3/10/10 @ 4:40p.m.
6lbs. 5oz. 20 inches long
Well, for all the anxiety and worries that I had with her, she finally came. Happy and healthy and on her own. The pic was taken when she was only 30 min old. With this being my third baby, I really wanted the experience of letting the baby pick her birthday. I had always been induced, and I wanted to know what it felt like to say, "Am I in labor? Ok, I really am in labor!" For those who love the juicy and the not so juicy details, here's how our little Bryony (Pronounced BRY ON EE! If anyone else pronounces it wrong I'm going to punch their lights out!) came into the world.
When I was prego with Shaelynn, my body started getting ready for labor a few weeks in advance. I was dilated to a four for almost two weeks before she was born and I went into the hospital and was induced by prostaglandin hormone gel being dilated a four and her head was a plus 2. Needless to say that when I finally went it was quick! Three hour labor and under ten min of pushing. I had had the epidural administered and then forty five min later I had her. So, I definitely felt a lot more with her than I had with our oldest Kylie. It was because of my experience with her that I had decided how I wanted things to go with the next pregnancy.
As with Shaelynn, my body started gearing up for delivery a month before. I'd have contractions all the time. Just never consistent. Every week, I'd have them check and I was already starting to dilate. A week before my due date, I was a four, and Dr. Leavitt stripped my membranes. For most women, this will put you into labor. But for me, usually not. Shaelynn, I'd had them stripped twice and I'm sure it helped with the progress, but it never seemed to start labor. I was starting to feel more contractions. I'd have what I liked to call "episodes" where I'd have the cramping every 15 min apart. and then they would just sort of go away. I was still have the NST's done twice a week, as well as ultrasounds to make sure everything was ok. Dr. Leavitt was still trying to talk me into induction. So, the closer I got to my due date the more anxious I got.
The morning of my due date, I had a few contractions. I went in and saw the P.A. Scott. He checked me and said that I was dilated to almost a six! He stripped my membranes again. And we discussed getting induced the next morning by having them break my water. Those of you who know me, know that I'm very anti Pitocin. I've delivered babies with and without it. And there is such a world of difference between natural contractions and Pitocin contractions. (Despite what the MALE doctors will try to tell you) Dr. Leavitt knew how I felt about Pit, so this was really the only other option. I left the office and went to the mall with my good friends. We walked around a did some minor shopping and had lunch at Subway. The whole time, I was feeling pretty crampy. I decided to go home after lunch. I had a couple of contractions on the drive hom
e that were about five min apart. I walked in the door, and called my hubby and told him that I thought I might be in labor. This was at 2:00 p.m. He came home and started straightening up the house and getting some things in order while I laid on the bed. I could still talk through the contractions so I wasn't too worried. I got up to use the bathroom, and as soon as I stood up, the contractions jumped to two min apart and were definitely more intense. Taking my focus and energy during each one. We knew it was time. My lil sis was on her way over, and as soon as she walked in the door we were out!
If you've ever had to labor in the car, you'll know that it's DEATH!! I don't know if it's the position or what, but I hated having contractions in there. And they almost seemed on top of each other. We pulled into the hospital at 3:35 p.m. I walked through a full lobby in labor. Kinda embarrassing. When we got into the labor room, the nurse asked if I wanted an epidural. I said "no." I really. wanted to try it naturally. Especially, after my experience with Shaelynn. I was given a birthing ball. Which seemed to help. And I went to the bathroom and labored on all fours a lil bit. And that helped a lil too. I needed to go number two, so I went to the bathroom. As soon as I was done, I was kinda getting the urge to push. The nurse said I was only an 8 and that I really needed to wait. Meanwhile, she was trying to hurry and call some nurses and Dr. Leavitt to hurry and get in there. I tried to fight the urge to push, but it over came me. I felt that I had no option. I yelled "Pete, I'M PUSHING!!!" I was getting really loud. This part is almost hard for me to remember, because it's the most intense. It's like watching a scary movie where the camera is running and jumping all over and it's hard to focus on what's going on. I know I was pushing, and from pushing I broke my water. And that my water came out dirty and smelly like a sewer. I know that the my legs were in the stirrups and that the nurse was asking me to bend my legs, but I was soo tense that my legs were sticking straight out and lifting me up off the bed a little. I know that Dr. Leavitt asked if Pete wanted to help deliver the baby, and they even went to get Pete the gown and gloves. But the baby came to quick and Pete missed it. I kno
w that I had a moment where the pain and everything was sooo intense that I looked up at the ceiling and kind of had a freak out moment, where I wanted to throw in the towel and just be out! Haha, obviously, there was no turning back. I know now that this was when she was crowning. She was born at 4:40 p.m. As soon as she came out, they laid her on me. I looked down and saw that she was covered in what looked like green slime.I was still a little out of it from what I had just been through. So, I grabbed her a little, but then I laid back and looked at the ceiling and said "Thank God she's out!" I could hear her crying in the distance now, as I came back to the reality of what had happened.
As soon as she was wiped up and her lungs suctioned, I was able to try and nurse. She did very well. The nurses attributed this to the fact that I had gone naturally. The best time to try to teach your newborn to nurse is right after delivery. When she was done, they took her to do her tests. Because I had had her naturally, I was able to shower right away. Really sore, but I could walk around.
Crazy? Yes! Will I do it again? Probably. There are benefits of having a natural child birth. And the feeling of accomplishment is amazing. Plus, I know that my body gets ready way early. I can't imagine having to go through that for hours and hours.
Bryony is a week old now, and here are some pics of our precious baby.
Well, it's official. Nixon baby number four (and number last) is a coming June, 12 2011. And if it's like Bryony then maybe it will come on that date. 
Watch this! Probably the funniest SNL I've seen in a long time.
Bryony on Mother's Day. Two months old!!
Rainey and the smudged up glass door.
Idgie. She's got one blue eye and one brown.
Bryony Elene Nixon
e that were about five min apart. I walked in the door, and called my hubby and told him that I thought I might be in labor. This was at 2:00 p.m. He came home and started straightening up the house and getting some things in order while I laid on the bed. I could still talk through the contractions so I wasn't too worried. I got up to use the bathroom, and as soon as I stood up, the contractions jumped to two min apart and were definitely more intense. Taking my focus and energy during each one. We knew it was time. My lil sis was on her way over, and as soon as she walked in the door we were out!
w that I had a moment where the pain and everything was sooo intense that I looked up at the ceiling and kind of had a freak out moment, where I wanted to throw in the towel and just be out! Haha, obviously, there was no turning back. I know now that this was when she was crowning. She was born at 4:40 p.m. As soon as she came out, they laid her on me. I looked down and saw that she was covered in what looked like green slime.I was still a little out of it from what I had just been through. So, I grabbed her a little, but then I laid back and looked at the ceiling and said "Thank God she's out!" I could hear her crying in the distance now, as I came back to the reality of what had happened.
As soon as she was wiped up and her lungs suctioned, I was able to try and nurse. She did very well. The nurses attributed this to the fact that I had gone naturally. The best time to try to teach your newborn to nurse is right after delivery. When she was done, they took her to do her tests. Because I had had her naturally, I was able to shower right away. Really sore, but I could walk around.
Bryony is a week old now, and here are some pics of our precious baby.
