My Birth Experiences

I thought about my two birth experiences with each of our girls often in the first weeks after Ruth was born.  They were both such completely different experiences and left me feeling completely differnt after, not towards our daughters of course, but about the experiences. 

Elinore's birth was so calm and laid back.  It was peaceful and went so smoothly.  Even though I'd hoped for a natural birth, I had an epidural, we'd taken naps, and even though I'd gotten sick, it was a peaceful experience.  Our nurses were awesome and when Elinore came into the world it was calm and we were talking and I was crying. 

Ruth's birth was anything but calm and peaceful!  I decided for the epidural at 4cm, but by the time they came for it I was 7, and by the time they were cleaning by back for it, my water broke and Ruth was ready to be there NOW.  There was no time, there was no doctor, and they weren't quite ready for birth.  It was hurried, I was angry they weren't ready and I wanted to have a baby NOW.  It was hectic, it was fast, and before I really could understand what just happened, I had a baby on my chest!

The birth's were both very different, but the weeks following were very different too.  With Elinore's birth the physical recovery was unpleasant to say the least.  It was uncomfortable and just all around not fun.  But mentally I was pleased with the birth experience and happy with it.  I was surprised by that too; I thought I'd be disappointed that I didn't have the natural birth I wanted.  My nurse was awesome about talking me into being okay with it and reassuring I could probably make it if I had another baby because of how quickly I progressed and other awesome comments.  (She was super great!) 

With Ruth's my physical recovery was easy peasy, but I struggled more with processing her birth because it was so fast (less than 2.5 hours).  I felt bad for some of the yelling I did.  And the whole epidural thing stuck with me too.  The anesthesiologist didn't want to do it when he arrived, but I was mentally prepared for it and the nurse pushed for me, but then we couldn't do it anyway.  It was just so different; I wasn't at peace with it for awhile.  Now, 3 months later, I am, but it weighed on my mind a lot that first month. 

I don't know that we'll have any more babies, but if I were faced with thinking about another delivery, I'm not sure what I would choose.  I do know I'd be ready to get to the hospital right away though if I wasn't induced again! 

21 Day Fix

This morning I started the 21 Day Fix workout. I'm hoping I can stick with it. Weekdays I'm not worried about, it's the weekend that I'm not used to working out on.

Ruth was born about 5.5 weeks ago. I did 5 days of postnatal yoga last week to see how it went and it felt good. Now it's time to see how this goes and if I can lose some baby weight.

I'm not following their nutrition plan, I don't have time to put stuff in containers for the day while I'm feeding so many other mouths, but I do plan on trying to improve what I eat.

Keith gave me this for Christmas, so hopefully it gets well used!

I weighed myself before I started this morning, 168.2 lbs. This is about 20 lbs. from where I was before my pregnancy with Ruth. It's also about 20 lbs. down from where I was when Ruth was born.

As a side note, I never lost the last 10 lbs. from my pregnancy with Elinore, but when I got pregnant I was training for a half marathon and was more fit than I'd been in a very long time, so I was okay with those extra pounds.  I'd like to run a half again someday when the kids are older!

Ruth's Birth as Told by Mommy

I woke up about 7:00 AM the morning of December 4th feeling a little wet.  I laid there for just a moment before realizing I better get up and see what's going on.  Sure enough, my pants were soaked down past my knees.  Baby's coming!  Keith was at work and the kids were all asleep, I better get everyone moving!

I called Keith and told him, who came home.  I called my doctor's office, who said come in right away.  So I called our sitter to see if they could put our boys on the bus and watch Elinore for the day.  Since I was almost a week over due, I'd been working at home and Elinore had been staying with me all week.  They were more than happy to help us out, and we had a plan in place!

I jumped in the shower, because I didn't want to be yucky and who knew when I'd get another shower!  I grabbed the last minute things for my bag and put it together while Keith got home and put his together.

We dropped the kids off at the sitters and headed to the hospital.  On the way we called our mom's to let the know, and to get my mother in law to come a day early for the weekend to watch the kids.  She was already planning on coming for Friday, but now she could come get Elinore from the sitters and get the boys off the bus too. 

We arrived at the hospital about 8:15AM and they took us back to a room.  They were quite busy that day though and it took a few hours before we accomplished much.  I wasn't experiencing contractions with any frequency, but by the time we arrived at the hospital, my pants were soaked again and I'd leaked on the floor as they were getting us in the room too. 

The nurse was asking us the questions to get us admitted, but kept getting interrupted they were so busy.  Finally around 10:00 they started pitocin to get the contractions moving.  I also got a new nurse that wouldn't be interrupted as many times too.  She was pretty awesome.  Just before 11:00 the nurse got a birthing ball for me to try out, but when I was there, or anywhere by the bed, they couldn'tk eep the monitor on the baby, which we had to have because of the pitocin, so lucky me had to stay in bed the whole time.  I don't think that helped with my comfort level. 

About 11:00 Keith headed down to the new Subway in the hospital to get some lunch, since he could eat, and I couldn't!  Turns out the subway was brand new and their credit card machine wasn't working.  So he had to come back and get the keys to go down the street to the bank to our ATM.  While he was gone, the contractions got much more noticeable!  They were lasting about 30 seconds and were happening about 2-3 in a 5 minutes period.  I sat there alone through those starting to wonder where Keith was and watching Gilmore Girls on the tv as I tightly gripped the rails on the bed for every contraction.

Finally about about 45 minutes to an hour Keith returned.  I told him I thought I needed to use the restroom at the point and he called the nurse for me.  At this point I was wondering why I even wanted a natural birth, the epidural wasn't so bad with Elinore.  After I got back into the bed reluctantly, she checked me, and I was only dilated to 4 cm.  The nurse offered the epidural and Keith was all for it too.  I started thinking 4 is a LONG way from 10, and the last hour hasn't exactly been fun, so without much convincing, I agreed.  It was roughly 12:20, and she said it would be about a half hour until they would have it going for me.  I though a half hour, I can do that, but in that half hour, it got really rough!  About 20 minutes later, just before the anesthesiologist arrived, I had progressed to 7 cm. She also thought my water hadn't broke and called the doc to come break my water.  (I have no clue how my water wasn't broken from the amount of fluid I'd already leaked away that day, that piece is still a mystery to me.)  So I curled up as close to fetal position as you can get when you're almost 41 weeks pregnant and held onto the side of the bed just moaning through the contractions at this point.

When the anesthesiologist arrived and found out I was that far along, he didn't want to do the epidural, the nurse asked if I was sure and by this point, I had mentally prepared myself for that relief, so I wasn't quitting on it now!  So the nurse pushed for me, and he did agree to do it, but the were warning me along the way about it may not be completely effective and asking if I could sit still etc.  I answered their questions, in what I remember being a much less than nice tone (sorry!).  They sent Keith to the hallway and the nurse held me hands as they cleaned my back.  She knew I was progressing quickly, so she told me to let her know if I felt any wetness.  And not 30 seconds later my water broke and I was ready to push.  The epidural was no longer and option and the nurses were very quickly trying to tear the bed down for delivery.  There was no doctor yet, and by the time I was situated for delivery, the nurses were all saying the baby was there, they could see the head, don't push the doctor isn't here yet! 

I wasn't taking so kindly to the wait for the doctor instructions.  There were several "what are we waiting for I'm ready to have a baby" comments, and "what's taking so long!?"  once the doctor arrived just moments later (thankfully!).  One push later and they head was out; one to two more and baby was here!  I had my eyes closed through nearly the last hour as the pain was so awful, and once they told me the baby was here, I was wondering what was taking them so long to tell me if it was a boy or a girl!  Finally I did hear one of the nurses say it's a surprised they don't know what it is!  Followed by, it's a girl!

The doc then reminded me to open my eyes and look at my baby as Keith cut the cord and the moved the baby to my chest.  I of course opened my eyes then and loved her moving right to me.  Almost immediately she grabbed my finger and held on.


With my other hand I was holding onto Keith's hand quite tightly as the discomfort wasn't quite over yet.  I delivered the placenta and had to have a few stitches to finish up. I remember the water being hot they used to clean up.  I remember I nurse saying they warm it, not cook it!  Then after a few minutes I heard the doctor saying it'd be just two more minutes and she'd be done.  After what felt like 5 minutes, I reminded them of that two minute comment.  Apparently a stitch took longer than expected because she cut it shorter than needed.  I just wanted that part over so I could enjoy my baby.  The doc kept saying to focus on baby not what she was doing, but the needles and pain, made that hard!

In the end, we had a happy, healthy baby girl, and that is what mattered!  We love you Ruth Ann Haynes.  :)

Welcome Ruth

Keith and I welcomed Ruth Ann into the world at 1:01 PM Thursday December 4!  She was 19 inches long and weighed in at 6 lbs. 3.9 oz.

Her brothers and sister and in love with her, as are Keith and I!

Week 39 Day 5

Week 40 Day 5

My normal photographer wasn't home (Keith). Caden and Caleb stepped in.

Neither of them are great photographers yet!

Week 38 Day 5

Week 37 Day 6

Week 36 Day 4

Taken November 4, 2014

I started washing baby clothes for you this week and bought some newborn diapers for you.  We also installed your car seat base.  Your big brothers are starting to ask how soon you'll arrive too since it's now November.

Week 33 Day 4

Taken October 14, 2014

I started thinking about getting baby things out of the basement this week, didn't do it, but thought about it.

Your dad and I went to my cousin's wedding.

Week 30 Day 5

During week 30, Daddy and I went away for the weekend to Marietta while your big siblings stayed home with Grandma Barb. 

Taken September 24, 2014

Week 39 Day 5 Appointment

Keith, Elinore and I went to my appointment this morning to check on baby.  We waited 90 minutes before the nurse came for us this morning.  In that time Elinore made a friend with a 3 year old little girl in the waiting room and they played together for quite some time. 

We finally saw the nurse and went back where we sat and waited for about another 30 minutes before a doctor came to see us.  It wasn't the one we were scheduled with, she was busy at the hospital delivering babies, but we saw a doctor finally!

Not much has changed since last week.  I'm 2-3 cm dilated and still 80%.  She said she could feel baby's head moving around in there though. 

The heart sounded good.  I'd gained just under 40 lbs. to date and everything else was good. 

She said they'd wait until 41 weeks to induce.  I go back next Wednesday if there's no baby before then.  If I make it to the appointment on Wednesday they're going to talk about scheduling an induction then. 

39 Week Appointment

This morning Elinore and I went to my regularly scheduled doctor appointment.  She was quite excited to go. 

The appointment went well.  There was no wait today, in part because we were 10 minutes late arriving.  Oh well, I'm used to being late!

The baby's heart rate was around 140bpm.

She commented at first that I'd had a large weight gain this week until we realized I was wearing my coat and winter gear still when I was weighed, she didn't care about my weight gain anymore.

She checked my cervix today, and I'm 2 cm dilated, 80% effaced and the baby is in a station 2 position.  She said this was all a good place and the baby could come any time now.  In fact, her words were that I could walk out the door now and have my water break.  She reminded me when to call in or come in with contractions.   

I have another appointment scheduled for Wednesday if there's no baby before then. 

38 Week Appointment

This morning Elinore and I went in for my 38 week dr. appointment.  We had to wait about an hour to see the doctor because they'd had a small emergency that morning that sat them behind.  I used to be so much more annoyed by that kind of thing, but I've learned patience, and it wasn't so bad.  I think I learned patience after I was the patient that caused a back-up one day.  It suddenly makes things more clear. 

Anyway, Elinore charmed the waiting room for half and hour or so of that time, and then she turned her charm to the nurse when I was moved back to another room.  She didn't let the doctor not get her a sticker either.  She was insistent and not very patient about it. 

Baby's heart rate varied between the 130s to 160s while we listened.  When we finished it was about 145 bpm.  I also had her double check that baby was still head down, which it was!I knew I didn't really need to worry about it, but a sleepless Wednesday night had me worried about it for sometime, so I just needed some reassurance there! 

She said next week they'll check my cervix again and see if anything is happening.  

Sister Now!

Keith and I installed the car seat for the new baby about a week ago.  Now, everytime we get in the car, Elinore tells us her new sister is going to sit there!

This morning I was adjusting the mirror for us to see baby from the front seat, and Elinore asked for baby sister there NOW! 

As sweet as that was, I told her she'd have to wait hopefully a couple more weeks!

She's been talking a lot about waiting for a baby sister now though. 

36 Week Appointment

Last week I had an appointment with the doctor at 36 weeks. 

I had gained 30 pounds at that point, which I think is getting close to more than I gained with Elinore, and more than I was expecting too.  Although that combined with the time change over the weekend and I started a little bit more working out again (at least for two days now anyway)!

The doctor checked, and baby is no longer breech!  Sometime in the last 2 weeks, baby flipped.  I had thought baby had flipped, but I was confident, and I needed that confirmation!  She also thought so, but we did confirm with an ultrasound, so we got to see baby's little head in the down position and baby's little legs crossed!  We avoid certain areas so we still don't know what we're having, which is just the way we want it!

Baby's heartrate was 160bpm, which is higher than it's normally been.  I asked about that and the doctor said that it was probably due to the feeling around she'd done to check for head down position. 

Before we confirmed the baby was turned, we learned all about what we could have done at the hospital to manually turn the baby by one of the doctors.  I think we'd have gone that route if baby was still breech, but luckily we don't have to!  She said there was little chance baby would turn again.  Also good news!

She checked and said I might be at 1 cm already, but hadn't progressed much and that it was normal at this point in the pregnancy to be there since I've had a baby before. 

We're down to weekly appointments now, so we'll see how they keep going! 

T-minus 3.5 weeks, plus or minus!

I went through the baby clothes over the weekend and started laundry so the little one has some clean clothes!  I have the contained in Elinore's closet with the boy clothes and girl clothes we have too, so I can wash those up once the baby's here and we know what it is!  But, either way, most of the clothes are very summer-y.  After all, Elinore was a July baby!  So we may have a need there, but Christmas will be right around the corner once baby's here, so I'm sure we'll receive at least a few gender specific items for the holidays! 

We also installed the car seat base in the van for the little one.  I had to put a replacement part on Elinore's over the weekend, which I did while it was out since she had been with my mom over night anyway.  So I got them both out.  The seat itself has some parts being washed currently, but I'll assemble it soon to put in the van too!

TV Time

In the last two weeks or so I've slowly started bringing some baby things back up stairs from the basement for the new little one on the way.  One of the first things I brought up was the Bumbo.  Elinore has claimed it as hers.  I think she's sat in it more since it has come out of the basement this time than she did when she was a baby!  She and her baby doll were watching Dragon Tales this afternoon in her chair.  And she makes us put the tray there for her too. 

She also often put her baby dolls in the Bumbo too. 

We just have to make sure we don't actually attach the tray, so she can get herself back out!

34 Week Appointment

Last Friday I had my 34 week appointment for the little baby to come.  The little one's heartrate was 145 bpm.  My blood pressure had a number that was a little higher than usual, but still very much within the normal range, so that was good.  I'm still measuring about a week behind where I am, which they say is acceptable too. 

The doctor also said at my next appointment, which is just shy of 36 weeks they'll check my cervix and check again for the baby to see if it is still breech since it was at 32 weeks.  (Let's hope not!)  She said if it is, they can do a procedure in the hospital to try to turn the baby.  She reccomended it assuming I had a relatively straight forward delivery with my last pregnancy.  I said doing that was much preferred to the alternative, which would be a c-section!  (That is probably one of my biggest fears about labor and deliver at this point, a c-section.  Although I'm sure it would be fine in the end too.)

32 Weeks

I had a regularly scheduled doctor appointment at 32 weeks.  At that point I'd gained 23 pounds.  The baby's heart rate was 135 bpm.  And the baby was breech.  The appointment went well.  I also received a shot for whooping cough to help pass on the protection to the baby. 

Now is the time I start praying baby decides to flip on its own in the next 8 weeks!

Week 27 Day 4

Your daddy has been working hard on the our home this pregnancy!  He's got a lot of house projects going we started at the beginning of the year before we knew you were on the way!  I've been helping a lot too, but there are some things I just can't do anymore being pregnant and all, so more is falling to him.  He's working hard!  The upstairs is mostly all redecorated and completed, except for the bathroom we hope to get to in the next year!