tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64204981803631263192024-03-14T00:31:25.768-06:00A Night Out with the Davis'Just like the lotus we too have the ability to rise from the mud, bloom out of the darkness and radiate into the world.Sarah Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14082693026140177091noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6420498180363126319.post-86718299624641306802018-11-19T13:34:00.002-07:002020-01-16T16:24:49.295-07:00Lotus Flower ArrivalIt has been a year since I gave birth to the tiniest and mightiest piece of my heart. I don't want to completely forget the details of that moment leading up to his birth, so here goes.<br />
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By August 12th I was sitting at a lovely almost 4 cm dilated and had spent a good chunk of that morning at the hospital laboring through contractions. I could have sworn that this was it and we would be having our baby. By mid-afternoon, the contractions had slowed down to almost a dead stop. I sat in the car while my husband went inside to grab the kids; I had a good cry while he did that. I felt a little defeated since we were so close to being admitted. The nurse said if I dilated just a little bit more, we are talking a 1/2 cm more they would have admitted me. The nurse did check me and was extra rough so without saying she was stripping my membranes I knew what she was trying to do. We went home and just hung out and enjoyed what felt like was the last week of pregnancy.</div>
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I had tried everything you could think of to jump start labor; everything except the dreaded castor oil. On Monday, we had a nice dinner planned at home and I decided to try just a little bit of the castor oil with dinner. The kids were eating and I realized that I was starting to get a rhythm with contractions happening. I sat on my ball at the kitchen table while the kids ate and bounced. I realized that I was starting to have to get in the zone and not focus on the kids or anything but what was happening. The girls were so sweet and were playing with my hair and tickling my neck and back. I think at this point I started to be more vocal during these waves. My husband rushed the kids to get in bed and although I was a little in denial of it being "go time" my husband was on a different page and wanted to go in to be checked.</div>
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I don't remember if I said to call or if my husband just made the call, but my mother-in-law was called to come to watch the kids just in case. At this point, I remember needing to sway back and forth and the waves were more cramp-like. I was standing but leaned over the back of the couch as I swayed my hips back and forth. It didn't hurt so much but I just kept getting the urge like I needed to keep moving. I laugh at myself for thinking that this wasn't actual labor but I had gone in multiple times hoping that this was it and to be turned away.</div>
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Once we got in the car I kept trying to get comfortable and kept trying to zone out during the waves. We arrived at the hospital and I told my husband that I may actually need a wheelchair to get there this time. Normally, I've just walked right up and stopped when I needed to. The waves were about 3-ish minutes apart at this point. I could still handle things fine. Honestly, I thought they would turn us away again.</div>
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They got me hooked up and checked in and then they checked me; I was at a 6. I was a 4 just 2 days prior. I thought for sure they would admit me being that dilated but they still wanted to do the one hour test. I walked, I couldn't get comfortable and then walked more. I stayed in our room because of the urge to use the bathroom so frequently. One of the last times I lost more of the plug and had more "show." You guys I was so excited to see all of that, as nasty as it was. When that happened I also got nervous because I knew it was getting closer and we weren't going to be leaving.</div>
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I started feeling some intense pressure and my hips were starting to get very achy. They came in and checked me at that hour mark and I was at a 7!! We were staying to have a baby. Even though I always am so excited for that moment when they say you are having a baby today, I also get completely sad and want to leave. Having a baby is amazing and beautiful but also a daunting task. Once he is here, he isn't protected inside the womb anymore. I get emotional about it and this time around I was going to be bringing this little boy home with me.<br />
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When I found I was pregnant I really thought about doing this unmedicated and when they said I was at a 7, I really thought about it. I thought this could be so quick and he could be here so soon. You see I generally stall at a 6 and then once I get past that point, I have a baby within the hour. I honestly siked myself out of it and requested to have the epidural. I don't know how soon he would have arrived if I had just taken the waves in and let it happen but I didn't. Honestly, the contractions were still doable. I could breathe through them and still move freely. I wasn't having that dancing out of my body feeling yet, I get to a point where I feel a bit out of control and just need something to help relax me.<br />
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So, I got the epidural around 11 or so. We had called all the people we needed to inform them we were staying and going to have a baby. I called, or maybe I text our birth photographer to tell her to come now. She was amazing and waited, and waited, and waited some more with us. We ended up sending her home around 6:30-7 am to help with her kids. I was still nowhere close to having a baby, but I knew if we sent everyone home that we would be having a baby when everyone was gone. During this time I also sent my husband home to help with the kids. My mother-in-law stayed with our kids during the night but she had to work the next morning. Sterling went home to feed the kids breakfast and relieve my mil. My father-in-law got there just in time and I told Sterling he needed to come back to the hospital asap. I text the photographer the same.<br />
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You see while we had waited from 11 pm the night before to the point of sending everyone home; I wish I could say I was sleeping peacefully but I did not. They were rolling me from side to side every 30 minutes with a huge "peanut" between my legs. This sweet boy didn't want to engage and move down. The doctor would check and I made very slow progress but he was still high up and floating with his hand by his head. Since his hand stayed by his head and him floating they didn't want to break my water yet. There could be a chance of prolapsed cord and his hand coming first. So they rolled me side to side for hours, eventually the propped pillows under my upper thighs and basically had me in a sitting position. This was very interesting seeing how I had an epidural and was completely numb from my waist down. Once I was "sitting up" it was a different ballpark. I knew I was numb but I could feel so many waves and so much more pressure. I could feel him moving down with each contraction. At this point, I was a bit mad I couldn't just move around since I felt the majority of everything going on. I was probably in this sitting position for a couple of hours before I felt it was time.<br />
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I called everyone back to the room and told them I kept thinking it was time. They would check me and tell me not yet. There was just a lip that needed to go before I was complete. They left and I swear as soon as they did I felt it. The feeling of pushing and it being time. My sweet OB had gone to the other hospital to do a couple procedures and wasn't going to make it in time. I started to panic because she has delivered all but one of my births.<br />
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They came in and sure enough, I was complete and the room instantly changed. The hustle and bustle of everyone and everything was happening. They moved me to a lying position to prepare me to push my baby earth side. The photographer had made it just in time and my sweet husband was by me. The doctor wanted to do a practice push and quickly realized I don't need to practice pushing.<br />
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One nurse held one leg and my husband held onto my other leg. I pushed through maybe 3 contractions and he was born. I remember reaching down and I just wanted to hold him. I didn't want to wait for them to clean him off or suction him. I just wanted him on my chest. I don't normally do that but with the last two deliveries, it wasn't about me. I believe I got to hold him for a while before they checked his stats. If you are ever wondering about having a photographer there to capture those very personal and vulnerable moments; do it! I love that the first sniff of his head, our first meeting and so much more is forever captured.<br />
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I was bawling at this point, there is just something about giving birth. The fresh, perfect, and tiny human that I just delivered. That my husband and I created. I prayed for this little boy and cried for this little boy for years and it was finally here. He was finally here. That moment was absolutely perfect! He was perfect! Watching my husband become a dad again, a melting puddle of happiness.<br />
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I may not remember every little detail but I forever have ingrained the most important moments. Being able to become a mom again and to feel this immense love for this baby. Witnessing my husband holding our son and just crying. There were a lot of happy tears that day! It was just beautiful! </div>
Sarah Annhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14082693026140177091noreply@blogger.com2