I know that it was a month ago, but for my own records and for those who have asked, I thought I would write about Nate's birth. Nate was due on July 2nd, but because we were changing our deductible we were supposed to be induced on June 27th. However, my mom was not going to be able to be there on Friday, so we were trying everything we could to go into labor.
I had a doctors appointment on June 20th. I was already at a 3 and 80% effaced, so I was hopeful that I would go into labor on my own and not have to be induced. Dr. Huish stripped my membranes and I started walking. I had been having some pre-term labor and had been taking some medicine to stop my contractions. Now I was hoping that getting up and doing anything and everything would increase my contractions. I think that Mike and I walked about 10 miles that weekend. We were walking 2 -3 times a day. I was having contractions, but they were never regular. Saturday night I was having a lot of contractions, but still not regular and then they stopped. I was discouraged to day the least. On Sunday, the 22nd, I went to church and then in the evening Mike and I went walking and to the elementary school down the street to swing on the swings. I got off the swings and was sure that my water had broken. We got home and ready to go to the hospital. Mike's parents kept Zane and my mom met us at the hospital. I was so excited.
I was at a 4 when I got to the hospital and still 80% effaced. However, when they did the test to make sure it was amniotic fluid, they found out that it wasn't. I was devastated. I had heard stories of people going to the hospital thinking that their water had broken and in fact they had just peed their pants. I could not believe that they were telling me that I was one of those ladies. In fact, I thought that they were going to send me home and I just started bawling. The nurse took pity on me and the fact that I was having some small contractions. She called the doctor and he agreed to let me walk for 45 minutes to see if anything happened. This was at 9 pm. Thankfully there were not a lot of people around to see me walking the halls. I got to know the floor really well. After 45 minutes, I was at a 4 1/2, but not progressing so they sent me home. I felt so stupid. They wanted to give me a sleeping pill, but I didn't have 8 hours to sleep before Zane woke up so I wouldn't take it. They said that relaxing might help my body progress.
On Monday, I took it easy and hoped to not go into labor during the day since my mom was in Casa Grande for work on Monday and Tuesday. I would walk in the evenings and still had no regular contractions. Tuesday I went shopping with Christi and her kids. When I got in the car, Andrea asked if I had had my baby. I asked if I still had a big belly. She said "Yes, but I thought your water broke." I told her that I thought it had too, but that i guess it didn't. Jayden, age 4, said "Well, if your water didn't brake, what did and can you fix it?" I about died I thought it was so funny. Out of the mouth of babes.
Wednesday night, I was having a lot of contractions and they were much stronger, but I didn't time them since I thought that they could not be real. A lot of them were in my back and since I was already afraid that the baby was sunny side up, I was a little worried. I didn't sleep really well that night. Thursday morning, I woke up and was not feeling well. I was nauseous and was having some different sensations. I called my mom and she said that I should call the doctor. They told me to go to the hospital. My mom came over to take me. Christi kept Zane and Mike stayed at work, waiting to hear what we were going to do, since I was sure that they were going to send me home. When I got to the hospital at about 11 am, I was at a 41/2 - 5. I was having contractions, but once again they were not regular. The nurse was sure that even if they sent me home that I would be back that night, so was hoping to not send me home. I loved this nurse. She was only four days back from her maternity leave and I think felt my pain. The other nurse was due July 10th, so I had very sympathetic nurses. They had me walk again for 45 minutes. Mike decided to leave work at lunch and come to the hospital. We were laughing because Mike's parents had gone up to Sedona for the day to visit Karma's brother and told me that it was a sure way to get me to go into labor. We were hoping that this was true. After I walked again, with more people around and feeling sorry for me, I was at a 6. I had a new nurse and she assured me that I would not be going home. This was about 2 pm. My contractions were getting stronger, but still not regular. By 3, they had already had the nurse anesthetist come into to tell me about my epidural, but I was still in triage. Finally, my mom told them that I was having more pain so they moved me into a labor room.
I was starving since I had only eaten a blueberry muffin at 6 am and it was now 3:30. But of course, I couldn't eat and those who know me well know that I live to eat. I stayed at a 6-7 for hours. I got an epidural about 4 or 4:30. The nurses were amazed that I was doing so well being as far along as I was. I still had not had any contractions that I could not talk through and I was still laughing. My in-laws made it back and Karma, Mike, my mom and dad all hung out waiting for Nate to come. By 6:30 pm I still had not progressed. Also, my water had not broken yet. The doctor came in at 7 to brake my water. We found out that Nate was facing the worng way and that was why I was not progressing. The doctor also told us that if he did not rotate on his own, they were going to have to help him out. By 8 I still had not progressed but was starting to have a little more regular contractions. The doctor came in, put me on pitocin and worked a little magic. I was so excited when they told me I was ready to push by 8:30. I was even more excited to know that Nate had turned himself mostly right side up, and they would only have to help a little bit. After about 10 minutes, Nathan Blaine Gifford was born at 9:06 pm. Mike and I was guessing that he would be about the same size as Zane and he was. Zane was 8-10 and Nathan was 8-8. I am so glad that I did not go full term with him, although the nurses said they thought he was probably about 40 weeks already.
My wonderful sister-in-laws were there waiting with food when Nate was born. As soon as They came in, Mike started feeding me Costa Vida. I already felt so much better. Thank you Chaney and Jen. That was so wonderful.
I was so glad to go into labor when my mom could be there. It was so nice to have my mom and mother-in-law could both be there to support me. And a few funny memories of the delivery: My mom, Mike and I watched The Legend of Zoro while in triage and before everyone else got there. My dad and Mike watched Batman Begins without sound up until about an hour before delivery. We got to watch the results show for So You Think You Can Dance and it got over just as I got ready to push, Chelsie and Chris got kicked off. as I was starting to push the news was on and they were talking about the wildfires in California so I watched a towering inferno just before I pushed.
Nate came out crying and red, not blue with the cord around his neck twice like Zane. For this we were very thankful. It was a wonderful experience and we are so glad Nate is in our family.
I know that it was a month ago, but for my own records and for those who have asked, I thought I would write about Nate's birth. Nate was due on July 2nd, but because we were changing our deductible we were supposed to be induced on June 27th. However, my mom was not going to be able to be there on Friday, so we were trying everything we could to go into labor.
I had a doctors appointment on June 20th. I was already at a 3 and 80% effaced, so I was hopeful that I would go into labor on my own and not have to be induced. Dr. Huish stripped my membranes and I started walking. I had been having some pre-term labor and had been taking some medicine to stop my contractions. Now I was hoping that getting up and doing anything and everything would increase my contractions. I think that Mike and I walked about 10 miles that weekend. We were walking 2 -3 times a day. I was having contractions, but they were never regular. Saturday night I was having a lot of contractions, but still not regular and then they stopped. I was discouraged to day the least. On Sunday, the 22nd, I went to church and then in the evening Mike and I went walking and to the elementary school down the street to swing on the swings. I got off the swings and was sure that my water had broken. We got home and ready to go to the hospital. Mike's parents kept Zane and my mom met us at the hospital. I was so excited.
I was at a 4 when I got to the hospital and still 80% effaced. However, when they did the test to make sure it was amniotic fluid, they found out that it wasn't. I was devastated. I had heard stories of people going to the hospital thinking that their water had broken and in fact they had just peed their pants. I could not believe that they were telling me that I was one of those ladies. In fact, I thought that they were going to send me home and I just started bawling. The nurse took pity on me and the fact that I was having some small contractions. She called the doctor and he agreed to let me walk for 45 minutes to see if anything happened. This was at 9 pm. Thankfully there were not a lot of people around to see me walking the halls. I got to know the floor really well. After 45 minutes, I was at a 4 1/2, but not progressing so they sent me home. I felt so stupid. They wanted to give me a sleeping pill, but I didn't have 8 hours to sleep before Zane woke up so I wouldn't take it. They said that relaxing might help my body progress.
On Monday, I took it easy and hoped to not go into labor during the day since my mom was in Casa Grande for work on Monday and Tuesday. I would walk in the evenings and still had no regular contractions. Tuesday I went shopping with Christi and her kids. When I got in the car, Andrea asked if I had had my baby. I asked if I still had a big belly. She said "Yes, but I thought your water broke." I told her that I thought it had too, but that i guess it didn't. Jayden, age 4, said "Well, if your water didn't brake, what did and can you fix it?" I about died I thought it was so funny. Out of the mouth of babes.
Wednesday night, I was having a lot of contractions and they were much stronger, but I didn't time them since I thought that they could not be real. A lot of them were in my back and since I was already afraid that the baby was sunny side up, I was a little worried. I didn't sleep really well that night. Thursday morning, I woke up and was not feeling well. I was nauseous and was having some different sensations. I called my mom and she said that I should call the doctor. They told me to go to the hospital. My mom came over to take me. Christi kept Zane and Mike stayed at work, waiting to hear what we were going to do, since I was sure that they were going to send me home. When I got to the hospital at about 11 am, I was at a 41/2 - 5. I was having contractions, but once again they were not regular. The nurse was sure that even if they sent me home that I would be back that night, so was hoping to not send me home. I loved this nurse. She was only four days back from her maternity leave and I think felt my pain. The other nurse was due July 10th, so I had very sympathetic nurses. They had me walk again for 45 minutes. Mike decided to leave work at lunch and come to the hospital. We were laughing because Mike's parents had gone up to Sedona for the day to visit Karma's brother and told me that it was a sure way to get me to go into labor. We were hoping that this was true. After I walked again, with more people around and feeling sorry for me, I was at a 6. I had a new nurse and she assured me that I would not be going home. This was about 2 pm. My contractions were getting stronger, but still not regular. By 3, they had already had the nurse anesthetist come into to tell me about my epidural, but I was still in triage. Finally, my mom told them that I was having more pain so they moved me into a labor room.
I was starving since I had only eaten a blueberry muffin at 6 am and it was now 3:30. But of course, I couldn't eat and those who know me well know that I live to eat. I stayed at a 6-7 for hours. I got an epidural about 4 or 4:30. The nurses were amazed that I was doing so well being as far along as I was. I still had not had any contractions that I could not talk through and I was still laughing. My in-laws made it back and Karma, Mike, my mom and dad all hung out waiting for Nate to come. By 6:30 pm I still had not progressed. Also, my water had not broken yet. The doctor came in at 7 to brake my water. We found out that Nate was facing the worng way and that was why I was not progressing. The doctor also told us that if he did not rotate on his own, they were going to have to help him out. By 8 I still had not progressed but was starting to have a little more regular contractions. The doctor came in, put me on pitocin and worked a little magic. I was so excited when they told me I was ready to push by 8:30. I was even more excited to know that Nate had turned himself mostly right side up, and they would only have to help a little bit. After about 10 minutes, Nathan Blaine Gifford was born at 9:06 pm. Mike and I was guessing that he would be about the same size as Zane and he was. Zane was 8-10 and Nathan was 8-8. I am so glad that I did not go full term with him, although the nurses said they thought he was probably about 40 weeks already.
My wonderful sister-in-laws were there waiting with food when Nate was born. As soon as They came in, Mike started feeding me Costa Vida. I already felt so much better. Thank you Chaney and Jen. That was so wonderful.
I was so glad to go into labor when my mom could be there. It was so nice to have my mom and mother-in-law could both be there to support me. And a few funny memories of the delivery: My mom, Mike and I watched The Legend of Zoro while in triage and before everyone else got there. My dad and Mike watched Batman Begins without sound up until about an hour before delivery. We got to watch the results show for So You Think You Can Dance and it got over just as I got ready to push, Chelsie and Chris got kicked off. as I was starting to push the news was on and they were talking about the wildfires in California so I watched a towering inferno just before I pushed.
Nate came out crying and red, not blue with the cord around his neck twice like Zane. For this we were very thankful. It was a wonderful experience and we are so glad Nate is in our family.
2 comments:
What a sweet story!
New babies are such a miracle. What a sweet baby!
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