Today Indy Grace is one month old. How is that even possible!?
Dear time,
can we please slow down a bit?
can we please slow down a bit?
It's about time that I got her birth story typed up.
The weekend leading up to Indy's birthday, I had a million more contractions than I had normally had during this pregnancy. By Sunday night, they were getting closer together, and I felt the need to start timing them. The only time that they seemed to pick up and grow closer together was when I would get into bed for the night.
Of course.
Who wants to get as much sleep as possible before welcoming a newborn again?
Of course.
Who wants to get as much sleep as possible before welcoming a newborn again?
Me.
Nope, didn't happen.
Let me give a little back story. During my pregnancies with Mav and Nixon, I worked up until I was 39 weeks pregnant. Mav came at 40 weeks and 2 days, and Nixon came a bit earlier at 39 weeks and 2 days.
At the beginning of this pregnancy, the plan was set to be the same.
I would work until I was 39 weeks pregnant.
I always like to have a little time after closing my daycare so that I can tidy up the house, and spend a few days with just my kids before we welcome a new baby into the family.
As my pregnancy progressed, I started getting this uneasy feeling about working that far into this pregnancy. There was really no reason to feel that way. I just did.
Despite how I felt, I decided to stick with the original plan.
The afternoon of Monday June 4th, I had my 38 week check up and was told I was dilated to a 3.
With my consent, my doctor stripped my membranes since I was already having pretty consistent contractions in the evenings, and then sent me on my way.
That night, I did not feel too hot.
Nixon and I went to my grandmas for dinner with family while Mav and Jake went to a Rivets game.
I made sure to tell Jake that he needed to make sure he had his phone nearby, just in case things suddenly progressed.
I made sure to tell Jake that he needed to make sure he had his phone nearby, just in case things suddenly progressed.
My contractions started picking up again while we were there, so I quietly timed them and attempted to act as if nothing was happening.
I didn't want to get anyone too excited if they were just going to fizzle out again.
They continued as the night went on, and I played with the idea of not going to bed because I was convinced that I would be headed to the hospital within a few hours.
Who needs sleep when there is dust and dog hair calling your name?!
The house needed to be spotless!
Babies care about those things ya know!? :)
The house needed to be spotless!
Babies care about those things ya know!? :)
Nesting had hit me hard.
I did end up going to bed thankfully, but didn't sleep very much as I attempted to keep timing my contractions.
After having them all night, I decided around 4:30 the next morning, that I was going to call off daycare and then get up and get ready to go to the hospital.
I finished packing my bag, shaved my legs, and put some makeup on.
By the time I was done, my contractions were no longer close together.
I was soooo frustrated!
I hardly had any during the day on Tuesday.
I was starting to convince myself that the membrane sweep done the day before, had started false labor and that I was going to be pregnant for at least a couple more days.
Maybe weeks!
Maybe weeks!
I did everything I could to get those contractions to come back.
I walked around our church a ton with Nixie in the stroller while Mav attended VBS.
I bounced on an exercise ball..
Nothing
I took a nap and hoped that since laying down usually caused my contractions to start, that they would start again.
Nothing.
Bounced on the ball while watching "Coco" with Mav...
Nothing seemed to work.
I would have a contraction here or there, but nothing strong enough to get my hopes up.
I was sad.
The day before, I was so convinced that she was coming. Now I thought that I would have to wait some more.
Before the weekend leading up to all of this, I was happy to have her stay put for a while longer.
I like being pregnant.
After having contractions keep me up for multiple nights, I was ready.
I was thankful that she was tucked away safe in my belly, but I was getting anxious to meet her.
I went to Ice cream with my cousin and grandma later that night, and then right around bed time, like clockwork, the contractions began again.
I warned Jake that we may be making a trip to the hospital soon, but he decided to stay up a bit to watch a movie, and I headed to bed.
About an hour after getting into bed, I made the decision to get up and get myself ready once again.
(I only put foundation on this time so I didn't freak the nurses out...
I didn't want them thinking "who is this nut with a fresh full face of makeup at 2 in the morning!?" haha! I am sure they have seen crazier)
I didn't want them thinking "who is this nut with a fresh full face of makeup at 2 in the morning!?" haha! I am sure they have seen crazier)
This time, the contractions kept getting stronger and closer.
Around 1:25 am, I called my doctor and told him we were going to head to the hospital as soon as my mom got to our house to stay with the kids.
(Side note: Our doctor is AMAZING! He has made it to deliver all three of our babies)
(Side note: Our doctor is AMAZING! He has made it to deliver all three of our babies)
He stressed that he really wanted me there ASAP because third babies usually come pretty quickly.
He didn't want me having her in the car, and I wasn't a fan of that idea either!
We packed the rest of our stuff into the car, and I snacked on some strawberries and Pita crackers while we waited for my mom to come over.
We arrived at the hospital sometime around 2.
Because it was early in the morning, we had to go through the emergency room entrance.
They had me fill out a little slip, and then sit in a wheelchair in a dimly lit hallway.
A few minutes later, a girl pushed us through the hallways up to labor and delivery.
We only got lost once...(insert eyeroll emoji here)
Being wheeled over bumps in a wheelchair isn't a ton of fun while having contractions.
Being wheeled back over the same bumps so you can take the RIGHT route is even less fun.
When we finally arrived at labor and delivery, they had me change into one of their lovely hospital gowns, asked me some questions, and then checked to see how dilated I was.
I was at a 5.
I was happy to hear that those contractions were at least working in my favor.
I am always nervous that they will send me back home.
They didn't though.
We were having a baby!
The nurse SLOWLY got my IV started...that's another story in itself, and then my doctor came in to see how I was doing.
Everyone left us alone for a bit and we decided to turn on friends, as I bounced on a peanut ball between contractions.
Jake rubbed my back during them.
Counter pressure is the best relief during unmedicated labor!
Jake is the best at it :)
I am so thankful for him!
.
A bit after 4 am, my doctor came back to check me.
I was already at a 9!
I could not believe it!
When he told me that, I remember getting excited and saying "REALLY!?"
When he told me that, I remember getting excited and saying "REALLY!?"
My contractions were strong and painful, but they weren't getting much closer together.
I remembered it being much worse with my pregnancies before.
I remembered it being much worse with my pregnancies before.
My doctor broke my water at that point, and told me to call when I felt ready to push.
As soon as the staff had left the room, I told Jake that I needed them back RIGHT NOW.
I breathed through that contraction as my doctor and the nurses quickly made their way back to our room.
Since my contractions were not super close, they ended up getting me all ready to push, and then we all just waited for the next contraction.
It was SUPER STRANGE.
Everyone just stood around talking as we waited.
I EVEN TALKED TO THEM!
With my other two labors, I was wayyyyy too far gone at that point to do that.
One of the nurses even made a comment about the fact that I was so calm and collected with no epidural.
I was in pain, but this labor was by far, the easiest one of the three.
You were out after two contractions.
4:25 am
4:25 am
All 6lbs 6 oz of you.
My smallest baby.
You cried soooo much.
That was a relief, because I had some anxiety thanks to Nixon who came out all blue due to the cord being wrapped around her neck.
She's been giving me heart attacks since day one.
Not you though.
You were loud and very pink!
You latched like a champ, and stayed that way for a full 25 minutes.
That was such a blessing.
That is one thing that I had prayed for specifically.
We were moved to the mother baby floor around 6:30 am
I remember that clearly because I was worried that your dad would miss his chance to head to the cafeteria to get me one of my favorite chocolate chip muffins hah!
He got there just in time!
...just in case you were wondering :)
...just in case you were wondering :)
Stay tuned for part two and some more photos from that day!
