Selah's Birth Story

On August 20, 2019 we welcomed our Selah girl into the world. As with all my kids (except Sadie, sorry Sadie, that story was lost to the Myspace reboot), I want to post about her birth so I can look back on that day whenever I feel the need. 

  Before August 20th I had been trying everything I could to get Selah to come on her own. The 20th was her due date and I had never been pregnant for the full 40 weeks, so I assumed she would make an appearance by herself. Silly me should have known better and known she would not budge. My attempts were futile (as they have been every single time) and my OB and I talked about an induction because of my gestational diabetes (thankfully all diet maintained) which can possibly make the placenta not work properly as it ages. I agreed on the 20th, my due date, but was hopeful that she would still come on her own. At my 39 week appointment I asked to be checked and was only 1.5cm, 75% effaced and at a -3. Those seemed like good numbers to me, so I continued to work towards helping my body start natural labor. Nope, not a thing. I would have contractions for a few hours every few days, they'd peter out, and the next day I'd have nothing and be full of energy.

Finally the 20th arrived.

Taken the night before our induction

I was nervous for this induction, I knew my OB would break my water and start pitocin at the same time so I worried about pain management. Nate reassured me that he would make sure my worries and concerns would be heard and all would be alright. I wanted to try the birthing stool and the squat bar, I wanted to keep the placenta (for encapsulation), I wanted to go without continuous monitoring, I wanted to be able to move/labor as I wanted to, and I wanted to go without pain meds. I also wanted a healthy me and baby and would have gladly thrown all the other wants out the window in favor of a healthy and alive mom and baby. 

As per the usual, Nate and I arrived 10 minutes late for our scheduled induction time 😂. After filling out the obligatory paperwork and waiting for a room for what felt like an eternity, we were taken to our deliver suite. We ended up in a part of L&D I had never been to, a smaller side unit connected to triage that hadn't seen an update since probably the late 90s, early 2000s. I told our nurse that I had never seen this unit before and she said she hadn't either, it was a part of L&D that was rarely used, but the regular L&D unit was so full they had to open that wing up to admit us. Despite the room missing the sweet updates and it being smaller than the other rooms, the coziness suited us and we were just happy to be there.

In our room *derp*

On our way to the hospital

Our nurses, Erin, a new grad, and Lexxi, the preceptor, were amazing. I was apprehensive at first about having a newer nurse, but her newness showed that she had been educated in an approach to labor that fit with all of my wants. She was happy to oblige to my every whim and wanted to see us succeed. There was no eye rolling or setting our wants aside with snide remarks and with her joyful attitude I started to relax and feel like I might just make it through this induction ok. After staring my IV (only 2 pokes this time and no one blew out my vein, HOORAY) my OB, Dr. Rice, arrived to break my water and start pitocin. This was it, no turning back now.

Between 9:30 and 9:45am my waters were broken and pit started. I was checked and informed I was the same as I was at my last appointment, but babies head was in a wonderful position. I figured we would have a baby closer to dinner time, but my OB said she was betting on closer to lunch. I sarcastically agreed with her and she left to start her day at her clinic, assuring me she was a 60 second run away from me. Erin (nurse) talked to me about monitoring and I told her I really wanted to be able to walk and move, she said she had just the thing and introduced me to the Monica system. It is a series of sensors and a wireless adaptor that is able to do continuous monitoring, but completely wireless. She told me that sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, but if it didn't she had another idea (another wireless monitor that requires straps and for me to carry around a bulky adaptor around my shoulders, not ideal, but I had used it before with Brenda). Thankfully, the Monica worked. It was seriously the most amazing piece of equipment. I was able to go on walks around the until and move into any position I wanted, all while they were able to always see the baby. 

Monica System

Shortly after Dr. Rice left, the nurses started setting up for delivery. I internally chuckled at their optimism for a quick delivery since Brenda's induction took FOREVER and I was lacking in the optimism department this time. With Brenda, my midwife started me low and slow on the pitocin and refused to break my waters until I reached 4cm, that took 12 hours. After she broke my water, it was only 5 hours until Brenda arrived, but a grand total of 17 hours of labor, my longest yet. I knew this one would be shorter, but a baby by lunch time? Ha! No way. My shortest labor had been Liam's which was 6 hours and I had been more dilated to begin with. Back to Selah's story though… after the Monica system was placed, Nate and I walked the unit with Nate cracking jokes and keeping the mood light and happy. We walked for close to an hour and returned to our room so I could sit on a birthing ball for a while and order some breakfast. Erin, being the awesome nurse she was, told us how to get food for Nate and myself while only ordering one tray. This way Nate and I were both able to get a meal in and not break into my snacks I had stashed away for when I needed an energy boost from laboring. 

Walking the halls

With our bellies full, the birthing ball properly inflated and contractions steadily coming, we worked through contractions and played the hurry up and wait game. The nurse brought in the birthing stool and squat bar while I paced the room, trying to stay as upright as possible so gravity would help bring baby down. At one point I was getting very sleepy, so I tried to nap a little while Nate applied counter pressure during contractions. This was great and after 30 minutes or so, I was up and ready to get in the fight again. At that point an acupuncturist came into our room and asked if I would like to have a session done. I thought, "why the heck not" and invited her in. I have to say that that was one of the most awesome parts of my labor experience. I got a massage, the acupuncture took the contractions out of my back, and I was able to fully relax into contractions. Highly recommend this service to any other laboring mom's! 

Nap time

After the acupuncturist left, I tried to get more serious contractions going. We started up my labor playlist on Pandora (it's premade and a really good one if you're looking for something simple to listen to, just look up "labor playlist" on Pandora), and I did a lot of bouncing on the ball and walking my room. By 1, things still hadn't really picked up enough for me to think I was anywhere near active labor. It had been three hours, so I asked the nurses to check me, they did and reported I was only 3-4cm. Doctor Rice came in right after and said she expected things to pick up and go quickly from here. Again, I just laughed at her because there was no way this baby was coming before 5, I just knew it. So, the doctor left, but a nurse remained in the room with us. I thought that it was weird that she stayed in the room, I had never had one remain when I was only 3cm, but she wasn't a distraction and I didn't mind her being there. 

At this point I moved off the ball as it really wasn't helping and I was getting tired again from constantly pacing, so I sat on the edge of my bed. With each contraction I would stand up and sway as I hung from nates neck and shoulders. This seemed to do the trick and contractions quickly intensified. The nurses kept asking if I was feeling pressure, but I wasn't sure because I was so focused on getting through the contractions now. At 1:50 I asked to be checked again. I was having to really work through contractions now and was being very vocal (I'm sure I scared the other moms with my ghost moaning) so I knew things were changing, just no pressure yet. 

45 minutes before she arrived, I was clueless haha

The nurses checked me, I was a 6! So in about 45 minutes things had progressed and I was in active labor, hooray! I got back into position on the edge of the bed and almost right away the contractions changed, Nate was having to remind me to not bring my knees together and to stop curling my feet back. I had a series of back to back contractions, but still not the pressure I was waiting for or even the intense pain I had remembered from Brenda's birth. I didn't think I was close to delivery yet, so I keep up with my routine of sitting on the edge of the bed between contractions, but standing and hanging from Nate's neck during them. 

At a little after 2pm I stood up and there it all was, the pressure. Still not the transition pain I had remembered. My body took over and started to push. I let the nurses know and Doctor Rice was there within 60 seconds as she had promised. I crawled up in the bed and asked once more to be checked, yep, complete! Show time! My body took over again and as it brought Selah's head down, the feeling took my breath away so I stopped breathing. Nate had to remind me to breathe as Selah sats went down dangerously low while I held my breath. With his reassuring presence next to me I took great big breaths and everyone asked if I was going to push on my back, that they'd help me into whatever position I wanted to be in. I just held my eyes shut and said "Nope, I'm staying here!" So I did! Doctor Rice said to go for it whenever I had another contraction, right as she said that, another surge came and got babies head out on it's own without me pushing. As the contraction began to wane I thought to myself "I don't want to deal with this pain any more, I want her out," so I actively pushed with the last bit of contraction and out Selah popped at 2:08pm, just 15 minutes after being told I was 6cm (I'm thankful I wasn't in the car or something because Nate would have delivered the baby on the side of the freeway). She came out pink, screaming, and full of energy! She was our first kid who didn't need extensive suctioning after birth and was actively looking for the breast within seconds of being laid on my chest. 

Cutting the cord

Skin to skin with mom

I was able to do skin to skin with her through her first two feeds and we were able to do delayed cord clamping. Nate cut her cord and we sat and marveled at this little one who came into our lives so unexpectedly (still feel like paragard owes me child support). After a long time of us bonding and eating celebration snacks, they took Selah over to the warmer to get her measurements. She was 8lbs, 20inches long with apgars of 9/9. She also had the longest nails I have ever seen and zero vernix, so she was a little overly ripe. 

8 lbs!

"Feed me more!"

Nate was such a super hero that day. He did everything in his power to make me feel safe and secure and never complained about me hanging off him during each contraction. I am so beyond grateful for him and his love! Selah has all her fingers and toes, she's a champion eater, and has had no issues with jaundice (Liam and Brenda were both under lights and had daily heel pokes after they were born). She has been such a blessed addition to our family and I'm so happy to not be pregnant anymore!

Mommy and Selah

Daddy and Selah

View from my hospital room

On our way home!

Brenda's Birth Story

Brenda's birth story:

39 weeks pregnant, April 13, 2016

This whole pregnancy had been completely unremarkable, I only experienced mild morning sickness, I was still able to workout, I had less aches and pains, and overall felt good as the months progressed. Like any pregnant woman though, the last month was out to kill me. I began to swell, I could not longer work out, and walking, sleeping and moving hurt. At 37 weeks I was just done, but baby was not, so there she stayed. Then, 38 weeks came and just as quickly left as once again baby was just not willing to heed to my pleas to leave her hobbit hole. During these two weeks, I experienced contractions that should have led to labor, but nothing did. I was getting to the point where just rolling me around everywhere, or not moving at all sounded easier.

Finally the day of my 39 week appointment came, my legs were so swollen they looked like tree trunks, my tummy was so large that the muscles had begun to split apart, and we had been informed on Monday earlier that week that the baby was close to 9 lbs via u/s. I walked into my midwife's office close to tears, not thrilled at the aspect of going another week or 2. When the midwife saw me, she said without hesitation that we were inducing that day. I had gained 7 lbs in one week and combined with a slightly elevated blood pressure, she said it looked like I was headed towards preeclampsia, so we needed to deliver now for baby and mines safety. I started crying with thanks and told her how miserable I'd been all week. Yes, I had so wanted to go into labor on my own, but at this point I was just done.

 She handed me my induction paperwork and I headed over to Saint Al’s Labor and Delivery (directly across the street). I called my mom and let her know I needed her to take the kids and then called Nate to let him know it was showtime! At this point it was 11:00am on April 14th.

 In L&D, I met my nurse and the midwife on call and after running some labs (and botching an IV),

I was finally put on pitocin at 2:30pm. The midwife wanted to increase it every 30 minutes and start low. I hrumph’d at this because I was used to my previous OB hitting me up hard and fast with pitocin, breaking my water after the IV was started and having a baby in my arms a few hours later, but the midwife wanted to give me a chance at the delivery I had wanted. She was not thrilled with me being induced and kept telling me it would increase my chances of c-section, but we moved forward with the plan nonetheless. Our plan at this point was to have an epidural free birth, but I knew with the pitocin that those plans may change, and assured the nurse and midwife that I was open to pain meds, nitrous oxide, and possibly an Epidural in the end. Nate stayed optimistic about using the things we learned in our childbirth class for an epidural free birth which in turn helped me.

 The baby was too high (-3 station) for the midwife to break my water so Nate helped me with positioning and we worked on getting baby’s head down. Hours went by, we slept when we could, but we were working hard to get baby to come down. At this point the contractions were a minor nuisance, but nothing I couldn't handle and hadn't already experienced while contracting at home. We tried the tub around 10pm and it was great, sadly because I was on pitocin, I had to be on continuous monitoring, but was still able to walk around and be in the tub as I pleased as long as baby cooperated. Of course as with everyone of my children, there was no cooperating, our poor nurse was in and out of our room (all night) trying to find baby and this led to having me leave the tub. Once we were back in our room, Kristin, my midwife on call, showed up to check me and see if we had made progress in getting the head down.

 Joy upon joys! At 12:15am, April 15th, we had finally made enough progress to be considered in active labor (4cm, 80% effaced, and a baby at a 0/+1 station), so my water was broken. Turns out my normal midwife, Rieneke, was right about me having above normal fluids because Kristin awarded me the badge of most fluid she'd ever seen. Seriously...it was like Niagara Falls...eww (Nate would also purposely make me laugh while I was standing or sitting up to make more come out, I'm sure the nurse found us rather obnoxious).

 At this point, Nate and I knew that things would get serious from here (given our past experiences) and were a bit apprehensive about it being so late. Sleep was important and we were already pretty drained, but there was no stopping it now. Soon the contractions picked up and we were moving about the room about every 20 minutes or so changing positions to keep up with pain. I was still doing really well, I had picked up my own breathing pattern and had Nate talking to me (affirmations) through the contractions. We were thankful for our birthing class and used every method taught to us to help get me through contractions. I found that hanging off Nate, squatting, while he supported me was the most relieving, but now at well after 2am with contractions coming every 1.5-2 minutes, I was just too tired to keep standing. I found that sitting in the rooms rocking chair is what helped the most. I could rock as hard and fast or slow as I wanted to through a contraction and focus on something else at the peak. I was repeating the affirmations after Nate now and things were pretty darn uncomfortable. I would fall asleep between contractions and wake to the pain, reach for Nate, and he would begin affirmations as I moaned and repeated after him.

 We did this for a few hours, sleeping for only 2 minutes at a time (at one point I woke up and swore I saw a life size gummy bears walking around the room during a contraction). At about 4:45am I looked up at the clock and thought that I just couldn't do this anymore. Maybe the baby wasn't here yet because I was in too much pain and couldn't relax enough, so I told Nate I'd had enough and it was time for the epidural. I had 3 good contractions right then that double peaked and brought me to tears so I knew I was done. Nate said to just wait for the midwife to check me first and then I could make my final decision. At 5:00am, the nurse and midwife both came in and I told them I wanted to be checked. I wasn't feeling any of my transitions symptoms, the pitocin had been turned down and nearly off because I was doing well on my own, but I felt like there hadn't been enough progress made. The midwife agreed, the nurse agreed that none of my signs pointed to baby anytime soon, and so they helped me stand from the rocking chair so I could take two steps over to the corner of the bed.

 As I stood I was rocked with the biggest contraction yet and called Nate to me so I could hang off of him. Then, that's when I felt her head come down. I managed to get out “HER HEAD!” before the urge to push took over. The nurse started throwing chux and towels and all things soft on the floor as I was still standing and there was no going to the bed now. The midwife was down on her knees in a flash and told me not to push if I could help it (ha-ha) while she helped my cervix open that last little bit. I don't remember much about the pain here, just that I was internally telling myself I could have her out in 2 to 3 pushes, that I was a good pusher, hang in there...within two contraction and the midwife letting my body take the lead, I indeed had Brenda out within 2-3 pushes, it was now 5:11am. Nate was a super hero and kept a hold of me the whole time, watching from quite a different angle than he's used to of one of our children being born.

Brenda Lorrayne Saunders

 After she was out, they sat me back in the rocking chair so I could hold Brenda, but I had pushed her out so quick that she was still full of fluid and wouldn't cry. Another nurse had now joined us and took her to quickly suction her out as I was escorted to the bed for the rest of the delivery. Nate was by Brenda’s side giving her a stern talking to so she would breathe (what do you know, daddy’s voice really does get a baby to take a breath, thank you Kyndal). Kristin kept telling me how awesome I had done, that I had pushed a 9lbs12oz baby out, with no tearing whatsoever while standing and squatting like a cave woman (ladies, do not be intimidated by the squat bar! Thank you heavy lifting lol). I was so exhausted at this point that I almost immediately started to fall asleep. After a few short minutes, the placenta was delivered, Brenda was breathing and layed on my chest for skin to skin and I was able to finally fall asleep. They did Brenda's exam while she slept on my chest and I drooled into REM. Nate was finally able to rest now with us and we happily slept until shift change.

 I am happy she is here, I'm happy to no longer be pregnant, and happy that I can now spend all my energy on raising my beautiful little family!!

Brenda Lorrayne Saunders 

April 15, 2016

 9lbs12oz

 22 inches long

Cousin Brenda holding baby Brenda

Sadie and her baby sister!

In the NICU

Despite not having Gestational Diabetes, Brenda still had sugar issues and had to spend about 48 hours in the NICU.

Adorable chubby face.

We had just received word that she would indeed be discharged with me and coming home with us!

Going home!

Home!

Liam excitingly greeting his sister, I couldn't get him to sit still.

Happy to be home!

Welcome little Liam

Right before Christmas break on November 29, 2012, our family welcomed a second little boy into the family.  Our little Liam was born!  Here is his story;

At 34 weeks pregnant, I went to work as usual, upon my arrival I was told I was going to sit with a patient.  I had been sitting an awful lot lately, but the charge felt it was better for me to be off my feet than running around the busy unit.  Long story short, this was the patient from hell and I ended up taking a hit to the stomach and going to the ER and later admitted to L&D because of contractions.  I was told by my doctor that because of this we should probably expect Liam early, around 36-37 weeks.  He was ok at the time and I was released the next day, so we decided we should prepare our home for a baby.  My doctor jinxed me.  Liam didn't make his arrival until 39 weeks and that was with me giving him an eviction notice. 2 weeks prior to his arrival, I was trying every at home remedy there was to get that kid out, and nothing! I opted for an induction at 39 weeks because, well, lets be honest, I'm impatient and I wanted to see my baby.

The night before my induction I prayed that we wouldn't have to wait and wait to come in to get started on pitocin like we did with John.  I was set for a 7am induction and Dr. Rice told me to just arrive there ten til unless the charge nurse called me.  Thankfully my prayers were heard and we were able to get a room upon our arrival.

I was hooked up to monitors and the nurse did the normal run through (gown, urine,and IV).  My nurse was beyond amazing! She got my IV in on the first try and kept the mood light and happy in the room.  She asked what my birthing plan was and I laughed at her.  I informed her, there was no plan other than get baby out, that just so happened to be her favorite kind of plan so our day was set.  At 8am I was started on pitocin and things on the monitor looked good, I was even contracting on my own.  Cindy, my nurse, was saying that she had a feeling things would go fast.

At 9am, Dr, Rice came in and broke my waters.  William was still floating and hadn't fully engaged yet so it took her a while to break my waters and out of all 3 times I've given birth, this time getting my waters broken hurt.  Eventually she got it broken and agreed with my nurse, everyone was saying by lunch time.  So I cheerfully went about my morning browsing TV, walking around the room, and bouncing on the ball.

Around 9:30 the nurse noticed that the monitors weren't picking up Liam's  HR any more so I was given in internal monitor.  The prop is placed lightly into the babies scalp and usually stays there until birth.  This gives an accurate reading of the heart without having to follow baby around.  Later around 11, I opted for an epidural as breathing through the contractions was no longer possible. My anesthesiologist was very nice and because of my history of spinal headaches, he went nice and slow in putting the epidural it.  Because he was going so slow, it took him 3 tries to get it in, yeah...awesome.  But as soon as it was truly in, the world was awesome again.

At 1 they checked me and I was only a 6.  Nurses were debating on whether they should up the pitocin or not when I told them I was having trouble breathing and if my epidural could be turned down.  The resource nurse kinda laughed at me and said turning it down was a bad idea and wouldn't help me progress.  My nurse on the other hand, said she's call anesthesia and have him reassess me.  He turned it down by 60% and within 10 minutes I was able to take deeper breaths again and move on my own. at 2 my nurse came into prepare the room and asked how my epi was now.  I showed her I was able to move again and she said that if I felt any changes to let her know and she would check me.

At this point I told a little white lie.  I wanted her to check me, so I told her I was feeling pressure.  So she gave me a quick check and to our surprise, I was 9 cm.  She then walked from one end of the room to the other just to grab something and I told her this time I really DID feel a lot of pressure, BAM 10 cm in less than 20 seconds.  Cindy called Dr. Rice and told me not to push until she got there, which was fine as I didn't feel the need to push, but the labor shakes started. Dr. Rice was there with in 5 minutes and 2 pushes later, William Charles Saunders came into the world, screaming his little head off.

He was 8lbs 5.8oz and 22 1/4in long.  He is perfect!  He didn't cry for long and was our only baby who didn't need extensive sucksoning after birth.  He has been a wonderful blessing and addition to our family and we couldn't imagine life without him now.

"We needed a good day"

Life has been hectic lately.  There always seems to be a never ending list of chores, someone crying to comfort, and home work to accomplish.  Last month we were able to take time from our busy schedule and attend Sam and Cortney's wedding down in Utah.  While there we went to temple square and  did the mormon tourist thing.  It was nice to feel the peace surrounding the Christus and how excited the kids were to see it.  We walked around a bit more and realized that we left our recommends in Boise. Makes that kind of hard to attend a Temple wedding, but after some frantic calls to our bishop, things were worked out and we got to go to the ceremony.  It was beautiful! Then came pictures and then came the great melting of the pregnant lady.  I. Was. Dying.  The heat was awful...well, not the heat alone, but the humidity on top of it had me melting faster than ice in hell.  Overall it was great, we got to see family and good friends and be part of Sam and Cortney's new life together.  Congrats to them! We are currently taking bets on how soon they get pregnant ;-)
 

  Soon after we got home, School started.  I'm forever doing pre-req's for the nursing program and it's starting the wear on me.  But I will stick with it and eventually one day will reach my goal (see kids, you should stay in school!).  More exciting than me starting school was little miss Sadie started Kindergarten! I have never seen a child more excited about school.  She comes home every day beaming from ear to ear ready to tell me what exciting things she learned that day.  She loves her teacher and wishes she had school on the weekends too.  I can't believe my little one is growing up so fast.

 Life just keeps speeding by and it feels like I'm forever running to keep up.  Finances have been hard lately as I took a cut in hours and Nate took a little cut in pay by going to day shift.  But with my cut in hours and his new day shift we are home more often together and with the kids, so it has been worth it.  We will just keep trucking along and trusting in the Lord.  Today though has been a much needed good day.  I don't feel so exhausted from being pregnant, our video card came in the mail, so now we can get the computer running again, and we got some money back from the hospital (love when that happens).  As Nate told me earlier, "we needed a good day!"  So I will give my thanks for a non stressful, laid back, sun shinning day and children who are quietly playing as I attempt to do my math homework...

My baby is 5!

I can't believe time has rushed me by.  Sadie is now 5!  We had a combined birthday party with her cousin Ella a week ago and the girls were in 7th heaven.  Still can't believe she starts school in just a few short weeks.  I love you miss Sadie Ann, and so proud to be your mommy! P.S. Thanks Grandma Su for making their cake, it was awesome as usual!