Baby Keely

Time for a serious catch up on this blog . . .

 

After months of anticipation we welcomed Keely Kristine into this world at 4:40pm on September 6, 2012 (just 2 days before her due date) weighing 9 lbs 4 oz.  Like most of her brothers she was born with a full head of dark hair. 

 

The birth story

After only being dilated to 1cm for weeks, an attempt by the Dr. to sweep my membranes, and multiple attempts with castor oil there was little progress made toward an early delivery.  I managed to reschedule my appointment for Wednesday, September 5.  I asked the Dr if he would strip my membranes again, but was feeling pretty sure that there hadn't been any noticeable change in dilation despite some nights with consistent, strong contractions.  I was so excited when the Dr told me that I was now dilated 3cm.  He was a little leary of stripping my membranes for fear that I would go into labor and not make it to the hospital at all this time around.  I was tenatively scheduled for an induction on the morning of September 11 if I hadn't gone into labor by then.  After the appointment I went to do some grocery shopping and the headed home to take the last bit of castor oil.  I ended up having good, hard contractions for a majority of the evening and was seriously thinking that this was going to be the night.  Around 9:00 pm I decided to take a bath to see if the contractions would stop.  They continued to come every 7 minutes, but I decided that I would try to sleep.  If it was the real thing I knew that eventually I wouldn't be able to sleep so I should get as much rest as I could.  I had a few contractions during the night, but nothing consistent and nothing that made me think "this is it". 

The morning of September 6 I woke up to bloody show.  Finally the sign I had been waiting for....the sign that meant that it was "go time".  Unfortunately the contractions that had been so consistent the night before had stopped for the most part.  I was having three or so an hour.  Matt decided to stay home, just in case. I walked/ran on the treadmill in hopes of getting the contractions started up again, but they still weren't terribly consistent.  About 10:00am I called my Dr's office to see what they recommened.  They suggested that I just head into the hospital since I have a history of going fast once things start.  I called Mama Barnes and she started on the drive here.  Dad got Trey out of school so that he could watch the little boys and we headed up to the hosptial at noon.

The bloody show continued.  I was dialted 3cm and 60% effaced. I was hooked up to the monitors for an hour.  For some weird reason they weren't able to pick up the contractions, but the nurse said that she could tell that I was having them.  She put a call into Dr. Cannon.  My options were to 1--go home and labor for a while until contractions became regular or 2--the Dr could come break my water and see what happened.  I was worried that if we went home we wouldn't make it back to the hospital in time so I opted to have my water broken.  Dr. Cannon came in at 2pm to break my water.  He told the nurse to check me every hour because I have a tendency to go fast.  The first hour the contractions weren't very regular, but they were definitely more painful than they had been.  At 3:00 the nurse checked me and I was 4cm and 80% effaced.  I was so frustrated, it seemed like it was taking forever.  During the next hour the contractions were much more intense and HURT!  I definitely prefer labor with intact waters over having my water broken.  I spent most of that hour leaning over the back of the bed while my mom rubbed my back.  I would look over at dad with pleading eyes as I tried to endure the pain of the contractions. 

The nurse came back in at 4pm to check me and found that I was now 100% effaced, but only 5cm.  I about lost it when I heard I was only 5cm.  I thought there was NO way that I would be able to handle much more of the pain.  As I was sitting in the bed being monitored I began to get very antsy and I felt as though I couldn't handle it anymore.  I could feel myself starting to lose control.  Thankfully my mom could see it and went to the nurse to tell her that things were changing (4:20pm).  The nurse came in and found that I was 9cm now so she and the other nurse started getting things ready and paged the Dr.  I started feeling seriously out of control and like I had to push and everyone kept telling me to breath.  There were a couple of times that I felt like I forgot how to breath because everything was so intense.  The nurses kept saying "where is the Dr?"  Then I said "I feel burning, I feel burning".  Mom told the nurse that and she came over to check me and said "Um, I have a head coming."  She was getting ready to deliver the baby just as there was a knock at the door.  Both nurses yelled "Don't knock, get in here!"  Dr.  Cannon was quickly able to get gloves on and then Keely was born onto the bed (it never got broken down).  As soon as she was born I threw my arms up into the air and said "Yay!"  My heart was so full when I got to hold my daughter for the first time.  My sweet daughter.  After a couple minutes of holding her she was taken to be weighed and measured.  I knew she looked big, but I was shocked to hear that she was 9 pounds 4 ounces and 21 inches long.  She was our biggest baby by almost a pound and 1 inch.  After she was cleaned up a bit she was given back to me to try to feed her.  She latched on right away and proceeded to breastfeed for nearly an hour. 

It was so fun to have the boys come up to the hospital to see their little sister.  They had all been anxiously awaiting the arrival of their sister, we all had.  Because of her size she was considering large for gestional age so they had to poke her heel every few hours to check her blood sugar levels.  Thankfully she never had any issues with her sugars being too low. 

We were released from the hospital the following day, less than 24 hours after she was born. 

 

Declan's fast arrival!

Quick Stats:
Born February 1, 2011 at 1:23am
8 lbs 6 oz
20 inches

Monday, January 31 I had my 37.5 week prenatal appt. I had been 1 cm dilated the week before and was hoping I was more at this appt. Dr. confirmed that I was now 2 cm dilated. I asked if he would strip my membranes, not really sure he would. However, he said "Sure. There isn't any proof that it does anything, but there isn't any proof that it doesn't." He told me to expect some cramping and spotting the rest of the day. Matt, Zander, McKay, Chase (he had just been to the DR for an ear infection), and I went and got some lunch. Then the boys and I headed to get the car washed and vacuumed. Then it was time to head home and put McKay down for a nap while I went and got my hair done and pick up Chase's prescription. I had some tightenings when walking to get the prescription, but they were just like the braxton hicks contractions I had been having for a while.

On the way home I called my mom and had a couple of tightenings while on the phone with her. Then I got dinner ready. When I sat down to eat I began having stronger tightenings that were 3 minutes apart, but once I stood up they became less painful and more than 10 minutes apart. We did our Monday night routine of FHE, scripture reading, and bedtime with not much going on in the contraction deptartment. So I decided to do some vacuuming and last minute cleaning and laundry. About 9pm I noticed some bloody show and tried not to get my hopes up becausae I knew that it could just be from the membrane sweep.

Around 10 or so the contractions were about 2-5 minutes apart, but not at all painful or uncomfortable. I decided that I should probably get my hospital bag packed just in case. At about 10:45 I called my mom to tell her what was going on, but I still wasn't completely convinced this was the real thing as my contractions were not consistent at all. She decided to head this way. Meanwhile, I had Matt go to bed shortly after 11pm so that he could be rested when/if it was time to go. I was watched a show I had on the DVR while I bounced on the ball and sqautted during contractions. Contractions were still all over the place at this point--2 mnutes, 5 minutes, 8 minutes, 2 minutes and were not terribly painful.

At about 12:30 am things changed...contractions got a bit stronger to the point where I decided I had better lay down to slow things down. I also felt some pressure on my tailbone, but didn't clue into what it meant. As soon as I layed down on the couch I felt baby change position and contractions began coming 1 minute apart. I called for Matt, but he couldn't hear me so I made my way into our bedroom and said "It is time to go NOW!!" while gripping onto the bed post (about 12:55am). Matt ran around like a crazy man gathering everything up to go.

We got loaded and up as we were leaving the house I called my mom to tell her we were headed to the hospital, and Matt called the hospital to let them know we were on our way (1:06am). I got a text from my mom saying they were in Bliss and I remember telling Matt that she might make it. However, after the next contraction I told him that they weren't going to make it and I was afraid we wouldn't either. Matt was driving like a crazy man....speeding down the streets with the hazard lights on. As we got into Burley I noticed a train and said "Oh No!! There's a train!!" I had to repeat it again before Matt realized what I was talking about. There is NO way to get around the trains that cross the main street in Burley so you just have to wait. I don't know how long we waited, but it seemed like forever. It finally passed and then Matt sped on to the hospital, running lights as he went.

We pulled into the emergency entrance behind the hospital. At the stop sign to the parking lot I felt my water break. I told Matt to call the hosptial and tell them that we were there and baby was here (1:21am). As he was on the phone I felt the all too familiar burning sensation and then his head was out. We pulled up to the entrance and two nurses came running out with a gurney. They ended up getting it stuck on the curb and had a hard time pushing it up over it. The DR came out and told me to get out of the car and onto the gurney. I told him that I couldn't because his head was out so they lifted me onto the gurney and rushed into the hall. They hurriedly took my boots and pants off and began to panic when they realized that he was in fact already here. The Dr quickly suctioned him and then delivered the rest of the body (1:23am).

Matt said that he was glad there was one L&D nurse there because the ER nurses had no clue what to do. They said I was in shock because I was shaking so bad and the L&D nurse let them know that it was normal. He also said that a hispanic lady came out and told the Dr that her son was in pain and that they needed to take care of him. The Dr told her to go back because they had a real emergency. I was able to hold Declan for a second right after he was born, but then he was taken down to L&D where he was weighed, measured, etc. While I was wheeled to L&D Matt went out to close the doors and shut off the car because it was still running.

Declan was having a hard time with his breathing due to how quickly he was born so they suctioned out his belly and then had him under the CPAP for 30 minutes after he was born. We were able to hold him about an hour and half after he was born, but by then he had no interest in trying to eat. :( We spent two days in hospital because I tested GBS positive and didn't get the antibiotics before he was born. He was also having a hard time maintaining his blood sugar levels. Poor liitle guy had to have his heel poked every 3-6 hours. It was terrible.

All in all it was a great birth and I am happy that I was able to labor at home. I am so grateful that we didn't have a longer drive to the hospital and even more thankful that little Declan is okay. We are so happy to have him in our home. He is such a sweet addition to our family.

14 days....2 weeks!!

I just noticed that my little baby counter says that I have 14 days left!!! I must say, yes, I am ready to be done being pregnant. I am anxious to see and hold my little boy that has called my belly home for the last 9 months. I am tired of not being able to bend over. Tired of being tired. Sick of the heartburn. Tired of the contractions that never turn into anything. However, I am not sure that I am ready to have a baby yet. I remember all too well the sleepless nights and the craziness of life with another baby. I am worried about handling two kids under a year and a half. I know that I will manage, but do worry about it at times.