Where to begin....well as you know on Tuesday, July 17th I went in and got my maturnity pictures taken and prior to that I was on bedrest. Tuesday I wasn't staying off my feet as much as I should have and it was the first day in days that I was actually getting ready and doing my hair and makeup (it was all for the pictures of course). That night at my photoshoot during the last half and hour I was starting to feel the contractions come on, but just assumed they were braxton hicks and as soon as I was able to get home and lay down they would stop and I would feel better. Well I got home and layed down it was about 8pm and no change, I was still in pain. So then I hopped into the bathtub to see if that would help, nope it did not. So then I went back to laying down on the bed, surrounded by pillows and trying everything possible to get comfortable. The pain wasn't so much in my belly, but my thighs and hurt every minute. I was starting to freak out a bit thinking "I'm not ready" So I called my mom and she came over to comfort me and I instructed Josh to get my things together, and make sure I had everything I needed for my bag to the hospital. I called my doctor around 9:30pm ish and he told me to drink lots of water and try to get some rest. My mom left around 10pm cause the pain was subsiding a little bit. Around midnight I finally got some zzzz's. Then at 5:30am I felt like I was starting to contract again. So I started to track em down and it was every 3minutes. I still wasn't believing I was in labor though so I didn't call my doctor till about 8:00am. It was his day off and he was out riding bikes with his cute wife. Luckily right at the moment I called he was stopped because he had to change his wifes tire on her bike or put air in it or something. He told me to go ahead and go to Labor and Delivery. It was now Wednesday and since I was scheduled to be induced Friday and because of my situation he said if I was contracting like I was saying I was and even if I haven't dilated any that they would probably keep me anyway. So he basicaly said pack up your things and go to the hospital, your going to have your baby today!
My butterflies started flyin! I couldn't believe it, the day I had been preparing for for about 4 months since I found out her condition was finally here. I was also extremely excited to see my precious angels face! I just couldn't wait to meet her!! I finally felt ready!
I got to the hospital around 8:30am. My sister in-law Tirsah picked up my other two kids and was taking care of them for me until their baby sister arrived. When I got to the hospital they got my name and stuff I waited a few mins in pain of course and then they told me they were checking me right in, so I didn't have to do the other nonsence stuff. When they got me hooked up, sure enough I was contracting every minute. She checked me and I was only 1+, which I was just fine with because that meant I should have enough time to get the epidural!! (For a little background on me, with my first daughter Paige I was induced at 36 1/2 weeks with high blood pressure and my blood platelet count ended up being really low as a result, which meant no epidural for me! Then my second child Landen, I got to the hospital was 3cm then in 45mins went to a 5, then they finally checked me in. From walking down the hall from the pre-room to the actually delivery room I went from a 5 to a 9, so guess what no time for an epidural) So with this pregnancy it was my absolute goal that I get that epidural, I know what the pain feels like and I had enough emotional pain going on with this pregnancy that the last thing I wanted was the physical pain right with it! So the nurses were super nice and they worked as quickly as possible to get me the epidural as fast as they could! And they did an excellant job because I got my epidural! Finally! From 9am-3:30pm I went from a 1+ to a 4. So it took a long time, but during that time my older sister from Idaho was on the road driving to see us and my sister from pleasant grove, ut got on a plane and made it to the hospital at around 1 or 2pm so she could be with me. It was so awesome to beable to be in the delivery room with my family close to me and I could laugh and talk and joke with them and be in no pain at all. They really helped keep my spirits up and helped the day go by quickly.
So since I was finally a 4 they brought the doctor in the break my water. This is a funny part of my story. During the last 4 weeks of pregnancy I gained 12lbs (I was at only 14lbs gained for the whole pregnancy prior to that) and it was ALL in my belly. My belly literally just popped out! You can tell from my maturnity pictures. Anyway as the doctor broke my water he mentioned "just so you know I think this is the most amount of amniotic fluid I have ever seen" then he had to stand up and back away from the bed so the nurses could take over. I seriously felt like I was a faucette that just wouldn't turn off. My husband was looking at my belly and he said you could just see it going down as the water was comming out. With most deliveries I think they use 1 maybe 2 or 3 towels to collect the fluids and guess how many they had to use on me......8!!! Eight towels, are you serious. I cleaned out the towels that were in that room. We were all laughing because of how funny it was. The nurse then did some math cause we were all curious and we figured that I lost over 11lbs of fluid!!!! That is just insane! I have to have a world record on that one! It took 20 mins from the time they broke my water to having it all cleaned up. The had to readjust my contraction belt reader thing a good few inches. So by this time it was like 4:15pm.
After they broke my water though I could immediately feel more pressure, which quickly turned into pain with every contraction. I wasn't feeling the pain in tummy from the contractions, I was feeling little alexis taking her journey right into the birth canal. I started pushing the epidural button as much and as often as I could to try and relieve the pain that hit me like a brick wall. But it wasn't helping one bit and minutes were flying by. I told the nurse to check me again, it was 4:35ish and I was now a 7. Then I hear my sister saying that the doctor said I'll probably have my baby around 8 or 6pm earliest. I knew it was going to be sooner then that as once again I have a painful contraction. (I just come to realize I'm not meant to feel no pain in my deliveries) The doctor then comes in to show me a couple of forms to fill out for this genetics testing I'm having done (that's another story) So he's like so why your just hanging out here waiting you can sign these, and then theres a girl on my right that's telling me she needs to draw my bloode for the test. So I'm like okay, but dr. clark I'm feeling pain on these contractions like she's ready to come out. And he's like oh your feeling pressure and I yell NO PAIN!! He looked puzzled for a moment, and he wasn't dressed or ready to deliver. I just started to yell at everyone telling them to hurry because she was comming out and I couldn't stop it, and it seemed like they so slowly put a cover on the dr. They didn't even have time to take my bed apart, the doctor just looks and goes, yup she's right baby's right there. Then a quick two or three pushes and baby Alexis had arrived at 5:02pm!!
The doctors and nurses worked quickly to fullfill my requests. They got a baby hat on Alexis and put her on my chest quickly. She was SO beautiful from the moment I saw her!
I didn't know yet if she had taken any breathes, but at this moment nothing mattered. All that mattered is my baby girl was with me and in my arms.
I was so happy and felt nothing but peace right in this moment!
These moments were tougher on Josh, but he was amazing support.
I wanted this moment to last FOREVER!
All I wanted to do was hold her hand
Dr. Stephen Clark is an amazing doctor and was amazing support through my whole pregnancy. I was greatful to have him as a part of our journey.
My sweet baby girl
One of my favorite pictures. Baby Alexis has her eyes wide open and she's staring right at her daddy as he's holding her for the very first time!
Baby Alexis with Grandma Tanner
So Beautiful!
The nurse now came over to check her heartbeat. While I was in labor her heartbeat was pretty steady at 147bpm, after they broke my water though you could tell the contractions were harder on baby alexis and it was affecting her heartbeat. When she was born she didn't take any breathes, but the doctor said she moved her arm once, like a little reflex. And when they checked her heartbeat here it was only 85bmp. They didn't check her heartbeat again until the nurses took her to give her a bath which was around 8pm that night. So I don't know what her exact time of death was, but I don't think it matters. We soaked up every precious minute we had with her living and non living. Her death certificate age say's 2hrs 28mins.
Alexis with Grandma Hammond
Alexis with Grandpa Tanner
Alexis with her mommy! I love you baby girl!
The moments right after delivery are undescribeable. The spirit was so strong in the room and I was filled with joy, love and peace. I was SO happy to finally meet my little angel and hold her in my arms and soak up every second I had with her.
Pictures from this post where taken by my sister Traci Purser. Since alexis decided to come so quickly after they broke my water I wasn't able to get my photographer there in time for the delivery, but she captured the amazing moments after with my kids and family. Those will be in the next post. But Traci I am so greatful you made that flight and rushed to be my side and capture these very first special moments! They will be treasured forever! Love you!
