Just about a month ago our little girl
was born. I can't believe she'll be a month old this Wednesday, it has gone so
fast but at the same time the day she was born feels like a lifetime ago. I'm
putting the story of that day on here and warning it is very long, but it is
mostly so I can remember it later. Also there are a ton of pictures :) because
what can I say I'm just in love with this little one.
On February 6, 2013 I had a doctor appointment
at 9:40. I was three days away from my official due date (the 9th)
and so far had not felt any contractions or anything leading me to believe that
my body was preparing in any way to have this baby anytime soon. I had decided since I was so
close to my due date that I would have them check me at the doctor’s office to
see if I was dilated at all. I told
Anthony that I hoped they would check me say “Oh your cervix seems to be broken
it’s not going to dilate, let’s just get you to the hospital and take this baby
out.” I was convinced that nothing was happening, but oh was I wrong.
Anthony and I get to the doctor and it goes like
every other week. They checked my weight and blood pressure. The midwife came
in and she answered all the questions we had. Then she checked to see if I was
dilated or effaced at all. I told her that I wasn’t feeling any really
consistent contractions or anything and so I didn’t think anything was
happening. She said “Well momma you’re dilated to about a 5, 80% effaced."
I was shocked! She told us we
could go to the hospital now and they would break my water or I could go home
and just wait for my water to break on its own. We must have looked really
surprised because she looked at me then at Anthony and said she’d give us a
minute to talk it over. We didn’t really know what to do. I was so excited that
this baby was finally coming I would have went to hospital that second! Anthony
was a little worried though, he had class that day. The midwife came back in
and we still hadn’t decided what to do. She said to just call her if and when
we decided to go to the hospital.
We talked in the car on the way to drop Anthony
off at class and decided we’d go to the hospital after his lab got done at
5:15. I wasn’t in any pain and so we figured it wouldn’t hurt. I dropped
Anthony off at class, I had to get a couple of things at Wal-Mart so I went and
did that. I called and told my mom and sisters what was going on. Kaycee and
Krysten came over to be with me just in case something changed and I needed to
get to the hospital fast. About 11:30 Anthony shows up at the house and said he
changed his mind. He couldn’t wait he was just too excited J
Anthony and my sisters spent the next few hours cleaning the house so it would
be nice when we came home with the baby. I packed Anthony a bag (I hadn’t
honestly thought of this lol good thing there was time or he would have got to
the hospital with a bag full of coins because that is the only thing I packed
for him). About 2:00 I called the midwife to let her know we were headed to the
hospital.
We got there and checked in. They put me in an
exam room and we waited for the midwife to come in and check me again. It was
funny walking into the hospital and telling them I was there to have a baby.
They kept looking at me like I didn’t know what I was talking about, and I felt
a little silly but oh well. The midwife checked me again and I was at 6 cm, 90%
effaced still hadn't really felt much of anything though. I could tell I was having a contraction because it was hard to breath but that was about the only thing I noticed. It felt like my lungs were getting stuffed up into my throat. She said they would get me moved into a room
then she would be in to break my water. It was about 4:00 by the time we got
into our room, and they asked us all the questions. She came in and broke my
water, that was the weirdest feeling in the whole world! It was like peeing
your pants because it was warm, but it just keeps coming! I didn’t expect that.
I thought it would be one gush and then done, but no every couple of seconds
there would be more lol.
So once they broke my water
things started to pick up really fast. I started feeling my contractions, and
all I can say is I'm grateful I wasn’t feeling them before…so not fun. They got
really bad and by 6:00 I wanted my epidural pretty badly. The pain was strong
and sharp. Sometimes it was in my back, but what I remember most was it
shooting through my legs. The only thing I can think to compare it to is
growing pains. The worst growing pains you can imagine shooting down from my
hips straight through my toes. I had considered not getting an epidural because
I wasn’t sure what it would be like but I got to that point and there was no
doubt in my mind that I wanted one. The bad part was it was right at shift
change and so they told me it could take a while. They said it would be 30-45
minutes for him to get down to my room and then another 15-20 for it to start
working. All I wanted at that point was for him to get there. It only took
about 20 minutes for him to get there and he was awesome. He did great at
putting it in, it didn’t hurt at all. He said I had a perfect spine. I was
super nervous about the epidural because I had imagined the needle to be huge,
but it really wasn’t that bad. I was really afraid that I wasn’t going to be
able to hold still the whole time either. I was praying like crazy that I could
so I wouldn’t get paralyzed. I wiggled a lot during contractions and I was
shaking like a wet leaf because of the adrenaline. (I seriously had been
shaking for hours Anthony kept asking if I was cold because it looked like I was
shivering.) I did great though and I’m not paralyzed J Honestly getting my IV hurt
worse (they had to try 4 times lol). So the epidural was in and within 15
minutes I wasn’t feeling anything…yay! I actually just laid back and took a
little nap for a while. I am so grateful for technology and that I was able to
have an epidural, I can’t imagine doing it without one and I admire any woman
who does it without, that is amazing.
Anthony, Kaycee and Krysten were all in the room
with me. (The rest of my family hadn't gotten there yet they were driving to see us though.) They worked on homework and watched TV while we waited. At about 9:30
or so the midwife came back in to check on me. I was fully dilated, and 100%
effaced. She said she didn’t see any reason I should wait
to push so they got everything set up. Kaycee and Krysten went out into the
waiting room because Anthony and I wanted it just to be us, and plus they
didn’t want to see all that lol. I only had to push for 45 minutes, every
contraction they had me push 3 times. The epidural was still working so I
didn’t really feel anything. They asked me if I wanted a mirror since I
couldn’t feel as much it might help me to push more effectively, but I thought
it might make me sick so I didn’t. Anthony did great too. He didn’t get sick or anything. The only problem he
had was he was holding his breath. When I would push I held my breath and at
the beginning Anthony would hold his breath too lol. He was awesome and really
helpful.
They put her on my chest right as
soon as she came out and she was crying like crazy. It was a weird feeling
because it just didn’t seem real. They took her for just a second to clean her
up but then they gave her right back. My family
got there just about the time she was born but they had to wait a little while to see her. Anthony did go out and talk to them though to
let them know what was going on. When they did come in Anthony told me he had first dibs
on holding the baby and I hadn’t even realized he hadn’t got to hold her yet I had been hogging her :) Anthony's family came to see us too the next day. It was really nice to have all our family here to share that special time with us.
They left her in our room the whole time and
only took her to do her hearing screening. It was really strange that they just left her with us. We were like, we don't really know what to do with a baby lol. I guess we figured it out though :) We stayed in the hospital for 2
nights. We got there Wednesday at 2ish in the afternoon and then we left Friday about the same time. Anthony
changed all the diapers and took care of Ainslee for most of the time because I was
in bed and pretty tired. It was an awesome experience though and I have to say I hope all my labors and deliveries are that easy because I think I got seriously lucky.
We love our little Ainslee Marie. She was born at 10:28pm Feb. 6th. She weighed 7lbs 4oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. It has been kind of hard figuring out how to be parents but I think we're getting the hang of it and I know it will only get better as time goes. She is starting to get a little personality which is so much fun to see. She's also spending a little more time being awake and just looking around. I'm lucky and get to stay home with her all day, Anthony has to go to school though and I know he misses her a ton while he's gone. The first thing he wants to do when he walks in the door is pick her up :) he's an awesome daddy. So here are a ton of pictures...
Last belly picture, this was right before we went to the hospital
One proud daddy :)
Grandpa
Grandma
(Pictures with her other grandparents and uncle Jacob to come soon :) I didn't take any with our camera)
She was not very happy to be going home. The second we started driving in the car though she fell asleep thank goodness, she can really scream.
These two are after her first bath at home.
First time in the swing
Hanging out with dad
The cutest duck towel for her baths :)
Lol a very funny face I accidentally caught on camera
Anthony propped her up to watch Nascar with him.
She sat there for like 5 minutes.
One of her favorite places to sleep
She loves bath time! She likes sitting in the tub, and esepcially getting her hair washed.
