last few days that I have started to feel very large and uncomfortable. I am thankful that I had such a smooth pregnancy and felt good throughout, but now I am ready for her to get here. I am trying to enjoy the last few days because I know she'll be here soon and I will miss feeling her move around. But, at the same time, I just want to see her and hold her and am looking forward to having my body back. It's really an odd thing to be sharing your body with someone else.

Joe is also very excited for her to get here. The 9 months went by really fast, but we both feel like these last days are moving alot more slowly. Joe is probably going to work from home for the rest of the week so he's close by when the action starts. We both think it will be sometime next week. I can't imagine that we would go through another whole week without anything. I have another appointment this Wednesday, so we'll see what happens.

Joe and I will inform everyone when I'm in labor and when the baby's born. Don't worry, we won't forget to tell anyone. I know everyone is excited.

So close

I had a prenatal appointment on Wednesday. The CenteringPregnancy groups are over, so now I am just seeing the midwife individually. She checked me out on Wednesday and listened to the baby's heartbeat. Everything looked and sounded good, but there was nothing to indicate that labor was imminent, meaning I wasn't effaced or dilated at all. I have another appointment scheduled for Wednesday, so if I haven't gone into labor before then, they will start antenatal testing. They will hook me up to the fetal monitor to make sure the baby is doing ok. They will also do an ultrasound to check the level of amniotic fluid to make sure that its ok for the baby.

I feel like the baby will come sometime next week, though it may not necessarily be before the Wednesday appointment. I don't think anything will happen this weekend. I have had some revisions to do on my dissertation and those were just approved which means I can officialy file my dissertation with the school which is the final step. I feel like once that happens, I will be totally ready for her to come, so I think she's just been waiting for the signal.

I am feeling pretty good, and the baby seems to be doing well. She moves a lot, and now that she's bigger I can tell that she's cramped in there. The movements I feel are her shifting around and turning from side to side, which often means I get poked by what I think is her elbow, which is a pretty odd feeling. I know I'll miss feeling her movements, but I am so excited to actually hold her and look into her eyes.

Joe and I are ready to meet her and we have everything ready. Joe and I will notify everyone when I am in labor and of course when she's born. I know everyone is excited to meet her too and to learn what her name is. It won't be long now.

1 week to go

The baby is due one week from today. It would be great if she actually came on her due date. Coming next weekend would be really convenient.

In the last few days I have definitely started to feel pretty large. I am still mobile and walking a lot with Marley, though I am moving slower. Sleeping is still challenging and its hard to stay comfortable. I don't think that will change until she's born.

I had another prenatal appointment on Thursday and it was our last Centering group. All of us are due in the next week or two, so it just made sense to start making individual appointments with the nurse midwife. It is still pretty shocking that we are so close to the due date and to finally meeting our daughter. Everything was good at the appointment and I have another appointment on Wednesday.

This weekend, Joe is going to install the car seat. He put the stroller together last weekend, so getting the car seat in is really the last thing left to do. I have the baby's stuff ready for the hospital. I have most of my stuff ready and it won't be hard to get Joe's stuff ready.

2 weeks to go

We are just two weeks away, which is kind of hard to believe. We did a tour of the hospital recently, so now we know where to go and what the room will be like. Luckily I am pre-registered so we just have to go up the labor & delivery, which is on the top floor of the hospital. The hospital in on top of a hill, so there are great views :-). The rooms are spacious and there is a pull out sofa, a TV, a mini fridge and a jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. We can also control the temperatutre and lighting in the room. I have started getting stuff together for when we are ready to go to the hospital. I got the baby's stuff ready and have a few different outfits and blankets for her. Today I got some water and juices, and snacks to bring to the hospital for us.

Our next prenatal appointment is Thursday the 30th. I have been feeling pretty good and have slept well the last couple of nights. I think the baby has dropped, which they say happens anywhere from 2-4 weeks before delivery. I have noticed in the past couple of days that I can breathe easier, especially when Marley and I are walking uphill. I have also noticed that my indigestion has eased up a bit. Both of those were discussed in my baby books as signs of when the baby drops.

Joe and I are getting very excited and its hard to believe that she is going to be here so soon. We are so excited to meet her and she what she looks like. I think she'll stick close to her due date.

She moves pretty regularly and I can tell that she's more cramped in there. I don't feel her kicking really as much now as I feel her whole body moving from side to side. It also feels sometimes like she is trying to stretch out, so you can see bulges on either side of my belly. It's really cool. I am trying to remember what it all feels like because she won't be inside me much longer.

This weekend we are goin g to install the car seat, so that we can have that ready. That's really the last thing we need to do, otherwise we have everything else ready for her.

Week 37

Today starts week 37. Here are pictures of the baby's crib and the dresser/changing table. You can see how many clothes she already has. Today I got her clothes and things together to take to the hospital. I am also starting to get my things together, so that it'll all be ready to go and it will be one less things for me to think about.

I had a prenatal appointment this past Thursday, which went well and the next one's not until the 30th.

Today we went to get the stroller/car seat. We also got a play pen that has a bassinet and a changing table, which we are going to have in our room for a little while for when she sleeps in our room. It also folds up for easy travel, which will come in handy. Now I think we really have everything. The only thing left to do is to install the car seat base, which we'll probably do next weekend.

I am feeling pretty much the same. I am not sleeping well and am having indigestion, which also affects my sleep. Aside from that I am still doing a lot of walking and feel pretty good. The baby moves around a lot, so I feel her most of the time. Joe and I are just getting more and more excited to meet her and see what she looks like. Only a few more weeks.

9th Month

Today is the first day of week 36, which starts the 9th month. We are in the home stretch with about 4 weeks to go. As you can see, I can have gotten pretty big. This week we are going to get the stroller and car seat and that should round everything out. I think we have everything else we are going to need (at least for a little while).

We met with our doula again yesterday to reconnect and to discuss how everything will play out once I go into labor. We really like her and are glad that she is going to be a part of this journey. We'll call her when I go into labor and then stay in touch with her until I am in active labor which is when she will come over. She'll come to our house, go with us to the hospital, and stay with us until 2 hours post partum.

We found a pediatrician, which we are happy about. We met with her last week and feel really good about her and the practice. Here is the website. She is just what we were looking for, and is close by. There are pediatricians in the hospital who will look over the baby after she is born and then we will see our pediatrician probably a day or two after we leave the hospital. We'll call before we're discharged to set up the appointment and the great thing is that she will do a house call, so we won't have to take the baby into the office when she is only a couple of days old. I want to keep the baby home for the first week before taking her outside.

We have our next prenatal appointmet on Thursday. We are now going every two weeks. Everything was good at the last appointment - the baby's heartbeat sounded good and she is in the head down position, which we are happy about. I feel her moving most of the time, which is reassuring. Mid afternoon is when she seems to be napping because that is usually the time that I feel her the least. She is a pretty active baby, so it'll be interesting to see how that translates when she is out of the womb and has more room to move around. It is really cool for both of us to feel her and to watch her. Jyst looking at my belly, you can see her movements. In the evenings, Joe and I will just sit and watch her for a while in amazement. We are so excited to meet her already and see what she looks like.

My biggest issue now is sleeping. Not only is it hard to just stay on my left side, but I am getting up usually twice a night to go to the bathroom, which is obviously disruptive to my sleep. I will wake up sometimes with leg cramps or because my left hip is aching. I have pillows propping me up, but its still not the most comfortable. Sometimes I can feel the baby moving in the middle of the night, but its usually not enought to keep me up. I guess this is all just a warm up for the lack of sleep we are going to have in the weeks, months, and probably years to come. Otherwise, I am feeling pretty good. I am still walking a lot even if I have had to slow my pace down a bit. And I am also still eating really well, even though I get some indigestion.

Moving right along

We had our last birthing class last week. June just flew by - we had the birthing classes every Thursday in June and it just went by so fast. We really enjoyed the class and I think we feel pretty ready for the whole thing. The class was really good and there was an emphasis on natural childbirth, though she did go over medication options. There are actually more options than we thought. We figured it was either an epidural or nothing, but they offer nitrous as well as the opiate Fentanyl, which was pretty surprising. It is pretty interesting how willing they are to medicate laboring women and that seems to be the default. They are basically throwing medication at you. I am still committed to an unmedicated natural childbirth, but it is always good to know what our options are. We are going to fill out a birth plan that will go in my chart that will detail what I do and do not want during my labor. This way the medical staff will be clear on what I want and what I expect from them.

We had our prenatal appointment yesterday and luckily I only gained about a pound in the last 2 weeks. Our appointments are now every two weeks until delivery. Can you believe we are only 5 weeks away?! It's hard for us to believe. The baby's heartbeat sounded good and strong and she is really moving around a lot. I am measuring a little big, but it doesn't seem to be an issue. I think we are going to have a good sized baby.

Overall I am still feeling good. Sleeping is getting harder, and I am thankful if I can sleep through until 3am – I’m usually in bed by 11. Generally I am getting up about twice a night to go to the bathroom and by the 2nd time, it's hard for me to fall back asleep again. I am supposed to just sleep on my left side, and have woken up with cramps in my legs and hip. I guess this lack of sleep is just practice for what's to come.

We’ll get another bump watch picture up soon. I am really big now.