She's here!!!!!!!!

I can't believe it, but we have our rainbow in our arms! I am a week late in getting this posted, but I'm sure you understand.

Kaedence Raine Gavel arrived on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 2043 via an emergency c-section . She weighed 6lbs lbs and 2 ozs at birth and was 19 3/4 inches long. We are taking some time to get to know our little one, and when I have a chance, I will fill you all in on our birth story. For now, here is a sneak peek at our Rainbow baby!

T-minus 10 days...

Once again, my post is a few days late. Thanks to the after-effects of the amnio, I found it difficult to sit and type for extended periods of time for a few days.

We had our amniocentisis on Monday, and the end result was that it was unsuccessful. The Specialist did a quick scan of our girl, and she still looks good, and weighs approximately 6lbs 4ozs! She gained 1/2 pound in 10 days! So at this rate, I'm figuring she'll be over 7lbs when she is born. I have an anterior placenta (on the front wall of the uterus), and the specialist does not like to go through the placenta to get to a pocket of fluid. So after a few minutes of searching, she found a very small pocket of fluid on my left side, that was located behind the baby's shoulder. She asked me if I still wanted to go through with the amnio and I said "Yes, I don't want to wonder later 'what if'. I would rather do it, and know".

So she had me roll over onto my right hip slightly, and they scrubbed down my tummy with a surgical antiseptic, and set up the sterile drapes around the site. During this process, I felt "bump" rearrange herself a little. The nurse then put the ultrasound back on my tummy to locate the pocket of fluid so the doctor could begin the procedure. The pocket went from very small, to VERY VERY small, and measured 1cm. When "bump" rearranged herself, she moved that shoulder of hers right into that pocket of fluid. The doctor pushed on her a little, and she opened up the pocket a little, and after we discussed it, she decided to go ahead and give it a try.

Now, the amnio this time didn't seem anywhere near as painful as it did last time. I could tell when she hit the uterine wall because I started to cramp a little. When she entered the uterus with the needle, she nicked the very edge of the placenta. When she entered the pocket of fluid, the baby just went crazy. Try to imagine laying perfectly still when you have a 6 pound baby FLAILING away in your stomach. The Doctor said she may have touched her with the needle, and reassured me that it didn't "injure" her, but likely just scared her. She said "Oh Marjorie, I'm sorry, but I don't think this is going to work", and withdrew the needle after trying to draw fluid and getting only blood. I was OK with it, at least we tried, and now we know that it really isn't possible. The doctor said that we were what she calls a "hard case". The baby is taking up a lot of room, the pockets of fluid are small, and any larger pockets are located behind the placenta. She said "I think we just need to set a date".

So after a little discussion, we have decided that March 26th will be induction day!! I have an appointment on the 25th with the Obstetrician in his office and, if needed, he may give me a gel or tablet to ripen my cervix overnight.

They monitored me for 2 hours in Labour and Delivery after the amnio to make sure I didn't have any bleeding or go into active labour. I had some contractions, but nothing progressed and they sent me home. I had some discomfort yesterday morning, and I've been having the occaisonal contraction, but I think they are just regular braxton hicks contractions. Who knows, maybe this one will come before her induction date!

So 10 days... 10 DAYS until I am induced! We installed the car seat today... it still seems so surreal that 2 weeks from now we'll have her here...

35 weeks!

We had an appointment yesterday with the specialist. Our baby girl is looking good, and weighing in at approximately 5lbs 12ozs, which is right in the middle of the growth curve. She has put on nearly a pound and a half in 2 weeks, so she's definitely growing! At this rate, in two weeks time she could easily be 7lbs!

We talked with the specialist during yesterday's appointment and we have decided to go ahead with an amniocentesis to test her lung development for an early induction. My nerves are shot, and with her fluid levels on the low side (see the next paragraph), I'd like to get this show on the road! The amnio will happen on March 14th, and I will be 36weeks + 2 days at that time. Having the test performed will depend on the fluid levels on the day of. She said "we're not going to go to any extremes to do an amnio if I can't get at a pocket of fluid"..(see the next paragraph). There is a SMALL chance that the amnio could break my water or put me into labour, but the Doctor has reassured us that the risks are very low, and at this stage, the baby would be fine if she had to be delivered. We will know the results of the amnio within 48 hours, and IF her lungs are mature, then we have the green light to go ahead and book an induction as soon as they can get us in (hopefully within a few days of the results!). If the results come back as "immature", there will be a "level" given and from that, she said that she will make us wait either 1 or 2 weeks. We're hoping for a healthy baby, so we'll do what we have to, but I'm ready to have her here! She will certainly be big enough!

My amniotic fluid levels had increased a little over the last 2-3weeks, but they were back down to the "low end of normal" again yesterday. It may be a result of her positioning, or the levels just might actually be low. We are going for another biophysical on Monday or Tuesday to take a look at the fluid levels again. I think this is more for my reassurance than anything! I asked her if the fluid levels were a cause for concern for her..and she said "No..they are still within the normal range, but they are on the low end, so we'll just watch it". So I will have two biophysicals, a checkup at our local prenatal clinic, and an appointment with the obstetrician in Fredericton next week! Plenty of appointments, but I don't mind.

Today, I feel a little cruddy. Tummy is sore, and crampy feeling. I had big plans to get a few things done today, but I don't think it will happen. I have a load of baby laundry on the go right now..and it might just have to end there.

On another note, I have just read via facebook that Laura from My World, is officially in labour with her rainbow baby, Carter! I am sending her good vibes and praying for a healthy delivery for her today! I am next on the rainbow list! It seems so surreal, that in two weeks time I COULD be having (or have had) a baby! I am really hoping those lungs are mature!