Molly Bess Anderson

Introducing Molly Bess Anderson

7.5 lbs 19.5 in 

Born August 20th, 2013 at 12:20 pm

*Disclaimer: I wrote this really fast so please excuse any mistakes!

I apologize for taking so long to get to Molly's birth. It literally happened so fast! Here is the last belly picture I took of myself at 38 weeks. I got so big so fast and I was getting worried she put on a few lbs herself!

On Monday August 19th I had my 39 week appointment. I was checked by the doctor and my cervix was still CLOSED and Molly had no intentions of 'dropping.' I suppose she was comfortable where she was, but I on the other hand was not and I was getting antsy. I was worried about her being over a week late and my Mom not being here for the birth. Dr. Gluck, on the other hand, was not worried about that, but making sure she was okay. So after he checked me I immediately had to have an ultrasound to she how big she was and the ultrasound said 8.3 lbs! I still had a week to go and she would do nothing, but gain. I then had to do a non stress test. I hadn't had to do that my whole pregnancy so I was freaking out a bit and getting worried, but the NST went well. Dr. Gluck was worried Molly would get bigger and because my hips and pelvis are so small she might have trouble getting out. So, he said he would do a c section tomorrow (Tuesday 8/20), but wanted me to talk to Tyler first. I said my worry was getting checked the following Monday and little to no progress being induced and ending up in a c section anyway. So, our plan was wait until Monday and probably schedule a c section for Tuesday the 27th unless I changed my mind about going ahead with it. I talked it over with Tyler and our Mom's. Tyler and I decided we should go ahead with the c section especially since when I was getting out of the hospital our Mom's would be in town to help with the hard part. So, I called the doctors office and had it scheduled for 12pm. I couldn't eat past midnight so, I was going to be waiting a long time to eat again! Anyway, Tyler and I cleaned, got the house ready, and set up our dog sitter for Riley. I thought I would get no sleep that Monday night, but I had no trouble falling asleep. I was definitely ready. Here I am waiting for everything to start.....

I have never had any sort of surgery before nor have I ever had to spend any time in the hospital except for maybe a ER visit every now and again {probably all soccer related injuries}. I was pretty nervous! I was even more freaked out once I was on the operating table, with the spinal, and I felt stuck! I really wanted to tell them quit and I would just wait until she came on her own. But, I am sure that would be a no go! They started at 12:14, Molly was out crying at 12:20, and I was stitched up by 12:37 and rolled into recovery. Where I was sore, couldn't feel my legs, and became super nauseous from the pain medication! But, it was all worth it for this moment....

The nights in the hospital were a learning experience, but we had nurses checking on me and Molly every few hours. We got very little sleep. The first week home is a different story and for another blog post. Hopefully I can write that today or tomorrow. We are a little busy over here :) But for now, I will leave you pictures of our precious little miracle who we are absolutely in love with. We can't imagine life without her now!

The best Daddy ever! He has helped out more than I could have ever asked and I have never been more in love with him than I am now that I see him with our daughter! 

38 weeks 3 days and no progress

Ugh. After reading many pregnant blogs of friends I started to understand what happens when you get full term and 'get checked.' Trust me, when you're pregnant google can be your best friend or worst enemy.

Sunday night before my 38 week appointment I started to feel {what I thought} were contractions. They were starting in the back and wrapping around to my front. I called both my Mom and Tyler called his Mom and they told us to start timing them. So, we did and they weren't far apart, but they didn't last long and weren't getting worse. It lasted maybe about 30 minutes and for the rest of the night I just had a sore back. I thought to myself and even called my Mom and said 'I will call you after my doctors appointment unless something happens tonight.' Well, nothing happened and in fact, I slept like a baby {no pun intended}.

At my doctors appointment I anxiously awaited to 'get checked' strange, I know. But, I thought surely I am dilated some with some of the irregular yet not painful {more annoying} contractions. My 3 minute appointment and all I found out was her head is still pretty high and your cervix is closed. What!? NO.WAY. Like closed, like just shut..nothing...nada. Dr. Gluck said 'yes.' Disappointed, I called Tyler and my Mom. My only hope is that you can dilate within hours so hopefully my 39 week check up will bring better news. I also start to feel grateful because I know a few friends who have had a cervical cerclage {where they close your cervix to prevent early labor} and I have to feel thankful that I never had to take that route. Also, I feel thankful that I am not having to be induced early or schedule a c-section for any reason other than I am overdue.

I am not sure if I would feel different if I was living in Columbia where all our friends and family are and just a phone call and a few miles away from the hospital. Problem is, we aren't and our Mom's are coming into town on August 22nd. My Mom is only staying a week {Tyler's Mom is staying two so no worry she will be there for the birth} but, my Mom plans on coming back in October so the week she is here... I need to have a baby!! I am the only child and this is her first grandchild! I may be just as anxious in Columbia and ready to get Molly out, but I am also enjoying sleeping in and taking naps. I may be uncomfortable, but I do like sleep {for now}. Oh well... Molly will come when she is good and ready. I do want her to cook as long as she needs too. If not, she will be evicted. I do hope she can make an appearance before the Gamecock football game or after. :)

Part of me says... hopefully, the next post will be a labor story, or will have better news, or I will do nothing but complain again!

How far along? 38 weeks 3 days

Size of Baby A? a watermelon {19 to 22 in., 7lbs}

Maternity Clothes? yoga pants and maternity tops have become my staples. and some t shirts i own. there isn't really anywhere in el paso i feel the need to put on anything fancy so a lot of my maternity clothes are just sitting in my closet. 

Weight Gain? 24 lbs at the doctor, but i had eaten breakfast :(

Gender? all PINK over here

Sleep?  i get like 5 hours of really really good sleep other than that i toss and turn.

Movement? all the time. 

Cravings? hungry all the time! 

What I miss? still a glass of chard. iced coffee.   

Symptoms? ugh so many. back aches, irregular contractions, congestion, lack of sleep

Best moment of the week? hearing her heartbeat is always the best :) 

37 weeks

Hello All!

I am officially full term as of Saturday. Not much has been going on since I last blogged at 34 weeks, but I figure a quick update couldn't hurt!

Tyler was in the field for two weeks while I was 35 and 36 weeks along. I don't really like to post anywhere when Tyler leaves and I am home alone. I wasn't too excited about Tyler leaving while I was so far along in case something were to happen, but there was nothing we could do about the situation. We were able to keep in touch so, it wasn't huge deal. Luckily, I was fine and no emergencies occurred! He got back last Monday and thank goodness! I was getting bored and having trouble sleeping.

Which brings me to pregnancy insomnia! It only happened a few times but those two times I was up literally ALL NIGHT. Two nights in a row! I thought I would have no problem falling asleep the second night because I hadn't got any sleep the night before... well, I was wrong. I didn't really want to take a tylenol pm, benedryl, or unisom, all of which are okay'ed by my doctor (he even said I could take an ambien if I wanted- but I was definitely NOT doing that), but I was worried her movement would slow down and I would freak out. That would keep me up all night anyway so, it wasn't really worth it. One thing I have found that helps is a glass of warm milk right before I go to sleep. I have read that it would help, but I am not really sure if there really is something in warm milk that helps you sleep or it's all in my head either way, it's helped.

Other than not being able to fall asleep I get up a lot during the night either to use the restroom or because I can't breathe because my nose is so stuffy! I have to get up at least once to use some nose spray and blow my nose. I also get tired during the day so Riley and I usually lay down to take a nap for about an hour and a half. I have had no 'nesting' instinct and I am actually just tired all the time so my plan is just to sleep, take a walk, eat, sleep, eat, and repeat. Kind of take advantage of it while I can. Everything for the nursery is done so, I am not sure if my nesting is not kicking in because it's already done and ready for her?

I went to the doctor last Monday and have started my weekly appointments. Last week my doctor wanted me to start kick counts. I think they misunderstood me when I said I feel her, but her movements are just a lot slower because I think she is running out of room. I don't really like the idea of kick counts for someone like myself because I am such a worrier. So, if I feel her a lot throughout the day I do not count. Dr. Gluck likes the way my sugars look and isn't worried. And besides the kick counts everything looks great! Yesterday I saw the PA because Dr. Gluck was on vacation. We talked a little bit about contractions and when to call, etc. And next Monday at my 38 week appointment, I will start being 'checked' to see what kind of progress I am making. I am little nervous about it because I am somewhat of a pessimist and I am just sure that I will have made NO progress. {good news is I am having some irregular contractions. they don't bring me to my knees, but they are still annoying} I am hoping all the walking I've been doing for the past 20 or so weeks have paid off. I am also continuing to walk. Part of me wants her to come on and meet her, but then part me is getting anxiety about labor and then caring for another life and think she can stay in for as long as she wants! Anyway, soon I will start trying all the tricks I've been hearing about to bring on labor! Eggplant, pineapple, walking, Chinese food, and etc. I know both my Mom and Tyler's mom hope she comes right on time because they will be flying in on the 22nd and I know Tyler wants her to come on time so he will be able to watch the Gamecocks first football game on the 29th. I don't think he wants to watch it from a hospital room... I don't think you're aloud to have a few cold ones in there!

Anyway, I thought this would quick... sorry!

How far along? 37 weeks 3 days

Size of Baby A? a watermelon {19 to 22 in., 6.5lbs}

Maternity Clothes? yoga pants and maternity tops have become my staples. and some t shirts i own. there isn't really anywhere in el paso i feel the need to put on anything fancy so a lot of my maternity clothes are just sitting in my closet. 

Weight Gain? about 20-21 lbs. i'll take it

Gender? all PINK over here

Sleep? ha. i don't know if i'll sleep again for another 18 years ;) 

Movement? all the time. she has officially started kicking my ribs... it hurts, but i welcome it. 

Cravings? hungry all the time! anything and everything really:) i was craving  hamburgers last week, which is weird for me. 

What I miss? still a glass of chard. iced coffee.   

Symptoms? ugh so many. back aches, irregular contractions, congestion, lack of sleep

Best moment of the week? hearing her heartbeat is always the best :)