Becky and Jared's Blog

This is me at 39 weeks.

This is me at hours from 40 weeks, I’m actually at the hospital for this picture.

Worst Trimester: The first trimester, no one knew I was pregnant I couldn’t buy any baby clothes, and I was sick. My body didn’t feel like it was mine, but there was no outward signs of being pregnant.

Best Trimester: Second trimester: I started to show, I started to feel Sarah kick, I got to get an ultrasound. I was not big enough to be uncomfortable and had way more energy.

What I liked about pregnancy: Well there are a few really good things. Shopping for a baby is always fun. I loved feeling my baby kick. I was obsessed with feeling my stomach and feeling the hard spots that was my baby. I have to say I loved my hard pregnancy stomach. I also loved the ultrasound. I only got one and really wanted to get another one the whole pregnancy. It is quite something else to see your baby on the screen and really know that it is your baby in there.

What I didn’t like about pregnancy: Labor obviously. I didn’t like being sick (I was only sick the first trimester) and the feeling that your body is not your own anymore. I didn’t like being tired all the time.

LABOR STORY

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

The following of my post is my labor story with all the graphic, uncomfortable facts. I decided to post all of the ugly details for my own records so you don’t have to read further. I repeat, you don’t have to read further, this is a TMI, too much information. Warning labor story with details do not read further.

I started having consistent contractions around 5:30 PM on May 31st. (The day before my due date). They were a little stronger than anything I had had so far because they hurt in my back too. They were however manageable and not overly painful. We even invited Andrew and Starrie over for Jared’s amazing homemade french fries and hung out with them. They didn’t even realize that I was in labor. I was timing my contractions using an iPhone app. Well, around 8 or 8:30 PM we decided that since the contractions were still consistant and ranged 5-8 minutes apart we would start to go to the hospital. I also wanted to go to Babies R Us and get a photo frame that you could put the babies hand and foot prints in. So, we had to tell Andrew and Starrie that we needed to go to the hospital. Jared and I even took the time to straighten up our apartment and get the last minute things ready to go to the hospital. We then went to Babies R Us and got my photo frame and then went to the hospital. We got the hospital around 9:45 PM. Once we were at the hospital they checked to see if I was dilated. I was only dilated to 2 cm. (You have to get up to 10 cm to have the baby) and I was 85-90 % effaced  (That is how thin the cervix is, you need to be up to 100% to have the baby (Snarky remark by Jared: Hence why they measure it in percent)). Well, they monitored me by keeping track of the baby’s heart rate and my contractions for an hour then they checked me again. I was sadly still at 2 cm. So, the nurse talked to the doctor and they decided to send me home for a little bit to labor there.  I might add that although the contractions were still manageable they were starting to pick up the hour I was in the hospital. Well the doctor gave me a choice in pain medicine. I could take one medicine (Percocet) which would take the edge off the contractions or a could get a shot of a really strong medicine (morphine and some other drug) that would knock me out. Well, I decided on the weaker medicine because I didn’t want to be knocked out and I was a little worried that I would not get back to the hospital on time. Well, as we were driving home the contractions really picked up a notch. I got so nauseous and we had to pull over at the University Parkway exit and I threw up. We pulled over just in time. Well, we called the hospital and asked them about the pain medicine, which was probably on the side of the road now. They said unless we could bring in the tablets they wouldn’t be able to give me anything else. Lets, just say if I did absorb the medicine I never felt the effects of it. Well we couldn’t do that so we continued home. Meanwhile my contractions were getting pretty painful and pretty close. I even told Jared that I felt like we were going in the wrong direction. Well we got home and I tried to get ready for bed. I only got as far as putting on some sweats. My contractions were really painful and close by then. I thought about taking a shower to see if that would help me dilate but I couldn’t even seriously consider it, that was when I decided that we were going to go back to the hospital. We were home about 20 minutes. It had been about an hour from the time they told me to go home. Well, we walked in the hospital and told them the contractions were more intense. They put me in a room, checked me again and I was dilated to 3 cm. Well, they decided to keep me this time (thank goodness since the contractions were really intense). I basically told the nurse that I wanted an epidural right then. Side note: I had considered doing it natural if I progressed far enough, like to an 8 or 9 without it. Needless to say at 3 cm going natural was out the question. Well the doctor came in and checked me as well. He said by his measurements I was at 4 cm and almost all the way effaced. So they decided to break my water and then give me my epidural. Well, they broke my water, which was an interesting experience, but not painful. The contractions however were painful and jumped another notch in intensity. I lucky had a labor nurse of some kind to help walk me through contractions. She did an amazing job. She talked me into breathing deeply and pushed on my knees which really, really helped with my back labor. I don’t know how long it was before I got the epidural but it felt like a long time. The epidural was so nice. Slowly my pain began to fade and then I was able to relax. Shortly after I got the epidural they checked me again and I was at 6 cm. The nurse said she didn’t think it would be long before I would be ready to push. She left me then and I just rested for an hour or so. Mind you, I didn’t sleep up just rested. About an hour later the nurse checked me again and I was at 10 cm and fully effaced. So, we began to push. I had to push for an hour and a half. I have talked to a few people who got an epidural and they said that pushing didn’t hurt. I am jealous of them because pushing did hurt for me. My lower back was just in pain. I wanted to move really bad. In fact I did move a few times to see if I could relive some of the pressure. It didn’t help. So, we just kept pushing. Jared was so good during the pushing stage, he stroked my head and gave me ice chips. It took forever to get her passed my pubic bone. Once I did, the nurse told me to stop pushing and they brought in the doctor. He started helping me push and then said I would need to get an episiotomy. I groaned inside, I was really hoping I wouldn’t need one. Well not too long after the doctor came in I delivered Sarah. I got to see a little bit of her as when she was almost out. But not too much. Then they whisked her away to clean her up and check her vitals. She had a good hardy scream which pierced my heart. Sarah Serena Whittle was born at 3:41 AM! Well to ruin the moment, I totally threw up right after I delivered her, but on the plus side I felt immediate relief when they took her out of me. While they were cleaning her up the doctor delivered the placenta. Let me just tell you that it hurt when he was jabbing at my stomach (massaging the uterus down). Also after the placenta was delivered he checked to see if my uterus was doing okay and that hurt too. I must be a wimp. Well, Sarah need help breathing so they put her on oxygen and took her to the nursery. I only got to see a glimpse of her as they took her to the nursery and she was wearing an oxygen mask. Jared went with Sarah (as I wanted him too) and did a good job taking pictures. Well the nurse checked my blood pressure and everything and then I was left in the hospital room by myself. I was a little sad considering that I just went through a major ordeal and now had to wait to really see my daughter. Jared came back after a while to check his blood sugar, it was really high. He had forgot to check it in all the excitement so he needed some time to recover from that. Then he showed me the pictures of my daughter. So, I at least got to see what she looked like. She was beautiful. They kept me in the delivery room for at least an hour afterwards to monitor my blood pressure. By the time they were satisfied with her oxygen it was time to give her a bath. So they moved me to the recovery room before I got to see her. I finally got to see her around 6:30 AM and the morning light was starting to come through the window. They told me she was hungry and immediately tried to get her to breastfeed. She was more tired than hungry so it was a little hard but eventually the nurse let me spend some good quality time gazing at my beautiful little girl. So, that is my labor story and the story of Sarah’s birth.

POST PARTUM

Here is me a couple days after giving birth. I am really happy with the way things turned out, physically. Yes my belly is soft and by belly button looks weird but I have to say that I am happy with my body, for now. I checked my weight after I got home and I lost 15 lbs. Not too shabby. I tried on normal jeans and they fit (as shown in the picture). However, I have been wearing maternity jeans because they are so comfortable. My shirts still fit weird so we will see what happens there. I have been recovering really well. My mom keeps telling me how good I am walking and such. The second day home we took a walk around the block with Sarah. So except for the lack of sleep I’m doing really well. Anyway now I can start focusing on my very, very cute little girl.