Michael's birth story

Michael is just a little over 1 month old now and he is just an angel. It has taken me this long to feel good enough to get his birth story written but I didn't want to wait any longer because I don't want to forget anything.  

A few days before he was born (the Wednesday before to be exact) my sister took off a few days of work and came to stay with us. This was such a blessing! She was hoping I would go into labor while she was there so she could see little Michael and help out with Dane. We just barely made it! On Friday night (April 26th) I was feeling a little down and everything was hurting so Laura pretty much pushed us out of the house for a date. I didn't really want to leave but once we did I was sooo happy we did. We decided to go to the movies (and eat a lot of popcorn...well, at least that was my plan) and we saw Oblivion. It was an exciting movie and helped me take my mind off of the contractions I was having. I had been having contractions like this for a few days so I didn't think too much of them. However, by the end of the movie they were getting stronger and were about every 5-6 min apart so I started to pay attention. We didn't get home till about midnight and we went strait to bed. I didn't want to worry Aaron so I told him to sleep but I couldn't. At around 2:00am I decided to call the doctor and let him know the contractions were getting stronger and were every 4-5 minutes apart and that I had lost my mucus plug. He told me to go ahead to the hospital. Now, even though I was pretty sure early labor had started I still wasn't convinced because it felt completely different than it did with Dane. I wasn't having back labor! Hallelujah!

I went in and woke Aaron up at around 2:45am on Saturday morning. He was groggy but jumped into action. He decided to take a shower and I gathered some final things into our bags. We were so lucky that my sister was there because we were able to just wake her when we were leaving and we didn't have to call Aaron's mom in the middle of the night to come over. Laura just stayed with Dane until Linda came the next morning. Oh, how that boy loves his Auntie Lala.

We drove down to HOAG and arrived at around 3:30am. It sure was nice not having to deal with traffic. The nurses took us to the triage room to check me and monitor the contractions. The labor and delivery floor was soo quiet. Hardly anyone was there. When she checked me (4:30am) I was at a 2 and the contractions were about 5-6 min apart but then everything pretty much stopped progressing. I was still having contractions but they were getting farther apart and much less intense.

At 6 am I was checked again and was still at a 2. Everything seemed to slow down and I really think it was because I was told to lay down and stay still for monitoring. When ever I would stand up the contractions would start up again... and so would the pain. I thought they were going to send us home but Michael's heart rate dipped a few times while they were monitoring him so they decided to admit us. They admitted me at 7am so they moved us over to our labor and delivery room. They let me progress naturally and checked up on us every once in a while.I was so excited knowing that we were getting so close to holding our little Michael. 

We set up our room and Aaron went to the car to get our bags. This time around I brought not only a pillow but my own blanket and I was sooo much more comfortable. That is when I started walking around to get the labor going. I also used the birthing ball. Aaron decided to run to the cafeteria to get some breakfast for him self and while he was gone a doctor came in and broke my water. That was at 8:45am. The contractions got much stronger and closer together but I was still managing the pain just fine. Wow, is there a difference between back labor and normal front labor! At 11:20 I was checked again and I was dilated to a 4 but still really posterior. 

Now, about every 30 minutes or so my nurse would come in and ask if I was ready for my epidural. I kept saying no because I still wasn't in a ton of pain. But shortly after they checked me at 11:20 she said she wanted to start a Pitocin drip. I was really scared of getting it and didn't really want to but she assured me that it would be a very small amount just to speed up the contractions. So I agreed to let them start that and then she told me if I didn't get the epidural now that I might not be able to get it. I seriously think I was scared into it this time. With my delivery with Dane no one ever said anything like that. It really matters who your nurse is and her philosophy on delivery I think. 

 

So, at about 12:00pm Pitocin was started and then shortly after that I got an epidural. Oh man did I freak out while getting the epidural this time. I think that I didn't freak out the first time because I was in sooo much pain that I welcomed it. This time I was still able to breath through the pain so I was able to think about exactly what was going on with the epidural. Aaron and the nurse tried their hardest to talk me down and relax me but I think I got down right mean during it. Live and learn. (oh and I should mention that my anesthesiologist was a giant! He was 6'9"! I asked him where he got his clothes from and he said he flies to a different country to get his clothes altered. Must be nice.)

 

Then we spent the next 2 hrs relaxing and watching a dumb movie (The Fantastic Mr. Fox) and snacking. Well, Aaron was snacking and I was starving. I did sneak some snacks while no one was watching, hehe. At one point I requested that they turn my epidural down because I was completly numb and couldn't even move my feet. My last time I was able to move my legs and I was feeling a little claustrophobic not being able to. So my giant anesthesiologist came back in and turned it down. I was checked again at 2:10pm and was still at a 4. At that point I turned to my other side and I felt something move/switch positions and looking back I think that was Michael changing positions just enough to make things really speed up. About an hour later I started to feel uncomfortable and at about 3:40 I was in a lot of pain. I told the nurse about the pain and she decided to check me. She was acting very calm like she thought it was just because the epidural had been turned down and she was sure I was probably only at a 6-7. But as soon as she checked me her eyes got really big and she said "Woo, your in pain because the baby is crowning! Don't move, don't push!". At that point she called the doctor, set up the delivery table, and called for a baby nurse. Doctor A. got there really fast and I started pushing at about 3:50. 

Michael Paul Christensen was born at 3:57pm (3 pushes later)! He had a full head of dark black hair and he looked gray. Funny how babies look gray when they are born. We had to stimulate him a little to get him to cry more and then he pinked right up. He looked just like Dane but had Daddy's nose. He weighed 8lbs 3oz and was 20.5 inches long. I had some minor tearing so Dr. A stitched me up while they were checking Michael out and Aaron was right by his side.

  

 

 

When Michael came out Aaron and I were very emotional. I'm wondering if I was sooo much more emotional this time because my epidural had pretty much worn off? And when I say that I know I didn't feel everything but I sure did feel a lot. It was a really special moment for both of us. I grabbed my baby and put him right on my chest (all gooey and everything). Aaron cut the cord and it was a thick one! We spent about 2 hrs in that room doing skin to skin time and then we were moved to our recovery room at around 6pm.

 

It was such a beautiful sunny day and we had a nice peaceful night. Michael slept and nursed and was very calm. I actually got some sleep that night. When I would look at him I would just be amazed at how beautiful his hands and and fingers are. He has such long finger nail beds. His face is his daddy's and I love it. But his dark skin and hair are mine and I like it (even though I know it will be gone soon). 

 

 

 

The next day was Sunday and it was a quiet day for us. We only had had three visitors: Nana and Dane, Cory and Gissel, and The Walks. Cody Walk was in town and took some awesome pictures for us and Stacey brought us a snack bag that was a life saver later that night. Speaking of food, HOAG has the best menu of gluten free foods! I ate a ton and really liked their gf lasagna. 

 

 Michael passed his hearing and jaundice test and we were released from the hospital on Monday at 1pm. We got home and I hugged and kissed Dane a ton. It was nice being home. Braden & Jodee & the girls came to visit and we had fun chatting with them. I'm excited for Michael to have a cousin so close in age (Berkeley is about 2 months older). 

Going home pictures...

Michael's birth was really special and we are so blessed to have him in our family. I love you son!

Baby Dane's birth story

Dane Aaron Christensen
Born January 22, 2012
8:10pm
8lbs 7oz, 20 inches

I think I am finally ready to get my birth story posted. Plus, I'm scared that if I wait any longer I'm going to forget some of the details. So, if birth stories weird you out, stop reading now:-) feel free to just skim through the pictures. They are all G-rated, don't worry:-)

(This ended up being pretty long, and, since I am sleep-deprived, please excuse the typos and misspellings, sorry!)

Baby Dane had dropped around 36 weeks, so I thought he would for sure be coming soon. Little did I know he wanted to take after his daddy and be a little late:-) I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions for weeks and started to wonder if I would be able to recognize when actual labor started. Wow, was it obvious!

(My belly at 40 weeks. Huge!)

For about 5 days before Dane was born I started to have pretty strong contractions that would start late in the day and last all night long. I actually started sleeping on the couch because they were painful enough that they would keep me awake, and I didn't want to keep Aaron awake with all of my wiggling. I would go downstairs and turn on the "Soundscapes" music channel on the TV and just try to relax through the contractions. I knew we were getting close, but then when morning time came they would go away! So, I just kept on walking (with my neighbor) around the neighborhood and park.

Then the day came! No, not the day labor started...my due date. It came and went with no baby. Well, not my baby that is. Baby Roan (my neighbor's baby) was born! We would always joke that she would have her baby on my due date and that I would have mine on hers (4 days later). We celebrated my due date by going and visiting Roan, Stephanie, and Lars in the hospital.

(Visiting baby Roan in the hospital)

I was fine with him being late because I really was having such a great pregnancy and I tried to enjoy every minute. And I had managed to be stretch mark-free till my due date! That is until I woke up the day after my due date and found stretch marks around my belly button. Oh well.

On Saturday night (January 21st) I was tired and sore but decided to go to the adult session of stake conference with Aaron. Mainly because several people in our ward have started a tradition of going to Ruby's after, and I didn't want to miss out. After the session we went to Ruby's, and I ordered a double cheeseburger (they have gluten-free buns!), fries, and a milk shake. I ate every single thing they brought me because I had this nagging feeling that that might be my last meal for a while. Towards the end of my dinner I started to have my normal nighttime contractions, but this time they were stronger and located in my back. I couldn't sit still and told Aaron that we should probably get going.

I managed to get a few hours of sleep that night but woke up at 6am with the real deal. The contractions were 1 min long, 4-5 mins apart, and I timed them for 1hr. That was when I decided to wake Aaron up and have him time the contractions with me to make sure I was doing it right. I did NOT want to go to the hospital if it wasn't real labor and, I wanted to labor at home for as long as possible.

"As long as possible" ended up being till 8am when I finally called the doctor and he told me to go to the hospital to get checked out. We loaded the car and went through my "What to do before we leave for the hospital" checklist that I had taped on the door 5 days earlier.

We got in the car and headed to Hoag. Aaron was grateful that Dane decided to come on a Sunday morning when there was no traffic. We got to the hospital at 9am and the back pain was pretty crazy. I was sure that I was progressing and was really excited for my little guy to be on the way! They checked me in (no wait) and took me to a triage room on the labor and delivery floor. They checked me and....I was at a 1! So I ordered a spritzer... and they decided to monitor me and the baby for an hour to see if I would progress. An hour later, still at a 1. However, they didn't really like what Dane's heart rate looked like. The nurse said it wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. It was just very consistent when they wanted to see it going up and down. So they decided to monitor me for another hour. They also did an ultrasound to see how much amniotic fluid there was. It was a tad on the low side. At this point the contractions were very painful, and I was so worried that they were going to send me home because I didn't know how I would walk to the car. The nurse let me know the reason they were so painful was that Dane was posterior (face up and sideways) and I was having back labor. Fun. After another hour of monitoring I was still at a 1, but was definitely having a consistent contraction pattern for labor. I just wasn't dilating. That is when they let me know they were going to admit me (since I was late anyway and there wasn't really a reason to keep me pregnant) and induce me (pitosin and break my water). That's when they moved us to our labor and delivery room.

(Oh yes, I got an ocean-view room!)

Dr. C came at about 2:30 to break my water, and at that point I was at a 2. They decided to hold off on the Pitosin till after he broke my water. It was such a weird feeling having my water broken! After that they let me walk around and get out of bed, and that helped so much! With every contraction I would stop and Aaron would take the little massager that I brought and put pressure and rub my lower back.

(Me between contractions in labor and delivery.)

I was doing really well until they told me that because they needed to monitor my baby's heart rate I needed to stay in bed and pretty much stay as still as possible. That is when I decided to go ahead and get the epidural. I had seriously been more scared of getting an epidural than trying to deliver naturally, but I just couldn't manage the pain lying still and I didn't want the shot they could give me in my IV because it would affect Dane. They didn't end up needing to give me pitosin because as soon as they broke my water things started happening fast.

(My labor and delivery nurse and me)

The anesthesiologist came about 5 mins later, and, with Aaron supporting me, I got the epidural. This was around 4pm, and I was dilated to a 3. I had a really good epidural and was able to watch a movie with Aaron while we were waiting for Dane to come.


They checked me again at 6:30 and I was at a 7! At that point, I told the nurse that I was having a lot of pressure, and she told me that she would check me again in a half an hour and see where I was. When she checked me at 7:30, I was at a 10, and the baby was so low that she told me not to do any pushing.

They called Dr. C (who was actually on call, which is very rare, since he is hardly ever at the hospital on Sundays--even the nurses commented on how lucky I was!) and told him to come. He arrived at my room at 8:00pm, I started pushing at 8:02, and, three pushes later, Dane was born at 8:10pm. The Doctor and nurses were astonished at how fast I delivered him and verified that this was my first delivery:-)

Here is Dane Aaron Christensen's first picture! Born 8lbs 7oz, 20 inches long.

(Dr. Clayton, me, and Dane right after delivery.)

Aaron was a super husband the whole time. He stayed up at my head and was cheering me on and encouraging me the whole time. He had specific instructions from me that I wanted him up at my head the whole time. We both got the PG view of the delivery, and that is what I wanted. They pulled Dane out and put him on my belly right away. I was in awe. He was perfect and big! And he looked just like his daddy! He also had a full head of dark hair:-)

(First family picture about 45 mins after he was born.)

Aaron cut the cord and stayed with Dane while they wiped him down and measured him. Dane had his first BM pretty fast, and the nurse was amazed at how Aaron wanted to change his first dirty diaper. I wasn't surprised, I knew he was going to be an awesome daddy.

(Aaron staying with Dane while they checked him.)

After they cleaned him up they gave him to me for skin-to-skin time, and we stayed like that for 2 hours before they moved us to our recovery room. (Did I mention that at Hoag all the rooms are private? So nice). That is also when I got stitched up. Dr. C had to give me an episiotomy, and I had some 2nd degree tearing during delivery.

(View of the sunrise from our recovery room)

Our recovery room was also an ocean-view room, and we really felt pampered by all the nurses. The day after delivery they brought us a celebration dinner that consisted of filet Mignon, baked potato, veggies, sparkling cider, and a yummy dessert.

(Baby Dane and Mommy in the recovery room.)

(Daddy in the recovery room. My husband has never looked more attractive to me:)

We had several visitors come visit us, and we absolutely loved it. It was so nice to see everyone, and, since Hoag doesn't have visiting hours or limits on how many people can come in at a time, we had stress-free visiting sessions. Thank you to everyone who came to see us!

(Nana, Aunt Debi, Dane, and me)

We stayed for 2 days, and then it was time to go home. We had mixed feelings about going home because we were ready to sleep in our own bed, see our dog, and be able to do things on our own time schedule, but we also had such a nice stay, and the hospital and the nurses were so nice and helpful that we could have stayed another day.

(Ready to leave the hospital)

(Dane in his car seat for the first time)

I feel so blessed to have had such an "easy" delivery and to have such a healthy, perfect baby boy. Recovery has been good but taking longer that I thought it would. He has been a super baby when it comes to nursing from day one (thank goodness) and sleeps...well, he sleeps like a newborn:-) We are all a little tired over here.

We love you, Baby Dane!