The Pregnancy
I can still remember the day we found out we were pregnant. It was March 4th and I was a week late, but I still had a negative pregnancy test. I went into the doctor for lab work and got a call back that my HCG was a “10.” That level is considered to be one week pregnant. Since it was so early and we already had one miscarriage, Greg and I weren’t celebrating quite yet. A few more follow up lab draws with numbers increases as they should, and Dr. Kaufman assured us things looked good! We were excited but still hesitant. We had an ultrasound on March 18th which just showed us the egg and sac, but it was the ultrasound on April 1st where we left ecstatic! We saw our little baby for the first time and he was moving around like crazy! We could see his heart beating out of his chest. Greg and I were beaming from ear to ear! I didn’t have the traditional reaction of crying, but instead, laughing because it was so fun to see. We were told our due date was November 11th. Having a date made things feel more real. We were going to be parents in November!
Our first time seeing our baby. Coolest experience EVER. Heart-eyed emojis times infinity for this little baby.
The first 12 weeks felt long waiting until it was “safe” to tell the world we were pregnant. I was extremely tired and had some mild nausea, which subsided only while I was eating. That didn’t help the first trimester weight gain. Ugh. I was craving salty foods galore and my sweet tooth was gone. A definite prediction of the future.
I felt great by the 15th week and we were free to tell our secret!
On June 24th we had our 20 week ultrasound and our little baby was healthy! We had a small scare of “placental lakes” which, in the end, did not affect the baby’s growth. We enjoyed a gender reveal party with our families, and to our delight and my suspicion, found out we were having a boy. This helped our name choices since we were only able to come up with boys names we liked.
Here is a 20 week ultrasound picture. His hand was right by his face and that is where he always had them after birth as well!
This is a picture of the “placental lakes.” The placenta is on the top and the big black holes are the “lakes” or puddles of blood in the placenta.
The official gender reveal! (Thank you to Jackie for filling the box!)
The rest of the pregnancy was great. I had a ton of energy and felt great. I swear I was nesting during the whole pregnancy. I would have sporadic urges to clean the whole house during the entire third trimester. This “nesting” ended by the last few weeks and, to my surprise, I did not nest right before the baby was born. Instead, I thought naps sounded better.
My friends Jess, Jackie and Steph hosted a beautiful couple baby shower for Greg and I. It was so kind of them and great to see all our friends and family in one spot to support us! Grant was so loved already.
The beautiful hosts!
Such a creative theme!
On October 28th, during my strep B test, they checked my cervix and I was already one centimeter and 80% effaced. I knew I could stay this way for awhile, but happy my body was making some progress. The next week (November 4th) I was 2 cm, 80% effaced and they stripped my membranes. I was almost sure this was going to put me into labor, but I was wrong. I had a few contractions off and on the next day and lost my mucus plug the day after. I was once again sure labor would be that week and I would not make it to my due date. Wrong again! I had my last appointment (November 10th) and was 3 centimeters, 90% effaced and they stripped my membranes once again. By this time, I was wondering if he would hang on until the following week and I would be induced. I talked to a few friends and decided I was going to walk this baby out!! Saturday, November 12, I went on a walk with my friend, Jess, and another long walk with my frousin (friend and cousin), Leslie. That night, I was craving Panera’s broccoli cheddar soup, so Greg and I had one last date night before baby.
A little before 10:00, I tried to get off the couch to go to bed and had my first contraction. I thought it would be the same as the week before; a few contractions here and there and then they would go away, but boy, was I wrong! Contractions went from 10 minutes apart to 3-4 minutes apart in about 45 minutes. Greg had to leave between a few contractions to see the end of the game and, surprisingly, Iowa won! After some rushing around (by Greg) to pack up the car, we were on our way to Methodist Medical Center by 11:30. Grandpa driver Greg even sped down the interstate since the nurse on the phone told Greg “pull over if Amy has a sudden urge to push because you can’t deliver a baby and drive at the same time!” Eeek! We did NOT want that to happen.A silly video taken right before I went into labor. I guess Grant listened to his Dad and did come out that night.
I was 5 centimeters once I arrived at the hospital and they decided to keep us. The epidural was in place by 2:30 and I was 6 centimeters after that. By 4:00 I was already 9 centimeters with what the doctor called a “bulging bag of water”. My water was broken right after that and I was fully dilated and ready to deliver this baby. Greg and I were surprised this process was so quick since we expected this to take hours. Unfortunately, we had to wait until 7:30 to push since there was an emergency c-section and only one doctor on call that night. All I have to say it thank God for epidurals! There is no way I could have waited three hours without that. I started pushing at 7:30 and Grant Edward was born at 9:13. Dr. Mintzer delivered him and did an awesome job. I only had a small level 2 internal tear and the placenta came out easily. The whole process was smoother and quicker than I imagined and I am thankful for that! Grant was 7 pounds exactly and 19 inches long. I was able to pull him out and up on my chest right away. Absolutely amazing. It was the best sound to hear your crying child and then hold him for the first time. Some tears were definitely shed. It was such an awesome experience. Greg and I are so in love.
These are the first pictures taken of Grant.
Greg’s first time holding Grant. Once again, heart-eyed emojis times infinity.
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