36 weeks and 5 days

Just know - this is the longest post I've ever written to date. I'm not offended if you don't read it but I wanted to document my little Ruby's entrance into this world.

36 weeks and 2 days

We are so happy to have our sweet little babe with us.

Ruby’s transition into this life started Aug. 8^th (see post). After such a scary experience I was very dedicated to my bed rest time as well as the medication I was taking to stop the contractions. Unfortunately the contractions never really stopped but weren’t strong enough to cause me to progress any further so ‘labor’ stopped. Within a few weeks the pain was so intense that I couldn’t sleep for two nights and had one horrible day. We went to the hospital thinking I had started into labor again. I was sure Ruby would be here soon. I was given some drugs for pain, sleep, and the contractions. They monitored me for a few hours and assured me I would be asleep in no time. Well, some of the medicine made me so jittery that the nurse wouldn’t give me any more before we went home, like the doctor had suggested. I never fell asleep and continued to feel some pain, but nothing like before. Oh, and to top it off – she checked me and I hadn’t dialated any more but was fully effaced. That afternoon/night Byron was getting ready to go hunting with a friend.  Don’t worry – I was completely cool with it since I had the meds and nothing had changed much. Before he left, he realized he’d left something in the house. I got up to get the door for him and practically collapsed.  I had never felt such intense pain in my life and literally had to crawl to the door. I could not stand up and Byron did his best to help me back into bed. Naturally, the hunting trip was cancelled and I was in and out of sleep that night and the next day.

At my doctor’s appointment the following week, I still had not dilated any more. The doctor was surprised at how low the baby was and told me to stay on the medication until Labor Day. We spent the next week guessing what day our little Ruby would be here. We decided that if I were going off the pills and bed rest on Sunday, I would have Ruby on Tuesday. Labor Day was my first day up and moving in four weeks. We stocked up on groceries, went to lunch, walked around the mall, and then went to a movie. During the movie my contractions became so intense that I would have to sit, stand, walk, sit, stand, walk, etc. Apparently, if you can still walk and talk through a contraction, it’s not painful enough to give you reason to go to the hospital. What? Awesome. We got home and I insisted on cleaning the house – I wanted it all nice and ready to bring a baby home to. We gave up quickly after we began. After resting, the pain decreased. I had a doctor’s appointment the next morning so I just told myself to get through the night and they would surely admit me after my doctor’s appointment. I surprised myself by sleeping relatively well (meaning, I slept between my every 30 minute nighttime pee trips).

Byron had grown tired of taking me to my doctor’s appointments only to find out that not much had changed, even though we felt like she could have been here any minute. I drove myself so that Byron could go to work. The doctor checked me at 9 a.m. and said I was dilated to a 2 and fully effaced. He warned me that my water would most likely break soon and then sent me over to the hospital for a quick non-stress test. I was delighted to be a 2! I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that, even with the medications, I had been contracting every 5 minutes or so for the past month. So to have stayed at a 1 ½ for so long while continuing to contract was a blessing but emotionally and mentally wearying. The test went well and the nurse couldn’t believe how many contractions I was having. Before I left she said she might just see me later that evening. I went to work to finish up a few loose ends and clean my work space. I had left it in such a mess a month before when I walked over to the hospital to get checked out, fully expecting to return quickly. The contractions got worse throughout the day but I could still walk and talk so I didn’t think they deserved another trip to the hospital. No one wants to be the ‘crazy lady’ who goes to the hospital far too often thinking they are in labor. I visited with co-workers, went to Taco Bell for lunch, cleaned my work area, and got things taken care of with the HR department. After all of this, I could still walk and talk through my contractions but eventually couldn’t handle it anymore and broke down crying on the phone with my mom. She encouraged me to go get checked and assured me that the nurses wouldn’t make fun of me. I drove across the parking lot so my car would be at the hospital rather than at my work and tried to control my tears so I wouldn’t embarrass myself. I was just so worn down physically, emotionally, and mentally from all the contractions that weren’t really seeming to make me progress. I hoped that new staff members would be working so that I wouldn’t have to face the ladies from earlier that day; just to have them tell me to buck up and go home.

As I approached the same receptionist from earlier that morning, I couldn’t hold back the tears as I asked to be checked. I was laughing at the same time explaining that I knew I would be sent home for being a big baby. The receptionist was so nice and told me that I was fine and they’d be glad to check me. She didn’t even make me answer questions and said she could pull my info from earlier that morning. She wanted me to get checked as soon as possible. Again, I was then walked back to the same nurse from earlier that morning. I cried and laughed again telling her to just let me know that I am a big baby. Around 3:15 she hooked me up to the monitors quickly and I was thrilled when she told me I was dilated to a 4. Just before she was done checking me to make sure I was a 4, there was a huge gush of warm fluid. She apologized over and over again – saying that my water was bulging but she felt bad she had broken it. I, of course, wasn’t upset AT ALL.  I called Byron and told him to get on the road because she was coming. I could tell he was super excited and we were glad it wasn’t rush hour (he was coming to Orem from SLC).  I wanted to get all cleaned up but the nurse let me know that I would continue to leak the rest of the night and wouldn’t care as soon as I got my epidural (oh, blessed epidural).

They checked me into my room and started my IV. The doctor wanted to have my contractions and the baby monitored more closely so he ordered internal monitors. I ordered my epidural right away and struggled to wait for it, the pain was so intense. I was by myself a lot of the time when the contractions were strong. I hadn’t officially learned any relaxation exercises and didn’t really know what the next few hours would bring. The sweet receptionist would come in and coach me through some contractions every now and then. I can honestly say that I stink when it comes to relaxing through contractions. I’m quite positive I could NEVER give birth without an epidural. High five to you women who can!

Just as the anesthesiologist rolled his cart in, Byron bounded through the door. He was just in time to see a few contractions and support me as the epidural was placed. Sweet, sweet, sweet relief was discovered just a few moments after. I was in heaven and Byron got a kick out of my attitude. I kept telling the nurses over and over again how awesome epidurals are – do they make you loopy? Or was I just loopy with relief of the pain I’d been feeling for a month? Either way, I was having a party at this point. The next time I was checked, I’d progressed to a 7 and the nurses told me that dilating 1 cm an hour was quite typical. It was around 6:00 pm so I was right on track. Byron’s parents and sister arrived around this point and I told them all to go get something to eat. It was going to be a long night and I didn’t want Byron starving when I needed his support most. We also decided to have him stop by our apartment to pick up a few things we needed. Not long after they had left the nurse informed me I would be receiving some pitocin to help things progress. The doctor checked me around 7:15 pm and informed the nurse and myself that I was complete. He looked right at me and said, “Ready to start pushing?” I totally had a panic moment, letting him know that Byron wasn’t at the hospital. He looked slightly confused and asked how far away he was… about 20 min. That was okay though, they would get everything set up and be ready by the time Byron arrived. Of course I had called Byron in a panic and his dad rushed him back to the hospital.

No, I didn't look all cute for the delievery but I sure was happy by this point... epidural in place!

He came running in the room just about the time I was being instructed what to do. The nurse told him to hold my leg for support each time I needed to push. This is quite hilarious because Byron HATES hospitals and anything to do with this type of stuff. He fully expected to stand right by my head and hold my hand – and I was going to be lucky if he even did that. Instead, at 7:30pm,  he had front row tickets to the show! Later he asked me if I knew that was going to happen…  I really didn’t though.  He was such a great support and when the nurse lost her voice he stepped in to count for me. When the delivery began my Doctor and the nurse were sure it would only be 20-30 minutes before Ruby came (because she was so low and my contractions were happening so close together).  They kept telling me she had so much hair and the nurse even asked the Doctor if he wanted some shampoo. Byron kept saying over and over how little she was (not realizing how much more of her he wasn’t seeing). After an hour, I became extremely frustrated with myself. Despite the nurse telling me I was doing a good job, I had to ask Byron over and over again if my pushing was doing ANYTHING. I thought maybe the nurse was lying to me just for my own moral. I continued pushing my hardest and tried to overcome my frustration and soon I saw her head. The doctor started cleaning out her mouth and nose quickly while this gave me new a new surge of energy to finish. I was so happy to see that little body and hear that little cry. Byron even cut the cord – although he almost cut it in the wrong spot… good thing the doctor caught that before it happened! There was a team there to check her breathing since she was a pre-term baby. Boy was she angry!

But she was okay and that made me relieved. I watched as they cleaned her and I completed the rest of the delivery, asking frequently if she was okay (her breathing was just a little rapid). The Doctor told me that she had come out slightly sideways and that was why it had taken longer to push her out. Of course this helped me realize that I’m not that big of a wimp! Byron and the Doctor talked hunting a bit while they finished up with Ruby – no surprise there. Soon she was on my chest and her breathing slowed to a better pace so the respitory team was able to leave. They were so happy to see how well she was doing despite being pre-term. I loved holding her so close and looking into her big eyes. She was so alert and looked at me frequently.

 I also loved seeing Byron hold her and kiss her. He followed her everywhere she went in the hospital, like a little bodyguard.

That night, Byron woke each time she cried or made a little sound. This is a miracle because he doesn’t even hear me much of the time at night when his hearing aids are out! At one point he said, “maybe we should send her to the nursery for a bit.” And so we did. After about an hour I wanted her back!

Now I sit here with her resting on my chest, smelling so baby-like from her bath, I am more in love than ever. Although it was a long road leading up to the delivery, I don’t know if it could have gone any better! I’m so grateful that she’s finally home and appreciate everyone’s support during the critical jaundice scare – I’ll try to post about that soon.