Thinking about and processing Tyler's NICU journey has been extremely emotional for me and I'm just not ready to go there and make it all public yet. I need some time to heal and wrap my around everything we have been through in such a short time
Instead, I want to focus on how wonderful Tyler is doing and his progress.
I will eventually post about his NICU journey and post pictures so keep stopping back to see.
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Thursday, June 7, 2018
He's Here!!!!
May 29, 2018
Our bundle of joy entered the world at 9:15am on Tuesday May 29, 2018!
He weighed 3lbs 13oz and was 17.5 inches long.
A Nurse Practitioner from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was in the OR and immediately took care of our miracle baby. He was substantially smaller than we thought he would be based on his most recent ultrasound measurements and weight estimates.
I was able to see him for a few minutes before Steve left with the Nurse Practitioner and the baby to head to the NICU for an assessment.
I stayed in the OR and got sewed up. Then I was taken back to my labor and delivery room for recovery. I still had to stay on the magnesium drip for another 24 hours after delivery...which meant that the magnesium would be stopped on Wednesday at 9:15am. I could not leave my bed or my room until the magnesium was stopped...which meant that I didn't get to see my baby again for at least 24 more hours because I was stuck in my room and he was in the NICU.
I can't even begin to tell you how it feels for a new mother not to get to see or hold her baby for an entire day after giving birth. I pray none of you never have to know what that feels like. I realize that this was done for both my health and safely and for the baby's health and safety, but that doesn't mean that it was any easier.
On the positive side, my baby was tiny but he was completely healthy! He had no respiratory problems, and he was perfectly developed and an target. He just needed to put on weight and grow! He is an absolute miracle!
He's Here!!!!!
It took us a few days to name him, but I won't make you all wait any longer.
Introducing:
Tyler Alexander Kuhaneck
Introducing:
Tyler Alexander Kuhaneck
It's Go Time!
Monday May 28, 2018
My induction began Monday morning at 10:15AM. Cervidil was placed for 12 hours to try to start the beginning stages of labor by softening the cervix. Because pre-eclampsia can get worse during labor and delivery, they had to put me back on the magnesium sulfate drip for the duration of induction, labor, delivery, and 24 hours after. I already knew what to expect this time, which was both a blessing and a curse.
Sometimes ignorance is bliss.
After the 12 hours of Cervidil the doctor checked me, and there was no change in my cervix. This is not uncommon, especially when inducing at 34 weeks when the body knows its not time to have the baby yet.
I don't remember much of that day because the magnesium had me feeling like garbage andI was in and out of sleep and a weird consciousness. I just remember time going really slow, being hot and sweaty and very thirsty. I remember having a really hard time getting comfortable because I was hooked up to an IV in one arm, an automatic blood pressure cuff that went off every 10 minutes on the other arm, a urinary catheter, and baby monitors on my stomach. Every time I would move, they would have to readjust the baby monitors. I remember wondering how I was supposed to keep this up when it had already been over 12 hours stuck in bed and no signs of labor had even started yet.
Pitocin was started at 11:30pm. It was slowly increased and I felt some minor contractions here and there, but nothing regular and nothing unbearable. After a couple of hours (I think it was a couple of hours, I really have no concept of time because my brain was barely working due to the magnesium) the baby's heart rate kept having decelerations when I would have contractions. This can be common if the contractions come on too fast and strong from the pitocin. They stopped the pitocin for a little while, then started it back up again to see how the baby handled the contractions. Once again, his heart rate started decelerating with contractions. They went back and forth a few times with stopping and starting the pitocin to see how the baby responded. The same things kept happening. I think around 4am the doctor checked my cervix to see if I was making any progress. The cervix had not dilated at all.
At this point, a decision had to be made: Do we continue down this same path with the pitocin and trying to induce labor over the next few hours and see if the baby will tolerate it, or do we decide that enough is enough and do a c-section and make sure that he arrives safely now.
My OB doctors could not guarantee that if I needed to have an emergency c-section later that day that they would be able to get there in time to be the ones to do the delivery. I decided that I wanted my doctors that I knew and was comfortable with to do the c-section if that was the direction we were heading anyway, and I was ready to get it over with and to get my baby into the world as safe as possible. The decision was made at 7:45AM to go forward with the c-section. I was taken into the Operating Room at 8:45AM.
It's go time!
My induction began Monday morning at 10:15AM. Cervidil was placed for 12 hours to try to start the beginning stages of labor by softening the cervix. Because pre-eclampsia can get worse during labor and delivery, they had to put me back on the magnesium sulfate drip for the duration of induction, labor, delivery, and 24 hours after. I already knew what to expect this time, which was both a blessing and a curse.
Sometimes ignorance is bliss.
After the 12 hours of Cervidil the doctor checked me, and there was no change in my cervix. This is not uncommon, especially when inducing at 34 weeks when the body knows its not time to have the baby yet.
I don't remember much of that day because the magnesium had me feeling like garbage andI was in and out of sleep and a weird consciousness. I just remember time going really slow, being hot and sweaty and very thirsty. I remember having a really hard time getting comfortable because I was hooked up to an IV in one arm, an automatic blood pressure cuff that went off every 10 minutes on the other arm, a urinary catheter, and baby monitors on my stomach. Every time I would move, they would have to readjust the baby monitors. I remember wondering how I was supposed to keep this up when it had already been over 12 hours stuck in bed and no signs of labor had even started yet.
Pitocin was started at 11:30pm. It was slowly increased and I felt some minor contractions here and there, but nothing regular and nothing unbearable. After a couple of hours (I think it was a couple of hours, I really have no concept of time because my brain was barely working due to the magnesium) the baby's heart rate kept having decelerations when I would have contractions. This can be common if the contractions come on too fast and strong from the pitocin. They stopped the pitocin for a little while, then started it back up again to see how the baby handled the contractions. Once again, his heart rate started decelerating with contractions. They went back and forth a few times with stopping and starting the pitocin to see how the baby responded. The same things kept happening. I think around 4am the doctor checked my cervix to see if I was making any progress. The cervix had not dilated at all.
At this point, a decision had to be made: Do we continue down this same path with the pitocin and trying to induce labor over the next few hours and see if the baby will tolerate it, or do we decide that enough is enough and do a c-section and make sure that he arrives safely now.
My OB doctors could not guarantee that if I needed to have an emergency c-section later that day that they would be able to get there in time to be the ones to do the delivery. I decided that I wanted my doctors that I knew and was comfortable with to do the c-section if that was the direction we were heading anyway, and I was ready to get it over with and to get my baby into the world as safe as possible. The decision was made at 7:45AM to go forward with the c-section. I was taken into the Operating Room at 8:45AM.
It's go time!
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
It Was All Going So Well ...Part 3
I began my hospital confinement (hospital bedrest) the afternoon of Wednesday May 23.
I was put on blood pressure medication and had my blood pressure monitored every hour, (yes, even through the night) blood work every other day, and a Non Stress Test to check on the baby twice a day. I was ordered to keep my stress level low and rest as much as possible.
I have no idea how they expected me to rest when someone was coming in the room to take my blood pressure every hour, then coming in for medications, then the residents coming in at 4am to do rounds. After they saw that my blood pressure was stable for two days, they changed the blood pressure checks to every 4 hours.
I did pretty well with staying calm most of the time, but all I could think about was being home and all of the things I needed to get done to get ready for the baby. I knew I had to lean on my support system and surrender to this process because there was no fighting it. I was stuck in the hospital until it was time to bring my baby into the world, and it was nothing that I expected to happen, but I had to make the best of it.
My brother and sister in-law went to my house and helped clean it up and organize to get things ready for the baby's arrival. They organized the rest of the nursery and set up baby gear for us around the house. What did I do to deserve such amazing love and support? I am so very grateful that they did these things for us, and it gave me peace of mind while I was stuck in the hospital unable to do any of these things.
I had lots of visitors to help pass the time and bring me and Cubby yummy food. I missed all of the nice warm summer weather and all of the fun Memorial Day picnics. However, I made friends with my nurses and they were all so wonderful to me. Nothing like nurses sneaking you popsicles in the wee hours of the night because you're awake anyway so may as well enjoy a delicious frozen snack.
My blood pressure was stable with the help of the medication they put me on. My labs that were taken every other day were staying normal....Until the morning of Monday May 26th.
I was up all night with what I thought was a bad stomach ache. I thought that my dinner just didn't sit right, but even with taking Tums and Gas-X, the stomach ache persisted.
I knew something was up when my blood pressure was higher that morning than it had been, and my doctor came in early that morning for rounds.
My blood work showed that my liver enzymes and kidney function were no longer in the normal range, and the "stomach ache" I had was actually swelling and inflammation of my liver.
My doctor explained that it was no longer safe for me to keep the baby inside because the pre-eclampsia was damaging my organs and the sooner the baby the was delivered, the sooner the pre-eclampsia would be cured and the symptoms would stop.
The decision was made to start labor induction that morning.
I have no idea how they expected me to rest when someone was coming in the room to take my blood pressure every hour, then coming in for medications, then the residents coming in at 4am to do rounds. After they saw that my blood pressure was stable for two days, they changed the blood pressure checks to every 4 hours.
I did pretty well with staying calm most of the time, but all I could think about was being home and all of the things I needed to get done to get ready for the baby. I knew I had to lean on my support system and surrender to this process because there was no fighting it. I was stuck in the hospital until it was time to bring my baby into the world, and it was nothing that I expected to happen, but I had to make the best of it.
My brother and sister in-law went to my house and helped clean it up and organize to get things ready for the baby's arrival. They organized the rest of the nursery and set up baby gear for us around the house. What did I do to deserve such amazing love and support? I am so very grateful that they did these things for us, and it gave me peace of mind while I was stuck in the hospital unable to do any of these things.
I had lots of visitors to help pass the time and bring me and Cubby yummy food. I missed all of the nice warm summer weather and all of the fun Memorial Day picnics. However, I made friends with my nurses and they were all so wonderful to me. Nothing like nurses sneaking you popsicles in the wee hours of the night because you're awake anyway so may as well enjoy a delicious frozen snack.
My blood pressure was stable with the help of the medication they put me on. My labs that were taken every other day were staying normal....Until the morning of Monday May 26th.
I was up all night with what I thought was a bad stomach ache. I thought that my dinner just didn't sit right, but even with taking Tums and Gas-X, the stomach ache persisted.
I knew something was up when my blood pressure was higher that morning than it had been, and my doctor came in early that morning for rounds.
My blood work showed that my liver enzymes and kidney function were no longer in the normal range, and the "stomach ache" I had was actually swelling and inflammation of my liver.
My doctor explained that it was no longer safe for me to keep the baby inside because the pre-eclampsia was damaging my organs and the sooner the baby the was delivered, the sooner the pre-eclampsia would be cured and the symptoms would stop.
The decision was made to start labor induction that morning.
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
It Was All Going So Well...Part 2
To prevent me from having a seizure, they had to start me on a magnesium sulfate drip to keep my pressures normal and to calm down my nervous system. I was warned that this medication would make me feel terrible in every way, but that I needed to be on it for 24 hours in which I would be unable to leave my hospital bed, which meant I even had to have a catheter placed, and I could not eat or drink anything. I don't even know how to explain how awful the next 24 hours were while on the magnesium. It was like I instantly got the flu and a migraine, and I could not think or even speak clearly. It also made me feel like I was burning from the inside out, so I was hot and sweaty and stuck in bed. It was so very scary, but I knew I had to do this to keep my body from seizing and to keep the baby healthy.
My nurses were wonderful. They constantly checked on me and cooling me down with cold cloths. They kept me positive and strong even though I just wanted to break down the whole time. Mary stayed with me the whole night. She never left my side until Steve was able to get a flight home Tuesday afternoon. I'm sure it was not easy for her to be there and watch me go through this process, but she was so calm and supportive.
I was so relieved when Steve got to the hospital Tuesday afternoon. I was finally able to relax a little and breathe easier with my rock by my side. We weren't able to talk much because I was so out of it from the magnesium, but Steve just kept telling me how strong I was and how great I was doing and he helped me get through the last awful hours of being on the magnesium.
I came off the magnesium drip Tuesday May 22 at 9:50pm and could finally think clearly and talk to Steve. I could finally eat, too! My blood pressure was staying stable while taking blood pressure medication after the magnesium was stopped, and the plan was to wait until Thursday the 24th to induce because I would be 34 weeks and it would be safer for the baby.
I also received both betamethasone steroid injections to help make sure that the baby's lungs were fully developed.
I had an ultrasound in the hospital on Wednesday May 23. The baby looked great and showed no signs of being in distress. The placenta looked normal, the fluid level was normal, and by his measurements he was estimated to weigh 5lbs 2oz.
Since my blood pressure was staying stable and my blood work showed that the pre- eclampsia had not affected my liver or kidney function, and because the baby was not in any distress, the high risk OB doctor at the hospital said that it would be safe to hold off inducing me for as long as we could instead of inducing at 34 weeks.
I was admitted to the hospital and put on strict bed rest. Each day that we made it keeping the baby safely inside to keep growing and developing was a milestone. The goal was to make it to at least 35 weeks minimum and 37 weeks maximum with the understanding that if my blood pressure became unstable, or the pre-eclampsia began to affect my liver and kidney function or I had any other severe symptoms then we would plan to induce immediately.
My nurses were wonderful. They constantly checked on me and cooling me down with cold cloths. They kept me positive and strong even though I just wanted to break down the whole time. Mary stayed with me the whole night. She never left my side until Steve was able to get a flight home Tuesday afternoon. I'm sure it was not easy for her to be there and watch me go through this process, but she was so calm and supportive.
I was so relieved when Steve got to the hospital Tuesday afternoon. I was finally able to relax a little and breathe easier with my rock by my side. We weren't able to talk much because I was so out of it from the magnesium, but Steve just kept telling me how strong I was and how great I was doing and he helped me get through the last awful hours of being on the magnesium.
I came off the magnesium drip Tuesday May 22 at 9:50pm and could finally think clearly and talk to Steve. I could finally eat, too! My blood pressure was staying stable while taking blood pressure medication after the magnesium was stopped, and the plan was to wait until Thursday the 24th to induce because I would be 34 weeks and it would be safer for the baby.
I also received both betamethasone steroid injections to help make sure that the baby's lungs were fully developed.
I had an ultrasound in the hospital on Wednesday May 23. The baby looked great and showed no signs of being in distress. The placenta looked normal, the fluid level was normal, and by his measurements he was estimated to weigh 5lbs 2oz.
Since my blood pressure was staying stable and my blood work showed that the pre- eclampsia had not affected my liver or kidney function, and because the baby was not in any distress, the high risk OB doctor at the hospital said that it would be safe to hold off inducing me for as long as we could instead of inducing at 34 weeks.
I was admitted to the hospital and put on strict bed rest. Each day that we made it keeping the baby safely inside to keep growing and developing was a milestone. The goal was to make it to at least 35 weeks minimum and 37 weeks maximum with the understanding that if my blood pressure became unstable, or the pre-eclampsia began to affect my liver and kidney function or I had any other severe symptoms then we would plan to induce immediately.
It Was All Going So Well...Part 1
At my 32 week ultrasound my blood pressure was high when they checked it. It was the first time that my blood pressure had been high, and at the end of the appointment the doctor re-took it and it was a bit lower. The ultrasound office wasn't too concerned, but they called my OB doctor to let them know, and I had a follow up appointment with my OB 2 days later, so no one was too worried. I had no other symptoms and felt fine.
At my OB doctor's appointment that week my blood pressure was still high, so they ordered lab work and a 24 hour urine test to have me tested for pre-eclampsia. I still had no other symptoms and my doctor thought the chances of me having pre-eclampsia were low, but wanted to do the whole work up to be safe. I got the lab work done Thursday and the urine test was done Friday.
I got a call from my OB office on Monday May 21 to tell me that my lab work and urine tests did indicate that I probably had developed Pre-eclampsia and they referred me to a specialist office that would be calling me to set up an appointment that week. I still felt completely fine. I was told that if I had any symptoms of a severe headache, any vision changes or blurred vision with spots, or severe epigastric pain, or a blood pressure that was 160/110 to call the office immediately or go to the emergency room.
I continued on with my day as usual. I had a Chiropractor appointment at Genesis Chiropractic (shameless plug) where I saw my brother- (the best Chiropractor in Buffalo, who it turns out saved my life that day). I told him about talking to my OB doc and that they believed I had developed pre-eclampsia . After treatment he took my blood pressure and found that it was very high. He had me wait and relax for a while then re-checked it, and the reading was even higher this time. It got up to 160/100, which was the danger zone that my OB doc had told me that I needed to contact the office for. I was in complete denial because I still felt normal. After checking my BP one more time, my brother made me call my OB office. I was told to go right to the emergency room.
Did I mention that Steve left that morning to go out of town for work for the week?
Thank God for my amazing mother in-law Mary who dropped everything for me to take me to the hospital. We figured it would be a semi-quick ER visit where they checked my blood pressure and monitored me then send me home. Boy were we wrong!
Within 10 minutes of arriving at the ER, they had me in a wheelchair and on the way up to Labor and Delivery to be monitored. They immediately had me change into a gown and then checked me to see if I was in labor, if I was leaking fluid, or if I was dilated- all normal. The OB doctor did a quick ultrasound to make sure the baby's heart rate was good, that the placenta was intact and had not ruptured and that the fluid level was good- all normal. The whole time there was an automatic blood pressure cuff on my arm taking my pressures every 5 minutes, and every time the machine went off dinging because it was high.
I was in a daze that all this was happening so fast. I still felt normal with no symptoms. I had 3 nurses and a doctor in my room with me, trying to decide what to do with me. They took blood, struggled to get an IV in, gave me oral medication to help bring down my blood pressure, and then when that didn't work, gave me another medication. The doctor explained that my pressures were so high that they were considered severe and if it would not come down to a normal pressure they may have to induce right away to prevent me from having a seizure and to prevent any extra stress on the baby by the blood vessels in the placenta being restricted.
OK, so shit just got real. How did my normal day just turn into we may have to induce immediately? What the hell is happening right now?
Why do I feel fine?
Where is my husband?
I can't do this, I'm only 33 weeks!
At my OB doctor's appointment that week my blood pressure was still high, so they ordered lab work and a 24 hour urine test to have me tested for pre-eclampsia. I still had no other symptoms and my doctor thought the chances of me having pre-eclampsia were low, but wanted to do the whole work up to be safe. I got the lab work done Thursday and the urine test was done Friday.
I got a call from my OB office on Monday May 21 to tell me that my lab work and urine tests did indicate that I probably had developed Pre-eclampsia and they referred me to a specialist office that would be calling me to set up an appointment that week. I still felt completely fine. I was told that if I had any symptoms of a severe headache, any vision changes or blurred vision with spots, or severe epigastric pain, or a blood pressure that was 160/110 to call the office immediately or go to the emergency room.
I continued on with my day as usual. I had a Chiropractor appointment at Genesis Chiropractic (shameless plug) where I saw my brother- (the best Chiropractor in Buffalo, who it turns out saved my life that day). I told him about talking to my OB doc and that they believed I had developed pre-eclampsia . After treatment he took my blood pressure and found that it was very high. He had me wait and relax for a while then re-checked it, and the reading was even higher this time. It got up to 160/100, which was the danger zone that my OB doc had told me that I needed to contact the office for. I was in complete denial because I still felt normal. After checking my BP one more time, my brother made me call my OB office. I was told to go right to the emergency room.
Did I mention that Steve left that morning to go out of town for work for the week?
Thank God for my amazing mother in-law Mary who dropped everything for me to take me to the hospital. We figured it would be a semi-quick ER visit where they checked my blood pressure and monitored me then send me home. Boy were we wrong!
Within 10 minutes of arriving at the ER, they had me in a wheelchair and on the way up to Labor and Delivery to be monitored. They immediately had me change into a gown and then checked me to see if I was in labor, if I was leaking fluid, or if I was dilated- all normal. The OB doctor did a quick ultrasound to make sure the baby's heart rate was good, that the placenta was intact and had not ruptured and that the fluid level was good- all normal. The whole time there was an automatic blood pressure cuff on my arm taking my pressures every 5 minutes, and every time the machine went off dinging because it was high.
I was in a daze that all this was happening so fast. I still felt normal with no symptoms. I had 3 nurses and a doctor in my room with me, trying to decide what to do with me. They took blood, struggled to get an IV in, gave me oral medication to help bring down my blood pressure, and then when that didn't work, gave me another medication. The doctor explained that my pressures were so high that they were considered severe and if it would not come down to a normal pressure they may have to induce right away to prevent me from having a seizure and to prevent any extra stress on the baby by the blood vessels in the placenta being restricted.
OK, so shit just got real. How did my normal day just turn into we may have to induce immediately? What the hell is happening right now?
Why do I feel fine?
Where is my husband?
I can't do this, I'm only 33 weeks!
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