It looks like a white spot, but that's a (happy) tear rolling down my cheek.
This may be the happiest I've ever seen Steve.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
L&D photos
I looked up at one point during labor to see my mother taking photographs! My first thought was "Who authorized this?!" But alas, she was considerate and I was actually glad she took photos in the end. Thanks, Mom!
8/11/11 L&D Day
I woke up at 5:30 that morning. I was having some contractions. This would make about the 6th round of them. The difference this time was that I was past my due date so my midwife said to come to the hospital. I showered and got ready. My mom took a picture of us. All things considered I was feeling great!
Steve and I arrived at the hospital around 7:45AM. They took us to a triage room on the labor and delivery floor. My midwife and her intern came and checked me around 8:30. Baby girl was coming that day! We were soooo excited! They broke my water around 10:00 and the contractions started to get stronger. While the contractions were getting more intense, the most pain I felt at that point was in my arm from the IV. Even though I had a Hep lock (a removable IV), the port that the IV inserts into stayed in my arm. And it was pinching. This would later prove problematic. I could hardly put any weight on my arm through the entire labor and delivery because it was so sore.
To pass the time, ease the pain, and help baby girl along her way, we Steve and I walked the halls. We were right in front of the nursery and this kind elderly gentleman when a wave of nausea hit. Poor guy. It was strange because I rarely throw up. But then I felt better (ha, "better" being relative) and we kept walking. Mom came, I snuck a couple of bites of lunch, and the pain started to get really intense. And I got sick again. Yuck!
I had decided earlier in my pregnancy that I wanted to have a natural/unmedicated delivery. My mother, who experienced deliveries both with and without epidurals thought I was nuts. So did my dad. So did Steve at first. But after taking a fantastic birthing class, he was on board and was sooo supportive. I know this sounds cliche, but I couldn't have done it without him.
About 1:30, my amazing midwife and sidekick made their rounds. (They were delivering another baby at my hospital and one at another hospital at the same time!!) They thought I was going to need Pitocin to kick things into high gear, but the contractions started coming on strong just at the right time and I got to skip it. My midwives were going to return at 2:30. At about that time, I started to get really tired. By that time, the contractions were so intense and so long it felt like they just didn't stop. I wasn't sure if I had enough strength to have the baby without pain meds but I just kept that thought to myself.
They had been checking on me at the precise time they said they would return throughout the morning and afternoon. That time they were late. They didn't come back until 3:00. By then, things were super intense. Later my mom told me that she was on the phone with my dad and they could hear me yell all the way down the hall! In my slight defense, the door was ajar the entire time. haha. It was probably around 3:30 (by then the clock was a blur- well pretty much everything except the pain was a blur at this point!- and I started to wonder if I was going to make it. That was when I saw the nurses prepping the room. It was actually going to happen! I was going to have a baby! After years of trying and months of carrying, we were going to have a BABY! About an hour later, after a lot more intensity yet tons of support from Steve, my mom, and the fantastic nurses and midwives, the most beautiful baby was placed in my arms.
Steve and I arrived at the hospital around 7:45AM. They took us to a triage room on the labor and delivery floor. My midwife and her intern came and checked me around 8:30. Baby girl was coming that day! We were soooo excited! They broke my water around 10:00 and the contractions started to get stronger. While the contractions were getting more intense, the most pain I felt at that point was in my arm from the IV. Even though I had a Hep lock (a removable IV), the port that the IV inserts into stayed in my arm. And it was pinching. This would later prove problematic. I could hardly put any weight on my arm through the entire labor and delivery because it was so sore. To pass the time, ease the pain, and help baby girl along her way, we Steve and I walked the halls. We were right in front of the nursery and this kind elderly gentleman when a wave of nausea hit. Poor guy. It was strange because I rarely throw up. But then I felt better (ha, "better" being relative) and we kept walking. Mom came, I snuck a couple of bites of lunch, and the pain started to get really intense. And I got sick again. Yuck!
I had decided earlier in my pregnancy that I wanted to have a natural/unmedicated delivery. My mother, who experienced deliveries both with and without epidurals thought I was nuts. So did my dad. So did Steve at first. But after taking a fantastic birthing class, he was on board and was sooo supportive. I know this sounds cliche, but I couldn't have done it without him.
About 1:30, my amazing midwife and sidekick made their rounds. (They were delivering another baby at my hospital and one at another hospital at the same time!!) They thought I was going to need Pitocin to kick things into high gear, but the contractions started coming on strong just at the right time and I got to skip it. My midwives were going to return at 2:30. At about that time, I started to get really tired. By that time, the contractions were so intense and so long it felt like they just didn't stop. I wasn't sure if I had enough strength to have the baby without pain meds but I just kept that thought to myself. They had been checking on me at the precise time they said they would return throughout the morning and afternoon. That time they were late. They didn't come back until 3:00. By then, things were super intense. Later my mom told me that she was on the phone with my dad and they could hear me yell all the way down the hall! In my slight defense, the door was ajar the entire time. haha. It was probably around 3:30 (by then the clock was a blur- well pretty much everything except the pain was a blur at this point!- and I started to wonder if I was going to make it. That was when I saw the nurses prepping the room. It was actually going to happen! I was going to have a baby! After years of trying and months of carrying, we were going to have a BABY! About an hour later, after a lot more intensity yet tons of support from Steve, my mom, and the fantastic nurses and midwives, the most beautiful baby was placed in my arms.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
The Decision
So "baby girl" must have thought that life in the womb was pretty cozy because she was not coming. She appeared to be getting ready to come weeks before her due date so we didn't even discuss induction. The days passed and still nothing except lots of contractions that didn't progress. She didn't come by her due date so we had to have the talk. My midwife wouldn't let me go past 41 weeks. So that meant I could let her try to come on her own and be induced at my 41 week mark (Sunday, August 14) or anytime before (my appointment was on August 9). My midwife said I could even go to the hospital that day and have the baby if I wanted! So tempting after waiting all this time, but if I could choose when to have the baby, I figured I may as well give myself time to get prepared. My bag had been packed for at least a month, but our lives would change forever once she came, I figured I'd give myself time to get in gear mentally and clean my house. I also wanted to wait a few days to see if I would go into labor on my own. My intent was to have a natural delivery (no epidural) and having to be induced would greatly reduce the chances that I would be able to have her without meds. Steve told me anytime that I chose to be induced was fine with him. I thought about Tuesday afternoon and Friday seemed to be the best day. My mom was in town so she would be there and also Steve's mom was coming into town on Saturday so she would be able to come to the hospital. I planned to tell Steve Wednesday morning before I called my midwife. Well Steve wakes me up Wednesday morning and thinks we should go then! I couldn't believe it! He gives me reasons why we should go then and in my sleepy stupor all I hear is something about making it to his football game on Friday night to officiate. I said "No way." I'm wasn't going to the hospital right then so that he could make it to his football game! We were having a baby!! That we'd waited for for an awfully long time to boot! He went on to work and by the time I got in touch with him to discuss the matter it was mid morning and too late to it that day. Hallelujah! He also explained that choosing Wedesday wasn't about football. Phew! He told me to choose a time and pray about it and let him know. For some reason I choose Thursday and it felt right when I prayed about it. Steve felt good about it too. When I called the midwife she said that there were so many inductions scheduled at our hospital that they couldn't schedule me BUT that I could call that morning if I was having contractions (which I had been having off an on for days) and they could work me in. So Thursday it was...we hoped.
Monday, August 8, 2011
40 weeks and counting
Can't believe I'm past my due date! When is this baby going to make her debut? My midwives have said for weeks that my body is getting ready for labor and I feel like it is, but still no baby. So much for following the family trend of having early babies. I guess she'll come when she's ready instead of when we think she should be ready!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Nursery
The baby's room is almost complete! I need to take a close up of the bedding. My mom made it and it's gorgeous! I also love the chandelier.
Baby Bump pictures
Here are a few baby bump pictures. I have more from the 2nd trimester, but I can't access them at the moment so I'll add them when I have access to them.
18 weeks
19 weeks
26 weeks
32 weeks
36 weeks
38 weeks
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