April 2000
I'm Pregnant! 
This is my on-line diary of my pregnancy.

Due Date Nov 23, 2000
C-Section date Nov 27, 2000
Birth Story 

I will be redoing this site in the next few weeks, when I get some more time! 
Please bare with me.

Yes it's true, Andrew is going to be a big brother! We are all very happy. Andrew is so excited he keeps telling everyone he "IS" a big brother. He had been asking for a baby sister or brother since Dec 1999.

Story: Sometime after Andrew was born I started taking folic acid (again) but this time it was by prescription from my doctor. I started off on 2 mgs, then increased it to 3 mgs after a year, then to 4 mgs up until I found out I was pregnant again, then I decreased it to 3 mgs because my prenatal vitamin had 1 mgs in it for a total of 4 mgs total. We didn't tell the family that we were expecting until after our first ultra sound at 12.5 weeks. I truly didn't have much of a choice though because I was starting to show at that point. The u/s II was done a bit early so the baby couldn't really be seen as well as we had hoped. But the doctor could see a normal shaped head, and normal sized arms and legs. He couldn't see the baby's liver or kidneys, even the spine was a bit fussy. We have another u/s on June 21st, and by then the baby will be bigger (and so will I) and we will be able to see the spine better at that time -we hope. I can't wait! 

This pregnancy is not like the time I was pregnant with Andrew. I have had lots of headaches, backaches and morning sickness, none of which I had with Andrew. Not sure if I will want to have the amnio done this time unless the AFP testing doesn't look so great.  I will keep you posted.

May 4, 2000
Bad news about a blood test

Today I got a call that one of my blood tests came back abnormal. The test was to check me for the RH factor. Well, it's not RH that I have but my body is making an anti-body to the little E. So I must be tested every 4 weeks to keep an eye on this e-antigen. If the level rise during pregnancy the baby might need to be taken early and need a blood transfusion. Though this is a rare thing, my OB has seen this happen, so I will be checked often. Thinking good thoughts!!

June 23, 2000
Amnio Test

 I haven't officially told everyone about my u/s and Amino testing I had done this Wed. So here goes. Last week my AFP blood test came back abnormal ("high" meaning maybe the baby had spina bifida like Andrew has or the baby has something called Omphalocele it's an abdominal wall defect). Both the tech and the doctor spent A LOT of time looking at our baby. They looked so closely at the spine, the head, the kidneys and the liver as these were all signs of Andrew's birth defect. I had the Amino after the u/s even though the u/s looked good. The doctor checked everything! Looks like no spina bifida or that wall defect is present!!! We were so concerned about them checking everything that we forgot to ask them the sex of the baby. This doc is not concerned that this baby has spina bifida and that is great news for us, so we can wait to know the sex!! If this baby does have a defect of some kind, it would have to be small as it did not show up on the u/s II, so that's the reason we opt for the amnio anyway -we will know those results in about 10 - 14 days. We are so happy, relieved and grateful to you all for being here for us. I know that some of you are hearing this for the first time, and I am sorry, but I didn't want to tell everyone until I knew for sure. As most of you know the AFP testing can be wrong sometimes. I am keeping this on-line dairy on my pregnancy up so I will keep you posted. Oh, I forgot to tell you they found a cyst on the baby's brain (between the brain and the skull- fluid looking) on choroid plexus cyst called but the doc said it is common and will go away on it's own in time, he said that he sees this often and never tells the parents b/c they do go away on it's own. So, NO I'm not worried about it, it is NOT hydro as it was in Andrew's case!

My next step will be asking you all for help with the baby's name after we know the sex, will you come back to help us, by voting for the names you like best??? I hope so.

July 1st 2000
Amnio results Part 1

We found out yesterday that the amnio result, DNA part came back "normal" !!!! YEAH! We also found out that the baby is a "BOY". A healthy baby boy!!! Andrew wasn't very happy at first -telling me he wanted a baby girl and her name was to be Amanda Rose. But he is doing just fine now.  Still waiting to see if they find the little E in the Amnio fluid stating the baby is positive and at risk for being born early.

July 26 th 2000
Amnio results Part 2

We found out today that they DID NOT find an e-antigen in the Amnio fluid, meaning the baby is NOT positive for the little E. No need to worry about the baby getting sick from the little E and no more blood tests every 4 weeks like I had been having!!!! I'm so grateful. Thank You GOD!

Sept 20th 2000
Pregnancy update

Sorry I have not written in a while, I just had nothing to write about! Isn't it great that my pregnancy is finally going so well that I have had nothing to write about? LOL Anyway, I had my 31 week check up and will start to go every 2 wks to see the OB now. My glucose (sugar) test came back boarder line the first time so I had to have it re-tested, this time it came back fine, the baby's head is down, no swelling of my feet or ankles (like with Andrew) and I am still wearing my wedding rings (I couldn't wear them with Andrew from 5 months on). I'm still having daily heart burn no matter if I take Tums after I eat or not. I'm sleeping great, all night no problem, other then I'm finding it harder to find sleeping positions. Okay so I've gained 23 lbs so far and have about 9 wks left Arrrr. 

Oct 18th 2000 
Pregnancy update

I am now going to the doctor on a weekly bases. I am 35 weeks along and have gained a total of 28 lbs. I have filled out my pre-admission form and the baby's form for him to get his birth certificate. I also have packed my hospital bag. Oh and my TMJ is killing me on a daily bases too. I'm also having lots of Braxton Hicks (BH) or maybe real contractions but are irregular (b/c they are painful, I'm guessing they are the real ones) But this is normal and they will not stop my labor at this point b/c I am far enough along now :) 

Next week I get my first internal exam (first one since about 14 weeks when I was having lots of BH) this will tell me if I'm dilating or not. Check back soon.

Oct 25th 2000 
Pregnancy update

Today I had my first internal exam, and got tested for Strep B. I'll find out about that next wk. I am finger tip dilated, and the cervix is thinning out. But she was not sure if Shane is head down or not. She thought maybe he is butt down or head down with his arm over his head, either way I can't deliver him that way, so I have an u/s on Friday Nov 3rd. Pray he is head down and not breech, b/c I was hoping to have a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) and not by another c-section like with Andrew. I was told the odds of me having a uterus rupture was .6% a less then 1%, maybe b/c it's been 5 yrs since I had the last one. But I had to sign a paper stating I know the risk is still there. I need to talk to her b/c I did some search that some drugs that are given to induce labor can out me at a higher risk. I'll post again after u/s. 

Last update: 10-07-00
A name for the baby had been found 
The poll CLOSED 10/05 
Thank you for voting. 

The name that won is
    
Pictures of Shane's room

Our son will be called Shane Eric Callahan

Shane, is a 1-syllable boy's name of Hebrew/Gaelic origin, 
means: God is gracious.  Shane's ethnic backgrounds is * Irish* .

We let Andrew pick the middle name, he liked ERIC b/c that is what Andrew wanted as the baby's first name. We wanted to include Andrew in naming his brother. 

The poll will stay up (for awhile) for you to check on how the vote went, see how the name you picked got voted on. A total of 125 people voted and Shane won by a total of 33 votes.

Nov 3 rd, 2000 
Pregnancy update

I had my u/s Friday morning, and the baby *IS* head down (now), but he is not engaged but was told he should say down and they won't need to turn him. Which was another reason I was thinking of the c-sec. Okay, it was great to see my fruit loop again (last time was at 17.5 wks) then she checked the fluid looked fine, I could see him yawn awwwww, and he had the hiccups during the u/s poor kid. I asked about the cyst (choroid plexus cyst) and she check it, it is gone too!!! I am so relieved, even thought I read every where that it was normal in that stage of pregnancy. She is guess his weight at 6lbs 5 oz as of Friday but then said add 1/2 lb more as u/s is not 100% on weight then to add 1/2 for the next three wks (until my due date.) He does like too keep one of his arms above his head so hopefully that will not be a problem later. I then saw my OB right after that not the NP, she did an internal -ouch, said I was closed up tighter then a drum (so that finger tip dilated last wk was not true w/ the NP) but I'm fine w/ that too. Oh and the u/s showed that I have a long uterus, what ever that means, forgot to ask, any ideas? She REALLY listened to my worries about a uterine rupture. And I think I am finally okay with going for a VBAC after all it's been 5 yrs since my the c-sec.

Nov 10th, 2000 
Pregnancy update

Okay I just got a call, the plan looks like this, she will let me got until Nov 27th so if I don't go naturally (with out being induced) then I will have a c-sec on that day. She won't induce me b/c the rise of uterine rupture after a c-sec is higher for me. I'm happy I talked to her and got some really good info from the net to bring in with me. I'm still hoping to go before the c-sec day on my own.

Nov 23rd, 2000 
Pregnancy update

Today is Thanksgiving Day and my due date but I'm still here!!! So, I'm hoping to go into labor Friday, Saturday or Sunday on my own and avoid the c-section on Monday Nov 27,th. So this will be my LAST update b/c after Shane is born I will start a new page all about him. For those of you keeping track I've gained 32-35 lbs with this pregnant a small amount from my last at 45 lbs :) But shhhh don't tell anyone!

Nov 27th, 2000 
Shane's Birthday

Okay so many of you have e-mailed me to write my birth story, well since it was a c-section it was a normal birth as far as that goes, but I have written my story anyway, b/c I was on a Nov pregnancy list on the net and we all wrote in our birth story, here you go.

Birth story:

I was due 11/23/00 and wanted to try a VBAC, but had to do a lot of research and soul searching on my decision. It seemed everyone I told about this thought I was nuts to want a vaginal birth. But between my OB and I, we decided that if I was to go into labor on my own (not be induced) then this VBAC was the route for me. But if not and by the time I was 40 wks and the baby still showed no signs of wanting to come then a repeat c-section would be preformed. About 2 weeks before my due day I had only been 1 cm dilated and not effaced at all, so my OB stripped my membranes but still nothing happened. An apt was made for a c/s to be done on Monday 11/27/00. Over that weekend I was still hoping I would go into labor on my own, and avoid the c/s. Not that I had a hard time of it with my first c/s, but was hoping to experience a vaginal birth this time around, seeing this would be my last baby. But, by Sunday night, I knew my dream of a VBAC was not going to happen. I made peace with the fact that a c/s was the only way I was going to see my son. Sunday night my sister came up to go with Patrick and I to the hospital on Monday, Pat came too, but he knew he could not stay in the OR with me. My sister did stay with me the whole time. We got to the hosp at 8:30 a.m. I was having the c/s at 10:30 a.m. Well I ran into a few complications (nothing really terrible) before the c/s even started. The first one was that I was starting to have contractions, although not painful they were getting closer and we had to decide to go with it, or stay with the c/s. I was examined, and was still only 2-3 cm and 50% effaced. Since I already had made peace with my c/s decision and the fact that I had my mom staying with Andrew plus nursing was set up to take care of Andrew's medical stuff I told my OB to just do the c/s. My second problem was, the nurse who was to start my IV was either new or was intimidated by my sister, who works in the OR at a different hosp. At any rate this nurse tried 2 times and could not get my IV started, the IV team was calling in but by this time, I was cold, nervous, I had been crying b/c I was hurting with the first 2 IV tries (I'm a BIG baby). The team didn't have any more luck then the first nurse did but did get an IV started on the 4th try. Although I was told it *might* not last the day and that if it didn't it would have to be re-started to be able to give me my meds but it looked like it would hold up for the surgery and it did (Thank God). My 3rd problem was that the same nurse tried to get a cath in me before the spinal was done, her mistake (but I paid with the pain) she again could not start the cath, not only did she kill me trying to clean me, she had NO idea how to cath a female as far as I could tell, it should not have been that painful, hell I cath Andrew 4 times a day (yes he's a boy but still with no problems) after her failed attempt at the SECOND try I told her off, and told her that I wanted to see me OB that MINUTE! My OB came in and was so surprised that the nurse had been trying to KILL me with the cathing when I could have just had it done after the spinal was in. So I was off to the OR for my spinal I walked over to the OR next door over from my room. I had a great drug person, the spinal was not painful but I could feel the pressure on my back. My OB held me the WHOLE time during the spinal, and at one point my left leg shot out in front of me and I was told not to move. Then they cathed me with no problems! They made mention that I was very red and swollen down there and I would be sore for a few days after the cath was out (thanks to that first nurse). I said something like I felt I was being sexually assaulted by that nurse and that I had never been through any thing (pain wise) like that in that area ever and that I already had had a c/s 5 years before then and had 2 other minor surgeries that also required me to be cathed with no problems like that day. They all laughed and then it was over. Okay that was the worse part of it all! The rest of my day was a breeze. By this time it was 10:50 a.m. and the surgery was started, at 11:12 Shane was born and I could hear his first cry but couldn't see him. I asked my sister if she could hold the curtain over to the right a bit so I could see him out of the corner of my eye, she did and I saw them working on him, he was a bit blue/purple color but moving around like crazy! His asper score was a 8 then a 9. They took him out to the nursery and Pat got to stay with him the rest of the time, he took video, and pictures with both a regular camera and a digital one. He came back shortly after I was in recovery to show me all the pictures he had gotten. My OB came out to talk to me after the surgery and said that Shane was "sunny side up" (she could see his face before anything else and that he was looking up at her, a bit scary) and that he was a big boy 8 lbs 2 oz 20" long and I would of had a VERY difficult time trying to deliver him b/c of it (not that he was big but the fact of his position) meaning that I most likely could have had complications with either him fitting my small birth canal (shoulders) or that my uterus could have ruptured through the pushing. So I was very relieved that I had the c/s after hearing this. I wasn't taken to my room for a while b/c they were so busy they had 2 c/s -mine and the lady a head of me, then a emergency c/s right after I was out! That day was really crazy I was told later that 3 other women where there in labor too. I finally got to see and breastfeed Shane, after my spinal wore off. It was great to see him, so different then my first c/s because Andrew was taken to a different hosp then I was in.

I had to stay in bed until the next morning b/c of the cath, but Tue at 6am that came out and I was up walking to get my son from the nursery. We found out on day 3 (Wed) that Shane was jaundice, I started to worry even though they told me not too. On day 4 (Thursday) I asked to go home. Nursing was going well at the hosp so I thought, but I started to get sore by the time I got to go home. Our first night home was great, although Shane has his nights and days messed up, he was very good. Andrew loves looking at his brother, he wants to kiss him non stop. He doesn't like the fact that he sleeps a lot. It's so great to be home with my boys and it feels so normal, already.

* Any ideas how to get him to sleep more at night and not so much in the day?? At night he wants to nurse like every hour ouch!

Want to see pictures and video of Shane right after birth? More pictures will be added add as soon as we can. Pictures www.the-callahans.com/shane

Thank you for all the great cards, e-mail of support, the congratulations and the best wishes. We are all very happy to have our new son in our life. Double blessed that he is HEALTHY!!

This is Shane and I only a couple hours after birth.
 Note: my face is swollen from the pain meds.

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The expecting graphic came from where I got many more.