What we've been waiting so long for...

Evan Edward McNeil was born Monday, May 17 at 1:47 pm. The delivery could not have gone any better. First some pictures then the story.

We went in Monday morning for the induction at 7am. I was 3 cm dilated, 70% effaced, and he was at a -1 station. They began pitocin at 8. Dr Meritt broke my water around 8:30. Contractions quickly became intense. I had an epidural at 10:45. At 11:30, I was 5 cm and 90%. My parents and sister brought Luc up. I called the nurse around 1 because I thought I had to go to the bathroom (NUMBER 2). She said she would come check me because it sounded like the baby was dropping. At 1:20, I was "complete" (10 cm, 100%, +1). She told me not to push because nothing in the room was ready. Two more nurses ran in to set up. Dr Meritt came in and I began pushing at 1:35. Evan was born at 1:47.

This was definitely a blessing for the end of this pregnancy. For those of you who know what happened when I had Luc, this experience has been so much different. I have been walking the halls and doing so much more than I could even think about doing after I had Luc.

Thank you so much for all the prayers!!!

38 weeks!!!

Who knew that we would have made it to 38 weeks pregnant 2 months ago? We're here! This will probably be my last pre-baby post. Hopefully, the next post will be pictures of a healthy beautiful baby.

We have to be at the hospital in the morning at 6:30 for the induction. I'm hoping that these contractions will become regular tonight/early in the morning and I will go into labor on my own. If that doesn't happen, I am praying for a much quicker less-traumatic delivery than last time.

Here is our last pregnancy picture...

and the timelines...

32 weeks, 36 weeks, 38 weeks

37 week update

I had a very uncomfortable night last night. We debated on calling the nurse. I was having 6-8 contractions every hour but then I wouldn't have a contraction for 30 minutes or so. I was also feeling lots of pressure. I felt so sure that I would go in for my doctor visit today and be at least a little further along.

NO. It was so frustrating. I am still at 2 cm dilated and 60% effacement. They do want to check me once more before the big day Monday. I will go in Thursday afternoon. We'll see if anything changes between now and then.

I also felt sure that something would happen today because of my luck. Today, Dr Meritt is off. Tomorrow Brian and I are having a brunch date while Luc is in preschool. Tomorrow night is my diaper shower/girls night out that I am really looking forward to. Wednesday, Brian will be on campus. Thursday, Brian has to give a final and it's our anniversary/date night. And my parents won't get here until the weekend. So if something is going to happen, it's going to happen today, tonight, or in the morning.

Another video

Here is another video. You can really see his feet and knees now. The best part of the video is after the camera goes from Luc back to my belly. He stretches his foot across my side.


a big kick from Noelle McNeil on Vimeo.

What a difference...

Multiple days a week of chicken buscuit breakfast at Chick-fil-a AND late after snacks of 10 pc McNugget meals from McDonalds will make. That's what I blame my massive swelling during my pregnancy with Luc on. And I was driving 180 miles every day to/from work.

Check out my huge face at 37 weeks pregnant with Luc

I noticed this morning that my nose is getting a little bigger but it doesn't compare to last time.

And these...

...not this time

36 weeks!

12 wks, 16 wks, 20 wks, 24 wks, 28 wks

32 wks, 36 wks

Yep it's a true blessing from God! I have made it to 36 weeks. I think I saw that every week but it's true. I was not suppose to make it this far...according to doctors. Dr DeStefano and Dr Meritt were both very happy to see me this morning...still pregnant.

I feel fine except for tiredness. I am also having contractions a good bit but they aren't usually painful. I am not sleeping well at night at all. I wake up about 6-10 times a night to go to the bathroom...sometimes I wake up twice within the same hour. I have also been having more contractions at nighttime which wake me. Sometimes I can't go back to sleep so I lay there for a while. This same thing happened with Luc. I felt more rested after I had Luc than during the last month of pregnancy.

Dr DeStefano said he looks great on ultrasound. The placenta still looks great. There is good blood flow in the umbilical cord. This sweet little baby weighs about 6 lb 13 oz. It is becoming more difficult to see him on the 3&4D u/s because he is getting plump and squished. Here he is sticking his tongue out.

So May 17th is a go unless I have him before then. I am about 2 cm dilated, my cervix is thinned, and he has dropped. Dr Meritt thinks I may go into labor on my own before the 17th. Even if I don't, I am so excited to have a date to see and hold this baby. We are so ready for him to be here.

35 weeks!

Well I made it to 35 weeks...with another scare.

Saturday was a beautiful day. Luc and I had a fun filled day going to the park then going to a friend's baby shower/cook out. We were about to head out when I noticed a slight amount of blood after I went to the bathroom. I debated on calling the nurse. I have been feeling like I had an infection or something and it was such a tiny amount. This was nothing like past scary experiences. I called anyway though. The nurse would not let me explain what was going on. As soon as she heard the word blood and saw my records, she said "you need to go right to the hospital".

I took my time getting some things together and trying to find someone to watch Luc for me (Brian was out of town). We got to the hospital and I got hooked up on the monitors. Luc was very good while the nurse was tending to me. Caren met us shortly after I got hooked up and he was super happy to go with her. He didn't even look at me when they left. He was just ready to get out of there.

So the doctor came in and saw no indication of blood. He did a fetal fibronectin test (tells if you may go into labor soon), a urine analysis, and a test for yeast infection. All this took several hours. I was waiting all this time with nothing to eat of drink. By the end of everything, it was about 3:00 and I had had no food or water since 8ish...not good for a pregnant person.

As the nurse was coming in, I had a pretty strong contraction and the baby's heartrate dropped significantly. The doctor told me that he would not let me go. They wanted to monitor the heartrate while I was having contractions. I had several more contractions and his heartrate dropped a couple more times. I tried to explain that I had had nothing to drink since about 8ish in the morning. They wouldn't bring me any water in case they had to do emergency surgery. Finally, they got me settled in my room and brought me some water. The contractions slowed down. duh!

I had lots of contraction throughout the night. The nurse came in one time to ask me how I was doing. I was sleeping as best I could. She said that I had been having lots of strong contractions. They weren't bothering me so she let me go back to sleep. The contractions that I had during the night and during the day Sunday, were not affecting the baby's heartrate.

They did two ultrasound tests while I was there. The test was to watch the baby's movements during a certain amount of time. He did great on both tests.

I finally got to come home yesterday afternoon. They told me to just be very aware of his movements and to stay hydrated. I will see Dr Meritt and Dr DeStefano next Monday. Hopefully, all these contractons are doing something and my body will be ready to deliver on the 17th.

34 week prenatal visit

Wahoo 34 WEEKS!

I saw Dr Meritt today for my 34 week prenatal visit. I was a bit nervous because I had to take Luc with me and it was during his naptime. He did great though. Everything looks good. Of course, she is still very pleased that I am doing well.

I have been having contractions. They are more frequent and more intense than I had with Luc. I think they are just Braxton Hicks though. I have had a couple of pretty painful ones that have waken me up the past few nights. Dr Meritt told me that she would check my cervix if it would make me feel better. She said at this point, if I do go into actual labor, she would not stop it. I didn't have her check me since 1) Luc would not sit still and 2) if the contractions are doing anything, I don't want to know about it until Brian gets back in town.

So, unless anything changes, Dr Meritt will plan to induce May 17. She will being checking my cervix at the next visit (in two weeks). If my body doesn't seem ready for labor the week before May 17, we will wait until May 24 to induce. While I am so scared of what delivery will do to me this time, it is nice to see an end to this pregnancy and I can't wait to hold this little baby.

Dr DeStefano update (33 weeks)

We had an ultrasound with Dr DeStefano this morning. She was very pleased with the way everything looks in there. There is still no active bleeding on the placenta. The baby is still growing well. He is about 5lb1oz which places him slightly above average about 60th percentile. His head and belly are big for his age but he may have short little legs.

She told me that I can go back to normal activites but just be aware of what my body tells me. I will see her again in 3 weeks. She does still want Dr Meritt to induce labor at 38-39 weeks. She doesn't want to take a chance of my going in to labor at home and the placenta separating more. I am completely fine with that since A.) I'm sick of being pregnant and B.) I'm terrified of a delivery similar to Luc's.

Luc got to go today and see pictures of his baby brother on the TV. He was excited to see his eyes and nose. He told the nurse that the baby's name is "GA GA". He has been talking baby talk a lot lately. We didn't get any pictures this time. The baby had both arms across his face. He would peek out every now and then but never for long enough to take a good picture.

We confirmed that the pain in my left side is from him constantly punching me in the same spot. She scanned near that spot and there was his fist, ready to take a swing.

Proof of parties in the belly

This doesn't really show how active he really is. I just happened to catch some movements. I thought the grandparents would like it.


Baby moves from Noelle McNeil on Vimeo.