Category Archives: pregnancy

our january surprise

1/28/2012baby k, motherhood, pregnancyali

At 4:54pm on January 26, 2012 our boy, Jack Lawrence, arrived almost three weeks early weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces and measuring 18 inches long…

He is adorable, smart, brave and patient and keeps getting compliments on his beautiful head. Here is our detailed birth story…

Jack arrived by caesarean birth due to my ever-increasing high blood pressure. On Thursday morning, I went for a normal, weekly check-up, but my blood pressure had gotten progressively higher over 3 appointments, and on that morning was reading uncomfortably high. I’ll never forget how quiet and thoughtful my doctor got as he decided how to proceed…

Since I was still working (with just two days left before an intended 2-week nesting break), he said, “Ok, why don’t we make yesterday your last day; we’ll have you stop working, rest, and you’ll come back and see me again tomorrow afternoon. The great news is that you’re 37 weeks and so baby is full term, but I’d like to see if we can get a few more days before we consider induction”. I remember replying very calmly, “Ok”, but inside I was thinking, “WHAT!?”. Even though I was otherwise asymptomatic for Pre-eclampsia or gestational hypertension, my doctor decided to send me to labor and delivery right then for an ultrasound and a non-stress test for baby and ongoing blood pressure monitoring for me. My doctor, R and I all expected the hospital visit to be a precaution, but after some monitoring showed my blood pressure was increasing despite medication to lower it, they finally told me, “You’re not leaving here today without delivering your baby”.

Those words rang out so loud, it was stunning and unbelievable. Unfortunately, at 37+3 weeks pregnant, I wasn’t dialated at all, so inducing labor would have been a major, uphill battle paired with my rising blood pressure. My nurse even said to me, “usually I am all for supporting a woman in her choice to labor naturally and birth vaginally, but honey, even with an epidural, pain causes spikes in blood pressure and you can’t afford to have those right now.”

Suddenly, all the labor preparation I had been doing with R was unnecessary and I was having surgery. Thus the caesarean I had been really hoping to avoid. I cried and R held my hand and told me I was brave.

Once it had been decided to move forward with the caesarean delivery I went through every emotion: laughter (at the fact that I had no hospital bag and I arrived at the hospital in a “cute outfit”), tears (as I accepted the method with which I would give birth), anger (at the idea of the method with which I would give birth), disappointment, elation, curiosity, fear, surprise, shock, denial, exhaustion, worry, excitement, etc, etc, etc. And my husband, bless him, was so present with me for all of it.

While this is not an attractive photo of me, it begs to be included because it shows that I was trying my hardest to wrap some things up at work with my phone while being prepped for surgery. I think you can see every emotion mentioned above in this photo…

Once the time came to get things started, R changed into his awesome surgery outfit, which I specifically requested him to capture a photo of, and he did…

My nurse, Jenny, was amazing and talked me through every step of the prep process so that I could stay on top of what to expect. Having never had any surgery before, I admit I was slightly terrified. Without my magically supportive husband, it all might have been too much. However, despite being petrified, when they allowed R to join me in the OR and he wanted to take my picture, I tried to keep my sense of humor…

My experience in the surgery was painless, reminding me that my imagination is powerful and the whole caesarean birth went by more quickly than I expected. Not too long after my lower body went numb, I heard a loud cry at which time, R reached his camera up and over the blue curtain and captured this amazing photo…
(don’t worry, not too graphic)

Then, the assisting doctor came around the blue curtain and showed us our boy for the first time. This was my first view of Jack Lawrence, which I will never forget…

R went with Jack to get cleaned up and to help cut the cord. He cried intensely with his strong little lungs and I listened with joy over his being healthy…

Finally, after he was swaddled up tight, R brought Jack over and we had some divine first moments of family…

This photo might just be my favorite of all time!

And R, or somebody, did an amazing job of capturing my first kisses with Jack

After surgery, I was wheeled into the recovery room to wait for feeling to return to my lower body and pretty soon, here came my husband and my son. Here I am getting to hold my boy for the first time. It was intense love at first touch…

and to my surprise, my sweet boy arrives early

I love you, RJ, my husband, and Jack-boy, my son. You are my everything.
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on pregnancy: 36/37 weeks

1/24/2012baby k, pregnancyali

Here I am on January 16th, at 36 weeks pregnant…

But now I am 37 weeks pregnant and I am feeling relatively well! I have developed some carpal tunnel in my hands, which I do not appreciate. It makes gripping things rather uncomfortable. And then, of course, the normal tiredness of late pregnancy. Oh, and spacey, very uncharacteristically head-in-the-clouds spacey.

I’m still loving and craving kale any way I can get it: salad, sauteed, crispy…yum. And I’m back to having a hankering for chocolate chip cookies. And milk.

I only have 3 work-days left before my maternity leave (though I’ve already been asked to “come in, just for, like, an hour next week to help with…” – yes, seriously). I still have several tasks to complete before Friday, but things are wrapping up well so I can leave without worry or stress. Hip hip hooray.

Baby JLK is still squirming and we got to see him again in our final ultrasound last Friday. We’ll learn more about his weight estimates at my appointment this week. The best thing was during our ultrasound when I asked a question that prompted the ultrasound tech to show us lil bub’s face from the front. Suddenly, this adorable, squished, little face appeared on the screen. My lord, we saw his tiny, perfect lips, sweet nose and the roundest cheeks – it was amazing!

Our baby preparedness is as follows:
~ I washed some important items and chose Baby K’s “coming home” outfit.
~ The cradle is ready to go with a clean sheet and baby monitor nearby.

~ We installed the car seat and will be getting it inspected this week.
~ We have yet to pack a hospital bag. (I don’t think this little bub is in a rush to exit)
~ We took two baby-prep classes last week: Intro to Breastfeeding & Childbirth Prep

Both classes were great, but the childbirth class was so valuable. R is going to make an amazing and supportive labor partner. He really is the best and I’m so grateful to have him. We left the class excited for the unpredictable nature of what’s to come and ready for the adventure!

In honor of my excitement about baby boy’s arrival, I had my toes painted blue.
This is my 37 week photo…

baby blue toes in anticipation of baby boy's arrival

Under 20 days to due-date, February 12th! What is your arrival date prediction?
~R thinks February 14th
~I think February 16th
~My Mom (Gma B) thinks February 1st
~My Dad (Gpa B) thinks February 14th
~LBM thinks February 18th
~Aunt Pam thinks February 7th
~KO-W thinks February 13th
~Erica thinks February 7th
~Aunt Susan thinks March 6th
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pregnancy: 35 weeks

1/13/2012pregnancyali

At 35 weeks I reached a point where when I come home from work I put on my “barefoot and pregnant” outfit…

PAJAMAS!

Baby Jack continues to grow and move around in utero like a champ. What I believe to be his foot pops out on the right side quite often or he likes to “tickle” me under the right ribs with his toes from time to time.

Depending on the day and time I’ve gained between 27-30 pounds and I’ve begun to want sweets more often. I’m usually a salt craver, but now it’s sugar. Or kale. Don’t ask me how those two things go together.

I had a SoCal baby shower, which was fun! I didn’t take enough photos, but was so grateful to everyone who came and those who were clearly there in spirit. What was cool is I had friends from every stage of my life (high school, college, grad school, s factor and la life). Thank you!

Here are a few photos.

Out of focus, but this is a most of the group, missing R’s mom and aunts who managed to avoid being photographed. At least my Mom is in there…

And here is the cute and very yummy ice cream cake…

And thank you to my WU gals for your very generous gift…

One of the coolest things was getting to see Emily, who brought her new baby-boy, who is also named Jack!! Hooray for two Jacks who can have playdates. He is so cute and sweet…

Later in the weekend, R helped unpack baby gear boxes and assembled several important items, like our stroller frame…

After all the unpacking, our house has been “babied”…

From the looks of it, I think we might be having a baby pretty soon. What do you think?
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pregnancy: 34 weeks

1/3/2012baby k, pregnancyali

I am now 34 weeks – the time is going so quickly! Here’s a belly shot comparison between 24 weeks and 34 weeks. What a difference 10 weeks makes…

Only about 6 weeks until I get to meet my sweet boy. Hooray!
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pregnancy: 31 weeks

12/14/2011journal, pregnancyali

It’s been some time since I posted a real pregnancy update and I have to admit it’s because I haven’t really been up to having my photo taken very much because I haven’t been feeling very cute, to be honest. Since I work in the field of women’s body image empowerment, you’d think I’d be able to take care of my own insecurities, but alas, I haven’t found it to be easy. The physical challenges of pregnancy have not come as a surprise, however, being pregnant has been more challenging for me emotionally than I ever expected…

BUT, in the interest of honest sharing with those of you close enough to me to know about and read this blog, here it is, a belly photo at 31 weeks, with no make-up and wearing my glasses. I’m feeling very – tight in the belly – and I have begun the pregnant woman waddle, which makes me laugh. I’ve gained about 20 lbs. Baby K is still squirming a lot and his dancing has started to feel stronger as he grows. His little jabs often startle me and give me pause, which is fun. My stuffy sinuses continue to be stuffy and make for a persistent and super-attractive red spot under my nose from the frequent blowing. It’s hott.

Sleeping can be a production, with a regular pillow between my legs to ease hip soreness and my pregnancy wedge pillow supporting my belly. I was successful at making it through a couple of very anxiety-filled weeks a little while ago where I questioned all my choices about doctor, hospital, doula – everything. I finally came to understand that I was simply just scared and nervous about labor, delivery and the change of becoming a mother. There is a lot to process. I have since made peace with my decisions and begun to stare my fear of the unknown in the face and learn to accept what is out of my control. So, in essence, parenting lesson #1, right? {smile}

I have continued to teach my classes (with modifications, of course) and will be a couple of days away from 32 weeks when I teach my last class this Thursday. I am sad to step away from the classroom since the 6 hours I spend teaching each week might just be my favorite, even when I’m exhausted. But, my body is telling me it’s time to stop and so I’ll enjoy the free time to go to some more peaceful prenatal yoga.

I am very much looking forward to my maternity leave as I think much of my distraction and anxiety lately has been coming from the office side of my job, where it feels like there is some denial about my impending absence. Instead of transitioning things off of my plate, it seems I keep getting new (and big) things added to my plate. I am doing my best to remain positive and be a team player, but it doesn’t make sense to me and exhausts me fully. Every day around 4pm my pregnancy brain kicks in. Ha ha. My real desire is to check out completely, but that wouldn’t be very professional of me, I know. My last day at work is at the end of January, about 2 weeks before my due date. Yay! I’m excited to have some personal time for nesting and relaxation.

In my second trimester I wanted to eat all the time. Baby K still liked beef and milk and developed a strong love of chocolate chip cookies. Now, in my third trimester, I don’t feel like eating and nothing sounds good, but don’t worry, I am indeed eating. My biggest craving these days, if I have one, is for fresh greens.

My favorite thing is still to feel my sweet baby-boy moving all the time. I love him more than words can say and I can’t wait for him to be in my arms. I spend time daydreaming about what and who he will look like and talk to him about everything. I think he likes it when I rub my belly briskly in a circle or gently pat him through the womb. He already brings me joy and fills me with love; I can’t imagine what it will feel like when he arrives in the flesh.

Finally, I leave you with my favorite image – I wish I had it on a maternity t-shirt…

🙂

60 days to go!
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Gemini Alley

The Family K