Alden Gene Prescott
He is finally here!!! Little man was born on August 14, at 11:49pm. Weighing in at 6 pounds 12 ounces, and was 19 inches long. He was a lot smaller than I thought he would be... for being a week late I was thinking he'd be like 8 pounds. But I'm glad he is small. :) He's adorable.
Here's how is all went down:
Here's how is all went down:
So after passing our due date and full well knowing it could be at least another week before this guy would show up on his own... we decided that it would be best to go into the hospital to be induced. Since we were staying at my mom's and sleeping on an air mattress for the two weeks prior... I was SOOOOO ready to be done. We went to the hospital on Friday the 10th for a non-stress test and everything was looking good. While we were there I was about ready to just tell the nurses to hook me up and to get things going.... but we waited. My OB scheduled the induction to begin on Tuesday morning. After not really sleeping all night and waking up at 4:30 to have breakfast, the hospital called us just before 6am and said that they were ready for us to come in, so we jumped in the car and headed out.
Arrived at the hospital at 6:15, got all the paperwork done, got in our room, wriggled into the most uncomfortable hospital gown on the planet, and then got hooked up to everything. I wish I had a picture of everything I was hooked up to ... it was insane!!! (Ever tried to pee while hooked to 4 IV lines and 2 other monitors... it's very difficult). I had 4 different IV bags... one was pitocin (to start labor), one was sugar water... I couldn't eat anything so this helped keep me from passing out the whole time... one was penicillin (because I tested positive for Group B Strep), and also I had a bag of saline so I wouldn't get dehydrated. Then I was hooked to two belly monitors, one was for the baby's heartbeat and the other the measure my contractions... Not to mention the blood pressure cuff, and the oxygen mask... UGH! It was quite the ordeal to get up, get unhooked, and make it to the bathroom.
Once we were all set up and ready to go they checked to see if I had dilated any more since my last doctor appointment. I hadn't... I was still at 1cm and 80% effacement... bleh. I was really hoping to be closer, but I knew we were going to have this baby today and it didn't matter. So they started the pitocin...
MAJOR SIDE TANGENT:
I have to mention that going into this whole pregnancy I was determined to go natural/non-medicated for my delivery. I knew my body was made to do this without the need for drugs to relieve any pain. I found the 'Hypnobirthing' method and started practicing the relaxation techniques that the program teaches. Essentially I was teaching myself to 'Self-hypnotize' to release endorphins (which are 200 times more powerful than Morphine) naturally in my body so that I would have no need for drugs during my delivery. I knew that I could do it and I promised myself I would follow through. I didn't want to be one of those women who go into labor expecting to go completely natural and then they get a couple hours in they get an epidural because it's "too hard" or a lot harder than they were expecting it to be. I was in no way expecting this to be a quick and easy thing... I just knew that if I didn't keep this promise to myself I would be disappointed that I didn't. So I basically told myself that there was nothing available to take away the pain or to make it easier, and I told the nurses and doctors that I didn't want to be offered anything for pain... I figured no temptation, no problem.
It was 7:30am when they started the pitocin, and I was feeling pretty good. Really excited to get things going so I could FINALLY meet my little man. At 8:30 my OB came in to check on me and we decided that to help things to get going we should break my water... which she did (weirdest feeling EVER). Then we started to play the waiting game. And we all know how good I am at that...
The nurses came in every 20 minutes to turn the pitocin level up and to check on me to make sure I was feeling okay. For the first 10 hours it was pretty boring. Yes, the contractions got more intense but I didn't have to focus on my breathing to make it through them, they were pretty mild. So we watched some T.V. and just chilled and talked. Jared was funny because he would ask how I was doing every 5 minutes. It was actually really nice because it was just the two of us and we were able to just be together and talk (minus the random nurses and doctors coming in every half hour)... But it was nice to just spend some quality time with Jared without thinking or talking about the little stresses in our life.
I got checked about every 2 hours, and I kept progressing... slowly, but any progress was better than none. At lunch I had to basically throw Jared out of the room so that he would go eat. Audrey came over around dinner time and it was nice to have her come and hang out for a while. She brought food for Jared so I didn't have to send him away. I got checked shortly after Audrey got there and I was at 8cm. That is when I had to start concentrating on my breathing to make it through my contractions. Before that I wasn't feeling any pain or pressure, I was just relaxed... like I had practiced with the HypnoBirthing program. When I got to 8cm, I started to feel the pressure of the baby moving down... it wasn't really painful, just felt like someone really heavy was sitting on me for 45 seconds then they got up... repeatedly. I had to start focusing on my breathing and I actually started humming through my contractions. I found that the humming really helped me go deeper into myself and focus on the baby rather than focusing on the contractions.
While I was holding Alden and getting stitched up, Jared went to tell my mom and my sister in law... they showed up sometime while I was pushing... I don't really remember. I'm glad they were there though. While I was pushing I don't really remember much of anything, or what anyone said. I just felt so inside myself and so connected to the baby, and that's all I could focus on. I do remember feeling so hot, like I was melting. The nurses kept putting cold soaking wet towels on me to cool me off. After the delivery I only remember laying there holding Alden, feeding him. My mom came in after I got cleaned up and while I was feeding Alden. It was great to have her there so she could see him. I'm glad she decided to come even though it was so late. After that Jared got to go with Alden to the nursery to get his first bath, and to do the screening test and all that. While they were gone my nurse helped me get cleaned up and use the bathroom, and got me moved down to our recovery room. By the time I got there and got laid down and tried to rest it was 2am. I had been awake for over 24 hours, and hadn't eaten in almost that long. I did get some cookies, crackers and juice while I was feeding Alden. I was completely exhausted. All I wanted to do was fall asleep, but I was so excited to hold my little man. Jared and Alden came in about 15 minutes after I did and we got checked on by the nurse. Jared got the chair/bed pulled out and set up and he crashed. I fed Alden and fell asleep with him in my arms.
I could not have asked for a better experience. In fact, I don't think the experience could have been any better... It was perfect, in every way. It was the most incredible, most spiritual, most emotional, most amazing experience of my life.
I've dreamed of being a mother my whole life, and now that I'm finally here it's surreal. Every time I hold my little man I just can't help but smile. He is adorable, funny, and the love of my life (Jared is feeling left out a little bit lately. Sorry babe). My pregnancy was not what I was expecting. It was hard and frustrating. But I knew that I could make my delivery enjoyable, and that's what I did. It's hard to believe that the little man is actually here with us. He is the most happy, funny, and adorable baby ever. He is so good. He is always relaxed... except when getting his diaper changed. He is slowly getting over that.
It's now been a MONTH. It's crazy how fast the time goes. But I am loving every second of it. Even when I have to get up 2 or 3 times in the middle of the night to feed and change him. Even when he screams non stop because he wants to just be cuddled. But that's my favorite thing. To know that he needs me. It makes me feel a little better about not doing much of anything for the last 9 months... :)
Alden is starting to get chunky!!! It is so weird. He's gained 2 pounds at least, and he actually fits into his clothes. I am excited to watch him grow and continue to develop his personality. I love being a mom. Even if I have to change 15 diapers a day, and I only get 4 hours of sleep at night (if I'm lucky). It is worth it. It is the best experience ever. I never thought I could love someone so much. And through all this I've gained a whole new love and respect for my mother. She did this 9 times in 13 years. She always had a baby to take care of. The longest space between kids is 2 years. She always had dinner made, and she always had us entertained. I don't know how she did it with all us CRAZY kids running around. It make me all the more thankful for her example, love, and support.
We are doing great and loving having our little Alden here with us, FINALLY! I'm going to try and stay updated... even if it's just a picture here and there...
Much love,
Rachel Lynn
Arrived at the hospital at 6:15, got all the paperwork done, got in our room, wriggled into the most uncomfortable hospital gown on the planet, and then got hooked up to everything. I wish I had a picture of everything I was hooked up to ... it was insane!!! (Ever tried to pee while hooked to 4 IV lines and 2 other monitors... it's very difficult). I had 4 different IV bags... one was pitocin (to start labor), one was sugar water... I couldn't eat anything so this helped keep me from passing out the whole time... one was penicillin (because I tested positive for Group B Strep), and also I had a bag of saline so I wouldn't get dehydrated. Then I was hooked to two belly monitors, one was for the baby's heartbeat and the other the measure my contractions... Not to mention the blood pressure cuff, and the oxygen mask... UGH! It was quite the ordeal to get up, get unhooked, and make it to the bathroom.
Once we were all set up and ready to go they checked to see if I had dilated any more since my last doctor appointment. I hadn't... I was still at 1cm and 80% effacement... bleh. I was really hoping to be closer, but I knew we were going to have this baby today and it didn't matter. So they started the pitocin...
MAJOR SIDE TANGENT:
I have to mention that going into this whole pregnancy I was determined to go natural/non-medicated for my delivery. I knew my body was made to do this without the need for drugs to relieve any pain. I found the 'Hypnobirthing' method and started practicing the relaxation techniques that the program teaches. Essentially I was teaching myself to 'Self-hypnotize' to release endorphins (which are 200 times more powerful than Morphine) naturally in my body so that I would have no need for drugs during my delivery. I knew that I could do it and I promised myself I would follow through. I didn't want to be one of those women who go into labor expecting to go completely natural and then they get a couple hours in they get an epidural because it's "too hard" or a lot harder than they were expecting it to be. I was in no way expecting this to be a quick and easy thing... I just knew that if I didn't keep this promise to myself I would be disappointed that I didn't. So I basically told myself that there was nothing available to take away the pain or to make it easier, and I told the nurses and doctors that I didn't want to be offered anything for pain... I figured no temptation, no problem.
It was 7:30am when they started the pitocin, and I was feeling pretty good. Really excited to get things going so I could FINALLY meet my little man. At 8:30 my OB came in to check on me and we decided that to help things to get going we should break my water... which she did (weirdest feeling EVER). Then we started to play the waiting game. And we all know how good I am at that...
The nurses came in every 20 minutes to turn the pitocin level up and to check on me to make sure I was feeling okay. For the first 10 hours it was pretty boring. Yes, the contractions got more intense but I didn't have to focus on my breathing to make it through them, they were pretty mild. So we watched some T.V. and just chilled and talked. Jared was funny because he would ask how I was doing every 5 minutes. It was actually really nice because it was just the two of us and we were able to just be together and talk (minus the random nurses and doctors coming in every half hour)... But it was nice to just spend some quality time with Jared without thinking or talking about the little stresses in our life.
I got checked about every 2 hours, and I kept progressing... slowly, but any progress was better than none. At lunch I had to basically throw Jared out of the room so that he would go eat. Audrey came over around dinner time and it was nice to have her come and hang out for a while. She brought food for Jared so I didn't have to send him away. I got checked shortly after Audrey got there and I was at 8cm. That is when I had to start concentrating on my breathing to make it through my contractions. Before that I wasn't feeling any pain or pressure, I was just relaxed... like I had practiced with the HypnoBirthing program. When I got to 8cm, I started to feel the pressure of the baby moving down... it wasn't really painful, just felt like someone really heavy was sitting on me for 45 seconds then they got up... repeatedly. I had to start focusing on my breathing and I actually started humming through my contractions. I found that the humming really helped me go deeper into myself and focus on the baby rather than focusing on the contractions.
This is the monitor... the red line is the baby's heartbeat, the blue line is the measurement of my contractions. It looked like this for 3 hours.
This is me in the MIDDLE of a contraction. I would hum through them and it made it easier.
Everything kept going good... I kept progressing. I was really excited that we were gonna have our little man with us on the outside!! That helped me stay focused on the baby. I think that is why I didn't feel like I was in pain. It was incredible. The whole day I had been texting my mom updates, and she kept asking when I was going to get an epidural... I told her I wasn't getting one and she was surprised... it seems like anyone I talk to is surprised that I didn't get one. (I guess the pitocin makes the contractions stronger than when you go into labor on your own... since I didn't have that experience to compare to, I don't really know.)
This is about an hour before delivery.
It took a few hours for me to progress from 8cm to 10cm. Once I got to 10cm I felt like I had to go to the bathroom, and I felt like I had to push. I had to do a few practice pushes the move my cervix all the way out of the way, once that was done... the urge to push just kind of took over my body. I couldn't control my body during the contractions, so I just pushed through them and focused on breathing when they were over. I only pushed through 4 contractions... about 10 minutes... and he plopped out! It was amazing. While I was pushing, I just kept thinking... he's almost here, he's almost here, I CAN DO THIS! It was hard, and pushing was the only part that HURT. Just imagine having a bowel movement the size of a cantaloupe. It's hard to think of a way to describe it. As soon as he was out I felt so relieved. Jared cut the cord and they handed him right to me and I got to hold him for a minute. Then they took him to get him cleaned up and weighed and measured... I delivered while kneeling on the floor facing the bed, so I had to get back up on the bed so the placenta could be delivered and so I could get stitched up. I only had a small tear, which I'm very thankful for.
Holding Alden after he got cleaned, weighed, and measured. I was getting stitched up... hence the wince on my face.
Seeing his face made me so happy. I couldn't tell you the joy that just filled me. It was the most amazing experience of my life. The BEST day of my life.
Jared getting pictures and being with Alden while I was getting taken care of.
After his bath
Taking a much needed nap.
Smiling on the first day.
Going home from the hospital.
It's now been a MONTH. It's crazy how fast the time goes. But I am loving every second of it. Even when I have to get up 2 or 3 times in the middle of the night to feed and change him. Even when he screams non stop because he wants to just be cuddled. But that's my favorite thing. To know that he needs me. It makes me feel a little better about not doing much of anything for the last 9 months... :)
Alden is starting to get chunky!!! It is so weird. He's gained 2 pounds at least, and he actually fits into his clothes. I am excited to watch him grow and continue to develop his personality. I love being a mom. Even if I have to change 15 diapers a day, and I only get 4 hours of sleep at night (if I'm lucky). It is worth it. It is the best experience ever. I never thought I could love someone so much. And through all this I've gained a whole new love and respect for my mother. She did this 9 times in 13 years. She always had a baby to take care of. The longest space between kids is 2 years. She always had dinner made, and she always had us entertained. I don't know how she did it with all us CRAZY kids running around. It make me all the more thankful for her example, love, and support.
On a car ride
I love just cuddling with this little man. I'm glad that he is a cuddly baby... :)
Alden loves hanging out with his dad.
First day at church.
At the first Snow College football game of the season.
Like I said, he is such a cuddly baby, and he is so smiley and happy!!!! I LOVE IT!
He's just cute.
I cannot get enough of his smile.
He is so adorable.
We are doing great and loving having our little Alden here with us, FINALLY! I'm going to try and stay updated... even if it's just a picture here and there...
Much love,
Rachel Lynn