Why my delivery was not what I thought but still AMAZING

When you are pregnant you download all these apps to help you understand what you need to be doing and when, and what's going on with your body and baby's growth. Around week 36 all the apps suggested to make a birth plan. Me, being the planner I am, already had this done. 

My birth plan was simple. 

-labor at home as long as possible

-have an unmediated birth

-utilize all tools to keep me busy and moving throughout labor

-STAY POSITIVE (I didn't want to be that wife who screams at her husband during birth)

We sat down with a nurse at the hospital to tell her our plan, reserve a room with a tub (so I could enjoy a relaxing bath during contractions), and fill out all the paperwork. 

As Everlys due date came and went we both began to get a little impatient. At my 40 week appt the dr brought up the terrible "induction" word! We dismissed it and said we wanted to wait a little longer, so I was scheduled the following week for an ultrasound and non stress test to check on baby. 

Week 41 came around and that Monday I went in for the test. Baby was head down, non stress test was good (although she was asleep and didn't wake up until the last 10'mins, so again they used the terrible "I" word) they said she was measuring at 9 lbs, and last but not least she had too much fluid. 

At that point we no longer had a choice on the induction. Our only choice was if we wanted to come back the next day or two days later to have our baby girl.we decided to wait the two days in hopes that for some reason I would go into labor naturally. 

Things were honestly not lining up as we had "planned." I was only 1 cm dialated, 50% effaced and she had not dropped at all (due to all the amniotic fluid). So what honestly happened was I needed those two days to come to terms with the fact I was going to start my hopeful "unmediated birth" with two medications: cervidil Wednesday night for 12 hours then pitocin in the am until delivery. 

Brian had class he needed to go to and I needed to be at the hospital at 6 PM so my mom took me to be checked in and Brian was going to join after class at 9 M. I had prepared myself and Brian that it would be a long labor. 

After checking in and getting all hooked up, they decided they needed to wait to give me the cervidil because Everlys heartrate was too high. (It was right at her active time of day) After 2 hours they were able to move forward and the cervidil was inserted at 8 PM. My contractions began about 30 mins later but we're not bad at all. After Brian arrived it was of to "Sleep" as we knew the night would be long. 

Throughout the entire night Everly was VERY active and kept moving away from the monitors so about every half hour or sooner the nurses would come in to try and find her heart beat again. So needless to say we did not get much sleep and it didn't help they had me on fluids so I had to pee all the time. 

At 6 AM the nurses removed the cervidil and I was able to take a shower. (Trust me although you may not feel like taking a shower DO IT! Things are about to get messy and you will be glad you took one) Around 7:30 AM my Dr came in to check my progress and informed me I was now 3 cm and 90% effaced, I was happy the cervidil did something, but wished it was more. While the Dr checked me she also broke my water, which was an experience of its own. Due to having too much amniotic fluid it truly felt like my water broke multiple times with large gushes. Once my water was broke we realized Everly had already had her first poop (because my waters were yellow instead of clear), which meant that NICU would have to be in the room at delivery. This was totally not a big deal, but my heart did sink a little when they even mentioned the word "NICU." 

Once my water broke they were able to attach a small tracker to the top of Everlys head in order to monitor her heart rate, which helped since I didn't have to wear the monitor around my belly anymore. They also began the Pitocin at this point. They began giving it to me on a small dose, and came in every half and hour to up the dosage. This is when the contractions became painful. 

I did everything I could think of to push through them. We played cards with my Mom, I sat on my birthing ball, I walked around, and I tried to breath through them. After 4.5 hours my drip was on the highest does of 20, and my contractions were strong, long and coming every minute without a break in between. By this point I was exhausted, and in tears with each contraction. The nurse checked me and I just knew I had made a ton of progress because my contractions were so strong, so when she said "5 cm, baby still at -2, and 90% effaced", I started to cry. Of course I blamed it on the pain of the contraction, which it kinda was, but mostly it was frustration that I was not progressing and fear of having to have a c-section.

I REALLY didn't want the epidural, but by 12:30 I had to give in. My nurse said she was shocked I lasted that long bc my contractions were so hard and close together. Brian was so wonderful throughout the entire process and when the contractions got really bad he would watch the monitor and say "wow honey a new personal best, that one was 130," I don't think he realized that I didn't think that was a good thing, but I was in too much pain and my contractions too close together to even try and tell him. 

When the anesthesiologist came in I honestly thought he was a "student" because he looked to be Brian and I's age. He was very nice and did a great job but it was so hard to stay still while having contractions back to back, but I'm so thankful I did. He just happened to be an IU grad and also a fellow FIJI like Brian so I trusted him wholeheartedly. 

Once I got the epidural the pain became nonexistent. It turned into pressure instead of pain which I was ok with. My

legs were numb, my bladder had to be drained by the nurse, and I was shaking like a leaf, but I was no longer in pain! 

Before I fell asleep my nurse (who I adored) brought it what they call a "peanut ball." THIS WAS KEY TO MY DELIVERY!!!  She placed the peanut so that I was on my side with it between my legs which allows your hips to open. I fell right to sleep and an hour and a half later she came back to check me. 

"10 cm, 100% effaced, baby still high but  we are going to start pushing in 30 mins," I was so excited, shocked, scared, anxious, etc. This was it! The moment we had been waiting for and I had a wonderful painfree nap right before hand. I was feeling good! 

After pushing my family out of the room (really wasn't too hard they knew this was a moment for Brian and I), we began the pushing! This was not like the movies make it out to be. I did not scream, or cuss or tell Brian I hated him, I just focused on the job at hand and listened to my nurse, who was an amazing birth coach. After an hour of pushing Everly Yvonne was born! 

There isn't words to describe the feeling you have when you hear your precious babies first cries or the flood of emotions when they place her on your chest. 

She was perfect! She was super alert and wide awake. We were so excited to let the family come back and meet her but decided to take an hour or so for just the three of us. 

Brian was so excited to go out and tell the family he was a dad and she had arrived. (That's another feeling words can't explain is the love you have for your husband when you see him become a daddy)

Finally the family got to come in and meet her and they were so excited!! 

Finally we were moved into a post pardom room where we finished out our stay at the hospital. 

My labor was not what we had planned, but it was beautiful, full of love, and resulted in a perfect, healthy baby girl being brought into the world. 

Top 10 joys of being pregnant with your sister

When you first find out you are pregnant you are super excited but to find out your sister is also pregnant and you will get to share this special time in life with them is a whole other level of JOY!

It's exciting that once Everly arrives, around 12 weeks later I will be an Aunt! This is such an exciting year for my sisters and I as we have two babies coming and one wedding! I will have a new brother in law and a new nephew all by October! 

The top 10 joys of being pregnant with your sister are:

1. Getting to talk to someone else about all the weird things going on with your body.

2. Comparing belly photos at certain time in pregnancy.

3. Finding out one of you is having a girl and the other is having a boy.

4. Knowing your kids will grow up close in age. 

5. According to Michaela "she gets to watch me go through the pain first," so she will know what to expect. 

6. Sharing the joys of no longer having control of your bodily functions.

7. Having many pregnancy laughs together. (Pregnancy laughs are laughs that you have where you can't control yourself and you cry, toot, and spit out your drink all at the same time)

8. Not feeling guilty eating whatever you want when you are with them because they will not judge because they get it. 

9. Having someone understand your pregnancy hormone breakdowns. 

10. Caring enough about each other that you can tell white lies when the other person may not have that "glow" all the time. 

Overall it is a super exciting time and I'm beyond blessed to spend it with my sister! 

Feeling VERY pregnant

After talking to other Moms and other FTMs I realize everything I am going through is TOTALLY normal. It does not make it fun, but just knowing it is normal, makes me ok with it. Everyone knows I am a planner. I like to have a plan and I like to execute said plan, and then I like to reap the results. With that being said pregnancy is really testing me. The whole "not knowing" thing is beginning to get to me.

Its like a double edge sword, because on one side I don't want to have to have a scheduled C-Section or scheduled induction, because I would like an unmediated birth, but on the other side the "waiting game" gets hard.

Being a FTM you question everything that is happening inside your body, so when you get that shooting pain from your back into your pelvis and down your thigh, you question if it is a sign of labor (well really you google it, because that's what our generation does). So when you go to the Dr every week and she continues to tell you that although you are feeling more pressure, there is no change, it makes you want to cry.

I get that "she will come when she is ready," but the excitement is killing Brian and I. The Dr continues to reassure me that she really could come any day, but when there is no progress each week it makes it hard for me to believe her. Its also hard because every time we talk to family or friends the first thing they say is "is she here" and then you have to inform them you are calling for a totally different reason and they are bummed. Almost makes you not want to initiate any phone calls because you dont want to let anyone down lol.

As I mentioned earlier when our generation has a question....we GOOGLE it! I cant tell you how many times in the last week I have googled "ways to induce labor naturally," and how many of those said ways I have tried....almost every single one!

Needless to say the excitement is building and so is the anxiety. Every time I leave the house, or make plans, I am fearful that my water will break. The reoccurring dream that I keep having is me in a grocery store with all my groceries and all of a sudden my water breaks, in the middle of the aisle. Then I look down to see a huge puddle of water, my pants all wet, and I have no idea what to do! SO I leave the store in embarrassment. Lets just say I have been avoiding the grocery store, because I am so fearful this will happen.

We are definitely to the point of not tying my shoes anymore, Brian shaving my legs, and leaving things on the floor when they drop. Sleeping is literally a work out with breaks in between of actual sleep, and loading the dishes gets me out of breath. The belly is officially in the way! The only positive is when you do pull up to a location that has expectant mother parking and you get to take full advantage, and park super close!

As the last weeks (hopefully week) comes to an end I am going to do my best to relax, and enjoy the quiet house that Brian and I have before a little one arrives. Brian keeps joking that with our luck she will come on Super Bowl Sunday when the game is tied. My original hope was that she would come on Wednesday as it is a full moon, but whenever she decides to come I know that Brian and I, as well as our families are all ready to meet her!