The birth story of our little Rhealen Jo, if you'd like to read...
It all started with a normal weekly visit to my doctor on Friday (the 3rd), first an ultrasound and then my exam. My mom and mother-in-law came along, as did Sidney - she was so excited about seeing Rhealen on the "big TV". During my ultrasound, the technician said it looked like I had low levels of amniotic fluid, which didn't really suprise me. I had been feeling like I was leaking for close to two weeks prior! Dr. Earl (my super wonderful doctor, whom I love...a lot) was concerned about the fluid levels so he set up my induction for Monday morning (we had to report to the hospital Sunday evening to get things started).
The weekend before RJ got here was peaceful and easy and laid back, lots of cuddle time with Sidney and naps on the couch. Justin's mom came down Friday night and helped us clean the house and get things organized. Even though I was only two weeks away from my due date, there were still a lot of last minute things we hadn't gotten around to doing. My father-in-law and his girlfriend cooked us dinner and we shared a huge watermelon Sunday afternoon - my Mom came down for a little while and helped us get things packed and organized. It was great, feeling completely supported and surrounded by people who were as excited as we were!
Sunday evening, we drove to the hospital as a family of three - the last time we ever rode in my car that way. Justin insisted on stopping to wash off the car (because the baby couldn't come home in a dirty car) and Sidney fell asleep on the way to the hospital (you could tell she was excited, ha!). It was simple and sweet and the perfect little moment. Cut to boring hospital paperwork (there always seems to be a ton of it, even when you pre-register!) and a funny "us" kind of moment when Sidney got hand-sanitizer in her eyes. I always feel like a rolling hillbilly caravan whenever we go somewhere as a family! My mother-in-law came to Sidney's rescue, even though she was a little apprehensive about leaving Justin and me behind at the hospital. I tried to talk Justin into going with them so he'd get one more decent night's sleep, but he would hear none of it. Justin and I spent the evening listening to the baby's heartbeat and timing my contractions (which where about six minutes apart at that time and pretty steady in strength). The nurse came in to check me and give me my Cervidil injection - she was a little suprised to see I was already at 2cm, which made me a little suprised! I guess we were closer to having RJ than we realized!
The night was long and aggravating mostly, Rhealen wouldn't hold still for the heart monitors and the nurse kept having to come in every hour or so to move me and move her and move the monitor. I don't think either one of us got much sleep! The morning was quiet and started off perfectly. I got up and took a long, steaming hot shower. Justin kicked back on the couch and I piled up in the recliner for my last few minutes of freedom before I was stuck in the bed.
They began my Pitocin around 7AM, and already I was at 4cm. The contractions kept coming hard and steady, the people began to pour in (hi, Mom and Mamaw, Shirley and Sidney, Fanny...) and it made the reality of it all even more real. I love the buzz before a baby makes his/her debut into the world - it's the most exciting, anticipated moment a person can ever experience, from either side of the hospital bed!
My labor progression was blessedly quick and easy. I got the epidural early on and it definitely helped me relax. I am definitely not one of these people who's equipped to handle pain of any kind, so I've always opted for medical intervention at the first opporunity! It doesn't take away from my birth experience, in my opinion, in fact I feel it made it all the more enjoyable! And both of my girls came out healthy and happy, so epidurals! FTW!
My progression went something like this: 4cm when we started the Pitocin, stalled at 6cm for an hour or so, 7.5cm at one moment and then straight to 10cm in less than 15 minutes! Quick and easy and pretty much pain-free (again, thank you epidural!)!
But this is the part I barely believe myself, and I'm sure other people will disbelieve - I pushed once. Just one big push and there she was! No grunting, no groaning, no strain, no pooping (THANK YOU LORD) - just one push and "welcome to the world, Rhealen"!
Justin barely had time to get off the couch, Dr. Earl barely had time to put his scrubs on, and no one had bothered to turn off Deadliest Warrior on the TV.
And there she was, perfect and pink and screaming her little head off. She peed all over the doctor, gripped the side of the warming tray for dear life, and managed to roll from back to belly and then again to her back within the first few moments of her life.
She was born quick into a moment of chaos and was sweet and darling from the second she got here. That's been her way from day one, in the midst of all of our running and busy lives, she exists happily and perfectly. It's been less than three weeks since she arrived, but it feels like she's been here forever. She fits, perfectly and wonderfully and is loved more than life itself.
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It all started with a normal weekly visit to my doctor on Friday (the 3rd), first an ultrasound and then my exam. My mom and mother-in-law came along, as did Sidney - she was so excited about seeing Rhealen on the "big TV". During my ultrasound, the technician said it looked like I had low levels of amniotic fluid, which didn't really suprise me. I had been feeling like I was leaking for close to two weeks prior! Dr. Earl (my super wonderful doctor, whom I love...a lot) was concerned about the fluid levels so he set up my induction for Monday morning (we had to report to the hospital Sunday evening to get things started).
The weekend before RJ got here was peaceful and easy and laid back, lots of cuddle time with Sidney and naps on the couch. Justin's mom came down Friday night and helped us clean the house and get things organized. Even though I was only two weeks away from my due date, there were still a lot of last minute things we hadn't gotten around to doing. My father-in-law and his girlfriend cooked us dinner and we shared a huge watermelon Sunday afternoon - my Mom came down for a little while and helped us get things packed and organized. It was great, feeling completely supported and surrounded by people who were as excited as we were!
Sunday evening, we drove to the hospital as a family of three - the last time we ever rode in my car that way. Justin insisted on stopping to wash off the car (because the baby couldn't come home in a dirty car) and Sidney fell asleep on the way to the hospital (you could tell she was excited, ha!). It was simple and sweet and the perfect little moment. Cut to boring hospital paperwork (there always seems to be a ton of it, even when you pre-register!) and a funny "us" kind of moment when Sidney got hand-sanitizer in her eyes. I always feel like a rolling hillbilly caravan whenever we go somewhere as a family! My mother-in-law came to Sidney's rescue, even though she was a little apprehensive about leaving Justin and me behind at the hospital. I tried to talk Justin into going with them so he'd get one more decent night's sleep, but he would hear none of it. Justin and I spent the evening listening to the baby's heartbeat and timing my contractions (which where about six minutes apart at that time and pretty steady in strength). The nurse came in to check me and give me my Cervidil injection - she was a little suprised to see I was already at 2cm, which made me a little suprised! I guess we were closer to having RJ than we realized!
The night was long and aggravating mostly, Rhealen wouldn't hold still for the heart monitors and the nurse kept having to come in every hour or so to move me and move her and move the monitor. I don't think either one of us got much sleep! The morning was quiet and started off perfectly. I got up and took a long, steaming hot shower. Justin kicked back on the couch and I piled up in the recliner for my last few minutes of freedom before I was stuck in the bed.
They began my Pitocin around 7AM, and already I was at 4cm. The contractions kept coming hard and steady, the people began to pour in (hi, Mom and Mamaw, Shirley and Sidney, Fanny...) and it made the reality of it all even more real. I love the buzz before a baby makes his/her debut into the world - it's the most exciting, anticipated moment a person can ever experience, from either side of the hospital bed!
My labor progression was blessedly quick and easy. I got the epidural early on and it definitely helped me relax. I am definitely not one of these people who's equipped to handle pain of any kind, so I've always opted for medical intervention at the first opporunity! It doesn't take away from my birth experience, in my opinion, in fact I feel it made it all the more enjoyable! And both of my girls came out healthy and happy, so epidurals! FTW!
My progression went something like this: 4cm when we started the Pitocin, stalled at 6cm for an hour or so, 7.5cm at one moment and then straight to 10cm in less than 15 minutes! Quick and easy and pretty much pain-free (again, thank you epidural!)!
But this is the part I barely believe myself, and I'm sure other people will disbelieve - I pushed once. Just one big push and there she was! No grunting, no groaning, no strain, no pooping (THANK YOU LORD) - just one push and "welcome to the world, Rhealen"!
Justin barely had time to get off the couch, Dr. Earl barely had time to put his scrubs on, and no one had bothered to turn off Deadliest Warrior on the TV.
And there she was, perfect and pink and screaming her little head off. She peed all over the doctor, gripped the side of the warming tray for dear life, and managed to roll from back to belly and then again to her back within the first few moments of her life.
She was born quick into a moment of chaos and was sweet and darling from the second she got here. That's been her way from day one, in the midst of all of our running and busy lives, she exists happily and perfectly. It's been less than three weeks since she arrived, but it feels like she's been here forever. She fits, perfectly and wonderfully and is loved more than life itself.
Rhealen Jo
6 lb. 14 oz.
19.5 inches
born at 11:22 AM
6/6/11
Awwww! I cried reading this! LOVE LOVE LOVE x1000! CONGRATS! Hopefully we all get to experience this!
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