Wordless Wednesday: Theory doesn’t mean what you think it means

via https://www.facebook.com/scienceisawesome

As usual with stuff people share on Facebook, I do not have a source to whom this should be attributed.  If you know of the original source, please let me know so I can credit appropriately.

Progress! Recovering from a repeat C-section

As I mentioned in a previous post, I had a minor complication post-delivery with my blood pressure being high (165/85 instead of my usual 120/70) and lots of swelling with pitting edema.  Oddly, while I was recovering in the hospital, none of this was a problem.  I had some swelling that was thought to be just from all the IV fluids I got with the surgery, and my BP was totally normal for me.  However, once I was discharged, things got worse instead of better.  Finally, about 6 days postpartum I had a splitting headache that not even the percocet and ibuprofen could help and my swelling had gotten precipitously worse.  None of my rings fit because my hands were so swollen.  I could only wear my house slippers because my feet didn’t fit in ANY of my shoes (not even flip flops!).  When I got on the scale at home, I weighed only 2 lbs less than I did when I went into the hospital to deliver a 9+lb baby!

Nine days postpartum. This was right around the worst of the swelling and blood pressure issues.

My OB was concerned I could be developing late-onset preeclampsia and has been monitoring my blood pressure as well as doing some blood work and urine analysis.  Thankfully, other than the swelling and the blood pressure, I’ve had none of the other symptoms of preeclampsia.

I was put on bed rest for a week, basically from from 7 to 14 days postpartum.  It was really hard to sit/lay around doing nothing while Mac picked up all the slack- diaper changes, meals, cleaning, bathing, errands, etc.  It was tough with him having Nemo, Mabel, and I to take care of.

Thankfully, it was only for a week, because I got my birthday wish!  The 6th of June was my 33rd birthday and started off with a visit to the OB.  I was hoping he would take me off the bed rest and he did!  While my blood pressure wasn’t much improved (about 140/86), I had lost about 15lbs since I’d seen him the Friday before.  So in 4 days, I dropped 15 pounds!  I was able to wear my shoes again.  My wedding rings (while a little snug) would actually fit on my finger- instead of getting stuck at the knuckle.

Two weeks postpartum, celebrating my 33rd birthday!

I was so relieved to finally be improving.  I’m happy to say the progress has continued.  I’m still taking it easy, but I’ve since dropped over 10 lbs more- for a grand total of 28 lbs lost in a matter of less than 2 weeks!  It’s crazy.  I gained very little weight with this pregnancy (about 11lbs), so I’m actually weigh less now than I did when I got pregnant with Nemo.

I go back to the OB next week for a 4 week postpartum check and I hope the progress continues.

This past Saturday, 2.5 weeks postpartum, at my hometown’s bicentennial parade.

Other than the blood pressure, the recovery has been pretty good.  I’m still dealing with wound care of my incision.  Unbeknownst to me, my OB used surgical glue instead of stitches or staples to close my skin incision.  I HATE surgical glue.  I have never had a good experience with it- whether it was when my dog needed surgery or a friend needed stitches.  It never holds as far as I can tell.  So, of course, I have a portion of my incision that has opened and is weeping.  Not only is it super gross and disconcerting to see, but it’s annoying to care for.

With my C-section with Mabel, I had staples for a few days, then steri-strips for a few more days, and then it was pretty much healed.  However, my pain was much higher, and I needed pain medicine for much longer.  This time around, even though the incision isn’t healing as quickly, I had very little pain and was off the percocet within a week and half.

I’m not sure why the recovery has been so different this time around.  Perhaps it’s because I was on bed rest and had lots of help those first weeks.  With Mabel, I was solo at home caring for her 6 days after the section.  This time, I have barely been alone at all since giving birth- with Mac and/or our families being here to help.

I was dreading the recovery, given my previous experience I am so glad that it’s been easier/quicker this time.  I’m looking forward to being 100% so I can enjoy my maternity leave like a vacation instead of a recuperation!

I’m not the only one who thinks everyone is a scientist!

I’ve written before about how that everyone is a scientist and kids inherently use the scientific method.  I’m not alone in thinking that:

Illustration by Sir Mitchell via www.facebook.com/scienceisawesome

Glad I’m one of the few who trickled out with my wonder and enthusiasm intact!

Bumble Bee Tuna

I first heard this song performed by Mephiskapheles while I was in high school.  It stuck with me, I sang it to Mabel, and now it’s one of her favorites.

Here’s Mabel’s version of the Bumble Bee Tuna Song- accompanied by an ACTUAL bee:

Mephiskapheles has nothing on Mabel.

 

Scientific sidenote:  There is a reason we’re not fretting about the bee and getting stung.  You can hear Mabel mention in the video that the bee has a white face.  That’s because it’s a male Carpenter Bee.  While the bee is definitely checking her out, male Carpenter Bees don’t have stingers and aren’t aggressive.  While it was annoying back in April that we couldn’t be out on the deck without being buzzed by that bee, since there was no danger of being stung, we just went with it and used it an opportunity to teach Mabel how to react around bees (ie don’t freak out and flail around like a maniac).

Happy, happy birthday, to me.

Yesterday I turned 33.  It was a great day.

Started out with a trip to the OB.  My blood pressure has dropped some, but more remarkably, I’ve lost a ton of weight (20 lbs) in the past week- meaning that the swelling that was so concerning has pretty much gone away.  With those two things, the OB said no more bed rest!  I still have to take it easy, but I’m not confined to home, reclining.  (Hello mani/pedi that I’m in desperate need of!)

Getting off bed rest was my birthday wish.

So, after that good news, we took Mabel to dance class and I was actually able to watch her dance around and have a great time.  Unbeknownst to me, she told her dance teacher that baby brother cried a lot, could not talk, and that she would teach him how to talk.  Very cute.

After dance class, we went out for lunch.  It was another birthday present because Mabel was on her best behavior and Nemo slept through the entire thing.  A lovely lunch.

The birthday miracles continued as Mabel fell asleep on the car ride home, and remained asleep after Mac transferred her from the car to her bed.  That meant a pleasant and happy toddler for the rest of the day.  When she woke up, she helped me open my birthday present- a delicious box of Godiva chocolate!

In the evening, my parents came over for dinner.  My mom brought everything we needed and prepared it here.  It was nice to visit with them, have a relaxing meal together, and celebrate.  Dinner was capped off with a Fudgie the Whale Carvel cake compliments of Mac!

Overall is was a really wonderful birthday.  I’m feeling really well just two weeks out from the C-section (other than the typical lack of sleep).  It was great to be out of the house, to spend time with my family.  33 will go down as a great birthday.

 

Wordless Wednesday: Science is not a liberal conspiracy

Source:  https://www.facebook.com/scienceisawesome

He’s (finally) here!

I’m no longer holding a hostage.

“Nemo” has finally arrived!

I went into labor early on Tuesday morning with intermittent contractions continuing all day at work.  In the late afternoon, just when I thought I’d call the doctor, they stopped.  Later in the evening they started up again and when I called my doctor, he said to come in.

By the time Mabel and the dog were headed home with my dad and Mac and I got to the hospital around 10pm, contractions were 5 to 7 minutes apart.  It quickly became clear this was the real deal.

Unfortunately, after being early labor all day, and active labor for about seven and half hours at the hospital, I was not making any progress.  Nemo was still not moving down.  Given my previous C-section, the lack of progress, and the type of pain I was having, we made the decision was made to proceed with a C-section.

Nemo was born on Wednesday, May 23rd at 5:20 in the morning, at 41 weeks and 5 days gestation.

While I really wish I hadn’t needed the surgery, the outcome is what I had hoped for: a safe delivery, a healthy baby.

Just like with Mabel’s birth, Mac kept his poker face in place, no matter what the circumstance- like seeing my disembodied uterus.  He was the only person I wanted with me and he was all the support I needed.  While I am always grateful for him, the feeling is never more pronounced than when I’m at my most vulnerable and he keeps me feeling safe.

So far the recovery has been much easier than after the C-section I had with Mabel.  The way I’m feeling today, 10 days out from surgery, took several weeks after my previous C-section.  I’m getting around well, I’m already off the prescription pain medicine, managing my pain with just ibuprofen.  For that I am very grateful.  The only complication I’ve experienced has nothing to do with the surgery- it’s late onset pregnancy-induced hypertension.

While my blood pressure was fine the whole time I was in the hospital, since I got home, it’s become elevated.  Nothing dangerous (yet, or hopefully ever), but high for me.  So, there’s been extra visits with my doctor and doing my best to follow his recommendation to stick with bed rest.  The doctor is not calling it late-onset pre-eclampsia, just hypertension, and said that most cases resolve within 8 weeks of delivery, but with bed rest it may resolve sooner.

The bed rest has been really challenging for me, and I feel like such a burden on Mac.  It’s like he has three beings depending on him for everything.  Before Nemo arrived he was already doing the bulk of the housework and childcare.  Now that I’m laid up, he’s doing even more- with a whole additional child to care for.  I really hope that my blood pressure is improved at my next OB visit- which will be my 2 week postpartum visit, and my birthday.  So I know what I will wish for when I blow out my candles.

Nemo is doing great.  From the start he’s nursed like a champ.  At his first pediatrician’s appointment, he was 6 days old, and he’d already surpassed his birth weight (which the ped said they usually give babies up to 2 weeks to do).  While he was a cranky pants today, he slept GREAT last night- 11pm to 4am, and again from 5:15am to 7:30am.  I’m crossing my fingers it wasn’t a fluke!

Mabel is also her usual self.  She loves her baby brother, is always eager to help out, etc.  While we have seen some additional tantrums and she is having a little trouble with me being incapacitated and Mac’s attention being so split, she’s only two and this is nothing that was unexpected.  Overall, she’s a wonderful kid and it’s great to see her growing and changing.  I honestly think that the transition is harder for me than for her.  I miss having tickle fights with her, snuggling her close, going for walks, and all the other stuff we normally do that I can’t right now because of the surgery and the bed rest.

Mabel holding her baby brother for the first time.

We were lucky that my in-laws were here until yesterday helping out- entertaining Mabel, making meals, etc.  Now that we are alone, things are fine.  We’re adjusting to life as a family of four!