December 11th, 2010

3 Years Ago

Three years ago, I went into the hospital to have my oldest son. While the birth experience was horrid, I have worked over these years to put it behind me and take what I can of the positives and make the goal of moving on. In the back of my head the events of that day will never be forgiven, but I certainly do understand why my providers handled my delivery the way they did… Simple enough?

They didn’t know any better…

Over the past three years, I have learned through the mistake I made of being induced, I have certainly become a different person, more educated, and my son has taught me the most amazing life lessons. First lesson was being a mother. Breastfeeding, diapers, and everything that goes along with motherhood. I think in the past year the biggest lessons he has taught me include patience and tolerance. There are some days I look at him, or something he says and think to myself… what in the hell?  Where did he learn that… OH the fire house…

But no matter what, he is my first born, the love of my life, my clown. He truly takes after his father in the clown department. He is truly an Elwood male!   I can’t imagine my life without him, and every day with him is a huge adventure.

Happy 3rd Birthday Camden! from Danielle Elwood on Vimeo.

June 25th, 2010

25 Years Already?

Some of you may or may not know, but today I celebrate my 25th birthday at 7:35pm tonight. I woke up to a TON of emails, facebook messages, text messages, wall posts, and phone calls.
So I wanted to make a little post that will probably be more important to me than most people…

It all started in 1985. I was born on June 25th, just hours after my grandfather had been rushed to the hospital in critical condition. My mother was 10 days overdue, and she decided to go ahead with an induction in light of the situation. They all wanted my grandfather to be able to meet me. Unfortunately that never happened.  Although I grew up with a second Grandfather who was such an amazing man, and such a role model for all of us Grand kids.

That is me as a baby with my Grandpa Bill. Anyways…. I am told I was a good baby, and then I became a good kid. Did Karate, softball, and I was one of those kids that my mother would have to pull back into the house at dark in the summer because I could get lost in our neighborhood for hours. Between the beach, the wooded area next to our house, and all that we had available it was an awesome place to raise kids.

Despite my tomboy nature, my mother continued to dress me in everything pink she could find. No wonder after all these years I am JUST finally coming around to the color pink again right? But it didn’t just stop at the pink… Holiday’s were even worse..

Yes, that is Thanksgiving, and yes, I am dressed up as a Pilgrim. Maybe I should do this to my kids?  You think they might hate me? LOL!

Overall I had an awesome upbringing, my parents always went out of their way, and above what sometimes was affordable to make sure I was happy, or got to keep up with the other kids in our neighborhood….. Then I became a hellion of a teen. LOL

Certainly not as bad as my siblings, but I did give my parents a slight run for their money. I think I realized in 1999 when my dad was seriously injured at work, it was time to put the games away, step up and be more than just some punk ass teen, and be a good kid and I straightened out quick.

My teen into twenties, I became more independent than most of the kids I went to school with, and lived on my own 12 hours away from my family and friends in North Carolina. That certainly didn’t last long. Heartbreak, lack of family, and having nothing there I got home sick.

Built my collection of tattoos, worked, and hung out with friends. That is when I got back in touch with someone I went to high school with. A friend for over 7 years, went to the Marines for 5 years and had just returned back to Connecticut. The rest….

Is History…

Happy 25 years to myself… May the next 25 years bring as much surprise, joy, happiness, and miracles as the first 25 did!

May 17th, 2010

Happy First Birthday Benjamin!

Well, this time a year ago, I was getting set up for an epidural. I had been awake for 30 hours, my labor wasn’t progressing, and we were all really at a loss. I needed sleep, and everyone, except for my husband really agreed the epidural may be most helpful. I think Will disagreed with it so much because I had told him and basically drilled it into his head for 9 months that I would not be having one this time around, but none of us anticipated a back labor that would span over 26 hours either.

Complication after complication started when I woke up a little before noon. My cervix was starting to swell, and Ben just wouldn’t come down past -1 station. We tried everything to get him to budge, and he wouldn’t move.  At this point I think the giant elephant in the room became more and more apparent to everyone. It took me about an hour to come to terms that the only way Benjamin was safely coming into this would was by a second cesarean section, which I worked so hard through my entire pregnancy to avoid.

Benjamin Emil Elwood was born at 1:59 pm via cesarean section weighing in at 7 pounds, and 3 ounces. Smaller than my oldest, even though I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes with my pregnancy. The moment I saw him, right after they removed him from the incision in my abdomen, I could see a giant bruise on his forehead. It took the on call OB, and the Resident on staff for the day to get him out. He was JAMMED in there.  No way he would have descended anymore than he had.  I think that made me feel slightly better than I originally felt with the decision to consent to the second cesarean.

I know looking back at all that happened with his birth, there is nothing that I could have done differently to change the outcome of my birth experience. I think that is what has helped me be more accepting of his birth than my first. Had I not consented and continued to labor, I not only could have hurt myself, but I could have hurt myself.  I desperately wanted a VBAC, but I am not a martyr, and I would not do it at the expense of anyone’s safety.  Contrary to what some seem to think.

Looking back, there is nothing that I would have changed. Not getting pregnant when Camden was only 8 months old, not choosing the midwives I did, nothing. I loved every moment of my pregnancy with Benjamin, while I may not feel the same about his delivery, I was blessed with such a unique, bright, and beautiful little boy who was always meant to be part of our family.

I certainly do not feel that our family is complete, but for the time being, it certainly is. I think after Ben’s birth, both my husband and I are certainly scared to have anymore children any time soon. The two cesareans have been emotionally trying on both of us, and certainly physically trying on me. It took me nearly 3 weeks to actually feel human after Ben was born, and to remove myself from my dark bedroom and join the rest of the world.

There is so much my little Jo Jo (one of Ben’s many nicknames) has taught me. One being that no matter what we do as parents, sometimes our children have other plans for us.  Ben was exclusively breastfed for the first 5 weeks of his life, during that time, we couldn’t figure out why he was so colicy but in reality, it was a reaction to my milk. We tried everything from dietary changed, to a variety of formulas before we finally found something that would work for him. It was the longest 8 weeks of my life. Cap that off with 3 surgeries (for me) starting when Ben was only 5 weeks old… I think that seriously aided to the stress in the house.

He is the light of all of our lives, including his big brother Camden. I thought there would be some jealousy issues in the house between the two children, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Camden has been the most attentive big brother. Loving, teaching, and overall infatuated with his little brother. I really could not have asked for a better big brother.

The process of transitioning from a mother of one, to a mother of two would have made me insane if I didn’t have the help of my husband. The day we brought Ben home from the hospital, our oldest got his first flu of his life. Such timing!

There are some days I am sure I am going to lose my mind before my husband gets home from work, but I somehow manage to keep it together till he walks through the door and the kids clamor to him like they haven’t seen him in a year.

Wow!  I just can’t believe that it has been a year already!  Where does the time go?  It feels like yesterday he was born and I was cradling him in my arms in my hospital bed waiting for one of the nurses to come in and yell at me for co-sleeping!

Benjamin Emil, you have changed my life in so many ways. Given me and understanding of difficult parenting, and children. Taught me the feelings and emotions that go with a medically necessary cesarean section, which has enabled to me help mothers on a whole new level.  You are the light of my life and Mommy loves you so much!

Happy first birthday Ben!

May 16th, 2010

One Year Ago

Where was I one year ago?

Well, the day began (it was a Saturday) by packing up all of my ICAN of Connecticut materials, brochures, information hand outs, and heading out to the Griffin Hospital Baby Fair (which I did yesterday).  When I got there I was just fine. I had repeatedly told my very pregnant belly to stay put until after the baby fair. Griffin is the only hospital in the area that really hosts a baby fair anymore, and it was my second year doing it.  I was lucky enough to have a booth outside, right next to my Chiropractor!

I talked to new mothers, cesarean mothers, and my amigo Liz who came down all the way from the Hartford area to help with the booth, as I met her through ICAN. My parents stopped by, my best friend Leigh came by. It was like one big party, and we were all having a great time. Around noon time I started to feel a little…. under the weather so everyone forced me to eat the lunch which was provided for us. A turkey wrap and some chips with a bottle of water. Which was followed by a nice adjustment from my Chiropractor.

That was the last straw. I felt worse.
I started having  contractions, closer, and closer together and by the time 2pm rolled around, everyone packed my car up for me and I was on my way home to attempt a nap. I figured the contractions would stop, like they had previously, and we would be welcoming a June baby, not a May boy.

Boy was I wrong!

By 7 I was in full blown labor. I called my doula and my best friend, and a short time later the entourage arrived at my front door. Karen (my doula) gave my midwife (Sarah was on call) a quick call to let her know what was going on, and she told me sternly to stay at home as long as possible!!!!

With strict instructions from Sarah I stayed home and labored with the support of my friends, and my husband.  He was my comic relief in it all.  His job virtually the whole time was to keep music going.  I think the music when I was in labor helped the most.  (For a laugh, check out a sample of our playlist)

We also watched the Nascar all star race, while I was using the birth ball, on my hands and knees in the living room trying desperately to help with my back labor.

It seems like hours were only minutes, and around midnight we were discussing calling my midwife again as my contractions were about a minute apart and we had a 30-45 minute drive to the hospital of my choice.   My VBAC was so important to myself, and my health that I interviewed several local providers, checked into hospital VBAC and cesarean statistics, and made an educated decision this time around, instead of picking a provider that simply took our insurance, and delivered at the hospital I wanted to.  (While the hospital I had Camden, my oldest at was nice, I would not go back there for another delivery after researching their statistics and reputation).

We headed out in a 3 car convoy. In the first car was my doula Karen, and myself. I was laying across the back seat with my cup of ice, which was all I wanted to eat at that point.  I went with her so I could continue to listen to her iPod relaxations materials. Then behind us was Will, and then behind Will was my best friend Leigh.

I will leave you with this until tomorrow…. with the Happy Birthday post for my Benjamin’s first birthday.