This is the story about how Jack came into the world.
It's a day we'll never forget and our lives changed forever for the best.
We love you more than you'll ever know.
BEFORE:
At 37 weeks and 5 days, contractions were the last thing Tyler and I were thinking about. In fact, that evening when I picked Tyler up from school to grab dinner he said "I think this baby might stay in there past 40 weeks." Little did we know, he was about to be on his way!
We headed to dinner at a Thai restaurant (which we eat about twice a year). The next question most people ask is "Well, did you eat something really spicy?" No. Just chicken, veggies, rice, and a mild sauce. Later that night around 10:30 I was sitting on the couch, working on the computer and I started getting stomach cramps. It was a weird feeling and I told Tyler my stomach hurt but just figured it'd go away. Then my back starting hurting. I hadn't felt any contractions previously in my pregnancy so I didn't know exactly what they felt like. Where these contractions? I had no idea. When I told Tyler I thought they might be, he just kept saying "This isn't happening" and laughing them off. I tried going to sleep around midnight and about every 10 minutes would have to sit up or switch sides because of the pain. Eventually, I headed to the nursery where we have a twin bed. I had downloaded an app on my iPhone previously to time contractions and started using it (it's called Full Term for any of you preggos out there). I would fall asleep for 8 or 10 minutes and then wake back up in pain.
As morning approached, they were getting closer together. After Tyler woke up, we talked about what to do and decided I would call the doctor's office when they opened at 8, tell them what was going on, and see if I should head in to see the doc. Meanwhile, we started packing our hospital bags.
After talking to the office they told me head in to see the doctor. Tyler and I decided he would go check in at his rotation downtown so he had as little absence as possible (his family medicine rotation only allows 2 absence days and requires the student make it up so we wanted him to have as much time with the baby as possible). I proceeded to drive myself to the doctor's office/hospital while contracting...that 20 minute drive was not fun.
The doctor checked me out, told me I was in the early part of labor, and sent me to labor & delivery! I immediately called my mom and told her it was time and to get moving to San Antonio!
DURING:
While checking into labor and delivery, I was having contractions about every 3 or 4 minutes and they were starting to get alot more painful. They put me in my room, gave me an IV, and I met my wonderful labor and delivery nurse who I loved! As she started asking me the checklist of questions about the pregnancy, my birth plan, health, etc I informed her that on the last couple of doctor appointments my platelet levels had been dropping. She informed me that we would need to check it today because if it was below 100, then I would not be able to get an epidural. I then proceeded to freak out! I was in lots of pain at this point and not ready to continue the pain for another 5 hours. I had at no time considered a medicine free birth and was not mentally prepared for it. Waiting for those test results felt like forever!
Luckily, my platelet level was 107 and quickly thereafter I was given the epidural around 11am. My doctor came in and broke my water and we were on our way!
The next 5 hours were pretty chill and Tyler and I were able to spend our last time together as a family of two. The nurses would come in and check me every so often and things progressed pretty quickly on their own. They tried giving me potocin multiple times throughout the day, but each time his heart rate would drop and a bunch of nurses would come into the room quickly to move me. In the end, my body progressed fairly quickly and naturely without the pitocin.
Around 4:15 I started pushing. About two pushes in she became concerned with his vitals and quickly called the doctor. She said what she was seeing was similar to if the cord was wrapped around his neck and mentioned we might need to get him out ASAP and even mentioned the word vacuum. By the time the doctor had gotten to the room his vitals seemed to be back to normal and so I was able to resume pushing as normal. About an 30 minutes later baby Jack was born at 5:05pm. Tyler was so great through the whole process and kept me very calm and relaxed between pushes. I couldn't have done it without him. The feeling of seeing Jack the first time was surreal. When they put him on my chest it was a joyous and overwhelming feeling. I couldn't believe he was mine! I had been concentrating so hard on pushing and it was hard for me to comprehend that he was actually here! The doctor and nurses immediately commented on how wide eyed and alert he was as he entered the world. It was a moment I will never forget and I keep replaying it in my mind. It was a feeling like no other to visually see this baby that you have held so close to you for 9 months.
In Labor & Delivery
AFTER:
After Jack was born, Tyler and I spent an hour with him in the labor & delivery room before they took him to the nursery. It was the best feeling to spend time as a family of 3 and cuddle with our new little blessing. It's an hour that I'll never forget and we did not want to let him go to the nursery! Luckily, Tyler was able to go with him and take pictures and the nurses were able to take care of me and get me a quick bite to eat. By this time our families had made it into town from Dallas and it was the first time they were able to see him! I was moved to our post partum room and a couple of hours later (it felt like the longest hours ever!) Jack returned from the nursery and our famlies were finally able to hold him for the first time! When they were checking him out in the nursery they found that Jack had low blood sugar so they had to keep him a little bit longer than normal.
Our time with Jack right after he was born
In Postpartum
Families meeting Jack for the first time
Day 2 in the hospital
HEADING HOME:
We spent two nights in the hospital and it was a crazy couple of days. Between feeding Jack (we really had to work at it) and all the different doctors, nurses, shots, lactation specialists, visitors, and administrative tasks it flew by! It was so exciting to take Jack home on Sunday and I couldn't believe we were leaving the hospital with him. I had thought about that day for so long! Our families were there to welcome us to our house and Taylor had decorated the place so cute! We were excited about finally taking Jack home and introduce him to his new brother, Jake! We were nervous about it, but Jake did great and pretty much just licked his head (which he still does daily). Thank you so much to our families for all that you did for us during those couple of days (and of course my mom for helping us the first couple of weeks...more on that later). We couldn't have done it without you!
Heading Home
Jake in his "Big Brother" bandana
Jake meeting Jack for the first time
Family time - Introducing Jack to his (unfinished) nursery
Jack's first time in the family bassinet
While checking into labor and delivery, I was having contractions about every 3 or 4 minutes and they were starting to get alot more painful. They put me in my room, gave me an IV, and I met my wonderful labor and delivery nurse who I loved! As she started asking me the checklist of questions about the pregnancy, my birth plan, health, etc I informed her that on the last couple of doctor appointments my platelet levels had been dropping. She informed me that we would need to check it today because if it was below 100, then I would not be able to get an epidural. I then proceeded to freak out! I was in lots of pain at this point and not ready to continue the pain for another 5 hours. I had at no time considered a medicine free birth and was not mentally prepared for it. Waiting for those test results felt like forever!
