Brecken's Birth Story

Where do I start?


I will start with our last doctors appointment. It was April 4, 2017 (39 weeks). I was not progressing much and Brecken was not moving down as far as he needed to. My membranes were stripped but the possibility of it working was very small. My doctor was going to be on vacation the whole next week (when I was due) and would not be able to deliver Brecken if I were to go into labor. So we were left with the fact that if I delivered naturally (it would have probably been the next week) it would have been without my doctor. If I waited to induce to have my doctor, I would have been close to 41 weeks! I didn't want either. So, we had to induce. I REALLY did not want to induce. I really wanted to go into labor on my own. However, we just really felt like we needed to do this for our situation. Later, I will explain why this was truly a blessing from God and why it was so good we did this. The only available day for my doctor at the hospital we wanted was April 6. 2 days!! So we called family, they packed up, and headed our way!!!


We were supposed to report to the hospital at 4:45 am. He had another delivery that day at a different hospital and wanted me to start very early because he suspected I would move quickly and this would hopefully allow for time to do both and us not be in labor simultaneously since we were at different hospitals. Our alarms were set for 4:00 am and we were ready to go! At 3:45 am, I got a call from my doctor telling me not to go in because that other patient had gone into labor about midnight. He needed me to wait a bit to see what was happening with her before we could induce. UGH!! Of course I didn't go back to sleep. At 5:00 am, he calls me back and tells me to go ahead and get up and go in, the patient was about to deliver. Wahoo!!


So we got up and made our way to the hospital! We arrived about 6:15 and got hooked up and ready to go. About 7:00 am they started me on penicillin (which is terrible!) for my GBS and about 7:30, my doctor broke my water and we started Pitocin. I had hoped my body would move much faster being my 3rd, but it did not. The process was SLOW.


I bounced on a ball, I used peanut balls, I sat up. (I couldn't walk because of the induction.) I was progressing but not fast. Things started picking up and getting painful about 12. About 2, I got my epidural. I am all about helping myself out if I can! Plus, if I had to get an emergency C-section, I wanted to be able to be awake.


The epidural freaked me out because I had a student do it! She did a good job, but I was so nervous. Luckily, Aaron was able to be there with me for it. Love that boy! He helped calm me. We got it in and it didn't work! My left leg was heavy but not numb, My right leg felt nothing. And the important parts to numb felt nothing! So we called them back in. The anesthesiologist gave me some kind of shot in my line and boy it made me LOOPY!!! For about 30 minutes, I was laughing hysterically, then crashed. But it made it work! I was numb! But I could still move, which was nice!


My doctor arrived about 5:00. He came rushing in thinking I would be getting close (he had hit traffic!). And I was about a 9, but still had a little time. About 6, I was about 9.5-10. However, Brecken's head was stuck on my cervix. This is a problem because if you tear your cervix you can apparently bleed to death. no thanks! I will wait until he's past. About 3 different times, I had to push and try and get it past. It didn't work. So they had to keep flipping me to try and reposition his head. (It was sideways).


Finally, about 7 pm, they decided it was safe to push and that he was pretty much past it. At 7:26 (about 4-5 pushes) Brecken was born!!! He weighed in at 9 lbs and 3.5 oz! He was 19.5 inches long and his head was 38.5 cm!!! His head is huge!!!


They kept an eye on his lungs because they were raspy to begin with. In about 3 hours, they were clear. They had to keep an eye on his sugar since he was so big, but other than that he was ok!


I almost passed out the first time I got up which was a bit scary and not fun, but other than that, I was healthy and doing well. So thankful!


That first night was a bit rough. He kept choking and spitting up clear stuff (probably amniotic fluid). It was super scary!!! I remember waking up and hearing Brecken choking and jumping out of bed and Aaron doing the same. We pushed the nurse call button and flipped Brecken over immediately and patting his back. We started suctioning too. Eventually it was all loose and he was ok. The next few weeks, we would deal with this a lot!

The next morning we had lots of family come and stay with us all day. Brecken ate well, we rested, mommy had some pretty intense cramping, Brody had his first t-ball practice, Brecken got circumcised (which was a hard surgery because of the way his foreskin was attached), and lots of family time. I didn't really want to go home because it would have been super late. So they released me, but kept Brecken to watch his circumcision.

Saturday morning we were discharged and headed home about 9:30. We were greeted with a really excited brother and sister! And we started our new life!

Love you Brecken and so glad you have joined our family!!

Mommy

April 2017

It is baby month!!! Brecken joined our sweet family this month!


We decided to induce because we wanted to make sure we had my dr. We LOVE my doctor and trust him. You can read about all that on Brecken's birth story post!


We had my parents here for about a week and a half helping when Brecken was born and Lolly here for another week! We had lots of meals delivered and learned how to adjust with 3. And it is an adjustment!! Mainly for mommy and daddy. Brody and Payton - yall are doing awesome!!! Yall love Brecken so much and want to hold him all the time!! We continued with yall in school to try to keep it semi-normal for you.


We didn't do a bunch of extra stuff this month with a newborn around. But you sure enjoyed having grandparents here a lot!!


We did enjoy Easter this month. We had a small Easter egg hunt at the church again with just some friends to avoid Orchards Park chaos. This was perfect for us!! Easter Sunday, Brody, Payton, and Daddy went to service and mom listened to one online. Brecken was still a little too small to take to church.


We LOVE our family of five and what each one of you mean to us. You are all precious in your own way.


I love you my little love bugs!
Mommy

March 2017

Ok - so real life here. It is August and I am just now updating March, April, May, June, July, and August!! :) Life being pregnant and working and then having a baby is cray cray!!! So these months probably won't be super long, but at least it will be a little bit of life to be able to look back on!


At the beginning of March we had a shower for Brecken! Nana, Papa, Lynnlee, Cooper, Lolly, Peeps, and Stephie got to come! It was a beautiful elephant shower at the Smith's farm. We were shown so much love!! We also had a shower at the end of March at school. We got lots of diapers and wipes that we really needed!!


The next week, Lolly and Peeps came on their spring break to spend some time with us. We weren't on break but we let you play hookie one day from school!! Yall loved it.

Our Spring break was pretty uneventful. Since I am 37 weeks pregnant, we don't want to go anywhere too far. We did venture out and went to several things like Amazeum, parks, community center, etc. We also continued getting ready for Brecken! We set up Payton's new bed and Brecken's crib!! Both rooms are pretty much done and ready to go!


Brecken, you keep measuring big! But the doctor doesn't necessarily think you will early. I have had some consistent contractions, but they don't last long. I also have lots of pressure and other fun stuff going on. I am feeling huge!!


Payton you are a hoot. We played Candy Land and made us all do jumping jacks when we played. :)


March has been busy getting ready for Brecken, but fun!! We get to meet you next month sweet boy!!


I love all of you so very much!!
Mommy