The Birth Story

I know it has taken me a month to get this up, but I'm sure you all understand how crazy it can be with a new born, so here it is.

I had been measuring small for months, always one week behind. At my second to last OB appointment I measured 2 weeks behind. My Midwife didn't seem worried, but if i measured more then 2 weeks behind the following week then they would need to do a ultrasound to check on the baby.

So on November 4th I went in for, what would turn out to be, my last appointment. When the Dr. measured my belly I was 4weeks behind (between 34cm & 35cm) I should have measured at 38cm. so they told me I needed to hang out for a bit and get an ultrasound and fetal monitoring. I wasn't worried, Sara had been moving around in my belly like a champ so in my mind they were just going to take a few pitchers and tell me she was great. The ultrasound showed that she was doing great, and so did the fetal monitor. They predicted her weight was some where in the 5's which put her in the 4th percentile. So when they told me that they wanted to induce me, I was soooo confused! They told me that one of the reasons she might not be growing is there could be something wrong with the Placenta or Umbilical Cord (IUGR). Her conditions is still good, but it could change in a matter of days. I Asked when they were thinking of inducing me, and my midwife said hows tomorrow morning?

I got some information from them, then headed out to my car. Then I called Preston, and had a brake down. I wasn't ready to have our baby yet, and I did not want to induced, but I didn't want to put our little girls life in danger. I new she was going to be small, and I had wondered how her growth was from the beginning. I didn't gain weight like I did with Kellen, & my belly was a lot smaller this time. After Preston got home from work we had a chance to talk more, he was just as confused as I was. After some good meditation, and a few prayers, we felt like inducing was the right thing to do. As long as I was doing what the Lord wanted us to do, I new the out come would be what He had planned for us, what ever that might be.

We started to make all the necessary arrangements for Kellen, and let a few family members know what was going on. We were scheduled to arrive at the Hospital at 5:30am on Friday Nov. 5th. My cousin & his wife came and watched Kellen for us all that day. Thanks again Rich & Shelly, we love you guys. My mom changed her flight so she could be with us, she was a little worried. Once we got to the hospital everything moved very slowly. They didn't start the induction until after 8am. We chose to use a gel to soften the cervix, to bring on labor. It's more mild then the other forms of induction, and I absolutely did not want Pitocin. After the first round of gel was inserted, I had to lay down for 1hr. while they monitored the baby. Then I would be allowed to walk around for an hour. This first round was working great. I could feel the crapping start just a few minutes after they gave it to me. And when it was time to get up and walk I was defiantly uncomfortable, and had to stop and breath through a few contractions. After an hour we headed back to the room for round two. They checked me, striped my membranes, inserted more gel, and hooked me up to the monitors. Toward the end of my one hour laying down is when my mom arrived, which would put us around 11:30ish. At this point my contractions took quit a bit more concentration. During my contractions I needed complete silence, any noise was very distracting and would brake my concentration. When they checked me I was at a 3 then I was aloud to get up and walk. My contractions were strong enough that I needed to sit for each one then walk around,then sit again. From this point Labor continued rapidly. It was time to get down to business. Each contraction took all my concentration, I needed Preston to start coaching, and rub my back like crazy! The contractions were sooo intense. They started in my low back and wrapped around to the lower part of my belly. After I felt i had put some good effort in I thought I would have my midwife check me. To my disappointment i was only at a 5. I was so discouraged...the contractions were so intense I wasn't sure how much longer I could go. My hands up to my elbows were completely numb and with each contraction I would feel very dizzy like I was going to pass out. I figured it was time to get an IV and some O2. Sara was pinching a nerve that is why I was numb and dizzy.

Then... I hit the wall, and I hit it hard!!! If you are familiar with natural child birth then you know what I'm talking about, but for those of you that aren't i will explain. Right before you hit 10 centimeters self doubt creeps in, and you feel like you can't do it any longer. I told Preston I couldn't do it, that i didn't want to do it any more. The contractions were so intense, and I new I still had forever to go because they just checked me and I was at a 5. It's not that I wanted an epidural, I just didn't want to keep going. Preston did a great job coaching me through my wall. All he said was OK, you can be done, you don't have to do it any more, your doing so good. And that was all I needed. The next contraction my wall was gone, but was having a very hard time relaxing , I kept feeling the urge to clench my stomach. I let one more contraction go by then I said something. I think I need to push? So my nurses went out and got my midwife, and started to set everything up to deliver a baby. After everything was set up my midwife just sat and waited patently. after a few more contraction I said yeah I really think I need to push, and she asked me if I wanted to be checked or give it another few contractions. So I told her to check me. And sure enough I was at a 10. Less then 20 minutes had passed from the time I was at a 5! My midwife broke my water and I started pushing. It took only 3 pushes and Sara was here! 1 hour 37 minutes of Labor. They passed her strait up to me and laid her on my chest. My very first thought was "wow you are so sticky". I was so happy to have her here safely and in my arms.

When the Placenta came out we all wanted to see what it looked like. Because this was baby #2 I new what It should have looked like, and I new that this one was very unhealthy. It was flat and thin, in places it looked like raw hamburger meat. I wish I had taken a piture of it. The cord was very skinny and were it attached to the placenta was as thin as paper. After seeing that, I new that we did the right thing by inducing 2 weeks early.

I didn't get to hold Sara for to long because her body temp we dropping and they needed to put her under the heating lamps to bring it up. She wasn't over there for long before they asked me if I was ready to nurse her. I told them I would love to. Turns out that her blood sugar was 35 and she was shaking because it was so low. She latched right on and went to town! They gave her a few CC of formula to get her blood sugar up faster but that was it. She nursed for a full hour!!! Oh yeah... I was asking for the lansino after that. They realised us the next day 25 hours after having a baby.

This has been such an amazing experience being pregnant with Sara, learning what her name would be, and being guided by the Lord in order to keep her safe. There are no words to describe what it is like to be a co-creature with God. I feel so blessed to have her be apart of our family.