***Please do not comment on this thread unless it is your birth announcement***
Please use this thread to share baby's name, birth date, pictures, and any other details about labor and delivery you would like to share as well as a link to your individual announcement thread. Keep in mind there is a 30-day limit on editing anything you post, and pictures cannot be deleted at this time. Any photos and/or information posted becomes proprietary to The Bump, granting the XO Corporation rights to use this in any way they choose (see https://www.thebump.com/terms.html). "Love Its" are welcome and appreciated on this thread, but please refrain from commenting with anything other than your baby's details. If you'd like to comment, please follow the link to the individual's announcement thread and comment there.
Wishing everyone short, healthy, and happy births!! (Credit for text used above goes to A14, N14, D14, J15, F15, M15, S15, O15, N15, A16 and J16)
Hopefully this stays empty for a bit, but looking forward to hearing everyone's stories once our LO's make their appearance! Happy 3rd Trimester July Mamas!
I guess I will be the first one to post a birth announcement! Twins were born vaginally April 17 at 27 weeks on the dot. Kael is 2 pounds 8 oz, Camryn is 2 pounds 2 oz. They will obviously be in the NICU for awhile, but right now they are doing fine. I'll post a link later, I'm tired now.
It's been a crazy 9 hours...was flown to a bigger hospital 3 hours away and team green baby 28 weeks was born at 9:02 this morning Henry Philip is now team blue! 3lbs 5 oz. I will update later as I know more. Thank you all for the support we have a long road ahead of us!
Update: Henry is officially 1 day old and him and I are doing well. I will be discharged tomorrow and he will stay in the NICU until close to his due date July 13th. Wednesday night after I found out I failed my GD test(which I thought was the most of the worries at the time) I stood up from eating supper and felt a gush of fluid...went to the bathroom and saw bloody fluid in my underwear. We went into OB, they tested it and found out it was amniotic fluid. I got life flighted on an airplane to a much bigger city because our small town hospital doesn't even attempt to do delivery's prior to 34 weeks. They tried to stop labor by using magnesium and Indoson. I continued to have contractions and started dialating however and at about 6 in the morning Thursday morning the 21st they decided baby was coming no matter what. I planned on having an epidural but by the time we had decided baby was arriving I was already at 7 or 8 centimeters and the dr said because of where I was feeling the most pain (lower back/butt)that an epidural wouldn't help. I started pushing and about an hour after I began pushing little Henry entered the world and surprised us all at 9:02 A.M. on April 21st 2016! 3lbs 5 oz 16 inches long. We couldn't be more in love with our little guy and he is such a fighter already!
Our little boy entered the world at 4:32 pm on May 24th. He is 4.5 lbs and 16 inches long. Grayson will be staying in the NICU for a bit, but he's doing well!
On May 23rd I had a NST scheduled. During he wasn't cooperating so they sent me to the hospital next door for an ultrasound. Everything looked good but as the nurse was leading me to the waiting room I felt a gush of fluid. We headed to the nearest bathroom to see I'd leaked a bloody fluid, which we soon found out was amniotic fluid. My water had broken. The L and D center I planned on giving birth at didn't support babies born before 35 weeks so I was sent to a larger hospital by ambulance. Sirens and all! The doctors at the hospital decided not to do a c section and that if I was comfortable wed wait for labor while they gave me steroids to help support his lungs. By the next afternoon and with the help of picotin he arrived! My epidural sadly did not work because I was dilating too quickly. I went from 2 cm, to 4 an hour later. Not even 20 minutes later I was at 8 cm, and minutes after that at 10. I pushed for maybe 10 minutes and he was here, making the long labor so worth it.
We are all doing well and hoping he can go home soon!
Well this just happened... Madeleine was born at 7:01am this morning at 35w6d... 6lb 11oz...! She s in the NICU for observation now since she didn't quite get to 36 weeks (so close!) and everything seems good so far what an adventure........ having trouble posting a picture but I'll try again later...
My Twin Girls Adrian and Alexa were born at 36+4 on June 7, 2016. Was given a c section due to breech babies, had them early because of severe pre e. We are all doing well!
After a HARD 37 hours of labour we were surprised with a baby boy. Dane is 7lbs 8oz, 20 inches long and he decided to come 3 weeks early on June 11th 7:01pm! We are both doing well.
He's here! Mr. Elliott Wayne was born 6/12/16 at 8:19pm. 37+1. It wasn't easy and took 60 hours of hospital time and a last minute c-section to get him into my arms. He loves snuggles and is trying to figure out the whole feeding thing. BIRTH STORY EDIT:
I thought I would write out E's birth story for anyone interested since I ended up with an early induction and c-section.
We checked into the hospital Friday 6/10 all ready for a baby. I was 36+6. They had decided to use misoprostol to ripen my cervix as I wasn't dilated. Over the next 24 hours I had six doses of it and I dilated to about 1-1.5cm, so not much. They decided to try a foley balloon (which was the most painful part of the whole induction process) and paired it with low dose pitocin. The balloon fell out after a couple hours and I was now dilated up to 4.5cm. They began to slowly crank up the pitocin. My contractions became intense at this point and I had an epidural which was not in my original game plan. The anesthesiologist took three times to get it in. First she hit bone, then a blood vessel which caused a shit ton of bleeding, and finally got it in. It was amazing and I was thrilled. It was Saturday night at this point. By Sunday afternoon I had finally dilated up to a 6.5-7 and stalled out there regardless of amount of pitocin. My contractions also never really formed the strong pattern they see to consider it "active labor" though I had them every few minutes. At this point Elliott was having some dips in his numbers and they kept moving me around and had me on oxygen. I should also mention that my blood clotting platelet numbers were decreasing and there was fear of bleeding. I had an emotional meltdown about where to go from here given that my body wasn't cooperating and I was exhausted and emotional. Then I started bleeding pretty heavily and they called my doctor. We talked and she was worried about Elliott, the lack of progress my body was showing, the upward trend of my BP, and the bleeding of course. So she said she would really recommend looking at a c-section at that point. We had put 59 hours into trying to have a baby and it had gotten to safety being a concern. I agreed and a half hour later I was being wheeled into the OR! Talk about a change of my hopeful birth plan.
The c-section was weird. They had lots of blood for me in case I began to hemorrhage. My husband was there and they actually let our photographer in as well. She got some amazing shots-very different than what we were expecting. I was really out of it and don't remember much. They pinched my stomach to make sure I was numb and they cut and pulled him out. I don't remember him making any noise but Tyler (hubby) says he screamed. He got immediate skin to skin with Tyler which I was happy about and they did some delayed cord clamping. I started bleeding more and they had to start stitching me up before even finishing the instrument count check. It was at this point that I suddenly needed to throw up and I screamed about throwing up and they got me a little bag thing and I went to town. Then I felt a super wet leaking sensation and asked if I peed. Turns out me vomiting caused me to hemorrhage and they had to move quick to measure it and make sure they didn't need to start a transfusion. Everything turned out okay and I was able to go back to the room and finally hold Elliott. It all was a really surreal experience to be honest and I don't remember much once going into the OR. I remember shaking pretty bad and going in and out of active consciousness. I do have to say that the induction process was terrible for me. The c-section was not. I really just don't think my body was ready to have a baby 3 weeks early. It's been 10 days and my incision feels great and recovery has been pretty easy. Hindsight is 20/20 and next time I think I would be more active in the decision making process of birth rather than reactive to the doctors. I just had a gut feeling early on that he was not ready yet and neither was I and things would end in a c-section. I wish I would have asked for one earlier rather than wait for things to get scary. All in all he is here and healthy and happy and didn't scare me off from wanting another down the road!
Natalie Belle was born at 12:50 p.m. after I was induced for high blood pressure at 37w 3d. We had a pretty easy induction except that my epidural only worked for about an hour and a half! She came out after about a half an hour of pushing. Her big brother is so proud.
Team green turned team blue. Lincoln Everett made his appearance 6/5/16. I was induced at 36 weeks due to preeclampsia. Lincoln was 6 lbs 8 oz and 22 inches.
Edward Joseph "Teddy" was born yesterday morning at 8:57 am after nearly 36 hours of labor being induced with cervidil and pitocin due to high fluid and precarious positioning. It was definitely the most grueling thing I have ever been through but definitely so worth it to meet this angel!
Landon Paul was born this morning at 6:47 am at 37 weeks exactly! He's 7lbs 2 oz and 18 inches. 20 hr Induction due to cholestasis. End of labor was a little crazy and super fast I only pushed 3 times and he was out. He's very sleepy and breastfeeding has been challenging so far but hopefully we will get the hang of it soon!
I'm a little behind, but it's been a crazy two weeks. Little Legan Scott turned our team green blue on 6/6/16, at 6 lbs 11 oz, 19.5" long, 35+4 weeks. . He stayed stubbornly breech from 24 weeks on, and I went into labor at 1 pm on 6/6. It was apparently going to be a fast and furious delivery but doctors wouldn't deliver him breech vaginally. So he was descended up to the shoulders into my pelvis when he was delivered via mostly unmedicated c-section. Then we ended up in the NICU for premature lung disease. His lungs are now better and working well, but he's got a feeding aversion - they tell me it's common with babies who were intubated to breathe, so we're still in the NICU figuring out that it's OK to suck.
We're both healing. Part of my healing process emotionally for myself, after having a surgery I didn't want and then being able to feel everything during it, is to tell my story. I wrote a super long blog post detailing my birth story. Feel free to read/no/share as you wish.
Me: 33 DH: 32 Married 7/18/15 1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16 Team green turned BLUE! 2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18 Team green turned PINK! Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
Samuel and Castiel arrived on June 17th at 35wks and 2d. We'd been fighting with insurance after taking a Trip to the Colorado children's hospital (8 hours from home) insurance said had been approved. What we originally thought was going to be a very serious heart condition, turned out to be TAPS. Samuel was born with only 23% of the blood he needed in his body and had to be resuscitated before being taken to the NICU. Castiel had too much blood in his little body. Both boys are stable yet critical and have had multiple transfusions. I've only seen them once due me being stuck in another hospital across the parking lot due to high blood pressure and irregular heart beat. I'm attempting to pump to build my supply because that's all that seems to help my situation. I feel very helpless. I'm ready to hold my babes.
Sorry I've skipped a few steps, I'm fighting back tears trying to stay strong for my boys. My husband has been doing all the leg work, spending countless moments with doctors making sure our boys are well cared for. He's such a blessing to our family- I don't know what I'd do without him.
Baby boy born on June 16, at 34 weeks via c-section, weighing in at 5 pounds 6.8 ounces & 18.5 inches long. He's doing well in the NICU. He's had an oxygen tube helping him breathe in his nose but they said he barely needs it now. Also a tube going down into his stomach, since he's still not yet coordinated enough to suck, swallow, and breathe at the same time. He's been doing good with his temperature, but he did have to be under the UV lights for only one day for a little jaundice. His tummy is able to tolerate a little bit of milk, as of last night 6ml at a time. We've been able to hold him since 2 days old. Can't attempt breastfeeding until he is able to multifunction though & my milk hasn't really came in yet. Still pumping though to hopefully get things started soon. He's usually sleeping when we see him and he doesn't like to be disturbed, but if someone else tries holding him and he starts crying just put him in momma's arms and he's right back to sleep again.
As for me, I've had some complications due to my c-section. I have developed ileus so they have a tube in my nose going down to my stomach and I'm on iv fluids only. The first few days of recovery were full of bloating and vomiting so this is helping. Now it's a wait and see game to determine how long I'll need it and if surgery is needed.
Baby girl Paige Roseanne born June 20th at 7.53am (38 weeks 2 days) weighing 5.8lb. All of Saturday and Sunday I had contractions but every few hours and weak so I didn't think they were legit. Sunday night I couldn't sleep at all because of the pains, I lay on the sofa just to be closer to the bathroom because sitting on the toilet seemed to feel like less pressure. All night they stayed about 20 minutes apart so I didn't go to hospital because I thought they'd start getting closer together. By 6am the pains were stronger but still no closer together so we called the dr and met her at the hospital to be checked at 7am. I completely expected to be told I was maybe 3 or 4cm but she said I was already 9cm so we had to go straight into the monitoring room and get ready. Everything went very fast, the dr broke my water and less than an hour later and only a few pushes she came out. It took longer to get the placenta out than the baby. Not sure if it's because of a small baby, it being my 3rd baby or just luck but I'm still amazed by how fast it all went. Baby girl is doing great and has already latched like a champ, it seems like she's going to love her food. We'll be going home tomorrow morning and can't wait for big sister and brother to meet her.
Everett David was born Monday June 20th at 38 + 2. I'd had a week of prodromal labor and a week of early labor before my water broke at 7cm. From there it was 3 hours of transition and pushing and he was born at our home with the help of a CNM and her team. He's a little summer solstice strawberry moon baby and weighed in at 8lbs 9oz and 21 inches.
Archer Westley joined the world yesterday June 21 at 1:12pm after an hour and a half of intense out of no where labor! At only 34 weeks 3 days he doing GREAT! Should be home within a week and a half!
Harper Rose born at 38 weeks, June 24th at 1:32pm. Weighing 7 pounds 11 ounces, 18 inches long.
The beginning of the week I was experiencing cramps and some back pain nothing too crazy.. All day Wednesday I felt like I was having period cramps and sciatica pain. I brushed it off went in the pool went to dinner and went to bed. Just before 2 am I woke up to go pee and just as I was climbing back into bed my water broke. I showered put a pad on and headed out. 3am I got to the hospital and my contractions were two minutes apart and a minute long. I was only a fingertip dilated but the contractions were becoming unbearable. I walked the hallways for an hour and the nurse suggested I receive an epidural. I was so tense from contracting so consistently that she said my epidural would relax me enough to help me dilate. My epidural only worked on my lower left side after three attempts to troubleshoot it I had to do it again. By 12pm I was ready to start pushing my epidural finally was working on both sides but my left side was dead to the world I couldn't move my leg at all. By 1:32pm Harper Rose made her appearance into the world. She did end up having the cord tight around her neck so when my doctor was able to see her head as I was pushing he cut me so he could get to her quicker two more big pushes and she was completely out.
Elijah Adrian came into the world today at 2:15am after a long induction process that started Wednesday afternoon. Born at 37w6d. He's 6 pounds 6.2 ounces and 19.5 inches long. I had developed pre-eclampsia so delivery was necessary. From the beginning I was tied to the bed with iv drugs and continuous monitoring so pretty much the opposite of what I had planned for birth. I was able to deliver vaginally though which I was glad about. Hang in there July mamas!!! Whatever happens, it will be worth it to hold your little babies. I can't believe how much I love this little guy already!
edited to add birth story- I went to a routine appt last Wednesday and was told my blood pressure was too high and I needed to be monitored in the hospital. I went thinking I'd go in for a few hours and be released once the numbers went down. Instead I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and told that I needed to be induced. They put me on iv drugs (magnesium) right away to reduce the blood pressure. That medicine made me hot and I couldn't even walk to the bathroom because magnesium weakens your muscles. I went through a lot of emotions- excited to meet my lil guy, scared as hell, upset that my plan of low intervention has now turned into high intervention. At the start of induction, I was closed, long, hard and posterior so basically my body was nowhere near being ready to naturally deliver. I got 4 rounds of Cytotec to soften my cervix. After 4, my cervix was fingertip open. My doc then recommended a foley bulb to manually open my cervix. At that point, I got an epidural because I had remembered the L&D nurse who taught childbirth class compared the foley bulb to a medieval form of torture. After 9 hours of that, it finally came out and I was at a 4. That was super exciting!!!!! Then Pitocin was started. I tried to rest and finally fell asleep at one point. When I woke up, I got checked and was a 7. Again, super exciting! I had a rough time during transition. There was a lot of pressure and I kept thinking my baby was just going to drop out of me. at one point, I told the nurse to call the doctor and tell her to give me a c-section because otherwise I was going to die. I cried a lot at this point. I got checked by somebody else who told me I was a 5. I cried some more thinking the pitocin wasn't doing anything. I became an asshole and yelled a lot- telling people not to talk to me or touch me. I pulled my blood pressure cuff off and pulse monitor off. I was so done with being tied to those machines!!!! Somehow I made it to a 10 and was told to start pushing. What a relief that was!!! I pushed for about 30 minutes and lil man came into the world. The nurses said they were really impressed by my pushing and I felt bad for yelling but my husband kept telling me they probably deal with that a lot. We had skin to skin right away. Elijah was really alert and breastfed right away while I got stitched up. Being done with labor was great and I felt like a boss. it took over 36 hours from the start of induction but we made it!!!
What was helpful during this unexpected situation was the support of my husband and my doula. She reminded me that although a lot of my birth plan ideals had to be scraped, I could still ask for a few things instead of feeling like everything had to go. One thing I asked for was minimal number of people in the room when I delivered because so many interns/med students came in the room and I wasn't into it.... I wish I could have stayed more positive through the whole thing but it is what it is and we made it. Elijah is so awesome, I'd do it again!
Our beautiful little Natalie came into this world on Thursday June 23rd at 1:09am via unplanned c-section. My water had broken around 2am the day before, and despite pitocin for nearly a whole day, I hadn't progressed past 5cm by midnight, and baby's heart rate was dipping a little too low with every contraction. We all though it was best for both of us to just get her out, and she emerged an hour later. By the time I delivered, I was 38 weeks and 2 days along. She is perfectly happy and healthy, weighing 6lbs 13oz and 19.5 inches long. I have a slight infection from labor and delivery, but am healing nicely now! She's practically perfect in every way ♡
My boy Ari was born late on 6/25 after a grueling 30-ish hour straight back labor that eventually resulted in a c-section as little man was sunny side up and refusing to make his way out. I'm at the hospital unable to sleep cause of discomfort so I figured I'd do a quick write-up. STORY scroll for a pic My water broke a little after noon on Friday 6/24 and I spent the day basically doing whatever I normally do. Let my husband Chad know and he finished work around 4. Had dinner with my parents and watched a movie and I finally started feeling some contractions, around 6 pm, but very mild. Chad and I went home after the movie, around 10, and spent two hours laboring at home, where contractions got really intense really fast, and they were alllll in my back. Drove 20 minutes to the hospital where I was checked and was at a 5. It basically just got worse and worse, as back labor really is no joke! There's no way I can describe it... I ended up getting an epidural, despite having planned to go med free, but after 24 hours of this kinda pain, I didn't ever make it past 7 cm and 70% effaced, and I was done both physically and mentally. The epi was great and helped me relax and get further along but I hung out at 9 cm with an anterior lip for the rest of my labor and we did everything we could think of to get me complete. It got to the point that my cervix actually started swelling, causing it basically to close up a bit instead and the doc recommended a c-section, as my water had now been broken for close to 36 hours and though baby was doing fine, she was worried that I might take a turn for the worse if we kept going. The surgery went really well, he came out looking right up at everyone and screaming. We're all doing well - I'm in a good amount of pain at the incision and my husband had a hard time with the decision to go for surgery (he was just worried about me) but we're ok. Ari is lovin the boob, and Chad and I are only a little bit obsessed.
Baby boy #4, Russell Albert, was born on June 26 at 9:25am at 39wks1d, weighing 7lbs8oz and 19 3/4in long.
I started having consistent BH the night before but they wouldn't pick up and do anything so I got discouraged and went to bed. Around midnight they started getting painful but were all over the place. Around 7:30am they were consistent but still 7mins apart. With how fast my deliveries have been and because I was GBS positive I was starting to get nervous and decided to call my mom over to watch the boys and have H get ready.
By 8:30am we were ready to leave but then contractions started easing up so I told H to give me 15mins. 10mins later a strong contraction hit, I felt a pop, and then a gush. My water broke. I was on the couch but thankfully was halfway up so I didn't completely soak it. My oldest, Mathieu, was sitting next to me with a blanket so I immediately grabbed it, threw it between my legs, and waddled to the front door. H quickly grabbed my purse, keys, and all that fun stuff and we rushed to the hospital.
We pulled up to the ER at 9am and the valet parking guy quickly grabbed a wheel chair and they took us through the back up to L&D. When we got up there it was a total deer in the headlights look from everyone. H kept telling them I have super fast deliveries. One nurse checked me and I was 7-8cm, while another one tried to put in an IV (poked me 6 times in 3 different places and couldn't get any to stick), while another did as much paperwork as she possibly could and tried to get a rush on antibiotics since I am GBS positive.
Contractions were getting stronger and I told them I felt a ton of pressure and that I felt the urge to push. Two contractions later and one big push and he was born at 9:25am. No time for pain meds, antibiotics, or Dr. We got immediate skin to skin for the first hour and he latched on like a total champ!
Big brothers Mathieu, Everett, and Charles came up to meet him and we are all so in love!
Sorry in advance for the novel! Emmalyn Janelle arrived at 2:26pm on June 26th at 38.6. I went in to the hospital Friday at 7:30 pm to start cervical ripening for an induction due to gestational hypertension. I was only a fingertip dilated. We started cervadil at 10pm-its a 12 hour vaginal insert, so we had it removed the next morning. I started having contractions around 2am Saturday morning, but nothing consistent until about 5am. They checked me when they removed the cervadil and I was still only a fingertip and 40% effaced, so they decided to do a vaginal tablet that lasted 4 hours. Contractions were now getting very consistent and starting to pick up in strength, bit when they checked me again at 2pm, I was only 1cm and 50%. They decided to let my body labor on its own for awhile, and when they checked me again at 6pm I was only 2cm. They started me on pitocin, and from there the contractions just got worse. I was in so much pain, so we did 3 rounds of IV narcotics from 11pm Saturday until 1am Sunday morning. At this point, I knew I couldn't go any longer without something stronger because even with the meds I couldn't really breathe through contractions anymore. I got the epidural at 2:30am Sunday and it was amazing! I slept the rest of the night and was checked again Sunday at 6am-3 cm and 80% effaced. They broke my water 2 hours later and from there it was a whirlwind. At 10am they checked me and I had gone all the way to just an anterior lip! They told me they would let me labor down for an hour before we started to push, but after 10 minutes I felt an insane pressure and knew it was time. Started pushing a little before noon, and Emma was here about 3 hours later! I just had a 2nd degree tear, but otherwise we are both healthy and recovering well. She took to breastfeeding right away but has been cluster feeding so I haven't gotten much sleep. We are absolutely in love with this little girl!
Our sweet little Evie joined us on the outside Saturday morning, 6/25. She weighed 5lbs, 15oz, and is beautiful and healthy!! First contraction was at 3am, and she arrived at 10:15, so the process was fast, for which I'm thankful! We absolutely adore her, and are now beginning to learn life and routines as a family of four!
Aubrey Cynthia joined us yesterday afternoon at 3:57 PM. She is 8lbs 5oz and 22 inches long! She was exactly one week early. I had contractions all weekend and yesterday morning we decided to go to the hospital to be checked and it turned out I was already at 5 cm! So they got me all hooked up, broke my water and an hour later was at 6. At that point I got my epidural and was able to nap for a few hours while they started pitocin to help my contractions further along. At 3 PM we decided to try a few pushes to see how far she was and decided to just go from there! I pushed for about 45 minutes before she entered the world. Unfortunately the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck so we couldn't do delayed clamping or immediate skin to skin, but we just wanted to make sure she was okay. I had a second degree tear and they stitched me up while they worked on Aubrey. I also had some tissue that wouldn't leave my uterus so they had to scrape it out but the dr said everything looked good once he was done.
We we are so awed by her. She's been a great sleeper and we are just working on breastfeeding with the hospitals lactation consultant.
Team Green turned Team Pink yesterday at 10:57pm! Layla Lucille decided to make her grand entrance after 24 hours of labor. Started with broken water Sunday at 10:58pm, followed by a long wait and a lot of pitocin to get to 10cm, and 2.5hrs of pushing! An exhausting 24hrs, but so worth it to meet this little girl!!
Adalynn Violet was born on Sunday, June 26 (39+4) at 5:05am, weighing 6lbs, 10oz. and 18.5" long. I woke up at midnight with a weird pain and sort of just bolted up out of bed. I hadn't had very many "real" labor symptoms so I sort of just waited to see what was happening. About 45 minutes later I woke up DH and thought this was the real deal. He helped me time contractions but they were all over the place! I was in so much pain and couldn't walk or talk through them, so we decided to head to the hospital which is less than a quarter mile away. We got there around 2am and I was so terribly afraid they wouldn't admit me. But they did, and got me set up in a gown and all, and did a cervical check. COMPLETELY DILATED AND EFFACED! I asked if it was too late for drugs and the nurse sort of laughed at me... which was OK, because I had wanted to try a drug-free birth in the first place - til I had those God-awful contractions! They also said they knew I was seriously in labor because of my face and how shaky I was. Anyway... they broke my water and I labored some more until it was time to push. I had to use all the mindfulness training I was capable of, and I got through every contraction one at a time. Luckily I didn't have back labor! When it was time to push, I stuck with my mindfulness training and did the best I could. It took awhile to get the hang of how to do it. An hour and a half of pushing, and she was born!
I keep joking to people that I had the type of labor I'd read about and roll my eyes at. Five hours long, drug-free, and with a 2nd-degree tear to show for it. I can't believe I was THAT woman who showed up at the hospital completely ready to go. Insane!
Anyway, we're settling into our new life now and working on breastfeeding. I think it's going really well! She is the most darling thing we've ever seen, and DH is the greatest partner a gal could ask for.
Stella Audrine was born at 39w0d on June 28th via scheduled c section. 7lbs 2oz and 19.5 inches long. She's absolutely perfect and we're totally in love welcoming the 5th member of our family.
Re: July 2016 Birth Announcements
@BumpTara @BumpCaitlin @BumpAdmin can you PLEASE pin this for all of us ladies?
Update: Henry is officially 1 day old and him and I are doing well. I will be discharged tomorrow and he will stay in the NICU until close to his due date July 13th. Wednesday night after I found out I failed my GD test(which I thought was the most of the worries at the time) I stood up from eating supper and felt a gush of fluid...went to the bathroom and saw bloody fluid in my underwear. We went into OB, they tested it and found out it was amniotic fluid. I got life flighted on an airplane to a much bigger city because our small town hospital doesn't even attempt to do delivery's prior to 34 weeks. They tried to stop labor by using magnesium and Indoson. I continued to have contractions and started dialating however and at about 6 in the morning Thursday morning the 21st they decided baby was coming no matter what. I planned on having an epidural but by the time we had decided baby was arriving I was already at 7 or 8 centimeters and the dr said because of where I was feeling the most pain (lower back/butt)that an epidural wouldn't help. I started pushing and about an hour after I began pushing little Henry entered the world and surprised us all at 9:02 A.M. on April 21st 2016! 3lbs 5 oz 16 inches long. We couldn't be more in love with our little guy and he is such a fighter already!
On May 23rd I had a NST scheduled. During he wasn't cooperating so they sent me to the hospital next door for an ultrasound. Everything looked good but as the nurse was leading me to the waiting room I felt a gush of fluid. We headed to the nearest bathroom to see I'd leaked a bloody fluid, which we soon found out was amniotic fluid. My water had broken. The L and D center I planned on giving birth at didn't support babies born before 35 weeks so I was sent to a larger hospital by ambulance. Sirens and all! The doctors at the hospital decided not to do a c section and that if I was comfortable wed wait for labor while they gave me steroids to help support his lungs. By the next afternoon and with the help of picotin he arrived! My epidural sadly did not work because I was dilating too quickly. I went from 2 cm, to 4 an hour later. Not even 20 minutes later I was at 8 cm, and minutes after that at 10. I pushed for maybe 10 minutes and he was here, making the long labor so worth it.
We are all doing well and hoping he can go home soon!
Madeleine says hello and can't wait to hear about her buddies!!
BIRTH STORY EDIT:
We're both healing. Part of my healing process emotionally for myself, after having a surgery I didn't want and then being able to feel everything during it, is to tell my story. I wrote a super long blog post detailing my birth story. Feel free to read/no/share as you wish.
https://findingbalancewellness.blogspot.com/2016/06/my-hellish-birth-story-warning-graphic.html
This was taken on 6/12, the first time I really got to hold him.
This was 6/18, right after we first got to attempt breastfeeding
DH: 32
Married 7/18/15
1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16
Team green turned BLUE!
2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18
Team green turned PINK!
Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
Sorry I've skipped a few steps, I'm fighting back tears trying to stay strong for my boys. My husband has been doing all the leg work, spending countless moments with doctors making sure our boys are well cared for. He's such a blessing to our family- I don't know what I'd do without him.
Baby boy born on June 16, at 34 weeks via c-section, weighing in at 5 pounds 6.8 ounces & 18.5 inches long. He's doing well in the NICU. He's had an oxygen tube helping him breathe in his nose but they said he barely needs it now. Also a tube going down into his stomach, since he's still not yet coordinated enough to suck, swallow, and breathe at the same time. He's been doing good with his temperature, but he did have to be under the UV lights for only one day for a little jaundice. His tummy is able to tolerate a little bit of milk, as of last night 6ml at a time. We've been able to hold him since 2 days old. Can't attempt breastfeeding until he is able to multifunction though & my milk hasn't really came in yet. Still pumping though to hopefully get things started soon. He's usually sleeping when we see him and he doesn't like to be disturbed, but if someone else tries holding him and he starts crying just put him in momma's arms and he's right back to sleep again.
As for me, I've had some complications due to my c-section. I have developed ileus so they have a tube in my nose going down to my stomach and I'm on iv fluids only. The first few days of recovery were full of bloating and vomiting so this is helping. Now it's a wait and see game to determine how long I'll need it and if surgery is needed.
frequent lurker.
married: 08-09-2013
baby boy: 06-16-2016 at 34 wks.
All of Saturday and Sunday I had contractions but every few hours and weak so I didn't think they were legit. Sunday night I couldn't sleep at all because of the pains, I lay on the sofa just to be closer to the bathroom because sitting on the toilet seemed to feel like less pressure. All night they stayed about 20 minutes apart so I didn't go to hospital because I thought they'd start getting closer together. By 6am the pains were stronger but still no closer together so we called the dr and met her at the hospital to be checked at 7am. I completely expected to be told I was maybe 3 or 4cm but she said I was already 9cm so we had to go straight into the monitoring room and get ready. Everything went very fast, the dr broke my water and less than an hour later and only a few pushes she came out. It took longer to get the placenta out than the baby. Not sure if it's because of a small baby, it being my 3rd baby or just luck but I'm still amazed by how fast it all went.
Baby girl is doing great and has already latched like a champ, it seems like she's going to love her food.
We'll be going home tomorrow morning and can't wait for big sister and brother to meet her.
Harper Rose born at 38 weeks, June 24th at 1:32pm. Weighing 7 pounds 11 ounces, 18 inches long.
The beginning of the week I was experiencing cramps and some back pain nothing too crazy.. All day Wednesday I felt like I was having period cramps and sciatica pain. I brushed it off went in the pool went to dinner and went to bed. Just before 2 am I woke up to go pee and just as I was climbing back into bed my water broke. I showered put a pad on and headed out. 3am I got to the hospital and my contractions were two minutes apart and a minute long. I was only a fingertip dilated but the contractions were becoming unbearable. I walked the hallways for an hour and the nurse suggested I receive an epidural. I was so tense from contracting so consistently that she said my epidural would relax me enough to help me dilate. My epidural only worked on my lower left side after three attempts to troubleshoot it I had to do it again. By 12pm I was ready to start pushing my epidural finally was working on both sides but my left side was dead to the world I couldn't move my leg at all. By 1:32pm Harper Rose made her appearance into the world. She did end up having the cord tight around her neck so when my doctor was able to see her head as I was pushing he cut me so he could get to her quicker two more big pushes and she was completely out.
edited to add birth story- I went to a routine appt last Wednesday and was told my blood pressure was too high and I needed to be monitored in the hospital. I went thinking I'd go in for a few hours and be released once the numbers went down. Instead I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and told that I needed to be induced. They put me on iv drugs (magnesium) right away to reduce the blood pressure. That medicine made me hot and I couldn't even walk to the bathroom because magnesium weakens your muscles. I went through a lot of emotions- excited to meet my lil guy, scared as hell, upset that my plan of low intervention has now turned into high intervention. At the start of induction, I was closed, long, hard and posterior so basically my body was nowhere near being ready to naturally deliver. I got 4 rounds of Cytotec to soften my cervix. After 4, my cervix was fingertip open. My doc then recommended a foley bulb to manually open my cervix. At that point, I got an epidural because I had remembered the L&D nurse who taught childbirth class compared the foley bulb to a medieval form of torture. After 9 hours of that, it finally came out and I was at a 4. That was super exciting!!!!! Then Pitocin was started. I tried to rest and finally fell asleep at one point. When I woke up, I got checked and was a 7. Again, super exciting! I had a rough time during transition. There was a lot of pressure and I kept thinking my baby was just going to drop out of me. at one point, I told the nurse to call the doctor and tell her to give me a c-section because otherwise I was going to die. I cried a lot at this point. I got checked by somebody else who told me I was a 5. I cried some more thinking the pitocin wasn't doing anything. I became an asshole and yelled a lot- telling people not to talk to me or touch me. I pulled my blood pressure cuff off and pulse monitor off. I was so done with being tied to those machines!!!! Somehow I made it to a 10 and was told to start pushing. What a relief that was!!! I pushed for about 30 minutes and lil man came into the world. The nurses said they were really impressed by my pushing and I felt bad for yelling but my husband kept telling me they probably deal with that a lot. We had skin to skin right away. Elijah was really alert and breastfed right away while I got stitched up. Being done with labor was great and I felt like a boss. it took over 36 hours from the start of induction but we made it!!!
What was helpful during this unexpected situation was the support of my husband and my doula. She reminded me that although a lot of my birth plan ideals had to be scraped, I could still ask for a few things instead of feeling like everything had to go. One thing I asked for was minimal number of people in the room when I delivered because so many interns/med students came in the room and I wasn't into it.... I wish I could have stayed more positive through the whole thing but it is what it is and we made it. Elijah is so awesome, I'd do it again!
I'm at the hospital unable to sleep cause of discomfort so I figured I'd do a quick write-up.
STORY scroll for a pic
My water broke a little after noon on Friday 6/24 and I spent the day basically doing whatever I normally do. Let my husband Chad know and he finished work around 4. Had dinner with my parents and watched a movie and I finally started feeling some contractions, around 6 pm, but very mild. Chad and I went home after the movie, around 10, and spent two hours laboring at home, where contractions got really intense really fast, and they were alllll in my back. Drove 20 minutes to the hospital where I was checked and was at a 5. It basically just got worse and worse, as back labor really is no joke! There's no way I can describe it... I ended up getting an epidural, despite having planned to go med free, but after 24 hours of this kinda pain, I didn't ever make it past 7 cm and 70% effaced, and I was done both physically and mentally. The epi was great and helped me relax and get further along but I hung out at 9 cm with an anterior lip for the rest of my labor and we did everything we could think of to get me complete. It got to the point that my cervix actually started swelling, causing it basically to close up a bit instead and the doc recommended a c-section, as my water had now been broken for close to 36 hours and though baby was doing fine, she was worried that I might take a turn for the worse if we kept going.
The surgery went really well, he came out looking right up at everyone and screaming. We're all doing well - I'm in a good amount of pain at the incision and my husband had a hard time with the decision to go for surgery (he was just worried about me) but we're ok. Ari is lovin the boob, and Chad and I are only a little bit obsessed.
By 8:30am we were ready to leave but then contractions started easing up so I told H to give me 15mins. 10mins later a strong contraction hit, I felt a pop, and then a gush. My water broke. I was on the couch but thankfully was halfway up so I didn't completely soak it. My oldest, Mathieu, was sitting next to me with a blanket so I immediately grabbed it, threw it between my legs, and waddled to the front door. H quickly grabbed my purse, keys, and all that fun stuff and we rushed to the hospital.
We pulled up to the ER at 9am and the valet parking guy quickly grabbed a wheel chair and they took us through the back up to L&D. When we got up there it was a total deer in the headlights look from everyone. H kept telling them I have super fast deliveries. One nurse checked me and I was 7-8cm, while another one tried to put in an IV (poked me 6 times in 3 different places and couldn't get any to stick), while another did as much paperwork as she possibly could and tried to get a rush on antibiotics since I am GBS positive.
Contractions were getting stronger and I told them I felt a ton of pressure and that I felt the urge to push. Two contractions later and one big push and he was born at 9:25am. No time for pain meds, antibiotics, or Dr. We got immediate skin to skin for the first hour and he latched on like a total champ!
Big brothers Mathieu, Everett, and Charles came up to meet him and we are all so in love!
, 💙💙💙💙💙💙
Our sweet little Evie joined us on the outside Saturday morning, 6/25. She weighed 5lbs, 15oz, and is beautiful and healthy!! First contraction was at 3am, and she arrived at 10:15, so the process was fast, for which I'm thankful! We absolutely adore her, and are now beginning to learn life and routines as a family of four!
We we are so awed by her. She's been a great sleeper and we are just working on breastfeeding with the hospitals lactation consultant.
I keep joking to people that I had the type of labor I'd read about and roll my eyes at. Five hours long, drug-free, and with a 2nd-degree tear to show for it. I can't believe I was THAT woman who showed up at the hospital completely ready to go. Insane!
Anyway, we're settling into our new life now and working on breastfeeding. I think it's going really well! She is the most darling thing we've ever seen, and DH is the greatest partner a gal could ask for.