Addison’s Birth Story–Part 1

Our Addie girl is one month old! I couldn’t decide if I wanted to share her birth story or not, but after receiving our gorgeous photos from Janae Kristin Photography, there was no more back and forth. I had to share! When I was pregnant, I adored reading birth stories. Plus I haven’t had the chance to write it down on paper (I’ve just been keeping notes in my phone!) so I figured it would be good to have her story recorded. There were so many photos (and this is majorly narrowing it down!) so there may be more than one post. Bear with me. 😉

P.S. If you’re ever contemplating hiring a birth photographer, just do it! We loved having Janae there to capture those first, priceless moments. All photos in this post (minus the first three) are from Janae!

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At our 37 week appointment, we had our final ultrasound. Two weeks prior, we learned that Addie seemed to be measuring small, so they wanted to check her progress again. Thankfully she was growing (yay!) but she still was measuring two weeks small. They were slightly concerned that she wasn’t getting enough nutrients, so we set an induction date for 39 weeks. My fam (minus Erin who was out of town) arrived the evening before – just in time for Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A. Yes, my last night of being pregnant I dressed up like a cow! Anything for free food! 😉

I tossed and turned most of the night (hello, anticipation!) and popped out of bed as my alarm went off. One last bump picture, a kiss (or two, or five) for a sleeping Ellie girl, and few excited, nervous tears in my eyes, we loaded up the car and headed off to the hospital. The nervousness started to fade the closer we got to the hospital and pure excitement set in. We checked in around six and got settled in our room. I sent out a picture to the fam, then got hooked up to my IV and monitors. I nicknamed one of my nurses IV Queen, because it only took her ONE TRY to get that thing in. One time! (With Ellie it took three nurses and five tries, ouch!)

Around 8 am, the nurses came in to check me and I was dilated to a 2.5! (The weeks previous I hadn’t even been dilated to a 1.) Pitocin was started and at 8:30 the anesthesiologist came in with an epidural. I had such an enjoyable experience when Ellie was born, and was totally happy to get an epidural again. (I even sneaked a peek at the needles he used, wow!) At 8:45 my doctor came in to break my water and now we were set. Let the games begin!

By 10 am, I was 3.5 cm dilated and 90% effaced. Brian and I spent the morning relaxing, munching on ice chips, and simultaneously watching a TV show and the contraction monitor. My epidural was working fabulously, I could still move my legs and change positions somewhat easily, I just didn’t feel the pain of each contraction. Being able to move was a blessing as I had to change positions frequently. Just like with Ellie, Addie’s heart rate dropped with each contraction. The nurses had to add a bit more fluid back in, I got to wear the super awesome oxygen mask, and we finally found a position that Addie liked on my right side. (I preferred sleeping on that side most of my pregnancy, too!) Since I hadn’t slept much the night before, I totally dozed in and out all morning long.

By 11 am, I had progressed to a 6, and by 11:30 am I was at a 7. The nurses starting getting the room prepped and ready and said they’d be back in an hour to see if I had progressed any more. As soon as they left, I started feeling an increased amount of pressure. I was really awake now! And feeling quite ready to push. After each contraction, I kept telling Brian “Well, maybe I should call the nurses in. I’ll wait it out just one more.” The pressure was getting stronger and stronger, so just about to really call the nurses, they walked right in. A quick check confirmed that baby girl was indeed ready! As in, really ready. Nurses and techs and doctors quickly started filling the room. At 12:11 I texted my mom “It’s go time!” and within a few minutes, the pushing began.

After the first contraction and push, Addie’s heart rate dropped significantly. My doctor told me we had to get her out on the next one. I was stopped halfway through the next contraction for a quick episiotomy, and on the next set of pushes at 12:24 she was out! Well, as out as she could be. Her umbilical cord was incredibly short (you can see in the photo, that was about as far as she could go without cutting the cord!)

The nurses had previously asked me if I wanted Addie on my chest as soon as she was born and of course I said YES, barring any complications. Addie came out pretty purple and quiet, so instead she was immediately rushed over to the respiratory therapist. After what seemed like forever, I finally heard her sweet little cry! She wasn’t very loud and it didn’t last for long, but oh how wonderful it felt to hear her sweet little voice!

After she started getting some good color in her, she was weighed, measured, and swaddled. She came in weighing 6 lbs 11 oz and measuring 20.5 inches long. I was expecting her to be super teeny since they told me she was measuring two weeks small, but she came in at a perfect healthy size. While she was being passed around the room, I was arching my back, trying to get a good look at her, all while attempting to hold still so I could get all stitched up. 😉 Brian tenderly watched over our little girl. I couldn’t wipe the cheesy smile off my face, she was finally here!

And then, FINALLY, the nurses passed her over to me. After waiting nine months for this little one (and trying for so long to get pregnant with her in the first place) I finally had her snuggled in my arms. PURE JOY!

As soon as she was safely snuggled in my arms, she was ready to eat! Since day one, she’s been eating like a champ. When Ellie was born, I remember feeling like I had no idea what I was doing. This time around, I felt a little more prepared and it all felt so natural. (Plus, it probably helped that I wasn’t so stressed out!)

After getting Addie measured and weighed, getting stitched up, breastfeeding, and all the other post birth hoopla, I realized TWO HOURS had gone by (and we had left our families hanging with “It’s go time!” texts!) Oops. Sorry, guys! 🙂 We sent out a few quick snapshots from our phones, and I called my mom to tell them to come meet baby Addie!

…to be continued!