Posted in Pregnancy and Birth

If you do not like birth stories or the details of one then please do not read any further. However, there are pictures at the end of the post, so just scroll down. Thank you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On August 23rd I was scheduled for an induction at 6:30 am. I was up early and getting ready when the phone rang at 5:30 am. It was the birth center letting me know that there were no rooms and to call them back at 8:30 am. At 8:30 there were still no rooms. Finally, around 10:30 am the birth center called that they had a room for me.

*sigh* as if being 41 weeks pregnant is hard enough, then to have things delayed. I kept telling myself that it is all in the Lord's timing.

As we were walking into the birth center my husband started praying that everything would go smoothly and that the Lord would be with me. (My husband sure knows how to make me melt! He's quite the man!)

At 11:30 am the my nurse started the pitocin as well as the antibiotics for the Group B Strep. The nurse I had was wonderful! She had had 5 kids of her own and was letting me lead where and what I was going through. My doctor had already warned her about my quick labors and deliveries. I and my hubby also warned her too. With our forth child I did not push, and my Dr. came in time to 'catch.'

Around 12:30 I told my husband to go get lunch. At this time my contractions were not painful, but just tight. I joked with my husband that with the other kids when I had him go get lunch my water would break...

With all my labors my contractions don't get painful until after my water breaks. (I have high tolerance for pain.) When my water breaks I only have about an hour, but that is when I'm not induced.

About 3 minutes after my husband walked out of the room to get lunch (12:33) My Dr. came in and broke my water. The day before she stripped my membranes in hopes that I'd start having contractions to make the induction a bit easier. I had a few but not many through the night before. They were enough to get me dilated from a 3 to a 4.

When my husband came back with his lunch I looked at him and said, "Guess What?" 

Well, he guessed that my water broke. We had a good laugh about that and he decided that he needed to scarf down his lunch.

About 2 1/2 hours later I could feel the baby coming down and I was getting the urge to push. At this point I was dilated at a 6, but I told the nurse, she is moving down. She checked me again and this time she wanted to check while I was having a contraction...(Ouch!!) She just wanted to confirm that I was dilating at the same time as the baby moving down. Sure enough... I was now at a 7 and the baby was moving down at the same time. Then the babies heart monitor lost the babies heart rate, so the nurse was holding the monitor on my tummy and boy did that hurt during the contractions.

The nurse and my husband are both helping me breath through the contractions and at one point I hear the nurse tell my husband, "You have one tough wife! You looking at the read-outs?"

My husband then tells her, "Yes, she is tough! Wow! She's making the "Swiss Alps" on the monitor!"

I pipe up after that last doozy of a contraction to tell the nurse that the baby is on her way and that its not the first time someone in the medical field has told me I'm tough. I am known for giving Drs. stories.

Before this my nurse says she can deliver babies but she doesn't like to because of all the paper work.

Then my Dr. pages my nurse and she leaves for just a few minutes...(note: I dilated from a 6 to a 10 in 10 minutes). I then ask my hubby to get me a cold wash cloth because I was sweating. While he's over at the sink I start another contraction and I was just barely able to tell him that, *quick breathing* "Uh!" *breath* "Baby coming!" *more quick breaths*

I then see my husband frantically looking around the room. He said he was looking for a towel or something because he could see her head and was ready to catch if the nurse didn't get back.

Just then my nurse walked in and I was barely able to tell her... "She's coming *breath* I not pushing!" (The only time I had to push was when birthing the placenta.)

She comes running over to the bed to see that her head was crowning and then with the next two contractions she caught baby Rayna at 3:30 pm. My husband cut the cord. Rayna did have the embilical cord wrapped around her head twice, so thankfully everything was quick. She started breathing and crying. My Dr. then walked in the room and said something about missing the birthday party, but she could at least help me get 'officially' un-pregnant with birthing the placenta.

Rayna had her quick clean-up and then I nursed her. Rayna was born hungry! She latched on right away and nursed for an hour. It was a precious time. With all my children and being able to nurse them almost right away will always have special memories.  

The whole induction lasted 4 hours and my labor (the painful stuff) lasted 2 1/2 hours. This was my 5th child, born naturally. The nurse that I had was very supportive of me going natural. I did have nurses later that would tell me about the wonderful drugs they have for pain and that I shouldn't of been afraid to use them. I would just tell them that I already had the baby and I did fine without them. I have quick enough labors that I can handle an hour or so of intense pain. I am leary of most pain meds as I am allergic to a few of them.

Here are some pictures of our little gem, Rayna Jade.

She has blonde hair, almost white. She gets that from me. I was born with white hair, but then later as I got older it turned brown. My other daughter is also blonde, but all my boys all have brown hair.

Posted in Pregnancy and Birth

Four days over due....

Today- went to church and there was quite a crowd in the lobby...

They told me that they saw our kids turn the corner, then my hubby, then me and they said everyone at the same time were like... "Oh no!" "She's not supposed to be here!"

*sigh*

This baby likes to snuggle.

I made a baby blanket today and a pillow case cover for one of my sons pillow. It has construction equipment on it.

Posted in Pregnancy and Birth

Thank you all for your prayers for this last bit of pregnancy. I greatly appreciate them.

I'm starting to get those phone calls... "Did you have the baby yet?"

Those calls get old and everyone that calls are already on our... 'let know' list.

It's not easy going passed your due date, although "I've been there done that" with two of my other children. (The other two, my daughter was on her due date and my other son was induced 2 days early due to gestational diabeties and group B.) It's hard not to think about baby at this point so I've been trying to find things to keep me and my mind busy. I tried shampooing the carpet in the living room yesterday, but the belt broke on the machine. Playing board games with my kids, paying bills, sewing, thinking of things to do for my sons decade party. I like to read, but it is so hard to sit still for long amounts of time because I get stiff.

"This too shall pass" 

Posted in Pregnancy and Birth

No baby yet

This baby, like my others likes to snuggle. My 3 boys liked to hang in there for a few days longer (2 weeks longer for my 1st born). My daughter was born on her due date though. I joke about her knowing what she was doing.  

Tomorrow, 16th, is my due date and I can only hope. I haven't had many contractions, however I am progressing.

I did go to my OB yesterday and we set up an appt. for next week which hopefully I won't be going to. My doc also reserved the 23rd of next week for induction if I don't have baby by next Tuesday. Again, we pray/hope this baby comes before then.

Posted in Pregnancy and Birth

I am trying to enjoy these last days of this pregnancy. To enjoy the kicks, punches and hick-up this precious one does. I don't enjoy the frequent bathroom trips and waking up every hour and a half, but I am grateful to be going through it again!

This month is just plain ole wacky! It's a busy Birthday month in our home.

Squirts B-day on the 5th.

My dh is the 13th.

My oldest, Boo boo is on the 26th.

Then somewhere in-between we'll have a 4th Aug. B-day.

(The other 3 of us are in Feb.)

Amidst all the birthdays and also planning for Boo boo's 10th birthday party I'm also slowly still getting prepared for baby. I've made one nursing cover so far and I like how it turned out! (Pictures within a day or two). I still have to pack my overnight bag for the birth center. I also have a sheet to fill out to give my nurse on how I like things done while in labor/delivery. I have baby clothes, blankets and such to wash. Oh, sometimes I feel overwhelmed but in those times I have to sit back, feel the baby kick, enjoy and relax.

On a funny note I've been forgetting a lot lately. The other day while taking a shower (this has happened a few times) I can't remember if I've washed my hair, so I end up washing and conditioning it twice.

Twice I've made iced tea in my iced tea maker and forgot the tea bags, so I made... "Ice Water!"

Then there is the laundry! Oh, boy! I am really thankful that my hubby has been doing the laundry lately. However, he'll ask me before he leaves for work to put the load in the washer into the dryer... well, when I am on top of my game... it gets done, but somehow it just has been... well... forgotten.

Some of my shirts have food stains because this belly catches any food that doesn't make it to my mouth. My dh thinks it's funny. (It is because I'm not usually a slob.) I just can't eat over my plate right now. LOL.

Then there are the times I put my glass of water or tea down, and then can't find it.

Do you have any funny pregnancy forgetfulness stories to share? I'd love to hear them!

Posted in Pregnancy and Birth

Baby update:

I had another OB appt. today. I am now going every week until the big day.

My blood pressure was 108/70. Baby is measuring good and has dropped a bit.

I was also tested for the Group B strep. I had group B with my last pregnancy, so I am hoping I don't have it this time.

When I got home from my appt. my dh left for work, then my dad called. He is doing well. He's still in a wheelchair and learning to walk again. He had his ankle fused back on Good Friday from an old Army injury. He was parachuting and broke both ankles and they didn't set the one right. He's going to try to be out here in September to see the baby.

I had some downtime so I sat down with my 48 oz. jug of water to read my RSS feeds and saw that I won the HSB Baby Shower Contest!!

I am still surprised! All the gifts in the basket are all wonderful! I can't wait to get it!

I am very thankful to all who took time to make gifts or to give of your products.

WOW!!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Posted in Pregnancy and Birth