WARNING: If you do not want to know too many details, call me and I will tell you the condensed, less gory version, do NOT read this blog! SECOND WARNING: You may see some side boob in these pictures.
Here we go!
Early in the morning on Sunday November 20, 2016 I woke up at 2:30AM to pee. I got back into bed and was trying to get comfortable when all of a sudden I felt this sort of "POP" and I peed again a little bit. I jumped up out of bed and said "PRAISE THE LORD, MY WATER IS BREAKING!" (literally!) I went over to the toilet in case more would come, but it ended up just being a slow trickle that a pad could hold. I woke up Jer and told him what had happened and he was all of a sudden wide awake and like "what do we do now?!!" There was some discoloration in my waters, which is a sign that baby has pooped, so I called the nurse who told me to get to the hospital soon.
I got in the shower and packed the rest of my hospital bag while Jer cleaned up the house and got it sparkling for us to come home to.
By 4:45 we entered the San Joaquin hospital and got wheeled up to the third floor.
By this time, my contractions were in full swing OUCH! (they started when I got out of the shower)
Turns out Jay was working and had told the nurses I was coming, I had met two nurses the prior week and another one is one of my neighbors a few houses down who's daughter goes to Norris. We felt like celebrities!
We got checked into Triage, I changed into that awful hospital gown and got checked.
The nurse broke the rest of my water and told me I was whopping 1CM dilated (oh boy!)
All delivery rooms were completely full so I ended up staying in triage until noon!
Jeremy gave me a blessing and it was so sweet and helped me feel comfort and calm and we knew everything was going to be okay. <3
I labored a while naturally and then got hooked up to an IV where I received fluid and also some pain meds to take the edge off of my contractions, which helped. I got checked again a few hours later and was at a 3!
Since labor was progressing nicely, I got my epidural while at 3cm.
(Jer did make a few stops at the hospital cafeteria. Every one told me that I should eat before getting to the hospital but because I was so sick a nauseous I actually didn't even have dinner the night before... He snuck me two spoonfuls of apple sauce to which I threw up immediately. I'd have Ice chips and throw up or even sips of water and throw up- well played pregnancy- when I need strength and energy, you take it away!)
Jay was amazing! Jeremy got to watch the whole epidural process-he said it wasn't as bad or as scary as people make it out to seem. Jay was super fast and gentle and in about instantly-20 minutes I was feeling SO.MUCH.BETTER. I do not know how women go through child birth naturally, it bloody hurts.
At this point, the waiting game began. I had the shakes pretty crazy on and off, I suppose it was just hormones. While I felt much better with the epidural, my body was still exhausted. I didn't sleep, but my eyes were closed and resting pretty much the whole time while my body did its thang.
At noon they got me a room! They put my dead weight body into my delivery bed and checked me again. I was 9CM!!!!
At this point, we called Lindsey to come over because she was going to take video for us. She turned out to be so helpful, I loved having her there... our friendship has officially moved to the next level!It took another 2 hours to get to 10CM, and then the nurse let me "labor down" for about three hours to try and let baby move down into the birth canal without having to push her down.
Just before 5PM, Tanya my awesome nurse came in and asked if I wanted to start pushing. I was a bit scared, but said yes. At this point I knew she was coming soon and felt pretty emotional.
I pushed for about an hour. At first Jer wasn't a good coach, but luckily Lindsey was- she took care of my oxygen mask, wiping my face with a cool cloth and holding up my head every push- she's amazing. Later, Jer took over and did a good job.
Then after about an hour, 9! nurses came in and also the doctor. They said baby's heart rate was coming down at each contraction and push and wasn't coming back up during the breaks.
Doctor Penner checked me out and suggested we use a vacuum to help get baby down more. We tried three times and it sucked off each time and three is the max before chances of brain damage etc. increase. Baby was still stressed, NICU nurses were ready and Doc had a room prepped for C- section... that was scary but I knew I was in good hands.
Before just rushing me off, they had me lie on my side with oxygen for a few contractions to try and get baby's heart rate back to normal. It WORKED! and I could start pushing again safely.
I pushed for another hour and a half probably. Having so many people in the room gave me a lot of support, each contraction people were all "good job" "push push push" "keep going". I tried to get three good pushes in every contraction, sometimes 4. My neighbor Amber is a nurse at San Joaquin and she came in to see how I was doing. She tied some knots in a sheet and we played tug of war during contractions to help me push harder and more effectively. OMG that was the hardest work out I have ever done! My mussels hurt for days afterward! Since the epidural really only numbs up to my belly botton, I could feel her legs pushing/bracing up against my ribs and Xyphoid process, it was so painful, I kept saying "she's going to break my ribs" while the nurse rolled her eyes and said "you're fine" haha probably an overreaction on my part, but it was quite sore.
It had been 3 hours of pushing now and I was losing it a bit. A nurse mentioned turning off my epidural so I could push harder but I told them not to touch it haha- this is the part I did not want to feel! I got a bit frantic feeling like she was never going to come. Jer helped me calm myself down by helping me get it together and breathe again for both me and baby.
At this point Doctor Penner told me I was definitely going to tear, or she could give me an episiotomy- it was up to me. I felt that tearing would take longer (I had been pushing for 3.5 hours at this point!!) so opted for the episiotomy.
She did her thing, next contraction came, I pushed, I pushed again and
baby was born!!!!!
I heard her sweet cry, asked if she was okay (they took her away to make sure she was all good) Doctor said "she is okay", I said "It's a girl right", she said "yes, it's a girl"
Then I said
"I AM SO HAPPY I'M NOT PREGNANT ANYMORE!!!!!"
All nurses had a good laugh at that one.
Jer cut the cord, baby got cleaned up and I got sewn up with one long stitch, then they gave her to me.
They were going to take her to the NICU but gave me about two hours of baby bonding time before they did.
SO MANY EMOTIONS. Instant love, exhaustion, joy, relief, awe, I just cried.
This is my miracle baby sent from heaven. She was finally here, and she was perfect.
I asked Jer if we could name her Ivy and not Lily (he liked Lily) to which he replied "you can name her whatever you want!" ha ha
I chose Kathleen as her middle name after mine, so-
IVY KATHLEEN WARNER
11-20-2016
BORN AT 8:11PM
7LBS 5.5 OZ
20" LONG
PERFECTION
Doctor Penner was amazing. I am so lucky I got her! She was smart and really good at keeping me informed and letting me know my options. She was a great labor coach and very supportive. A doctor who is really really good at her job!
My entire body, including my face was as puffy as a puffed up puffer fish because I had about 5/6 bags of IV fluid pumped into me over the day.
She latched on to me nicely and has been a good eater ever since :)
Amber came in and gave Ivy a nice bath as she had pooped during delivery.
I was all "bring me everything!" I ate everything they gave me AND Lindsey also got us some burritos- I ate everything and all I wanted was Ice water too- I was Parched! Like a light switch- from being pregnant, nauseous all the time, nothing ever sounded good, barely getting any nutrients or enough food, throwing up throughout labor and then BOOM, my appetite is back, I love food again, Nothing makes me feel sick, everything and anything sounds good. No more heart burn. It's the best!
Well, the ibuprofen wasn't cutting it so they gave me some Norco which is a stronger pain reliever and finally I could function a bit better. Lindsey got some baby snuggles and then left- she was there until after 10! <3 She's the best.
Isn't this pamphlet picture crazy!?? It looks just like my sister Mindy haha!
After I could walk again and I peed for 5 minutes straight, they took us to our post delivery room.
Then they left.
We were like "what do we do now!???" (in a slightly panicked tone!)
We tried to get some rest but, let's get real- baby was hungry, she just wanted to suck suck suck- they strongly suggested she did not use a pacifier because they wanted her to learn to latch onto me well first.... this resulted in 3 hours of sucking on me and some completely wrecked nips. HOLY HELL, think of a 3 hour titty twister OUCH! Like fruit ninja focused on my aereolas and nips.
Ivy would cry when she wasn't on me sucking though- I called the nurse saying I couldn't take it anymore. She said Ivy had gas and was still hungry- I told her she needed to feed her some formula then because I was in too much pain! By day two she had pooped YAY. Her blood work came in fine, she was not jaundiced, she was perfect.
So Tuesday 11-22 we took her home!!!
We love being home with our baby. she is so chill and awesome!
I don't think I'll ever be used to how little sleep I get, but it's worth it and I have a happy, healthy baby.
Belle is also doing very well with her. She knows whats up.
My love for Jer has doubled. He is amazing with her! Sometimes when she's sleeping in her rocker, he will pull her out just to have her sleep on him to get to hold her, it's so sweet!
He has been a HUGE help, waking up in the night, keeping Ivy happy, giving me back rubs and keeping the house clean!
Wednesday she had her first doctor appointment with her pediatrician, she is doing great!
She is still down a pound from birth weight but that's not a concern :)
Her little cone shaped head from delivery has already taken better shape, and her scab from the vacuum suction is healing nicely.
We are SOOO SUPER lucky that Grandma Mer came to town on Monday night to look after us.
She was amazing by feeding us breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, going to the store, keeping the whole house clean and holding baby while we showered or rested.
Since it was Thanksgiving week, Lexie and her family came and also Mattie. Everyone was super helpful.
How crazy big is cousin Rivers at 14 weeks older than Ivy!!??
I could stare at my perfect baby forever!!!
Well on Wednesday my milk came in. I thought hell was going to break loose through my nipples. I cried for three hours straight.
I ended up calling Surita who came over fast to help me. They were so engorged I was in a ton of pain. I fed Ivy and ended up pumping out the rest then took a warm shower and massaged them. It's taken a good week to get used to my new boobs. I can absolutely feel when my milk comes down, and like clockwork- so can Ivy! every.two.hours.through the day. and through the night.
I am healing and getting better at breast feeding. I keep lanolin cream in my back pocket!
She really likes her little rocker swing.
Belle is always around1 She is doing so great with a new baby in the house.
There is a lot to be thankful for this thanksgiving.
squishy face!
I just can't get enough!
Jer is amazing with his baby girl. He talks to her all the time and tells her how much he loves her.
so sweet.
AAAAHHH so cute!
Ivy loves her swing!
Belle Belle always wants to be in on the action!
"I hold my own paci!"
1 week post partum, 20 LBS lighter and feeling SO MUCH BETTER not being pregnant anymore!
Jer can't get enough! He holds her and just looks at her sweet face sometimes, I love it!
Some of her placenta already fell off at one week.
We are getting bathing, changing, diapering, feeding, burping and sleeping down.
That's my life now!
We took her to the movies and she slept through the whole thing!
At her second appointment she is in the 50th percentile for height and is back to birth weight. She had a clogged tear duct which is doing much better once we got some ointment for her
Sooo... a part from us getting a stomach bug, a healing episiotomy, hemorrhoids the size of granny smith apples, a bladder infection (probably from the catheter), being bloody and swollen with some sore boobs and pure exhaustion- I am embracing motherhood and doing okay!
Seriously though... A note about the icky stuff, things I want to remember and some extra TMI for my records: for a full week after giving birth DO NOT cough, sneeze, laugh or blow your nose! Any pressure that exerts your downstairs lady parts is SORE. Walk SLOW. I couldn't sit on my bum for weeks, I was always on my side bum, and even still after 6 weeks my bottom bleeds when I poop :|
I had to put the shower pressure lower because the water would hurt my SUPER sensitive nipples. Also, for some reason if my boobs are full they leak like the dickens and sometimes if I push on them a steady spray like a warm mist comes out WHAAAATT??? It's crazy!
The process of taking a pee is ridiculous, you pee, then use a peri bottle with water to clean, then toilet paper to dab dab dab softly not wipe, then spray dermaplast (numbing spray) to ease the pain, I also have earth mama, angel baby bottom spray, then change the pad, wash hands.
Ivy has had some blowouts, I had no idea breast fed baby poop was florescent yellow and will definitely stain if the proper steps are not taken. rinse, cover in stain remover, warm wash.
Add all this to pure exhaustion from baby's night and days being mixed up (up in the night, asleep in the day)- getting about 4 broken up hours in the night is hard to function properly with! Because of rough nights, my days only really start around noon after we've recovered from the night! I've turned into a big, tired idiot and slur my words like a drunk man giving directions.
It's definitely taken some getting used to.
The process of taking a shower makes me feel human again- showering is just showering, but or some reason it feels nicer these days.
Every day gets better.
Ivy is SUCH a good baby and I love hanging out with her regardless off all the icky stuff in the world!
