Joa's 37 week OB check. My BP is high and slight protein. I was two numbers (points?) off from getting sent to the hospital. The OB gives me the choice on going and I request to not because we still had a LONG to do list at home (third baby problems). We discuss that if I'm still pregnant at my 39 week check that we will schedule an induction for the following day (Dec 1).
November 22nd- her 38 week check. Baby's head is lower (way low) (and I'm fully aware of this every time I move or sit still or breath or whatever...), I'm dilated to 3 (I never dilated before labor with the other two) and baby looks like she could come 'any day.' The plan is still to induce after my 39 week check. When I get home the OB calls to tell me my least favorite OB of the group is on call the entire week of Dec 1 EXCEPT 11/30. They move my 39 week appointment with a plan to induce on 11/30 (with an OB I love). It's a strange feeling 'picking' baby's birthday... and birth month! I worry I will chicken out of the induction and ask them to let me wait for her to come on her own.
November 25th- we ride the Polar Express and I cross my legs the entire time praying baby stays put. It's the most uncomfortable ride I've ever been on in my life but the kids loved it so that was a good distraction.
November 27th- it's a normal Sunday afternoon of trying to get the 'to do' list done before baby day and the basketball coaches coming over for a coaches meeting. Even though there were a million baby things left to take care of before baby day, I was insistent on tiling the bathroom shower. Rusty and I take turns tiling but I got to do most of it. In a strange way it was a soothing distraction (like one big easy puzzle?). I have Rusty take a picture so we can show baby when she's older that her very pregnant mama was up on a stool tiling the bathroom shower. I post it to instagram and mention I could have a baby any minute.
November 27th, 10pm- we lay the last piece of tile in the shower. Three minutes later I start leaking (or possibly peed myself, it was hard to tell at this point). I took a shower and got ready for bed. I still seamed to be leaking. I kept thinking it would really 'break' at some point like it did with Beckett (it was ver obvious that time), but it was just a slow, annoying leak. With Arley, I had a high leak two days before she was born. My OB sent me to the hospital and they sent me home. I really didn't want to be sent home this time so I waited it out. Eventually I remembered I was group B and should probably get to the hospital and get some antibiotics going. I casually mention to Rusty we should go and he starts calling/texting neighbors looking for someone to sleep on our couch.
November 28th, 12:26 pm- it took awhile to find anyone awake but our neighbor arrives and we head to the hospital (thanks again, John!).
12:50 am- arrive at Mercy. Sent to the C-Section waiting room while they check the girl ahead of me in. Pray that isn't a sign of things to come(!).
1:18 am- (finally) checked in.
1:36 am- Checked. Nurse says I'm a keeper. Dilated 4cm.
1:50 am- The floor OB (this is new....) confirms the rupture.
2:30 am- GBS antibiotic started. It took our amazing nurse Monica ONE time to get the IV in. This is a small miracle after the six pokes I got with Arley!
Contractions are 4-5 minutes apart but I can't feel them.
3:15 am- Rusty sneaks me some PB toast (I hadn't had an appetite all day and had barely anything to eat!). Lights out. Try to sleep.
4:30 am- wake up nauseous. Was thinking I could have been transitioning already but I wasn't so maybe the antibiotics making me sick?
5:15 am- Nurse checks- no change. OB wants to start pitocin. I'm nervous about starting it without having had the GBS antibiotics done. Nurse agrees with me so we drag our feet. (Did I mention my least favorite OB is on call all week?!)
6:30 am- Second round of GBS antibiotic. Start pitocin.
7:10 am- Face time with a squirrely B who is up early and hanging out with his grandma.
7:20 am- First strong contraction. Three minutes apart. (Funny because I never felt anything with Arley's labor until right after we face timed B too!)
7:50 am- Fentanyl (but I can't say it makes a difference).
8:05 am- IUPC in. More water comes out.
8:30 am- Epidural (Dr. Krenshaw)
8:35 am- A client shoots me a text and needs a last minute download.
9 am- 6cm, almost fully effaced. I reminded the nurse that soon after I hit 6 with Arley that I felt like I needed to push. She said to let her know asap once I felt the pressure this time. Was thinking maybe within 30 minutes or so we might be getting close...
9:10 am- I log on R's computer to send that last minute gallery.
9:12 am- Texting with client (she got her download!)
9:13 am- Pressure hits hard and fast.
9:15 am- 10 cm. They get OB.
9:20 am- Start pushing.
9:21, 9:22, 9:23, etc, etc- Start asking for a tiny episiotomy. We had a mentee nurse shadowing for the day because I was supposed to be the 'easy' birth of the day and according to my records would be "pleasant and quick." A guaranteed (easy and quick) delivery. I could tell by the nurse's face once I said "SOMEONE GET ME AN EPISIOTOMY!" that she was rethinking how easy I would be. ;) The OB refuses the episiotomy and assures me I don't need it. I'm exhausted. I'm hungry. My legs hurt (in a numb, weird, just had an epidural way) and I have nothing in me to push. I beg them just to take the baby out.
9:37ish am- Our photographer arrives!
9:38 am- Our sweet baby Joa enters the world!
Maybe she was just waiting on the photographer because she knew how much I would love those pictures but likely she was just hung up. As it turns out I tore (and am still sore as I type this) and she likely would have come much faster had I gotten that tiny episiotomy. Her birth definitely wasn't the peaceful, easy pushing delivery that Arley's was but compared to most birth stories I definitely can't complain. I did have to work a little harder this time but she's of course oh so worth it.
They hold her up and I'm surprised because she doesn't immediately look like the other two. Her little face is squished and swollen and bruised and she looks slightly like an angry bulldog (in a cute way of course!).
They bring her to me and ask Rusty to cut the cord. I object and ask them to wait a minute on the cord but the OB says it's already been clamped and is too late (note to mamas- just because your last births were perfect and the OB did everything you wanted, don't assume your current OB will- if you want something like delayed cord clamping you need to request it BEFORE it's time).
She snuggles up to me and poses her little head on her arms- such a photographer's daughter!
9:41 am- placenta delivered (disclaimer- that photo made the video!)
10:15 am- she latches on and starts nursing. She does a good 15 minutes on each side.
11:22 am- We face time with Beckett and Arley. B says, "Awwww she's so cute just like Arley!" and Arley just stares, wide eyed!
Joa nurses again before we head to the mother/baby floor. We head out in the wheelchair and I am ready to soothe her as we head to the elevator. I'm sure she'll cry like her siblings both did when we hit the elevator bump but instead she just looks at me and doesn't seem to mind. The nurse says she's obviously the token chill third child.
12 noon- Joa and daddy head to the nursery for her screenings and is measured in at 20.25in.
Soon after they arrive in the new room and the three of us take a little nap. We're so in love. And so tired.
Sweet Joa, you are so so loved. I'm so thankful you 'picked' your own birthday and I didn't have to stress about choosing an induction. I'm so thankful for another perfect delivery and healthy baby and feel so completely blessed with three amazing babies. Welcome to our little family that adores you oh so much.
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<3 nbsp="" p="">(Most images from our amazing and talented friend Tessa from Studio T. A few from a nurse and a couple from Rusty.)
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<3 nbsp="" p="">Other notes:
-I was hesitant about the OB (and more hesitant to type that in the world wide web) but it was fine. I love all the other OBs in our group and trusted that I would be in good care. We had AMAZING nurses (as we've always had at Mercy) and they were awesome of course. That said, I was super thankful for our night nurse that advocated for me. Nurses are amazing!
-Like usual- I'm not going to proof read but you're welcome to for me. ;)
-Watch the video at your own risk- the placenta picture is probably the worst of it. I included most of our pictures. Since she came so fast our birth photographer wasn't there very long so I included most everything we had. :)
-Rusty is awesome. I'm so thankful to have him by my side as we welcome our sweet babies.
-We have three kids! (?!?!?!) ;)
Edited to add...
<3 nbsp="" p="">The first two weeks after her birth I was sick and exhausted (more than the normal new baby exhausted) and losing so (SO) much blood. I finally passed some tissue and realized it was pretty serious so we headed back to the OB. The ultrasound tech cried with me as the OB explained what was going on (retained placenta and hemorrhaging) and I had to have a D&C done to fix it. Friday of that week was B's first Christmas program and I was devastated thinking I might miss it. I was worried about surgery affecting my breastfeeding. I was already over the time I had spent away from Arley in the hospital and didn't want to do it again. I was a mess. Surgery came and was okay. (I still had some bleeding after and spent that evening at Mercy but was improving.) Then Friday came (B's program day) and it was my worst day yet. My meds were messing me up and it was just a ROUGH day all around but I made it to his program and was so glad to be there. That weekend I was finally able to get some rest and that made a huge difference. I turned the corner fast after some sleep (and more meds) and started doing so much better right away. It was super scary but I'm so thankful for the care we had between our OB staff and the surgery center and the hospital and also for all the help we had from friends and family.
