The hard part of these stories is finding where to begin! I did give a brief history of what was happening with the pregnancy on the previous post, but there is more to share before we can get to the Birth!
Background update:
So I met with my doctor near the end of April for just one of my routine check ups. I was still on crutches for intense hip and lower back pain and truly miserable. Moving around gave me contractions because of the crutches, and having been on them for a few weeks was just something I was not handling anymore. I went in for my appointment and everyone looks at me with these sad eyes as they see this large pregnant lady hobbling around on crutches. Its sad that is for sure. Well I got back into the room and met with the doctor. He asked me what I would like to do with my back and where to go from there. He gave me the option to meet with an Orthopedic Surgeon he knew who had asked if there were any pregnant people with severe pain because he had ideas of how to help. At this point I was almost 36 weeks pregnant and just was like I would rather wait till this baby came out to see if that is the issue and then address the pain at that point. I had spent so much money trying to keep the pain from passing the point of no return that it was just not worth someone else saying "lets wait till that baby comes out". So I let him know that I felt it was best to wait and just needed to do what I could to keep that baby in and me sane! He decided if the option to work from home was there, I should do that. Even just till baby came out so that we could stay sane till then! So that was the verdict. He didn't check me at that appointment because I was not quite at 36 weeks and he could tell when doing my Group B strep test that I was already dilating a bit so it would be best to wait till next week. I went back to work and gave them the note that I needed to work from home. They helped me get everything setup that I needed too and I was home working 2 days later. It was really nice. It kept me off my leg and I felt like I accomplished so much more!
My next appointment just over a week later put me at 36 and a half weeks. They checked me at this appointment and I was at a 2 and 75% effaced. This was where I was at when contractions and labor started with Carson so I started getting my hopes up. The night before had been so bad with the pain that I went from saying "nope baby HAS to stay in there till May 15th," to saying "this baby can come any time and I will be fine". Well I did what I could that weekend to get that baby out! I mowed the lawn, cleaned my house, did too much walking around and we had friends over for dinner. I definitely over did it and felt like Labor was starting. Well nope false alarms. I just kept waiting. Well at that appointment where he checked me, he let me know that I was able to be induced a week before the due date of the 26th, so on the 19th and asked if I would like that. I was all for it and we got it scheduled. I knew I had only 2 weeks left at this point! I could do it!
The week before:
(37 weeks)Well that following week I kept having cramps and feeling like labor was going to start. I felt like I was leaking fluid on Tuesday the 5th and did some laying down and trying to make sure I was good. I was fine but during this time I noticed a big flip and Codiak went from laying head down to up clear by my ribs sideways and that was definitely painful! I also had been noticing I was feeling very anxious. Not sure the reasons exactly, but I felt something was "off" with baby, which was really stressing me out. One big thing I noticed was when I would yell at the dogs to shut up, I would get kicked super hard every time. It seemed a bit weird but I wasn't too stressed cuz I was getting movement but it still felt off. My stress level that week went through the roof in dealing with not having baby yet, work getting done, keeping my house up and trying to stay happy and positive with Connor and Carson when I was just so miserable. Well on Thursday my mom came over to help me clean my house. My mom and my sister had come a couple weeks before when I had stopped working at work and helped me clean then, but I still had a lot left that needed done. So my mom came over and helped me get the rest of the house (except the office) clean. I still worked and just took breaks and my lunch to help her. We got everything done and it felt so good to be "caught up". Well that night Eden and Wes came over for dinner and she also foot zoned me. (anything to get that baby out) Well we decided to go to Twizzleberry after which was super exciting for me since I craved it most of my pregnancy. We got home pretty late and once we got Carson to bed it was 11. I had thoughts of staying up and working more, or packing my hospital bag, but decided sleep was most important and went to bed.
Dr Appointment Friday May 8th:
I woke up for my doctor's appointment which was at 8:50am and stood in front of the mirror trying to decide if I should do my hair and my make up, eat breakfast, pack my bag and take it, just in case my doctor said "go upstairs" at my appointment. I figured if I was prepared he wouldn't and it wasn't worth my energy. I left the house with my clothes on, crutches, hair frizzy and plopped into a very ugly pony tail, my car keys, cell phone and insurance, flex and debit cards. I stopped on the way to get something to eat and took 2 bites, drank like 4 oz of Orange Juice and walked into my appointment. When I checked in they asked me if I wanted to prepay on my account. I had my flex card with me and said I can if I can use this card. They were like well as long as due date is not more than 30 days away you can use your flex card. Seeing as I was going to get started in a week and a half, I prepaid my amount and went to wait to be called back.
Laurie called me back and took my weight, which I only gained 5 pounds total this pregnancy, go me! Last time I didn't gain any and lost a ton, so look at me trying to be normal this time:) Well she sent me in for my urine sample and said we would get my blood pressure in the room. I did not think I would be able to use the restroom as it had only been about an hour since I had. Well luckily I did and headed in to the room to get checked out. Well she checked my urine and noticed a little protein. She checked my blood pressure and it was 144 over 82. (I usually am sitting between 120-128 at the most). Well they were concerned that it was high. It didn't surprise me with the week I had and the anxiety I was feeling with the baby. Well she got my info in the computer and then checked it again. No change. She left and had me get ready for the doctor to come in to check me and check on baby. I changed and waited. He came in a few minutes later with a big smile and said good news your blood pressure is high. Not typically the 2 things you hear together. He said because my blood pressure was high he could start me sooner. I was surprised, but excited. He said lets just see how your doing. How are things? I let him know the anxiety I was feeling with baby and how I felt something was wrong and how I was just miserable. He then measured my tummy and listened to the heart beat, which all of that was doing well. He then checked me and I was still at a 2 and 80% effaced. That made me sad because I had been having cramping and contractions that were obviously not doing anything all week. He said ok here is what I would like to do and our options, I would like to send you upstairs to get started today, I just need to check with them to see if they have room. He said if not then we can wait till Monday, but if you do it today I may not be able to deliver him. (He had some family responsibilities that day) I really wanted him to deliver him. He said he would prefer me not to wait and go upstairs but it was my choice. If I waited till Monday he would also have me get some tests and ultra sounds run on the baby to make sure everything was okay to wait that long with the anxiety I was experiencing. He told me to think it over while he checked to make sure there was room. While I waited I text Connor and let him know that I was probably getting started that morning. My phone had said it hadn't gone through though. Well I decided to go up and get started that day. He preferred it and it worked best for us so Connor didn't have to take so much time off work, my mother-in-law was going out of town Monday and I needed to be done. They had room for us and I told him my decision so he sent me upstairs right then and said I will meet you up there and break your water.
I left the appointment super nervous and freaking out. It was what I wanted but it still was so scary and I couldn't stop crying once I got out into the lobby. I called my mom first when I got out and let her know that I was getting started and was heading straight upstairs. She asked if she needed to come up and I said probably so I wouldn't be alone since Connor probably would not be coming till things got going more. I told her to come up and bring Carson and just hang out with me till we figured other things out. I then called Connor and he actually had got my message and was just about to call me. I let him know I was getting started and asked when he wanted to come up. I told him once they broke my water and things started moving and progressing I would let him know my status and he could decide when to leave and come up. I was about to head upstairs and realized that my work had no clue and they were expecting me to clock in in the next 45 minutes. (It was 9:15 at the time) I tried calling them but no one answered so I chatted my boss and just let her know baby was coming and I would not be clocking in and would call her when I had a second to go over everything that was left unfinished.
Getting Induced:
Let me just start this section by saying I would much rather have gone into labor on my own with natural contractions then Pitocin contractions.
I went upstairs at around 9:15am and got checked in, changed and all hooked up to the monitors. My mom and Carson showed up around 9:45 and Dr came in just after 10 to break my water. I called work at that point and updated them on everything about where I had left off on work. At that point the contractions started and they were so different than anything I have felt before. I was told that was the PIT. They hurt super low like they were only in my Cervix. My stomach didn't hurt that much at all. Everytime I had a Contraction I felt like I had to Pee and so I got up a lot to try. That was miserable.
The nurse had asked if I had ate and when she found out I hadn't she asked the dr if I could eat something when he came up to break my water. He said that would be fine as long as whatever I ate I didnt care to see thrown up.after pregnancy with Carson and this one, there is little food I haven't seen thrown up so that didn't bother me. I ordered some apple sauce and a cinnamon roll and they brought it to me a little while later. Carson really wanted some food and a drink like mine so the nurse brought him some crackers, string cheese and his own mug. He was so excited. He and I read books and he watched TV.
After Carson left the nurse came in to check me (around 1) and I was at a 3.5. She increased my PIT a bit and then my mom and I decided to walk. Connor had got home and was packing my hospital bag for me so he called while we were walking and I helped him find everything I needed. The contractions got really painful while I was walking and so we went back to the room and I laid back in bed. At that point my contractions started hitting so hard without any breaks in the middle, or if a break only a few seconds. I was getting really tired really fast and was thinking of getting an epidural. I really wanted to do it without so the nurse offered some IV meds to try to help. She gave me some and turned my PIT down a bit. I felt good. The contractions were horrible and hurt so bad but I was getting the breaks in the middle so I could recover and get ready for the next one. Connor showed up at that time and they came in at 2:30 and checked me again. I was at a 5, The contractions kept getting worse. They gave me more IV meds and then checked me me at 3:15 and I was at a 6.
At that point I was moving quick enough that my Dr would not make it in time since he couldn't come up till after 5 with his conflicts. I really wanted him to come. They also asked if I was ready for an epidural and I just didn't know. I was doing good and knew baby could be here in the next couple hours so I was good. They decided to stop the PIT to see if my body would take over, slow me down just enough to get DR there in time and possibly have me hurt a bit less. So at about 3:30 they turned off the PIT and told me it would be about 15 minutes till the contractions were my own. Eden was expected to arrive any time and it was just Connor and I. He was sitting next to me and letting me squeeze the crap out of his hand when the Contractions hit. Well I had one that was pretty intense and lasted a while. Once it eneded it wasn't more than 10 seconds before the next one hit harder than ever. In the middle of the contraction something clicked in my head and the pain was too much. I sent connor out to get the nurse to get me the epidural. Since I was the only one left up there in labor, it was just a couple minutes till he came in to get me ready to go.
They got me all situated back in bed and the epidural was actually working.(with carson it didn't work well and only worked for an hour) I got cold, and calm and was able to relax through the contractions. Connor had to keep putting blankets on me cuz I was freezing at and he kept rubbing my feet since they were so numb they hurt really bad!
Delivery:
So at about 5:40 I started feeling a lot of pressure and was thinking great I can feel my contractions. I pushed for my drugs and just waited for the pressure to stop. It happened again and I was thinking ouch this feels weird. Then all of a sudden the pressure happened again and I felt like baby was going to fall out. I told Connor to close my legs now and get the nurse. So he pushed my legs together and ran for the nurse. She came in and checked and yep I was now at a 10 and the contractions were trying to push baby out. She said just don't move and don't push. They called Dr Olsen to come up and deliver him and got everything ready to go. I was trying to counteract the pressure I was feeling because I so did not want to have the baby without everyone there and everything ready to go. Once the Dr got there and got ready they said ok now its time. They put my legs in the stirrups and told me to go for it. I pushed twice and out came baby. (6:01pm to be exact) The cord was around his neck twice, which they say is why I probably felt anxious like I did. He unwrapped him and Connor cut the cord. They put him on my chest all slimy and kind of cleaned him off. Then I had them take him while I got stitched up. Yes I still tore even with it being a super easy delivery. So they pulled out the Placenta and got me all stitched up. I didn't tear as bad as I did with Carson, but it still was a good tear and I also tore around my Urethra which they told me will probably mean it will burn to pee. Oh goodie.
After Birth:
I was determined this time to nurse. I was not able to with Carson due to lack of knowledge and flat nipples. They got me a shield to help and got me trying. It was the most intense pain I had felt in my life. I would much rather have contractions....:) So I was pretty miserable by the time I went upstairs. They got us all situated to move upstairs. I was still super numb in my legs so transferring to the gurney to go upstairs was definitely a process.
Upstairs in Mother Baby:
We got upstairs a little later than we expected. I say this because Carson was dying to come up to the room and see him. We had told my family to come up around 7:30 so he could see him but we were not even up there yet. So they had to take their time. I had ordered food to meet me upstairs for dinner and my family was picking up dinner for Connor. We got upstairs and all situated and my family came and brought Carson. Connor's parents came at the same time to see him. It was great!. Carson held him first and said he just loves him and was so cute and sweet. He got bored pretty quick though and went off to play. We passed him around and let everyone see him and I ate my dinner.
Then everyone left us to relax, text everyone and hopefully get some sleep. Connor and I had discussed him not sleeping at the hospital at all previously, but I was not ready to be alone that quick, so I asked him to come back up. He went home, got the dogs taken care of, got what he needed, got Carson to my moms and came back up. We got situated and they came in around 10 to do his bath and then we tried nursing again around 11. We tried to sleep but Codiak is a noisy little sleeper and our neighbors up there were super loud. It was miserable. At about 2 we got up again to feed the little guy. We fed him and then they asked if we wanted to send him to the nursery for a couple hours to sleep and they would bring him in when it was time to feed him. This is something we are all for. Might as well get some sleep so you can recover. They took him for a few hours and I slept awesome! He came back around 6-6:30am and we started the process all over again.... (to be continued)
More PICS! Even more to come on part 2 and being home:)
What a great day for our whole family! Love those boys of yours!
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