Our Birth Story

(This may be a little graphic)

      After an eventful Monday, we had a rather relaxing Tuesday. Mom and I laid around the house in our normal routine - breakfast, catching up on shows, lunch, nap, reading and crafting and then welcoming Alan home to dinner. It was a relatively uneventful day. No contractions and just feeling big! Alan had work to do from home, so he was set up in the dining room and Mom and I decided to hit the sack right before 11 pm. Went to bed, got up my 4 times in 8 minutes to use the bathroom. The fourth time, I felt a pop and gush. "Okay, what just happened? ALAN!!!! ALAN!!!" He came running and I began crying…."My water broke!" No question, it was definitely like in the movies! He yelled for Mom and I kept crying. This wasn't supposed to be happening right now. I had been good on my bed rest today and they were supposed to "cook" for 2 more weeks!! It was the plan! I wasn't ready. As I sobbed, Alan tried to calm me down in the midst of the franticness of getting everything in the car (thankfully it was all packed in the house). I was terrified.

     We called the doctor and headed to the hospital. Within minutes of arriving at the hospital, we were checked and I had dilated in 1 day to 2 cm and 50% effaced. Thankfully I wasn't having consistent contractions at that point, but it was admission for me. By Wednesday morning, I began having contractions. When you have your water break before 34 weeks, they try to keep you undelivered until the 34 week mark, so that was the original plan. They pumped me with fluids just in case I was dehydrated causing contractions, I wasn't allowed even Tylenol so they could monitor my "true pain" of contractions, and I was constrained to bed rest. (I found out I am a pansy and I wouldn't be able to truly handle natural labor (so much respect for those of you that do!)). They finally decided to check me at 10 AM when the fluids seemed to be only making the contractions worse. I was 4 cm and fully effaced, Baby A was deep in my pelvis and his head was ready to be delivered. Just to make sure that was true though because Baby A's head was so so low they couldn't quite get to my cervix, I was checked by 4 separate people…..let's just say that isn't a pleasure! My OB was called, we called Mom and Dad (who had frantically driven through the night to be here), and Alan's dad to let them know we were delivering.

       Because Ayden was breach, the plan was for a c-section. We were rushed to the OR (which I was really impressed with that whole process), except we couldn't wait 5 minutes for my parents to get there. Spinal was performed which is so weird feeling, and we got started. Zachary Barrett was born quickly at 10:40 AM and we heard him cry which warmed my heart. He immediately after that had some trouble breathing, though, so they immediately put him on CPAP. He was a whopping 5 lbs 2 oz and 19 inches long, which is great for 32 weeks gestation! Now was my feisty child. His amniotic fluid was a sight to see, I was told, when it was "popped" and the attempt to turn him was made. He decided he didn't want to turn easy and just made it to transverse at first. He kept sticking his little arm out and the doctor had to keep sticking it back in. I don't know how Alan watched all of this, by the way. At about that time, the laborist was called for because an extra set of hands was needed. Ayden decided he wanted to get wedged in between the two placentas. It was quite a frantic time, I prayed and Alan said it seemed like forever before they got a handle on it. Thankfully, he made it out kinda quickly after that and at 10:43 Ayden Jackson was born into this world with his little scream! He weighed in at 4 lbs 5 oz and was 17.5 inches long.  He wasn't originally placed on CPAP, but once they were in the NICU, he decided to act up, so they placed him on it as well.

        Alan was able to go with them straight to the NICU while I was finished up. When rolled out of the OR, it was amazing at the amount of family and friends waiting on us to deliver. The love abounded! Our little bundles came earlier than expected, but it is definitely a blessing. Thankfully they had no other problems other than breathing and eating, we are truly blessed! Now to live the life of a NICU Mom and Dad. That will be posted on later.