Baby Kate: A Birth Story

I've felt God's presence in my life before.  But nothing like November 17, 2014-- the day we welcomed baby Kate into our lives.

A little background before I share this story.  Molly was born at 36 weeks, 2 days weighing in at 7 pounds and perfectly healthy.  Thus, I had myself convinced this baby would be just as early, maybe earlier.   The joke was on me.  I spent the weeks from 36 through 38 wondering if this baby would ever come.  And I feel so silly writing this, because I know women deliver weeks past their due date, but I felt some major impatience those last days.  And I did a lot of questioning.  How big is this baby going to be?  8 lbs? 9 lbs?!  

Turns out, at my 38 week appointment, I was barely dilated, and my OB told me I was "not inducible".  Though a truly natural labor and delivery is all I had prayed for, I felt a lot of pressure and anxiety after hearing those words.  I was terrified of induction, but I think the thought of a really big baby was worse.

To add some insult, I had some really good Braxton Hicks contractions for the weeks prior, some would last most of the day.  There were a lot of days I thought labor was starting.  But it wasn't.

So on Monday, 11/17/14, when I woke up from Braxton Hicks contractions around 6am, I really thought nothing of them.  I decided to go into work for at least half of the day, but my office manager said it wasn't too busy, and since we had really cold temperatures, it wasn't worth my trip in.   So Molly and I hung out at home most of the day, with a trip to the library around noon.

I noticed, while playing farm in the children's library, that the contractions I had been ignoring were kind of regular, and actually a little more painful that my previous ones.  Still, I wasn't competely convinced.  I did time a few after we got home, around 2pm-- they were 10-11 minutes apart.  Still not sure if this was real, I caught up on some housework.  Around 3pm I had to stop the vacuum to breathe through a contraction.  I figured it was time to tell Jesse.  This is where I went wrong.   He's a farmer, and naturally, he's late for everything.   I told him to get home "within the hour".  So, as you can imagine, when he pulled in at 5:15, I was a nervous wreck.  By then, my contractions were 4 minutes apart, I was having really consistent spotting, and had developed a lot more pelvic pressure.  Shoot.

My Mom took Molly around 5:30, after gasping "you better get going, your belly is so low!"  I had a few good contractions in the car (the worst place to labor, by the way), just enough to get Jesse driving a bit faster.  We arrived at the hospital just before 6pm, and I was greeted by one of my favorite nurses, seriously a Godsend.  And I was only 4cm.  I almost got discouraged, but after walking from OB triage to the delivery suite, my contractions jumped to every 2-3 minutes, and I knew something was changing.  Enter another of my favorite OB nurses, and another and another.  I was surrounded by the most empowering women, all OB nurses, all completely on board with my non-medicated delivery plan.  They positioned me through contractions (and I ended up laboring on my hands and knees- just as I did with Molly), encouraged me during the breaks, and taught Jesse some counter pressure points (on my hips/pelvis) that seriously made contractions so much more bearable.  This is where I start to tear up, just thinking through the people God sent that night.  Because my OB stopped in around check-in to wish me luck (though he wasn't on call), and I briefly met the on-call OB.  But as I progressed, things fell into place even more. 

I was checked around 6:30, 6cm, bulging bag of fluids.  It wasn't 3 more contractions when the on-call OB stopped by to say that he was doing a c-section and would see me after.  Immediately after, probably around 7:30 pm, my water broke during a contraction.  A contraction or so later, I felt pressure, and I was 10cm.  A local midwife happened to be on the unit, and walked in to quickly introduce herself, and guide me into pushing.  Seriously, how perfect.  I wanted the most natural delivery possible, but I feared induction, meds, episiotomy.  I'm telling you, I think I heard one of the nurses say "the stars aligned" when the midwife came in the room, and I couldn't agree more.

She positioned me on my side and sat on the side of the bed (which is in complete contradiction to the typical stirrups/push on your back only medical pose allowed in a hospital).  The women in the room, along with my husband (whose poor hand I squeezed really hard), coached me through what felt like a few seconds, though I'm sure it was minutes, of pushing.  The best example of support, is in my last push.  I was having a really painful contraction at the time the baby was crowning.  I was completely engulfed in pain, and I started to panic.  I heard the sweetest voice reassure me and say "Lisa, push into that pain", she just knew.  And that was it, one last push.  And just less than two hours after we walked into the hospital, our sweet midwife announced "it's a girl" though the first screams of our new baby.  The room erupted in cheers as she handed me our sweet baby Kate.  She was born at 7:50pm, at 38 weeks and 4 days, weighing 7lb 1 oz, 20 inches long.

I can't say this enough, but God definitely had a hand in November 17.  The fact that I was called off work, a labor that started and ended naturally, the nurses who just happened to be there when we got to the hospital, the c-section that excused the OB and graced us with a midwife, the delivery without any tears/lacerations, and that she was here before Molly's bedtime, so sisters could meet within minutes of her birth.   It was perfect.   The first thought I had when I heard her:  "I have to do this again".

It didn't feel like a medical procedure.  It felt like a life event, the birth of a child.  I was surrounded by the most encouraging people, and I truly can't thank them enough.  I'm forever grateful for that room of women, my husband, and God's grace.  It could not have been more beautiful.

(and a special thanks for the pictures snapped by one of the nurses with my phone- I purposely omitted the more graphic ones, though I'm so thankful I have them!)

 

Autumn Update

I hate to admit that this pregnancy is taking it's toll on my energy and motivation, but it totally is.  I'm not complaining, because I'm more than thankful for a growing baby inside of me, and I know how important these "bulking up" days are, now that I'm almost 36 weeks along.  But phew.  I'm exhausted.  I blame my job which tends to suck the life out of me, quite honestly.  Either way, I just realized I haven't blogged in a month, and I feel so, so lazy.  And this?  All a collection of iphone photos from the past month - just to remind me that we did, in fact, participate in fall activities this year!

Elk.  One of our favorites is a visit to Elk County for the "elk rut".  As silly as it sounds, it's such an impressive act of nature.  Elk mate in the fall, so the males are in pursuit of a female, putting on a fantastic show of broad antlers and boisterous bugles.  Each year, Jesse insists on finding a less traveled path, so he woke us up before dawn to drive the hour to Elk County, and then picked a "promising" spot in the woods to park the car and set off for a morning hike.  We did hear a bugle not too far off, but didn't manage to see any elk.  On our way toward civilization, we did manage to see a few elk grazing.  Molly was impressed.  I was hungry (I don't skip breakfast well).  I'd still call it a success.

Apple picking.  For sure, growing into one of my favorite fall activities.  We took Quinton along this year, and he just loved it.  He and Molly munched on several apples while we filled our basket, and he was so proud to show them off.  As we were leaving, a farmer friend just happened to be riding on his horse drawn wagon, and offered us a ride.  It was the perfect end to the day (even though the bouncing made me question whether or not it really was fit for a pregnant woman.  I made it out safely, though).  The kids laughed and cheered as the horses pulled us along, and we caught a perfect fall sunset.  Sometimes, I think the less planned activities work out the best.  It really couldn't have been better timing.

Cooper Farm.  It's a must-do in our area.  Each fall, a little pumpkin patch sets up some fall activities, including a hay maze, petting zoo, apple cider, fresh apples, and tractor rides.  The kids love it, as simple as it is.  I can't believe the changes from year to year with these kiddos- Quinton is turning into such a brave young boy, and Molly- do you see her concern for her cousin, Noah?!  Seriously, that girl.   And Noah, well, that boy is always with a smile- seriously.  They finished the morning with a fresh apple in Aunt Judy's brand new car- sorry Judy!

I had to catch this quick drink break while Molly and Noah played- I'm not sure who was thirstier?! 

Daddy insisted on getting a picture at one of our favorite places on our drive home from the farm.  Last year, Molly sat with me.  This year, she ran from me  (and obviously, I couldn't catch her with that belly!)

Belly.  Speaking of?  I hate selfies, but this is my "I'm pretty sure this baby is already 7 pounds" face.  At 35 weeks.  Yikes.

Flu shots.  And we're all up to date on our flu shots, even Molly.  Not a tear was shed by that girl.  And at her 3 year well visit, she insisted she was 4 years old (I don't know where she gets this stuff), and topped the charts at 85th percentile for weight, 100th for height.  The girl has grown two inches this year.  She's an eater, and apparently she's going to take after her Daddy in size ;)

I'm going to try to keep up with our lives, but I imagine the upcoming arrival of baby brother/sister is going to slow me down!  We're so, so excited to meet this baby.  And so thankful for Daniel Tiger (a PBSkids show) for preparing Molly to "meet the baby" with the cutest show about Daniel's new baby sister, Margaret.  I'm off to do some more yoga, in hopes of encouraging labor!

Pittsburgh in a Day

It was a whirlwind trip to my favorite city this past weekend- but oh, was it a good one.  I'm so thankful for a last minute gift of Pitt football tickets from a coworker, which made this trip reality.  In fact, these tickets gave us about 12 hours to plan and execute a day trip with a carsick-prone toddler and a 31 week pregnant momma, which turned out to be just perfect.  Unlike most of our other trips anywhere, I didn't have the chance to plan anything.  Though I felt bad for missing out on seeing some friends, we still managed to accomplish most of my annual Pittsburgh bucket list, squeezing in a few hours with my sister and nephew during the game as well!  (Though we really should have known a college football game was not going to be as fun for a 3year old and 6 month old as it was for us.  Molly repeatedly told me her first football game was "too loud" and asked "can we sit in the car for a little bit, mommy?!", while Ethan was startled each time the crowd cheered :/   Lesson- learned.)

We left early in the morning Saturday, and ended up just a bit behind schedule after a quick trip to Starbucks to dull the motion sickness and energize Daddy.  Turns out, that stop was really just what we needed!

We ended up at Heinz Stadium just in time for the game, and got the perfect seats- just barely in the shade!  And we even caught a good game (as Jesse tells me), with good views of offense/defensive formations (in the meantime, I was still thankful for the shade).

After the game, we routed up to Mt. Washington to show Molly the views of the city.  She is fearless, and just loved it.  We're really thankful to the library, too, for letting us use their potty in a pinch ;)

Still without a nap, we headed to Southside to see if a quick dinner would be possible, and sure enough, that girl held strong through dinner (we love the Cheesecake Factory), and even seemed excited to stop in Oakland on our way home to check out my Alma Mater.  I had a (pregnancy-to-blame) minute of emotion as she oo-ed and aww-ed at the Cathedral of Learning on Pitt's campus.  This girl is going to be a college student one day- how crazy is that?!!  So I purposely shot a picture of her entering the Cathedral- maybe we can compare it to her 18 year old self someday (not that I'm going to force her to go to a specific college on anything)?!

But of course, the Panther was a hit for the vivacious and sleep deprived 3 year old, who was later inappropriately telling it to "giddy up, boy"!  (We left shortly thereafter. )

And we made it home by dark that night.  Phew.

I'm so thankful to God for birthdays- another healthy year with this family.  I really can't ask for much else.  It's the last birthday of my twenties, so I know it's going to be a good one ;)