Baby Brigham

So many things were different about this fourth pregnancy: I was way sick the first trimester, the sickness lasted way longer into the pregnancy, it was a boy, I dilated to a three by myself (I never dilated before), I got bad headaches the whole pregnancy and so forth. And its the first time I didn't go past my due date. 

My doctor kept told me for the last month that I was a ticking time bomb and would go any day but I just kept on carrying the baby with all the discomfort of being dilated and 60% effaced.

Being induced is kind of nice because it is totally planned, so I wasn't too upset that we had to wait to get induced. Especially because it would mean my mom would be here with the kids, which is so comforting. We were supposed to go into the hospital April 18th at 6 am. But they called the night before saying they were over booked and would have to put me on hold. This isn't the first time I've had to push back my inducement appointment but its still frustrating. 

Doug had a surgery that couldn't be rescheduled for Friday morning at 9 am so it was actually a bit of a relief to change the time. Friday morning, the hospital called Friday morning around 7 am and said we could come in at 8. Which was perfect. We could shower, say goodbye to the girls and it wouldn't be pushing it too close with Doug's surgery.

Our send off committee. Number FOUR!

D-day...we are ready!

8 am:

Doug drops me off- well it wasn't really a drop off. He walked me into hospital and and into our delivery room and then took off. I got admitted, paper work, etc. and hooked up to pitocin. It was kind of strange being in there by myself. I tried to watch TV but wasn't interested, tried to read but couldn't, so I just tried to sleep.

10 an: 

Doug called to report that the OR was backed up and he was finally scrubbing to go into the surgery. I was starting to feel the effects of the pit but not too intense yet.

12-noon:

Doug shows up and shortly after, my Mom and the girls join us. I'm dilated to a 3-4, 90 % effaced. The doctor breaks my water. The girls and grandma go out for a picnic and to take advantage of the fresh air then came back to hang out with us a little longer. There was something so special about having the kids there with us. At one point, my contractions were starting to feel stronger and were right on top of each other, I looked around the room at our little family and felt so much happiness. 

I asked Doug to capture this moment for me:

Leah quietly reading

Syd found a spot to quietly draw.

Grandma and Paige quietly doing a word search

And he had to get a picture of me too...nice!

1:30 pm

 The contractions started feeling a lot worse. The monitor wasn't showing that they were very strong, I was very frustrated. The baby's monitor wasn't capturing the heartbeat well so they had to put an internal monitor on his head. Luckily I was dilated to a 5-6.

3 pm

The nurse kept coming in and said my face did not match the contraction monitor. They were right on top of each other and I was breathing hard through each one. She said they wanted to put an internal monitor for contractions as well. At some point, taking note of my extreme discomfort, my Mom decided she should take the girls out for a walk. 

@4 pm

The nurse came in to put the internal monitor in but realized I was an 8 and about to transition. This was such a relief to hear because I was in A LOT of pain with each contraction and my body was telling me to push. They called the doctor and began prepping the room for delivery. My doc was on call so it didn't take him very long to get there and it was a good thing because the baby was coming!

4:27pm

With three contractions and five extremely painful minutes, the baby was here. I can't explain how I felt when the contraction would come on and I so didn't want to push but knew I had to. So. much. pain!

The baby's nurse kept saying, "okay, skin to skin" but when they flipped the baby over I felt it tugging on my placenta. The doctor told them to stop because the umbilical chord was so short but the nurse was so set on skin-to-skin, she couldn't hear him.  It was so painful. Finally I just told her I need a second before holding him. I had to push the placenta out, which just isn't fair, but once I was all stitched and cleaned up, I was so happy I had stuck to my plan and gone without the epidural. I didn't have a headache, my back wasn't throbbing, and I felt in control of my body. Yes it was painful but so much better!

Just a side note, I always feel so much love for Doug after delivery. He held both of my hands as I squeezed them so tightly. Apparently I kept putting the back of his hands to my mouth like I was going to bite them, then as they touched my lips, I'd kiss them. I don't remember this. But I do remember looking into his eyes and finding courage to keep going. So grateful for my devoted husband.

They handed me my little boy and of course he immediately stole my heart. Nothing better than holding your newborn.

My mom and the kids came in about 15 minutes after he was born. I immediately lost it, was overcome with emotion to have our family there together.

7 lbs 15 oz. 21 inches. 

I was measuring small so they said he would be likely be small. But I guess he was just squished.

I was so happy the girls got to watch Brigham get bathed and checked. Apparently his legs were all over the place and he was so content during it all.

Love this picture of the kids in the background.

Doug captured Sydney's reaction when she walked into the room to see the baby for the first time. Love it!

Doug and his son!

One of the best pictures of Grandma!

6 pm
I was moved to mother/baby. I love recovery in the hospital! I love the time with Doug and our new baby.
The girls stayed until about 7. Such a long day for them but they were so well behaved!
And what would we have done without Grandma. Love this Mom of mine!

The Jorgensens came to visit and meet Brigham later that night. So fun to have family close enough to come!

Sydney's enamored

A family of six!

Love both of these two men in my life. This picture brings tears to my eyes.

Saturday we enjoyed sleeping off and on, interrupted by nurses and doctors.
The girls came with their spoils from the Easter Egg Hunt at our clubhouse. Thanks to Grandma, they made it! Doug took them out to lunch and then to a bookstore to get free books. So I got to spend some one-on-one time with my Mom. It was so nice and quiet. I love watching her hold newborns! Again, so grateful for her. And I will never accept the fact that she went through pregnancy eight times!

Doug didn't spend the night with me Saturday night, which was so sad but we thought he should be home for Easter with the girls.

Sunday
We had to wait around for the doctor to release us. Doug took the girls to church and came after the sacrament to pick me up. I was ready to leave the hospital but not ready to go home.

Caught this cutest face getting him ready to go home. Such a cutie!

And we were home.
Bring on the postpartum, difficult adjusting to the new dynamics, and everything else