I was due October 4, 2017.
Throughout the hot summer, I got bigger and bigger and we didn't think I would make it to October. I got told things like "Oh, you won't make it that far", and "Are you sure you're not having twins?"
As my due date got closer, one of my doctors told me it might be wise to consider getting induced, since Saylor was so big when she was born (8lbs 12oz)- and I was MUCH bigger with London than I was with Saylor.
Tyler and I talked about it, and I went back and forth on the idea of getting induced. I felt like it was unnatural and that I would be rushing things that didn't need to be rushed. As we got into mid-September, we decided getting induced would be best. I was so big and miserable and ready to be done! We scheduled my induction date for September 28- six days before my due date.
The night before our big day, Tyler gave me a blessing. The thing I remember most from the blessing was that I needed to trust the nurses and doctors. I took that in, especially since I knew I tend to worry about pretty much everything! Our night after the blessing was anything but relaxing. As we got ready for bed and all prepared to be at the hospital at 6:30am, I was ANXIOUS. So of course, I couldn't sleep. Finally I fell asleep around 1am. At approximately 2am, I heard Saylor rush into her bathroom and throw up in the toilet. I thought "you have to be kidding me". I went to help Saylor, and realized she was pretty sick. I got her settled in her bed (as she continued to lose it) and sat beside her. I called my mom, and asked her what she thought I should do. I wondered if I should continue with the induction in a few hours, or cancel and wait until Saylor was better. Tyler and I decided to go through with our plans, and his sister was prepared to take care of Saylor in the morning.
The night before our big day, Tyler gave me a blessing. The thing I remember most from the blessing was that I needed to trust the nurses and doctors. I took that in, especially since I knew I tend to worry about pretty much everything! Our night after the blessing was anything but relaxing. As we got ready for bed and all prepared to be at the hospital at 6:30am, I was ANXIOUS. So of course, I couldn't sleep. Finally I fell asleep around 1am. At approximately 2am, I heard Saylor rush into her bathroom and throw up in the toilet. I thought "you have to be kidding me". I went to help Saylor, and realized she was pretty sick. I got her settled in her bed (as she continued to lose it) and sat beside her. I called my mom, and asked her what she thought I should do. I wondered if I should continue with the induction in a few hours, or cancel and wait until Saylor was better. Tyler and I decided to go through with our plans, and his sister was prepared to take care of Saylor in the morning.
We got to the hospital and they got me settled in my room. Up to that point I had not really had any contractions, and still had alllll my water. I decided to let them break my water and give me my epidural before they started the Pitocin. I got my epidural (which little did I know was only the beginning of my pain to come), and they broke my water. As soon as the Pitocin started, I knew my epidural was not working. I started feeling every contraction- full on. I held my mom and Tyler's hands and screamed and cried as each wave of immense pain came and went. The nurse came in and checked me and was very surprised to tell me that I had dilated from a 3 to a 9 within like...twenty minutes. They hurried and called the doctor and said "you're ready to have this baby!" I couldn't believe it had all happened so fast.
The doctor came in about ten minutes later. Everyone rushed around the room and got all ready for this baby to come right out. Doctor Melendez checked me...and suddenly said "Oh no". In that instant, a million things went through my head. "Oh no WHAT?" He said "baby is breech". At this point, I still thought I was going to push her out and she would just be backwards. I didn't understand the risks of "breech". Then he said again "baby is breech, and there's no more water left in the swimming pool" (aka...all my water has gone so they couldn't turn baby around). Next I heard him say "she's going to need a C-section". Then my mind went blank. I felt helpless, confused, and just blank. I thought they were rushing before...now they really were. Nurses were talking to Tyler, and other nurses ran into the room and were running all around me. The main nurse who had been helping me stopped and looked at me and asked "did your husband give you a blessing last night?" I wondered how she knew, and said "yes he did"- then got more nervous from her asking. Next, my bed was being moved out of the room and urgently moved down the hall. The only thing I remember seeing is the blue sign outside of a big room with lots of devices that said "C-Section". I couldn't believe I was having an emergency C-section...something I was so worried about my whole pregnancy. I felt so helpless, and tried focusing on the words of my blessing. "Trust the nurses and doctors".
People were rushing everywhere. My epidural guy was next to me again, and told me they were going to amp up my epidural immensely now. They gave me a gross drink of medicine (I think for nausea), set up medical devices all around me, and laid my arms straight out to each side. The blue sheet went up in front of my face, and all I could do was listen and watch the ceiling. I can't explain the helpless feeling I had, which I worked every minute to replace with trust in everyone so quickly working on me.
I felt tugging, pressure; I heard talking, questions, and answers. I saw Tyler by my side, all dressed in hospital clothing. I finally figured out my mom was in the room. I had assumed she stayed out and that they only allowed Tyler to come in. I was happy to know my two best friends were standing by my side.
Finally, I heard the cry. I remember Saylor's first cry sounded like a dolly. I expected London's to sound the same, but it didn't. Hers sounded a little more real. Emotions rushed through my head. I tried to cry, but nothing would come out. I thought that may have been the drugs and adrenaline preventing my tears. I laid there trying to hear her and hear what the nurses were saying. I couldn't hear much except noise from doctors working on me. The next thing I knew, Tyler came beside me and introduced our sweet little girl. I couldn't move, so he just put her face up against my cheek. It was an amazing feeling and I never wanted her to leave.
I continued laying there as they stitched me up. I heard Tyler talking to my mom in his very proud new daddy voice. They were both so happy and excited. I was too- but the drugs prevented me from communicating much of anything. They wheeled me back to my room, and after that was a blur. However, an hour to two later, some people came into my room and said they needed to take me down to x-ray to make sure they did not puncture my ureters (the tubes that go from your kidneys to your bladder). London was already so low when they rushed me into c-section and they took her out so fast, they had to make sure those were not punctured. I was out of it so I didn't really care what was going on, but I was glad Tyler went with me. Once again I was surrounded by people working on me and setting up the x-ray machine. The x-rays were taken, and we got the good news that nothing was harmed during London's birth. I was taken back to my room to rest and recuperate.
The next five days were filled with more pain than I have ever been in. Two days after my c-section, the nurse wanted me to try to stand up and walk to the bathroom on my own. Just putting my feet onto the ground and lifting myself up almost killed me. I never knew c-sections hurt that bad. It was horrible. After using the bathroom and falling back into my bed, I thought I would never use the bathroom on my own ever again. I kept getting told that the more I moved around, the better I would feel and faster I would heal. I tried walking around the room, getting up to brush my teeth and use the bathroom, and even walked the hospital halls occasionally. They were right, it did eventually help.
Taking care of London (and especially watching Tyler take care of her) was so rewarding. We both loved every minute of it. Tyler stayed with me in the hospital all 5 days.
Saylor finally was able to come to the hospital to meet London. We all loved every minute of that too. She was so excited to meet her little sister. As she held her in her arms, I knew she was going to be a great big sister.
During our stay, London had some jaundice issues. We had to use the lights several times to get that to go down. She unfortunately also lost 10% of her birth weight, which was severe and we were told to supplement her with formula until my milk came in. I was so grateful for the doctors watching her so closely and helping us take care of her and give her what she needed.
The day quickly came for us to go home. I was nervous. I didn't want to leave all the nurses and assistance I was getting. We packed up, and Tyler pushed me on a wheelchair out to the truck (although I remember feeling kind of silly in it, because by then I could walk- at least old grandma pace). We carefully drove home, then our real journey began.
London joining our family has been one of the greatest blessings Tyler and I have received. She has already taught us so much love and is such a joy to us. We look forward to raising this angel and getting to know her sweet personality.
I am so beyond grateful for the blessing Tyler gave me the night before her birth, and Heavenly Father watching over us during this time.
I felt tugging, pressure; I heard talking, questions, and answers. I saw Tyler by my side, all dressed in hospital clothing. I finally figured out my mom was in the room. I had assumed she stayed out and that they only allowed Tyler to come in. I was happy to know my two best friends were standing by my side.
Finally, I heard the cry. I remember Saylor's first cry sounded like a dolly. I expected London's to sound the same, but it didn't. Hers sounded a little more real. Emotions rushed through my head. I tried to cry, but nothing would come out. I thought that may have been the drugs and adrenaline preventing my tears. I laid there trying to hear her and hear what the nurses were saying. I couldn't hear much except noise from doctors working on me. The next thing I knew, Tyler came beside me and introduced our sweet little girl. I couldn't move, so he just put her face up against my cheek. It was an amazing feeling and I never wanted her to leave.
I continued laying there as they stitched me up. I heard Tyler talking to my mom in his very proud new daddy voice. They were both so happy and excited. I was too- but the drugs prevented me from communicating much of anything. They wheeled me back to my room, and after that was a blur. However, an hour to two later, some people came into my room and said they needed to take me down to x-ray to make sure they did not puncture my ureters (the tubes that go from your kidneys to your bladder). London was already so low when they rushed me into c-section and they took her out so fast, they had to make sure those were not punctured. I was out of it so I didn't really care what was going on, but I was glad Tyler went with me. Once again I was surrounded by people working on me and setting up the x-ray machine. The x-rays were taken, and we got the good news that nothing was harmed during London's birth. I was taken back to my room to rest and recuperate.
The next five days were filled with more pain than I have ever been in. Two days after my c-section, the nurse wanted me to try to stand up and walk to the bathroom on my own. Just putting my feet onto the ground and lifting myself up almost killed me. I never knew c-sections hurt that bad. It was horrible. After using the bathroom and falling back into my bed, I thought I would never use the bathroom on my own ever again. I kept getting told that the more I moved around, the better I would feel and faster I would heal. I tried walking around the room, getting up to brush my teeth and use the bathroom, and even walked the hospital halls occasionally. They were right, it did eventually help.
Taking care of London (and especially watching Tyler take care of her) was so rewarding. We both loved every minute of it. Tyler stayed with me in the hospital all 5 days.
Saylor finally was able to come to the hospital to meet London. We all loved every minute of that too. She was so excited to meet her little sister. As she held her in her arms, I knew she was going to be a great big sister.
During our stay, London had some jaundice issues. We had to use the lights several times to get that to go down. She unfortunately also lost 10% of her birth weight, which was severe and we were told to supplement her with formula until my milk came in. I was so grateful for the doctors watching her so closely and helping us take care of her and give her what she needed.
The day quickly came for us to go home. I was nervous. I didn't want to leave all the nurses and assistance I was getting. We packed up, and Tyler pushed me on a wheelchair out to the truck (although I remember feeling kind of silly in it, because by then I could walk- at least old grandma pace). We carefully drove home, then our real journey began.
London joining our family has been one of the greatest blessings Tyler and I have received. She has already taught us so much love and is such a joy to us. We look forward to raising this angel and getting to know her sweet personality.
I am so beyond grateful for the blessing Tyler gave me the night before her birth, and Heavenly Father watching over us during this time.
