This has taken me way longer than I would have liked, but life with 3 kids is BUSY! Warning... this is SUPER long and has way TMI, but I know if I don't write down all the details now I will forget them.
It really all started the Sunday before Thanksgiving. I woke up in the middle of the night Saturday having contractions that were about 10 minutes apart. They weren't super strong, but uncomfortable enough that I couldn't sleep. They continued through the morning Sunday, but weren't really getting any closer or stronger. Then, while Matt was at church I had just finished going to the bathroom and all of a sudden there was a huge gush of water.
Now, my water has never broken with my other kids.... the doctor always has to break it for me, so I really had no idea if that what had happened or not. They tell you if it is your water it will continue to gush so to lay down and see what happens. I layed down for about 15 minutes and got up to go to the bathroom again... same thing happened, more big gush. So... I text Matt and a good friend to see if she could watch the kids. We called my parents to come down and we headed up to the hospital.
Well, long story short, the nurse at the hospital was not very nice to us. She did 3 different tests and finally decided that my water hadn't broken and my contractions weren't regular enough to do anything. I was dilated 2 cm and 80% effacted, but she sent us home. I was upset to say the least. Matt wasn't very happy either and even suggested that we just go up to Logan to have the baby.
The next week was Thanksgiving and I was miserable. I was ornery and tired and sick of being pregnant! We had Thanksgiving with my parents and grandparents and I didn't even enjoy what is usually my favorite holiday! Friday, I asked my mom if she would keep my kids for the weekend so I could have a break.
Matt and I headed home Friday afternoon and he put up Christmas lights while I spent the night laying by the fire watching a movie. I went to bed about 10 and woke up about 12 with contractions again. They were about 5 minutes apart all night but still not super strong. I kept having to get up to go to the bathroom and lost my mucous plug throughout the night. By morning, they were still there but were starting to space out a bit. I debated for a long time if I wanted to have Matt drive up to Logan so I could deliver at Logan Regional. My doctor had been out of town all week and I'm not so fond of her partner so I really debated for a long time, but finally decided just to stay home. I layed around all day and slept off and on. By about 4, they were really far apart and I was afraid it was another false alarm.
I decided to go for a walk and hoped that it would make them pick up or go away. Well, during my entired 4 mile walk I think I had maybe two contractions. Bummer. I came home and showered and Matt and I decided to go out for dinner. All of a sudden BAM. On the way to dinner and all through dinner all of a sudden my contractions were back and they were strong. Strong enough that I was in pain and couldn't completely talk through them. But, they were still about 7-10 minutes apart so I refused to go to the hospital and be sent home again.
Finally, about 8:30 I showered again and layed down to bed. But by this time I couldn't lay still and decided maybe I really should go to the hospital. We headed up to McKay Dee and I checked in about 9:30. You would think that with it being my third baby I could know by now when I'm really in labor, but I was still nervous they'd send me home.
The first thing the nurse did was check me. I was 5 cm. Yea... they would keep me. She got me all checked in, moved me to my own room, and called the anesthesiologist. Thank goodness. My contractions were pretty painful by this time. Lucky for me, my doctor happened to be back in town, on call, and in the hospital delievering another baby! I was relieved.
The anesthesiologist came almost as soon as I got to my room. He was awesome, this was by far the best epidural I've had. I was numb enough that I couldn't feel my contractions, but I could still move my legs. They were worried with this being my 3rd baby that she would come fast, so as soon as I got my epidural Dr. Wood came in to check me and break my water. 7 cm.
I was so happy to not be in pain anymore, I wanted to just lay there all night. Epidurals are a wonderful thing... I would not be good at having a natural birth. Matt and I spent the next hour trying to come up with a name, which we still didn't have.
Within an hour I was starting to feel my contractions again so I pushed my epidurl button a few times. The nurse came in to check me again. What I was feeling was contractions, it was pressure. Bailee was right there and I needed to start pushing. They called Dr. Wood and told me not to sneeze in the mean time :)
Dr. Wood came in, I pushed for about 15 minutes and Bailee came out screaming. Ah, relief. There is still nothing better than the feeling of pushing out a baby that has been taking up all your space!
They have started doing a new thing called skin to skin where they put the baby right on your chest after they are born... before they even weigh them or anything. Matt cut the cord and they layed her on me. That was such a cool experience. I got to just lay there and hold her while she delivered my placenta and cleaned me up. What a neat thing to be able to have this baby straight from Heaven and have that time to bond before they take her from you to do all that they have to do. I can't describe the bonding and the spirit that was there.
My placenta was fragmented... what exactly that means I still don't know... except that it was broken into pieces and some of it came out, but not all of it. Dr. Wood had to use her hand to get it all out, but apparently it wasn't a big deal, it just took a little longer than normal. I didn't tear at all, first time ever! They turned my epidural up so I could have my tubes tied and finally took Bailee to weigh her. 6 lbs. 8 oz. and 20 1/2 inches on November 28th at 12:46 a.m.
Matt went with Bailee to the nursery and off I went to the c-section room. Dr. Wood asked me about 5 times if I was really sure I wanted to tie my tubes, but I was positive. We know our family is complete and I cannot take the stress of another pregnancy! We had to wait a little bit for me to be numb enough that I couldn't feel the blade and then they made a tiny incision by my belly button. Once they got in there, I could feel a ton of tugging and pulling, and was in quite a bit of pain. The last thing I remember is the anesthesiologist telling me he was going to give me some stronger medicine that might make me sleepy.
I dreamed of something blue... and then woke up in the recovery room extremely out of it. My vitals monitor was going crazy and the nurses were asking me if I was a runner. I guess my heart rate was extremely low, normal is 60-100 and mine was at about 35. Apparently if you are a runner this is normal, if not it is something to worry about.
Shortly after, while I was still half sleeping, they brought Matt and Bailee back in so I could feed her. Matt said later that he was nervous when the nurse handed her to me because I was so out of it he thought I'd drop her. To be honest, I wasn't sure I wanted to hold her because I was still so out if it. But, I didn't drop her and she latched on like a champ.
I was pretty sore from where they made my incision but other than that I couldn't hardly tell I'd just had a baby. #3 was a breeze! My parents brought the kids down Sunday afternoon to meet their sister. Brooke was thrilled and wanted to just sit and hold her. She didn't want to leave when it was time. Cole held her for a minute and then he just wanted to explore.
I was in the hospital until Tuesday morning and both Bailee and I were able to come home. Brooke had a rough couple days and was pretty emotional in the beginning. This surprised me because I thought Cole would me the one who had a hard time. She kept saying she missed her baby and when I finally did come home she didn't want to let her out of her sight. I think the newness has worn off a little. She still likes to help but will atleast leave Bailee's side now. Cole was a little clingy to Matt for about a week, but overall it didn't even phase him. He quite likes being the big brother.
The first week Matt was off except for one day and last week my mom was here most of the week. So far having 3 kids has been pretty easy. Ask me again after this week.
Bailee is for the most part a pretty good baby. I LOVE having a newborn in the house again but it is extremely bitter-sweet that this is my last one. I think I'm going to have a hard time letting her grow up. :)
I will try to post pictures soon, but I don't have the camera cord here at the moment.
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December 2013
12 years ago
