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Re: Birth Announcements & Stories
Baby girl is here! Another homebirth, Glory to God!
Was 3 days past due, 5 days longer than any of my previous pregnancies.
Contractions started at around 10:20. Nothing intense and just barely timeable. Midwife got here about 2:30. She was out in the living room while I was laboring in my room, trying to give us as much space as possible.
Contractions were still 2-3mins apart when I told my husband I started feeling a bit pushy. He called for my midwife and as soon as she walked in, I complained my water had still not broken, 2 seconds later water broke with the biggest gush ever. Contractions followed immediately and her HUGE head was out, and then next contraction she was out!
9lbs10oz 20.75in
Born 12/26 at 3:12pm
I ended up losing a bit more blood this time around and was pretty weak and dizzy for a bit. But after quite a few incredibly painful uterus massages and a teeny bit of rest and food later I'm feeling amazing now!
Was 3 days past due, 5 days longer than any of my previous pregnancies.
Contractions started at around 10:20. Nothing intense and just barely timeable. Midwife got here about 2:30. She was out in the living room while I was laboring in my room, trying to give us as much space as possible.
Contractions were still 2-3mins apart when I told my husband I started feeling a bit pushy. He called for my midwife and as soon as she walked in, I complained my water had still not broken, 2 seconds later water broke with the biggest gush ever. Contractions followed immediately and her HUGE head was out, and then next contraction she was out!
9lbs10oz 20.75in
Born 12/26 at 3:12pm
I ended up losing a bit more blood this time around and was pretty weak and dizzy for a bit. But after quite a few incredibly painful uterus massages and a teeny bit of rest and food later I'm feeling amazing now!
Re: Birth Announcements & Stories
Baby girl Riza born on 12/17 @1:44, 7 lbs 7 oz 🥰. I was 39 wks & 6 days.
No real trigger warnings: 2nd unmedicated birth, a bit unexpected though 😅
I’d been waiting (anxiously) for my Mother in Law to get into town to be able to watch our toddler while we would be at the hospital. But with it being winter in Vermont, everyone was sick and the snows were terrible. So instead of her being here last Friday like she planned she arrived Tuesday night.
No real trigger warnings: 2nd unmedicated birth, a bit unexpected though 😅
I’d been waiting (anxiously) for my Mother in Law to get into town to be able to watch our toddler while we would be at the hospital. But with it being winter in Vermont, everyone was sick and the snows were terrible. So instead of her being here last Friday like she planned she arrived Tuesday night.
Later that night I woke up a few times with what felt like contractions, but I was able to go back to sleep no problem. Throughout the morning I was definitely having some contractions but I kept thinking of my friend with her prodromal labor. I didn’t want to read too much into anything and start timing them and get too wrapped up in my own head about them. So I just tried to ignore them and stay busy! Because it’s better to labor at home as much as possible anyway, right? 😅
Well, by noon I thought I couldn’t put off timing them any longer. They were already at 5 minutes apart for a minute each. So, I call the hospital at 12:50, letting them know I’ll just wait for my MiL to get here from the hotel and I’d head over, see them in maybe an hour? And the nurse on the line was like… honey, bring your kid, but you better come as soon as you can! I, of course, don’t take her too seriously and think to myself ‘it would take as much time to load my kiddo up and get us all going than to just wait for my MiL to get here in a few minutes’. But a few minutes later as my MiL arrives, I’m deep in contraction territory and my only thought is that I should be putting on my snow boots and getting in the car.
Well, by noon I thought I couldn’t put off timing them any longer. They were already at 5 minutes apart for a minute each. So, I call the hospital at 12:50, letting them know I’ll just wait for my MiL to get here from the hotel and I’d head over, see them in maybe an hour? And the nurse on the line was like… honey, bring your kid, but you better come as soon as you can! I, of course, don’t take her too seriously and think to myself ‘it would take as much time to load my kiddo up and get us all going than to just wait for my MiL to get here in a few minutes’. But a few minutes later as my MiL arrives, I’m deep in contraction territory and my only thought is that I should be putting on my snow boots and getting in the car.
I live only a mile and a half away from the hospital and that drive was like a dream sequence of freezing winter air blasting my face and me repeating to myself that ‘I can do this.’
We manage to make it to the hospital, they can see me coming in through the doors and get me straight to the birthing suite. I walk in and they immediately try to get me hook up to some monitors. I am standing there, maybe 5 minutes before the midwife comes to check me and says I’m fully dilated. My husband, the nurses and the midwife all try to help me into the birthing tub, literally across the hallway, but before I can make it out of the birthing room I feel her head. I’m too dazed (overwhelmed?) to realize what that means, but I stop walking. They try to basically carry me to the tub when I stop, but then I feel her shoulders and I just shout, she’s already here! (Or something to that effect between my other yelling, I have no idea 😅)
Before I realize what’s happening, I’m on my back on the floor of the birthing suite, everyone’s around me and the midwife managed to catch my baby before she fell straight onto the floor 🙌 Thank God!
Before I realize what’s happening, I’m on my back on the floor of the birthing suite, everyone’s around me and the midwife managed to catch my baby before she fell straight onto the floor 🙌 Thank God!
Whew. After that, they manage to get me to the bed and there was no other drama! I didn’t tear this time, like I did with my first, so recovery is already so much better. Breastfeeding is just as much agony as the first time 🥲 hopefully that will just get better with time. 🤷♀️🤞
Re: Anyone Else Here Yet?
I just got my positive today! I’m due 8/12 with my first!
Re: 4th Trimester Check-In w/o 12/8
Thinking of you all and hoping you’re getting lots of baby snuggles and at least a little rest.
We are doing ok here! It’s still overwhelming to leave the house, I got super excited when I had the time AND actually remembered to trim the hangnails that have been bothering me for 2 days, we’re pretty much bathing in spit up and overall soaking in these early days and also letting myself cry on the hard nights. (We had a night recently where we were both sobbing 😭😂 My husband rescued us both 😅)
We are doing ok here! It’s still overwhelming to leave the house, I got super excited when I had the time AND actually remembered to trim the hangnails that have been bothering me for 2 days, we’re pretty much bathing in spit up and overall soaking in these early days and also letting myself cry on the hard nights. (We had a night recently where we were both sobbing 😭😂 My husband rescued us both 😅)
Re: HDBD 12/17
From this morning at 39 weeks before we left for the hospital 
Re: Birth Announcements & Stories
It’s a ….
BOY!
Samuel Anthony arrived as scheduled the morning of Thursday 12/18 at 39w0d. He’s a long, lanky lil guy at 7 lbs 6 oz and 20.5 inches.
BOY!
Samuel Anthony arrived as scheduled the morning of Thursday 12/18 at 39w0d. He’s a long, lanky lil guy at 7 lbs 6 oz and 20.5 inches.
C-section went smoothly with a fabulous team, and recovery for me has been generally pain-free, for which I’m extremely grateful.
We’ll be in the hospital a few more days, though, because Sam is in the NICU working through some congestion with oxygen assistance. Prognosis is excellent, mostly a waiting game while he gains strength and clears that gunk from his respiratory system. Looking forward to being back home and cuddles that don’t involved navigating monitor cords very soon 💛
Re: Birth Announcements & Stories
Oliver Andrew born 12/19 6:56 pm 8lbs 5oz 20.75 inches long.
Induction started at 5 am, got into a room and all set by about 7, was initially dilated to 3, went right to Pitocin and waited and waited. Had a late breakfast and then decided that the contractions were getting really good and got my epidural around 1. It took really good on the left but a couple hours in it was wearing off on the right side. Checked and was at a 5, had them top it off as I was really feeling the pain in my right hip.
Got it shifted slightly to help equalize and at 530pm I was at a 7 and still feeling it all in my right hip. Went from 7 to almost 10 in like 45 min and told them I feeling all the pressure. Turns out he was moving downward quickly and putting all the pressure in that area. They got me all set up and pushed for like 15 minutes. Had a veritable brigade of nurses since they were worried about shoulder issues.
I lost a good amount of blood and they did extra meds to help with the clotting/uterine firmness.
Almost passed out when later they tried to move us to recovery. Had to do more pitocin/meds and many rounds of uterine message that feel more like torture and not so fun times on the catheter. Lost more blood/clots. Finally made it there about 10:30.
Breastfeeding has been a challenge I forgot my nipples are terrible and kinda flat. Shields to the rescue though. He absolutely does not like to be put down to sleep much like his older sister.
Head of dark hair and lots of baby rolls. Will get to meet his sisters tomorrow (later today, lol).
Re: 4th Trimester Check-In w/o 12/8
@virginiaham I need to clip baby’s nails so bad… why does that feel like an insurmountable task?! I also need to schedule a chiro appointment for me, but again, doing anything outside of feeding baby feels impossible.
We had a “good” night of sleep last night. George was up at 9pm, 1am, 3:30, 5:15, and 7. That is the best stretch we’ve had in a while.
Re: Weekly Check-In w/o Dec 8
@thatbaintforbetty Been thinking of you this week. Have the contractions continued? I know you were hoping to go closer to 38 weeks than 39, so keeping my fingers crossed that things are progressing for you!
@caffeinatedandtired You’re almost to the end, hang in there!!
EDD / Weeks + Days: Dec 24, 38w2d
FTM/STM/TTM+/it's complicated: FTM
Team Finding Out/Blue/Pink/Green: 💚
Upcoming Appointments: pre-op appt on 12/16, c-section on 12/18
How are you feeling? Anxious. Excited. Relieved that other than the breech situation this has remained an uncomplicated pregnancy. Had my 38-week appointment yesterday and fluid levels were still good and everything with baby looked great, so unless they pull a stunt and decide to kick-start labor in the next week we’ll get to welcome them as planned. Which means this time next week I’ll have a baby in my arms 😳
Rants/Raves: I need people to be better at finding the line between acknowledging that a c-section wasn’t my first choice for delivery and getting stuck on that fact. I can’t handle any more “ooh, bummer” reactions to the change of plans…
Questions:
GTKY: Do you make New Year's Resolutions? If so, how have you done with your 2025 resolutions? If not, why not? I do—I love the opportunity to start fresh and/or recommit to the things I care about most. This year’s resolutions were to finally find a church in my new city (check-ish, been going to one semi-regularly the last couple months but not totally sold); clean up and organize the basement enough that I don’t have to guard it from the cats (check); finally get the kitchen remodeled (check); and try at least one new restaurant each month (will be a check once we dine at Yianni’s Gyro Place next Tuesday 😂). Not sure what I’ll have the energy to make resolutions on next year, though!