Sep. 15, 2009
I Have a New Grandbaby!!
|
How exciting it was to be able to be there for Chloe Haven’s birth!! Here is the story of how that happened. Mark and I had bought tickets for a few days after Grace’s due date ( Aug 16) . We arrived in SD on Saturday, August 22. Grace was very ready to have the baby but not much was happening. Mark and I left Sunday after church to drive to Jordan’s parent’s home 6 hours away. We visited with them Sunday and Monday. Monday Grace went to see the midwife and she stripped her membranes. She said Grace was about 2cm dilated, 80% effaced and 0 station. By that night, Grace was feeling kind of crampy and wanted me to come back. Jordan’s sister was heading that way so I rode back with her. So I traveled 12 hours on Saturday, 6 hours Sunday and 6 hours Monday. Whew!! Nothing happened that night but I was glad to be close by. Tuesday we walked a lot and later in the day Grace tried castor oil. It did what it was suppose to do but didn’t really help get labor started. Wednesday we walked some more and she had some light contractions but not painful. Thursday the midwife visited and checked Grace. She was a little more dilated, 100% effaced, and at 2+ station. The midwife said it wouldn’t be long. After she left we went to the mall to walk around. The contractions got more regular but weren’t too painful. Finally around 9PM the contractions started to get more painful and were regular. I decided to rest until things got going. Around 11:30 I heard Jordan calling the midwife so I got up. The midwife didn’t get there until around 1 AM .She checked Grace and said she was making progress but it would be a while. She got everything set up and said everyone should try to get rest. She and her assistant went to sleep and I tried to. Grace and Jordan were in the living room but they weren’t getting any sleep.  Around 3 AM I heard Grace throwing up so I got up and this time I stayed up. Grace’s contractions were getting more painful so I suggested she get in the pool. She really liked the pool and stayed there most of the labor. Grace worked hard all night, mostly staying on her knees in the pool with her arms hanging over the side of the pool. I felt so bad for her because I knew she was tired and nauseous at times and in pain. It was hard to stay in the room and at times I left to pray and regroup. Grace and Jordan mentioned several times how they were glad I was there. That made it worth it. It would have been so much easier to have just arrived after the labor and delivery.  The rest of labor was kind of a blur. I know several times Grace was really getting tired and the midwife had us all gather around and pray for her. It was so good to have a Christian midwife. Grace had to get out of the pool to get checked a couple of times and go to the restroom but besides that she stayed in the pool. Finally around 1 PM Friday Grace got out of the pool and got in the bed to get checked. The midwife said she was completely dilated except for an anterior lip. Once that was out of the way Grace was ready to push. She only pushed for 21 minutes. At 1:36 Chloe was born!!  When Chloe was born Grace, Jordan, and I all started crying and laughing and crying some more. It was so special to be there for her birth, to know that all the hard work Grace had done was over and here was this precious baby girl. Jordan was the first to yell out “It’s a girl!” As soon as I saw she was healthy and doing well I started making phone calls. Mark was just around the corner waiting for my call. The girls were in KY trying to wait patiently. It was so much fun to call everyone and tell them the good news. I had been updating mine and Grace’s Facebook pages all day so that was my next thing to do.   Chloe was a champion nurser from the start. The midwife had had Grace wear nipple shields since the 36th week. I think it really helped Grace with nursing and not getting super sore. Grace only had a 1st degree tear so she wasn’t as sore as I remember being after my first birth with a 3degree tear. The midwife made sure Grace exercised at least 40 minutes a day during her pregnancy. I think that really helped her endure the long labor.  I really enjoyed staying for a week after Chloe’s birth. I loved to go in and steal her early in the morning and keep her until Grace woke up. Chloe and I loved rocking and snuggling. I even got to help sometimes at night when Grace was tired and Chloe was cranky. It sure was hard to leave my girls in South Dakota. I can’t wait until we can see them again in November until then I am so thankful for computers and cell phones with cameras. Maybe a webcam will be a good Christmas present. |
Comments
Sep. 15, 2009 - Chloe
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by kytuba Sep. 15, 2009 - Untitled Comment
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by Sep. 16, 2009 - What a beautiful birth of a sweet little girl.
|
|
|
|
|
Oct. 1, 2009 - Untitled Comment
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by