A labor story...

May 13, 2013

8AM - up, eating breakfast, sitting on chouch
8:20AM - up to go pee, sneazed, "peed" on self. Oh wait, that's a LOT of pee. Crap! Did my water just break?! Cautiously excited
8:23AM - call to doc. come on in for check
8:24AM - shower; Rocky, pack me and you; run around frantically; situate dog, throw carseat in back of car, clean additional fluid running down leg...go!
9:15AM - arrived a doc's office, get on table with a big gush, YEP, that's the stuff! It's go-time! Still 3-4cm, 100% effaced, -2 position I think
10AM - driving to St Mary's b/c that's where mid-wife already is; call parents, text a few others, still no contractions
10:30AM - in L&D room, chilling. They plan to start a slow dose of pitocin after my penicillin doses are complete
11:15AM - I've felt a couple mild contractions, "I can handle this." Rocky and I venture into the hallway and HOLY HELL, that's a contraction?! They come every fifteen minutes or so.
12PM ish - "Are you ready for an epidural?" "Neh, I'm okay."
1PMish - back in hall, contractions stopping me in my steps, having to do "the dance" with Rocky and breathing thru them. Dr Allen is there, gives me a back rub, says I can make it without an epidural, especially if I'm already dilated to 8 or so (we haven't checked since the doc office). No thanks, Doc!
1:15pm - "I'm ready for that epidural please!"

I'm not sure exactly what time I got the epidural but I think it was about two hours after the hard contractions started and that was plenty for me! It was awesome. I remember a cold feeling coming over my back or legs or something. I could still feel and move my legs. I could feel the tightness of the contractions without the pain. It was great. I loved that I wasn't hurting but that I also didn't feel like a paraplegic.

They checked me after the epidural and I was only at a 5 so I was very glad I chose to get that sucker! The next couple of hours were chill. I was texting some I think and eating ice cubes I'm sure. Around 3:30pm they checked me again and I was fully dilated! Bam! They wanted me to hang out a bit longer before we started pushing...no need to just push longer when I could let her descend more on her own. Sounded good to me!

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At 4:30pm she was lower and we were ready to push. I think they told me I would probably push 45minutes to an hour. Sounded great. So far, this labor thing had progressed fantastically and we didn't anticipate that changing at all :)

4:30pm - 5:45pm - push three, 10 second counts with each contractions. Learning how to push, where to push, etc in the beginning. Feeling like I would pop I was pushing so hard.

5:45 - 7pm (ish) - We were getting no where, so time to "labor down" which I learned meant to chill out on my side in hopes Olivia would turn over and descend...she was face up and needed to be face down. It was here that I also learned that my epidural didn't work (or didn't work very well) when I was on my side...lots of moaning and groaning. I think I got a bolus thru my epidural at this point. Or maybe it was the next "laboring down" phase. Either way, it helped but didn't last.

7pm-8pm (ish) - pushing again. Lots of hands up in me! Olivia finally facing down but not really getting out!

8pm - 11:30 (pm) - more rest/laboring down/pain from laying on my side. I was supposed to just rest for an hour but 2 sections got called and I got post-poned. Honestly, I wasn't complaining.

I should interject here that we had so many wonderful friends and family who'd been waiting outside for several long hours...the Threadgills, the Swingle clan, mom, Shawn, Holly (who ended up being "leg holder/coach/life-saver"). Around 10:30pm, I think, most left but my Mom and Holly. Also, Helen Snyder came by somewhere around this point and sat next to me while I puked. She was like Florence Nightgale's ghost. A silent angel. That's kind of all I remember about that saint.

(I'm not sure exactly when I typed all of the above, but I'm finishing it 13 months after having Olivia.  My memory fails me on many details, not that I ever remembered them that clearly!, but here goes nothing...)

Between 1130pm and Mid-night, my midwife, Rhonda, came back in and checked me. She was concerned. I can't remember exactly why, other than the fact that I'd pushed on and off for almost 8 hours, as I was just in a sort of determined daze. My doctor, Dr Allen, was in house due to several other complicated labors/c-sections so at some point around 12am, Rhonda asked her to come in. I'm very thankful for that!

After a while of pushing with Dr Allen at the reigns, she grew more serious and her faced changed a bit. This is when she recommended we do one more round of pushing, through three more contractions. She asked if I was okay with her using suctioning. I wanted to know the risks. I mean, was I in any state to make decisions like this? Apparently so. I allowed it knowing she would only use it for three pushes (or maybe it was less). It was implied, but I don't think anyone ever actually stated, that a c-section would be performed if this round of pushing didn't work. I do remember this being when the fear of Olivia not making it started to creep up on me. A little panic, I'd say.

8 lbs, 9 oz and 19 inches of sweetness!

I'm not sure when or where all the ripping and cutting took place. I just know during this last round, my "coach" Holly almost fainted due to the site so my mom stepped in to hold my leg. When I saw her face as she saw the "site" I knew it was bad. She made it clear to everyone that she was freaking out and not pleased at all with this entire labor story. Thanks, Mom! ;)

Anyway, at that point ALL I wanted was my baby to be safe and, well, to GET OUT! And, thank the Lord, she did!!! At just a few minutes of 1AM the room was thrilled, and I was honestly too shocked and relieved and anemic to respond much, as my sweet girl emerged.

I had looked forward to that "moment" after birth for months and months. It's really the only part of labor I'd envisioned. The "moment" when exhausted, yet ecstatic new mom takes crying, bloody baby to her chest and holds and nurses her with tears flowing down her cheeks and love welling up in her heart. You know, THE moment. Well, yeah, that's for story books. Or birthing class videos. Or other people. But, whatever, she was alive and I could see her. She was gorgeous and after a little suctioning, a pause in both her parents hearts, she started wailing. GLORY!

Once that wailing began, my mind suddenly thought, for perhaps the first time, "I might die." It was then that I remembered things were not good "down below" and I noticed the Dr and mid-wife still working on me, sewing, hunting, whispering, mmm hmming, ahhh ha-ing, sewing, sewing, talking about blood loss, hunting, handing me my placenta so I could feel it (so cool! liver-esque), sewing, whispering, ahhh ha-ing...

Around 2am, I was stable and sewn back together and my sweet baby WAS finally laying on my chest, trying to nurse (she was a darn good latcher from the get-go). My mom finally went home (drove all the way to back to Carrollton) and Rocky was just a few minutes to sound asleep.

Oh, that sweet baby. She's 13 months now, asleep in the other room and my heart still fills beyond measure each time I hold her to my chest.

Worth every second!

*Rocky, the self-proclaimed hospital-hater and passer-outer-at-the-sight-of-blood was by my side the entire time. Initially walking me in the halls, then at my bed side then at the head of the bed once things got a little too bloody for him. I think he left once to update the crew we had waiting. He was the first to hold Olivia's hand and touch her. It was love at first site. He rocked it. Funny story though, a few hours in to all this pushing stuff, Rocky looks up and kind of says to none, "Man, I'm tired..." The looks he got from the nurses and mid-wife. Ha! Priceless :)

**I must also give a huge shout-out to the other person in the room who did the second most work and didn't get in a single picture (because she was taking them, as well as, videoing, holding my leg, encouraging me, keeping the fort "safe" and almost passing out! Holly Bowie is that selfless, strong, amazing, life-giver of a friend and cousin-in-law everyone should have!

39 week retrospect

I haven't blogged since 33 weeks which now seems like forever ago! I don't remember things too well (it's like the whole pregnancy never happened!), but I'll try to summarize weeks 33-39 which is exactly when I went into labor...

34 Weeks

37 Weeks!

I know those last 6 weeks involved more weight gain (total of 34 at one point then 32.5 the day my water broke) and I'm pretty sure it was mostly fluid and maybe a bit more belly. I also know the carpal tunnel didn't let up except the pain at night wasn't near as consistent. I clearly remember having a minor breakdown at 35 weeks, as I was getting ready for church one morning, because I genuinely felt I COULD NOT DO THIS for 5 more weeks! It seemed so close yet so far away. I remember it was the morning stiffness and pain and numbness in the fingers that sent me over the edge. Alas, I did make it :)

I worked my regular hours as charge nurse until 38 weeks and then I went in a few hours here and  there up to 39 weeks. I was SOOOOO thankful to not be working near as much or a hard that last week! Heartburn continued, Livi-Lou continued head down and feet in ribs as much as ever and she continued hiccuping like a mad woman (she still does! hehe).

39 Weeks, just a couple days before labor started!

There were some more showers given by such sweet friends. Olivia, you are loved before you even entered the world! I was given five showers: work, church, childhood BFFs, Atlanta group and Rocky's family. They were all different and personal and wonderful. We feel overwhelmed with love and gifts. I can honestly say, this child lacks NOTHING!

I also remember praying and asking other to pray that I would have her specifically on May 12 or 13 b/c that would give me the maximum time with Rocky home after the birth. I realized this specific request may seem a bit arrogant or the such but I felt God was saying, "yes, I'll do that." The day before I went into labor, which "happened" to be the 13th, I did have a moment of surrendering that date and realizing God could and would and should do this when He saw best. I was still very hopeful he would see those dates best and, apparently, he did! :)

Oh, yeah, my mom came up the weekend before that and helped us organize some stuff, etc. I was nursing yet another respiratory infection and didn't feel like doing anything! Looking back, I really don't think I ever got hit with the "nesting" stage though I'm pretty sure Rocky did...he had my Mom taking all kinds of stuff to goodwill, the Holland compound, her attic, etc. I started to get really angry but was just too tired to really care!

33 Weeks...the countdown begins!

How far along? 33 weeks 

Barely squeezing in this shirt now!

Total weight gain? At my last doc appt it was still 25 (first time of zero weight gain in months!), but I know it's more now...I'm eating like a mad woman again and swelling like one, too!

Maternity clothes? Oh, yes. And nothing else except old pj's or Rocky's t-shirts/jackets.

Sleep? Same ole, same ole except the dog has now decided my side of the bed is her home. Urgh...

Best moment this month? Well, it's been a pretty eventful month! Let me summarize like this: visit to ER where I had to be cardioverted (heart semi-stopped and restarted. Scariest moment of my life. Literally.), visit to perinatal specialist (due to ER visit...the fun thing is I got have a LONG, detailed ultrasound which I haven't had since 20 weeks. It was so great to see that sweet baby again and to find out she still looks great! My kidney scared the doc because of a severe case of hydronephrosis (fluid filled kidney) but I'm not in pain so it should be fine, first shower which was more fun than I ever thought possible (got to see old friends, family and got loved on big time), got to start nesting (although we're still waiting on the crib and dresser, I have started decorating and organizing clothes, blankets, books, etc. I even washed 3 loads of baby stuff. It was so surreal as I realized it was the beginning of the next 18 years!)...

My forever friends who through me the best shower!

 Basically, despite the scary moments and the discomforts, I have loved this month. My favorite thing is that Olivia is on the move almost constantly. Even though she kicks the heck out of my ribs and right side, it's the most wonderful feeling in the world to be able to pick out her little knees and feet and hands and baby butt :)

Another fun thing is that we started our birthing classes last night. It was pretty eye-opening for Rocky (he got to see a video of a birth and learn all kinds of things that were once foreign to him). I learned a good bit, too, about the labor process. It made me both very dreadful and very excited...on one hand, I can't imagine living thru such an event and on the other hand, I can hardly believe we are really going to have and see and hold our baby girl soon!!

Miss anything? I really miss being able to drink whatever I want. I am watered-out.

Sexy, swollen hocks. 

Movement? Seems almost constant and I love it. It hurts like the dickens sometimes, though.

Food cravings? Not really, but as mentioned above, my appetite is back in full force!

Anything making you queasy or sick? Sometimes her movements near my aorta/stomach make me feel a little queasy.

Symptoms? The newest which really picked up this week is swelling. Ugghhh, it stinks! My feet and calves and sometimes thighs feel like they're gonna bust! My hands and wrists swell pretty badly and the worst part is the pain, especially at night. My toe and finger joints are so tender and it hurts to walk, open things that twist, write, type, etc. It's not constant and some days there's barely any...not sure why that is but I'm thankful for the inconsistency!

Have you started to show yet? Um. Yes! People say I still look smaller than 8 months but there is no doubting there's a big baby in there! I got a legit preggo belly no doubt.

Labor signs? No, thank goodness!!

Belly button in or out? I think it's officially a "flattie."

Wedding ring on or off? Been off the last week or two. Fingers stay fat.

Happy or moody most of the time? I've really just noticed a change in mood when my blood sugar drops...feels like I could rip someone's head off :)

Name possibilities? Olivia Day it is!

Looking forward to? Getting furniture, showers in April and I really can't wait to have her!

28 Weeks...Third Trimester, yippee!!

How far along? 28 weeks

getting Liv's room ready.

Rocky busting out his manly skills...

Total weight gain? 22 lbs...4 lbs in the last month which I felt great about considering I'd gained 10 the month before! Of course, I'm still on JUST INSIDE the outer limit of what "they say" I should have gained up to this point. 

Maternity clothes? Same ole same ole. Living in the same 2-3 pieces of clothing :)

 Sleep? Pretty decent...or maybe I've just gotten used to not sleeping so well. Either way, it's all good.

Goofing off on our "babymoon"

in Savannah...what a fun time!

Best moment this week? Since I last posted, we've had some great times. Had a little "babymoon" in Savannah which was spontaneous (thanks to flight issues caused by the NE storms) and full of great food, fun and bonding!

Miss anything? Having room for my lungs and stomach!

Movement? I've read weeks 24-28 are the babiest most agile due to her still being relatively small (about 2.5 lbs) and having lots of rooms to wiggle. Well, I believe it! I love, love, love feeling Olivia move...it's like she's communicating with me (well, that's my interpretation). But, I must admit, it's sometimes just weird feeling! She's up in my ribs one sec, kicking my pelvis the next then completely flipping over the next! I think the coolest thing is being able to differentiate different parts of her body...a foot here, the cute bootie there, etc. I can almost grab her foot sometimes! I can't wait to meet her!

Food cravings? Getting harder and harder to eat large meals so I quite happy to not be craving anything in particular.

Anything making you queasy or sick? No just stuffed and uncomfortable.

28 Week belly!

Symptoms? Party in my belly, body transforming, heart burn, pee, pee, pee and several things I probably shouldn't mention on a blog ;)

Have you started to show yet? I must really look pregnant now because it's not uncommon for an acquaintance to ask how far along I am or the such. I guess they're not longer afraid I'm just gaining weight!

Labor signs? No, but I have been having Braxton Hicks contractions since about 20 weeks. They've gotten more and more frequent (some days they seem constant!) but I've been told over and over that it's nothing to worry about. Still, they worry me a good bit and aren't the greatest feeling things in the world.

Belly button in or out? Steadily getting flatter and flatter and changes from day to day along with the size of my belly.

Wedding ring on or off? On.

Happy or moody most of the time? Back to moody...I can tell there are days or periods that I'm just short-tempered.

Name possibilities? Olivia...not ready to commit to middle name but I'm pretty sure we know what it is.

Looking forward to? Spring time!! Especially May!

25 Weeks!

How far along? 25 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain? Not sure...I only weigh at the doc appts but it's at least 18.5 lbs. Yikes.

Maternity clothes? So, I decided it was time go buy some maternity clothes, other than the jeans I live in. Well, it was not a fun experience. I got a couple shirts but most of the clothes just don't fit my body right...it's like my belly hasn't caught up with the rest of my body's growth. So, mostly still wearing my shirts. 

Sleep? I either sleep good or I'm awake at 3am, like clock-work. Most of the 3am waking happens on nights when I have to be up at 5:30am for work :( But, God has been gracious as I've not killed anyone yet ;)

Best moment this week? A warm, relaxing bath I got to take after one of the hardest, most stressful work days I've had since getting preggers.

Miss anything? My old body (who would've thought!), not having aches, pains and heartburn.

Movement? She's rocking and rolling more than ever! It's like there's a kid in there or something! She still has quieter days (when I'm busier) but the girl knows how to party!

Food cravings? I definitely feel like my appetite has decreased from the last couple of months. (I hope so, because my weight gain was off the charts!). Right now, just trying to eat things and in a way that won't give me heartburn!

Anything making you queasy or sick? Not so much...

Symptoms? Party in my belly, body transforming, heart burn, pee, pee, pee. 

Have you started to show yet? I get a lot more of the "wow, you look pregnant!" comments now but people who don't know probably wouldn't think I was pregnant. Either way, my belly feels big to me...and I kind of like it :)

Labor signs? No, thank goodness!!

Belly button in or out? It's an innie but it's getting much flatter these days. Rocky even noticed it this week. 

Wedding ring on or off? On but tight the last couple of days...swollen fingers!

Happy or moody most of the time? I've noticed a return of the irritability and a new one, feeling pretty blue this week. Hoping it won't last too long. 

Name possibilities? Olivia Day, Olivia Claire ??

Looking forward to? Spring time!! Especially May!

The month of pain and fear!

How far along? 23 weeks, 3 days

Total weight gain? 18.5!!! I gained 10 in the last 4 weeks! I expected it to be 5-6 but not 10! MW isn't concerned but I am...I mean, is it going to keep piling on like this?! My belly is finally starting to catch up with my rear but the booty is still a rocking!

Maternity clothes? Yes oh yes. Not really wearing maternity shirts but I live in lounge pants or my one pair (I returned one) of maternity jeans and my one pair of maternity scrubs (yes, even my  normal scrubs are too tight). SO thankful for maternity clothes :) 

Sleep? Varies. Some nights I sleep pretty well with a potty break or two; other nights I'm tossing and turning with back pain, general discomfort or insomnia. I think maybe this is preparation for motherhood. 

Hoping I won't be donning one of these suckers again until May!

Best moment this week? Let me just say, this has been the month of pain and fear (again, preparation for motherhood?)...started out with sudden-onset right butt-cheek pain. Didn't think much about it for a couple of days until I started feeling Braxton-Hicks and lots of uterine cramping. Finally ended up calling my MW around 10pm one night when I was feeling the above all day plus the butt-pain turned into BAD lower back pain. Was terrified I was going into pre-term labor. That was right around 20 weeks. Since then, I've been trying to drink 3L of water a day and getting used to Braxton-Hicks (plus I know how many is worrisome/hour). After that, my butt pain increased and still continues to the point of not being able to put any weight on my right leg some days, not walking right and just being really uncomfortable in general. This usually happens every other day with the in-between days just having some soreness in that cheek. I've tried some yoga, massages and stretches to no avail. Next stop, physical therapy...bring it! Other than that, I had another terrifying scare at almost 22 weeks. I was working and noticed some "gushes" of thin fluid...called my MW, got sent to OB floor for two hours for exam, monitoring and lab test. The nurse about scared the bejeezies out of me but that's for another day. Anywho, praise the Lord, all was well there, too. Just a (really expensive) yeast infection with strange symptoms. So, I guess you could say my best moment was hearing the MW say I was not leaking amniotic fluid (which would've most likely been the end of my sweet baby girl's life!). What a great moment that was!!

Miss anything? Not worrying about my child, not feeling kind of huge. 

23.5 weeks...18.5 lbs!

Movement? Olivia continues to dance the night away. I can sense more of a routine with her...typically going strong around 3am then mid-morning then early afternoon then night. Somedays/times it is much more obvious and sometimes I pull out my el-cheapo monitor just to hear her move (on her quieter days).

Food cravings? Nothing in particular (except maybe the huge cinnamon roll in Steamboat last week (see above pic)...I had to have one!), but eating is my favorite thing in general :)

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope!

Symptoms? See "best moment."

Have you started to show yet? Yes, some days I still look more pregnant than others, some days more swollen than others, etc. People now say "yeah, you're starting to show!" That's kind of fun...still could easily be confused for a plump girl. 

Labor signs? See "best moment." 

Belly button in or out? It's still an innie but not sure how long that'll last!

Wedding ring on or off? On but tight the last couple of days...swollen fingers!

Happy or moody most of the time? Pretty happy...moments of worry were the biggest hindrance this month.

Name possibilities? Livi-lu, Livi-liv, Livia...

Looking forward to? Hopefully getting this pain in the butt cured :)

Half way there!

How far along? 20 weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain? 8.5 as of 19 weeks, 2 days (I thought it was 10 pounds I'd gained over 3 weeks but according to my doc's office, I gained 2 pounds the first 16 weeks and then 6.5 pounds the next four. Not sure which is right but the doc's version made me feel much better!

Maternity clothes? YES! Great friends loaned me lots of clothes but it did me good to go to Macy's and buy two pair of my own jeans that feels (and look...to me, at least) like normal jeans and fit ME :) 

Sleep? Usually sleep good after the first hour of so of peeing so much, but when I'm trying to sleep before work it doesn't tend to go over so well. 

Best moment this week? Having our BIG ultra sound at 19. 5 weeks, buying my own maternity jeans, ordering the crib and dresser (yippee!) and buying our first diapers and wipes :) 

Miss anything? Not worrying about weight, boobs, weird pains, etc. 

Movement? Oh yeah, Livi is a fly girl...dances a lot! 

Food cravings? I just get these random urges for specific, random things and I HAVE to have right then :) Doesn't happen often. My appetite has definitely picked up...I ate 1.5 chickfila sandwiches yesterday plus fries!

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope!

Symptoms? Mostly strange, random pains in/around my uterus...sometimes sharp, shooting, sometimes dull, achey. 

Have you started to show yet? Yes, some days I look more pregnant than others. Most people comment on how I'm not showing at all and don't look pregnant but I can tell! In the middle of the night/morning before I get up my belly is firmer and more shaped/poking out but I feel like she sits really low once I get up so my belly is just thicker not poking out too much. 

Labor signs? Geez, I hope not! 

Belly button in or out? In but more shallow than ever. 

Wedding ring on or off? On.

Happy or moody most of the time? Pretty happy...just short tempered when I'm annoyed. 

 Name possibilities? I'm starting to use Olivia a bit more than Livi, at least trying!

Looking forward to? Belly popping out more! Also, would love the boobs to grow more...I feel like that stopped and maybe even shrunk since a couple weeks ago :(