If the way our kiddos come into the world is any indication of their teenage years then we are in serious trouble...
We were scheduled for another c-section on October 27 at 9:30 am. I dropped Teagan off after "school" on Wednesday, the night before, with Josh's parents so we could prepare and I could get some rest before the surgery the next day. I'd had about 3 random contractions, real ones, later Wednesday afternoon but figured nothing would come of them and assumed I would be going in the next morning to see Dr. J and have this baby. Dropping Teagan off was hard and of course I cried all the way home but I found comfort in knowing she was with her Grandma and in very capable hands.
When I got home I walked in to a hubby that didn't feel good so neither of us wanted to cook. We ran out and picked something up and settled in for the night. Around 7:30pm I started having some mild contractions but again, thought nothing of them, and so Josh went to bed around 8ish. I stayed up and breathed through the contractions until around 9 when I decided to go and take a shower, straighten my hair (yes, I wanted decent hair for delivery) and then go to bed. Well, I got my shower done and the hair done but when it came time to go to bed my contractions weren't having it. So, I went downstairs and bounced and watched TV (CSI) and breathed through my contractions. They were getting so strong and so frequent that I started timing them. I was texting with my friend Meghan (who at the time happened to be in labor too!) and working through the contractions when Josh came down to check on me. By then it was around 11pm and I decided it was time to call the nurse on call because holy cow WE WERE IN LABOR!! I was putting last minute things in the suitcase when the nurse called back. By then the contractions were every 5-8 minutes apart and anywhere from 45 seconds to 1min and 30 seconds. Yes people, when I labor I labor fast and furiously. The nurse told us to come on in, especially when she found out I was a VBAC and so come on in we did!
I was different with these contractions compared to with Teagan. With Teagan I was a cave woman who would have scared off a ferocious predator but with Baby BearI was calmer and my breathing was a lot better. We got to the hospital (laboring in the car SUCKS by the way) and of course came in the wrong entrance and got turned around a few times. Finally we found the front and Josh dropped me off at the front desk (where I was supposed to be in 6 hrs) and then went to park. Watching people's faces while I stood there at my wheelchair breathing through contractions was priceless. The man at the desk kept asking if I was sure I wanted to wait on Josh because he could wheel me up right then. I politely told him I was okay and just wanted to wait on my husband I wasn't having the baby right yet. The woman at the desk told him to "Shut up, she's concentrating and doesn't need to hear you right now". Let's just say when Josh got in the lady was the one who wheeled me upstairs, not the man. It was a pleasant ride. She was a very sweet lady and we chatted all the way up to the 8th floor, in between contractions that is.
Finally, we got checked in, got a room and I put on that lovely hospital gown. I was actually in a good mood for a woman in labor. I just knew we were going to have this baby the old fashion way! How could I not be in a good mood?!? I had one nurse who actually told me I was one of the most pleasant pregnant women in labor she'd ever had. When they checked me I was at 5 1/2-6cm dilated (that would be 5-6 in 4 hrs) which was crazy because I'd been at 0 at my last check up. It was around 12ish when they checked me. They hooked me up to the monitors and I had to stay on the dreaded bed which was the last thing I wanted to do. I couldn't stand and rock and work through the contractions like I'd been able to do at home and they were coming a lot harder and a lot faster. I could definitely see the appeal of a birthing center or home at that point. Eventually the doc came in to check on me and I was at 8 1/2cm. Let me just tell you, that "transition phase" was HELL but I was determined to rock it out. It was harder laboring when I was confined to the bed. But it was worth it knowing Baby Bear's heartbeat stayed steady and she was strong. Dr. P said we needed the babies head to come down a little further or it was going to be around 2 hrs of hard pushing. Unfortunately as soon as he left I felt the need to push which is something we didn't want just yet because Baby Bear needed to drop down more. The pain and urge to push intensified by 20 and started getting the best of me. I lost my train of concentration and couldn't come back to it. I looked at Josh in the middle of a contraction with wide eyes. Then it was over I told him I felt like I'd rocked it, we were still going to have a VBAC but I was going to concede and get the epidural if we could make it. He asked me if I was absolutely sure because he knew how bad I wanted to go completely natural and I told him I was sure. There was slight chaos after that because I didn't know if we were going to make it waiting on the anesthesiologist because he was in the OR and it took him 5-10 minutes to get there. Thankfully he got there in time. After the epidural it did get easier, obviously because I was numb. I watched the monitor in amazement because my contractions were above the top level and it wasn't painful anymore just slightly uncomfortable. I don't regret getting the epidural and I am very proud I got as far as I did.
My parents came in for a few minutes after that and stayed for a little while. It was great knowing they were there and just right down the hall. Josh was able to get some much needed rest and I laid there watching the monitor and Man vs. Food. I couldn't sleep more then 20 minutes at a time because I was numb and that was just weird to me. When the nurse, Jody, and Dr. P came in around 6ish he checked me and decided Baby Bear's head was far enough down. He broke my water and told me I'd be pushing in a few minutes and we'd have a baby within the hour! Oh mercy, did my adrenaline start pumping then!! Nurse Jody was an amazing coach. She talked me through how to push and she really helped me focus. They got out the mirror for me so I could see ( I do better when I can actually SEE what I'm doing) and I don't regret that at all! It was amazing seeing Baby Bear's head! I even got to touch Baby Bear's head! Finally at 7:11am on October 27th, Kyra Mae was born via a successful VBAC. The doctor congratulated us on our sweet baby girl! It was an amazing feeling. God is so good. It was everything I thought it would be an more. They laid her on my chest as soon as she came out and then within 45 minutes I was able to nurse her for the first time. I felt like wonder woman.
Showing posts with label Birth Story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birth Story. Show all posts
Monday, November 14, 2011
Thursday, January 28, 2010
It all happened so fast in the end...
Wow, was that a ride! I figure I should post the birth story now before I start to forget things...
I went to the doctor on Wed January 20th and was STILL at 1cm and had been there for about four weeks. So the plan to induce on the 24th didn't change any. Although the doctor touched slightly on the possibility of a c-section due to her size (did NOT want to even think about this even though I was scared to death of birthing a 9lb 3oz baby). So, of course I was still disappointed but still hopeful.
Saturday, January 23rd 2010 (Aunt Jeana's b'day and now Teagan's b'day!!)
3:00am
First REAL contraction...sucked it up and breathed through it...had a few more the rest of the morning but I didn't really think anything about it seeing as an induction was coming.
9am- 6pm
I started having contractions more frequently but again, I thought nothing of them. I realized they were real and so I did start timing them. I walked around and got on my yoga/birthing ball and fixed some coffee (decaff) and watched "You've Got Mail". During this time I was just breathing through them and then getting a break in between so it really wasn't that bad. Plus, I was at 1cm the Wed before so there was no way I was in labor...or so I thought. I got hungry and so I drove to McDonalds to get lunch (my aim was for Chick-fila but I had a contraction around the distance of McDonalds so I stopped there, had a contraction and ordered my food). Eventually the pain increased and I resumed what Josh and I have labeled the "froggy labor position". I literally looked like a frog on the ground while I was breathing through the contractions. Around 3:00pm I told Josh it might be a good idea to call the doctor because he was timing my contractions at around 50 seconds ever 4 or so minutes. I call the doc and he told me to come in when I wanted but if I wanted to do it natural like we had talked about then I should stay at home until I couldn't take it anymore. Well, I made it about 3 more hours...I showered and Josh went to get gas and when he came back it was definitely time to go. Let me just tell you, by this time I was in "cave woman" mode breathing through the contractions and I probably scared some neighborhood kids.
6:30pm
We get to the hospital and it was kinda dark and Josh and I got a little turned around...not the best thing to have happen to you when you're in labor and in pain. So, finally we saw some nurses (thank the LORD for shift change!!) going into the hospital so we stopped and pulled over and we asked where to go (of course this is during a contraction) and she was like "Are you in labor?! Pull over to the Emergency room door and dad, park the car there and get the stuff and I'll take her up" (Luckily she happened to be a nursery nurse!) So here I am breathing through contractions with a complete stranger being wheeled up to the 8th floor...we had to pass a lot of people and go through a lot of halls...needless to say I was getting some looks! Finally we made it to the 8th floor and I had to sign some kind of form (yeah, definitely don't remember what it was) and they took me to a room. I got to the room and my labor and delivery nurse checked me and I was 7cm dialated! I was estatic!! This was it! We were going to have our baby girl! Then about 3 minutes later Dr. James comes in (LOVE him by the way) and said "Rici, we need to talk"...my heart sank. He told me after he checked me that there was no way she was going to fit through...I looked at him in disbelief and said "but I made it to 7cm and there are only 3 left"...He said he knew and he was really impressed and proud of me, especially since it was my first baby but that it would tear up my insides and possibly hurt her if we went through with a natural labor. That was all he had to say. There was no way I was going to put her in any danger at all. Josh came in with our stuff and Dr. James explained things to him. I looked at Dr. James and asked if this meant I had to have an epidural and he said yes. My eyes got as big as a baseball (even though I knew that already) because this is what I was most scared of was the epidural...too many horror stories. Well, ladies, let me just tell you that I had and AMAZING experience with the epidural. The anesthesiologist
was wonderful and I didn't feel a thing! I told her how scared I was about getting it and she talked to be the whole time explaining what was going on. I was thankful for that. (Oh, and DURING the time I was getting the epidural we decided the name finally...haha!) I was supposed to be in line 3rd for the c-section and so my nurse started prepping me and Josh texted my parents and his letting them know they should head to the hospital...Then a nurse came in and asked if I was ready to meet my baby because I was next. I was still in shock at how fast it was all happening. We had gotten there at 6:30 and it was around 7:30 and I was being rolled out to the OR. Josh got on his "I'm the Daddy" shirt and scrubbed up and we headed into the room. At this point I could not feel ANYTHING from my chest down. That was the weirdest sensation ever. I kept touching my stomach because I could feel my fingers touching my stomach but my stomach couldn't feel my fingers yet I was completely alert! The c-section was not bad at all! I actually had a good time! haha! With Josh at my head I was at complete ease and was joking around with Dr. James and the rest of the staff. They were amazing! I looked at Josh and laughed that wow, she's going to be born on her Aunt Jeana's b'day! How crazy!! Then, at 8:12pm, Dr. James lifted her over that blue curtain and I fell in love for the second time in my life! She was beautiful! They took her to clean her up and let Josh come over there and then I heard the most amazing sound in the world...her first cry. I breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the LORD she was okay and that she was really here! (Even as I look at her sleeping beside me now I can't believe she's actually here). They got her all wrapped up and gave her to Josh who brought her over to me to show me...I kept saying I wanted to hold her and so Dr. James needed to hurry (that got a laugh and he told me he was going as fast as he could). They let Josh take her to our recovery room and they stuffed me back together and stapled me all back together then wheeled me to the recovery room where I got to hold my sweet baby Teagan for the first time (definitely tearing up at typing that). She was perfect! I was in complete amazement of her and how perfect she really was. Josh kissed me on the head and just smiled at me as I gazed at her with a love that I'll never be able to describe. After a few hours in the recovery room we were able to bring back family so Mamaw (my Mamaw, not Teagan's) came in first to see her and she was just oooing and ahhhing over her great-granddaughter. Then came the moms....tears anyone? lol, it was precious. Then the dads...they were hilarious but you could tell by the look on both of their faces that they instantly fell in love with their new granddaughter. Our labor and delivery nurse Frances told my daddy that Teagan looked just like him (try living with him now...haha!) and of course daddy floated to cloud 9 after that comment. Then after having some rather embarrassing pictures taken by my daddy of me and Teagan we were left alone to relax for a little while. I was finally able to nurse and then we headed to our room.
The hospital stay wasn't so bad. I actually recovered quick and we got to come home a day earlier then we really should have but we were all doing good.
Josh and I are beyond amazed at our baby girl. She is the most precious and wonderful thing that has ever happened to either of us. It's been a little bit of an adjustment but Josh and I make a great team and Teagan is a great baby so, so far so good! We appreciate all the love and support everybody had provided us. We are just loving and enjoying our little girl.
I went to the doctor on Wed January 20th and was STILL at 1cm and had been there for about four weeks. So the plan to induce on the 24th didn't change any. Although the doctor touched slightly on the possibility of a c-section due to her size (did NOT want to even think about this even though I was scared to death of birthing a 9lb 3oz baby). So, of course I was still disappointed but still hopeful.
Saturday, January 23rd 2010 (Aunt Jeana's b'day and now Teagan's b'day!!)
3:00am
First REAL contraction...sucked it up and breathed through it...had a few more the rest of the morning but I didn't really think anything about it seeing as an induction was coming.
9am- 6pm
I started having contractions more frequently but again, I thought nothing of them. I realized they were real and so I did start timing them. I walked around and got on my yoga/birthing ball and fixed some coffee (decaff) and watched "You've Got Mail". During this time I was just breathing through them and then getting a break in between so it really wasn't that bad. Plus, I was at 1cm the Wed before so there was no way I was in labor...or so I thought. I got hungry and so I drove to McDonalds to get lunch (my aim was for Chick-fila but I had a contraction around the distance of McDonalds so I stopped there, had a contraction and ordered my food). Eventually the pain increased and I resumed what Josh and I have labeled the "froggy labor position". I literally looked like a frog on the ground while I was breathing through the contractions. Around 3:00pm I told Josh it might be a good idea to call the doctor because he was timing my contractions at around 50 seconds ever 4 or so minutes. I call the doc and he told me to come in when I wanted but if I wanted to do it natural like we had talked about then I should stay at home until I couldn't take it anymore. Well, I made it about 3 more hours...I showered and Josh went to get gas and when he came back it was definitely time to go. Let me just tell you, by this time I was in "cave woman" mode breathing through the contractions and I probably scared some neighborhood kids.
6:30pm
We get to the hospital and it was kinda dark and Josh and I got a little turned around...not the best thing to have happen to you when you're in labor and in pain. So, finally we saw some nurses (thank the LORD for shift change!!) going into the hospital so we stopped and pulled over and we asked where to go (of course this is during a contraction) and she was like "Are you in labor?! Pull over to the Emergency room door and dad, park the car there and get the stuff and I'll take her up" (Luckily she happened to be a nursery nurse!) So here I am breathing through contractions with a complete stranger being wheeled up to the 8th floor...we had to pass a lot of people and go through a lot of halls...needless to say I was getting some looks! Finally we made it to the 8th floor and I had to sign some kind of form (yeah, definitely don't remember what it was) and they took me to a room. I got to the room and my labor and delivery nurse checked me and I was 7cm dialated! I was estatic!! This was it! We were going to have our baby girl! Then about 3 minutes later Dr. James comes in (LOVE him by the way) and said "Rici, we need to talk"...my heart sank. He told me after he checked me that there was no way she was going to fit through...I looked at him in disbelief and said "but I made it to 7cm and there are only 3 left"...He said he knew and he was really impressed and proud of me, especially since it was my first baby but that it would tear up my insides and possibly hurt her if we went through with a natural labor. That was all he had to say. There was no way I was going to put her in any danger at all. Josh came in with our stuff and Dr. James explained things to him. I looked at Dr. James and asked if this meant I had to have an epidural and he said yes. My eyes got as big as a baseball (even though I knew that already) because this is what I was most scared of was the epidural...too many horror stories. Well, ladies, let me just tell you that I had and AMAZING experience with the epidural. The anesthesiologist
was wonderful and I didn't feel a thing! I told her how scared I was about getting it and she talked to be the whole time explaining what was going on. I was thankful for that. (Oh, and DURING the time I was getting the epidural we decided the name finally...haha!) I was supposed to be in line 3rd for the c-section and so my nurse started prepping me and Josh texted my parents and his letting them know they should head to the hospital...Then a nurse came in and asked if I was ready to meet my baby because I was next. I was still in shock at how fast it was all happening. We had gotten there at 6:30 and it was around 7:30 and I was being rolled out to the OR. Josh got on his "I'm the Daddy" shirt and scrubbed up and we headed into the room. At this point I could not feel ANYTHING from my chest down. That was the weirdest sensation ever. I kept touching my stomach because I could feel my fingers touching my stomach but my stomach couldn't feel my fingers yet I was completely alert! The c-section was not bad at all! I actually had a good time! haha! With Josh at my head I was at complete ease and was joking around with Dr. James and the rest of the staff. They were amazing! I looked at Josh and laughed that wow, she's going to be born on her Aunt Jeana's b'day! How crazy!! Then, at 8:12pm, Dr. James lifted her over that blue curtain and I fell in love for the second time in my life! She was beautiful! They took her to clean her up and let Josh come over there and then I heard the most amazing sound in the world...her first cry. I breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the LORD she was okay and that she was really here! (Even as I look at her sleeping beside me now I can't believe she's actually here). They got her all wrapped up and gave her to Josh who brought her over to me to show me...I kept saying I wanted to hold her and so Dr. James needed to hurry (that got a laugh and he told me he was going as fast as he could). They let Josh take her to our recovery room and they stuffed me back together and stapled me all back together then wheeled me to the recovery room where I got to hold my sweet baby Teagan for the first time (definitely tearing up at typing that). She was perfect! I was in complete amazement of her and how perfect she really was. Josh kissed me on the head and just smiled at me as I gazed at her with a love that I'll never be able to describe. After a few hours in the recovery room we were able to bring back family so Mamaw (my Mamaw, not Teagan's) came in first to see her and she was just oooing and ahhhing over her great-granddaughter. Then came the moms....tears anyone? lol, it was precious. Then the dads...they were hilarious but you could tell by the look on both of their faces that they instantly fell in love with their new granddaughter. Our labor and delivery nurse Frances told my daddy that Teagan looked just like him (try living with him now...haha!) and of course daddy floated to cloud 9 after that comment. Then after having some rather embarrassing pictures taken by my daddy of me and Teagan we were left alone to relax for a little while. I was finally able to nurse and then we headed to our room.
The hospital stay wasn't so bad. I actually recovered quick and we got to come home a day earlier then we really should have but we were all doing good.
Josh and I are beyond amazed at our baby girl. She is the most precious and wonderful thing that has ever happened to either of us. It's been a little bit of an adjustment but Josh and I make a great team and Teagan is a great baby so, so far so good! We appreciate all the love and support everybody had provided us. We are just loving and enjoying our little girl.
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