Warning: This is going to be a LONG, and detailed post. But I want to remember these moments and the details before they fade from my memory. And if you are like me, nothing compares to a good birth story! There is nothing more amazing than bringing another human into the world... and this day and details, I want to remember forever.
If you are in for the ride, you are welcome to read along. :)
Sweet Baylor,
It's crazy to me to think that before this day, I really didn't know you. I had thought what it would be like to have a little boy or a little girl in our family, but until that moment when I held you in my arms for the first time, I didn't know "who" you were going to be. But I loved that! It made the last few weeks of my pregnancy so worth it. It made that moment I touched your skin for the first time and discovered who had been growing inside me all these months... a once in a life time moment that can't be replaced.
We will start at the beginning - or at lest the beginning of this story. They had told me way back at the start of my pregnancy that my original due date was December 31st. I had calculated my due date to be closer to January 4th. By the time we had two ultrasounds, my official due date was moved to January 6th. In my head, I was thinking you would come at least by then!
On January 6th, I went into my 40 week appointment still very pregnant. Although I must say that I felt better my last few weeks of pregnancy than I did for most of the other part. What a blessing from God. At that appointment my midwife asked if I wanted to be checked, so I thought, "why not?!?" I figured with how I had been feeling that I may be close to 3cm. Well... I was only 1-2 cm and very "thick" as she said. She told me not to go home and cry because that can change so fast. I knew that, and it happened with Ainsley... but it's still frustrating playing the waiting game.
Once you pass your due date, you start to get mental. You know that in the next minute you could start contractions that send you into labor. You know that there is a very hard and painful event ahead of you, that you can't avoid, and each day you get closer, become a little more anxious, and a lot more looney! But you also have the feeling that it isn't going to happen and start to doubt you are ever really going to have this baby.
During these days I read lots of verses on fear and trusting God. I played about 6 different songs over and over (my labor playlist) to get God's truths in my head. And I also nested like never before. (you know that when you "refill" all the click pencils in your house with lead that you've reached the nesting max point!)
My favorite verse during this time of waiting... Isaiah 41:10,13
Do not fear, for I am with you!
Do not be afraid, for I am your God!
I will strengthen you...
I will help you...
I will hold on to you with My hand.
For I, your God, holds your hand and says to you...
Do Not Fear! I Will Help You!
So we lived through the next week waiting, watching for you, and enjoying some good family time with each other.
Early Sunday morning (of the 12th) I woke at 3:00 AM to realize I had just had a small contraction. After awhile another one came and then another one. So I looked started to check the clock. Over the next two hours, I contracted every 9 minutes. I tried to wake up Daddy twice with no success just to tell him something could be going on... but my contractions were so "minor" that I wasn't really concerned. By 5:00 AM they either stopped or I fell back asleep.
Ainsley woke us up to snuggle around 6:50 AM. The first thing she asked was, "Did your water break yet?" (which had been her daily morning question the last two weeks!) We hung out in bed for a few minutes deciding who would go to church and who would stay home. By 7:15 we sent Ainsley down stairs, and I got up to take a shower. Within two steps out of bed something made me say, "oh no!" and leap into our bathroom where there promptly emerged a puddle of water on the floor. I told Daddy, "I think my water just broke." (which I find funny because with three of my kids, my water has broken at home and I always question it...) :) We looked at each other and said, "We're going to have a baby today!" Daddy went downstairs to call Grandpa Lynn and Grandma Kate and I jumped into the shower (which maybe wasn't the smartest idea since I went so fast with Ainsley once my water broke).
Once out of the shower I called my midwife. She wasn't on call, but the other midwife, Jill, answered in a very sleepy voice. She had already been at the hospital all night long. She said that I didn't need to rush in, but not to wait too long because 4th babies can turn and come fast. I said we were going to wait for my parents and then come in... it would be around 10:30 AM. I then called my friend, Jennie, to tell her what was up. She offered to come over and hang with the kids if we wanted to get going earlier. Although I really wasn't contracting much, (like ever 8-9 minutes) I decided to have her come... just to get a hug and not feel so nervous about the 45 minute drive to the hospital.
By 9:10 AM we were on our way to Lincoln to have a baby. Ten minutes out of Gretna, I was talking to Tim about something that made him ask, "You didn't want that stripe bag that was sitting in the office too?" I exclaimed, "What!!!!" and turned around to check which bags were in the back seat. As I swung my arm around, I slapped daddy in the face with my hand... Oops! (Daddy would be sad if I didn't include that detail!) We went back and forth for a minute about what we should do, but ended up turning around to go back and get the bag. (Good thing too because in the end, daddy had forgotten to pack two of the bags I had out!)
I listened to my "labor playlist" and reviewed my chosen Bible verses on the way to the hospital... reminding myself that my trust and strength was in God for this day... and that He was near and with me. We got to the hospital around 10:30 AM and I had a few minor contractions. They checked me into room 454, which was a beautiful corner room that had wall to wall windows. It was bright, sunny, and happy room. Perfect for your birthday!
My labor and delivery nurse was Linda, who was a happy nurse with lots of encouragement, stories, and a sweet "mothering" personality for the most part. She checked me, and I was STILL only 1-2 cm, you were high up, and turned... or facing the wrong way. My heart sank. Really???? Almost a week overdue, and I hadn't changed a bit??? AND... you were facing up? Reality hit that this could be a long day, and I started to feel discouraged. They hooked me up to the monitors for 30 minutes to check on you and "labor" and then asked what I wanted to do. If I was at the hospital, I was going to work to get you out... so I started to power walk the halls.
(I laugh at this picture because I have never had a smile on my face while hooked to the monitors!)
Daddy and I walked and talked for 30 minutes and then got checked on the monitors again. Then more walking and talking. At one point I was checked again, and had maybe dilated to 2cm. They had said that if I leaned over during my "contractions" that gravity could help the swing your back towards my front and into the right position which would eventually help me to dilate. So that's what I did!
During my "contractions" I would lean on the bar and take deep breaths and rock back and forth (looking like I was in labor)
When I was done, Daddy would ask, "Are you alright?"
I would look up, smile, (because my contractions were so wimpy and spaced apart) and say,
"Yep! Let's keep going."
So, we walked and walked and walked some more.
Around noon, my nurse asked if we wanted to order lunch. I was thinking, "What... eat? I'm supposed to be in labor? I can't sit here and have a leisurely lunch?!?! I'm supposed to be having a baby!" But, I figured that if this was going to be a long day, I may as well have some food in my stomach for some extra energy later on! So... we had a nice, casual lunch in my sunny room!
I look like I'm in serious labor! :)
At 12:30 the midwife, Jill, came in smiling. She told me that all the nurses in the hall watching me walk said I didn't look very uncomfortable. Ha! Ha! She checked me and I was 2-3 cm. Seriously?
She suggested some natural ways to stimulate contractions to help my body start to get into labor. I was up for anything, so we tried that. It seemed to work for a bit, as my contractions started to come every 5 minutes and were a little stronger. They suggested I get up and walk around to try and get things going. I had 5 contractions, each 3 minutes apart, but after that, they stopped. Story of my day!
Listening to my labor playlist while being monitored between walks.
Walking the halls.
At 2:00 PM, I was 4 cm. I started to have flash backs of Liam's long labor... and I knew that the labor I was in at this point was not going to get you or any baby to come out! My midwife said that I probably had a "high leak" in my bag of water, and that maybe we should break the bottom half of my water to get things going.
They broke the rest of my water... there was a lot! :) They started to joke that I had only a 5 pound baby in there and about 3 gallons of water. I told them that the baby was going to be at least 9 pounds. Neither my nurse or midwife believed me.
Around 2:30 I started to talk about an epidural. It had been something I had been thinking about and praying about for the last few months... especially the last few weeks. I began to ask God for wisdom on what I should do. With me in "non-existent" labor, I didn't want an epidural to hinder what was going on. But at the same time, I knew this baby was bigger, I knew it was turned the wrong way, I knew this was going to be a long day, and I knew I was going to be getting Pitocin soon. I had them start an IV with fluids so an epidural would be an option if I decided to get one. By the time the fluids were in, I decided to just get one... and had lots of peace about going that direction.
Getting my fluids.
I had my first epidural at 3:30 PM. I had some issues with my blood pressure during this time. It dropped really, really low. I was pretty lethargic and didn't feel good at all. After stabilizing my pressure with fentanyl three different times, they left me alone. By 4:00 I was 5 cm and 100%, and was having a few more contractions, but I was also realizing that my epidural didn't work. The top part of my stomach was numb, but I could feel everything under my belly button. Not the plan people!
So epidural round two started around 4:30 PM. This one worked a little better, but not really. I could still tell them when each contraction was starting. No one really could explain why, but at this point I just said, "oh well!" and went with what I had.
At 5:00 my midwife checked me and I was still only 5 cm. They got the Pitocin hooked up and I called my mom and my friend to tell them what was going on and that it was probably going to be awhile yet before we had you.
By 5:30 the Pitocin was working quite well and I was in pretty consistent labor. My contractions weren't too often, but they were strong when they came. I was checked and was at 8 cm. Progress... finally!
The next 30 minutes were a blur... the contractions started to come fast and hard. I was super uncomfortable and in a lot of pain when they came. They started to switch me from side to side. By 6:00 I was feeling tons of pressure and hard, overwhelming contractions. I said something like, "the baby is coming!" so they decided to check me.
My nurse exclaimed... "we're complete... we're going to have a baby!" So she went to get the midwife in the room. At this point Tim said my "maternity song" began... which are my distinct moans and groans that come when I'm about ready to have a baby. It felt like I waited forever for everyone to get there. I remember thinking, "Just because I have an epidural in people, doesn't mean I can't feel this and need to push!!!" By 6:15 I was pushing. I think my epidural took the edge off labor but still let me feel everything. Can't decided if that was a good or bad thing. It felt like I pushed for a long time. Tim kept telling me to put my head down, and I felt like I pushed better with it up. But he kept making me put it down... slightly annoying! :) I heard, "Lots of dark hair!" and then a few pushes later, "Little ears!" and at 6:31.... This Little One entered the world!!!
YOU!!!
Tim checked between your little legs and said, "It's a boy!" My mind kind of went into a whirlwind all of a sudden. Here, the picture of our family became complete... I was meeting you for the first time... and finally had your warm body in my arms! My little baby... my little boy!
You were nine pounds exactly at birth. So now I can say that all my boys have been at least nine pounds. I had to tell everyone that I "had told them so"... I knew you'd be at least nine pounds!
You cried and cried after you came out! Probably for about 45 minutes. We tried to do some skin to skin for awhile, but you were not happy! I remember thinking, "Buddy... you are my #4... you can't be a crier!"
I gave you to daddy to try and have him calm you down.
Even though you weren't too happy, you were precious!
Your dark hair... your sweet face... you were perfect in every way, and I was in love!
I am so thankful that Jill was on call to help deliver you! I have always prayed that God would put the midwife I need in each of my deliveries... and He has been SO faithful to do that! Jill was awesome and such a blessing to my labor and bringing you into the world safe and sound!
You got moved to the nursery where Kim was there to check you out. She was there when Liam was born, and at least one of the other two kids. It was fun to see a familiar face!
Let's just say, you didn't like your first bath!
We finally made it to our room by about 9:30 that night. What a day it had been! I was so thankful to be on the "other side" of pregnancy and to be done. I was so happy to have you in my arms. I was once again amazed at the grace of God to bless our family with YOU... and allow us to be your mama and daddy. And as each moment passed the rest of that night...
I fell in love with you more and more!
Baylor Timothy... you are loved so much! Happy BirthDAY!
We are so glad you are here!
