Valerie's Birth Story

How do I even begin to start this story... I guess I'd have to go all the way back to my due date which was January 2nd. My Mom had arrived in town a few days before, and I had my 40 week appointment. P and I went to this appointment alone, and we were very anxious to see if anything was happening in there. I was over due with Evelyn, so I sort of expected to be over due with Valerie too. We got to my appointment and because of the holidays I was forced to see a OB then seeing my regular Midwife. We got back into the room and the doctor did a quick ultrasound, the baby looked fine. The doctor scheduled me for an induction which was set for 12 days after my due date... I was super upset about it. Not only would P be in the field but it was also the day my Dad would be flying back home. We asked him if we could do anything at home to get the process started and he basically told us "nothing can be done, the baby will come when she's ready and there's nothing you can do about it"... and no joke, he was super rude. I left my appointment in tears. I set up an appointment for my NST and a 41 week appointment which I was hoping would end up being unnecessary.

I was really upset about the doctor telling me that I just couldn't do anything at all but wait... So I decided that even if he think's I can't do anything, that I needed to at least TRY! My Mom and I asked for lots of advice and then spent a day picking up things like primrose oil, raspberry tea, eggplant parmesan, birthing balls, clary sage and massage oils! I walked and shopped like a mad woman! I was bound and determined to help my body get ready for this. But... nothing worked.

Finally my Dad came to town, and him and my Mom got a hotel with a pool so that Evelyn could have some fun. We went swimming with them one night and I spent the majority of the time in the pool swimming laps. When we were done with the pool and I was in the bathroom I suddenly felt my bladder let go of itself... I started pretty much peeing everywhere. This had happened to me twice already, I pee'd myself a few times ok. I was so not sure if I just had water in me, if I pee'd or if my water broke. I grabbed some toilet paper and decided to see if I leaked anymore on the way home and up until bed time... I didn't see much water... so I just wasn't sure what happened. I just assumed I pee'd my pants again and went to sleep.

The next day was my 41 week appointment and it was at 9AM. I had a few contractions that night but nothing regular. I had a different OB this time, thank goodness! The doctor pulled out the ultrasound machine to see what was going on and it turned out I only had 2cm of amniotic fluid in me (found out my water had indeed broke). He sent me straight upstairs to be checked into L&D. He told me not to get my hopes up though, that the hospital would likely check me again and if the baby pee'd, my water might go back up. So P and I headed straight upstairs. As I was getting checked in they told me that I was indeed being induced that day! P left to go home and get our bags, while I waited in the waiting room for our room to be ready. All I could think about was how much I already missed Evelyn, I had been spending a lot of time with her, but suddenly I felt like I didn't get enough in. But this was it, and boy were we ready to have our new addition here!

My Last Pregnant picture!

41weeks 1day

 

P and I settled into our room and we got all set up and ready to go. I was hooked to fluids, Pitocin and penicillin. I was hoping I could handle birth and not need an epidural but I made sure to sign the papers just in case I felt like I needed it. I was check in at 3cm, 50% effaced and a -2. By 4pm I was checked and had only progressed to a 4! I was certain I was in for a long labor.

 

I handled my contractions the best I could. P was seriously amazing! He supported me though it all, gave me his hand when I needed it, and rubbed my back. He also was so sweet and would help me to the bathroom every time I needed to go, and with that much fluids hooked to me, I went a lot!

 

At about 7-7:30 I could not handle my contractions any longer. I was having horrible back labor, and if you've never had back labor it feels like your back is splitting in two! I tried so hard to put up with it, and when the tears started rolling and I was feeling exhausted and hungry because I hadn't ate since breakfast, I knew I was done experiencing the miracle of natural birth. I knew though that I gave it my all! Getting my epidural SUCKED! They got me once... and it didn't work. So they stuck me again... meanwhile my nurse has her hand up my gown to keep the monitor on the baby and I am sweating so bad from the contractions and the fact that I was nervous. I looked my nurse straight in the face and told her how sorry I was. She didn't seem to mind but I'm sure it wasn't her biggest highlight of the night. After the epidural seemed to be working, I decided to take a nap. I had a rough night with Evelyn and I knew I needed the rest. It took some time but with some calming from P I finally was asleep by about 8:30.

 

I woke up at 9 with a horrible pressure in my butt! I'm talking like HUGE pressure! I was huffing and puffing! I grabbed that epidural button and clicked on it a few times and it wasn't going away. My Epidural failed me! I paged my nurse and after 3 more contractions, I paged her again and said "I NEED SOMEONE NOW!!", suddenly my nurse and my midwife, who hadn't checked on me in hours was in my room. I told them about the horrible pressure I was having and the biggest urge to push. They checked me and I was a -2! Baby girl was right there!! I screamed "OH MY GOD!!, someone fix my epidural!", they said there was nothing they could do about it now and that I should try pushing a few times... little did they know how amazing I am at birth.. in two pushes they told me to stop because she was coming now. Suddenly P is right next to me, and 8 people are surrounding me and telling me to PUSH!

 

I started pushing and I felt everything!, and I mean EVERYTHING! I was a woman screaming in labor, anything to help me and empower me, I was doing. P was next to me cheering me on, my nurses were telling me what was happening down below, and I was screaming "holy shit! I feel everything!!". It felt good to scream for a second and then push again! Not many pushes left and I saw her arm fly up in the air! I was told one more push and I gave it my all!! I pushed like I had never pushed before and suddenly she was in my arms!

Valerie Alisha

January 10, 2014

9:40PM

7lbs 9oz

19inches



 

I started to bawl and the only thing I could say was "you look just like your sister!". I was being cleaned up and I was doing skin to skin with Valerie. I got her latched on right away and I looked up at P and we were both in awe with her. She looked gorgeous! We had just added a beautiful little girl to our world and we were elated with pride and joy!

 

Because it was so late P and I had Valerie all to ourselves. We didn't get moved to the recovery room until 2am, but it was ok. We called all our family and sent photos to everyone. Cool fact: Valerie was born on my parents 38th Wedding Anniversary. We got very little sleep in, and we were pretty much forced to wake up at 6:30 to eat breakfast. So began the little sleep time in our life.

 

That morning my Mom and Dad brought Evelyn to meet Valerie. I was super excited to see her! I really couldn't wait to see what Evelyn thought of Val. Evelyn was super excited to be in the hospital, surrounded by doctors and everything! Her obsession with Doc McStuffin's really helps! You could tell Evelyn was confused at what I ment by Valerie was the baby we had been talking about for months. Suddenly mommys tummy was gone and there was a baby there. But as soon as we let Evelyn hold her, she kept saying "She's cute!". She counted her fingers and toes and gave her kisses. She was just how I wanted her to be with her new sister, and has pretty much stayed that way. She loves being a big sister!

 



We all feel so blessed to have welcomed baby Valerie into our family! Valeries middle name is after my little sister Alisha, some of you know Evelyn's middle name is after my other sister Suzanne. I have now had the pleasure of honoring two very important people in my life. I hope my girls will look at them both as the amazing women they were. Suzanne passed away 13 years ago and Alisha is mentally and physically handicapped. I'm proud to have honored them both in such a special way.

Our Family of Four!

 



Hiring a Doula

This pregnancy has brought up a lot of different emotions for me. For one.. when you find out you're having another baby a lot of things cross your mind. For one, for me at least I thought a ton about my birth experience with Evelyn. I don't at all regret being induced, P was on leave from Iraq and after 5 days of nothing happening and no process, ya I was ok with being induced so P could spend more time with her.

One thing I have hated about my birth experience was how drugged I was. I did not what so ever think I would have a 5 hour labor. I was totally mentally prepared for 16+ hours. Yepp I was, I had a ton of movies for my room, I packed P a bunch of snacks, I had books, ipods, stuff for me to do pain management in the shower.. but I didn't get to do any of that.

I went in the night before to be induced over night. I took an ambian because I knew I needed that sleep. I took it at 11pm.. and I woke up at 4:30 or 5 and I was in active labor. By 6am I was at 6 CM dialated. By 7am I was a 8 and by 8am I was pushing out a baby. I mean it went super fast! And that ambian didn't wear off.. plus the epidural.. ya I was pretty drugged. When they broke my water and they told me it was green, I didn't even comprehend what the hell that ment!

So this go around I have had a lot of time to think, and P has had more time to tell me... "ya that's so gross I don't want to watch again".. haha his choice. I however have decided I want to see... I hope I don't regret that haha. But because P is so uncomfortable with me in pain and seeing anything down there again I have decided to look into hiring a doula.

But what do you know... one of my new church friends IS a Doula! Now I haven't fully decided if I am indeed hiring her, if I am really even going to hire one, or if I just need to really train P to buck up. But I decided that I need to start looking into it. I'd love to do a natural birth, and I am not going to pressure myself too much. But if I can do it, I would be happy to do that for my baby and myself.

Now my question to my readers is what should I ask my friend about being a doula? What do you ask someone you're hiring to help you bring a baby into the world?! How do you go about this?

Due Date.

This time last year I was a miserable pregnant woman! All I wanted was for my baby invasion to end! I wanted her out! Her Daddy had been here about 5 days and she still wouldnt come out! WHY!! We did everything! Nope she was comfy and apperently had no plans on coming out!

My MIL was on her way here and was pretty sure she was going to be in the delivery room...NO. and I wanted Evelyn out before she got here so it wouldnt be awkward to say..NO!

The Hub's didnt seem to mind having more time for the 2 of us, but I minded him not spending more time with his daughter! At the time I dont think he saw that side.

But thankfully my doctor decided to induce me! On my Due Date...so one year ago on this day I entered the hospital to finally give birth to my daughter! and I cannot believe its been a year!!

Check out tommorrow for Evelyn's 1 year update and a review of her Birth Story!

First Photo of Hubs and I with my bump!! (39 weeks 4 days!)

Last Picture before we became parents!

Right before we left for the hospital!

Last photo of me pregnant!

All ready to have her!!



The Birth Story

I checked into the hospital to be induced at 8pm on the 19th. I wasnt given pitocen, but they had put a tiny pill up by my cervix to try and get her to go on her own. I had to lay in bed for 2 hours before I could move and they checked me at 11pm and said I was still 3 centimeters and 50% efaced. They placed another pill in there and I took an ambian and went to sleep. Apparently throughout the night I was telling the nurse about the color of dreams I was having.
At about 3:30 I woke up with back pains and needed some medication. Turns out the little one started to finally go! They gave me pitocen and the pain meds and put me back to sleep. About an hour later I woke up with worse pains then I have ever felt! My contractions were happening about every 3 minutes. I was only a 6 but it was finally going. They gave me more pain meds, because I wasnt ready to get my epideral. Call me stubborn but I wanted to see how far I could go without it.
About 5/5:30 I decided I needed the epideral and got it finally! It made me feel so funny! I was digging the feeling and I went back to sleep.
Around 7 am I was finally giving up on the sleep and just woke up and Hubby and I started watching some TV. My nurse came in to check me and I was an 8. So we called my mom and hubbys mom and had then come down here. My mom rushed to the hospital and by the time she got there about 745/8 am I was fully dilated and ready to go. We waited for my doctor and I started to not feel ANYTHING, I was having to be told that I was having contractions in order to start pushing.
I started pushing at 8:05ish (I wasnt watching the clock) I pushed her out very quickly and didnt even tear!

Evelyn Suzanne 

July 20, 2011 at 8:23 am

7lbs 2oz

20 inches long

She was born absolutely perfect! She has a ton of hair! Hubby did a great job at watching, because it was something he really didnt want to do, but looking at him while I was pushing it was amazing to watch his face!

Right after she was born I was sad I didn't get to hold her. They put her on my chest immediately and then took her away. They had me order lunch and while I was eating everyone else held her...which made me sad and mad, but I knew I needed to eat.

I was so happy when I finally got to hold her. Everyone left and Hubby and I got some alone time and a good nap in before everyone came back. It was nice to just hold her and be a family together finally.

She looks almost exactly like her daddy, but alot of people think she looks like me too. Shes absolutly beautiful and so amazing to look at! I feel very blessed to have her in my life!

One Very Happy Family!