Birth Notes

Our wonderful doula has her own recollection of the birth.  And many of her notes she took in real time.  Very cool to see things from another perspective.  Here is the unedited account of what she sent us:

On Monday March 7th I received a text from Ryan at 11:01 AM stating:  "...Zoe's water broke this morning and we are checked into labor and delivery.  They are about to start the IV antibiotics. Contractions are sporadic."  At 12:17 you texted:  "..Zoe's contractions have picked up.  Do you mind starting the process of coming over?"  I arrived at 1:17 PM.  Zoe took a shower and we did a guided relaxation (baby come scripts).  You and Ryan rested a short bit after this.  

At 2:15 we went out to the deck to get some fresh air and at 2:30 we walked stairs.  We returned to the room at 2:50 and you sat on the birth ball doing circles while they monitored baby (you were off at 3:20).  The midwife chatted with you about using a breastpump so they began more monitoring at 3:35.  She also discussed possibly using pitocin.  At 3:40 you were put on the telemetry monitor and at 4:10 you started using the breastpump.  You stopped briefly at 4:40 and then started up again until 5.  Contractions began to get stronger and you were feeling more crampy.  

At 5:15 I went down to eat dinner and returned at 5:40.  You did some abdominal lifts and lots of walking.  At 6:05 you were checked (you were 4 centimeters, 80 percent effaced, and baby was minus 1).  At 6:10 you decided to go ahead with the pitocin.  At 6:25 there was a shift to stronger contractions and less talking between and you began moaning with each contractions.  At 6:30 they started to administer the pitocin.  Your dinner (pizza) also arrived at this moment!  I remember you saying, "ok, I'm ready to get things going, let's start the pitocin."  The nurse left to get it, you sat up and went from talking in a 'normal' state' to moaning and looking like you were in active labor. It was a big shift in about 10 seconds!  When the nurse came back into the room, you were in active labor.  She hesitated to even start the pitocin but did anyways since the decision had been made but I think her gut was telling her that it was not necessary anymore.  

Anyway, you did not eat any of the pizza but labored on instead.  You got very cold and shaky.  At 7:10 you were up and rocking with full back to back contractions.  At 7:25 they turned off the pitocin.  You were feeling lots of pressure.  At 7:29you sat at the end of the bed with a ball and you started to vocalize and stand with the contractions (I don't know how else to describe this but you began to make the beautiful sounds that only a woman in labor can produce).  At 7:45 you went to the restroom and got checked right after (you were now 5 centimeters).  You decided to go to the tub at this point after some walking and moving around the room. I informed your doctor that your previous labor progressed rather quickly once you felt like pushing so she had the team start setting up the birth tub even though they normally would wait.  

At 8:10 you got into the tub and were unable to stop pushing so you got out by 8:25.  Once back in the room you got checked again (you were now a 7).  There was lots of pressure and things got very intense.  You leaned over and told Ryan that you needed to bite something.  At 8:50 you used some nitrous and kept saying "I can't see you" when we would talk to you. You were complete at 9 and the midwife said "would you like to get into the tub?"  You said "No, I want to have my baby now."  You leaned forward and pushed her out at 9:03!  

I didn't get all the notes I normally get because things (once they got going) went so rapidly, it was difficult to keep my notes going and support you and a few things somehow didn't get into my notes (next time I will not keep my notes on my phone but on scratch paper because that would not have happened!).  I think I got a decent amount though!  You were amazing!   

Remi Violet's Birth Story

If you don't want all the gory details...because there is no way around gore when it comes to a birth...then here is the general story:

1. Water kind of broke...maybe
2. No labor started, waited hours, tried everything, felt stressy
3. Was given Pitocin and had the rest of my water broken with a "crochet hook"
4. Violent, unbearable pain
5.  Baby came flying out and surprised everyone (except me)!

If you want to know the details of how it all played out....keep reading:

It all started with my mom's chicken pot pie.  Because this was the last meal I ate before giving birth to daughter #1.  And given that it was a day past my official due date of March 5th my Mom was desperate to try anything to get to meet her newest grand baby.  As for me, I love my Mom's chicken pot pie and meeting this baby would be nice.  We went over to my Mom's for dinner and the chicken pot pie was so delicious I kept eating and eating.  Seconds, thirds, and "one more helping."  Right before dessert I suddenly felt sick.  And started to get cramps.  And then contractions.  Then I went into the bathroom and out came bloody mucous plug.  My Mom was delighted.  No dessert for me.  I went home and went immediately to bed while loosely timing contractions.  Daddy stayed up and I'm pretty sure spent the night nesting on my behalf.  Worked on framing pictures for baby's room and making food.  I had weird dreams and contractions throughout the night.  I woke up around 4am and felt very wet.  In the bathroom I could see liquid went through my underwear and my PJ bottoms.  But when my water broke with #1 it was like the movies with a full on waterfall in my pants.  This was just confusing.  "I might have peed?" I concluded.  I put a pad on and went back to bed.  Around 6:30am I got up again.  The pad was a little wet but again, not like how things were when my water broke the first time.  I was still having some contractions but not regular.  Daddy asked if he should stay home "just in case" but I didn't want him to waste taking a day off work so he left.  I got daughter #1 out of bed and off to school all while having contractions.  When I got home things really picked up.  To the point where I was having trouble walking.  I decided I better call the midwives.

The midwives wanted me to come in to get checked.  I was unsure I could make the drive to the hospital but also did not want to bother anyone.  I sucked it up and did it.  But halfway there I thought, "This was a really bad idea."  I panicked and called Daddy R to the rescue.  But it was too late and he could not rescue me.  He met me at the doctors right after they concluded my water had indeed broken.  They were admitting me to have the baby!

I was checked in.  I ordered lunch.  I ate lunch.  I felt awesome.  Too awesome.  I waited for things to get bad.  I tried all the normal tricks.  I walked the five flights of stairs countless times.  I tried positive affirmations "I am a birth warrior."  I even thought..."I am so good at birth, this is not even hurting"....but I was just in delusional lala land.  Our doula tried pressure points.  I tried different positions.  Things would get bad but no regular contractions.  They even hooked me up to a hospital grade breast pump to see if nipple stimulation would work.  I truly did not understand.  I was so scared to get my first IV (I was group B strep positive this time around and required penicillin) but even that wasn't bad at all.  The stinging everyone talked about just felt like a cool refreshing sensation! Around 6pm (I delivered baby #1 around 6pm and couldn't help thinking "this is supposed to be over by now) my midwife started talking pitocin.  And I burst into tears.  I could just see the writing on the wall.  Hospital intervention #1 is pitocin followed by emergency cesarean.  I read all of the horror birth stories.  And it was about to happen to me.  My hopes of a natural childbirth were finished.  I was being so dramatic per usual.  Luckily my awesome birthing team talked some sense into me.  And my doula advocated to try the breaking of the waters to make sure they were all the way broken.

I had my first cervical check at this point and I was 4 centimeters dilated.  The midwife stuck a "crochet hook" up me to make sure the waters were broken and out poured a little bit more liquid.  But nothing major and she did not feel hopeful it would help.  BUT boy was she wrong!  Minutes after she left the room I started having violent contractions.  Not the type of contractions that happen every few minutes.  Nope.  It felt more like active labor moving into transition.  The Nurse looked very unsure if she should start the pitocin but made a comment like, "Well, the doctor already put the orders in."  The pitocin started and things just got worse.  Like all hell broke loose worse.  They started the pitocin on the lowest possible dosage of 1.  Minutes later the Nurse ran out of the room to find the doctor to see if they could stop it.  Things get blurry after this.

I remember the following: Wanting to birth in water because this was helpful with daughter #1.  Not being able to walk to the jacuzzi tub down the hall because I felt the overwhelming sensation to bear down and push out a baby.  Getting in the tub for about 5 seconds before screaming "the baby is coming out!"  The doctors and nurses yelling at me not to have the baby in the jacuzzi tub.  A mad dash to get me back to my room.  The midwife checking me to only find that I was dilated to a 7.  Attempting to bite Ryan and having a washcloth shoved in my mouth (they were prepared this time around).  Telling people I was too hot (they took blankets off me) and 1 second later complaining I was too cold (they put them all back on me).  Screaming and cursing (I never cursed with baby #1).  Begging people to help me.  Waiting for the RNs to hook up the nitrous to try and help the pain.  Took two puffs of nitrous and was again screamed at by an RN that I needed some education about how to use the nitrous because I was "poisoning everyone in the room" by blowing it out.  BUT this was no time for education because I again informed everyone the baby was coming out.  The RNs and midwife reminded me that I was not ready to have the baby yet because I was only dilated to a 7. I continued to insist that the baby was coming and the MD checked me again and confirmed I was right.  I heard, "I see the head!" followed by a mad dash from the midwife and RNs to get ready.  Because nobody was ready except me.  I pushed my sweet baby out without even having a contraction.   At this point, I didn't even care if I tore.  I wanted the pain to stop.  I wanted to meet my daughter.  And with all my might I pushed the hardest I could and out she came!  They threw her on my chest and I was in heaven (still in a lot of pain) but happy pain!  When the midwife asked if she could check me for tearing I exclaimed, "Yes, I tore wide open!"  but to my amazement she said, "Nope, no tears at all."  Unbelievable.  My perfect baby girl was born at 9:03pm. She nursed three hours following her birth which is unheard of apparently.  The RNs kept coming in to check if she was done so they could move me to the recovery room but nope.  My little girl was hungry!   I spent the rest of the night dozing in and out of sleep and loving on her.

Having her thrown on my chest directly following pushing her out. 

All done! :)

Introducing Remi Violet.
Born on 3/7/16 at 9:03pm.  7Ibs 15.5 Oz, 21 inches long.
Full head of dark black hair, dark blue eyes, small head, blonde eyelashes, and absolutely perfect! <3

39 Weeks

Welp.  I am more pregnant than I have ever been before.  Last time around I mentally prepared myself to go 42 weeks and I was shocked when my water broke at 39 weeks.  This time around I knew in the back of my mind that I could go to 42 weeks but I just sort of assumed baby would be like her sister and come a little early.  Nope.  Baby seems quite content.  Still having regular contractions but nothing else is really going on except for some pretty extreme tiredness.  Like, I could sleep 24/7 if it did not hurt my back so much...and if I wasn't getting hungry all of the time.  I even panicked the other day when I thought about how much energy it takes to have a baby and how I have zero energy in reserve thanks to my crazy work schedule.  I have been getting about 5-6 hours of sleep per night and this just doesn't seem adequate.  So now I am trying to think that baby might not come until 42 weeks and that will just have to be okay.  As long as baby is healthy I am fine with however long she wants to cook for....just excited to meet her!

39 Weeks and still pregnant!

38 Weeks

Last time around I'm pretty sure this was my last post because Baby Girl #1 came right on my 39th week 0 days.  We will see what happens this time!  I've been having some pretty regular contractions at night so I can tell my body is preparing!  They have been a minute long and 5 minutes a part but stop before that 1 hour mark.  Hospital bag is packed!  Now the waiting game begins....

38 Week Bump

37 Weeks

Our house and nursery are really coming together!  Hospital bag is not yet packed....I should probably do that....but carseat is installed.  Birth plan is sent to doula.  And things are feeling more and more real!  I have had pretty steady contractions for a few nights in a row and I keep thinking, this is it!  But they don't really increase with intensity and are about 15 minutes apart.  And then they stop.  I feel so big and swollen.  I am having weekly midwife appointments.  My platelets have been much better behaved this time around.  They are currently at 113!  Everyday baby girl #1 asks if this will be the day.  We are getting so excited over here!

Stole this big t-shirt from Daddy R because my maternity clothes are feeling a little snug--37 Weeks!

Need to put things away, hang curtains and pictures....but coming together considering we just moved a week ago!

This baby has SO many things already thanks to big sister!

Some of the art to hang on the walls....

Who is having the next baby girl?!?!  I have WAY too many clothes! 

36 Weeks

Things are going so fast now...and simultaneously so very slow.  We moved into our new house!  Baby B #2 has a nursery!  But getting everything organized is taking forever.  And when you can only move at a snails pace because you are as big as a whale.  And when you aren't supposed to be lifting any heavy things but you do anyway....  Oh vey.  I probably have overdone it but I am so desperate for this little one to come and for things to be just right.  I have done 700 loads of laundry, have organized clothes by sizes, and I am busy sorting out toys to decide if they are baby toys or sister's big girl toys.  And then working full-time on top of that and being a mommy to my first born.  I'm exhausted.  So baby being born kind of sort of sounds like a vacay.  Even though I know it won't be in my heart of hearts!  I'm ready!!! (and I'm not!).

36 Week Belly and officially as big as when I delivered by Baby #1.  Please come soon Baby #2!  (and don't mind the mess from unpacking!)

35 Weeks

I experienced one of the most bizarre and horrible pregnancy symptoms this past week.  Every time I tried to sleep it felt like bugs were crawling under my skin on my pregnant belly.  I would scratch my tummy to try and make the feeling go away but it wouldn't even matter because my stomach just felt this weird numb feeling.  What the heck!?!?!  One night I'm pretty sure I got like 2 hours of sleep because the feeling was so disturbing.  I actually used the flashlight on my phone to make sure I didn't ACTUALLY have bugs.  At my midwife appointment I learned that this is common when you start swelling and water is trapped between your skin and everything else.  You get more pressure on your tummy when you lay down, hence the weird bug crawling feeling.  Luckily, I haven't felt it the last two nights but my oh my it was the worst.  I am so tired now.  I could sleep for a week to make up for everything.  And to top it off baby #1's asthma started acting up.  For the first time in a year.  I'm so sad because we were so close to taking her off her steroids.  BBOOOOOO.  and Stress.  :(  And swelling!  I never swelled up with baby #1.  But as of this week my rings don't fit my fingers anymore and when I take off my socks I look like I have sausage ankles.  UGH yuck.

In good news, we move this weekend!  WHOHOOOOOO!  And then I will officially begin the nesting like crazy process.  I will have a whole new home to take over.  I can't even wait!  I'm so ready for baby but completely not at all at the simultaneously.  And everyone has told me that I have dropped.  Even my midwife said baby's head is riding very low in the pelvis.  And baby #1 got to hear baby #2's heartbeat for the first time.  She was in awe.  Sister memories!

Surrounded by sea of moving boxes.  Might just be the last picture in our "summer home." 35 week belly!