Joanna's Birth Story

I thought Vivian's birth story was interesting since I dilated so quickly, but Joanna's was insane.

At 40 weeks, my due date 5/24/15, I thought for sure I would go another week.  I was 2 cm dilated on Monday the 18th, but haven't had any contractions other than the occasional Braxton Hicks and the sometimes menstrual cramping.

With it being Memorial Day weekend and my Mom being here, we've been on the go.  Friday night, her and I walked the loop at Wrightsville Beach.  FYI, that was the most uncomfortable walk being almost 40 weeks.  I wanted things to progress. Then Saturday we took Vivian to the beach.

On Sunday, d-day, we took Vivian to the playground, walked around downtown and went to Mayfaire for ice cream.  We decided to grill out low country shrimp boil kabobs for dinner.  Very good by the way.  We finished up dinner and I put Vivian to bed at 6:30pm because she didn't nap much that day.  Afterwards, we sat outside talking and Joanna was moving like crazy.  My lower back started hurting on and off.  I figured it was how she was positioned...didn't think too much of it. After about 30 or so minutes we went inside into the living room hanging out, with B on the internet looking up largest vaginal births.  Great thing to discuss while I was 40 weeks. 

My back was still bothering me and figured I would take a shower to see if it would help.  It did, some, until I got out of the shower. All I could do was stand motionless over the sink because of the pain in my back. That pain started coming closer together.  Brian took a shower "just in case" I needed to go to the hospital.  I went ahead and started getting my things together all the while stopping in between excruciating back pain.  I also started having the "I have to use the bathroom feeling."  My Mom was rubbing my back telling me we should go to the hospital.  I could barely talk at this point.  Between the quick second of pain relief I went to the bathroom and started spotting.  I slowly made my way outside to the car while Brian was still getting his things together. We left the house around 9:10pm.

It hurt so bad to sit in the car.  I gripped onto the handle above the door as hard as I could breathing the best way I could, meaning fast.  Brian kept telling me to calm down and slow my breathing.  I really wish a man could feel and understand the intense of labor pain.  Once we got onto MLK heading to the airport exit, I felt the need to push and started to feel her crown.  We still had several miles to the hospital at this point along with several traffic lights to drive thru.  Brian started freaking out telling me not to push, there was no way I was having a baby in the car!  We were back and forth at one another.  I think both of us were terrified.  I kept telling him to turn the emergency lights on, but wouldn't.  He said that would do no good, he wasn't an ambulance. 

Once we pulled into the hospital parking lot, he was asking me were to go frantically.  I told him to just park in front of the door and get a wheelchair.   

Got up to triage and I told the nurse I have the urge to poop.  If you've gone through labor, you know the feeling.  She got me into a room and I told her I feel the baby crowning.  She took my shirt off and Brian my bottoms.  She checked me and sure enough, I was crowning.  All I wanted to do was push.  Of course she kept telling me not to push.  Impossible.  They wheeled me in the delivery room, got my legs up, got the resident doctor.  Told me to push and Joanna shot out along with my water.  I was incomplete shock!  

Joanna was born at 9:56 pm weighing 7 lbs 3 oz and 18-1/2 inches long. I called my Mom and told her she was born within 10 minutes arriving at the hospital.  Insane!  The on call Dr arrived not long after Joanna was born and she said this was her first birth in 5 years she's missed.    She stitched me up, which I only had a 1 degree tear and cuddled with Joanna.  

What a wild delivery!  I told Brian I was done with kids. I'm happy with having two beautiful girls.

                

Vivian's Birth Story

At my last Dr's visit I was told to call the hospital to find out what time I needed to arrive for my Cervidil placement on Thursday at 5pm.  I anxiously waited all day for 5 pm to arrive and when I called she told me they didn't have any rooms at the moment and to call back at 7:30 pm to see if they would have anything available.  What??  I stressed out enough and to have to wait longer, I was disappointed.  I called at 7:30 pm and she told me they didn't have any rooms available and to call back at 5:30 am and she would see if she could get me in that morning.  Now Cervidil takes 12 hrs to work so that was why they wanted me to come in on Thursday night so we could start the Pitocin Friday morning. 

Friday morning at 5:30 am I called on the dot and she told me to arrive at 7am.  Okay, this is really happening.  I took me a long shower, ate a little breakfast and I was ready to go.  We got to the hospital and got me to my room.  Reality set in.  I was going to give birth.  Holy cow!

My nurse until 7 pm came in and got me hooked up to my IV.  Boy did that hurt!  She tried getting it on my left hand and she busted a vein.  Blood spilled everywhere.  I got so hot and thought I was going to pass out.  She asked if I looked at the blood and I said no, but could feel the warmth down my hand.  She went and got a different nurse to try my right hand.  While she was gone, Brian looked at me and said, "How in the hell are you going to give birth if you almost passed out getting an IV."  I said, "I have no idea."  The nurse got the IV in my right hand, which thankfully didn't hurt as bad, and hooked the belly monitor to me so we can monitor the Vivian's heartbeat and my contractions.

Dr. Wilson came to the room a little before 1 pm to check me and insert the Cervidil.  I was closed and 50% effaced.  He told me they would remove the Cervidil and 2 am, shower, eat and then start the Pitocin around 4 am.  Brian left the hospital so I could get some rest...he went to Slice of Life to eat and watch the College World Series.  Typical, ha.  Of course, I couldn't rest until he came back.  He got back to the room around 9 pm and we watched a little tv.  Around 11 pm, the small of my back started hurting.  That continued through out the night.  My nurse came in a little after 2 am to remove the Cervidil and check to see if I progressed.  She measured me at 1 cm and 60% effaced.  I showered, ate and waited for 4 am to start the Pitocin.  4 am passed and then my nurse finally arrived around 4:20 am and we got the Pitocin started.  My back was still hurting so she suggested that I get on all fours to relieve pressure.  That felt wonderful.  

At 7 am she said her goodbye and good luck since her shift had ended and was telling me how wonderful, Linda, my nurse for the day is and that I would love her.  She had a nursing student following her for the day.  I was her first delivery to observe.  She checked me and I was still at 1 cm.  She upped the Pitocin dosage to get my contractions started.  I told her the only issue I was having was my lower back.  That pain continued.  My parents arrived at the hospital at 7 am and we told them they better go back to the house because it was going to be a long day.  

Around 8:30 or so I told Brian to give his Mom a call to see where she was at.  When he was walking out of the room to talk to her, I had a contraction and it felt like she kicked me and then I felt a pop.  I told Brian that was weird.  He left out of the room.  No less than a minute, I felt water coming out of me.   Of course Brian wasn't there so I had to call my nurse.  As soon as I told her I think my water broke, she came straight into my room and checked me...I was 2 cm...and she said yep, things are going to start moving.  Brian got back into the room and I told him that was my water breaking.  I told him he probably should call my parents and he said he would wait because there is no way that I would have a fast delivery if I was only 2 cm's.  

At around 9 am my contractions started coming hard.  Again, all in my lower back and the pain was shooting down both my legs.  My nurse said she would give me medicine that would make me feel like I had 6 margaritas.  Absolutely!  She told me I would still have pain, but I wouldn't care that I was having them.  Well, as soon as she gave me Stadol I was seeing 6 of everything.  I couldn't open my eyes because it made me feel horrible.  Brian's Mom arrived around 9:15 am and I couldn't acknowledge her because of the pain.  Then the contractions started coming back to back.  I felt like I was in the movie "The Exorcist."  I was all over the bed and screaming, "Oh God, Jesus Christ!!"  Brian said he was surprised that I didn't cuss.  He told the nurse that I may need the epidural.  I just felt like I needed to push. She said it sounded like the Stadol wasn't helping and that she would make sure I was at least 3-4 cm.  She came into the room to check me and she looked up and said you are 10 cm's, we are about to have a baby.  She couldn't believe I went from 2 cm's to 10 cm's in 30-40 minutes.  She wasn't sure if I was going to be able to have the epidural that they could give me something else.  She called the Anesthesiologist.  Mind you my parents, who drove 13 hrs away, was not at the hospital yet.  Brian had thankfully called them after the nurse said I was 10 cm. 

The Anesthesiologist arrived and said he would be able to do the epidural.  Next thing I know I'm sitting up leaning on my nurse and I could feel myself sitting on my child's head.  The anesthesiologist kept asking me if my ears were ringing, numbing in my legs and something else and I wouldn't answer him because of the contractions.  They were yelling at me to answer and I said,"no."  He placed the epidural.  It took him 5 minutes.  I didn't feel a thing.  I was more concerned about the epidural than giving child birth.  I felt immediate relief thank goodness!!  My nurse said she has worked with him for 13 years and she has never seen him place an epidural as fast as he did. I'm just glad they did it with me being 10 cm.  

While getting the epi, my parents had arrived at the hospital...they weren't allowed in until my epi was placed.  Brian's Mom was in the waiting area as well when they were giving me the wonderful medicine.   I am so glad my parents didn't see me that way.  They wouldn't have been able to handle it. 

Dr. Foiles came into the room to deliver our little one.  They got my legs into the stirrups and told me when to push.  Only time I could feel that I was having a contraction was pressure in my bum.  I could not feel a thing!  No "Ring of Fire."  We were all laughing having a grand ole time. Brian was videoing the birth and taking pictures.

 Six pushes and 30 minutes later, Vivian Rose Kinard was born at 11:08 am on Saturday June 22nd. Weighing 6 lbs 5 oz and 16.5 inches long.

 Brian holding Vivy for the 1st time

 Pizza, finally!!!

 Vivian's first birthday cake

 Beautiful baby girl!!!

Overall, I am glad my labor wasn't a long drawn out experience.  So glad it went fast as it did!!  We are so blessed to having this amazing bundle of joy.  It is AMAZING how automatically you are head over hills in love with someone you just met.  She is absolutely PERFECT!!!  

Getting ready to leave the hospital.  We were released the very next day.  Vivian had her blood sugar checked every 2 hrs because of my Gestational DM.  Her levels were great!  

 Brody meeting his sister for the first time.  He was unsure about his little person that is in his house!

 My little family

 Sweet angel

 My two babies.

God created the most beautiful little girl in the whole entire world!!

I love you sweet angel and I cannot believe  you are mine!