Blythe's Birth Story {And Video of Big Kids First Meeting}

Blythe's birth story kept with the theme of our pregnancy, whirlwind!  Blythe was born 100% natural, no pain meds, no pitocin, not even an I.V.  We arrived at the hospital at 12:30am and she was born at 12:56 am---whirlwind! I always said I wanted an exciting labor and dilivery story----I got my wish with our third!!! 

My midwife said come to the hospital when I couldn't walk or talk thru the contractions but I didn't know it could happen this fast!

For those fain of heart I would read cautiously.....

Tuesday 4/29

3:30 pm:  41 week midwife appointment. My bp is high for me but within normal range. When checked I am 75% effaced and 3-4 cm. She stripped me. 

5:30 pm: Start feeling more pressure. No pain yet. 

10:30 pm:  When I lay down for bed and finally relax for the day I start having mild cramps that wake me off and on all night but no pain. 

Wednesday 4/30

6:00 am:  I woke up off and all night with cramps so I decide to wake up with Matthew and tell him about it. When I stand I lose my mucus plug and had small bleeding the whole day. 

6:00 am - 5:30 pm:  Cramps all day. I tried to keep busy. I mopped. Changed sheets. Vaccumed. Dusted. Played a lot with the kids. Napped. Laundry. I did not think they were contractions all day. They didn't hurt. Calling them uncomfortable was even a stretch. I wasn't sure all day whether they were contractions or just cramps from my stripping.

7:15 pm:  Matthew suggests we have my friend Jennifer go ahead and come over to be ready to watch the kids. I disagreed with him and my friend thinking it was nothing but said ok. She came over with her kids and they all went to bed. 

8:00 pm - 11:00 pm:  We started timing contractions/cramps. They were 2-5 minutes apart but to me very mild. I talked to my friend through all the cramps while bouncing on my yoga ball. 

11:00 pm:  Cramps finally start to be slightly painful but I can still walk through them. We all try to go to bed. 

11:00-11:45 pm:  I can't sleep because cramps are so frequent. 

11:45 pm:  I get up to use the restroom and I almost can't walk through the cramps. I  start to consider waking Matthew to go to the hospital. 

Thursday 5/1

12:00 am:  My water breaks on the couch. Weirdest feeling thing ever. My next few cramps/contractions were very painful. As I clean up in the bathroom and Matthew gets the car ready to go, I feel the urge to push so I know we don't have much time. 

12:11 am: leave for hospital and call midwife. My contractions hurt quite a bit but aren't out of control painful. 

12:25 am: Arrive at ER. Wheelchair to labor and delivery. Now I am nauseous. When we arrived at l&d they couldn't decide what room to put me in. I was literally about to push the baby out and they couldn't figure out what room!!!!  I finally said "if you put me in triage first we will have a baby there."  They finally decided on a room.

12:35 am:  Arrive in room. They want me in a gown. I can barely do it now I am in so much pain.  I told them I needed to push.  I get checked and was 9.5 cm. They get me on a monitor and her heart rate is 80--WAY TOO LOW.  They start asking me flip one side to the other then to my hands and knees, all while they were smashing the heart rate monitor on me. Now I am screaming in pain. Contractions almost non stop. I yell things like "I can't do it" and "help me" to which the nurses respond it's too late for help baby needs to come now. Oxygen on my face. Yelling from everyone. My midwife still isn't there. 

12:54 am:  Finally I hear Matthew say "just push" followed by my midwife (who just walked in) "push through the pain". I push and quickly her head emerges. Everyone yells "push and don't stop. Harder."  So I push without stopping and it felt like she was spinning coming out. It was horrible pain!!!!!!  

12:56 am:  She is born, cord wrapped around her neck twice, facing my leg-that's why I felt all the spinning. When she was born she was pink but the shock of such an abrupt arrival made her forget to breathe. She turned blue for a while but after a little help she was fine (same thing happened with Caleb).

I had my eyes closed the entire time I pushed and for a while afterward so I did not know it was a girl for several minutes.  I want to remember every tiny detail of her arrival so I am glad I have this blog.  My heart is full. 

So.......

Blythe Juliette Grant

5.1.14

12:56 pm

9lbs 9oz

21.5 inches long

The Grant Gang is now five. 

We did not sleep the night I had Blythe---Daddy needed a NAP!

Chubby cheeks!

Look at Addison's face (ignore me blah)

Addison's face is priceless; she loves this baby!

They are in awe!

SO EXCITED!

My sweet boy is so loving

Family of Five at last!

They got to help with footprints!

He shared his mickey snuggle...I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!!!!!  He is very protective of that thing!

Headed home

Before her first doctor's appointment

41 Weeks {Overdue}

Good bye due date....hello overdue.  I cannot say I am surprised :)

Stats

BP:  Lets not go there---it was mega high because it was a stressful day.  ZERO protein in my urine which confirms it was stress.
Dialation: 3-4 cm
Effaced: 75%
Station: -1
How's Mommy:  Lots of pressure and generally getting awkward.  I suppose that is to be expected at this point.
Misc:  I had and NST and AFI yesterday.  NST showed good heartbeat accelerations and AFI showed that I still have TONS of amniotic fluid.  What does that mean?  I am good to go longer!  I got to see Rhema on Ultrasound during the AFI, but there was not much to be seen other than its heart and spine and ribs because Rhema is quite smashed!
Next steps:  Got stripped today, but I do not think it has/will do anything.  Repeat NST and AFI scheduled for Friday morning.  The midwives at my practice are convinced I will go on my own over the next 5 days or so since I have effaced so much.  We shall see.  They seem pretty positive but I have my doubts.  They are totally fine with me going into my 42nd week (actually all for it since I have room, Rhema is active and I have lots of fluid), but they could see I was nervous about increased risks so they suggested we plan induction.......

Induction Scheduled for May 5 at 7 AM!!!

If Rhema decides to be stubborn, one way or the other we will be on our way to meeting this feisty lil babe on Monday.  Let the countdown begin---6 days!

41 Weeks 04.29.14

Rhema

Not my best picture :)

 

41 weeks and induction day 10.27.11

Manna/Caleb

41 Weeks 03.29.14

Blessing/Addison

40 Weeks {EDD Has Come and Gone}

Happy EDD today, April 22, 2014 with Baby Rhema!!!!

PROGRESS--Happy Birthday to me---PROGRESS!!!!!!

Dilation: 3 cm

Station: -1

Effacement: 50%

BP: 120/77 (SUPER HIGH FOR ME)

Contractions:  When she was measuring me I said "Ow, I cannot lay like that; it is too much pressure."  She started measuring me and said "Oh you are having a contration right now."  To which I responded "Are you sure?  I think I just need to pee" HA!  Apparently I am confusing contractions with needing to pee and the baby moving--whoops!

Overall:  Midwife said I have a chance to go on my own with this progress!!!  I wanted so badly to go open my own but now that it is a real possibility, I am like a first time mom and NERVOUS!  But she also said it is totally possible to hang out here until induction.

How's Baby:  Midwife says this will be another big one; lets hope :)  No new developments other than packing on pounds.
How's Mommy:  Lots of pressure and hips aching because baby dropped.  I was a nut today and spent my birthday freezer cooking---prepped Mongolian beef, Polynesian chicken, enchiladas, and purees that I cook with often!
How's Daddy:  I think he is ready to get this show on the road too :)
Next Appt:  April 28 I am scheduled for an NST and then doctor appt the next day when I am 41 weeks.

04.22.14

40 Weeks, Rhema

10.29.11

40 Weeks with Caleb; I did not take a 40 week picture with Addison :(

Some pictures with the Big Kids and the Big Belly

39 Weeks

Only one more week to EDD (and my 31st birthday for that matter)!

I did not have a doctor appointment; the next one is on the EDD--April 22!  I had an appointment this past Thursday at 38 weeks 2 days though....

HB:  130s (BOY)

BP:  110/68

Estimated Fetal Weight:  8 pounds; in the past these predictions have been GROSSLY wrong :)

Fundal Height:  38 Weeks

Strep B: NEGATIVE WOOT!

How's Mommy:  This has been a hard week for some reason; the baby's movements have been sort of painful versus just startling.  HARD kicks in my ribs :)  I like the reminders all is well though.  Sleep has been a challenge too.  It's just that time when you start to get uncomfortable!  I have actually been having Braxton Hicks contractions lately too.

How's Rhema:  About the size of a watermelon--YIKES!

39 weeks, Rhema

04.15.14

39 Weeks, Manna/Caleb

10.31.11

39 Weeks, Blessing/Addison

03.16.10

38 Weeks

2 more weeks to EDD!  That means we will have a new family member in no more than 4 weeks, WOW!

Do not forget to cast your vote on the gender on the poll at the top of the blog.  If you are viewing this on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the page and click "View Web Version" and then you will be able to see the full site and vote!

Well.  Here we are at 38 weeks with Baby Three!

38 weeks with Caleb (baby two)

38 weeks with Addison (baby one)

Comparisons:  I think I am carrying the same as I did with Caleb---very round and pointy.  With Addison being my first, she spread out more.  

I do not go to the doctor until Thursday so not much to update...

How's Rhema:  Rhema is about 6.5 lbs and 19 inches long--everything is hopefully fully developed and we are just packing on pounds. About the size of a leek!

How's Mommy:  Feeling ok.  My reflux seems to be backing off a bit but I am having trouble sleeping a lot.  All comes with the territory.

Movement:  I could just about time Rhema like clock work at 8:30 pm he/she would start going crazy, but lately the movement has been slowing down a bit; probably running out of room a little.  But when Rhema does move its BIG and its CRAZY!

Baby Room:  We are pretty much done and I plan to take and post pictures next week.  All that I have left to do is organize clothes and blankets and make tie backs for the curtains.  

How's Big sis and bro:  Addison still refises to accept this baby might be a boy.  Caleb loves talking to Rhema but I do not think he understand it is a human that will be living with us soon HA!

How's Daddy:  I must be keeping him, up tossing and turning at night because he is TIRED!

The kids wanted in on the photo op this time and I was happy to oblige!