She's Here!! And What an Entrance!

Welcome to the world!

Introducing

Mazie Cheri Moore
Born 11/8/11
10:27 pm
7 lbs 1 oz
19 (or 21) inches

You want the details?  Be forewarned that these is a detailed account.  Not the reader's digest, G-rated account. As most of you know, we were hoping she would come a little earlier than she did. She was "due" on the 3rd, but I didn't expect to go over my due date. My sister had her baby on Saturday (due on Friday) and with my mom already here to help with the baby, I was sure hoping that she would arrive before my mom did. But it was not to be.

I had Braxton Hicks contractions for the last couple months, but they were here and there and not increasing as we approached my due date. At 39 weeks, I was 1 cm dilated, at 40 weeks, I was 3 cm, and at 40 and 5 days (Tuesday), I was 3 1/2, almost 4 cm. So at least I was progressing. My mom arrived on Saturday morning and that was the first morning I was feeling a little icky. I felt not quite myself all day and that night, I had a few good contractions and felt that general "blah" feeling. I hoped that maybe things were moving forward. But Sunday came with no change.

Sunday I felt even more blech and icky with more contractions, but they never went anywhere. My mom and I went on a brisk walk and I felt a lot of pressure and tightening, but that subsided by the end of the day. My doctor offered to induce on Monday but I just didn't feel like it was necessary (part of me hoping that meant she was going to just come on her own soon enough).

Monday, I went in for an AFI ultrasound to check the fluid levels since my doctor would be heading out of town the next day and wanted to make sure I didn't need intervention while he was gone. I felt even more icky that day with more contractions which never went anywhere.

When I woke up on Tuesday feeling even more icky, with a lot of back aches and pressure, I had a feeling that it was the day. I had my doctor's appointment at 9:15 in the morning and just felt really tight. He didn't seem too hopeful and scheduled me for an induction next week, as well as additional testing throughout the week while he was out of town.

I went home and got to work trying to finish some things that needed to get done, in case she decided to come that day. I had approached the last few weeks with the mentality that if I stayed really busy and active, not only would I get a lot done, but it could only help in bringing her. So my mom and I organized our laundry room, cleaned out the toy room, tidied the rest of the house, and made one awesome dinner of pasta carbonara.

I had contractions throughout the day, but they were sporatic and very mild, nothing out of the ordinary. But around 6, I could tell they were a little regular, so I timed a couple, just to see. They were coming about every 5 to 7 minutes apart, but they were very mild. Still, because I had been working so much during the day and my back was aching so much anyway, I decided to take a bath while the girls got ready for bed. It felt good and the contractions continued, but still, very manageable and mild. After my bath, Braden was home and we got the girls in bed. I decided that it would be a good idea to get some relaxation practice in during the easy contractions, in case they continued, so I sat on the exercise ball and chatted with Braden and my mom for a while.

Around 8, the contractions were now quite noticeable and were getting a little more intense, but still nothing to write home about. In fact, I thought about sending an email to family, letting them know that we were in labor, but I wasn't really confident still that it was labor, so I didn't send it until later. The contractions remained every 5-7 minutes apart, but I did need to do some deep breathing with them.

About 9 or 9:15, I now needed Braden's help to get thru them. I needed to really focus and really breath, as well as use the hot rice bags on my back and lower front. I have back labor with all my girls and I found with this little one that changing position, being on my hands and knees, standing, kneeling over a chair, etc. helped me manage the intensity. Each contraction lasted a full 2 minutes but were still 5 minutes apart. Then they started going every 2 minutes, then 4, then 3, then 1 1/2 (lasting only 30 seconds), etc. They were sporatic again, but getting much more intense. At 9:30 or so, Braden got the car loaded and ready to go, but I told him I didn't feel like it was necessary to leave yet. I didn't think we had made enough progress and I didn't feel overwhelmed yet. In between contractions, I still had energy, focus, and felt renewed. A little later, I asked him to give me a blessing, and shortly afterwards, I had a couple contractions that lasted 2 full minutes and only gave me 30 seconds break in between. They were so intense, I said, "Okay, it's time to go." We left for the hospital around 10.

Thankfully, we live only a few blocks from the hospital, so we parked around 10 too. We had to walk to the ER entrance and I had about 5 strong, intense contractions on the way there. One lasted so long Braden got really worried that we were going to have the baby out in the cold. No, she had other plans.

We got to the ER entrance and they had a metal detector we had to go thru. But there were 2 people ahead of us, and I kept having contractions, so we'd get out of line, someone else would come, we'd get out of line again, etc. Finally, the guy manning the metal detector went to get a wheelchair and let us go thru. I normally would have walked and not gotten a wheelchair, but I was fine with it. In hindsight, I'm really glad I was in one.

We went to admitting, where the admitting lady asked me how far apart the contractions were. I told her every 2 to 3 minutes and she looked at me like I was lying to her. She then asked Braden if I was feeling any pressure (while I was having a contraction), and he told her I was. She replied, "Well, she doesn't look like she's in that much pain." I wish she could have walked with us to Labor and Delivery...

I was wheeled upstairs, stopping every minute or two to breath thru a contraction, which were getting really, really intense and I knew this baby was moving. I could tell I was getting really close to needing to push. We got out of the elevator and the nurse started taking me to triage when another nurse stopped her and told her to just bring me to Labor and Delivery. As we were heading down the hallway, I asked her to stop so I could deal with this contraction, but she said, "Let's get you into your room and then you can breathe." I'm glad she did. That contraction ended up breaking my water and suddenly the baby was descending, crowning, and birthing, with my pants still on and me in the wheelchair. I gave the play by play, "She coming, she's here!" and they fought with my very uncooperative stretch pants. Finally, the nurse got them to a point where she exclaimed "There's the baby!" I don't think they really realized how serious I was. She was born at 10:27. Had I been walking instead of in the wheelchair, I think she would have been born downstairs in the hall, with the world to see.

They placed her on my belly and then we noticed the cord was wrapped around her neck twice. Since I was sitting, having her on my belly was actually pulling the cord tight, so she briefly turned blue as we tried to get it loose enough to unwind. She was perfect, beautiful, and, as Braden said, surprisingly clean. The doctor arrived shortly thereafter and the nurse announced that the baby was already here. I absolutely loved holding her for a few minutes before I needed to move to the bed and deliver the placenta.

I only tore a tiny bit that required one stitch. As the doctor approached me with the needle and thread, without giving me anything to numb it first, I said, "Um...???" And he told me that stitching would feel the same as if he gave me the shot, so he just wanted to stitch me instead. Okay! Why not!

It was so nice not having any IV, pokes or prods, and just letting my body work with this baby. It was exciting, fun, and in many ways, funny. In the 9 months leading up to this, whenever I thought about the birth, it always involved her coming in the kitchen, in the bathroom, on the highway, etc. but never with a doctor. I'm grateful for that preparation!

I'm also so grateful that Mazie came when she did. First, Braden was able to go thru all his Tuesday classes, as it is his fullest day, as well as get a lot of studying in for his test today. I didn't need him until after his last class was over and then she came early enough that we could get to bed and he could sleep enough to go take his test this morning. He's been at school all day studying for his test tomorrow and finishing up a portion of his test that he took on Monday that is due tomorrow. He stopped by for 30 minutes or so this afternoon, but had to head back. I'm sure he'll be relieved for tomorrow afternoon to come, with all tests done, no work, and no school on Friday. He deserves a break!

Second, I'm so grateful that my mom was here so she could stay with the girls. It was SO helpful to have someone around to take care of them while I took a bath, and then for us to be able to leave when we needed to, because I don't think I would have called help in time. The labor shifted so rapidly that I don't think anyone could have gotten there before she would have been born. I'm sure she would have been born at home if my mom weren't there.
Braden told me he feels like he isn't very helpful during my labor, but I just have to say that he is AMAZING! Oh my goodness, while my labors may be sudden and fast and a whirlwind, the only reason I make it thru them is because of his focused attention, support, and help in keeping me calm and focused. Generally, I count on him only during transition, which comes and ends so suddenly and intensely that his reminders to "relax and breathe" aren't really effective in getting me to relax and breathe, but I can't describe how helpful it is to hear those words anyway, to hold his hand, to have him rubbing my arms. He is amazing and I adore him and fall in love with him more every time we go thru this together. I am so grateful for him!

The girls are in love, each in their own way. Keara is currently here with me in the hospital, laying in bed with Mazie, pretending to be trying to go to sleep. She is in heaven. Taryn loves to hold her but also gets so distracted by everything around her that we have to be constantly monitoring how she is holding her so she doesn't strangle her or drop her. Avery adores her and loves to hold her, but easily moves on to other things. They are so fun to watch!

Well, Mazie is crying now, so I'm going to go help her. But thanks for your love, support, and well wishes! We're so glad she's here!!