{NICU #2}

Saturday evening we started to introduce breastfeeding. He wasn't interested at all. He would rather sleep than try. Throughout the night the nurse and I keep trying different techniques to get him to latch on. We tried to have him latch on and then we would use a syringe to feed him some colostrum to help get him interested. We tired the football hold, and the nurse tried to hold him with one arm on his side using a syringe with some formula. With all this, he still wasn't interested. Every hour they would take him away and prick his heal to check his glucose levels. For a while his levels were well and the nurses weren't worried.
By Sunday afternoon, they placed him in the NICU II with a feeding tube through his nose and down to his stomach. He was also constantly hooked up to monitoring equipment. It just broke my heart seeing my son like this. I knew that it was the only way he could get his nutrients. Sunday at 7:30pm I started to introduce the breast every 3 hours for about 15-30 minutes without success. The nurses would then put formula into a 2 oz syringe and feed him.
On Monday I continued to introduce the breast every 3 hours (7:30, 10:30, 1:30, 4:30 am/pm) then they would feed him with formula through the feeding tube. The nurses would add what I pumped out of my breasts into Ryker's formula. We still weren't having any luck with him latching on.
Tuesday the pediatrician had me try feeding him every other feeding. (7:30 and 1:30 am/pm) It was causing a lot of stress on both of us trying every feeding. By me only trying to nurse every other feeding, it would give him time to rest and be ready to try again the next time. By that afternoon we had a break through. He latched on and started to suck. He did this for a good 5 minutes (not continuously, but in total). At the next feeding, once again latched on for an little bit longer. Oh the joy that I felt knowing that he just hasn't given up on feeding and is working hard. Doug and Blanche got into town around 2pm and came over to see their grandson. Ryker really liked Papa & he could put him right to sleep.
We were so tired of staying at the hospital and paying $35 a night for a hard hospital bed and a hard fold-out couch; so we decided it was best for us to go home and sleep in our own bed. We did stay in the hospital Tuesday night making it an additional two nights on top of the three nights we already stayed.
Wednesday Doctor Spencer our Pediatrician came and said that he wanted to cut his "tongue tied" frenum. Its the string that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth. His tongue couldn't go past his gums due to this. After the quick cut, we continued with the every other feeding. Each time I fed him he would continue to progress and stay latched on for longer. During an early morning feeding he ate from me for a 20 minute span. My mom came to visit me while I fed and to spend time with her grandson. He did show her how well he can feed. From that time on he continued to eat well for about 15-20 minutes each feeding. My poor in-laws took turns taking me and Dave to the hospital during the early morning feedings.
On Thursday morning Dr. Johnson came in and was very happy that Ryker was feeding as well as he was. He suggested we start doing every 3 hours again and if all went well then tomorrow he could come home. Dave asked him why Ryker couldn't go home later that day if he was feeding continuing to feed well. The doctor asked why, and Dave answered, "my parents are in town and we are tired of being here." The Doctor relented and told us, "after two more feedings, if the nurse feels he is still feeding well, we will discharge him." We were both so ecstatic. Dave and I stayed at the hospital until after his 10:30am feeding. Doug came and got us so we could get changed and eat before the 1:30pm feeding. We were home for about an hour before we headed out again. We understood that if he did good for the 1:30 feeding we could take him home. The nurse said the doctor actually ment after the 4:30pm feeding. We asked her to talk to the doctor to see if we could just go home after this feeding. The nurse asked how I felt about it and I told her I feel comfortable and that one more feeding wouldn't make a difference. She called the doctor and he said that it would be fine to take him home and we needed to make an apt with Dr. Spencer for Monday to have Ryker evaluated for weight gain. Doug and Blanche waited in the waiting room while we got Ryker ready. As the nurse was going over all the discharge information she came across that since he was under a certain weight he needed to do a 90 minute car seat test. If his heart rate and breathing have issues while he is in the car seat during that time, they would have to send home an oxygen tank for use while in the car seat. The nurse felt so bad that she over looked that, but we assured her it was alright and that we would go get something to eat. We went to Los Hermonos and then headed back to the hospital. Once we got there the nurse said he passed with fly colors and we are now able to take him home. It is protocol for the nurse to come to the car with us to check it to make sure it is installed correctly. By 5:30pm we were heading home.
We are so blessed that everything went well and he was able to come home within 5 days of being born. We are also grateful for parents who have gone far and beyond to help us.

Ryker William Sefcik

{The Birth}

It all started Friday, October 22, 2010 when Dave and I headed to my weekly OB/GYN appointment. While there I had an ultra sound because 3 weeks earlier, Ryker, was measuring small for his age and the doctor wanted to make sure he was still growing and developing. After the ultra sound we visited with Dr. Allen and he measured my belly and checked how dilated I was. He found I was at 2cm which was up from 1cm the week before. Dr. Allen seemed concerned with the ultra sound, so I had my stress test performed while he conversed with Dr. Young who was the on call doctor at the hospital.
For the stress test, I laid on a lazy-boy type chair while they strapped a monitor on my belly. I laid there for 20 minutes listening to Ryker's heart. He handled the stress very well.
Afterwords, Dave & I waited to see Dr. Allen before heading out to run errands. The doctor came over and told us that since Ryker was now at the 7th percentile and 3 weeks ago he was at the 28th percentile that they wanted to induce me right away. Dave looked at the doctor and asked, right now as in today? The doctor said yes and instructed us to head to the hospital.
As we were walking out we were both in shock. I didn't know if I should cry or be super excited. We both called our mothers and told them we were off to the hospital to have our baby. As I was talking to my mom I started to cry. I couldn't believe at all, that it was really happening. Also, I wasn't prepared for him. We were thinking since he was measuring small that he was going to go over his due date. So, I didn't pack a hospital bag, and I still had things to get done at home.
We get to American Fork hospital and check in, then up to the delivery floor we went. They took us into room 8 and told me to get into the hospital gown and they would be in shortly. As the nurse was asking me questions, she looked at me and asked, "are you alright?" I said, "ya, I am fine." I know she could read me and sense that I was nervous. As the nurse was asking questions, the other one was putting in my IV. It's a good thing I was distracted because I think I would have cried. It was very unpleasant since I strongly dislike needles.
Around 6pm the nurse came in and started the inducing process. The nurse said, "the first pill will start to thin out you cervix and you shouldn't feel any contractions." She was right, my pain level was at a 0. My parents came over and my dad took Dave home to gather some things we would be needing while my mom stayed with me. My parents left around 9pm and at 10:15pm the nurse came in to give me the second pill and she said, "you might feel contractions." I didn't feel any from the pill.
Come about 1:30 they gave me medicine that would start the contractions. Once they started, man did they hurt. It was like a period cramp but 100x's worse. I endured the pain for an hour. I know I have mentioned several times that I was going to do a natural birth, but since he wasn't ready to come on his own and I didn't know how long it would last; I decided the best thing was to get an epidural. The nurse anesthetist came in around 2:30am to poke me with a huge needle. He explained that most people say that the IV is worse than the epidural needle. I don't entirely agree with him. It was just as or more painful. Once it was all over it was definitely worth it. I didn't feel any contractions and I was able to get some sleep off and on through out the morning. Dr. Young came in and said that I would be having him around noon or 1pm.
October 23 around 10am I took a drink of orange juice and within seconds it all came out. I asked the nurse why this happened and she said that it was common. After changing my gown and sheets, she checked to see how dilated I was. The nurse said, "oh you are dilated to 10 and you are ready to have him. The only problem is your doctor is at another hospital so we'll wait to start pushing." So, at 11am the nurse started to have me push at each contraction. Because of the epidural I couldn't feel anything below my waist. (It took until 10pm that night for me to feel sensation in both of my legs) While I pushed, Dave held one leg while the nurse held the other. Dave did really well watching the birth. He had thought it might be too disgusting, but he found it fascinating. By 11:15 the doctor came in with a few minutes to spare to catch the baby. One of the nurses said that if this was my second baby it would have already come out. Well, I am glad that it didn't take to much longer. At 11:31am Ryker William Sefcik was born. Weighing at 5 lbs and 3 oz & measuring 18.5" long. His gestational age was 37 weeks and 5 days.
Once I heard him take his first breath I cried. They were tears of joy and knowing that he just came from my Heavenly Father. We just witnessed a miracle.


Our view from the delivery room.





The nurse just rounded it 5 lbs and 3 oz.









This is what I looked like few hours after given birth. My legs are still numb.

{37 Weeks}

I have been feeling that I should be baking and cleaning as to get the house ready for Ryker to come. That is basically what I have been doing all week.
This week I have started "nesting" our house. I deep cleaned the kitchen flooring, and cleaned the stove top. I also felt an urge to sew the baby car seat canopy. So on Thursday afternoon I spent the evening at my parents house sewing. I felt that I needed to go home with it finished so I stayed until I did just that. I thought it was weird that I had this feeling because I am not due for another 3 weeks or so.


Baby's Growth...
Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb.

The Red Barn

We (Britnie, Spencer, Scerena (girl Britnie babysits), mom, and I) spent the afternoon at the red barn in Santaquin. We enjoyed a hayride by the apple trees, picked out our dream pumpkins, ate homemade ice cream, and drank yummy apple cider.

What I love about fall...
The world is full of color,
The crisp cool air,
Everything pumpkin,
The aroma in the air, and
an attitude of gratitude from others.









Taken a quick rest after rolling it down the dirt path.