Nash's Birth Story

On Thursday, May 16th I had what I was hoping would be my last dr appointment for this pregnancy. With my gestational diabetes I had been monitored fairly closely and on this day I was scheduled for yet another ultrasound to check Nash's size, another non-stress test to check for contractions, as well as a dr visit to check my progress and see if I was anymore dilated.

At the ultrasound the tech measured Nash at just 7 lbs 4 oz. I still had 2 weeks left in my pregnancy and on average babies gain a half pound a week in the last weeks so Nash wouldn't be huge. I have always doubted the accuracy of the ultrasound measurements so I asked the tech how close to that was he really. The tech said it could be off some but not by much. I left the ultrasound so bummed. Not because I wanted a big baby, but because I was so ready to be done and had set my heart on an early arrival and I just KNEW my dr wasn't going to induce me for an average size baby.

Next was the NST. No matter how you sit in the chair for these it's just plain uncomfortable. I told Trevor I was going to go out in the parking lot and cry if they told me no induction. I was feeling pretty emotional and it only increased because they forgot about me in that uncomfortable chair. My pregnant body was actually sore and hurting. What should have been 15 minutes turned into about 40. I was at the end of my rope and wanting to cry when they finally remembered me. 

Then it was time to see dr Connelly.  Luckily, I didn't have to switch rooms again and could just be examined there. I had progressed and was at 4 cm already and fairly thinned out. Yay! Then we talked about where to go from this point. With Nash measuring in the 7lb range dr Connelly said we could probably wait another week.  Really?!?  I asked him again how accurate those measurements really were. He said they could really be a whole pound over or under, but that lately the tech had been nearly dead on. I told the dr that Trevor still fully believed we would have a 9 pounder or more. The dr said probably not, and Trevor said he would bet ten bucks that he was. Dr Connelly said he felt fairly comfortable to take that bet. Despite Nash's normal size the dr thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and schedule an induction for Monday the 20th because I did have a couple contractions during the NST, I was so far dilated, and we have a 45 minute drive to the hospital. He felt there was even still the possibility we would come in on our own that weekend.

Well, the weekend came and went. No baby Nash. No one knew of our scheduled induction either except our parents.

Sunday night I was surprised by how emotional I became putting the boys to sleep. I did this when I went in to have Ryder, but didn't think I would be this go around. When I kissed Ryder goodnight he stared at me like I was nuts and asked, "why you cry? You sad?" How do you explain to a 2 1/2 yr old all the crazy things you're feeling when you don't understand it yourself? That's right.  You don't. I just assured him I was okay and just excited to see Nash tomorrow.

Monday morning and my tears were flowing again. I think I was worse this time than I was last time. I am pretty sure that because of my rough labor, delivery, and recovery with Ry, I was so worried of things going even worse.  Trevor gave me a priesthood blessing and between that and knowing Ryder and Brody were going to be in my mom's capable hands, my worries were {slightly} eased. I'm not a super emotional pregnant woman, but it all comes to a head on birth day it seems, and I even cried part of the drive to the hospital.  Trevor pretty much laughed at me...

We got to the hospital at 8 am, and got the show on the road.  I got in my oh so lovely hospital gown and then waited for my nurse. My nurse was named Debi, and my first reaction to her was, "crap, she's not going to be a good nurse."  It was so rude of me to judge her like that, but she just looked- well...she looked crusty. I have had great nurses in the past and was hoping for the same again.

Nurse Debi began asking all the zillion questions they have to ask and putting it in the computer. I told her right off how hard last time was and that they always have a hard time giving me an epidural but I still wanted to try to get one. I wasn't being snotty or demanding but I told her that if there was a dr better than others to get that one to do my epidural because I am such a hard one to stick. She told me (not so nicely I may add) that when they call for the epidural they get who they get, they can't specify. Weird, because after I had Ryder they told me to make sure I said that...hmm...see what I mean by crusty nurse? I guess my first impression was right.

I had the blood pressure cuff, heart rate monitor for me and baby, as well as the contraction monitor all on me at this point, but Debi was still filling out paperwork and hadn't bothered to start my IV or draw my blood knowing full well dr Connelly was coming in to break my water and that I had to have that done to get the epidural.

Dr. Connelly came in and broke my water by 8:50. He asked me if I was going to get an epidural and I said yes, but reminded him of last time and said I was a bit worried. Bless dr connelly's soul...his exact words, "some are definitely better than others, I'll go see who I can hunt up."  Oh my gosh.  What a saint.  Within minutes he came back up and said he found Dr Lee and that he would be up shortly.  This sent nurse Debi into panic mode.  I think she does things a certain way and in a certain order and this threw her off.  She quickly began trying to put in an IV and was having trouble getting a vain.  She finally got one in, but in a painful spot right on the top of my wrist where that bone sticks out.  Ouch!  She drew blood first from it before starting the bag of fluid that had to be in me before the epidural.

At some point during all the questioning I started to feel really funny. A sweat broke out and I felt like I was going to throw up.   My blood pressure cuff started again and we discovered that my blood pressure was bottoming out. It was at like 60 over 30. No medication was in me so it wasn't that, but I was having significant contractions already (wasn't feeling them though) and I was laying on my back so from then on I had to be on my side.

Pretty soon came dr lee. He saw that I didn't have all the fluids in me yet and my nurse was in such a fluster because he came so soon. She bustled out of the room at one point and when she returned told me she had mislabeled my blood and someone was going to have to come in and take it again. She apologized and really did feel bad.  While dr lee talked to me about the epidural and my history with it a girl came in and drew my blood out of my left arm leaving a bruise that lasted for 2 weeks.  Once the fluids were in we preceded with the epidural. Dr Lee had me sit a little different then I had before and within  6 or 7 minutes he had it in place. I could not believe it! Now was it going to take?  Within minutes I felt all tingly down my left leg.  Last time that's the only thing that got numb.  Dr. Lee had me roll to my other side to see if the epidural would absorb on that side.  It took a bit longer but it worked!  Hallelujah!!!  I felt such a piece of mind, and was probably not going to feel any contractions at all.  I told him the number the better.  Normally he said he doesn't turn it up too much but since it was my third baby he would.  I told him that I'm a good pusher-outer so the numbing wouldn't affect that.

From there it was pretty smooth sailing.  I talked a lot to nurse Debi and asked her questions about herself.  I was determined to make her friendly side come out and have her like me.  She loosened up and even smiled now and again.  She really wasn't a bad nurse after all.  At some point the room began to blacken in the edges of my vision and my blood pressured got super low again.  This time from the epidural.  They had to put some mess in the IV to help out a couple times.  

At one point I told Trevor it was almost boring because I wasn't feeling anything! I was so glad for it though!  It was heaven compared to Ryder's labor and delivery!  

We knew dr Connelly was returning to check me about lunch time.  When I came in first thing that morning I was contracting and 5cm dilated, and although I had progressed since then things had slowed down and Nash had yet to drop very much.  A very small dosage of pitocin was started and things picked up.

Dr Connelly came and I was almost fully dilated so even though he left the room he stuck around knowing it wouldn't be long.  Sure enough within minutes I told the nurse I could feel some pressure like Nash might be finally moving down.  She checked me again and I was fully dilated!  She decided to have me push a few times because Nash was actually not down very much.  I felt a wave of panic wash over me.  What if I couldn't remember how to push?  Was I going to be like do many other women that push for hours?  Could I do that?

On came a contraction and I pushed with all my might.  On my second push you could see Nash's head!  Debi told me to stop!  I don't think she was expecting that.  Dr Connelly was quickly called back in and the room got busy with all the nurses for the baby too.  Dr Connelly had me push and part of the baby's head came out.  Trevor says dr Connelly rubbed Nash's head and said I think this is his forehead!  Not only was I delivering another face up baby, but he had tilted his head back and coming forehead first instead of with the crown of his head.  Nash started to shake his head like he was trying to get himself out, but I gave one more big push and out he came!

Immediately I began crying.  He was here.  He was safe.  Things went so much better for me.  It was such sweet relief after all my worrying!  Oh and Nash! Sweet sweet Nash.  He had so much hair!  Never had my kids had so much!  I couldn't believe it.  He also was covered in more vernix then either one of the other boys had and I think it may have been because of his early arrival.  He looked pretty big too.  Sure enough he was 9 pounds!  I reminded dr Connelly that he bet Trevor.  He couldn't believe how big he was and how off they had been.

Nash was perfect.  No complications at all.  I had a second degree tear but nothing too bad.  My placenta took a while to come out and took some major pushing on my tummy by the nurse and dr as well as some tugging.  That was uncomfortable but not painful because my epidural was still doing its job.

When all was said and done dr Connelly told me again and again what a good job I did.  Not only is a face up baby harder to deliver but with his head tilted like it was us REALLY hard.  My dr said its as hard to birth one like that as if the baby was a whole more pound.  He said I made it look easy when it's not and most women would spend a lot of time pushing.  He even went so far as to say I handled it, "With grace."  Yay for me!

After the nurses and dr cleared out I felt good enough to eat.  I also was begging to use the restroom.  The nurses were busy and made me wait.  Plus, they wanted to wait until I could be a bit more 'unplugged' from everything like my IV.  I really felt so good.  Best labor, delivery, and recovery so far.  

I am not unaware though of the higher power that had a hand in things going so well for me.  I know that so many of our family members prayed daily for me.  I am beyond grateful for those prayers and for my Heavenly Father.  And I'm appreciative of the spouse I have that could not just support me mentally and physically, but spiritually as well.  I'm thankful for this sweet new little boy we get to raise!