The Birth Story

Friday April 11, 2014

 

After a great day of just my mom and I and relaxing for baby to come we loaded up and headed to the softball field to watch a little bit of my little sisters game before going in for induction. We got some burritos for dinner so I don't go in starving (I knew this was going to possibly be a long process.

 

 

Just before we left the game I wanted to take a picture with my daddy.

 

I'm 38 weeks and 5 days in this picture. Super swollen. And I look all belly. My legs look tiny!!

 

We got to the hospital, registered, and got settled into the L&D room. My mom and best friend rode with me (well my mom drove) and my mother in law came soon after. E was working until 8pm, but we weren't worried because Doc wasn't going to come in until then anyway.

 

E and Doc walked in just minutes apart. Doc talked about a few different game plans. He checked me and I was at a 1/1.5. But I was a solid metal door (0% effaced. So he started with a  pill. With a second dose at 3 am.

 

Since nothing was going on everyone left except E and we got some rest.

 

Saturday morning Doc came in about 10 am. I was barely at a 2/2.5 and still a solid metal door. So Doc decided on a catheter balloon filled with water that he tied to my leg. At that point some pretty strong contractions started (at least at that moment I thought they were) and I was given a shot (morphine I think, I don't really remember what meds I was given) and I slept all day Saturday. Though I smelt my family bringing in McDonalds I didn't care I was so sleepy.

 

I woke about 5ish and I was starving. My sister was visiting and she snuck me a little granola bar. I love her. I also found out that during my sleep at about noon the Doc said to start Pitocin. I'm guessing those contractions weren't that bad cause I never felt them. But the nurses said I was having some good ones.

 

Doc came back in that evening around 8ish. before he checked me he asked if the balloon had fallen out. I told him I didn't know because I hadn't gotten out of bed in a few hours. So he went to check me and he laughed saying the balloon was just sitting on the bed and I was officially at a 4.

 

He took me off the Pit, let me shower and let E go get me dinner. Then he told me I could walk for an hour and then we would start the Pit back at 11pm. And that is exactly what we did. Dinner was McDonalds, but it was the yummiest ever lol. While I was eating some old friends from when I worked at the PD back in 2008/09 came to visit with me. It was so nice because I haven't seen them since.

 

Then at 11 pm we went back to bed.

 

At 3 am the nurse came in the check me, I was at a 4.5 and I was 75% effaced. She made me get up and potty and then she dropped the feet of my bed to let gravity work in our favor. After about 20 minutes the pain was a little unbearable so I called the nurse in to ask for a second shot. She said I could get the epidural if I wanted it so I said to go ahead and call the guy but while I wait I'll take some meds.

 

At that point I texted my mom and my best friend to come. I knew it was fixing to be go time.

 

The nurse kept coming in and told me that she was still trying to get ahold of the anesthesiologist but he wasn't answering.

 

At 5 am I had a horrible pain. It felt like my belly was stretching so much it was going to burst, my mom was at my side, E was sleeping on the couch, and my friend was at the foot of the bed. I loudly said OMG what is that, then we heard the POP and then I yelled "that was my water." If you ask my mom there was a bad word in there also ha oops it hurt!

 

E jumped up, threw the bed together and his shoes on and started pacing. My friend ran to get the nurses. The came in and flipped me like a whale to change the bedding.

 

The guy still hadn't answered his phone. Mind you the nurse called at 3 and it was now about 530. The contractions started to get way way worse. My mom rubbed my back perfectly. My friend wiped my face with a cool rag. And the poor nurse was so stressed about the guy not answering.

 

I kept saying "I'm going to hit him when he gets here. I'm going to hit him hard." The nurse would laugh a little but she couldn't much because I was in so much pain and she couldn't do anything for me.

 

The guy finally answered his phone. It was now 710am and he got there about 730. He made everyone except E get out and he just stood there while the nurse held me as he poked my back. He poked me three times before he finally got it in the right spot. I was so mad but I felt so much better I couldn't hit him. He left, and as he walked out the nurse caught him and laid into him for not answering. Which then we found out he was drunk. He knew I went in on Friday and he just assumed I already had the baby cause he hadn't heard anything. Lovely right?

 

Doc came in about 8ish sometime, checked me and I was at an 8. A little bit later he came back in and I was fully dilated, 100% effaced, and the baby's head was at a -1. He let me labor down for about 2 hours before he came in and we started pushing.

 

I pushed for an hour. Baby was born at 11:58 am on April 13, 2014.

She weighed 6 pounds 15 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.

She had a little bit of honey blonde hair on the top of her head and her eyes were blue. She was so alert just watching everyone. She didn't cry when she got her shots or poked. She held tight to her daddy's fingers. She would lift her head just a bit to look around. When she and I finally got to try to nurse she latched perfectly and had zero issues.

 

The moment she came out. I felt a rush of empty. She was no longer a part of me.

But she did have the cord around her neck and she was blue. I later found that during the pushing she and I started to stress. But we made it!!

 





The moment Doc put her on my chest. I couldn't believe it. She was finally here.

E was so in love.

Daddy's first time holding his little girl.

Gramma got to hold her next.

Then my best friend who took all these pictures for me.

Her first picture of just her. She is a beauty.

 



She was back in my arms. I just love her.

 



Daddy holding baby on day 2. She loved him from the start and his music.

My absolute favorite picture of her. She looks like me so much in this picture. She was so peaceful and happy and calm.

Holding on tight to daddy's hand.

 



 

We were finally able to go home. My mom and Mother in law were to there.

As well as my best friend. E had to work and was getting home later that night.

 

Baby we are free to go home and grow together.

 

 



Ryleigh's First Easter

Ryleigh's due date was originally April 20, 2014, which was also Easter!

Though since we were induced a week early Ryleigh was here for Easter at just a week old.

We did venture out Saturday to see if we could see the Easter Bunny. But unfortunately he never made his appearance and I was very sad that we never got a picture of Ryleigh with the Easter Bunny.

Fortunately, we drove by one of the local shops and they had these huge Easter Bunny stuffed animals in the window. My friend suggested we stop and ask to take Ry's picture with that!

The shop owner was over joyed and amazingly sweet to this overwhelmed and sad new mommy! ha

Here are some pictures:

Ryleigh was a perfect sleeping newborn while I snapped this pictures. 

After we did this little fun shoot we went to visit some friends who had baby bunnies and baby ducklings. Ryleigh had just nursed and had a diaper change so she was back asleep. I took the opportunity to take more pictures:

This yellow duckling actually ran across Ryleigh's belly and she continued to sleep right on through!

On Sunday we went to my parent's house to celebrate Easter. My mom got all three grandbabies an Easter basket and filled them with goodies. My mom went outside and "hid" some plastic eggs for my nephew to hunt. My niece is only 6 months so she is too tiny to hunt and Ryleigh well, is wayyyy too tiny haha. Here are some pictures: 

I think overall Ryleigh and her cousins had a wonderful Easter!! 

Pregnancy Week 38

This is my last pregnancy post. The Sunday I turned 38 weeks I was admitted into the hospital again for dehydration, lack of output, and a spike in my blood pressure. While at the hospital Doc caught my second super high BP which put me over the fence and on the side of Preeclampsia at which he decided to start induction the Friday before I turn 39 weeks.

 

 

At least I still was mostly belly with the exception of swelling. I felt great other than the dehydration. This was the fastest week of my life. I wasn't ready for her to come out. I needed more time with it just being her and I. I have loved being pregnant.

 

Thursday (which were our normal weekly appointments we went in and everything looked great. Even my BP had lowered and was pretty much normal for me. But since E was already scheduled the weekend off Doc went ahead with the induction. (We would have be induced the next week anyway since we were riding the fence, he didn't want to go past 40 weeks with me). To start the induction he stripped me and oh man was that painful.

 

The morning of induction my mom (who stayed home from work to spend the day with me) got up with me and we went to walk. But because he stripped me the day before I had a whole lot of pressure from her dropping even more. I felt like if I continued to walk she would fall right out. After our walk we went and got pedis.

 

Which felt so nice. Look how swollen my feet and legs were.

 

Then we went to lunch and came home and I got a nice bubble bath and mom painted my finger nails for me.

We packed our bags. Headed to my sisters softball game for about an hour and ate 2 burritos, and then we headed to the hospital.

 

Once we were admitted Doc came by and checked me to see what the game plan would be. I was at a 1, 1.5. So the stripping and the walking def. did some good.

 

(a post with the birth story will come next so stay tuned. ;-))

Pregnancy Week 34 through 37 Week

Week 34:

Belly feels like it is growing by the day. I also think its safe to say she has dropped. Baby is the size of a butternut squash. I still don't feel ready for her to come!! But she is coming soon!!

 

 

At 34 weeks we started to retain a lot more water. This week I gained 9 pounds between (weekly) appointments. (But by next week I would have lost 8 of them, I think the scale was broke).

So Doc decided to start monitoring baby twice a week for her movements. I also started to show a little protein in my urine and my swelling became out of control.

 

Week 35:

 

This weeks appointment my belly decided to finally grow and play catch up from being behind 3 weeks. Symptoms are still swelling only getting a little out of control, and my blood pressure has decided it wants to rise. Baby moves all the time, but mostly hangs out in the right side of my belly. I just love it.

 

Week 36:

 

Another day of baby monitoring. Doctor calls this Pre-preeclampsia. We are riding the fence and he's starting to become a little worry wart. (I love that, have I mentioned that doc is amazing?)

 

 

This week I also managed to catch a stomach bug. Which dehydrated me even more, landing me in the hospital for IV fluid. After two bags I felt so much better and was sent home. We had a few contractions, but nothing that was to worry about as far as labor goes.

 

Week 37:

 

Baby is the size of a watermelon (according to the apps) She is now officially allowed to come out and play whenever she decides is ready but Mom would like for her to stay put until due date.

 

 

 

 



Baby Girl's Nursery Part 2

Before I do the birth story post I should show you the rest of baby's room.

 

 

Because I'm a perfectionist and so is my dad I called him to come put the baby's name on the wall for us.

 

I love the tape measure. Also E was working crazy hours and was always at school so it was either I do them and possibly hurt myself or call dad. Always call dad haha

 

Then just before baby got here my best friend Meg took the letters back with her to paint them for me as a gift.

 

I love them and I think she did a fantastic job. E put them back up for me.

 

 

Baby's dresser with her bow holder her Auntie Bea made.

 

This cute little stand was a perfect thing my grandmother found. I love the baskets.

 

That picture of E and I was for a Pro Life even for our church. Super awesome they gave us the picture.

 

All of her stuffed animals along with her ABC wall.

 

Her crib with one of my favorite blankets that was specially made for us.

Brighter picture of her name in letters. Oh yes her name is Ryleigh Sloane

 





 

I had to add a touch of just her and I. ;-)

 

I think we are set on stuffed animals. What do you think?

 

And a close up on her ABC wall. My God-sister made these for us. I thought it was a super idea.

Pregnancy Week 28, Week 29, Week 31, and Week 33

I didn't take any pictures between weeks 26 through 28. Not much had changed. I also skipped Week 30 and 32. Oops!

 

Week 28:

 

My belly looks a little weird I think. And something is up with my back in this picture. This was a huge goal we were aiming for. I knew that if we at the least made it to week 28 and she for what ever reason needed to come she would be okay. Baby is the size of an eggplant and measured 2 pounds 4 ounces. Still only swelling symptoms and always hungry as well as a little less energy.

 

Week 29:

 

There we go, my belly looks a little more normal. Maybe it was the way I was standing the last picture or the way she was. Baby is the size of an acorn squash. Symptoms I'm having are acid reflux and swelling. Baby moves so much! It's fun to watch her move side to side.

 

Week 31:

 

Baby is the size of a pineapple. Last week she was measuring a week ahead and at 4ish pounds, but my belly was measuring 2 weeks behind. I still have reflux and swelling as symptoms. I've only gained 22 pounds!

 

Week 33:

 

Babyis the size of a Durian Fruit. At my appointment my belly was measuring at 30 weeks so about 3 weeks behind. (Doesn't look like it to me hehe)

Only symptom is swelling and craving Chinese food. I haven't felt the need to nest yet though.