I know…it has taken long enough for me to get this posted. I’m sure you understand, though, things have been quite busy around here!
I am trying to do more digital scrapbooking. Since I began blogging this hobby of mine has kind of fallen to the side (that is a phrase, isn’t it?). Anyway, it is a hobby that I really enjoy and so I’m going to try my best to do more of it and, as always, I’ll be posting my completed layouts here.
I used a Tuesday Template challenge at ScrapMatters to get me started on the layout for Jenny’s birth story. It is a two page layout with all the details of her birth on one side.
Credits: Here We Grow page kit by Designs by Dani
Fonts – Pea Amy Rica Script and SF Charissa Neat
Template – Tuesday Template June 8, 2010 by Jenn Amy
In case you can’t read the birth story on the scrapbook page, here it is. I hope it’s not too long for you!
I never would have imagined as Keith and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary that we would be welcoming Jenny into our lives in just a few days, although I really should have. All the signs of early labor were there…I just didn’t quite believe them. I began having contractions during our wedding anniversary date, but I didn’t think they were regular or strong enough to warrant a call to my doctor.
The contractions continued throughout the weekend. I wasn’t sure if labor was impending or if they were just bad Braxton Hicks. In fact on Saturday afternoon, I googled “What do real labor contractions feel like”. Most described them as being similar to menstrual cramps…that wasn’t what I was feeling. Mine were more like pressure and tightening, so I tried not to think too much about it.
At 11:30 pm on Saturday night, I woke up to contractions that felt much stronger. In fact, I woke up moaning. I rolled over and began watching the clock.
At 12:30 am I felt “wet” so I got up to use the bathroom. As soon as I got to the bathroom I felt a small gush of water and then began spotting. I pretty much knew this was it.
I woke Keith up and told him that I thought my water broke. He asked me what we should do and I told him I had to go downstairs and read about water breaking before I called my doctor. My suspicions were confirmed by the internet this time…I was sure that my water had in fact broken. I called the afterhours number and the nurse told me that my doctor was on call and would give me a call back right away. When she called, I described what happened and she said it sounded like the “real thing”. She told me to come in to the hospital to be checked. After a call to my neighbor to come over to watch our children, and running around a bit to get a few things packed into a bag, we left for the hospital.
Just a few miles beyond our house we were stopped for speeding on the way to the hospital. I was trying to breathe through a contraction and find our car registration as the policeman approached our car. Keith told him that his wife was in labor. He looked at me and asked me if I was in labor. When I replied, “Yes, I am in labor,†he let us go with a warning to be careful on our way to the hospital.
The nurses were waiting for us as I walked on to the labor and delivery floor of St. Francis Hospital. They showed me into a room and began asking questions as soon as I was changed into a gown. My nurse checked and it was confirmed that I was leaking amniotic fluid, but my bag of water had not completely broken. She also checked for dilation and I was only dilated to a disappointing 2 cm. My doctor told her that she would come by later in the morning to completely break my water. My contractions were also getting stronger, so I decided to go ahead and get an epidural.
I was dilated to a 3-4 when my doctor came in to break my water, but sometime during the night/early morning hours, my contractions mellowed out and a very slow drip of pitocin was ordered to get them regulated again. After the initial dosage was upped a notch, things began to progress quickly. I went from a dilation of about 5 to 8 pretty quickly and then I was complete about 30 minutes after that.
After seeing that I was “complete†and ready to push the nurse told me that we would do one trial push and then she would call my doctor in for the delivery. Well, upon helping me to get my legs up in the stirrups, she decided at we couldn’t risk a trial push and she called for the doctor to come in right away.
I began pushing at 10:30 and Jenny made her arrival into the world at exactly 10:39. I still cannot believe how fast and easy it was! She is the first baby that I have been able to have put on my chest right after birth and that is a feeling that I don’t even have words to describe! Keith cut her umbilical cord and she was taken to be accessed and then returned right back to me. She weighed a healthy 7 lbs. 11 ounces and measured 19 ½ inches…not too bad for a 36 weeker!
LifeAtTheCircus says
I loved reading Jenny’s birth story… been curious for the details. I can’t believe how big she was for a 36 week old… imagine if she had waited 4 more weeks… oi!!! Hope you are settling in well… think of you often!!
.-= LifeAtTheCircus´s last blog ..Captive Audience =-.
Amy @ Finer Things says
Yay! Love a happy birth story.
Maggie Mae says
I just love a good birth story! [Tears in my eyes]. Thanks for sharing it.
.-= Maggie Mae´s last blog ..God Doesn’t Make Mistakes! =-.
Kimberly @ Raising Olives says
I love birth stories. Congratulations!!
I’m 36 weeks and wishing that labor would start, but not holding my breath. 🙂
.-= Kimberly @ Raising Olives´s last blog ..I’m a Constructive Mom =-.
Nancy M. says
What an awesome story! I had to laugh about the cop! That is too funny! I’m so glad everything went great this time! She’s precious!
.-= Nancy M.´s last blog ..Things I Love Thursday- For My Laptop =-.
Heidi says
I was excited to see this post. Can’t believe you got pulled over on the way to the hospital. I am 37 weeks today and hoping my water breaks or that regular contratctions start. I actually am feeling lots of pressure and tightening tonight…so we’ll see!!
Jordan says
Oh, my gosh! Pulled over for speeding! That’s too funny! Your LO looks great! Funny that you say that scrapbooking took a back seat to blogging. It’s been just the opposite for me! I hope you don’t think I’ve forgotten about you…I’ve just been waiting to call to give you all a few days to settle in and enjoy your baby girl. You’ll be hearing from me soon! Love you all!
.-= Jordan´s last blog ..A Hobby With Rewards! =-.
Linda@cookingtipoftheday says
Thanks! A wonderful birth story.. thanks for sharing.
.-= Linda@cookingtipoftheday´s last blog ..Recipe: Eggs Hendricks =-.