Excited to Share my Experience of Keira's Birth

They say third times a charm but boy was this pregnancy and delivery so different in every way from that of my prior two, and charm isn't quite the word I'd use to describe it. That said, I did have a relatively easy pregnancy despite a few weeks of nausea, and a fast delivery compared to most.  Keira joined us earth side in a fast and furious manner but in the most beautiful way. I feel so blessed to have this sweet girl in our lives. God honored us by giving her to us so that we may care for and raise her into the wonderful person she is destined to be. 

My due date was November 22, 2018. Just so happens to be Thanksgiving day.  About 3 weeks prior to Thanksgiving, at one of my weekly checkups, I asked my Doctor if he was planning on staying in town for Thanksgiving. To my shock he replied no, he was going to be gone the entire week of Thanksgiving. Now, it wasn't the end of the world, as he has other wonderful doctors in his practice group but as you near delivery and are comfortable and close with your doctor who is familiar with your pregnancy and you personally, you really want him to be the one that delivers your baby. 

No sooner did he say he was going to be gone before he said we will just schedule to induce me one week early.  Within an hour I was confirmed to check into the hospital at 5am on November 15th.  But of course, he planned to see me the following week when he would check me to see progress towards my body being ready for delivery. 

Fast forward a week and I was 1.5-2 cm dilated and 50% effaced.  Not enough but we still had a week.  Then a day or two later I lost my mucas plug which I had never previously noticed with either of the boys. I also had my bloody show at this point so I went into panic mode that I needed to get my life in order and get ready for this baby. I did not have my bags packed, I did not have everything lined up for the boys care, I hadn't purchased and delivered the Thanksgiving party items to Colton's school etc.  The list was long and I was starting to sweat.  Mind you, this is all days before Bronson's birthday on the 10th of November and I really wanted to be able to celebrate him before all the craziness of a new baby entered our lives.  Then, when one day turned into two, turned into several and she hadn't yet arrived so, I started breathing easier.  

On the 12th I went in for another check up.  Unfortunately, after my doctor checked me I had not made any additional progress.  At this point he said he wanted me to go into the hospital on the night of the 14th for cervidil, something I had never really heard of prior to this pregnancy and really knew little about other than a few horror stories.  My doctor assured me this was the right path to getting everything prepared for delivery and thus, we arrived at the hospital at 8pm on the 14th. 

We quickly got checked in and started the cervidil at just after 10.  It's a small applicator with a lubricant on the end that mimics the bodies natural ability to thin the cervix.  The process is 12 hours long with the first hour or so required to be on complete bed rest to allow the medication to not only do its work but to ensure the applicator doesn't move away from behind the cervix. By 1am I was already feeling strong contractions such that the nurse started me on an IV to help slow and space out the contractions in order to allow the cervidil time to thin my cervix.  The IV helped and I was able to sleep from 1-3am.  Then from 3 until 6am I was suffering through some strong and close contractions.  I wanted Kevin to have a chance to get as much sleep as possible and I knew that if the nurse checked me for sufficient progress she would have to remove the applicator.  If I hadn't made enough progress we would have to start the whole process again and I didn't want to be there longer than necessary. So I suffered in silence until I could bare no more. 

Finally at 6am I was in SO much pain I needed her to check me and see if I was far enough along to get an epidural.  When she checked I was 5cm dilated and 80% effaced.  She called my doctor to see if he wanted to check me, start on pitocin and/or break my water. He told the nurse he would come in to check me and break my water and that he would be there at 7am.  I was cleared for an epidural and my 6:30 the anesthesiologist was in giving me the shot.  Almost instantly I could feel the relief on one side but just as instantly, I could then feel all the contractions and paid centralized in one small area on my lower left side of my stomach.  The paid was intense to say the least.  The nurse rolled me onto one side in hopes of letting gravity help in moving the medicine through me faster but by 6:45 it was clear that no numbness was coming my way and I was in PAIN.  9/10 level pain.  Curled up in the fetal position and crying type of pain.  The nurse called the anesthesiologist to come back in.  We were hoping to catch him before 7:30 C-sections.  

My doctor arrived at 7 but seeing me in my state of pain and knowing the anesthesiologist was coming back said he would wait to check me.  I got a little more medicine just after 7 and thinking that we had some time and that the doctor was only going to break my water the nurse told Kevin he would be fine leaving the room to get some coffee.  At this point the room was fairly full with various nurses prepping to help the doctor, me and the baby. When the doctor came in to check me and break my water he instantly said "oh, we're about to have a baby". I had quickly gone from 5cm to 10cm dilated and from 80% to 100% effaced which explained my severe pain in just a matter of 15 minutes. My doctor quickly asked where Kevin was and the nurse handed me my phone saying call him because we're about to have a baby.  

Minutes later and without coffee in hand, Kevin was back in the room.  My water was broken and with the very next contraction I started pushing. I pushed 3 times at which point I could see her head and the doctor suctioning her nose and mouth.  With one last and very small push she was out and in my arms.  Her tiny fingers and tiny toes were beyond perfect.  She had just a dusting of dark brown hair and these pretty blue eyes.  I couldn't how tiny she was. It all happened so fast but was in no way a blur.  I was able to soak it all in. To experience it like I hadn't quite with either of the boys.  I was much more present probably because of experience and probably because I knew this was never going to happen again. 

Unfortunately, this time around the anesthesia made me terribly sick and I threw up several times including a few hours later after I thought I was fine and had just eaten breakfast.  My parents made it into town and were able to come see us in the delivery room before being transferred to a recovery room.  To say they were excited for a granddaughter would be an understatement.  She, Kevin and I spent the night in hospital where they did all their tests on her and I, gave her a sponge bath and then we were cleared to go.  I've never been one who wanted to linger in the hospital. I much prefer the comfort of home and not having to be woken up every couple of hours to have my blood pressure monitored.  I especially wanted to get home to see the boys and introduce them to their new sister.  I had hoped and planned for them to come to the hospital but, to my surprise and bad luck, the hospital had deemed the 15th the start of flu season thus, prohibiting any kids from coming in the maternity ward, even family.  

Outfit | Headband 

Outfit | Carseat  

Carseat 

Jammies are Little Sleepies

Crib | Dress | Sign is Rustic Eve | Mural is Minnie & Me Interiors

Crib

Swaddle is Beluga Baby | Handband is Think Pink

I can't believe it has already been three months and that she has seamlessly woven herself into our heart. I already can't remember what life was like without her and I don't ever want to.  I am so glad I took notes at the hospital about what transpired during her birth because days turn into weeks that turn into years and you forget the small things.  Now I have this constant record of one of my favorite days.

XOXO,
Rema