Vivian Adele

 

Our birth story.   

Our sweet baby girl came in to this world @ 1:33pm on September 26^th.  I cannot put in to words how truly blessed we are.

  So here is a little back story, when we had Grayson, my blood pressure went skyrocketing (second stage hypertensive) once I was in labor.  It didn’t come back down for just over 3 months.  My swelling and water retention also took 3 months to disappear completely.  I was on the highest dose of labetalol (a bp med) you could have while breastfeeding. 

   Anyways, both the swelling and bp are generally related preeclampsia.  My sweet midwives were aware of this and we kept a close eye on things.  During the last few weeks we have watched my bp steadily climb.  Two days earlier I think I was 144/78 (140/90 is the no fly zone and I would have had to deliver at a hospital), so Janell swept my membranes hoping we could get her here before it got any higher.  

   After that I started having contractions, and I could actually feel them this time, haha.  I thought it was just cramping since I only felt them only in my underbelly.  My contractions were not regular at all, but they just kept coming. Ryan and I tried to time them the following night, still not regular, and I only felt part of the contraction.  About 6:20 Thursday morning, I was up, so I decided to time them again.  They were about 10ish min apart and looked like early labor.  At about 9am, I took a bath and afterwards they were about 7-5 min apart (I checked my dilation and was a 5-6).  I let Ryan know we were going to have her today and to get ready.  I even said we aren’t in a hurry and I wanted to shower.  haha

   That shower was rather enlightening, the contraction were now 3 min apart and more intense, when I got out I let Ryan know I was kidding, we are in a hurry.  Janell headed to the birthing suite, and we got all the last minute stuff together (takes a bit when you have to stop for each contraction). 

    I was so grateful to pull up to the clinic (around 11:30) and my Mom was there to take Grayson , and Janell and her assistant (Melanie) were ready and waiting.  I had a very difficult time deciding where I preferred to labor, I moved all around the room, Janell used back pressure to help with each contraction, Ryan just let me hold on to him.  I couldn’t sit; having my legs bent was awful.  After about an hour and a half, I had her check me.  I was a 9, but my water was still intact.  Anyways, we tried a couple things and then they broke my water.

    A couple minutes later I was pushing.  I would guess I pushed for about 10 minutes.  Mentally this was difficult since I only pushed twice with Grayson and he practically flew out.   This was painful, and it was crazy how much it felt like she should be out, but wasn’t.  Ryan sat behind me and I leaned against him and held his hands while delivering.   

     Heather came in to help with the delivery.  It was funny; she would tell me something along the lines of “let the pressure be wide and low” or something funny like that.  Ryan thought it was annoying, I actually felt it helped me know I was doing it right, I could push different ways.  He changed his mind once I said it helped.

      After she was here, she was immediately in my arms.  She also chose to come posterior, my stubborn babies.  She has tons of dark hair as you can see, I LOVE it!  Things I love that they did, they let my placenta come naturally, they didn’t cut the cord for a while allowing all of the blood to return to her body. I got to nurse her before she ever left me.  They checked her out in my arms, and waited to do everything else until we had that special bonding time. They also waited to check me, I tore a tiny bit, not even one stitch!  My sweet baby girl weighed 7 pounds 1 ounce and was 20 inches long.  Healthy and beautiful.  Janell took pictures for us afterwards.  They drew me a bath to get cleaned up before I headed home (their shower isn’t quite finished).

     We were home by 4:30pm.  Not bad right, 2 hours in labor, 3 hours of everything afterwards (we could stay longer if we wanted to)! Once home we had a few select visitors, and had a couple days of lounging.  Heather came out to my house Friday, Saturday, and Monday to do all hers and my checkups.   Truly awesome not to have to worry about going somewhere or being around sick people.   Ryan and I loved this experience, and loved not being stuck at a hospital. We wouldn't change a thing! I loved getting to know Janell and Heather, I felt truly cared for.

 

  http://www.birthwisemc.com/

 

 Home under 3hrs later <3>

 

                               You won't believe this no family pictures, not a single one!

                                                          Aunt Abigail and Aunt Chelsey

               G cheesing for the camera.  G&G Bolton, Grandma Lamb, and Jack holding Vivian.

 10-2-13