Olivia's Birthday-my birthing story

I want to be able to remember the day the our precious daughter was born!!

It all started on Friday. I went to my doctors appointment, and since I was full term, they sent me in for a non-stress test. After being hooked up to the monitors for like 2-3 hours, the doctor told me he wanted me to come in the next day for more monitoring because the baby's heart rate was dropping at the peak of contractions. I could feel the contractions, but they were more like weak cramps.
So that night I was having contractions 8-10 minutes apart, and the were very manageable. We go in to the hospital Saturday morning, I get all hooked up to the monitors...and the baby is fine! And I only had one contraction in an hour. So they sent me home and made an appointment for another non-stress test for the following Wednesday.
Sunday morning I wake up with more contractions that are still about 8-10 minutes apart, but they were a little stronger than the ones on Saturday. Joel and I go to church, and my lower back was hurting quite a bit, so I ended up standing in the back for most of the time. When we got back from church, Joel and I have lunch and pop in Star Wars I (I know, I know). Joel's mom, Fay, and his Aunt Carol call and say they wants to come down for the day to visit and pass time.
We went out and got some coffee for Fay and Carol, and a smoothie for me. And still...contractions 8-10 minutes apart. I had read all the signs of labor in my books, and I was having none, so I figured they were just braxton hicks contractions.
Carol drove back to Post Falls, and Fay stayed...so she joined us in our Star Wars marathon.
By then, my contractions were progressively getting more painful and closer together. We finished the second movie, and then made our way to Hastings to buy the third (the only one we didn't have).
Now my contractions were about 6-8 minutes apart, and Joel's hand was much needed during them! When my contractions were consistently 3-4 minutes apart, Joel called the hospital to let them know we were on our way. The nurse he talked to told him to have me drink two full glasses of water and wait another half an hour. This made me pretty upset because by that point I had already consumed two nalgenes (32 oz each) and like 2 big glasses of grape juice. I was very hydrated. So I drank two more glasses of water, still having strong contractions 3-4 minutes apart. I think we made it about 20 minutes before we left for the hospital. Thankfully, it was only about a 1 minute drive...sitting down during contractions is no fun.
We get to the hospital and I go right to the Birthing Center. I get changed into the gown and all hooked up to the monitors. The nurses were still doubting that I was in labor, but when they checked me, I was 4 cm dilated and 100% effaced. It was about 12:30 am Monday, and I was so tired. Joel and I go to bed pretty early because he has to work early, so it was way past my bedtime! I really wanted to get into the jacuzzi tub, and as the nurse was filling it...I realized I was beyond tired and already near tears with each contraction. I don't think it was that they were so painful I couldn't stand it, but it was the pain and being tired combined.
We started calling people to let them know, and Ashley and Erika S. were there with us.
Ashley pretty much just dropped everything and drove down to Moscow...and I am so thankful!
I think I made it maybe a half hour more until I got the epidural. My entire pregnancy I had planned to not have an epidural...I don't really know what made me do it. I felt really sad and kind of like a failure, but Joel assured me it was okay.
I was so scared of the needle, getting an iv; I was scared of pretty much every part of it. But I did it...and the iv was worse than the actual epidural needle.
By around 3 am I was 7 cm dilated. I could see on the monitor The epidural was wearing off and I was starting to feel the contractions. I wanted to be able to feel and move my legs by the time it came to push, so I was hesitant to push the button to get more of the drugs. The nurses told me that it would mostly wear off by then, so I got more. And it really didn't do much.
The rest of the time before pushing, I was feeling the contractions, not in full force, but I was feeling them. I remember just shaking uncontrollably and squeezing Joel's hand...hard.
Around 4 am Joel's dad, John, came. And most of this time, Ashley was not doing so well. I had no idea until later that she had been sick quite a few times! And Erika S. was patiently waiting for the arrival of Olivia...keeping Joel and everyone good company.
The nurse checked me again and I was 10 cm...time to push. I was really glad that I had full use of my legs so I didn't feel completely useless.
Joel, Fay, and John stayed in the room...and then the nurses explained to me the process of pushing, and I was on my way. I seriously couldn't believe it. I just stared at Joel partly freaked out, partly excited beyond words.
I pushed for less than 45 minutes, which I guess is pretty good for first time moms. Pushing was hard. Well, actually waiting in between contractions to push was hard. Pushing was a relief to the intense pain and pressure. When Joel told me that he had seen her head...I started pushing harder than I ever thought possible. I couldn't believe that she was so close.
The doctor asked me about an episiotomy. I just shook my head and asked Joel what I should do. I think our final decision was if it was necessary, do it, I guess...and I kept pushing.I saw the doctor get up and put on his little hat thing and get all geared up. And with the next two or three contractions...she was out!! They put her on me right away, and I was just in tears and speechless.
Now here is where things when kind of down hill. She was just fine...she was a BIG 9 lb 7 oz baby...perfect and healthy. The problem was for me. Usually, the baby's head will come out, and then the doctor will ease out the shoulders one at a time. But not Olivia!! The doctor didn't even have time to do an episiotomy, or "ease" out her shoulders. She came out all at once...big shoulders and all...all at once.
So I had some pretty extensive tearing. It was when I saw the doctor holding this big hook thing stitching me up that I was thankful I had the epidural. All I could think was thank you Jesus!!
Joel and I were planning on being able to go home on Tuesday, but because of the tearing, I had some complications. By Monday night, I still couldn't go to the bathroom (sorry for the nitty gritty details), and since my bladder was pushing on my uterus, they had to put a catheter in. I was wide awake and aware. I did have demerol given through the iv, but still...that is one experience I never wanted to go through again. OH but wait!! They took the catheter out Tuesday morning...and lucky me...by 1 pm Tuesday I still couldn't go. So...I got to have another catheter put in!!! Luckily, I did get more demerol. Finally on Wednesday morning...I had success and was able to go home by Wednesday evening.
Although I am thankful that I had the demerol, I can't remember hardly anyone that came and visited...unless they snuck in before I got the drugs.

It's now eleven days later...and I am able to walk up and down the stairs and barely any pain and I'm feeling so much better.

The whole experience was far from what I was expecting. But we got through it and we have a beautiful baby girl.

Happy Father's Day Joel!!

Joel's very first father's day! And he deserves every 24 hours. He has been absolutely amazing. His love for Olivia is just spilling out of him. I am continually in awe of him. Seeing him with Olivia, holding her, kissing her, talking to her, checking on her all the time when she's sleeping...I fall more in love with him everyday minute. He is just so gentle and loving with her. He loves every second that he gets to spend with her.





So getting ready for church this morning was quite the production!

We get up around 7:00 to the sounds of Olivia waking up. I start feeding her and Joel goes to take a shower. After he gets out of the shower, I am finishing up feeding and Joel takes up holding and playing with Olivia.
I know my plan after that was to go eat breakfast and take shower. Because of a major spit up incident...I had to get cleaned up. I managed to get Olivia all cleaned up and the area where we were. At this point..I still have spit up all over my neck area. I make it downstairs get a bowl of cereal and make use of my time by carrying around the bowl with me while attempting to clean up and transfer laundry. (Joel has been amazing with helping with that kind of stuff!!!) I go into the bathroom...brush my teeth and wash my face.
Joel comes in and says Olivia is hungry. I kind of laugh because I thought I just fed her. But then I realized it was like 9:00. Commence feeding...while walking around trying to find something to wear...trying desperately to get ready in time. Church starts at 10.
I finish feeding. Hand Olivia off to Joel.
Joel gets Olivia into her cute little dress. A little bit later we change her diaper....and she pees all over and some of it manages to get on her outfit. We pick out another cute dress and pray that she can manage to last in it!
Realize my clothes are not dry. Finish getting ready in the bathroom...sans shower.
Go downstairs and pull out almost dry clothes and get dressed. At this point I realize I still have spit up all over me. Finally I'm ready, Joel's ready...and we are only going to be about 1o minutes late.
From 7:00 am and 9:50 when we walked out the door...Olivia's diaper had to be changed 5 times!

Oh how I love, love LOVE this new life!!!

Our beautiful daughter Olivia Fay Batchelder

I am finally going to be able to go home tonight.

More later...

patience is key.

Still no baby.

On Friday I had a doctors appointment, and I was 1/2 centimeter dilated. 70% effaced.
Since I was a day away from being full term, she wanted me to go to the hospital that day to do a non-stress test. So after Joel got home from work we went into the hospital and I got all hooked up to the fetal monitor and the thing that monitors contractions. This test is supposed to take 20-30 minutes.
An hour later, the nurse tells me that I have to wait until the on-call doctor gets there so he can check out what's happening. My contractions were like 4-8 minutes apart, but they weren't really bad at all. So the doctor finally gets there and says that there is a "suspicious reactive strip" in the monitoring (it comes out a like a strip of paper...the intensity of the contractions on one line, and the baby's heart beat on the another). He said that at the peak of the contraction, the babies heart rate would go down...suggesting maybe the cord was in a not good place or that the baby was in "distress."
So he had me stay for a little bit longer, and then decided that I should come back Saturday morning for another non-stress test.

Saturday morning.
During the night, I was having somewhat regular contractions (like 8-10 minutes apart) that were more painful than the ones I was having yesterday, but still very manageable. We go to the hospital and I get all hooked up to the monitors again. The baby was kicking A LOT (which is good) and I had ONE contraction the entire hour I was there. I was so frustrated.
The doctor said the baby was looking great and that I was good to go home and just wait it out.
So all during Saturday I had sporadic contractions that were pretty weak.
Joel and I went on a walk and by the time we got back home...my hips felt like they were pretty much broken. I couldn't even push down on my heel to take my shoes off.
So much for walking to help speed up labor.

And today...here I am...still no baby to hold and kiss.
Since I've been up (since like 6:30) I've had contractions like every 8-15 minutes...and they are much stronger than what I've had before...but I can still walk and talk.
The doctors say that when the contractions are about 5 minutes apart and I can't walk/talk/breathe during....then I should come to the hospital.
Oh so much to look forward too!!!

until then....

oh baby...

Everything is ready...

The nursery is completely done.

My hospital bags are packed.

Her diaper bag is packed.

And her soon-to-be parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends are all waiting for her to come.

It's hard to think of anything else.