Vivien Abigail

Thursday night, I got ZERO sleep, I kept wondering if our baby would be with us the next day. I was happy when 6:30am came around on Friday morning. Chris and I went into the doctor at 8:15, Dr. England was running a bit late and didn't get into the room until 9:15, I was so anxious. Finally he made it in, checked me, and sent us over to Labor and Delivery because my water had broken! I was full of so many emotions, I was almost in tears but somehow I kept my cool. At about 9:45, we got to our delivery room and met our nurse, her name was Codi, she was a talker, which was good because it helped me stay calm. I changed into my sweet hospital gown and got into my bed.

-We're ready!-

They started me on Pitocin right away, I finally started feeling my very first contractions. They felt different than I imagined they would. Everyone says that contractions feel just like menstrual cramps, I just thought they kind of felt like tight knots down there. They hooked me up to a monitor that kept track of contractions and of Viv's heart rate, I loved hearing that heart constantly. Codi said that I could have an epidural at anytime, I just needed to push my call button when I was ready.

Chris turned on some Harry Potter to keep me occupied, but by 12:30 I decided that Harry wasn't cutting it and I needed the epidural. When the anesthesiologist, Dr. Rideout, came in, I was totally shocked, he was really young (I always picture doctors to be old for some reason). He was nice and seemed very confident, which is something I really like in a doctor. I was so nervous I was shaking, I was holding Chris' hand SO tight. He walked me through everything that he was doing step by step. The only thing that hurt was when he numbed me. Soon my legs felt tingly and the pain started diminishing. Thanks doc! Codi checked me and I was only dilated to a 3, Dr. Rideout predicted that she wouldn't come until 9pm that night, he said that he had only been wrong twice (I dunno if he was joking though.) 

Everyone told me that now was the time to take a nap, I'd need energy later. I tried napping but I was just too excited/nervous to sleep. At 3:30pm I started feeling pain in my left side again, I upped the meds in my epidural but it didn't do anything. We called Dr. Rideout back in, he gave me a double dose of what he originally gave me to start out. He said it would completely numb me until about 7, but I'd be able to feel myself pushing by the time I was ready around 9... WHOA, I was super numb, I couldn't feel ANYTHING, it was really nice haha!

With the epidural, they told me to occasionally flip from my left side to the right side to keep the meds evenly distributed. When I'd flip, it would bump the contraction monitor off a bit. By the time I was really numb, Chris turned on ESPN and I finally fell asleep (that's what sports will do to me haha). I woke up around 6 when Dr. England came into the room, he wanted to put in an internal contraction monitor since mine kept getting bumped off. He sat down, checked me out, and said, "Never mind, you're ready to start pushing!" WHAT?! I was so nervous, this was it!

Dr. England and Codi gave me instructions of what to do, Chris held one leg, my mom held the other, and we started the process right away...I still couldn't feel a thing, seriously I didn't know if I was even pushing or sitting there haha! The pushing really wore me out, I had to grab behind my knees, do a crunch and put my chin to my chest, and hold my breath while pushing for 10 seconds, I had to do that 3 times in a row with each contraction.  When I got the hang of it, Dr. England said, "I'll be back in 45 minutes to check up on you" (Codi was helping me push). So, we kept going with the rhythm and pushing for about 10 minutes when Codi said, "Stop pushing or she is going to come now!" She immediately called Dr. England and told him that baby was coming now! I started crying, I was so full of emotions, I couldn't believe that the time was actually here! 

Dr. England came into the room, I had a contraction and went through my pushing process. I could tell she was close because of everyones reactions and encouragement. Another contraction came, PUSH HARD everyone was saying. I did 4 big breath pushes...and there she was...the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I will never forget the look on Chris' face, when she came out, he gasped and had this look on his face that I had never seen, I cry just thinking about it.

They immediately put her onto my chest for skin-to-skin time.

She cried for about 15 seconds, then the most amazing thing happened...she looked up at me and went silent. They were nervous because usually when babies aren't crying it means that they aren't breathing... But she was fine, we were just staring at each other for the first time. She's the most beautiful thing in the world, I couldn't look away.

They took her over to be cleaned, weighed, and measured. Chris got to help, he was the first to hold her (other than me and the doc).

Such a proud daddy

Our first family picture

Vivien Abigail Higley was born on May 25th, 2012 at 6:58 pm, she was 20 inches long and weighed 6 lbs 14 oz. We love her more than anything in the whole entire world.

Quick wrap up: I'm so grateful to have had a very easy labor, basically pain-free and I only had to push for 20 minutes. We are SO blessed to have Vivien in our lives, it was a perfect day.

40 weeks

40 weeks, WE MADE IT!

Vivien is due tomorrow and I still haven't felt a single "real" contraction, just a whole bunch of belly tightening Braxton Hick's contractions, zero pain. Today was my weekly doctor appointment, I was SO nervous to go in, I thought he was going to say that I'm still only dilated to a 1 and not effaced at all, just like that past 2 weeks. I couldn't even sleep last night because I was dreading going in today, I just knew I would cry right there in the office if I hadn't progresses...and since I hadn't felt anything "new", I knew I would for sure have a nice breakdown there in front of the doc. 

SO, we got to the doc today, my blood pressure was really high (probably because I was so scared). They took my blood pressure again after lying down for a few minutes, it dropped a bit. Dr. England put the doppler on my belly, Vivien's heart was racing away, up in the 160s, but it went down to 150 pretty quick, he said this is a very good sign because it shows that her system is mature. Awesome Viv! The belly still measured at 38 cm, which he said was normal even though I'm 40 weeks tomorrow. Before he did my exam, he asked if I'd like my membranes stripped if I was dilated enough, "Oh yes!" Then he did the lovely check, it's pretty dang uncomfortable but not too painful. He was up there for quite a while today (sorry, TMI!?) I was so nervous, my chest went all blotchy, just like it always does. Then he said, "You're dilated to a 2+ and your cervix is feeling really thin" YESSS, I was so relieved. After that, Dr. England stated talking about the holiday weekend and then how he is going out of town on Wednesday, he said that he has a ton of inductions scheduled for Tuesday because lots of moms want their babies before he leaves (myself included). He told me to make an appointment for first thing Tuesday morning so he could strip my membranes once more, I was fine with this. 

After each of our appointments, we always talk to our friend Christina, who is also a nurse in the office. So, we were just at the desk talking to her when Dr. England came up to me and said, "How do you feel about coming in tomorrow instead?" I said, "Yes, of course!" Then he told us to come first thing in the morning at 8:30 and he'd strip my membranes again to see if that would get things going, then he added, "And bring your bags." I kind of just stood there in shock, I couldn't believe it. I was totally speechless at all of this, it seriously wasn't registering correctly in my brain. I just couldn't believe that after all this time and preparation, the time is ACTUALLY here to meet our little girl! I had been so scared about not knowing exactly when she was going to come, so now that I know that it's possibly happening TOMORROW, it's seriously just blowing my mind! We left the office and when we got into the car I just started crying. I was just having so many emotions...I was excited, nervous, anxious, and just kind of shocked at knowing that I'm going to be a MOM in just a few hours. I can't wait to see this little girl!

Anyway, we drove home, made sure we had everything we need for our hospital stay, and now we are just waiting anxiously. All of the nurses told me to get as much sleep as possible...HA yeah right, I can't sleep on NORMAL days, this is going to be like Christmas Eve x230984893024! It's nice knowing that I'll be there at the hospital when my water breaks and that I'll be able to get admitted right away, I won't have to deal with wondering "Oh, should I go in now" and then have to get sent home (I would probably cry if that happened to me haha.) Plus, I'll be able to have my epidural pretty quick I think! Yeah, all my natural birth stuff kind of went out the window a long time ago, I got way too nervous, maybe next time when I KNOW that I can do it. 

The next time I write, it will probably be Vivien's birth story. WOW! Just WOW! I'm so excited and nervous, I hope I can be as good of a mom as our baby girl deserves, I'm sure going to try. 

Here is the last shot of me with Vivien in my belly.

People say that they miss their bellies, I'm sure I will but I think I'll like holding my girl in my arms even more than feeling her inside of me.

WISH US LUCK!

39 weeks

Happy 39 weeks to our "content on being in my belly" baby!

Well, we are 6 days away from Vivien's due date. I really hope she comes on or before May 25th, please baby please! I have had a very easy and comfortable pregnancy, but seriously I am just DONE. I'm feeling very claustrophobic because it's hard to move. I hate sleeping because my arms fall asleep constantly and it's just so uncomfortable. Chris is so sweet, sometimes while I'm asleep, I'll roll onto my back, when he sees this, he rolls me over so I don't die...how nice of my boy! It happens about 2 times each night. So, I have enjoyed pregnancy, but I'm just READY to meet our girl! I think I'll miss having her in my belly but I just want to hold and kiss her!

This past Sunday was Mother's Day, I didn't expect Chris to do anything since I'm not officially a mom YET! My grandma took all the women in the family to get pedicures and to lunch on Saturday, when I got home, this is what I found.

 

SUCH a sweet husband, I love him more than anything. He is going to be the greatest dad, I can't say it enough.

On Sunday, I had back cramps constantly all day, which made me excited. They weren't bad, just kind of like the feeling you get when you're about to start your period. I kept a warm rice bag on it all day. I woke up the next day feeling great (dang it haha, this is the time when I DON'T want to be feeling great!). Everyone once in a while throughout the week I'd feel a little something down there but nothing notable.

We went to the doctor on Thursday. My blood pressure was a bit high but fine, I don't think I have gained any weight for a few weeks now (can't complain there!), my belly measured at about 38 cm and Viv's heartbeat was 135. I asked Dr. England if he could strip my membranes to get things going since I felt like nothing had been happening. He said he would try but I guess you have to be dilated enough to actually do it. I was praying that I wasn't going to be back to measuring at a 0 (which I guess isn't possible if they measured right the week before), but I was also hoping that I would have progressed a bit. So, he checked me, it was more painful this time, I think he was trying to strip my membranes. He said that I was still at a 1 with a thick cervix, and that I needed to have progressed more to strip the membranes. He also said that Vivien is really high up (I definitely could have told you that) and that he reached high enough to touch her head (no wonder it hurt this time!) to make sure she was still head-down.

I was really frustrated and wanted to cry, I think everyone (Dr. England, nurse Jillion, and Chris) could tell. I was hoping she'd be here by now or at least be a little close to her being here, even though I tried to prepare myself to go over my due date. It's weird how some people come early and some go over. Like I said earlier, I'm just over being pregnant. Plus, I'm kind of freaking out because Dr. England is going out of town on the 30th for like 2 weeks. So she has to be here by then, no pressure baby. Like I have said before, everyone at the office is really nice, so when we came out of the room, all the nurses and stuff were very nice and comforting to me, I felt a lot better when we left.

I have been trying every trick in the book to get labor going. Seriously everything. Minus castor oil, I'm not an idiot. I go on these stupidly long walks every day, which makes me so dang exhausted (I hope I'll have energy to go through labor once it actually starts haha!) Chris and I have decided that we think that all the techniques to start labor are all a bunch of crap, we just think that labor will start when you're body is ready, whether or not you walked 30 miles while eating 3 fresh pineapples and rubbing your acupressure points.

Last night, we got a little bit of hope. We fell asleep around 10:30ish and we both woke up at 12:30 to use the bathroom (Chris is totally getting pregnant lady habits like using the bathroom a ton, sleeping with all the same pillows as I do, etc haha!). I felt this weird pulsing feeling in my very lower belly, it was almost like a circular churning feeling. Then, it started feeling like Viv was pushing out in that same place, BUT it was impossible that it was her pushing out because it was WAY too low (like lower than her head), plus I could feel her little knee or elbow up high where it usually is. I made Chris put his hand on the area, he definitely could feel it all. This feeling went on all night. Occasionally there would be some pretty good pain but nothing that I can imagine are real contractions. Neither one of us could fall asleep until like 3:45 because we were too excited, I told Chris not to get his hopes up because then it would make me too excited and then let down. I woke up this morning and the feeling was gone, but I've had a tiny bit of back cramps again, so maybe something is coming soon.

ANYWAY, we are ready for our baby and hope she comes soon soon soon! I just want to see my girl! I'm trying to think positive here but ohhh how I want to meet her! Come on Vivien, we love you and want to see you!

38 weeks

Happy 38 weeks to our baby girl!

 

Here's 2 pics of the big ol' belly!

It was a good week again. Nothing too new or exciting though.

We went to the doctor yesterday, baby's heartbeat was 145, my blood pressure was 124/88 (whew, it's getting better each week, surprisingly!) Doctor England checked my cervix...and I'M DILATED TO A 1! WOOHOO haha, I know that is barely anything but we're still happy that it's some progress! Doctor England said that at our next appointment, we could look at a calendar to see when we could get things going...YES!

Wednesday night, while I was laying in bed, I started feeling something down there for the first time. It was kind of a crampy pulsing type feeling. I was stoked, I almost woke Chris up (that Chris falls asleep faster than anyone I know haha), but decided that it wasn't worth getting him too excited, so I just told him the next day instead. I have been having a really tight belly almost constantly and some pains occasionally. YAY we are getting there! 

I have been doing long walks everyday to maybe help Vivien drop a bit...she is SO high up in my ribs, you wouldn't even believe it. I have been having this weird tingling feeling in my ribs, it's almost like my clothes are too tight, then I'll take all my layers off, and it still feels all weird. I was talking to one of the nurses at the office (who is short like me) and she described that exact same feeling without me even saying anything about it (she experienced it when she was pregnant too), she told me it's the ribs spreading...oh lovely! Anyway, it's SO nice not working and having such nice weather, I have actually gotten a bit of a tan this week (whaaat...me?!)

That's about it for this week. We have been making predictions on when our Viv is coming, my guesses are May 18, 22, 25, or 29, Chris's guesses are May 16, 19, 25, or 30 (yes, 4 guesses each haha!) We both guessed 1 over our due date, just to not let ourselves down! See ya next week!

37 weeks

We are officially FULL TERM!

We made it woohoo!

It was a much less eventful week this time around. 

We went to the doctor on Thursday, this was the appointment to do the strep B test, get my cervix checked for the first time, and have an ultrasound to see Vivien's position. 

Quick story: We got into the room at the doctor, the little medical assistant girl (who looked about 14 years old) took my blood pressure and then said, "So, have you done your glucose test yet?" Chris and I just kind of looked at each other and I was like, "Umm...yeah I did it like 2 months ago" and she was like, "No, they usually do it around 36-40 weeks"...I think she was a little confused, there was no way I was drinking that junk again! I don't think she believed me, so she went out and checked somewhere else...turns out, I HAVE done the test...haha go figure.

Anyway, I had been really nervous about getting checked, I'm just pretty private about the lady parts haha! Turns out...it really wasn't that bad. The strep B test was quick, just a bit uncomfortable, same with the cervix check. Bad news...my cervix is completely closed (as of Thursday, at least.) I was a bit bummed, but not too surprised because I hadn't been feeling anything at all to indicate that she was coming soon. Dr. England said, "Well...being a first time mom, we're going to expect to go the full 40 weeks, and possibly a little bit longer" dang it, I'm so ready haha! We also had an ultrasound, which was AWESOME, since we hadn't had one since the 20 week anatomy ultrasound! We couldn't believe how much bigger she was on that screen! We could see her face in pretty good detail, she is SO CUTE I can't even handle it! She looks like a baby, not a ghost/skeleton! Dr. England measured her, she is 6 lb 1 oz right now, and predicted that she will be about 6 1/2 - 7 lbs when she is born. Perfect! Her heartbeat was at 153, I asked why the heartbeats varies so much from week to week, Dr. England said that it's a sign of a mature heart, and it's a good thing because different situations determine your heart rate (resting, being active, being startled, etc), so our baby has a good heart! She is head down (phew!) with her back and bum on the right side of the belly and legs on the left. It was so nice to see her again. OH, and good news, she is still a girl! I had been so nervous that she was going to come out a boy and we would be in BIIIG trouble haha! I feel pretty good about it now, this is the 4th ultrasound that has confirmed GIRL parts! So, all in all, it was a good trip to the doctor. I love having weekly appointments, it makes time seem to go by fast! Also, I just love everyone in the office. The nurses, the receptionists, and Dr. England are all SO amazingly nice. I'm SO glad we decided on Riverton Hospital, I have heard numerous people say how great the labor and delivery nurses are too, so that's great news!

Most nights I have a pretty hard time sleeping. Friday night, I got about 2 hours of sleep, brutal. But then last night, I slept like a rock. So, I just never really know what to expect from day to day. It's nice not working, so I can sleep-in if I need. My dreams have been pretty vivid lately, I actually read yesterday that it's very common as delivery approaches!

Today at church, I started having some major constant Braxton Hicks contractions. I sat through the first 2 hours of church, but I was getting too uncomfortable to sit there anymore, so I went home and went for a long walk outside, which seemed to help a bit. My belly is still really tight and I have been having some pains down below my belly, so maybe my body is finally starting to get ready!

Bad news: yesterday I got my first tiny stretch mark...NOOOO, I went 37 weeks without a single one, I thought I was in the clear. I almost cried, I don't know why, maybe I thought I was going to be a rare momma without those suckers, NOPE! That's okay, anything for my sweet girl. And Chris doesn't care at all, of course, he was sweet about it.

Chris finished finals on Friday (WOOHOO, I'm so proud of him for finishing his first year of law school!), that was also the day I was officially "full term", so now we are completely ready for her to come at any time! Sooner rather than later would be great, Viv! She has been pushing out with her little legs a lot lately, I think I can sometimes feel her foot sticking out of my side! She is still super high up in my ribs, I hope she drops down SOON so that I can breathe and sneeze a little more normally again.

I'm so grateful for Chris, he has made my pregnancy so much easier and comfortable. I am so lucky to have such an amazingly supportive husband, Vivien is so lucky to have him as a dad. I love that Chris more than anything in the world. Well, that's about it for this week, sorry I have been slacking on my Friday postings (better late than never!) We love our Vivien, we can't wait for her to come, hopefully it's SOON!