03-12-2008 - Annalise's Birth Story

My mood while writing this blog: In Awe of God\'s Amazing-ness!

I was typing this out earlier and Elliana restarted the computer and I lost it all....lol! So, it will not be as detailed this time.

Sunday November 30, 2008:

2:30 pm: Lost mucus plug and bloody show.

4:00 pm: Went for a brisk 20 min. walk w/ Joseph and Elliana.

5:30 pm: Contractions but only when I am walking. Fed the children and ate a sandwich.

6:00 pm: Contractions getting uncomfortable. Got children dressed for bed and told them that God was telling us that we needed to go to the hospital to get the baby soon. Joseph started timing contractions, they were 2-3 min. when I was moving around, and 5 minutes if I was sitting still.

6:45 pm: Decided to go to Walmart to walk around a bit and see if that would get contractions more regular and to pick up a back massager. Packed bags into the van. Loved on the other children and told them bye. Told my mom we would keep her updated.

7:00 pm: Walked around Walmart. Picked up back massager, looked for Gabe's Birthday gift.

7:30 pm: Decided that I should go ahead to the hospital, b/c I knew that I would have to lay in the bed for some monitoring and the IV antibiotics and didn't want to be in a tremendous amount of pain and not be able to get out of bed and move around. Contractions 2-5 minutes apart still, but getting very uncomfortable.

7:45 pm: Registered in the ER. Went up to labor and delivery, changed into gown and was put on the monitors.

8:00 pm: Nurse asked questions and filled out paperwork. Took 1/2 hr. Contractions 2 minutes apart.

8:30 pm: Nurse checked my cervix, dilated to 3 cm. 100% effaced.

8:45 pm: Contractions getting stronger and lasting longer, 2 min. apart. Nurse started IV antibiotics and fluids.

9:30 pm: Contractions stronger and still 2 min. apart. Nurse unhooked IV, said she would check my cervix before I could get up and walk around. Said that if I was 7 or 8, I would have to stay in bed, b/c letting me walk would cause it to go too fast and dr. was not there. Checked cervix, 6-7 cm dilated. She let me use the restroom, she left to call the dr and set up the drs. table in prep for delivery. She let me walk around the room, but said she would have to check me w/in the 1/2 hr and if I was an 8 or more then I would have to stay in the bed then. I stood next to the bed and would sway my hips back and forth during contractions and Joseph used the massager on my back for the first 20 min., then I sat on the side of the bed and Joseph sat behind me and massaged my back for the next 10 min.

10:00 p.m. : Checked my cervix, 7-8 cm dilated, so I would have to stay in bed. Put me back on the monitors. Contractions much stronger, but still 2 mins. apart. Nursery nurse set up her stuff.

11:00 p.m.: Contractions on top of each other. Had to hold Joseph's hand through the contractions. Started feeling very weak and tired. Getting very hard to take my mind off the pain and relax. Nursery nurse came in the room to get some of her stuff and said someone had beat me and was delivering.

11:20 pm.: Had to call nurses station b/c I started feeling "pushy". Nurse came in and checked my cervix, 8-9 cm dilated and she said the baby was "right there". She told me that the doctor was delivering another baby. My contractions really picked up after she checked me. I kept telling Joseph that I needed to push. He told me that if I needed to push then push. I told him I couldn't b/c then he would have to deliver the baby. He said that the dr. was right next door, so he would not have to deliver the baby.

11:45 ish pm: Having to moan through the contractions. Still telling Joseph that I needed to push, he told me to push. Finally decided that I would try to push. Pushing took the pain of the contraction away. Paged the nurses station, told them I had to push. They came right in. Nurse checked me, said I was complete. Waters were bulging, nurse said if my water broke we were going to have the baby. I gave the dr. the go ahead to break my water since the baby was so close to be born. He told me that I was doing great and he would let me keep doing what I was doing. I started pushing through the contractions. I could feel her head crowning. This hurt very badly, but I knew that I could not stop there. The doctor broke my water when her head was coming out and her head came right out. I then pushed her shoulders through and she was out!

11:51 pm: Joseph told me we had a girl! Annalise Alane was born!! They laid her on me.

She was so perfect! She was very quiet, so they had me rub on her to get her to cry. She weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz and was 20 in long. The nursery nurse gave her a bit of oxygen to pink-en her up a bit. Her apgar was 9/10.

During labor I found that praying through the contractions and reminding myself to relax and not to tense up, just to allow my body to do what God created it to, helped ease the pain and I was able to get through them this way. I kept asking God for His strength, b/c I knew that my strength alone could not get me through labor. I also repeated "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" over and over when the contractions started becoming unbearable. I found that when I prayed the pain immediately eased and my breathing was steadied. Was it painless?? Absolutely not, but I am completely amazed at how focusing on God and the strength that He alone could give me helped me through! Joseph was a wonderful coach, he listened and did everything that I asked him to, this includes filling up my ice cup 3 times, he was amazing as well!! He also had to keep everyone updated through text messages, while staying focused on what I was needing at the same time! :o) He also told me how proud he was of me, I am very blessed to have him!

Annalise and I were discharged on December 2nd, Gabe's 5th Birthday. We came home and I helped Joseph decorate the cupcakes and we gave Gabe his presents and sang Happy Birthday. Joseph had made him pancakes for breakfast that morning. Joseph got the oldest 3 children ready and took them to Chuck E. Cheese, this is where Gabe had requested to go for his birthday. My mom and I stayed home w/ Elliana and Annalise. Elli was upset that she didn't get to go w/ the others, so I gave her some cookies, bathed her and had some cuddle time. She ate it up and I enjoyed it as well! :o)

We are doing great! A couple of the older children had a fever last night and they all act like they are getting a cold, so they are only getting to look at the baby and not touch at this time. They are ready to feel better so they can hold the baby again, but for now they are doing really good with trying to keep her from getting their illness!

I have to take her in the morning to the hospital lab for them to check her jaundice levels again to make sure it is not too high. When we were discharged it was an 8, and tomorrow should be the peak day.

She is a very good baby and we are so excited and blessed to have her here w/ us! God is So Amazing!!!!!!!!!

I think that I have included all of the main details, if I think of something that I left out that is significant I will post it when I can! I will try to get pictures of our beautiful Annalise Alane posted soon!

God Bless!

That was beautiful sweetheart!........you were great! so was your DH!..............yo
MyHotComments
ur story brought tears to my eyes!
I cant wait for our blessing to come in march!.........I hope I have your courage!
godbless you and your familyxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx