Pregnancy to Birth

I regret that I didn't document much about my pregnancy during my pregnancy, but since there is still enough I remember right now, I figured its better late than never.  The funny thing is, as hard as this pregnancy was, I miss it.  Carrying and delivering a baby is really the most amazing thing on earth. I am so thankful that I have the ability to carry, deliver, and raise children in this life.  I can't imagine anything greater than being part of that miracle.  Even though I have my baby in my arms all night, when I wake up in the morning I have my hand on my belly.  It is a natural habit my body got into during the last 9 months.  I would always make sure I felt him move before falling asleep and before getting out of bed.  When Chase was first placed in my arms, I felt like I already knew him and he knew me.  The bond was already there.  It was like I could picture our lives together in the blink of an eye.  The long nights, the first smile and first steps, walking to the park holding hands, helping him learn how to ride a bike, going through school, the times he needs comfort and the times we laugh together, even up until he leaves on a mission and gets married.  I saw it all instantly although briefly.  This little boy had my heart long before he was even placed in my arms.  He is such an amazing blessing that I will be eternally grateful for and I am so thankful to have the blessing of a temple sealing so that he can be ours for eternity.
My pregnancy with Chase was a lot harder than with Elli and Carter.  It may have just been because I was a lot busier.  The first half my pregnancy I was still in school full time. I was very nauseated but the Zofran the doctor prescribed gave me killer headaches.  I had to choose what was most bearable for the day.  In October I took Elli and Carter to the dentist and while there I started gushing blood.  I drove myself to the ER as it was only a few blocks away.  I was frantic and bawling.  I felt better once they heard the baby's heart beat but I still bled badly for several hours.  Later we found out the sub-chorionic hematoma I had (they had found it on a previous ultrasound I had when I was cramping badly), had ruptured causing the bleeding.  The baby was fine besides an increased heart rate which was most likely caused from my stress.  I was put on bed rest for a few weeks which was tough with school. Luckily I had some amazing professors and friends who helped me stay caught up and took great care of me.  The ward set up meals and I had lots of friends help with the kids.  Steve of course pulled more than his share, (actually he did during the whole pregnancy).

At my 20 week ultrasound they found two abnormalities that set me for a whirl again.  Chase had some cysts on his brain called Choroid Plexus Cysts.  This wasn't new to me. Elli had them too.  With her, they sent us to primary childrens for further ultrasounds and tests. They suggested an Amnio which I turned down.  Back then (even just 8 years ago), they prepared us with the risks such as downs syndrome and other chromosomal disabilities.  This time, the doctor insured us that these were fairly common and most likely a lot of babies have them but until recently with the high end medical equipment, they are just now becoming visible.  He said it was nothing to worry about at this point and would likely go away on their own.  Of course I still stressed, how do you not!  The other thing they found was enlarged kidneys. The Dr said again to not stress and they would just keep an eye on them.  They scheduled an ultrasound for 35 weeks to check them and so they could inform the pediatrician at birth what the issue was.  Well, things turned out great because both issues resolved on their own and he was born healthy and strong!  What a blessing!

The last trimester I was student teaching in a 1st grade class.  I left the house at 7:15 and got home about 4:30.  Days were long dealing with 27 six and seven year olds but I loved those kids!  I had a great cooperating teacher and college supervisor.  Unfortunately during this time my hips and back started to have major problems.  I was in so much pain most of the time it was hard to even walk.  One day I sat on the floor in class to play a game with my students and I was in an unbearable amount of pain for three days after that.  The pain pills the doctor gave me made me tired so I only took them at night.  I honestly believe that the only way I made it through those 3 months was prayer.  I cried all the time from the pain and many nights I told Steve, I can't do this any more.  But, I got up the next day and did it.  Looking back, I don't know how I made it but I am so glad I did. 


This pregnancy I tested positive for GBS.  Because of that and my hips the doctor suggested inducing me early. With my last two babies being over 8 lbs, his weight wasn't an issue and from the ultrasounds he was measuring a week ahead anyways.  I finished student teaching on Friday, had my baby shower the next tuesday and had Chase on Wednesday.  It was crazy how fast everything went. 


My mom came up Tuesday night. We went in early Wednesday morning and got started on antibiotics then Pitocin.  The antibiotics burned my arm. I really thought my arm was going to explode. It was so weird. My mom got Elli and Carter off to school and then came to the hospital with us.  I was so thankful to have my mom and Steve with me.  I really do not like epidurals but I am to nervous to go without it. I hate it going in, I hate it going out, and I hate how it makes my body feel.  One of my legs was so dead it was scaring me.  Same thing happened with Elli.  Took me a long time to be able to walk afterwards.  I like being able to still feel the contractions coming and be able to control my body.  I didn't feel in control at all.  I progressed fairly well and when it was time to push it didn't take long.  After only a handful of pushes, my little boy was in my arms at 2:57pm.  He instantly put his fingers to his mouth as we had noted in all the ultrasounds.  He was calm and seemed to just stare up at me.  The nurse said to make him cry but I have a hard time doing that to my newborns.  They are so small and seem so fragile.  They took him from me to weigh and clean him up.  He weighed in at 8lbs 7oz, a perfectly healthy size!  He was perfect in every way. Sometimes I wonder if every parent thinks their own kids are perfect, but I am totally unbiased ; ) 


My mom left to go get Elli and Carter and they were so excited to see him!  My friend Kami had kept the kids until my mom could get there and they were very anxious.  They arrived just in time to see his first bath.  They didn't like seeing me with the IV in and in a hospital bed. They are very protective and do not like to see me in any pain at all.  They loved holding their baby brother.  They brought a balloon and flowers for us and some treats. (Bailey was able to come by for only a few minutes but she was still happy to see him.  Luckily the kids had spring break the following week and she was able to be with us during that time.)They didn't want to leave that night. Steve was nice enough to stay with us in the hospital at night, despite the horrible chair/bed in the room.  Chase was off to a great start breastfeeding which was a relief, but his blood sugar was low so they had to give him some formula to help with that. 


The hospital does this really cute "celebration dinner" for parents.  You order from a special menu and they deliver the food with a flower and sparkling cider.  Its really a cute idea. Elli and Carter were there for ours and they gobbled it right up!  It was so funny. They kept saying, "sorry we are eating your special dinner-it's just so good!" Obviously we didn't care- how good could hospital food really be? Besides, it was a celebration they deserved too!

We came home from the hospital Friday morning.  Chase looked so cute and tiny in his carseat.  It was nice to be home but I felt a little sad that it was all over-it went so well and I knew my baby was going to grow up faster than I wanted him to.  I felt so blessed through it all and still do!