mother's day | clara's birth story

 

I never wrote down Clara's birth story....and I meant to publish this around Mother's Day. As usual, life got away from me. It is fun to reflect on Clara's pregnancy and birth experience nearly a year later. It is unbelievable how quick the past year has flown.

My pregnancy with Clara was relatively uncomplicated. Because of the challenges we experienced with Nora's pregnancy, we went to pre-conception counseling with a maternal-fetal specialist. If anyone has had a shared experience, I highly recommend this step. We discussed my history and what steps we could take in the next pregnancy to minimize risks.

Ultimately, during Clara's pregnancy I ended up on progesterone injections weekly from 16 weeks to 36 weeks, bi-monthly ultrasounds to measure cervical length, Fetal Fibronectin tests, baby aspirin, and megadoses of vitamin D and C.

At 32 weeks, I had a positive fetal fibronectin test. This test is more confirmatory with a negative result, but a positive result sends up red flags. At the same time as the positive, I had an increase in dilation (I believe from 1 cm to 2 cm (but I'm a little fuzzy on the details at this point)). We immediately went to the hospital to receive steroid injections for lung development and Terbutaline (when monitoring showed I was having contractions every 5 minutes). A repeat Fetal Fibronectin came back negative indicating the first result was a false positive. However, as precaution I was sent home on Nifedipine (for the contractions) and bed rest. I remained on bed rest until Neal was able to return from St. Louis in anticipation of Clara's delivery. I was having significant contractions from 32 weeks on and they seemed to escalate by 36 weeks. I was taking Nifedipine around the clock to prevent delivery. My OB instructed me to continue to take the Nifedipine until Neal was literally on the plane to come back to Arizona.

I stopped taking the medications the morning of Neal's flight. I believe it was July 2nd. We did everything under the sun to encourage labor. We went on tons of HOT walks. Nearly one week later, we joked my uterus was totally asleep. My contractions had lessened significantly and my progress was minimal. So, at my 38 week appointment, my OB stripped my membranes (because Neal was going to have to return to St. Louis to start fellowship shifts). This method is great because supposedly it only works if mom and baby are ready for delivery. After the appointment we met our fabulous group of friends for an evening out at Top Golf. We had an amazing time!! Seriously, one of my best memories. One of my other friends was also pregnant and due soon with her baby girl. We left the group a little early that evening to head to bed. Both of us were tired!

Neal came home late that night and had really enjoyed himself with our friends (around 2 am). I woke up around 6 am with a strong contraction. I had been paranoid about false labor and didn't think this was a real contraction (although its intensity was pretty serious). I decided to get in the shower and get ready just in case. Because Nora's delivery was so urgent and I had been in the hospital on bed rest so long, I looked like a train wreck (so much for post delivery family pics!). I had been determined my entire pregnancy NOT to let that happen again if I could avoid it (I know....should NOT have been important...). By the time I was blow drying my hair, the contractions really set in and picked up quickly. By 7 am I ran to Neal and told him that I was pretty sure we needed to leave immediately! My contractions were 3 minutes apart (I was supposed to leave at 5 minutes apart).

The car ride to the hospital was unimaginable. I thought I knew what labor contractions felt like. Boy, was I wrong! The intensity of these were so significant, I was convinced Clara was going to be born in the car. At the hospital, I collapsed in the parking lot. A nurse leaving her shift, saw us and told us she was going to call and warn them we were coming. Believe it or not, I was still not sure I was in true labor.

Once upstairs, nearing labor and delivery, I decided I couldn't walk any further. I collapsed next to house keeping, profusely apologizing. In triage, the nurses assured me I was in true labor. They said its EASY to tell those in true labor. Those in false labor are usually still laughing and smiling. I definitely wasn't.

Prior to delivery, I had discussed VBAC vs. repeat Cesarean section with my OB. While there are risks to both, Neal and I ultimately chose to attempt a VBAC. I had been so closely monitored, we knew my risk of uterine rupture looked small. However, despite my initial (intense) desire to deliver totally un-medicated and naturally, my OB required placement of an epidural. This is important because it allows quick access if an emergency Cesarean section needed to take place. I was assured though that I did NOT need to run medication unless desired.

Admittedly, I was BEGGING for the epidural in the hospital parking lot (with medication). I was ANGRY with the anesthesiologist for taking so long for epidural placement. I could not believe how many questions the nurses were trying to ask during contractions (which at this point kept coming without any significant time gap). I remember a poor nurse telling me I needed to breathe and nearly swinging at her. Its amazing how pain changes your response to people. I know they've seen everything, but I was SO embarrassed by how I handled the pain.

When we arrived at the hospital I was 4+ cm. Within about 2 hours I was ready to push. Clara was out in two pushes (maybe 5 minutes?). I felt great! Its crazy how different a natural birth is from a cesarean section. Now, that is not to say that there are not pros and cons to each, but at least initially, I felt amazing.

Clara's birth was a truly incredible experience and so positive. We were so in LOVE and still are. Its unbelievable she will be one in less than one month!

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nora | first movie

For Father's day, Neal and Nora went on a daddy/daughter date to the movie theater. Nora's first movie in the theater was "Finding Dory." Per Neal, she had an overall amazing first experience. She went back and forth between Neal's lap and her own seat and jumped a few times at surprising parts (i.e. the octopus hitting the windshield). She LOVED her oreos and popcorn. Nora was worn out by the end of the movie and fell asleep hard!

XO!

Caity

clara | 11 months

The past 11 months have flown. I cannot believe Clara is nearly one year old. She has changed so dramatically, especially in the past month. The last 5 months Clara has been the happiest, most joyful child. She giggles like crazy and is constantly talking, playing, climbing or on the move. She is into EVERYTHING, much to her sister's dismay. She loves to cuddle and will always stop playing for a quick love. She occasionally gives kisses but always will lay her head down on your chest or lap. The feeling is mutual. We are SO. IN. LOVE. with our petite little Clara Eloise.

D E V E L O P M E N T 

Clara is a girl on the M O V E. Until a few days ago she has been racing around the house on all fours. She crawls soooo quickly. She has also been practically running around the house using her walker toys (and everything else). She has rearranged the house using chairs, laundry baskets. etc as walking apparatus. She has been cruising for the past few months and over the past month had started to bravely take a step or two unassisted from one piece of furniture to the next. Now (into the 11th month) she has started WALKING. She took a few steps at a time if someone was close enough to grab if needed and yesterday she walked all the way across our living room. Nora has even been yelling that Clara is walking when we aren't even in the same room with her. 

Clara is also a C L I M B E R. Muchhhh more so than her sister was. She tries to climb everything. We laugh because she constantly has a leg up trying to climb, even though she isn't remotely close to getting those adorably chubby legs up on her goal. Because she is a climber, she takes regular falls. We have childproofed everything.

Clara is also a T A L K E R. She is constantly babbling and making noises. She has several words:

• "Na-na" : Nora
• "Da-da": Daddy
• "Ma-ma": Mommy
• "Nigh-nigh": Night night
• "Do": Dog
• She signs, "milk," "more," and "all-done"

Her comprehension is really coming along. It is so fun to talk to her now. You can tell by her expressions and reactions that she understands a lot of what is being said to her. She can follow simple commands like "splash" and "wave."

 Until about two weeks ago, Clara just had the bottom middle teeth. Then, the right tooth next to the middle came in. Then... we had a big boom, some blood and "ta-da" the middle, upper teeth. We can tell the left, upper (next to the middle) is RIGHT there.

Clara has finally graduated to 6-12m clothes and will be moving to size 3 diapers at our next shipment!

S L E E P

We are still doing amazing in this department. Clara goes down easily at 7 pm after a typical nighttime routine of bath, lotion, pjs, vitamins, brush teeth, milk (I know this doesn't make sense after brushing teeth), rocking for a few minutes and bed (with owl lovie and pacifiers). Ok...like a million pacifiers. 

Clara naps twice a day. She usually starts laying down all over the house saying "nigh, nigh." Shes finally gotten extremely easy to read. 

T H E  S C H E D U L E

5-5:45 am: BF

6:30-7 am:Wake-up

7:30 am: Breakfast 

 9 am: BF + nap (used to be a solid two hours, but she has all of a sudden reduced to 45 min-1hour)

11:30 am lunch

1:30-2 pm BF + nap (also usually 1 hour recently) 

4:30 pm: BF or snack

5:30 pm: Dinner

6:15 pm: Bath

7 pm: BF + Bed

E A T S 

Clara is a great eater...when she wants to be. She used to heartily finish purees (from spoon or on her own via pouch).  Now, purees are hit or miss and she pretty much refuses veggies in a pureed form. I don't totally blame her. She had two favorite pouches, the Plum Belly Blend and their blueberry, banana, oat, sunbutter, chia seed blend. We brought tons of these to Chicago (for Neal's ultrasound conference) and apparently overdid it. She is less than interested in these now.

Breakfast favorites include whole milk plain greek yogurt with almond butter and occasionally with strawberry jelly, any kind of fruit and toast. Toast is this girls jam. She will eat it plain, with butter, with almond butter, with jelly, with cream cheese...etc. She LOVES it. I try to make her eggs regularly, but she usually takes a few bites and leaves the rest behind. 

Lunch is often wheat crackers + cheese + fruit (blueberries and strawberries are her favorite) or quesadillas + fruit or grilled cheese + fruit (ALL on whole grain breads or tortillas). Clara is OBSESSED with smoothies.

Dinner can get interesting. This is the area we try to  adventure from kid staples, but maintain as much ease and healthfulness as possible. A HUGE challenge. The girls often refuse to eat much, but sometimes suprisingly eat a TON. Our consistent dinner successes (less adventurous) include homemade Chipotle bowls, quesadillas or burritos, pasta + veggies, veggie burgers + baked beans + fruit.

We rarely eat out, but both girls LOVE Panera, Jimmy Johns and pizza. 

She is amazing with cups. She can easily drink from any sippy or straw cup shes given without coughing or choking.

 "All done"

F A V O R I T E S

• Loves to dance . She dances every time she hears music or on command to "rocka-rocka" or "dance-a, dance-a."
• Loves to brush her hair. She proudly puts the brush or comb on her head. Still HATES headbands.
• Still LOVES the bathtub. She splashes like crazy and tries to climb in the tub if you are not fast enough getting her in.
• LOVES the pool. We recently took her to our rec center pool for the first time. She and Nora had an absolute blast walking, crawling and playing in the water.
• Still LOVES to play "peek-a-boo."
• Still is obsessed with Nora's teepee (shes getting one for her birthday). 
• Newly obessed with the play kitchen (her little one or Nora's bigger one). I recently moved it upstairs so the girls could more easily play with it. 
• She also loves Noras baby dolls and loves rocking them in the cradle. 
• Loves jumping in her crib with Nora. She is in L O V E with her big sister.
• Loves being outside but she is neutral about riding in the stroller. She'd much rather be on the move herself.
• She hates diaper changes, bibs, and car rides (still).
• Absolute favorite foods are blueberries, strawberries, yogurt, smoothies (she can drink us under the table) and toast.

T H E  S T A T S

Weight (home scale): 16.4-16.8 lbs ? (10-12%ile).

P H O T O S

XO!

Caity