Throughout my pregnancy I had always measured on the small side, but around 36 weeks my doctor Marianne (my father-in-law's wife) started to worry about my amniotic fluid levels. The levels weren't horrible, but they weren't where she wanted them to be. I guess they like to see the levels around 9, and mine were at 7. There wasn't anything to do unless it dropped to 5, which would be oligohydramnios. We watched it for a couple weeks and it stayed pretty stable. The fear is that with low amniotic fluid, there is a greater chance of the cord getting stuck and pinching off the blood/oxygen supply. For example, there was pretty much no fluid behind the baby's back, so if the cord were to get back there, there would be no fluid to move it out of the way. Also with low fluid, the baby's heart doesn't handle contractions during labor as well.
We were super busy during my last few weeks of pregnancy. Our house was finished and we were able to move in when I was 38 weeks. I was still working 30 hours a week so that was also keeping me busy. I was looking forward to having my last day of work on April 3rd and having a week or so to find a pediatrician, schedule newborn pictures, get my house in order- and let's be honest- just mentally prepare to have a baby and RELAX!!
We moved into our house on a Saturday, and I worked ten hour days Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Fluid levels were still low but had stayed consistent. Bridger and I made a big push to get our house looking presentable- we weren't completely done but we wanted all the clutter to be put away at least. Bridger kept joking, saying "What if we have the baby tomorrow?" To which I replied, "I am not ready to have a baby tomorow!" I hadn't been having any contractions- not even braxton hicks- so I felt I was pretty safe! They said I would probably go over by a week or so if anything.
First thing the next morning (Thursday) I had my 39 week appointment. I was feeling pretty good- tired and getting bigger by the day- but still pretty good! We did the ultrasound- checked out our cute little guy- but I immediately noticed Marianne's face of concern. Remember how my fluid levels were always around 7? And how it wasn't too bad until it got to 5? Well my fluid levels had dropped to 3.5.
"You need to have this baby today"
Um... what?
I was so not prepared for that! As embarrassing as it is to admit, I just cried. Not like bawl your eyes out cried but there was no hiding my welding tears! My life had been go go go with moving and working up until the day before.... How could I go have a baby that day! My first baby!
Through all this, Bridger was such a champ. He couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear and would just hold my face in his hands and tell me it would all work out and we could finally meet our baby boy! Luckily we didn't have to go to the hospital right away- she said I could go in later that afternoon to have a few hours to pull things together.
The last few hours were spent getting pedicures with my mom, grabbing lunch at Kneaders, and getting last minute things from home. I was really grateful that Bridger and my dad were able to give me a priesthood blessing before going to the hospital. As nervous as I was at the doctor's office, I was so much more at peace driving to the hospital.
We got there around 2:45 but didn't get a room until 4:30. Apparently it was a popular time to have a baby- they were slammed! But you wouldn't know it... I'm not sure what I expected the hospital to be like- but it was so quiet there! I guess I thought it would be pretty chaotic. Once we got into the room it still took awhile to get everything started. I finally got the pitocin started at 6:30 pm. They wanted to try something else called Cytotec to induce labor but apparently I was having too many contractions in a 10 minute period to do that. I was so surprised because I seriously didn't think I was having any! The nurse would look at the monitor and say "Yep- you are having one right now!" and I would have to feel my stomach to feel any sort of tightening. I honestly didn't really feel any contractions until around 10:30 pm, but nothing terrible. Bridger commented that the whole labor thing was totally different than he expected- it was pretty boring! But the thought of me having a baby in the coming hours kept me pretty entertained!! I just loved laying there watching the monitors that showed my contractions and Niko's heart rate. Bridger kept telling me to get some sleep so I would be rested but I couldn't stop watching! I was in and out of sleep- but it wasn't very restful. I was up all the time to pee or because the alarms would go off if my blood pressure cuff was too loose or if my arm was above my heart. I felt bad having to call a nurse in to have her turn it off like 4 times. I told them I could turn it off if she showed me the button to push! But I guess that isn't allowed :) Marianne was monitoring my contractions from home and would send text messages throughout the night telling us that his heart was handling the contractions beautifully. We told her to get some sleep so we had a well rested doctor :)
At around 3:30 am I took my millionth trip to the bathroom to pee and my water broke all on its own- pretty rare for being induced! That's when contractions started to be really painful. The nurse had told me to wait to get an epidural until I really couldn't take it anymore. We didn't want it to slow labor down at all- but it couldn't be so bad that I couldn't hold still for it. I had a good couple hours of intense contractions and at 5:30 am I got my epidural. I think the hardest part is just holding still for 5 minutes through contractions! I have to say... I know some people don't have the best of luck with epidurals, but mine was heaven sent! We had to push the button to give me a little more one time, but that was it. I slept like a baby after that! I slept for about 2 hours and woke up at 7:30 am when Marianne came in to check my progress. She just wanted to see where I was at before going to her office so she would know about what time to come back to the hospital. I was only 3 cm when I got the epidural so she thought it would be awhile, but she checked me and said "We aren't going anywhere!" I thought she meant that I wasn't progressing at all so I felt pretty frustrated. I didn't understand that she really meant I was ready to have a baby! She wasn't going anywhere. In those two hours I progressed to a 10- it was perfect! I was nice and rested from a good nap and had energy to push! By 7:40 am I was pushing. Like I said my epidural was great- I wasn't in any pain at all. I couldn't even really feel any pressure until the very end. Honestly it was great- Bridger and I were joking and laughing in between pushes, quoting Baby Mama and just smiling at each other in amazement that we were about to be parents. Don't get me wrong- I was getting pretty tired by the end but it was such a great experience. Bridger and I had talked about how he would just stay up by my head and not watch- but he ended up holding one of my legs so he didn't have much of a choice! But he said it was the neatest experience. Mr Faint-Just-By-Getting-A-Shot actually loved watching the delivery, go figure! I pushed for 50 minutes and at 8:32 am our baby boy was here!
He was beautiful and healthy and perfect! Niko was born at 7 lbs and 20 inches long. I will always remember when he was placed on my chest and I saw him for the first time. It was all a big whirlwind after that but it is one of those moments that you can't really explain. All I know is I was instantly in love and grateful for his safe arrival! In his first picture after he was born he looks all plump and chunky- but he was a scrawny little guy! I always thought I would have a big baby- he took us by surprise! He had a little bit of jaundice, but not severe enough to need to be put under lights.
Niko has been such an amazing gift to our family. He has such a sweet personality. We have learned so much and grown closer as a family and have loved watching him change so much in these few short months since he has been here. I'm just trying to soak it all up the best I can!
The last few hours were spent getting pedicures with my mom, grabbing lunch at Kneaders, and getting last minute things from home. I was really grateful that Bridger and my dad were able to give me a priesthood blessing before going to the hospital. As nervous as I was at the doctor's office, I was so much more at peace driving to the hospital.
We got there around 2:45 but didn't get a room until 4:30. Apparently it was a popular time to have a baby- they were slammed! But you wouldn't know it... I'm not sure what I expected the hospital to be like- but it was so quiet there! I guess I thought it would be pretty chaotic. Once we got into the room it still took awhile to get everything started. I finally got the pitocin started at 6:30 pm. They wanted to try something else called Cytotec to induce labor but apparently I was having too many contractions in a 10 minute period to do that. I was so surprised because I seriously didn't think I was having any! The nurse would look at the monitor and say "Yep- you are having one right now!" and I would have to feel my stomach to feel any sort of tightening. I honestly didn't really feel any contractions until around 10:30 pm, but nothing terrible. Bridger commented that the whole labor thing was totally different than he expected- it was pretty boring! But the thought of me having a baby in the coming hours kept me pretty entertained!! I just loved laying there watching the monitors that showed my contractions and Niko's heart rate. Bridger kept telling me to get some sleep so I would be rested but I couldn't stop watching! I was in and out of sleep- but it wasn't very restful. I was up all the time to pee or because the alarms would go off if my blood pressure cuff was too loose or if my arm was above my heart. I felt bad having to call a nurse in to have her turn it off like 4 times. I told them I could turn it off if she showed me the button to push! But I guess that isn't allowed :) Marianne was monitoring my contractions from home and would send text messages throughout the night telling us that his heart was handling the contractions beautifully. We told her to get some sleep so we had a well rested doctor :)
At around 3:30 am I took my millionth trip to the bathroom to pee and my water broke all on its own- pretty rare for being induced! That's when contractions started to be really painful. The nurse had told me to wait to get an epidural until I really couldn't take it anymore. We didn't want it to slow labor down at all- but it couldn't be so bad that I couldn't hold still for it. I had a good couple hours of intense contractions and at 5:30 am I got my epidural. I think the hardest part is just holding still for 5 minutes through contractions! I have to say... I know some people don't have the best of luck with epidurals, but mine was heaven sent! We had to push the button to give me a little more one time, but that was it. I slept like a baby after that! I slept for about 2 hours and woke up at 7:30 am when Marianne came in to check my progress. She just wanted to see where I was at before going to her office so she would know about what time to come back to the hospital. I was only 3 cm when I got the epidural so she thought it would be awhile, but she checked me and said "We aren't going anywhere!" I thought she meant that I wasn't progressing at all so I felt pretty frustrated. I didn't understand that she really meant I was ready to have a baby! She wasn't going anywhere. In those two hours I progressed to a 10- it was perfect! I was nice and rested from a good nap and had energy to push! By 7:40 am I was pushing. Like I said my epidural was great- I wasn't in any pain at all. I couldn't even really feel any pressure until the very end. Honestly it was great- Bridger and I were joking and laughing in between pushes, quoting Baby Mama and just smiling at each other in amazement that we were about to be parents. Don't get me wrong- I was getting pretty tired by the end but it was such a great experience. Bridger and I had talked about how he would just stay up by my head and not watch- but he ended up holding one of my legs so he didn't have much of a choice! But he said it was the neatest experience. Mr Faint-Just-By-Getting-A-Shot actually loved watching the delivery, go figure! I pushed for 50 minutes and at 8:32 am our baby boy was here!
He was beautiful and healthy and perfect! Niko was born at 7 lbs and 20 inches long. I will always remember when he was placed on my chest and I saw him for the first time. It was all a big whirlwind after that but it is one of those moments that you can't really explain. All I know is I was instantly in love and grateful for his safe arrival! In his first picture after he was born he looks all plump and chunky- but he was a scrawny little guy! I always thought I would have a big baby- he took us by surprise! He had a little bit of jaundice, but not severe enough to need to be put under lights.
Niko has been such an amazing gift to our family. He has such a sweet personality. We have learned so much and grown closer as a family and have loved watching him change so much in these few short months since he has been here. I'm just trying to soak it all up the best I can!
