She's Here!!

Announcing

Avery Thais Moore

born August 26th, 2009

1:25 pm

6 lbs 13 oz

21 inches

I figured I give the pictures first and the details after, so enjoy the pictures and if you don't want the details, stop reading...

Keara and Taryn got to meet her last night. They were SO cute! Keara could not get enough of her and wouldn't let anyone else hold her. She was in heaven. Taryn was excited too, but couldn't sit still long enough to enjoy her...yet.
I look a lot worse than I felt...

Okay, so the details. On Tuesday night, I was hurting so much in my back and pelvis and I knew I needed to have my membranes stripped on Thursday but I didn't really want to do it. So, on Tuesday night, I hopped on our treadmill and walked at 3 mph for 3/4 of a mile...not a lot, but enough to make me sweat like crazy in this heat! Wednesday was my due date and when I woke up, I was having mild contractions every once in a while. I said a prayer that the baby come because I didn't know if I could physically handle many more days but I didn't want to have my membranes stripped. So my prayer was "please let these contractions continue, let them come fast, and let me know when I need to go to the hospital."

The girls and I showered, got dressed, and went downstairs for breakfast. The contractions continued and were getting a lot stronger and more intense, plus they were lasting 60-90 seconds, but I couldn't time them because they were so sporatic. I'd have one and go to time it, but then I wouldn't have another for 20 minutes. So I'd put the timer down and I'd have another one 8 minutes later. So I'd pick up the timer again and would wait and wait and give up before another would come. I found if I was standing, they would come quickly, but if I was sitting, they would space out substantially.

The girls had woken up really early yesterday morning, so they were cranky and tired and I started having a hard time entertaining them and thinking about the contractions, hoping they would stay and dealing with the increasing intensity. I emailed Braden at 8:30 to tell him "today might be the day" but I couldn't be sure because I couldn't time the contractions. My sister in law called around that same time to ask if we were going to playgroup. Once Keara heard there was an option to go swimming, she wouldn't stop asking about it for the next hour and a half until it started at 10.

By that time, the contractions were stronger, but still no more regular, especially if I was sitting or lying down. So we prayed to know if it was a wise decision to swim and decided there were too many pros for going. a) it would entertain the girls, b) it would feel good to be in water, c) if the contractions went away, at least we spent time doing something, d) it would put me 10 minutes closer to the hospital, and e) it was with my sister in law who could then take the kids if I need to go to the hospital.

We got to the swimming pool (at a member of my SIL's ward's house) around 10:25. It was SO great to swim! Not only did the girls have a GrEaT time, but it also felt great in the water. We were there about an hour and I only had 3 contractions while in the water. So like 20 minutes apart. Not a big deal. We got out of the water, walked to the car, got the girls strapped, and headed over to my SIL's house, which was about 2 minutes away. As we approached the main road, I suddenly had a really strong, long, hard contraction. The hardest yet. I had to stop the car because it was so intense.

When we got to my SIL's house, again walking and standing would make them come a lot closer than sitting, but at this point, they were coming every 2 minutes or so. I'd have about 30 seconds in between to walk a little or get something for the girls. At about 11:45, I decided I need to get to the hospital. So I called Braden who had carpooled to work to let him know he needed to find a ride to the hospital. I decided to drive myself to the hospital because we needed to have a car there since Braden wouldn't have his. So I got in the car, also knowing the contractions would slow down while I was sitting.

In the 20 or so minutes it took to get to the hospital, I had 4 contractions. Fortunately 3 of them came at red lights. I got to the hospital at about 12:15 and went to registration. Braden arrived about 5 minutes after me. I told the lady "I think I'm in labor." She asked how close together my contractions were but since I hadn't timed a single one, I told her I didn't know. I had a few in her office so she estimated them at a few minutes apart. They were getting stronger and I was so grateful that Braden was there. His presence and help was so comforting and helpful. He gets better at this each time.

They didn't have a triage room available, so we were in registration for about 20 minutes. Finally, they got up into triage and the nurse checked me. I was hoping to be at least a 5 (I was a 6-7 with Keara and a 7-8 with Taryn upon arrival) but also knew I was progressing too fast for the antibiotics to take effect. Well, I ended up being 8 cm dilated, 100% effaced, and the baby was at +1 station. I was THRILLED to hear how progressed I was but also SHOCKED because my first hard contraction had come only 40 minutes before and here we were, about to deliver.

They got the IV in for the antibiotic and took us to a labor/delivery room. It was the strangest, most cramped, dungeon-like room I'd ever seen! It was almost comical. My doctor came in (so comforting to see him walk in the door) and checked me. I was still at an 8. He broke my water...which I am TOTALLY good with because it just speeds things up. Then he left to finish his lunch. The next contraction was incredibly powerful and much harder than all the previous ones, thanks to the water being broken. After a few more contractions, my nurse told me to tell her when I wanted her to check me again. I told her, let's wait until the next one. But the next one wasn't that intense, so we waited for the next one. She checked me and I was still an 8. I told Braden, "soon the contractions are going to lift me off the bed as I feel the need to push."

Sure enough, the next contraction, I felt the baby descending and the urge to push begin. She checked me in the middle of the next contraction and I was a 10 and the baby was very low. So they brought my doctor back in, got set up, got the mirror for me, and two more contractions later, our baby was born. She was born at 1:25, just an hour and 10 minutes after walking into the hospital. She was tiny and beautiful and perfect. Just what we prayed for.

I obviously didn't get 4 hours of antibiotics before she was born, so we need to stay here for 48 hours so she can be monitored. But the likelihood of anything being wrong is extremely low, so we're just waiting for tomorrow afternoon when we can go home. I'm grateful, though, for the awareness I had because of the group B strep because it made me leave for the hospital immediately. Any later, and I might have had her at home...or without Braden. I'm grateful we made it when we did.

We've had quite a few visitors, which has been a lot of fun. Keara and Taryn loved meeting her and I'm sure Keara is disappointed that she hasn't been able to come back since last night. Hopefully she'll be able to come again tonight. She will be a FANTASTIC helper! That is, if she ever lets me hold the baby! She even told me last night that she was going to feed her...right...I'd like to see that.

We are so grateful for everything working how it did. I felt great right after delivery and have felt great the whole time since. I get dizzy and hungry, but otherwise, I feel better than I did with the other 2. Avery is very calm, alert, and so far, is doing great eating and sleeping. I love how these babies come with a 3 hour schedule built into them.

Oh, and her middle name should have an accent on the i, but I can't figure out how to do that on the blog. It is pronounced tie-EES. It is after someone Braden taught on his mission in Brazil.

So, that's the story. I can't believe she's here and I am excited to get to know her more each day. She is sweet, perfect, beautiful, and just incredible. It is such a miracle every time a baby is born and I am always so honored to be able to bring babies into this world. And though people might make fun of me, I think labor and delivery are amazing to go thru and witness and participate in. I'm so grateful for it all. And I couldn't do a thing of it without Braden's love, help, support, calming voice, and incredible presence during such a hard time. He's amazing!!