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Pregnancy

Finally Here!

January 21, 2014 by Kristy 23 Comments

The last time I posted I was 37ish (?) weeks pregnant.  Little did I know that I would go to 41 weeks and 1 day before giving birth.  The wait was agonizing and there were frequent bouts of hysteria.  In the end, just like everyone said, it was well worth the wait.  

Fiona Catherine was born on 1/9/14 at 5:50AM.  An early riser, just like her mom and dad.

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She’s 12 days old today and I’m finally getting the chance to sit down, gather my thoughts, and write a post about it.  It’s hard for me to adequately convey in words how life changing labor and delivery was (I seriously cannot stop thinking about it) and how blissfully happy I am getting pooped, peed, and spit up on.  I have discovered there is nothing in the world better than baby snuggles, the smell of her head, and how her tiny hand grasps my finger.  Matt and I are both smitten.

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I feel obligated to share some of the birth story.  But since this is a running blog, I’ll spare you the gory details and instead give you the cliff notes version.

Since I was late and my OB didn’t want me going too much past 41 weeks, I was scheduled to be induced on Tuesday night (1/7).  The plan was to begin Cervidil overnight and then start Pitocin on Wednesday.  I wasn’t thrilled with the plan but I knew Fiona was not coming out on her own.  My big concern throughout pregnancy was the possibility of being induced, not progressing, and ending up with a C-section.  I know a C-section is always a possibility even if you go into labor on your own, but I’ve seen far too many friends go down the induction-not-progressing-C-section road.  I was terrified.

I was actually surprised to learn I was having “contractions” when I went to the hospital on Tuesday night.  I say “contractions” because I felt no pain whatsoever.  I remember the nurse saying she didn’t consider them contractions if I didn’t feel any pain.  I agreed with her although the doctor felt differently (note:  this OB was NOT from my practice).  The OB felt that since my “contractions” were 1-2 minutes apart, Cervidil would send me into abrupt labor and put the baby in distress.  It was best just to monitor me overnight and maybe I would progress on my own and we could start Pitocin on Wednesday morning.  I was still not dilated at all but Matt and I were hopeful with this news.  Even though my gut was telling me otherwise.

On Wednesday morning I met with an OB from my practice.  She was on call for the next 24 hours, thank god.  After hearing that my cervix was still thick, hard, and uninducible (her words), I pretty much lost it.  This was the exact opposite of what the doctor told me on Tuesday night.  She also said Cervidil would not be effective enough for me and suggested we start Cytotec instead.  Matt and I knew a little bit about Cytotec and had reservations – it’s a nasty drug – but talked with the doctor and decided we really had no other choice.  My cervix needed to be prepped for Pitocin and my OB felt that Cytotec would do the job.  I was still not dilated.

The next 12 hours were pretty much uneventful.  I was still having “contractions” but felt no pain and was still not dilated.  I was beginning to think the baby would never come out without a C-section.  In fact, around 6PM on Wednesday night, my OB came in to check on me and I was all prepared with an argument for a C-section.  I didn’t want another dose of Cytotec.  I had been at the hospital for 12 hours at this point and was still at square one.  During the check I had dilated to 1/2 a centimeter and my OB went ahead and broke my water.  There was no mention of breaking my water, she just went ahead and did it.  She also told me to give her 12 hours and she would have the baby out.  I never got my chance to argue for the C-section.

After that my “contractions” were no longer painless.  My pain level was about a 5 but I could still walk around and talk with Matt.  The contractions were still 1-2 minutes apart.  Around 9PM they started the Pitocin.  I was terrified of the impending pain since my contractions were so close, I hardly got a break from the pain.  Let’s just say that Pitocin is no joke.  Before I knew it, my pain level was a 10 and I was shaking and nauseous.  I have never experienced any pain like this before.  I would oscillate between sitting on a medicine ball and standing.  All I could do was look forward to the brief, pain-free moments between contractions.

I immediately asked for the epidural.  I was only 1 cm dilated at this point (typically too soon for an epidural) but my OB agreed to it since my contractions were so close and my pain level was so high.  Ahh, the epidural!  How can I convey in words how wonderful it was?!  I was a completely different person afterward and it allowed us to get some sleep and let the Pitocin do its job.

Around 3AM I started to get nauseous, shake, and vomit.  I repeated a cycle of shake-vomit-sleep about 6 times.  I think it was due to the epidural but the nurse said it was due to pain (even though I felt no pain).  But the good news was I was progressing fast and furious!  I was about 8 cm dilated.  This was the best news I could have ever heard.

Around 4:40AM I began pushing.  This is the part that was life changing.  It was like an out of body experience – like the last 6.2 miles of a marathon.  Your mind is sharp but your body is tired.  I was exhausted and kept falling asleep between pushes.  I felt no pain, just some pressure.  I kept thinking give 110% every time you push and it’ll go faster.  Kinda like the faster you run, the faster you get done.  Even though Matt and the nurse were right there with me, encouraging me every step, I felt like it was just me in that room…on a mission.

One hour and 10 minutes later, I pushed 4 last times and the baby came out with a small cry.  The feeling of her exiting my body is something I will never forget.  I heard my OB say it’s a girl which confirmed what Matt and I instinctively knew for the past 10 months.  And my OB made good on her promise – Fiona was born just shy of 12 hours after my water was broken.  She was perfect – 10 fingers and 10 toes – and all ours…finally!

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PS – To answer a burning question that I was always curious about:  which is more painful – racing a marathon or labor?  Labor, hands down.  No comparison there!

 

I hit the pregnancy wall…

December 18, 2013 by Kristy 15 Comments

Everything was going well.  I felt OK, all things considered, and was still able to manage a few short runs per week.  Then, at 36 weeks, I hit the pregnancy wall…hard.

My last run was Monday, December 2nd.  I had no idea it would be my last run.  If I did I would have savored it a bit more.  I ran 5 miles with my friend Abby and it went well.  I felt fine afterwards too.  I woke up Tuesday with pain on my right side (lower back/upper glute area).  Walking was difficult.  It was so sudden and out of the ordinary I panicked and thought all the running had caused a pelvic stress fracture.  After some frantic online searching, I calmed down and decided it had to be sciatica, which is very common in late pregnancy (and presents itself on 1 side – my left side is completely normal).  A call to my OB confirmed it along with the bad news that nothing can really be done.  The baby is pressing on my sciatic nerve and the pain won’t go away until I deliver.

It’s been 2 weeks since the pain started and it sucks, to put it nicely.  Bearing weight on my right leg is painful and I have to be cautious that it won’t give out on me.  I’m also sporting a nice limp when I walk.  Thankfully it also resembles the I’m-so-done-with-this waddle, so I don’t think I get too many strange looks.

I’m 38 weeks today and praying that I go sooner rather than later.  I’m dying to meet this little one and I’m dying to get rid of this pain.  Or at least swap sciatic pain with labor pain 🙂  At least with labor pain there’s a nice present at the finish line.

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looking so not ready to go anytime soon…

I am seeing a chiropractor – a husband and wife team.  He specializes in runners and she in pregnancy, so I appear to be in good hands.  It has provided some relief although not as much as I was hoping for.

Since I’m stubborn and refuse to do no form of exercise, I grunt through 2-mile walks on the treadmill a few times a week.  The fastest I can go is 20:00 min/mile (that’s not a typo) and I waddle and curse the entire time.  But at least it’s something.

I’ll conclude this whiny pregnancy post on a positive note.  I am happy I was able to run for 9 months.  I thoroughly enjoyed it – Garmin-free, taking in the scenery, and not worrying about pace.  And I will be back at it again soon.

Anyone else battle sciatica during pregnancy?

Gobble Wobble 5K Recap

December 1, 2013 by Kristy 10 Comments

One month until D-day!  Of course I have visions of going early and everything going seamlessly.  Or…I’ll still be waddling along after the New Year.  I have to think positive, right?

On Thanksgiving I ran my first Turkey Trot ever.  Usually I use Thanksgiving as a rest day, sleep in “late”, and refuel with mashed potatoes.   Since my mileage is scarce these days (see below), I figured it was worth trotting 3.1 miles before the mashed potato refuel.  And who can turn down a race called the Gobble Wobble at 9 months pregnant?!

This 5K is extremely popular (I believe it was the 30th anniversary this year?) and well organized.  It’s also a 5K you don’t want to race (see below).  You are better off doing it as a fun run with family…which seemed to be what most folks were doing (at least in the back of the pack anyway).

I cringe over my finish time – 34:16 (11:00 average pace) – when, just 2 short weeks ago, I ran an 8K at 10:30 average pace.  Maybe I missed my running buddy Sara?  Or maybe it was this –

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There was no way I was running up that hill.  It was a gradual climb that never ended.  I sucked it up and walked.  Ouch…my pride hurt more than my shins did during that mile.

Imagephotographic proof of my wobbling (check out my shadow!)

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My mileage continues to dwindle the bigger I get.  Right now I’m averaging anywhere from 15-22 miles per week.  And that includes 2 days of walking.  I can only run 3 times a week and no more than 6 miles.  My shins can’t handle the extra weight…and the last thing I want to do is risk a stress fracture.  I space my runs out to allow ample rest time in between.  For now, that works.  In the wise words of Lauren Fleshman (whose pregnancy posts I love), “since I decided to opt out of any kind of heroic pregnancy training plan, it doesn’t bother me to only run 4-5 days a week, and take walk breaks now and then. Except for those times when it really bothers me.”  I could not agree more with the last part.

Rothman 8K Race Recap

November 19, 2013 by Kristy 10 Comments

On Saturday I ran the Rothman 8K, the first race to kick-off Philly Marathon weekend.  It seems silly to write a race recap, since I’m not racing these days, but what the hell.

I have never done the Rothman 8K before but you can call it the “other” race.  I swear there were more porta potties than runners – which made me insanely happy (no lines!).  There were a few spectators but nothing compared to the crowds you see at the Philly Half or Marathon.  Not that I didn’t expect this…it’s just…different.

The best part of the morning was running into my friend Sara, completely unexpectedly.  She was supposed to run the HM on Sunday but was sick so she made a last minute decision to run the 8K.  Sara was my running buddy for the last 3 miles of the Philly RnR back in September so I was pretty excited about running with her again and not being alone.  We decided to take it easy since Sara was essentially running with 1 functioning lung and, well, I’m carrying an 25 extra pounds.  Sometimes I’m pretty delusional – like I had any other option other than taking it easy!

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 and…i look ridiculous.  sara doesn’t but she’s hidden here in blue.  

The course had an out-and-back section on West River Drive so we got to see all the speedsters and the look of pure anguish on their faces.  I can’t even tell you how happy I am to not be racing right now.  Running races for fun really is fun!  I’m going to have quite the wake-up call next year.

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 high-fiving mayor nutter at the finish 

Official finish time – 52:20 (10:30 average pace).  I’m happy with that!

Thanks Sara for being my running buddy again!

When I got home Matt asked me if I was done with races until after the baby is born.  Of course not!  I found a 5K on Thanksgiving called the Gobble Wobble.  With a name like that (and being almost 9 months pregnant at that time) how could you not run it?!?!

Did you run any of the Philly races this past weekend?

 

Nursery Tour

November 11, 2013 by Kristy 18 Comments

Allow me to divert from boring, pregnant running posts to something a little fun.  We finished up the nursery this weekend and I am thrilled with how it turned out!  I promised friends and family I’d do a post so they could see it.  Don’t worry – boring, pregnant running posts will resume next week with a race recap (I’m “running” the Rothman 8K on Saturday).

When we moved into our house 4 years ago we painted the extra bedroom green and white (think Ireland green)…knowing that the room would eventually become a nursery.  The colors were prefect and gender-neutral.  When it came time to think about the nursery we definitely didn’t want a theme – like animals, etc.  We figured we throw up some bright yellow accents (different shapes and patterns) and call it a day.

That idea only worked for so long.  It’s hard to decide what to hang on the walls if you don’t have a theme.  Since I love geography and maps, I selfishly wanted to hang a world map (it’s also educational, right?).  From there the idea snowballed and our “no-theme” nursery became a “world” theme.

Let the tour begin (click on the image to enlarge)!

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We bought the furniture unfinished.  For 2 weeks Matt did nothing but sand, stain, paint, repeat.  We love the way it turned out but it was a lot of work.

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A closer look at the wall art, courtesy of Etsy.  The world theme is in full swing!

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My favorite part of the nursery:  the world map.  It’s actually a decal (from Etsy) that wasn’t as hard to assemble and put up as it looks!  The map was divided into strips of continents with little dots that you can use to make sure the alignment is correct.  I cannot stop staring at it!

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From one of my favorite books – Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

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The reading nook.  We found these alphabet flashcards (you guessed it, on Etsy) representing different countries and how they say “hello” in their native language.  We got them laminated and hung them on the wall with bamboo string.

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A closer look…

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There you have it!  I’m pretty obsessed with it and often find myself sitting on the glider staring into space.  Now we just need the baby to arrive!

 

Pregnancy Confessions – Part II

October 29, 2013 by Kristy 7 Comments

Running Update
At 31 weeks running is hard and not hard at the same time…which probably makes no sense.  It’s hard when my shins tense up and can’t handle the weight of my growing stomach.  It’s not hard in the sense that all I need to do is propel myself forward – set the wheels in motion – and then I’m good to go.  I swear the weight of my belly pushes me forward.  So the added 20+ pounds is both helpful and a hindrance at this point.

I can no longer run 5 days per week.  My legs can’t take it.  Running 4 days is manageable and I usually pair a “longer” run (6 or 8 miles) with a shorter run (4 miles) the next day.  Then I add in a day of walking – 3 to 4 miles – and it brings me to about 25 miles for the week.  I’ll take it.

I have one more “race” on my schedule before the baby arrives.  I’m running the Rothman 8K – part of Philly Marathon weekend.  I was originally planning on running the Philly Half but then reality set in.  I will be spectating the full and half so if you’re running, let me know!

Glowing?  Not me.
Our gut feeling all along is that we are having a girl.  In fact, I’ll be quite surprised if she is really a he!  I haven’t paid much attention to the old wives’ tales regarding gender prediction…until recently.  Around 28 weeks I started looking haggard.  Like really haggard.  Puffy face and bags under my eyes – despite 9 to 10 hours of sleep (I’ve been sleeping great – knock on wood).  I don’t feel haggard but I just look awful.  Don’t they say that girls steal your beauty?  Case in point…

7:30PM at Pearl Jam last week.  I wasn’t tired (yet – they did play for 3 hours) but I look…haggard.

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This past Saturday – post 8 mile run.  Isn’t running supposed to leave you looking refreshed?!

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Another sign pointing to a girl?  I’m the very definition of carrying high.  This picture makes me laugh because it’s so ridiculous.

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Other perks
*Cankles – the reward for sitting on my ass all day at work.  The more I am on my feet, the better off I am.

*Picking something up off the floor is impossible without loudly grunting and feeling as if my head might explode.

*I have maybe 2 inches to go before my belly rests on my legs (a perk of carrying high?).  My friend Sara warned me about this.  I’m still freaked out that my boobs rest on my belly.  Now belly on legs?!

What other perks can I look forward to over the next 9 weeks?

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