Harrison's Birth Story

Well now that it's officially over three weeks since our world has been turned upside down in the best way possible, I figured I would share our birth story so I remember everything.  The best thing I did was get a journal so we could jot down everything that happened.  Between D.J. and myself, we were able to write down everything that happened during our hospital stay.  I've been using the journal to write down things I want to remember years down the road about this special time in our lives.

March 31st, 2016

It was an early morning for us, as we were supposed to check in to the hospital between 5 and 6 a.m. Dr. Golpierra had scheduled us for an induction for this day since she was on call and knew that we were working with a flight to get D.J. home from Arizona.  Since we knew the big day would be Thursday, D.J. caught a red eye home on Tuesday night. Wednesday we just hung out, went to a movie and enjoyed our last day as just the two of us.

We arrived at the hospital around 5:40 a.m. and didn't get the IV in until 7:40 a.m.  I was already 3-4 cm dilated and 70% effaced when we got to the hospital, so progress was already being made. The pitocin drip started around 8:15 a.m. and D.J. used that time to go get some McDonalds breakfast.  I was stuck with ice chips and popsicles, which were nothing fabulous.  Dr. Golpierra came in around 9:30 a.m. and broke my water.  I am SO glad that happened in the hospital - it was like Niagara Falls down there when she did that! HOLY CRAP! I didn't know I had that much water in there!

Around noon my dad came by with a cooler of food.  He was so sweet - cut cantaloupe, fresh turkey and a plethora of other options.  He didn't realize that I couldn't eat!! Around that time my contractions started getting a little stronger. They checked me then and I was 5-6 cm at this point.  I would say the contractions were a 6 out of 10 and it was not long before I was asking for the epidural.  Around 1:30 p.m. the anesthesiologist came in, kicked everyone (including D.J.) out and gave me the good stuff :) I was SO nervous about the epidural, but honestly I had the PERFECT epidural.  I could feel my toes, flex my muscles and felt NO pain at all. At the time I got my epidural contractions were about a minute apart and an 8 on my pain scale.

After that everything slowed down.  I was 7-8 cm around 2:30, but contractions were much less intense and further apart.  I decided to take a nap, D.J. and my mom played cards, D.J. had some dinner.  Our amazing nurse Anne, decided to pump up the pitocin and around 7 p.m. i was 8 cm dilated.

I was starting to get nervous that this babe was not coming on March 31.  Both nurses assured me that they were positive we would have a baby around 10 p.m.  D.J. guessed around 6 a.m. on April 1.  The thought of being in labor for that much longer was exhausting thinking about it! The nurse shift change was at 7 p.m. and Anne left and we got Janeen.  Anne was so great.  She stuck with me the entire day and left us in good hands with Janeen.  I was nervous about the switch because I knew that Janeen would be the main nurse in the delivery, but she really encouraged me, pushed me and helped us get baby Harrison here safely! Around 7:45 p.m., Bobby stopped by to say hi!

The real action started around 8:50 p.m. when I knew it was time to start pushing.  Dr. Golpierra and Janeen had me do some "practice" pushes.  Let me tell you, there is nothing about those pushes that were practice - they were just the beginning of the next hour and 20 minutes of pushing.

Once I started pushing, HC's heart rate was dropping when I would push, she I had to go every other contraction.  I ended up having to use the oxygen mask and when I did, I felt sick to my stomach.  I ended up throwing up between pushes.  It was terrible. Around 10 p.m. Janeen gave me "the talk" She encouraged me and told me all the power was in my hands. I had to kick it into full gear to get him out soon. Dr. Golpierra came in around 10:05 and I knew it was time to go.  The last 10 minutes of pushing was the hardest thing I have ever done, but to see the outcome at 10:16 p.m. was the most rewarding, overwhelming and heart melting thing I have ever experienced.  One minute I was pregnant and the next we were parents to a sweet 9.05 pound and 21 1/2 inches long baby boy.

They didn't put him skin to skin right away because his shoulder popped out a little weird.  They were worried he could have possibly dislocated or broke a bone during it.  The cord was also wrapped around his arm. D.J. had the honor of cutting the cord and watching as they made sure everything was good to go with baby.  I was flooded with emotion.  I was nervous he wasn't OK, exhausted from the long day, so joyful for the fact that our baby was here! But in the end, and was seemed like forever later, he was placed on my chest.  It was the most amazing moment ever.  I couldn't believe I had actually done it. 

Now, it was not all a walk in the park.  While baby boy was getting check on, I was getting some work done as well.  2nd degree tears y'all.  That is NO JOKE.  I have a whole new respect for mom and all those moms that decide to do child birth naturally.  Wow, just wow to those moms. 

Harrison was welcomed into the world in the first hour by his Gigi, Grandpa Beebs, Uncle Bob and via Facetime with Aunt Julie. 

Before moving to the post partum room, around 12:15 a.m. the nurses made me use the bathroom.  Walking to the bathroom was almost impossible, but I made it.  While I was sitting on the toilet, I knew I was about to pass out. Sure enough, I was out for about 15 seconds and woke up to 4 nurses standing over me.  After that, I wasn't allowed to go to the bathroom without calling a nurse until the morning. We finally got to the next room around 12:45 and attempted to get some sleep.  I was in no shape to be getting in and out of the bed, so D.J. took the diapers and helped Harrison get into the bed with me so I could nurse him.  Everything went perfectly with nursing and I could not have asked for anything better.  He was eating about every hour the first night.  

April 1, 2016

Around 7:30 a.m. Dr. Joyce, his pediatrician came to check on him.  He said he looks great! He had some tear duct blockage, but no jaundice or anything that alerted him. 

Our new nurse on Friday was Michelle.  She was AWESOME.  We had some of the best nurses in the hospital I think :).  Harrison had lots of visitors at the hospital on his first day of life.  Since we have so many family members, we kept it just to family.  Nana came by to visit her first great grand baby and was so in love.  Not long after Nana was there, all the kids came by.  Sammi, Sydney, Amelia, Caroline, Pappy, Bull and Cheech all came by right when he was going to get circumsized.  

He did great with the circumsizion.  He was only gone from the room for about an hour.  

Later that day we had the photographer come by and snap some amazing photos.  I will share those in a separate post.  

Throughout the night we had some more visitors and Harrison had to get his hearing test done.  He ended up having to do that a few times because every time they took him, he would fuss and get hungry! Due to his size, he had to have a blood sugar test and we had to supplement one bottle of formula.  After the one bottle though, he was good to go on the breast milk! 

That night he did pretty well.  I swear people were in and out of the room every hour, so we didn't get much sleep that night. 

April 2, 2016

DISCHARGE DAY! 

Before we head home around 12 p.m., all of D.J.'s family arrived at the hospital.  It was great to see them all and Harrison to meet his other grandparents! Nurse Michelle gave us all the discharge information and after saying our goodbyes to all the nurses, getting him geared up in the carseat, packing up all our stuff, we were ready to go home! 

Harrison wasn't quite sure about the car seat. He immediately cried and was a little uncomfortable, but when we hit the road, he was good to go.  Mom on the other hand felt every little bump in the road from the hospital to house!

This whole birth experience could not have gone better.  I had no expectations going into the day, but all I wanted was baby boy to get here safely and everything go well with me.  I was open to anything. I believe I had the perfect delivery.  I had a whole new appreciation for nurses, mothers, and myself.  Pushing a baby out is no easy task.  It was the most exhausting workout I have ever done.  I am very proud of myself.  During the moment it's almost unbearable, but a few days after the delivery all I can think about is how amazing, rewarding, and what a miracle life is.  D.J. and I made a pretty awesome little dude and I cannot wait to continue this journey of parenthood and mommyhood for the rest of our lives.