Luisa's 3rd Week

This week Luisa got to meet her Grandma, Uncle Justin and (Aunt) Sara! I need to get some pictures from Justin, as he's much more photographically inclined than me and, thus, has some better

shots. But here are a few to get you started- I'll edit this next week with more photos, so check back. I just love her cute sleeping positions.

Video Clip of the week: Pretty Baby

An Ode to Opa

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal."
This weekend Opa passed on to a better place. He was a wonderful, caring person and will be greatly missed.

The Birth Story

So many people have been asking about the birth, and while my mom is making dinner and Luisa appears to be asleep I'll do my best to tell how it all went down.

Wednesday, March 4th I went to my 39 week doctor's appointment. My doc was off that day so her colleague was the one to examine me. He told me that it was "against all odds" that I'd have the baby that day or the next. So, feeling a little discouraged (I wasn't hoping for the baby yet, but a little progress would have been nice) I told Jason he was going to take me out on a date the following evening (I could do that- I was pregnant). For mexican. Heck, the spices couldn't hurt, right? Plus I love going out to eat and who knows when we'd be able to go out again so freely.

So, Thursday morning we decide to have a lazy day at home (Jason still home sick, recovering from surgery) and we proceeded to watch movies and lounge in our PJ's all day until we'd get ready for our date. Sometime after noon, I noticed a lot of cramping in my abdomen. I'd been having this and random contractions for the previous couple of weeks so I didn't think much of it. Plus, the doc said the baby wasn't coming, right?

Wrong. By 4 or 5pm I noticed they were more and more regular, coming every 4-6 minutes. But, I didn't really think this was labor. My water didn't break, I wasn't having real contractions, per se. Jason knew I was feeling pretty uncomfortable and decided he'd make me my dinner instead of lugging me to Koblenz. Through dinner, the cramping was more intense, and was accompanied by a painful sensation in my hips. Around 8:00 I told him we better think about going to the hospital, for peace of mind. This couldn't be nothing. But still, I wasn't convinced this was it, either.

Around 9pm we went to the hospital and they did the NST and checked the cervix. Sure enough, 2cm dilated. I figured I still would have a ways to go, so I went into the tub for a little while and walked the halls. By this point they'd put in an IV so I could only really ease the hip pain with Jason's help. Every time a "contraction" hit, I'd have Jason help by rubbing my hips while I leaned over and tried to relax. The midwife gave me some homeopathic remedy and some sort of IV painkiller. Neither touched the hip pain, which was my main complaint. It hurt like hell, as if someone was grinding the femur into the acetabulum. Around midnight I decided I was no superwoman and this would only get worse (I was only around 4-5cm dilated), so bring on the epidural!! It was also around this time that the midwife broke my water. I was a little nervous but she assured me- in german- that it wouldn't hurt. Regardless, I closed my eyes, held Jason's hand and then heard a POP followed by a warm water sensation, like I'd peed myself ;-) That was just weird.

I had been hoping for a water birth. I think that maybe if the hip pain wasn't there I might have been able to endure. But, alas, I did what I had to and have NO regrets. That epidural was such sweet relief!

So by about 3:30am I was fully dilated. Things were going a lot faster than I expected and the midwife had me do some practice pushes. I guess some time around 4am I started actually pushing, but am not sure. I wasn't pushing for an hour or more straight, but I would do say 10 minutes worth during contractions and then they'd let me rest awhile. Somewhere in there the tubing for the epidural came loose and the hip pain returned. I thought "holy hell, this kid must be on his/her way out soon." Of course, this was not normal for the pain to come back, and they realized the tubing was loose, and reconnected it. Of course then there was a problem with the pump, and they called a bunch of differet people in to get it right. That probably delayed the pushing another 30 minutes. But once it was working I felt good again. Well, tired and anxious to have the baby, but good.

I had a pitocin (or something similar) drip that they kept upping to help me get the baby out. It was funny, when they started it at the same times as the epidural, it was at a dosage of 40(drips per min? or whatever rate they use) andby the end the doctor was telling the midwife to keep upping it, to like 400 or something. I guess he figured why not- this baby is coming out anyways! Pushing was difficult, as I didn't have much sensation down there. But they kept coaching me and Jason was too, holding my hand and cheering me on. The doctor decided after some time that the vacuum would help, because the kiddo kept slipping back in after the pushes. I didn't really want this, but trusted his opinion and figured it would only help. Oh I also had an episiotomy. That was weird- I saw the scissors and heard the cutting but couldn't feel it. And, for the record my pregnant readers, I have had no pain from it since.

So at 5:23am on Friday, March 6, 2009, after a cold rainy night of labor, the baby was out and Jason announced, "It's a girl!" He cut the cord and they wrapped her up and placed her in my arms. When, of course, the tears started. We looked at her and decided she looked like a Luisa and so it was. (We had a couple possible boy and girl names in mind but wanted to see what she lookd like before deciding.) The doctor and midwife did the APGAR, which she scored a perfect 10/10 on, other tests and took her little footprint.

Jason got to hold her once she was done getting checked out and the midwife helped me into a bed for recovery. It was weird because my right leg was a little numb still, but it felt good to get into bed and under covers. We stayed in the labor & delivery ward for 2 hours so they could make sure I was ok and then I was wheeled to my hospital room. Luisa came too, in her little rolling bassinette. She was so calm in those first few hours, just looking (though she probably couldn't see anything) and checking it all out. It was so nice, but Jason and I were exhausted from being up so long. He eventually went home and got a little rest, and I was left in my quiet room to sleep too.

Luisa's 1st week

It's been quite a week for me and Jason. Going from labor pains to the birth of our little girl and our 1st night home to my first night alone with the baby- just thinking about it all makes me tired! Here's a little week in review...

Luisa in her hospital bassinette, just a couple hours after being born.

Our 1st family picture- about 3 hrs after Luisa came into the world. Jason and I had been up for over 24hrs at this point. Don't mind the dark circles under our eyes or my greasy hair!

Daddy and baby.

Again, I don't know why blogger uploaded this sideways, but I wanted to show the pretty flowers our neighbors brought over. I love how the Germans arrange their flowers so artfully! But, I never know how to water them- where's the actual flower root??

This is just a cute picture of L asleep in her crib.

Such a lady already, with the crossed legs.

Luisa's 1st bath! The midwife showed me on Wednesday how to bathe her, then came my turn on Thursday. I was nervous, but did a pretty good job (if I do say so myself). It helps that she likes being in water.

This is Luisa pooped out on the couch for our 1st of many Girls' Night In. We watched Sleepless In Seattle and ate ice cream..well, ok, I watched it and ate, she slept. But I figured since daddy was out we'd do something girly.

I had to take a picture of her claw. She has the funniest faces sometimes and those arms are wild!

Baby-Gazing Video

Cute Sleeping Faces Video

Bringing home baby

This past Tuesday, after 4 days in the hospital, Luisa and I were able to come home! I cannot say enough good things about the hospital staff and my stay. The nurses were amazing and very helpful. At night (and even most days) they would bring the baby to me for feedings and then they'd whisk her away so I could continue to rest. Every morning there was a breakfast buffet for the new mothers in a special, quiet dining room. That way, we could get our food fresh when we were awake and ready. They offered traditional German breakfast: rolls, salami, cheese, tomatoes, etc and also fruit, muesli and jams. There was a fridge stocked with cold beverages (including beer!) and a coffee maker with any kind of coffee or cocoa you wanted.

Having access to the internet was a pleasant surprise and made it much easier in spreading the news about our little bundle of joy!
(Sunday, Luisa' 3rd day!)
Tuesday morning I was seen by the head OB and given the OK to be released. I've had a pretty easy recovery and have felt pretty good from the start. My only real pain has been in my tailbone; I think my pelvic region was a little sprained from delivery. It's getting better each day but sitting is still a little uncomfortable. Can you believe they didn't have any donut pillows at the hospital?? Luckily a friend brought one for me to borrow and it's helped.

Luisa was paid a visit by the pediatrician on that Tuesday morning. She passed her hearing exam, has good infant reflexes and is in excellent overall health. Her blood glucose levels were monitored throughout our stay, as a result of my Gestational Diabetes. She needed supplemental formula occasionally but by the last day or so was able to keep up her sugars herself. I felt so awful when I knew they were pricking her tiny foot for blood! Luckily they did this just prior to feeding, so I could calm her down. But, man, I could hear her coming down the hall!! She's got a good set of lungs :)

After our doctor visits and all the necessary paperwork, Jason and I packed up little Luisa in her own clothes and carseat and took her home!


We have some really nice neighbors. Look how our door was decorated!
I had made two signs a couple weeks before- one "It's a BOY!" and one "It's a GIRL!" with the instructions for Jason to hang it up when the baby was born. The stork and letters were placed by our nice downstairs neighbors.

Kona couldn't have cared less about the new addition to the family. He took one sniff and proceeded to bark at us for petting and treats.
( I don't know why this was uploaded sideways..)
Home Sweet Home

IT'S A GIRL!!!

brand new baby!

Just a quick post to announce the arrival of our little bundle of joy, Luisa Franziska Wagner. She was born at 5:23am on Friday, March 6, 2009. She weighed 3030 grams and measured in at 49cm long. She is a healthy baby who sleeps well and is eating well too! More details to follow...

NST and CST and another NST- oh my!

Yesterday was the completion of my 38th week of pregnancy. Holy cow. At my doctor's appointment the routine non-stress test showed the baby to be very sleepy so the doc put me back on to see if he/she'd wake up and show more activity, which is normal for this stage of the game. I am getting so used to these so I came prepared with a book. At this point, I am also used to the fact that I'll be there all morning (my doc's a talker- God love her!) so I don't mind. Plus it beats waiting in the stuffy Wartezimmer (waiting room)!

Well early on the 2nd NST there was a dip in heartrate of the baby. It wasn't during a contraction or anything so the doc was a little concerned. The ultrasound showed the baby as fine, moving around, good blood flow and oxygenation. She said the HR drop could have been a fluke, or maybe Hansel/Gretel was playing with the umbillical cord, who knows. Since I have been fighting my death cold it could also be related to that. But also, if the baby was truly in distress, a C-section could have been indicated. Being the great OB/GYN she is, she sent me to the hospital to follow up with the head doctor there.

So, Jason came home from work (he gets to stay home another 2 weeks, yippee!), we loaded up my hospital bag just in case, and we went to St. Elizabeth Krankenhaus here in Mayen. This is where I'll be delivering- any time now. The midwives in L&D hooked me up to the machine and did another non-stress test for about 45 minutes. Everything looked normal, so the next step was to see the doctor there. He did a quick ultrasound and just like the morning's US, everything was a-ok. So, we went back to L&D (called Kreißaal) and the doc set up an IV with oxytocin or something to start contractions. The contractions were pretty light (not at all painful), but increased as they upped the dosage every 10 minutes to see the baby's reaction. By the end of the nearly 2 hrs I felt like I'd done 1000 crunches!

Baby is already making his/her mommy and daddy proud--the contraction stress test showed absolutely no signs of distress! We had a follow up this morning, too, and again, he/she had a completely normal heart rate. PHEW. I really would prefer not to have a c-section so keep your prayers coming that he/she will continue to stay healthy--and that I will kick this cold so I have the energy to do the pushing when the time comes!!