Aidan, The First Few Months

When my water broke at 30 weeks, Steve and I were shocked, panicked and unsure about everything. We had only been to two of our Childbirth Prep classes, we didn't have a car seat yet, I hadn't had my baby shower. It started at 2am, and Steve, being the sweet husband that he is, told me "It's okay if you wet the bed." So we called our doctor who told us to go to the hospital. I was then put on hospital bed rest and stayed put for three weeks.

During these weeks Steve slept in my room each night on the uncomfortable couch and I stuck to a rigid routine which consisted of: Breakfast; Price is Right and Cribbage time with my dad; lunch with Steve; Friends episodes and chatting with my Mom; nap time; dinner, games and dancing with Steve (Steve was the dancer).

So after almost 3 weeks in the hospital on bed rest, Aidan decided he couldn't wait any longer and I delivered on Friday, February 8th at 12:18 pm. He was just under 4 pounds and about 17 inches long. He was in the hospital for five weeks and came home on oxygen and a heart monitor on March 10th.


After weekly doctor appointments for the first few weeks, he was off the heart monitor in late March and off the oxygen May 7th. 

Notes:

• I had two steroid shots to help Aidan's lungs develop.
• Steve gave me and Aidan the most beautiful blessing.
• I got in trouble once for being out of bed when I shouldn't have been
• I realized I had an awesome doctor - she came to visit me just about daily and took care of any annoyances (like the peds nurse who kept coming to visit me or the middle of the night meds)
• While in my room with my mom, a nurse came in and said to her "and you must be the Grandma" and my mom said "no, I'm the mom!"
• I don't know that I have ever felt the strength and power of prayer as much as I did at this time. Through out the entire experience, I felt calm and contented.
• An amniocentesis is something I never want to do again - ever! I knew those childbirth prep class would be worth it - the breathing techniques we learned there were priceless.
• I have wonderful friends and family whom I am extremely grateful for.
• The day to day nurses really do matter!
• In our next labor and delivery, Steve will need to stay near the top of the bed.
• An epidural is the only way to go for me.