So, I am within sight of my next weight loss/health goal. I mean less than a pound away! This is a pretty momentous one for me. I am so close to being my licence weight! I don't think I was even my licence weight when I got my licence! (Certainly not since). Besides this, there is only one more big momentous goal (which is pretty far out, but I will have intermediate mini goals). So, I need to treat myself! Not with food, that defeats my point. I don't need stuff really. Maybe it would be worth it to invest in clothing, but I still have another 10+ pounds to go, so it (hopefully) won't fit me for long. I could do manicure/pedicure, but then that gets in the way of going to the mikva and is annoying when it chips. Maybe a facial? Massage? I want it to be a good treat, but I also want to have something even better for when I hit my "dream weight." Hmmm... Just musing here. Let me know if you have any good ideas!
Thanks! Have a happy day!
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
How I got through Chag Shavuot
And now, for the post (I hope!) you've all been waiting for!
Let's talk about my chag! If you've been following along, you will know that over chag, I participated in the PCOS Diva jumpstart week. I have to admit I was skeptical. I assumed all I would gain would be some supplements I could take and some new recipes to add to my list of things I could eat.
As I started the week that Monday, I often felt like it couldn't work. I thought I was eating too much (which I was, but only a bit so I scaled back a tad) and would probably not lose weight. Not only did I lose a little weight, but I gained a whole new perspective. The focus of the week was not just on food, but on the whole body experience. By the end of the week I had lost a bit of weight (I didn't follow the food plan 100% because of kashrut, kiddush, and hamotzi) and even though I could not participate in everything as much as I would have liked (again, because it was chag and I couldn't go online) I really felt a change. I was calmer, more collected.
For instance, over chag we had a potluck at our house. I made challah. I prepared a double recipe but only put in one recipe's worth of yeast! Yikes! Then, I was baking something on chag for the potluck with my oven set to shabbat mode. I had (or so I thought) set my oven down to 175 degrees F before chag. So when I raised the temp to 350, it was actually over 500! It burnt what I was making and I did not have time to make another. Usually, this would trigger an emotional melt down. I would put up a calm face for the guests, but be miserable and a mess. I was calm and collected for real! That gave me such a boost, I felt even better about myself for taking everything in stride. It is such a good feeling to feel in control.
After reflecting from the week and trying to ingrain all the lessons learned, I realized that there are several aspects of my life I need to work on. One glaring one is my career. It is not fulfilling and there is almost no potential for me in my current job. Then I realized, it is staring me in the face! I have always had a passion for health and helping people. I had decided during college not to go into medical school. As I learn and research more about my health and the health of my family, I know the health field is where I need to go. So, I have decided to go to school to become a certified health coach! I know that the orthodox community is a community of bright, educated people. But sifting through everything and finding the time to plan and make good decisions is so challenging. Kiddush is so temping, and often lacking in healthy choices for nosh and drink (no water?? or even juice! why??). Chag is so crazy that often you have to whip together what is easy. I want to help you and your families live healthier, whole, and more fulfilling lives. I could not imagine a career more fulfilling for me.
By February, I will have certification to begin seeing clients at an introductory low rate. I will take on a limited number of clients as I transition from my current job, and build my practice from there. I hope to reach orthodox Jews throughout the globe and create a ripple effect in their communities to create a healthier, happier family unit.
I am excited and so relieved to have made this life choice. As expected, some family members were very supportive, others were skeptical, and still others I haven't really told yet... wish me luck in my new adventure!
Let's talk about my chag! If you've been following along, you will know that over chag, I participated in the PCOS Diva jumpstart week. I have to admit I was skeptical. I assumed all I would gain would be some supplements I could take and some new recipes to add to my list of things I could eat.
As I started the week that Monday, I often felt like it couldn't work. I thought I was eating too much (which I was, but only a bit so I scaled back a tad) and would probably not lose weight. Not only did I lose a little weight, but I gained a whole new perspective. The focus of the week was not just on food, but on the whole body experience. By the end of the week I had lost a bit of weight (I didn't follow the food plan 100% because of kashrut, kiddush, and hamotzi) and even though I could not participate in everything as much as I would have liked (again, because it was chag and I couldn't go online) I really felt a change. I was calmer, more collected.
For instance, over chag we had a potluck at our house. I made challah. I prepared a double recipe but only put in one recipe's worth of yeast! Yikes! Then, I was baking something on chag for the potluck with my oven set to shabbat mode. I had (or so I thought) set my oven down to 175 degrees F before chag. So when I raised the temp to 350, it was actually over 500! It burnt what I was making and I did not have time to make another. Usually, this would trigger an emotional melt down. I would put up a calm face for the guests, but be miserable and a mess. I was calm and collected for real! That gave me such a boost, I felt even better about myself for taking everything in stride. It is such a good feeling to feel in control.
After reflecting from the week and trying to ingrain all the lessons learned, I realized that there are several aspects of my life I need to work on. One glaring one is my career. It is not fulfilling and there is almost no potential for me in my current job. Then I realized, it is staring me in the face! I have always had a passion for health and helping people. I had decided during college not to go into medical school. As I learn and research more about my health and the health of my family, I know the health field is where I need to go. So, I have decided to go to school to become a certified health coach! I know that the orthodox community is a community of bright, educated people. But sifting through everything and finding the time to plan and make good decisions is so challenging. Kiddush is so temping, and often lacking in healthy choices for nosh and drink (no water?? or even juice! why??). Chag is so crazy that often you have to whip together what is easy. I want to help you and your families live healthier, whole, and more fulfilling lives. I could not imagine a career more fulfilling for me.
By February, I will have certification to begin seeing clients at an introductory low rate. I will take on a limited number of clients as I transition from my current job, and build my practice from there. I hope to reach orthodox Jews throughout the globe and create a ripple effect in their communities to create a healthier, happier family unit.
I am excited and so relieved to have made this life choice. As expected, some family members were very supportive, others were skeptical, and still others I haven't really told yet... wish me luck in my new adventure!
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Quick update
Hi Everyone!
As I mentioned before, next week will be the PCOS Jumpstart week. I have been reading through all of the material and buying everything I will need. I am nervous. I am also super excited! We are having a pot luck meal at our house over Shavuot. I will be eating my own thing, and that's ok! I am getting bored of eating the same foods and am really looking forward to finding more things I can safely eat.
Please be careful over chag, it is so easy to fall into the "trap" of just letting everything go for however many days you keep. IT IS NOT WORTH IT! As I heard someone say the other day: "Happiness before pleasure." I really like that. I officially met my next weight loss goal this morning, in time for Shavuot. And I am going to celebrate and treat myself. Not the way I used to. Not with food. I am going to go and get a nice wax and threading before chag to get rid of all those lovely hairs PCOS leaves me with. If my nails are long enough (I stress bite :( ), I might even get a mani/pedi!
I had a super stressful weekend last week. Thursday at work through shabbat afternoon I was a disastrous mess. I don't know how my DH put up with me. But I made it through that and am looking forward to change. I want to be me. The me that is not stress-ridden. The me that is confident in my own skin and at peace with myself. I saw this me once, when I was pregnant with my daughter. She was beautiful, happy, confident, and calm. I want her back. I know I will find her again. I am hoping this program will lead me on the path back to her. My supportive husband deserves it, my beautiful daughter deserves it, and I deserve it.
You deserve to find YOU! You are beautiful, smart, and an amazing human being. Never forget that or let anyone tell you otherwise.
Chag Sameach and Chodesh tov! See you on the other side of chag and I'll tell you all about my results :)
As I mentioned before, next week will be the PCOS Jumpstart week. I have been reading through all of the material and buying everything I will need. I am nervous. I am also super excited! We are having a pot luck meal at our house over Shavuot. I will be eating my own thing, and that's ok! I am getting bored of eating the same foods and am really looking forward to finding more things I can safely eat.
Please be careful over chag, it is so easy to fall into the "trap" of just letting everything go for however many days you keep. IT IS NOT WORTH IT! As I heard someone say the other day: "Happiness before pleasure." I really like that. I officially met my next weight loss goal this morning, in time for Shavuot. And I am going to celebrate and treat myself. Not the way I used to. Not with food. I am going to go and get a nice wax and threading before chag to get rid of all those lovely hairs PCOS leaves me with. If my nails are long enough (I stress bite :( ), I might even get a mani/pedi!
I had a super stressful weekend last week. Thursday at work through shabbat afternoon I was a disastrous mess. I don't know how my DH put up with me. But I made it through that and am looking forward to change. I want to be me. The me that is not stress-ridden. The me that is confident in my own skin and at peace with myself. I saw this me once, when I was pregnant with my daughter. She was beautiful, happy, confident, and calm. I want her back. I know I will find her again. I am hoping this program will lead me on the path back to her. My supportive husband deserves it, my beautiful daughter deserves it, and I deserve it.
You deserve to find YOU! You are beautiful, smart, and an amazing human being. Never forget that or let anyone tell you otherwise.
Chag Sameach and Chodesh tov! See you on the other side of chag and I'll tell you all about my results :)
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Post Pesach Life- Losing the pesach weight
It has been about a month since I have posted anything here, and I have been busy!
I managed to be really really good over pesach and only gained 2.5 pounds! As you guys know, for PCOS, and having to eat the seders so late and all that Matzo... I was very proud of myself! But then the shabbat after pesach was a disaster. It was my brother's last shabbat before aliyah and he and a lot of the family were staying with us. I wanted to make it special. And I ate waaaay too much. Over the course of shabbat I gained another 2.5 pounds. That put me a whole 5 pounds above my pre pesach weight. And I had not had a chance to work out at all over chag. I don't know about you, but that put me in a real funk. I was so unhappy, I had worked so hard to get the weight off and here it was heaping back on. I also found that since I was so much less strict with no dairy no gluten over chag I was soooo tired the whole time. I had so little energy. Not in the didn't get enough sleep last night kind of way. I felt almost drugged!
So I worked really hard and got myself back on the bandwagon. On shabbat, I don't eat at the shul kiddush- there is nothing there for me. When we go out for lunch, I eat a good helping of salad and a piece of chicken. If anything else looks really really good, I let myself have a bite from my husband's plate. I only eat one piece of challah (except mine- I can't help it- I am in love with my challah!). And this week I have not only blasted my pesach weight away, but I have finally hit one of my big goals! I am officially at my pre baby weight!!! I could never have gotten here without some very important things:
1) My husband- without his support I would have succumbed to depression and emotional eating again after pesach. He is my personal cheerleader. Do you have cheerleaders? I honestly believe this is perhaps the MOST important thing for me in getting healthy.
2) Finding some foods I can eat with less guit and still serve to guests. I found an awesome blog- mynewroots.org everything on it can be made kosher and most also pareve. I started using some of her desserts and my guests never knew it was so good for them! I am kind of obsessed with the blog now, and want to make everything in it! I don't have a lot of key ingredients yet, but I am working my way there.
Over pesach I found an awesome "truffle" recipe with cocoa (I don't have cacao yet, but I want to get it), dates, and nuts. You can customize it to almost everything. I have been playing with it to find some fun flavors.
The other day I made my own "nutella" I roasted some hazelnuts and processed the heck out of them with a few dates for sweetness, a splash of vanilla, and cocoa powder. It has been so decadent on fresh strawberries this week instead of my usual apple and almond butter snack. I feel like I am spoiling myself, BUT I AM STILL LOSING WEIGHT!
3) Other people asking how I do it. I have made noticeable changes. They have been drastic and sometimes it is really hard to stick to it. But when I twirled around on Sunday in a top I haven't worn since my seminary days, how could I not feel awesome?? I wore it to a vort on Sunday and my sister in law saw me and was asking all about how I am doing it.
4) I signed up for the PCOSDiva jumpstart program. It does not start for a few more weeks, so why is this helpful? Because the program is scheduled the week of shavuot. At first I was frustrated by this and wondering how in the world I would make that work. But then I realized, this is a blessing! I look forward to, but also dread the chaggim. I hate to look at the scale after them. But this chag will be different. I spent the money and will stick to a careful meal plan. I won't get that feeling of "why try anyway" before chag. Shavuot should not set me back this year! This means no cheese cake, but it also means getting closer and closer to my "dream weight."
5) Do you have a "dream weight"? I do. But focusing on it can be depressing and trying. You always feel so so far from where you want to be. For me, I have found setting small achievable goals along the way keeps me in check and moving to my ultimate "dream goal." There are different levels to the different goals. This week I hit a momentous one- pre-baby weight. I am setting another goal for before shavuot, but this will be a smaller one. Then I will set another one, which will also be a momentous one when I hit it. Do you have a piece of clothing you have been holding onto for years dreaming of the day you will fit into it again? I do. I am just two goals away from getting there! But I won't stop there. After that I will have 10+ pound before I get to my "dream weight" and I will have many baby step goals on the way. Meeting these goals gives you a sense of accomplishment and pride, gets you closer to where you want to go, and the motivation to get there. Try it!
What about you? Do you have any special foods or recipes that allow you to feel like you still get to eat, but are helping with your weight struggle? What are your keys for staying on track? I would love to hear about them! I could probably learn a thing or two!
I managed to be really really good over pesach and only gained 2.5 pounds! As you guys know, for PCOS, and having to eat the seders so late and all that Matzo... I was very proud of myself! But then the shabbat after pesach was a disaster. It was my brother's last shabbat before aliyah and he and a lot of the family were staying with us. I wanted to make it special. And I ate waaaay too much. Over the course of shabbat I gained another 2.5 pounds. That put me a whole 5 pounds above my pre pesach weight. And I had not had a chance to work out at all over chag. I don't know about you, but that put me in a real funk. I was so unhappy, I had worked so hard to get the weight off and here it was heaping back on. I also found that since I was so much less strict with no dairy no gluten over chag I was soooo tired the whole time. I had so little energy. Not in the didn't get enough sleep last night kind of way. I felt almost drugged!
So I worked really hard and got myself back on the bandwagon. On shabbat, I don't eat at the shul kiddush- there is nothing there for me. When we go out for lunch, I eat a good helping of salad and a piece of chicken. If anything else looks really really good, I let myself have a bite from my husband's plate. I only eat one piece of challah (except mine- I can't help it- I am in love with my challah!). And this week I have not only blasted my pesach weight away, but I have finally hit one of my big goals! I am officially at my pre baby weight!!! I could never have gotten here without some very important things:
1) My husband- without his support I would have succumbed to depression and emotional eating again after pesach. He is my personal cheerleader. Do you have cheerleaders? I honestly believe this is perhaps the MOST important thing for me in getting healthy.
2) Finding some foods I can eat with less guit and still serve to guests. I found an awesome blog- mynewroots.org everything on it can be made kosher and most also pareve. I started using some of her desserts and my guests never knew it was so good for them! I am kind of obsessed with the blog now, and want to make everything in it! I don't have a lot of key ingredients yet, but I am working my way there.
Over pesach I found an awesome "truffle" recipe with cocoa (I don't have cacao yet, but I want to get it), dates, and nuts. You can customize it to almost everything. I have been playing with it to find some fun flavors.
The other day I made my own "nutella" I roasted some hazelnuts and processed the heck out of them with a few dates for sweetness, a splash of vanilla, and cocoa powder. It has been so decadent on fresh strawberries this week instead of my usual apple and almond butter snack. I feel like I am spoiling myself, BUT I AM STILL LOSING WEIGHT!
3) Other people asking how I do it. I have made noticeable changes. They have been drastic and sometimes it is really hard to stick to it. But when I twirled around on Sunday in a top I haven't worn since my seminary days, how could I not feel awesome?? I wore it to a vort on Sunday and my sister in law saw me and was asking all about how I am doing it.
4) I signed up for the PCOSDiva jumpstart program. It does not start for a few more weeks, so why is this helpful? Because the program is scheduled the week of shavuot. At first I was frustrated by this and wondering how in the world I would make that work. But then I realized, this is a blessing! I look forward to, but also dread the chaggim. I hate to look at the scale after them. But this chag will be different. I spent the money and will stick to a careful meal plan. I won't get that feeling of "why try anyway" before chag. Shavuot should not set me back this year! This means no cheese cake, but it also means getting closer and closer to my "dream weight."
5) Do you have a "dream weight"? I do. But focusing on it can be depressing and trying. You always feel so so far from where you want to be. For me, I have found setting small achievable goals along the way keeps me in check and moving to my ultimate "dream goal." There are different levels to the different goals. This week I hit a momentous one- pre-baby weight. I am setting another goal for before shavuot, but this will be a smaller one. Then I will set another one, which will also be a momentous one when I hit it. Do you have a piece of clothing you have been holding onto for years dreaming of the day you will fit into it again? I do. I am just two goals away from getting there! But I won't stop there. After that I will have 10+ pound before I get to my "dream weight" and I will have many baby step goals on the way. Meeting these goals gives you a sense of accomplishment and pride, gets you closer to where you want to go, and the motivation to get there. Try it!
What about you? Do you have any special foods or recipes that allow you to feel like you still get to eat, but are helping with your weight struggle? What are your keys for staying on track? I would love to hear about them! I could probably learn a thing or two!
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Surprise!
I don't follow the same sort of regimen on Shabbat/Chag, I am still working on sorting that out. But I think it is helping.
A few months ago, I had the best week, followed by the worst week, but am trying to see the silver lining.
I found out I am pregnant! I had seem my OB and RE and been told it won't happen while I am BFing my daughter, but when I am ready to start, they can start me on some meds. BUT IT HAPPENED! I was over the moon! My husband and I were beyond ourselves with joy! I still hadn't lost enough weight, but who cared?!?! I got a beta HCG test Friday and waited for the results. Monday morning couldn't come soon enough.
Just under a week after we found out I was pregnant, our world came crashing down. Monday morning, after I called for the results (a positive!) I started spotting. There was tissue. Panicking, I called my doctor. They said it didn't sound good, and had me go for another test. That 24 hours was terrible. I started bleeding heavily and was crying on and off all day. No matter what happened the next day, I already knew. I went into work Tuesday, prepared to tell my boss my suspicions in case I needed to go to the doctor. But my doctor called first. The numbers had gone down. I was having a miscarriage, and they wanted me to come in. In tears, I told my boss what had happened, and as she has been with all of my ordeals, she was very sympathetic and told me to take care of myself.
The doctor confirmed that my cervix was open and told us what we needed to do. I went numb. But I couldn't wallow in it. I had a beautiful 1 year old demanding my attention and to dance with her and sing her songs. And deep down I knew we had still won. Even if I had miscarried, I knew deep down it could happen to any pregnancy, but the point was we had done it! I had gotten pregnant. And no matter the outcome, I had to remember, that was a win!
Chag Kasher V'Sameach
A few months ago, I had the best week, followed by the worst week, but am trying to see the silver lining.
I found out I am pregnant! I had seem my OB and RE and been told it won't happen while I am BFing my daughter, but when I am ready to start, they can start me on some meds. BUT IT HAPPENED! I was over the moon! My husband and I were beyond ourselves with joy! I still hadn't lost enough weight, but who cared?!?! I got a beta HCG test Friday and waited for the results. Monday morning couldn't come soon enough.
Just under a week after we found out I was pregnant, our world came crashing down. Monday morning, after I called for the results (a positive!) I started spotting. There was tissue. Panicking, I called my doctor. They said it didn't sound good, and had me go for another test. That 24 hours was terrible. I started bleeding heavily and was crying on and off all day. No matter what happened the next day, I already knew. I went into work Tuesday, prepared to tell my boss my suspicions in case I needed to go to the doctor. But my doctor called first. The numbers had gone down. I was having a miscarriage, and they wanted me to come in. In tears, I told my boss what had happened, and as she has been with all of my ordeals, she was very sympathetic and told me to take care of myself.
The doctor confirmed that my cervix was open and told us what we needed to do. I went numb. But I couldn't wallow in it. I had a beautiful 1 year old demanding my attention and to dance with her and sing her songs. And deep down I knew we had still won. Even if I had miscarried, I knew deep down it could happen to any pregnancy, but the point was we had done it! I had gotten pregnant. And no matter the outcome, I had to remember, that was a win!
Chag Kasher V'Sameach
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Learning about PCOS
After the baby, I saw all of my friends drop the baby weight and I struggled so much with mine. I couldn't get it to budge. I was no longer on metformin. I started getting weekly migraines. And this is where my PCOS journey really kicks off. This is where I was when I started this blog. I started searching online for information, gathering what I could to try to get back on track. It had been a year since I had that beautiful baby girl, but I hadn't lost more than 1 or 2 pounds.
After researching, I asked my doctor to put me back on metformin. I am still breastfeeding so she was hesitant, but agreed to put me on a low dose to see if I could lose some weight and start combating the migraines.
I found a blog, pcosdiva.com, and started incorporating some of her advice. I am pleased to say, I have now lost a total of 15+ pounds of the pregnancy weight, but I still have quite a bit to go.
I would like to start sharing recipes and tips I found that have helped me so far. If you have any sage advice, please chime in!!
1) I don't eat after 7 pm
2) EAT BREAKFAST
3) Avoid soy- it increases your already high estrogen levels (I know this is hard as it is used in so much and is a big dairy substitute on shabbat)
4) Eat a snack mid morning and mid afternoon
5) Have a light dinner
6) Drink at least 8 cups of water every day and avoid caffeinated/sugary drinks
7) Stay away from artificial sweeteners
8) Treat your body like a diabetic's- I am trying to learn what to do to keep my blood sugar stable
9) Stay away from refined sugars and carbs (I break this rule for shabbat)
10) Don't beat yourself up if you fall off the bandwagon a bit!
11) I have started avoiding most dairy products due to the high levels of hormones pumped into the cows
12) Find a workout, any workout, you can get yourself to do. I tried Jill Michaels 30 day shred. It is only about 30 min a day, but it has an end, something I can look forward to and see results by.
I still weigh myself every day to learn how what I am eating (and how the exercise/ my sleep habits)affects my weight. An example day for me would be:
What do you think? I'm still learning, but see in the next post why I think this might by working for me.
After researching, I asked my doctor to put me back on metformin. I am still breastfeeding so she was hesitant, but agreed to put me on a low dose to see if I could lose some weight and start combating the migraines.
I found a blog, pcosdiva.com, and started incorporating some of her advice. I am pleased to say, I have now lost a total of 15+ pounds of the pregnancy weight, but I still have quite a bit to go.
I would like to start sharing recipes and tips I found that have helped me so far. If you have any sage advice, please chime in!!
1) I don't eat after 7 pm
2) EAT BREAKFAST
3) Avoid soy- it increases your already high estrogen levels (I know this is hard as it is used in so much and is a big dairy substitute on shabbat)
4) Eat a snack mid morning and mid afternoon
5) Have a light dinner
6) Drink at least 8 cups of water every day and avoid caffeinated/sugary drinks
7) Stay away from artificial sweeteners
8) Treat your body like a diabetic's- I am trying to learn what to do to keep my blood sugar stable
9) Stay away from refined sugars and carbs (I break this rule for shabbat)
10) Don't beat yourself up if you fall off the bandwagon a bit!
11) I have started avoiding most dairy products due to the high levels of hormones pumped into the cows
12) Find a workout, any workout, you can get yourself to do. I tried Jill Michaels 30 day shred. It is only about 30 min a day, but it has an end, something I can look forward to and see results by.
I still weigh myself every day to learn how what I am eating (and how the exercise/ my sleep habits)affects my weight. An example day for me would be:
breakfast:
steel cut oatmeal with protein powder, wheat germ, cinnamon, ground flax seed, coconut oil, maple syrup, and berries
morning snack:
home made "larabar"- these are easy and awesome! you can find tons of recipes online (or make your own! I have found a ratio of 2 Cups nuts/seeds : 2 Cups dates : 1 Cup other dried fruit works well, it makes about 16 bars- you can also add a splash of lemon juice, vanilla, chai seeds, cinnamon nutmeg, etc.- let your mind run wild), make ahead and keep them in the freezer to grab in the morning
lunch:
salad: spinach and/or kale, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, avocado, craisins, half a baked boneless skinless chicken breast, and a hard boiled egg (only half the yoke) I dress it with a bit of light basalmic vinegar
afternoon snack:
apple and 1 tablespoon of almond butter
dinner:
egg white omelet with veggies or some home made veggie soup
What do you think? I'm still learning, but see in the next post why I think this might by working for me.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Having the baby
My doctor and the doctor on call disagreed where to send me. My doctor thought it would be fast and they should put me right into labor and delivery. The doctor on call said no, send her to high risk perinatal to watch her during the induction. So after several hours, off I went to HRP to get induced. I had only eaten a morning star farms breakfast pattie for breakfast, and this was already early afternoon. Knowing there could be several hours ahead of us, we asked if I could eat. I was told to eat until midnight (big mistake). The doctor came to put the gel in to start the effacement and informed me to have some sleep, they would check on me at around 7:30 the next morning to start pitocin. Ha.
The contractions started getting stronger later that night, but the nurse didn't believe me because the monitors didn't show them to be as strong. Until she saw me during one of them, after I had asked for something for the pain. She said I had two options: an iv which would make me drowsy or to go to L&D and get the epidural. I said I would try the other meds first. They didn't help. Every time I got drowsy another contraction would start and I felt the full pain. So I asked to be transferred. I should not have waited. It was a few hours before they could transfer me and get in the order for the epidural. By that point I was past 10 on the pain scale if you asked me (or my poor husband). The anesthesiologist was with another patient so I would have to wait. I was finally seen around 12:30 am.
He got the epidural in me with no problem and laid me down so it could start to take affect. My blood pressure immediately plummeted, I got light headed and threw up everything I had eaten. (Sorry a bit graphic). Once they stabilized me, they suggested I get some rest for the work to come.
A few hours later, the nurse came in to check on me and asked me- when did your water break?!?! I had no clue. I couldn't feel anything down there! I was almost ready to have the baby she said. After talking to the doctor, they decided that instead of pushing I should wait a little longer. So I waited. Then they decided around 6:45 am to have me push. With about 3 pushes, the baby was out and my husband announced "it's a girl!" She was born at 6:57 am. Pitocin at 7:30? Yeah, I don't think so! She weighted just 5 lb, 11.7 oz of perfection. She was healthy. I could not believe it.
Thankfully, with the help of a lactation consultant, we were able to get her breastfeeding and she has developed normally and been the joy of our lives since.
The contractions started getting stronger later that night, but the nurse didn't believe me because the monitors didn't show them to be as strong. Until she saw me during one of them, after I had asked for something for the pain. She said I had two options: an iv which would make me drowsy or to go to L&D and get the epidural. I said I would try the other meds first. They didn't help. Every time I got drowsy another contraction would start and I felt the full pain. So I asked to be transferred. I should not have waited. It was a few hours before they could transfer me and get in the order for the epidural. By that point I was past 10 on the pain scale if you asked me (or my poor husband). The anesthesiologist was with another patient so I would have to wait. I was finally seen around 12:30 am.
He got the epidural in me with no problem and laid me down so it could start to take affect. My blood pressure immediately plummeted, I got light headed and threw up everything I had eaten. (Sorry a bit graphic). Once they stabilized me, they suggested I get some rest for the work to come.
A few hours later, the nurse came in to check on me and asked me- when did your water break?!?! I had no clue. I couldn't feel anything down there! I was almost ready to have the baby she said. After talking to the doctor, they decided that instead of pushing I should wait a little longer. So I waited. Then they decided around 6:45 am to have me push. With about 3 pushes, the baby was out and my husband announced "it's a girl!" She was born at 6:57 am. Pitocin at 7:30? Yeah, I don't think so! She weighted just 5 lb, 11.7 oz of perfection. She was healthy. I could not believe it.
Thankfully, with the help of a lactation consultant, we were able to get her breastfeeding and she has developed normally and been the joy of our lives since.
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