Labor, Pitocin, and the Many Statistics

As many others, I enjoyed the Business of Being Born. I was glad to watch it specifically for the fact that Pitocin was brought to my attention. I had not paid it much attention before. My plan was to have it administered whenever need be, have my epidural when the pain engulfed, me, and deliver like many other ladies do every day. My sister had Pitocin administered with all 3 deliveries. My mother, however, had her baby in Korea where no Pitocin or epidural was available. My sister and I were born healthy, and while the deliveries were long and laborious for my mother, they were natural.

My sister had her second baby induced all together. Her OB was going on vacation and she didn't want to miss out on her availability when delivering. Something about this didn't quite sit right with me. So little in the world is left to natural timing. I understand in high risk pregnancies induction is necessary. An OB going on vacation doesn't seem like the right reason to induce a labor though. She described the labor to be the most painful of the 3. She said she didn't know to pay attention to how they administered the Pitocin and that she mainly trusted the doctors to do the right thing. I'm not as trusting as she, so I definitely want to avoid it at all costs.

Maybe I'm being old fashioned, paranoid, or a combination of both but I'd really prefer not to have any Pitocin administered at all. I know I'm going to be more emotional and needy once I'm in labor and have doctors and nurses telling me what to do. I do trust my research skills though, and after all, will be a nurse myself one day. I told B to absolutely insist not to administer Pitocin to me at any point. I don't care if the labor takes 3 times as long. I don't feel that baby E will be under any more distress taking longer to come into this world than she will being squeezed by unnaturally strong contractions too close together. This excerpt from Knitted in the Womb truly convinced me:

The initial dose should be 0.5 – 1 mU/min (equal to 3-6 ml of the dilute oxytocin solution per hour [10 units oxytocin in 1000 ml saline was suggested a few paragraphs earlier “piggy backed” with plain saline]). At 30-60 minute intervals the dose should be gradually increased in increments of 1-2 mU/min…[. Once] the desired frequency of contractions has been reached and labor has progressed to 5-6 cm dilation, the dose may be reduced by similar increments.

Studies of the concentrations of oxytocin in the maternal plasma during oxytocin infusion have shown that infusion rates up to 6 mU/min give the same oxytocin levels that are found in spontaneous labor. At term, higher infusion rates should be given with great care, and rates exceeding 9-10 mU/min are rarely required. Before term, when the sensitivity of the uterus is lower because of lower concentration of oxytocin receptors, a higher infusion rate may be required.

My client was started at a dose of 6 mU/min. That's right...she was started at a dose that 6 to 12 times the reccommended starting point. And this after getting 3 doses of Cytotec. Then the midwife put in orders for the drip rate to be increased by 2 mU every 15 minutes.

I am not yet a medical professional. The only way I can guarantee that this sort of administration isn't applied to me is to avoid the Pitocin all together. The final straw with me regarding Pitocin was that it isn't even FDA approved for elective induction.

Elective induction of labor is defined as the initiation of labor in a pregnant individual who has no medical indications for induction. Since the available data are inadequate to evaluate the benefits-to-risks considerations, Pitocin is not indicated for elective induction of labor.

I can only hope that medical professionals will be able to respect my need to control at least this aspect of my labor. The risks along with lack of research on the long term effects of Pitocin just freak me out to the point where it's the last thing I want to dabble in . Nobody knows if it cause Autism or not. If even the risk of Autism can be avoided by not having this drug administered, I'll avoid it. I'm definitely not a "natural birth" type of person but when it comes to the health of my newborn, I will do everything possible to ensure the least risky situation possible.

For the mothers out there that did this naturally or with Pitocin, do you feel you needed it? Am I overreacting?

26 Weeks Pregnant (minus 1 day): Double Digit Days Left!

One of my morning rituals after getting ready is to check my iGoogle. I have a widget right at the top that counts down my pregnancy days left. Today was the first time I had a double digit! I feel like I'm sort of on my last leg. I'm definitely more than half way done, more like 2/3 of the way through. It's exciting... 99 days left!

This week I've been really drained. I go through weeks of high energy then the complete opposite happens. I couldn't get myself up until 1 PM today. I tried going to to bed around 11:30 when ...TMI warning I had the worst stomach cramps I've had in awhile. Along with my energy swings are my digestive swings.

The constipation I experienced first trimester was probably the single most evil pregnancy symptom I have experienced. I have a feeling it was caused by my prenatal pill and all of the iron that goes with it. I switched over to a different multi-vitamin and I think I've been doing better. I'm definitely not as "regular" as I was before baby E entered the picture but not as bad as before. It's for this reason the experience last night sort of freaked me out.

I've heard on Baby Story and from other mothers that contractions feel somewhat like really bad gas pains or stomach cramps. How is a pregnant hypochondriac supposed to differentiate what is happening then? I know I ate a whole bowl of chili earlier in the evening but I've never had "stomach problem" pains like this before. The entire time in the bathroom I hoped it was what felt it was and not something else. After all, I've had 0 bleeding this entire time and I'm really not ready to deliver a tiny baby.

Well, I won't go into detail, but it definitely wasn't E making me double over in pain. I do wonder though about some of the warnings about laxatives and enemas while pregnant. What if you do just have a couple of incidents of just too greasy food? Does this also start uterine contractions? I hope not. Guess it just goes to show that I should probably lean more toward leafy green vegetables before feeding the craving for chili at 9 PM.

25 Weeks Pregnant and Dealing with Stinks

Firstly, I've made it to 25 weeks. It sounds like a long time! Only 3 weeks until 3rd trimester...yay! I've avoided stretch marks until this point but it definitely seems like my belly is getting tighter.

Baby E is probably more than 1.5 lbs. Her kicks are getting fairly predictable. It's cute how she goes to sleep with me and wakes up around the time I do. I'm really hoping this is her sleep cycle and somehow I'll be spared baby cries all night long. I doubt this will be the case, but it'd be nice :)

Here's an excerpt I thought was really interesting from thebump.com: Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

Have any of you been successful in hearing your baby's heartbeat without any tools? I didn't even think this was possible. B seemed really excited to learn of it so maybe we'll try it tonight.

As for the title of this post, I'm suffering from "everything stinks" syndrome. I don't know if its my cats, the dishwasher, or a combination thereof, but I feel like I need to find a solution to it. I wake up in the morning to no smell. My bedroom is a no access room for pets. Only B and I go in there to sleep and shower. I walk out of my bedroom into the upstairs hallway and am completely disgusted every morning to a disgusting stench of stale cat waste or something. I look in the cat box and nothing is there. I've looked in every corner and can't find anything. Is it possible that the smell has just penetrated the room? I've vacuumed and cleaned but it comes back. B agrees there is some smell but nothing as disgusting as I describe.

We both agree that the smell of our dishwasher lately DEFINITELY IS DISGUSTING. I spent hours running it through suggested cycles of just bleach and vinegar (separately.) This morning I awoke to an even worse smell. The dishwasher isn't screwed in completely and sometimes moves around and is unbalanced so I'm guessing some old nasty water is pooling at the bottom of it...? Should I call the manufacturer? The combination of this with the cat smell really grosses me out.

I find it interesting that the homes I've visited with babies don't smell at all. Perhaps my nesting instinct will come into play and everything will just always be spotless. One can always dream. <3 style="font-style: italic;">

To Moon or Not to Moon?

As 3rd trimester quickly approaches my thoughts turn toward travel. After all, I don't think I'll be doing much flying once baby E is born. Planes harbor so much germ-y grossness I usually catch a cold every time I fly. I'll definitely wait at least 8 months before even considering it for her. My sister suggested that B and I get away before she is born. It's our last chance to get to spend time away from home together. Being pregnant really limits the options we'd usually consider. Cocktails are a favorite past time of ours in recreational settings. (We aren't lushes or anything like that, just appreciate a couple of drinks.)

We live in southern California so the first idea for a "getaway" is Vegas. Great deals, a lot of options, B likes poker, and fairly close. The casinos are horribly smoke infested so I really don't think it's appropriate for somebody of my condition. We live very close to San Diego, but really, there is nothing to do there if you don't already have kids. The final drivable getaway option would be Mexico. I'm definitely not growing into pregnancy like many of those very lucky thin women who only see growth at the stomach. I've sort of evenly expanded...uh, everywhere. My legs are surely larger so wearing a bathing suit sounds horrifying at best. Aside from the beach and food in Mexico, I can't drink and there aren't exactly museums or other sorts of sight seeing to do.

So what else is there? I can fly for the next 4 weeks. Any affordable yet appealing options for the summer? We'd like to avoid northern California. Is a road trip out of the question for a pregnant woman? I know there would be a lot of bathroom breaks but it would cut down on costs. Any help would be great!

24 Weeks Pregnant and Preparing a Budget Nursery

I love decorating, organizing, and planning, so the idea of a baby nursery is so fun for me. At the beginning of my pregnancy, my intuition told me I was going to have a boy. I immediately looked at dozens of unique nursery themes and ultimately decided I would make it a Dr Seuss nursery. Of course, now that we are relatively sure Baby E is a girl, the theme has changed.

I'm a huge fan of all things kittens, cute, pink, and lavender. I was perusing baby stuff at Baby Depot and noticed they had several Hello Kitty items. Target also has Hello Kitty baby stuff so the theme selected itself! (B also loves kittens to death...it's sort of funny.) I don't want to overdo the room. It'd be a little creepy having a Hello Kitty item in every corner.

After inspecting the Baby Depot Hello Kitty crib set I decided against it. My mother plans on giving me a blanket set, my sister has generously given me a bumper and bed skirt, and I already have sheets as well. They're generic girly patterns, but it shouldn't matter much. Accessorizing the room subtly with Hello Kitty plushies, a lamp, and maybe humidifier might be enough.

All is set for the theme, my furniture selections, and some accessories. There is a huge problem though. It's out of our hands and not much can be done about it: green carpet. The walls are neutral the room itself is full of light and windows. It even has its own bathroom. The carpet just ruins all my initial plans of pink walls and white trim. Having pink walls contrasted by green carpet should work hypothetically. The colors are actually textbook complimentary. It just reminds me too much of a watermelon or something though. Might be a cute theme, but not for my baby.

My tentative future solution is to have a big enough rug to detract the "green effect" on the room. I want to brighten the room up by painting the largest wall a very pale yellow. The other walls will stay the neutral beige color they are now. Rugs are pricey. Really pricey. I'm not quite sure what options there are for a large rug under $100. I'm thinking maybe a bamboo rug? Still on the lookout for this one. Here's a list of the items for the nursery.

• Dresser- I love the Hemnes 8 Drawer Dresser from Ikea. Surprisingly the insides of the drawers are not particleboard. The chest itself is sort of a glossy white. The design is a little on the traditional side but the gloss modernizes it. Plus, you can't beat the price. It's also the perfect height so that I can secure a changing mattress on top of it until it isn't needed anymore. I'll have to investigate options to secure it temporarily but save the finish. More on this when we get the dresser :)
  
• Crib- I was hesitant to order it online without seeing it in person but I just couldn't find a crib I loved in a store. Most are so "sled" like. I definitely don't plan on keeping baby E in the same bed until it converts to a full size bed. Ultimately, the conversion kits cost almost as much as a new bed on TOP of the inflated price of the crib itself. My parents were very kind and offered to buy the crib for us so I decided to take the risk. We just picked it up yesterday and are assembling it tonight: The BabyMod Parklane 3-in-1 Convertible Crib from Walmart. I'll definitely post pics once it is assembled but I have unpacked the materials and so far, so good. The parts look well constructed. In the end, if I do not like it I can return it to the Walmart store nearby. Whew.
• Lighting- I love the idea of having a less intense lighting source in the room. My initial request for a Siamese Cat Lamp was dismissed by B for being way too pricey. Isn't it cute though? I may opt for a less cute Ikea version. We'll see though.
• Window dressings- Since the room will be neutral/yellow, I'd like to find soft pink curtains with a fine white pinstripe. Here's an example at Pottery Barn.

That's all the big items I can think of now. Of course, if I'm missing anything please let me know! I'd love any help out there...

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23 Weeks Pregnant and Baby Kicks, Movements, and Reactions

I felt my first flutter pretty early on in the pregnancy. Around week 13 i felt a little twinge but didn't know if it was quickening or uterine spasms. Looking back I'm pretty sure it was fetal movement just because "spasms" don't seem to be occurring much at all anymore. Baby is more responsive every day. She likes it when I lay on my left side but kicks around when I'm on my right side. This morning I did a test on each side to see if was just a coincidence or not. Left: nothing. Right: spastic movement. Repeat.

She seems to be responding better to outside noises as well. B and I were working on something together int he garage and he started hammering loudly. I felt her jump up and kick around startled. So cute. According to "The Science of the Womb" the baby starts developing the startle reflex around 24 weeks. Maybe she's just developing quickly. :)

I remember watching Youtube at the begining of my pregnancy disgusted by alien-like fetal movements seen from outside the belly. Bellies turned and gorged in and out. Some bellies vibrated from kicks while others convoluted to odd football-esque shapes as the baby sommersaulted. I haven't felt any cartwheels or sommersaults yet, but now that I'm more than halfway through the this experience I've changed from disgusted with seeing fetal movement to anxious. Id love to be able to see a foot, hand or any kind of sneak peak of who my little one is.

For now, I'm content with my morning kicks and little surprise jolts. I hope they get stronger as I feel so connected to her whenever I feel them.

Pregnancy Symptoms I Didn't Expect

I just wanted to take a second to reflect on some symptoms I've been experiencing that I would have never expected. First trimester I had the usual: constipation, nausea, food aversions, and insane mood swings. This trimester is completely different.

The weirdest of all the symptoms lately is my incessant sneezing. Sometimes I sneeze 2 or 3 times in a row. I'm not usually a big 'sneezer' so it sort of takes me by surprise. I've also noticed sharp back pain (never had any constant achiness before.) It gets so bad I need to take tylenol 2 or 3 times a week. I really hope it goes away after the baby is born. I've also been sort of short of breath. I'm not sure if my chest engorgement is causing it or if I just need more exercise? Supposedly I'm in normal weight gain. At 23 weeks I'm up about 10 lbs from my normal weight.

I noticed having a little trouble getting in and out of the car today. My stomach and baby E are going through a growth spurt! I have an SUV so it's a bit of a step up. Hopefully Cash for Clunkers gets more funding so we can get a more baby friendly vehicle. :)