Birth Day!

Well, as you know, I was to be induced today at 6:00am. The plan was for me to be started on pitocin and then my OB would arrive around 8:00am to break my water. We were hoping for a shorter 4-5 hour labor like our first induction.

Fortunately Adalee, and the Lord, had other plans! I went into labor naturally in the middle of the night! No induction or pitocin needed here! Praise God!

Now for the details:
I went to sleep on the couch around midnight, praying that labor would start on its own. I woke at 2:45am to a contraction and thought "I don't want to go through an induction - pitocin contractions will hurt more than this and this really hurts"! I fell back asleep while praying again that labor would start on its own. I woke again at 2:53am to another painful contraction. I thought maybe I was getting the contractions from a full bladder so I used the restroom. It wasn't from a full bladder as they immediately started coming every 2 minutes and were doubling me over with their intensity. I got into the shower hoping it would slow things down a little. That was a bad idea! The contractions instantly started double peaking. It felt like the contractions were pushing my baby out through my skin. I knocked on the shower wall a couple times to try and wake my Husband. Finally I got out of the shower and frantically started calling his name. When he finally heard me I told him it was time, I was in labor! At this point it's 3:06am and I thought I was in transition already! I was shaking and couldn't stay on top of the pain. It felt like I was losing control. I got dressed while my Husband threw out bags in the car. I raced downstairs to warn my Mom we were in labor & headed to L&D. I even told her, as I was walking out the door, "I think I'm in transition"!

On our way to the hospital my Husband called his Sister who was supposed to be at the delivery. She thought he was playing a joke on her. After he convinced her to race to L&D we called the hospital to warn them of our arrival. During the car ride, which is only 5 minutes, I had to have him stop driving. And yes, he did drive CAUTIOUSLY through a red light.

When we arrived at the ER my Husband ran in to get me a wheelchair. This was the first labor I actually felt I NEEDED a wheelchair to ride to L&D. An ER nurse came out while I was in the middle of a contraction and seemed surprised when she noticed I was in labor. She walked me up to L&D while my Husband parked the car. I filled out the sheet of required paperwork before my nurse brought me back to my room. She asked if I had other fast labors and giggled nervously when I mentioned my last labor was 2 hours long. I was feeling pushy by the time she got me to my room so she checked me right away and I was 6cm.

She hooked me up to the monitors and confirmed that my contractions were double peaking. She started an IV right away since I had a history of postpartum hemorrhage. Two attempts later the IV was in and fluids were pumping. I was laying on my side, since they require 15 minutes of monitoring upon arrival at L&D. The contractions were unbearably painful at this point and I almost cried from the pain.

A few minutes later I was moaning with each contraction and shortly there after I was pushing. I told my nurse that I would have to push with the next contraction or two and her response was, "I hear that"! She called for my OB who was in the hospital parking lot. Thankfully by the time I needed to push my on-call OB had made it into my room. She didn't have time to remove her sweater and just started slipping on gloves and gown as quickly as she could.

The next four contractions were very "short and wonky" as the OB called them, only last about 30 seconds, so I was unable to get any decent pushing done. The next two contractions were decent lengths and I was able to deliver miss Adalee! She had passed her first bowel movement or mecconium so she had to be taken straight to the warmer to be checked over. She was fine, thankfully!

She had a FULL head of black, curly hair and the sweetest little cry!

She latched on wonderfully right away and has been a breastfeeding pro ever since! She weighed 8lbs 9.4oz and was 21.5" long - EXACTLY THE SAME SIZE as her older brother Cobi who was also born at Woodwinds in October!

So we now have two Boys and two Girls - two October birthdays and two February birthdays!

Tomorrow is the BIG Day!

I cannot believe that tomorrow morning we will begin the induction process to bring this miracle child into our arms! I'm so anxious to meet her and hold her, to smell her and snuggle her, to nurse her and share her with our older children. I have butterflies!

I'm anxious about the pain of labor, especially one induced with pitocin. I'm anxious about the increased chance of a c-section with the use of pitocin. I'm not looking forward to the recovery weeks after delivery either.

Thankfully, all of the anxieties are greatly overshadowed by the fact that I will soon be holding my last little lady in my arms! I'll get to see who she looks like, what her personality is, and finally tell her face-to-face how much I love her and how we longed for her to join and complete our family! I'm so excited for her to join us and make this family whole!

I can't wait for my older children to meet her! I wonder how they'll react to her. How they'll react to Mommy being gone for two days. How they'll react to little lady's noises, movements, sounds, and the fact that she'll be taking more of my attention. I can't wait for them to hold her and kiss her!!! I am excited to see how Shaelyn responds to the Baby she's always talking to and kissing in my womb!

I'm trusting the Lord for protection and health for this little lady and myself. I'm praying for an easy transition for my children and my Husband and myself. I'm believing this time will bring us closer together as a family and renew our zeal for the family the Lord has so graciously blessed us with! I honestly can't wait!!! Sleeping tonight is going to be a chore!

*I will post pictures and stat's as soon as possible! Thank you for your prayers!

Really Frustrated

Last night I had an acupressure/acupuncture treatment done.  I ended up having contractions every 4 minutes for over an hour and headed into L&D.  I arrived around 6:00pm and was dilated to 3cm.  I was monitored until 6:30pm and then able to walk until 7:30pm.  At the 7:30pm check I was 4 cm.  At this point I was put back on the monitors and my blood pressure taken.  Unfortunately, my pressures were up again at 158/102.  An IV was started because I was feeling very nauseous, wanted something to settle my stomach, and with my hemmorage risk needed an IV for precautionary reasons.  Following the 3 IV attempts I then got into the tub.  At this point labor pretty much fizzled out.  I was checked again around 10:30pm and was now 5 cm but not contracting well.  So we headed home. 

I'm really trying to trust my body and my baby but all I feel like doing is crying.  I'm so frustrated that I'm already dilated half way but am not actively contracting.  I so badly want to meet this little lady and no longer be pregnant.  I want my body and hormones back.  I want to be pain-free again.  

I have an appointment with my OB today.  Monday brings a medically induced labor.  I'm upset, disappointed, frustrated, tired and overwhelmed.  I guess we'll just wait and see what happens between now and Monday.  

The end is near!

On Tuesday I had my 38 week check up.  I've lost 1 pound, which isn't a lot but after gaining as much as I have with each pregnancy - it feels nice to not go up anymore! Baby sounded good and is still very active, to the point of causing pain!

Unfortunately, my blood pressure was up again this week.  My OB sent me to L&D for monitoring and to check labs to rule out pre-eclampsia. The labs came back normal but my blood pressure was around 148/102.....far too high.  So, for the health of myself and little lady we will be inducing labor on Monday.  I'm praying labor will start on its own before then.  If it doesn't I'm hopeful that simply breaking my water will cause active labor. 

At my last appointment I was dilated to 3 cm and about 50% effaced.  4 cm is considered active labor so we don't have far to go.  I would definitely appreciate any prayers for a fast, safe & healthy labor and delivery.  Especially for no hemorrhage. 

So now it's a waiting game! I'm so anxious to meet this little lady and see what she looks like and what her personality is! I'm insanely excited to breastfeed her and develop another bond with a precious gift from God!

*I wonder who she will look most like! Cobi is top left. Micah is top right. Shaelyn is bottom left.

Hospital Vacation!

I think this is the first time I've ever looked forward to a hospital stay. I'm in so much pain and have zero patience left for anything and anybody. I'm literally drained and it takes every ounce of grace that God gives for me to get out of bed in the morning. I feel like my kids are testing every single limit and pushing every button they can, literally & figuratively. I feel guilty because I'm not the Wife or Mom I want to be right now. My house is a disaster, dishes are piled in the sink, laundry is overflowing the basket and I have vacuumed in too long. I'm done!

I need a vacation! While being stuck on an uncomfortable hospital bed, with an IV and nurses bugging me, doesn't really sound like a vacation - I'm really looking forward to no responsibilities aside from feeding, cuddling & loving on this little lady! I won't have to plan, prep & cook any meals for two whole days! I won't have to do dishes or laundry, vacuum or make beds. I won't have to clean up toys or hear any back-talk for TWO WHOLE DAYS!!!!!

To top it all off when I see my kids again, after Baby is born, I'll be full of loving hormones and will forget about how hard these last few weeks have been. I'll miss my kids and look forward to seeing them again. I'll have a new-found sense of love for my kids again and a renewed energy to be the best Mama I can be.

So yes, I am, very much looking forward to my hospital vacation! I plan to take full advantage of every service offered and just soak up newborn bliss! I'm hoping this vacation comes SOON!!!

32 Week Update

Shaelyn LOVES giving her baby kisses!

We're in our 32nd week of pregnancy now! Feeling HUGE already, which is no good considering we have roughly 8 weeks left to grow! I HATE sleeping on my side - I've always been a back or stomach sleeper and really have a hard time getting comfortable on my left side. Baby Girl is always kicking and moving around when I lay down which adds to the difficulty falling asleep. Heartburn is still kicking my butt. However, my weight gain has slowed down, thank GOD!

I'm getting more and more anxious about the hospital delivery. Our last birth was perfect in the fact that we didn't have to fight anybody about our labor, delivery or postpartum wishes. I'm not looking forward to having to strong-arm any nurses or doctors who try to do something we don't want. I'm just praying everyone involved in our care is understanding and that we can discharge ASAP! This is why we're not having another home birth.

Onto the name…I know you've all been waiting on baited breath. Oh wait, that was just me! Well, we've decided on (Drum Roll Please):
Adalee Jayne! I really love the name and we were able to get both of our sister's middle names worked into her name! I hope Adalee likes her name! Now I need to get started on making her name art to hang up in their room!

I go back for another check up in 2 weeks - although Jury Duty is making us schedule the appointment sooner than that. I know the check up's are important for catching anything we might not be aware of outside of what a clinic and nurses/doctors can provide…I just miss the Midwife coming to me at home!

So, all in all, everything looks great so far! Adalee has a name! I'm anxious to meet this little Lady but thankful we're still chugging along!

Why we're not having another Home Birth

Our first two children were both born in Hospitals. Cobi was delivered with a Midwife after an induced labor due to pregnancy induced hypertension.

Micah was caught, barely, by an OB after a totally natural labor although also clouded by the hypertension.

Both births were "healthy" and there were no complications. I just don't like hospitals. I hate how germy they make me feel. I hate the bright light and the beeping machines. I hate being woken up every few hours to check "vitals". I hate that their protocol takes over my natural Mama instants. I hated having to fight them off of vaccines and eye goop, blood draws and ivy's.

I hate how cold and scared he looks here. He should have been in my or his Daddy's arms!

I just wanted a natural, how God created birth to be, type of labor and delivery.

With my third child I just knew I wanted to deliver her at Home. I love the idea of not having to leave the house to deliver. I love that we're surrounded by our creature comforts, our germs, and our children and whomever else we wanted, or didn't want, present! I loved the one-on-one care I received from my Midwife! She was fantastic and so knowledgeable! She came to my home for every prenatal visit. She was truly a God-send!

This third pregnancy also presented with hypertension but we believe it's just how my body responds to end of pregnancy and it wasn't a concern. The day I went into labor I was a little concerned because my daughter had been breech for the weeks and days leading up the labor. I did everything in my power to get her to turn and just prayed that she was head down! Labor was extremely sporadic and intense from the get-go. I was nervous we would end up having to transfer to a hospital because my contractions were so different from my two previous deliveries.

My Midwife suggested I get into the birthing pool to see if that would bring the contractions into a better pattern and get me in the right mindset to actually birth this little lady! Well, it worked! Contractions became regular, although still insanely intense. My Midwife knew, although I had no idea and she didn't tell me so as to protect my birthing mind, that baby girl was posterior. That simply means she was not in an ideal position to be born BUT she was head down and would come out just fine, albeit more painfully.

After 2 hours of labor and 14 minutes of pushing our little girl was finally here.

Unfortunately I had some hemorrhaging. My Midwife swooped in with her magic concoctions and quickly resolved the bleed. I ended up passing out after getting up and was instructed to stay literally on my back for two days to rest and recuperate. I did and healed up just fine. My Midwife came back for her checks postpartum and was just amazing with my Daughter and I. I loved the home birth experience and it felt so right!

On rolls the next pregnancy that ended in a miscarriage with substantial hemorrhaging and an emergency D&C. We found out shortly after the surgery that we were already expecting another child. We were elated but then had to decide whether to birth this baby at home again or in a hospital.

So we began praying and feeling out which was a better option.

We listed out our pro's vs. con's and have decided that this baby, our last and final birth, will be caught in the hospital.

We're not in a place financially to afford another home birth.

However, our deciding factors were based on that still, small voice. We really feel led to deliver in a hospital. We feel safest being in the hands of a wonderful OB who has quick access to anything necessary to prevent hemorrhage or to preform a cesarean if necessary. We know we're insane for going from home birth back to hospital birth but we are trusting the Lord and his direction for this birth. We are obviously praying and believing we'll be able to have another natural and healthy delivery but don't want to be foolish when we feel led to deliver in a certain place.

I believe that birth should take place wherever the Mama and Daddy feel most comfortable whether that be in the hospital, birth center, home, etc. It's about giving women educated choices and supporting them! Our educated and supported decision is to birth this baby in the hospital and we're at peace with that.

We are a bit saddened at the loss of our home base advantage but knowing what we know after having three previous births, we're confident we will get the birth we're desiring, however it comes to play out!