When we dropped the boys off I remember thinking, "It sure would be nice if we could just have the baby while the boys are already set up at my parents, but there's no way we're that lucky." And so, Dillon and I set off for part one of our date night- grocery shopping ha. It was actually nice to be able to wander around together and it was doubly nice to basically have a stocked house right before giving birth. After Wal-mart, we went and picked up dinner then came back home to watch some of our Netflix list.
I managed to get some sleep but was up pretty often in the night due to bathroom trips and my back muscles being extremely sore and achy. I mostly just figured that my grocery store strolling was just too long for my poor, tired body. But at about 4:00 am the morning of the 20th, I made another bathroom trip and noticed that I had lost my mucus plug (I wish there was a nicer way of describing that, but it is what it is). The same thing had happened with Sawyer, followed by contractions but I didn't go into legit labor with him until two days later. So I decided to kind of hang out for a minute and see. I started having contractions right away but wasn't fully committed to the idea that this was the real deal. I decided to take a shower since I wouldn't be sleeping anyway and, if I was in labor, I would at least be freshly cleaned.
While I was in the shower, my contractions became more intense and I knew that we were going to meet our baby girl that day. I timed them and they were about six minutes apart. I got out of the shower, decided to eat and start getting ready, and I woke up Dillon to tell him we were having a baby. About an hour had passed since my initial contractions and they had already gotten much closer together- 2-3 minutes apart. They were definitely uncomfortable and I would stop to rock my body through them but I decided to finish getting ready before heading out. I wanted to wait long enough that I was at a good dilation and they wouldn't question whether or not I was really in labor but not so long that I was pushing baby out in the hospital lobby (which for my body, is a really fine line. when it's ready to go, it's ready to go).
Dillon and I both finished getting ready and hopped in the van. I called my mom to let her know that it was go time and that we were stopping by to drop off the boys' bags. We stopped in for literally two minutes. The boys happened to be awake so we told them that we were headed to the hospital to have baby sister. Sawyer excitedly hopped off the bed and asked, "Can I bring my sword?" He was all ready to come with us and meet his sister, toy sword in hand. So we had to explain that he was staying for now but that Grandma and Grandpa would bring him and Dawson to meet her in just a few hours. We gave hugs and kisses and knuckles and then were off to the hospital.
We arrived at the hospital at about 6:30. So at this point I had been having contractions for a little over two hours and they had been 2ish minutes apart for an hour. As we were checking in and giving all of our information to the front desk nurses, they asked for my provider's name. When I told them Dr. Gatherum they replied, "Oh he's out so you'll be seen by Josie instead." My initial reaction was, "You've got to freaking be kidding me." Which I didn't say out loud, I just told them that he had joked that I couldn't have her two days ago because he would be gone at Girls Camp, he didn't say anything about the weekend. And then my mind came around and I said, "Well, this baby is coming either way and I'm sure Josie will be great." (I'd heard really good things about her).
I then told them that my babies come fast, my first two labors were only 4 1/2 hours each, and that I had already been in labor two hours and would really, really love to get an epidural. They were the best group of nurses I could have asked for and instead of doubting me, one of them immediately called the anesthesiologist while a couple of others led me into a room to change, be checked, and be monitored.
When my first nurse, Nurse Jess, checked me I was already at a 5 1/2 dilation and so, was not going to be sent home. All of the checking in, changing, and being checked actually happened really fast and it was only 6:45 at that point. Technically they still had to monitor me for a little while but they only had to do it for 20 minutes instead of an hour and then I was full on admitted and "officially" having a baby.
When my second nurse, Nurse Vicki, came in to do my IV I explained to her how much they had struggled placing it when I had Dawson. It had taken them over an hour and they ended up giving me a local to get into a much deeper vein. So I told her that if she needed to do that, feel free, and do it right at first. She was a champ and said that that sounded like a deal. But she actually managed to get it on the first try but she definitely had to use some force and special finagling. As she was placing it she exclaimed, "Man! You have really thick skin!" Ummm.. thank you? We both just laughed and then she said that's probably why they struggled so much last time. They had to use so much pressure to get the needle through my skin that it would then cause my much more fragile veins to pop instead of holding. So anyway, I have thicker skin than normal but Vicki is a pro and my IV was placed within minutes. Contractions were still nice and steady and the baby was doing great.
Around 7:30 the anesthesiologist walked in and said, "They tell me that you go fast. So my question is, do you want light or heavy on the epidural?" And without blinking I was like, "Heavy." To which he replied, "Yep, when you go fast, heavy is really the way you want it." I couldn't agree more, sir.
Everything was set up and my epidural was in place by about 7:45 and now I just had to wait (and hope) for it to kick in. When he was placing it, I felt a little zapping sensation run down my left leg so we knew that meant my left side would be feeling it more. I was just hoping it didn't mean that my right side wouldn't be numb at all. But by about 8:15 I could tell that both sides were becoming less painful, although I still had more sensation in my right side than my left. At about this time the midwife, Josie, popped in. We are actually the same age and totally know each other so once she saw my face she said, "Oh! I know you! I was wondering because I didn't think there could be too many people with the name DaNae around here." We talked for a minute and she asked if I was okay with her delivering my baby. I told her absolutely, that I'm sure it would all be great. She offered to break my water but said that we definitely didn't have to if I didn't want to. I decided to wait since there was really no reason for it, I was still numbing up, and baby girl was still doing really well. So Josie said she'd check on me a little later.
Nurse Jess came back and checked me again and I was already at an 8 1/2 dilation. From a 5 1/2 to an 8 1/2 in about an hour and a half. My body means business and I love epidurals ha.
An hour or so after I had gotten the epidural, I had straight up dead legs. Like the heaviest, deadest of all dead legs. My right leg I could feel if it was touched (but no pain) but my left leg had zero sensation. Dillon got a kick out of that and kept poking me to see if I could feel what he was doing. Labor is so much more lighthearted when my body is doing the work while numb. My heavy, unfeeling lower limbs meant the epidural was definitely doing it's job. I ended up needing a couple shots of ephedrine at that point to even out my blood pressure. I was definitely feeling weak and sick but bounced back once the ephedrine kicked in. Dillon was sweet and comforting while I waited to feel better, helping me drink water and offering encouraging touches here and there. Such a good husband.
At 9:00 am Josie popped back in to inform us that Dr. Gatherum was going to be delivering our baby after all. He had come back into town and called in and the nurses had let him know I was there and sitting at an 8 1/2, but not for long. So he said he would hurry and was on his way. He got there at 9:30 and said that he had been up the mountain camping with his wife overnight and she had told him that they should head back early because one of their kids had an event to get ready for. I joked, "Well thank goodness for that!" He agreed and told us he was glad he didn't miss the birth.
He asked about breaking my water and at this point, I was good and numb, had been in labor for about 5 1/2 hours, and figured baby girl was probably ready to come out anyways; so I agreed to let him break my water. After he broke my water, things were chill for a minute and then for some reason, my blood pressure went weird again but in the other direction. I felt completely fine, baby was doing fine, but my blood pressure had shot up. The nurses were monitoring me and were on the verge of giving me medicine to bring it down when it decided to level out back to where it had been and things were back on course.
At 10:10 Dr. Gatherum came back in to check me and see if we were ready for pushing. Sure enough, my body was ready and it was time. They got everything all set up and I laughed/apologized for being zero help with my own legs as Dillon and Nurse Jess helped to lift them. Nurse Vicki asked if I remembered how to push to which I replied, "I think so." She told me to go ahead and push since I was contracting and I soon as I started, Dr. Gatherum said, "Yep, she remembers. Baby is crowning!" I pushed again and her head was head out, pushed one last time and her body was out and baby girl was here and crying her sweet little newborn cry. It was about 60 seconds of pushing, all using the same contraction. It was seriously incredible.
As I held our newest baby while all the aftermath was being taken care of, I couldn't believe how smoothly everything had gone. There had been just the tiniest of hiccups here and there but I was in awe of how everything had worked out and was just so grateful that she was with us and we both were safe and healthy. She was perfect, delivering her was just about perfect, and having her on the outside in my arms while Dillon looked down on both of us was definitely perfect.
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| Wren Stevie Thatcher 7 lbs 13 oz 19.5 in |
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| Named after her daddy whose first name is actually Steve, as well as her Papa Steve. Two of the best guys to be a little namesake for. |
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| The boys were so excited to meet her! Dawson's attention only lasted for a little bit and then he was over holding her, but Sawyer was fully into it and liked loving on his baby sister. |
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| Dawson was especially intrigued by her umbilical cord. |
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| Tiny newborn feet. |
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| With Grandma Paula. |
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| With Grandpa Dale. |
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| Wanted another turn holding her. I love how he's looking at her and that he loves her so much. |
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| Mommy and baby selfie. |
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| She looks so much like Sawyer to me. Sawyer with a bow. It'll be fun to see how she changes as she grows. |
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| Ready to go home. Not pleased at being put down and propped for a photo. |
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