Eight and a half months into my pregnancy, during my weekly OBGYN appointment, the nurse abruptly excused herself from the exam room. A few moments later she came back in with the doctor. The doctor immediately placed her stethoscope on my stomach and a few minutes later told me that they need to admit me to the hospital because they could not hear any amniotic fluid around the baby.
The doctor's office was on the top floor of the hospital. So, before I was calling my sister to bring my over night bag that I had pre packed, signing admitting papers, disrobed, hooked up to an IV, and they had induced my labor. All in the matter of two hours.
With the rush of my morning, and the unknown about giving birth for the first time, I had a difficult time relaxing. To help me relax they decided to give me an epidural. Thank God for the person who invented it!
From 1:00pm until 8:00am the next morning my labor was pretty uneventful. Then at 8:15 the next morning the baby's heart monitor begin to alarm at the same time my blood pressure began to rise and I began running a fever as the baby heart rate slowed down. The next thing I knew I was on a gurney being rushed to the OR for an emergency C-section. At exactly 8:39am the doctor was holding up a five pound baby boy for me to see for the first time.
Friday, October 28, 2016
Friday, October 7, 2016
Prayers of Motherhood: Hugging the Pocerlain Throne
I have always had a love affair with food. Especially if it falls in the Junk category. Also, fast food and heavily processed food was easy to prepare and convenient. To sit down after a long day work and enjoy a good meal was a wonderful end to any day. So, when morning sickness hit me like a brick to say that it through me for a loop would be an understatement.
The first change in my diet was craving foods that would have caused me to gag in the past. One of my mom's favorite deserts was a sponge cake cup filled with cottage cheese topped with strawberries. My least favorite ingredient on this desert is cottage cheese. Now I was craving the same food.
But the one change that really affected me was when the smell of poultry and other meats begin to cause me to gag or run into the bathroom to hug the porcelain throne. Being unable to tolerate the smell of food and some taste of food I became worried that me or my child was not getting the same nutrition I prayed.
"Lord, is this a joke. You know how much I enjoy eating a good meal but now I enjoy it for a few minutes before I have to go and hug the porcelain throne. Also, I do not understand why it is called morning sickness because I am sick at any time of the day. Because of this I am beginning to worry about both my and my baby's health and nutrition. You know how much nourishment we need please help me to be able to keep down enough food down for both me and the baby. I pray this in Jesus name Amen.
As my pregnancy progressed I learned to adjust my diet to include food that did not upset my stomach. I even came to began to enjoy other foods such as cottage cheese.
The first change in my diet was craving foods that would have caused me to gag in the past. One of my mom's favorite deserts was a sponge cake cup filled with cottage cheese topped with strawberries. My least favorite ingredient on this desert is cottage cheese. Now I was craving the same food.
But the one change that really affected me was when the smell of poultry and other meats begin to cause me to gag or run into the bathroom to hug the porcelain throne. Being unable to tolerate the smell of food and some taste of food I became worried that me or my child was not getting the same nutrition I prayed.
"Lord, is this a joke. You know how much I enjoy eating a good meal but now I enjoy it for a few minutes before I have to go and hug the porcelain throne. Also, I do not understand why it is called morning sickness because I am sick at any time of the day. Because of this I am beginning to worry about both my and my baby's health and nutrition. You know how much nourishment we need please help me to be able to keep down enough food down for both me and the baby. I pray this in Jesus name Amen.
As my pregnancy progressed I learned to adjust my diet to include food that did not upset my stomach. I even came to began to enjoy other foods such as cottage cheese.
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Prayers of Motherhood: Back Pain and Slight Fever
I sat in my Nurse Practitioner's office complaining of lower back pain and a slight fever. She immediately ordered blood and urine test. A few moments later she reentered the exam room and asked me an odd question: "Are you late?" Misunderstanding the question I immediately answered: "No, I have the day off from work."
She lets out a little laugh and said: "No, I am talking about your period."
I told her that I was not sure because it wasn't time for it. So she told me that if it was late to consider taking a pregnancy test and come to see her. I said okay and left her office.
More than four weeks passed before I remembered my Nurse Practitioners instructions while I was in the drug store waiting for another prescription to be filled. Becoming tired sitting on the fold out chairs I took a walk down the feminine products aisle and began comparing prices on pregnancy tests.
The next morning I stood in the bathroom holding a pregnancy test stick with a bright red plus sign showing in the window.
Still in a state of shock I said a four word prayer: "Lord, I am pregnant!"
The following week my Nurse Practitioner confirmed the results. I was about to become a mother at the age of thirty nine.
Feeling stressed out about the change that was about to occur in my life, at some point, I prayed.
"Lord, I am about to be a mother. becoming responsible for someone else's life when I have been only responsible for mine. I am so afraid and confused. You know what I need Lord. Please help and guide me according to your will. In Jesus name I pray, Amen."
With my hormones raging the stress and apprehension did not ease up over night. However, day by day I was able to handle whatever surprises the first trimester threw at me. Or so I thought.
She lets out a little laugh and said: "No, I am talking about your period."
I told her that I was not sure because it wasn't time for it. So she told me that if it was late to consider taking a pregnancy test and come to see her. I said okay and left her office.
More than four weeks passed before I remembered my Nurse Practitioners instructions while I was in the drug store waiting for another prescription to be filled. Becoming tired sitting on the fold out chairs I took a walk down the feminine products aisle and began comparing prices on pregnancy tests.
The next morning I stood in the bathroom holding a pregnancy test stick with a bright red plus sign showing in the window.
Still in a state of shock I said a four word prayer: "Lord, I am pregnant!"
The following week my Nurse Practitioner confirmed the results. I was about to become a mother at the age of thirty nine.
Feeling stressed out about the change that was about to occur in my life, at some point, I prayed.
"Lord, I am about to be a mother. becoming responsible for someone else's life when I have been only responsible for mine. I am so afraid and confused. You know what I need Lord. Please help and guide me according to your will. In Jesus name I pray, Amen."
With my hormones raging the stress and apprehension did not ease up over night. However, day by day I was able to handle whatever surprises the first trimester threw at me. Or so I thought.
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