Oliver's Birth Story

I can't believe that our little man is 2 1/2 and that I am just now finishing up his birth story. I've had most of it written out for a long time but haven't sat down to put the final touches on it. So, today I am taking the time to get it all written down. I saved the sticky note from my old computer from when I started timing my contractions the day before he was born. On it I have these times down 1:55, 2:01, 2:09, 2:17, 2:25, 2:34. 

A little while later I called Andy to tell him that I was pretty sure I was in labor and that we should probably head to the hospital =) I'd been having contractions most of the morning and had told him at lunch time that it might be the day. Because we live about two hours from the hospital we doctor at, we were told to come in when my contractions were consistently 10 minutes apart. Our friend Sandy came to stay with Olivia and I nervously went through all of the instructions I’d already given her and she just sweetly said that she was good and that we should be on our way. She patted my belly one last time and Andy and I headed off to Fargo.

My contractions were consistent but not too strong so when we got to Fargo we decided to wander around Northern tools for a while before going to the hospital. Whenever we would go in for an appointment we would talk about going there because Andy gets their catalogs and it would be fun to check the store out. I guess now seemed like the perfect time since we most likely would be having the baby soon! It was great to wander around just the two of us. After a while we decided to head to the hospital so it didn’t get too late and then we'd have to go through the emergency doors.

We got to the hospital and went right up to the labor and delivery floor. They have rooms where they check to see if you are in labor but they were full so they checked me right in to a labor and delivery room. We ended up having the same night nurse that we had when I went in to have Olivia and she told me that I looked too comfortable to be in labor(which she also told me when I was in labor with Olivia). After being on the monitor for a bit she said that I was having consistent contractions but they weren’t strong so it might just be false labor. She also said I was only dilated to a 2. She called my midwife to see what we should do and they decided to keep me overnight and check to see if I’d progressed around 6AM since we lived so far away.

I had consistent contractions all throughout the night. I did get some rest but was also so determined to do what I could to go home with our little one in our arms and not still in my belly! I slept as well as I could for a while but around 2AM I felt wide awake so I decided to walk laps for an hour. When I was walking I would see the sweet little babies in the nursery and at the nurses station and that made me soooo eager to meet our little one! Then, I spent an hour sitting on the yoga ball and doing lunges and squats. I did all of this while Andy snoozed away! Haha! I rested for a while and at 5AM decided to walk laps again.

Around 6AM the nurse came back in to see if I’d progressed at all and said I was still at a 2… and my heart sank as I thought about what we should do. I didn’t want to be induced but I also didn’t want to go home. Especially with how consistent my contractions were. Well, a little while later the midwife came in and talked with us and she checked me and said I was easily dilated to a 4 and that if we wanted she could break my water and get things going that way. Andy and I chatted and decided that was what we wanted so at 7AM she broke my water. Note: After this there was a shift change which meant we had a different nurse and midwife throughout the rest of my labor.

Ready to go

Almost immediately after she broke my water my contractions got more intense and closer together which I was actually excited about because my body was doing what it was supposed to but it was also like… oh boy… here we go! I think it was around 8AM that the new midwife came in and chatted with us and checked me and I was at a 5. She said that with the way things were going we’d probably have the baby around noon. I was able to walk around and use the yoga ball between monitoring which was great and really helped with labor. As things progressed and got more intense my nurse told me that if I wanted an epidural I should do it then. I was determined to have a natural birth and actually felt like I was handling the pain okay so I said no. Shortly after, they brought in the warming bed for the baby and a few other things for delivery and that brought me so much joy and determination to keep going.

Around 9:30AM my contractions were getting pretty painful and so I decided to labor in the tub for a while. Andy got music going for me and it felt so good to just be in the warm water. I can’t recommend laboring in the water enough! Especially to help ease the lower back and hip pain! After being in the tub for about 20 minutes though I started to feel hot, nauseous, and dizzy so the nurse and Andy quickly helped me out of the tub and back into bed. The nurse gave me some oxygen and something in my IV that she said was the equivalent of several orange juices. After a few minutes I started to feel better and the nausea and dizziness went away.

The nurse decided to check me and said I was at a 9! This was right around 10AM. It was so exciting to think that we’d be meeting our little one so soon! And labor was definitely intense at that point but easier that I had anticipated being at a 9. Well, they started bringing in the items for delivery and the midwife came in and checked me and said… I’m sorry to say but she’s still only at a 6… oh how my heart sank! She then said it would still probably be around 12 that we had the baby. After the midwife left the nurse apologized for being mistaken and we labored on. In that moment I was feeling discouraged at the thought of such intense labor for another couple of hours. 

Not too long after the midwife left the room I started having the urge to push. I was only dilated to a 6 but with each contraction it was getting more and more difficult to fight that urge. My nurse kept coaching me to pant or blow as if I was blowing out candles but I was having a really hard time fighting my body. She then had me roll to my other side for a couple of contractions but it was still so difficult to fight my body. So, in the next contraction I couldn’t fight it even though I tried  and I pushed…and... well, I’ll just tell you what I told my nurse… “I think I may have just pooped…” Buuuuut she said that I hadn’t! halleluiah! And that the pressure can just feel like that. (TMI?)

Well, then she told me I really needed to fight as hard as I could not to push so that my cervix wouldn’t swell. So, I braced myself to fight through another contraction… but I just couldn’t fight it and then just like that, I pushed, and the baby crowned. I recall my nurse saying, "that's the baby's head" and urging another nurse to find the midwife and to get help in our room. She then had me lay on my back, had Andy grab a leg, and then coached me through one last contraction as she delivered our baby at 10:30AM! Whew! 

I think the first words out of my mouth were “I did it!” I was in awe that I had actually delivered naturally and I was truly amazed at how immediately all of the pain was gone and we had our baby! Then Andy said we had a Son and I remember saying, “A boy?! We got our boy!!!” and I was so happy and so excited!

When he was about 4 months old we nicknamed him bulldozer because he would roll over everything and would get so mad when things were in his way and would try to just bulldoze on through. And now after writing out his birth story it just makes me laugh. Like, I'm literally laughing while typing this. He always goes a hundred miles an hour head first and has been that way literally since the day he was born! We Love you little man and I can't imagine how boring life would be without you!

 

Our awesome nurse with Oliver

My guys!

40 Weeks

How far along: 40 Weeks

Weeks to due date: 0! Today is our due date! Come on baby!

Total weight gain: 39 pounds

Maternity clothes: Oh yes! I need to have this baby so I can start getting smaller because most of my shirts barely cover this whole big belly!  

Sleep: For the most part I have been sleeping well. I still have troubles with my hips hurting but other than that and going to the bathroom multiple times a night I am doing okay.

Exercise: Walking, walking, and more walking!   

  

Best moment this week: Even though I’m feeling super impatient and want this kid out now…I’ve been trying to take advantage of our time as a family of 4 before our little one arrives. We lit sparklers together the other night, had a popcorn and movie night, and have just been extra intentional about getting outside to play. Yesterday Olivia was having a rough couple of hours and so when she would normally do her quiet time during Oliver's nap, I decided to let her hang out with me. I painted her nails and we watched a movie together. 

What I miss:  Sitting, lying, getting up comfortably. When I sit or lay down I sometimes feel like I can’t breathe well, or my hips start hurting, or I realize I left my water(glasses, phone, remote, etc.) elsewhere and have to get up again. Haha! I know all of this will be over soon but it definitely makes these last days a little harder.  

Movement: Still tons! Especially late evening.

Food cravings: Cake! Give me all the sweets!

Making me queasy: My nose has been extra sensitive again and so certain smells make me queasy.

Starting to show: Holy moly! Part of me hates leaving the house because I get tons of looks… People look at my face and then at my belly… all… the... time… I mean, I know it’s just how it is but it makes me feel self-conscious and really look forward to having the attention off of my belly! 

Gender:  I just want to know!!!

Happy or moody:  We have had a ton of happy moments this week but I am not going to lie, I have also had moments where I have been moody, impatient, and downright agitated. I even had the thought that I wouldn’t mind just going to go have this baby by myself because I don’t want to be around anyone! Haha! Don’t worry. It’s not all that bad. But when the kids are whining, crying, or not listening and my hubby is going on about the weather or gas prices or whatever interesting but not interesting thing is on his mind…  Lord help me! I know... I'm a jerk.

Things I've been experiencing this week: Well, we had a false alarm Saturday morning. I woke up with bad back and abdominal pain around 4AM with contractions that were coming 5 min apart. Even after being up for a while they were still pretty consistent and more painful than the Braxton hicks I’ve been experiencing. So after an hour and a half at home we decided to head to town. My contractions kept coming 7 to 10 min apart on the way but got less intense over time. We did go to the hospital to be monitored for a bit and get checked but after walking around for over an hour my contractions slowed waaaay down and I had no cervical changes so they had us go back home… Honestly, I was pretty disappointed and also embarrassed that I didn’t know it was just false labor. I know it’s totally normal and happens to tons of people but still. Because we live an hour from the hospital I’m nervous about things going quick and having the kid in our van but at the same time I don’t want to go in too soon. I know when the time comes, it will all be what it is, but this whole waiting and wondering when things will actually happen stage is getting a little tiring.      

What I'm looking forward to: Meeting our little one!

Size of baby: A watermelon!

39 weeks

How far along: 39 Weeks

Weeks to due date: 1!

Total weight gain: 38 pounds

Maternity clothes: Oh yes!  

Sleep: Sleep has been so so lately. I’ve been waking up a lot to go to the bathroom and also have been experiencing a lot of hip pain. Some nights I end up sleeping on the couch so I can sit up more and that has helped. Also, our kids have been sick so they haven’t been sleeping the greatest which means we haven’t been sleeping well either. I think they are on the mend though so hopefully their coughs and runny noses will be cleared up by the time baby comes.

Exercise: Lots of walking! Time to get this baby out!  

  

Best moment this week: With the kids being sick we’ve spent a lot of time at home this week. It has been nice to take the days to just rest and relax with the kids though. We’ve slept in, read tons of books, colored and painted, and enjoyed a few movies.

A really funny moment this week was when I went to my appointment and Olivia asked if the doctor was going to put butter on my belly again! She then corrected herself and said jelly! Haha! It was too cute!  

What I miss: My lap! The kids both love books and Oliver especially likes to sit on my lap when we read. With this growing belly it has become so difficult though and he often tries to sit on my belly which is just painful! And, he gets mad if I try to just have him sit next to me instead of on my lap so that’s not fun either. Soon though! I will have a lap again!

Movement: So so much!  

Food cravings: Food!

Making me queasy: I get pretty nauseous when I’m hungry so I’ve been trying to snack and drink plenty of fluids to help with that.   

Starting to show: Yep! As I was reading to Oliver this morning this dinosaur reminded me a lot of myself! Haha!

Gender:  Soon we will know! Looking at pictures from my previous pregnancies I am carrying more like I did with Oliver than Olivia. I’m just so curious and can’t wait to find out!!

Happy or moody:  Both! I’m so happy and can’t wait to meet our little one but I definitely have my moments where I have less patience than I should.

Things I've been experiencing this week:  I’ve had tons of Braxton hicks contractions and have even had a couple of moments where I’ve wondered if I was in labor or not. The last couple of days I’ve been having some back pain with them so I’m wondering/hoping true labor is near and we will get to meet our little one soon!

I finished an online birthing class a few weeks ago and lately have been spending some time reading about labor, deliver, and care for myself and our little one after baby comes. I’ve done this twice before but part of me still feels so unprepared and a little (okay, a lot) afraid of labor. I think it’s the anticipation that is getting to me and it seems that all of these Braxton hicks contractions are just teasing me!

What I'm looking forward to: Labor! I’m serious! Like I said, I am afraid but at the same time I know I can do it and I know the beautiful blessing and relief that comes after and I can’t wait to experience it again. I’m looking forward to Andy telling me the gender of the baby and to see his love for another child. I can’t wait for Olivia and Oliver to meet their new sibling and for all of us to be together as a family of 5! And I am REALLY looking forward to not being pregnant anymore and to starting this new phase in our lives!

Size of baby: A Pumpkin!

37 weeks

How far along: 37 Weeks

Weeks to due date: 3!

Total weight gain: 35 pounds

Maternity clothes: I have officially started borrowing Andy’s t-shirts for when I want to be comfy! This belly is getting big!

Sleep: I have actually been sleeping a little better this week! I’m still up a lot to go to the bathroom but other than that I have been sleeping well.  

Exercise: No BBM workouts this week but I did get in 3 2-mile walks.

  

Best moment this week: I’ve had a couple of coffee dates with the kids after our appointments this week. It was just fun to sit with them, share a cookie or a bagel, and enjoy some coffee and time with my two kids. p.s. the kids didn’t have coffee =) just me! And it was decaf! 

Another fun moment was when I was folding laundry and Olivia really wanted to help. She is good at folding wash cloths but when it comes to folding our clothes I’ve been a little stuck on how she can help. Well, I taught her how to flip socks and shirts right side out and she thought it was the greatest thing ever. Each time she would do it she would squeal and go show Andy and then come back for more inside out laundry!  

What I miss: My non swollen legs and ankles and hands and…I guess just my non swollen self. I’ve been a little more uncomfortable lately and have been retaining more water. (Don’t worry mom my blood pressure is fantastic!) My swelling gets worse when we travel even if it’s just to Jamestown or Bismarck which we do several times a week so I’m just ready to have this baby and to get rid of all the extra water weight!

Movement: So much! It’s incredible!

Food cravings: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!

Making me queasy: Feeling pretty good!  

Starting to show: Holy moly belly! I’m actually feeling pretty self-conscious about this big belly.

Gender: 3 more weeks and we’ll know!! I still think it’s a girl! Ohhhh I can’t wait to find out!  

Happy or moody:  Don’t ask…

Things I've been experiencing this week:  I’ve definitely been feeling a little more emotional this week. For example, the kids and I were outside and it was cooler than I expected and of course the kids didn’t want to put their sweatshirts on. After a while though Olivia wanted hers and went back to the house to grab one for her and Oliver. When she came back out with her sweatshirt on and Oliver’s in hand I kind of got teared up a little. She’s been getting herself dressed for a while now but still, sometimes it just hits me how much she’s grown and how much she is capable of doing!

What I'm looking forward to: Olivia has been asking when we are going to bring the baby home several times a week. I am so excited for when I actually go into labor and will get to tell her we will be meeting the baby soon! She is so excited and I can’t wait to see how she reacts to her new little brother or sister!

Size of baby:  Baby weighs about 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (about the length of a bunch of Swiss chard)