Miles's Birth Story

We are absolutely in love with our new addition. Miles Gideon Beaty came into the world on Friday, July 25^th 2008 at 3:33am. He stole our heart from the first look.

Our birth story actually goes back to the Tuesday before. I had an ultrasound appointment to check on baby Beaty because he was so small. There I found out he was breech – bum down, head and legs up and I had low amniotic fluid. My chance for a low risk natural delivery was very small now.

I spent two days trying to rotate him but by Thursday’s doctor appointment nothing had changed. I had come to terms with it and was ready to talk to my doctor. I didn’t want to try an external version or a breech delivery, too much risk for the baby. Our biggest concern with scheduling a c-section was baby not being ready, as it measured only at 37 weeks at the ultrasound. But we prayed and knew God had a plan for us and baby. I kept telling myself, healthy baby – healthy mom, is the most important thing here. We ended up scheduling a c-section for the next morning at 7:30am.

Then it happened, at 3pm I started having contractions. 5 minutes apart, 30-40 seconds long. I wasn’t worried. The doctor said I was barely dilated at the appointment and I was heading to the hospital at 5:30am the next morning. What are the chances this is the real thing. It continued into the evening. The pain increased so I headed to the tub. By 11pm it was 2-3 minutes apart, 50 second long and very painful. When I started throwing up, we called the doctor. My scheduled c-section had turned into an emergency c-section.

I arrived at the hospital at 1am. I was now dilated to 3 from 1 at the doctor’s office. Then we found out my platelet count was too low. No epidural; they wanted to put me under. My doctor, knowing my hope for a natural birth at least wanted to try and keep me awake. So half an hour later it was decided, I would have a spinal tap. Fighting through the contractions I headed over to the operation room. There I hear my doctor throwing out my stats to see who was in need more, me or another person who had just come in. I lost. Now I was headed back to a labor room to continue laboring until another anesthesiologist came in. I was now dilated to 5. The nurse comments too bad I can’t do it naturally, I was doing great. I was getting so mad. I was laboring for no reason and it hurt like hell. An hour later the anesthesiologist showed up. Time to go, after 12 1/2 hours of laboring naturally.

The operation went by in an instant. Before I knew it the doctor was asking Geoff to introduce the sex of the baby. He takes and look and says “well isn’t it obvious!” Then continues to let me in on the fact it’s a beautiful boy. To hear that first cry and see your child for the first time. What an amazing moment that we will never forget.

We stayed in the hospital for 4 days recovering and learning all we could from the nurses and doctors about taking care of a baby. We feel so prepared and blessed. It has been absolutely wonderful.

Miles Gideon Beaty's Statistics:

• Sex: Boy
  
• Date: Born July 25th at 3:33am
• Weight: 5 pounds, 15.4 ounces
• Height: 18 inches
• Thoughts: Absolutely perfect!
  

Miles Gideon Beaty has arrived!

Born 3:33am 7/25/2008, 6lbs. 18". More details to follow...

Bad News for a Natural Delivery

My doctor wanted me to go in for another ultrasound because I am measuring small for the week of pregnancy I am in. I have measured around 35 for more then three weeks when I am currently at 39 weeks. So yesterday I headed to the ultrasound to see if anything was wrong with little baby Beaty. The GOOD news is baby is healthy. Measured around 37 weeks. Small for it's week but otherwise seems health and getting enough nutrition.

BREECH
The first thing the tech said after starting was the word breech. It took me a few seconds to register what this meant. Baby Beaty is BREECH. Bum down, head and legs up. Not at all ready for a successful delivery. It means everything Geoff and I have worked for in a natural delivery is out the door. Exactly what I hoped to avoid is coming true, a scheduled c-section.

THE REASON
3-4% of babies are breech at delivery. Each one has a reason why the baby won't go head down as it naturally should. After reading about it I seem to fit an idea candidate. Tight ab, hip flexors & round ligaments, low amniotic fluid, and it runs in the family genes. All of which I have. If your low on amniotic fluid baby doesn't have enough room to move around. Then with tight muscles in the pelvic region baby wouldn't have enough room to put it's head low.

NEXT STEPS
I have my doctor's appt tomorrow to go over the ultrasound results. There I believe he'll want me to schedule a c-section. Hopefully he will work with me, but I'm not optimistic. Even thought there is little hope of baby switching around I am trying everything naturally possible. I went and saw my chiropractor, got acupuncture, and have been doing some inversions to try and get baby to move. Nothing like hanging out upside down (40 degree angle) for 20 minutes. So pray for us. We'll see what becomes of all this...

Week 38 Thoughts

Baby Beaty I am ready anytime you are. Just tell me when and we'll head to the hospital...

Week 38

Week 36

Pregnancy stats:

* Due Date: Around July 25th, 2008
* Picture Time line: 36 weeks 4 days
* Belly size: BIG!
* Energy level: High in the morning, but I fade fast in the evening.
* Nauseousness: High. Baby grows, I feel sick.
* Exercise Level: Medium. Small amounts most days. Walking can be on the uncomfortable side. Rather swim or bike.

Hard Drive Gone Crazy

Ahhhh, my hard drive crashed!!

And not a small crash either, but a nasty expensive one to repair type crash. So far the price quote is $1600!! Sadly I only backed up pictures, not any of my data. So needless to say I have been without any of my data, software, or training plans for the last two weeks.

Thus the lack of blog updates until I'm up and running again...

Baby Shower

Thanks Sybil and Cyndie for the wonderful baby shower. I sadly never got my camera out of my bag to take any pictures.

It was just perfect. Everyone was so great to come celebrate the future baby Beaty! The baby shower balloon is a stitch! Love it. I've already unpacked all the loot and can't wait for babies arrival.