Avery's birth story really starts are the 38 week check up (which was actually one day before I was 39 weeks). At this appointment she checked my cervix to find out that I was dilated to a 4 and 70% effaced. I was excited to hear this news because any progress meant that I could choose to be induced. I had wicked hip problems the whole pregnancy and plenty of other variables that made an induction the best decision for our family. We scheduled the induction for two days later, but I was told she wouldn't be surprised at all if I went into labor before then.
My midwife warned me that I could have some cramping and discomfort from the cervix check, and that was definitely the case for me. After leaving the office contractions never really stopped. They weren't regular or consistent whatsoever, but they were definitely happening. They were uncomfortable, slightly painful, but nothing hard to work through. Time kept ticking on, and by Wednesday afternoon we had accepted that we wouldn't be having the baby until I was induced the next morning.
One last bump picture.
We got to the hospital at 6, got checked in, and then were escorted to our room. I had two nurses again this time- Tammie and Kori. Kori was the nurse that was training, but she was my main nurse. I LOVED her. I might be willing to go through a million more labors and births if I get to have Kori as my nurse every time. She was funny, thoughtful, and caring. All of that being said, she missed my vein on my left hand when doing the IV which meant a retry on my right hand. She got it in that time which was so good because in the mean time my blood pressure had tanked and I was super light headed. It took a little bit of time and nurse Tammie spoon feeding me some ice chips while nurse Kori finished the IV for everything to return to normal and then pitocin was started. Apparently, IVs are not my friend because out of the last four I've gotten, I've almost passed out with three of them.
I was told I could get an epidural whenever I wanted, but I was the only one in labor and the anesthesiologist had to stay at the hospital until the baby was born to ensure everything was well with it. I really didn't want to make him come in too early, but I knew that I wanted an epidural before my water was broken. Kori told me not to worry about it, and she would call him in since it always takes a little while for them to get to the hospital anyway. After the anesthesiologist arrived we discussed the spinal headache complication I had with Ella, went through all of the questions, and got to work. Kori was super awesome and helpful during the process. She could tell that I was nervous, and did everything she could to calm my nerves. The epidural went in great, and I feel like it wasn't as bad as I remembered it being nor did it take as long as I remembered.
The next hour or so was spent battling low blood pressure and light headedness. I'd be fine for a few minutes, then my blood pressure would drop, return to normal, and repeat the cycle again and again. I also started to get a bit nauseous during this time. The anesthesiologist gave me some anti nausea medicine and a little while later gave me some sort of blood pressure medicine. We discovered that part of the blood pressure issues was the blood pressure cuff being ever so slightly too small. We finally seemed to have the problem resolved, and just in time because it was honestly wearing me out..
My midwife, Natalie Taylor, came in just after 9 to break my water. It was right about that time that we realized my water had already partially broken on its own. I had been feeling something, but I didn't register that it was my water leaking. Apparently, I would have gone into labor that day with or without being induced! She broke it the rest of the way, and checked to see that I was at a 5. Natalie commented about how much water there was, and my nurse made the same comments as she had to change the pads multiple time before Avery was born.
The epidural started to wear off a bit around 10, so he administered another dose. I didn't have another cervix check until 10:40. We learned I was at an 8, and getting so close to having this baby! I started to get pretty itchy around this time (a side effect from the epidural or the other medicine I was given), but being where I was so close we decided not to do anything about it. Instead, I was left to itch my arms and my chest until it wore off.
At 11:15 I was still leaking water (how I have no idea haha), but we discovered that it was go time. Kori went off to call Natalie and tell the anesthesiologist so he could come make one last game plan. He decided to administer one last dose, and then the everyone was focused on getting the bed and room ready for delivery.
A random picture Taylor took, but the time stamp on the picture is 11:27.
It's so crazy to me that everything is normal here, and then I had a baby 9 minutes later.
Kori came in at 11:28 and told me she had a bet going that I would have the baby by 11:38. I remember thinking she was crazy and that wouldn't be happening considering we hadn't even gotten the bed switched yet let alone started pushing and my midwife wasn't even in the room yet.
Well, one contraction and three pushes later we had a baby girl born at 11:36 AM. After her head was out Natalie made the comment that she had a lot of hair. The only thing I could think was "I don't make babies with hair." Much to my surprise and delight, she really did have quite a bit of dark hair. I couldn't believe that she came so quick and that Kori was right with her bet. Kori also guessed Avery's weight within an ounce, so I was impressed.
Avery was so very perfect! She was born with a small bump on her tongue that they think is harmless and will eventually go away, but otherwise she was healthy as could be. She barely even cried right after she was born, and as soon as they got her dressed and wrapped up in a blanket she became calm as could be.
Nurse Kori :)
If you ever have a baby at Mountain View Hospital, do everything you can to have Kori as your nurse! You won't regret it.
Apparently, I was the first patient to ask to take a picture with her.
She was so excited and sweet about it.
Taylor's mom brought Hudson and Ella in with her after Ella woke up from her nap.
They were excited to be in a new place and see a little baby, but they didn't last too long at the hospital.
Hudson didn't want to hold her when they came in, but I made sure to grab some pictures the next morning when he did decide to hold her for the first time.
The highlight for Hudson and Ella was the crane and construction that was right outside my hospital room. Hudson loved getting to watch all of the equipment at work.
Taylor had to go home to be with Hudson and Ella at 6 so his mom could make the drive back to Grace, so Avery and I were on our own for the rest of the night. Construction noise below my room kept me up most of the night, but once they switched my room at 4 in the morning I managed to get an hour or two of sleep.. I didn't realize I was the only one who could hear it or I definitely would have said something to the nurse before it got so late.
Avery and I were discharged exactly 24 hours after she was born and just like that we were off to take on life as a family of five.
Hudson's birth story can be found
here.
Ella's birth story can be found
here.
