Hi, I'm Cadence Ann, otherwise know as Cady(pronounced "KD"). I was born on September 18, 1997. I tried to come early but no one would let me!

My conception was a little of a suprise since Mom was still breastfeeding my then 7 mos. old brother. She also was going through some testing to find out why she was so exhausted (as if a new baby was exhausting enough!)

It turned out my mom was hypothyroid and needed to go on replacement hormones. The doctor had mentioned that Mom wouldn't get pregnant until her hormone levels were back to normal. Well, suprise! And so my conception itself was against the odds.

Mom was a little unsure of this new miracle. She was dealing with poopy diapers and morning sickness that lasted all day. She guessed I must be a girl since she was nauseaus from 4 weeks to 20 weeks! Yuck! She was so glad my brother would be happy to just sit still and play by himself at that time.

Well, Mom had to stop nursing Danny, since she was considered high risk for another preemie. Danny really didn't seem to mind as long as he got fed.

Things were looking good in the pregnancy, until the AFP came back low. An ultrasound was ordered to check dates and I was right on target. So, an amino was decided on. The day came and everything was all set. The OB used the ultrasound and then asked, if there was a problem, would mom and dad abort? They said no, and were a bit worried why the doctor asked. Well, he wanted to wait a week before the amino since there wasn't a very large spot of fluid to draw from. So, since time wasn't the issue, the amino was performed the following week. Everything went fine. Then, the wait for the results.

The results were a healthy baby! Me! What a relief! Mom and Dad chose to wait on finding out the sex until later. Mom had the nurse write the sex on a little card and seal it in an envelope. Mom and Dad opened it when the family was visiting my grandparents in California. A girl! Oh, boy!

Mom was 20 weeks pregnant with me when she was flying out to California and started to feel some contractions. But she ignored them since she wasn't sure and probably wasn't ready to deal with the thought of preterm contractions.

On the flight home though, Mom knew she was having contractions. She drank lots of fluids and went to the bathroom often and got up and walked like her sister had told her too. When we landed the contractions had stopped, but Mom called the OB the next day and went in to be checked. Her cevix was long and closed so things were ok. But the OB grounded Mom, which meant that it would be a while before I met my other grandma and aunt and uncle.

So, now it was 22 weeks and Mom was trying to prepare for some Sweet Adeline show. But her water broke with my brother after a day of singing. So Mom was much more aware everytime she sang with me. At about 22 weeks, her belly started to get tight on a regular basis everytime she sang. So, no more singing for Mom for a while.

Well, in early June, at 24 weeks, my aunt came to visit. So, we took her sightseeing to Skyline in the Shenandoah area and to Luray Caverns. This was great! But, Mom started contracting again when we were up in the mountains (3300'). But as soon as we were back down, things settled down. So, Mom was off to the OB again to be checked. No change.
Well, at 27 weeks, at home, Mom started feeling regular contractions about 3-4 an hour. The OB decided to start home monitoring to see what was going on. Mom was to go to a wedding in Massachusetts, normally an 8-10 hour drive away. The OB said ok as long as she monitored before she left and after she got there. She also needed to drink 8 oz an hour and walk for 5 minutes every hour. This made for a long trip, especially with a 13 month old along.

She also had a fibronectin test done before she left. This came back negative. I don't think the OB would have let Mom go if it hadn't!
The trip was fine, though long and the return was ok too. But the next week and resting as much as a mom can with an active 13 month old, Mom had to go on oral Terbutaline every 6 hours to calm now routine contractions. Mom had reacted her threshold once too often. So the shakes began.

At the point the OB, said let's see if we can get this baby to 32 weeks. Mom was put on house arrest and modified bedrest. She wasn't allowed to carry my brother and had to limit her trips up and down the stairs. She found two mother's helpers in the neighborhood who came for 4 hours a day 4 days a week to play with my brother. This helped my mom immensely.

It seemed as each week passed, Mom would have more and more contractions. She seemed to stay at her threshold or just over and so the terb needed to be increased. She quickly got to a tablet every 4 hours round the clock. Since she contracted the most in the am, those nighttime tablets were very important.The last two weeks she was taking the tablets every 3 1/2 hours. At least she never needed to worry about her asthma flaring.

Mom found the Matria nurses very supportive. They helped keep Mom sane. Mom was very frustrated that she kept contracting and the OB would just keep increasing the number of contractions allowed.

The reason given to Mom for the contractions was an irritable uterus. She didn't have much cervical change, yet my brother did come early so the OB and nurses wanted to be aggressive on treating the contractions.

Well, Mom ended up in the hospital only once for 5 hours to get some sub "q" terb at 34 weeks to help calm the contractions.

At 36 weeks, Mom was allowed to leave the house! She also was to stop the terb and the monitoring. She even was allowed to go to the neighborhood Labor Day picnic. (Dad had decided I would come on Labor Day since it would be just a fitting day for it! My brother had come on Mother's day when my mom was to become a mother for the first time.)

Mom started to get real sick of all of the contractions. She and Dad went to the hospital twice to be sent home later, because even though Mom had regular contractions every 5 minutes, her cervix still hadn't changed. The midwife told Mom to have a warm bath and a nice beer and try and get some sleep. Mom did this for 2 weeks.

Finally I was scheduled to be induced at 38 weeks 2 days gestation. My head was already measuring 100% and I was estimated at an 8 lb 12oz. baby. Well, the IV was started and the monitoring was started. Good regular contractions. Just like the day before and the day before, etc. The midwife asked to rupture the membranes to see if that would get things going. Boy, did it get going! Mom went into a 3 minute(!) contraction and my heartrate dropped! Mom's room got busy all of a sudden. She was given oxygen and turned onto her left side. Slowly the contraction subsided. Mom later found out she was seconds away from an emergency c-section.

So, after 6 hours of contractions, Mom was ready to push. The midwife decided I needed a hairwash in utero to help make me slide out easier. She also did perineal massage for 1 hour as Mom pushed me out into the world. But I stopped as soon as my head came out. My cord was around my neck sooo tight. Dad got to cut it off with the midwife's fingers protecting my lovely little neck (giggle). As soon as it was cut, I was free. And I let the world know and haven't stopped since.

It isn't known if the cord around my neck saved me from coming prematurely or not. But since my head was never really engaged until my water was broke, the OB thinks there is a good chance my cord did save me from an earlier arrival.

Mom will be writing a page soon describing her emotions with both my brother and my pregnancies and births. She and Dad are even seriously considering a third child since Danny and I are so cute and well behaved. (They haven't seen us as teenagers yet!) The decision to have a third is not an easy one so please read that page when it is written.

Mom and Dad realize how lucky they are to have two healthy children after eventful pregnancies! They wish health and happiness to all that read this!



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