Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Professional Pictures of Hayden
Our neighbor, Christine Navarre, is an amazing newborn photographer. Here are a few shots from Hayden's photo shoot.
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Princess is Here!
On Thursday, February 11, my water broke at 2:15 pm. At first I wasn’t convinced that was what had happened, but after a call to my doula and my best friend, they convinced me it was baby time! Funny enough, my doula had just called an hour earlier to tell me she thought my labor was going to go fast and I should call her with even the slightest of labor pains. I spoke to my midwife who wanted me to come into the office at 5 pm. At her office we decided that Bart & I would go home, eat, rest, and try to get contractions going until returning to the hospital at 10 pm.
We checked into the hospital and got into a room immediately. Finally I was beginning to get some decent contractions, and the nurses determined that I was dilated to 2cm. My doula arrived around 11 pm, just in time to help me conquer some strong contractions that were coming on. Immediately my pain diminished as she helped me work WITH the contractions instead of against the pain. Even Bart could visibly see how she was able to comfort me. As labor progressed I began to have extremely painful back labor. Bart and my doula used hot and cold compresses to counter-act the pain, but it really helped when I got into the tub to labor. After about 20 minutes, they had me get out of the tub to evaluate my progress so they could update my midwife. I was already at 6 cm! I returned to the tub for just a few contractions and suddenly began to feel lots of PRESSURE- I knew what that meant! I hated laboring anywhere but the tub but they do not allow water births at my hospital, unfortunately.
Immediately out of the tub I was at 8 cm, and a short time later I heard them say, “She’s complete!” I was progressing so fast that my midwife hardly had time to make it. I was feeling lots of pressure to push but had to hold back because she had not arrived yet. I later found out from Bart that the head nurse told him that she was perfectly capable of catching the baby if the midwife did not arrive in time. Luckily, she did arrive, and I pushed for about an hour. I used lots of different positions, but they put up the birthing bar on the bed and I really enjoyed using that to help me push. I knew I was close to delivering, but I really wasn’t sure HOW close. I was extremely surprised when all of a sudden my midwife said, “Here’s your baby!” and suddenly she was on my chest crying. It was such an amazing moment! Hayden was born at 4:17 am on Friday, February 12th weighing 7lbs, 1 oz, and 20 inches long.
I really feel as if ANYONE can have a natural birth if you simply set your mind to it. For me, the alternatives and the cascade of interventions were scarier than the idea of facing pain. I believe that women today don’t have the faith that they should in the strength of their own bodies. Women are literally born to give birth, and millions of women throughout history have given birth without modern interventions. The pain is only temporary, but your baby is forever. I’m not lying when I say that just a few short hours later I had forgotten the pain. If you have hopes of a natural birth, I recommend researching it as much as possible, and TUNING OUT THE NEGATIVE stories that other women will try to tell you. (I got lots of people who said “Good luck with THAT!”) After you accomplish it you can later tell them your amazing story. Also, try not to tell yourself that you will just TRY to do it naturally. If you give yourself an alternative, you will take advantage of it. Tell yourself that there is no other way to do it- and YOU WILL!
We checked into the hospital and got into a room immediately. Finally I was beginning to get some decent contractions, and the nurses determined that I was dilated to 2cm. My doula arrived around 11 pm, just in time to help me conquer some strong contractions that were coming on. Immediately my pain diminished as she helped me work WITH the contractions instead of against the pain. Even Bart could visibly see how she was able to comfort me. As labor progressed I began to have extremely painful back labor. Bart and my doula used hot and cold compresses to counter-act the pain, but it really helped when I got into the tub to labor. After about 20 minutes, they had me get out of the tub to evaluate my progress so they could update my midwife. I was already at 6 cm! I returned to the tub for just a few contractions and suddenly began to feel lots of PRESSURE- I knew what that meant! I hated laboring anywhere but the tub but they do not allow water births at my hospital, unfortunately.
Immediately out of the tub I was at 8 cm, and a short time later I heard them say, “She’s complete!” I was progressing so fast that my midwife hardly had time to make it. I was feeling lots of pressure to push but had to hold back because she had not arrived yet. I later found out from Bart that the head nurse told him that she was perfectly capable of catching the baby if the midwife did not arrive in time. Luckily, she did arrive, and I pushed for about an hour. I used lots of different positions, but they put up the birthing bar on the bed and I really enjoyed using that to help me push. I knew I was close to delivering, but I really wasn’t sure HOW close. I was extremely surprised when all of a sudden my midwife said, “Here’s your baby!” and suddenly she was on my chest crying. It was such an amazing moment! Hayden was born at 4:17 am on Friday, February 12th weighing 7lbs, 1 oz, and 20 inches long.
I really feel as if ANYONE can have a natural birth if you simply set your mind to it. For me, the alternatives and the cascade of interventions were scarier than the idea of facing pain. I believe that women today don’t have the faith that they should in the strength of their own bodies. Women are literally born to give birth, and millions of women throughout history have given birth without modern interventions. The pain is only temporary, but your baby is forever. I’m not lying when I say that just a few short hours later I had forgotten the pain. If you have hopes of a natural birth, I recommend researching it as much as possible, and TUNING OUT THE NEGATIVE stories that other women will try to tell you. (I got lots of people who said “Good luck with THAT!”) After you accomplish it you can later tell them your amazing story. Also, try not to tell yourself that you will just TRY to do it naturally. If you give yourself an alternative, you will take advantage of it. Tell yourself that there is no other way to do it- and YOU WILL!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Nothin' yet =(
Yesterday afternoon I went for my weekly check-up and my midwife said I am about 40% effaced, 1 cm dilated, and baby is at a 0 station. She swept my membranes to stir the pot a bit, but I don't think it did the trick, because here it is 17 hours later, and I'm not feeling anything!
I also spoke to my doula yesterday and she is VERY happy that the baby is down so low. She said this makes her think that I will have a quick labor, seeing as many babies are still at -2 or -3 station when mothers arrive at the hospital, and a lot of the labor process involves getting them to come down.
Maybe Hayden will make this happen on her own this weekend. I sure hope so, because at this point I am most focused on getting labor to begin naturally, with my goal of having a natural, unmedicated birth, using meds to induce would be disappointing for me. My midwife said she is not comfortable allowing me to go more than 10 days past my due date, so if next Wednesday rolls around and I am still pregnant (I would be 40 weeks, 2 days at that point), that we would have to schedule a non-stress test, an ultra-sound and possibly look at an induction. C'MON HAYDEN!!!
I also spoke to my doula yesterday and she is VERY happy that the baby is down so low. She said this makes her think that I will have a quick labor, seeing as many babies are still at -2 or -3 station when mothers arrive at the hospital, and a lot of the labor process involves getting them to come down.
Maybe Hayden will make this happen on her own this weekend. I sure hope so, because at this point I am most focused on getting labor to begin naturally, with my goal of having a natural, unmedicated birth, using meds to induce would be disappointing for me. My midwife said she is not comfortable allowing me to go more than 10 days past my due date, so if next Wednesday rolls around and I am still pregnant (I would be 40 weeks, 2 days at that point), that we would have to schedule a non-stress test, an ultra-sound and possibly look at an induction. C'MON HAYDEN!!!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Preliminary nursery pics
The nursery is nowhere near complete, but we definitely have everything we need to bring her home and keep her happy. The co-sleeper is set up and in place on my side of the bed. Daddy installed the carseat this week, and the house is nice and clean. I just received the wooden letters that we will hang, spelling out her name, so I will post more when those are hung.
Later today I have a midwife appointment so hopefully I have made some progress and will be posting more news soon. Hayden, we can't wait to meet you!
Later today I have a midwife appointment so hopefully I have made some progress and will be posting more news soon. Hayden, we can't wait to meet you!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Only 1 week till D-Day!
**Photo credits to Christine Navarre- www.christinenavarrephotography.com
Here we are- only ONE WEEK until Hayden's due date. Today is SuperBowl Sunday, and of course, I could care less about it- so I am busy reading baby books and doing other things around the house.
Friday, February 5th was my last day at work. It hasn't really hit me yet that I won't be going back anytime soon. My last day on Friday was rather bittersweet. I am, of course, ecstatic about what is about to happen in our lives, but all the same, it was hard for me to leave all of my students and co-workers, and it is hardest for me to imagine being ME without the job that I love (for awhile anyways).
I decided to start this blog to keep all of our friends and family in-the-loop on her birth and many milestones thereafter. Hopefully I am more successful keeping up with this blog than I was my weight-loss blog before the wedding! HA!
I last saw my midwife on Wednesday, and at that time, I was a -1 station, 30% effaced, but only a fingertip dilated. We will see what she says this week. I'm, of course, anxious to meet my little girl, but I'm not so uncomfortable at this stage in pregnancy that I'm counting down the days or anything. I truly believe that she will come when she is ready to make her appearance in this wonderful world!
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