On The Day You Were Born: Oscar's Edition

My sweet sweet Oscar boy,
I waited a looooong 9 months for you. The second you joined our family I felt complete. You are meant to be our son. It was hard pregnancy but worth every second. This pregnancy brought the longest time sick, so hot, tired, sore, cranky, daily heartburn and you were incredibly LOW. I didn't think I would ever make it to the end. Your due date was August 1st, 2014. I think Gretchen knew weeks before that date that I wouldn't be able to stay pregnant that long or I was going to lose my mind. The entire pregnancy you were measuring ahead of your due date. When I went in for my 39 week appointment and had lost a few pounds and you hadn't grown at all that week we felt comfortable letting you make your debut early. I was scheduled for an elective induction on the morning of July 25th.  It had been a busy night at the hospital that night so they didn't have a room ready for us until about 10:00 a.m. I was started on Pitocin and I.V. fluids around 11:00. The beginning labor process was perfectly smooth. I labored through contractions while Dad and I watched The Price is Right. After a few hours I sent Dad to get himself some lunch and had them set up my epidural while he was out of the room. Gretchen came in shortly after and broke my water. The epidural took the edge off and Dad and I watched funny YouTube videos for an hour or so.  Around 4:30 I started having some sharp pains in my side. The epidural was losing power and we weren't sure what was causing the pain. Looking back the nurse thinks you had your hand up by your face and was pushing on sore stretched muscles.  I pushed the epidural button for another dose.  No change.  I pushed the button again and still no change. At this point I was feeling a lot of pressure and Gretchen checked me. I was 8.5 cm. Within an hour I was fully dilated and ready to push. With no pain medication. The epidural had given up at that point. Your cute little head was coming out but coming out sideways. It was intense. Luckily it only took three contractions and you were out.  Sideways but perfect! You were immediately placed on my chest and only cried for about ten seconds. After a while they took you to clean you up and get your stats. You weighed in at 7 lbs. 14 oz. (Dad's exact guess) and measured 20 inches long with blue eyes and a whole head of dark brown hair. Meanwhile I needed a few stitches. Gretchen gave me a shot of a local anesthetic.  Just like the epidural it was a dud. I suffered through the stitches. Then Gretchen noticed another tear that she thinks was caused by the CNA inserting or removing the catheter incorrectly.  I suffered through those too while cursing the CNA under my breath. After delivering my placenta I started to hemorrhage. I was laid back and the nurses took turns pushing on my belly to pass the clots. I have never been so scared. It was hands down the most pain I have ever endured. It is funny how quick I have been to forget the pain though and just love the intense way you entered our lives. The stitches held and the bleeding stopped.  After two hours we were wheeled to recovery (with my placenta in a bucket for encapsulation) and greeted by good friends who came bearing spicy chicken nuggets and a Frosty. I think I spent most of the night in shock after the traumatizing delivery. But once the sun came up the next day it was all forgotten and we started our lives together. Your sisters came the next morning to watch you scream through your first bath. They all fought over who got to hold you first and longest. They will take good care of you Oscar. And your Daddy and I will do our very best to protect you and teach you all we know. Welcome to this crazy crazy world little man. I love you fiercely!
Love, Mom

Photo cred: The talented and wonderful Christine Olson Photography

The Story About Eating My Placenta.

This post has been on my mind for two months now. But somehow it kept getting pushed to the back burner with all the princess dresses I have been sewing, toddler bed nightmare I have been living, the holidays, packing, Disneyland and sickness going on around here. But here I am and I am excited to finally get to share this experience with you.

As you all know I gave birth to a little sweetie in October. A few months prior to delivery my friend Sam was telling us at her baby shower that she was going to encapsulate her placenta after delivery. I had heard of this process vaguely but didn't pay much attention for three reasons: 1. We didn't have the money for it 2. I hadn't had any trouble after either of my other deliveries 3. Frankly it sounded a bit gross.

Two weeks before my due date my mom and dad offered to gift me my placenta in pill form as a baby gift. That took care of factor #1.
Then Sam proceeded to tell me about all the benefits of placenta encapsulation that I hadn't ever heard about.
That took care of factor #2.
As for factor #3...I still think it's a bit gross.

Unfortunately Sam was unable to encapsulate her placenta because the hospital accidentally destroyed it. (They burn the old placentas in case you were wondering) But she was kind enough to pass along her info for the placenta lady she was going to use, Alisha from The Healing Group.

Here's the basics:
The placenta is saved in a fridge by the nurses station and picked up at the hospital by whom ever is preparing your placenta with in 24 hours after delivery. Then within 48 hours the pills are returned to you. You take a differing amounts for the first two weeks and then after that it is two capsules a day. The amount of capsules you receive depends on the size of your placenta. I'm pretty sure my placenta was twice as big as my baby so I have enough capsules for months and months. It cost $200.

Common Benefits:
Increase in energy postpartum.
Decrease in postpartum depression.
Quicker recovery.
Healthier hair/decreased hair loss postpartum.
Increased immune system.
Increase in iron to prevent anemia.
Increase in milk supply.
Milk comes in earlier.
And i'm sure there are more but I can't think of them all at the moment.

I have never had a problem with anything besides hair loss and anemia (only while nursing Nora). But because I had to wean her early due to low iron that benefit alone was enough to win me over. Or so I should say I thought I had no problems after delivery. I still have easy recoveries but this one was a breeze!

Here is how taking my placenta benefited me:
Increase in energy. I came home after 24 hours and cooked/cleaned/ran errands from day one. Which was a huge blessing considering I had no help besides Aaron this time around. It made the transition from 2 to 3 seamless.
Quicker recovery. Stopped bleeding after 8 days ladies!!!
Healthier hair. I haven't lost a strand.
I'm assuming I am not anemic because I have not experienced any paleness or decrease in energy.
Milk came in 48 hours after delivery and I have an abundant amount.

I am a believer. And will be forking out $200 each pregnancy for my placenta pills.
If you need/want more information feel free to email me at heatedwards@gmail.com
A big thank you to Sam and Alisha and to my Mom and Dad for the funding!

On The Day You Were Born: Mabel's Edition

 

Sweet Mabel. You were my hardest pregnancy. I was so tired/hot/huge (I have vowed not to be pregnant in the summer months again) and I couldn't wait for you to make your arrival. I had been having contractions for months. The week before your arrival I hardly slept because they were so strong during the night that I would have to relax and breathe through them. I was sure you would come before your due date. You were due on October 1st. I had an appointment with the midwife that morning and we had talked about inducing me if I hadn't had you by then. I was hoping I would get admitted that day so daddy took the day off and we went to breakfast with your sisters on the way to the appointment. I was only 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced before this appointment and when I went in there was no change. I opted to have my membranes stripped in hopes it would get labor going. The midwife (Gretchen Faucett, CNM) told me to wait and see what happened. She said that she would either see me at the hospital later that day if I went into labor on my own or she would admit me the next morning and break my water. In a desperate attempt to get things moving daddy and I took Nora and Stella to the zoo to walk around for a bit. I started bleeding and thought I would go into labor. I didn't. Later that evening we met Katie, Oliver and Alice at Gateway for some more walking and to meet Mike for dinner later at Litzas. Nothing worked. I drove back to Herriman discouraged, sore and tired. After being up most of the night with contractions we packed up the girls in the morning and headed back to SLC. We dropped your sisters off at Grandma Wagstaff's and headed to LDS Hospital. We arrived at 9:45 and I was hooked up to IV fluids. Gretchen came in to break my water and they started me on Pitocin to get my contractions more regular. By 11:30 the contractions were coming on strong, even though they had barely given me any Pitocin.   Dad had gone to grab something to eat and and soon as he walked in the room around 12:15 I told him to find a nurse, any nurse, and tell her I needed an epidural ASAP. The contractions during your labor were the worst pain I have ever felt. I thought since having already given birth twice I knew what to expect but I had no idea. I felt like I was dying. You weren't tolerating them very well and your heart rate kept dropping so they put me on oxygen and had me switch laying on different sides. Around 12:30 the anesthesiologist came in to administer the epidural. I'm sure the whole process only took 15 minutes or so but it felt like an eternity. I just laid there and cried while squeezing dad's hand as hard as I could. They checked me and I was at a 5-6 cm and completely effaced. The epidural kicked in and within 30 minutes I was 10 cm and ready to push. I pushed for about 15-20 minutes and after only four hours of labor there you were. October 2, 2012 at 1:58 p.m. Purple and perfect. The cord had been wrapped around your shoulder and then around your neck. I was so scared to see you so purple and not making any noise but you soon started screaming and pinked up. They laid you on my chest where you proceeded to poop all over me (just like Stella did) and then calmed right down. After I got some time with you resting on my chest they took you to get checked out while I delivered my placenta...which we saved to make into capsules...and got me all cleaned up. You were my easiest delivery once the pushing began. I didn't even tear! You weighed in at 7 lbs. 9 oz. and were 20 inches long. My tiniest baby yet. Our hospital stay was brief. We checked out 24 hours later. There were so many babies born that week that the hospital was crazy busy. It must have been the full moon. I love you to the stars sweet Mabel! I am a very lucky Momma.  

 

Photography by Christine Olson.

On The Day You Were Born: Stella's Edition

First things first. As soon as I knew I was pregnant I knew I wanted a new doctor and ended up finding the best midwife ever, Gretchen Faucett CNM. best. decision. ever. I love her so much that I have referred six other friends who see her now too. March 1, 2011 - I was freaking out because I had to be induced the next day before Daddy started his new job or else he wouldn't have had time at home when we came back from the hospital. I made dinner for our BFF's Katie & Mike and I'm pretty sure I cried multiple times while eating. For some reason I felt like being induced on your due date was too early and I was in some way cheating you out of the chance to come on your own. I didn't sleep much that night and when I woke at 7 a.m. to call the hospital I couldn't go back to sleep. Unfortunatley March 2nd was a big day for babies and they were too busy to fit me in at 7 so I called back every hour until 10 a.m. when they finally gave me the go ahead to come in. By that time the anxiety was gone and I was just so excited to meet you. We dropped Tootsie off at Grandma Wagstaffs and I enjoyed a breakfast of Fresca and donuts (bad idea). We were met at the desk by super nice nurses and they admitted me right away and got things started. When I went in the nurse couldn't find your head and an ultrasound showed that you were head down but looking sideways. Funny girl. This time around it only took a level 4 on the Pit to get things moving. (Instead of level 20 with Nora). I think you really were ready to come out you just needed a little push. Once the Pit started working I was in constant pain. And when Gretchen broke my water it got even worse! With Nora I only had back labor which is supposed to be horrible, but with you I had regular front labor and it was EXCRUCIATING. I would take back labor any day of the week over stomach labor. Five hours later and after trying many techniques to curb the pain I had had enough and asked for an epidural. I was 5 cm dilated. Lucky for me the anesthesiologist wasn't busy (I actually think he was asleep) and was in my room with in five minutes. I remember, like and idiot, asking the doctor to hurry because my feet were falling asleep sitting hunched over...not realizing it was because the epidural was starting to work. Once the epidural was in the doc told the nurse that he just gave me the initial test dose and that she could push the button for a reagular dose when I needed it. That never happened. Dad fell asleep once the pain was a little better and I was hoping to rest for a bit too, but less than 30 minutes after the epidural was put in I needed to push. I woke Daddy up and rushed him out of the room to find a nurse. I thought I was crazy for feeling this so quickly but when the nurse came in to check me I had gone from 5 cm to 8 cm in less than an hour. Gretchen was called and came quickly to check on me. It still took about an hour and half to get to 9 cm, so we just hung out with Gretchen and the nurses. Meanwhile I hadn't remembered to push the epidural button and the pain was getting pretty intense again. Around 5:30ish p.m. Gretchen checked me and moved the lip of cervix that was preventing me from getting to 10 cm. (The same thing happened with Nora) Then I finally got to start pushing for real instead of just wanting to push. And I felt EVERYTHING! A lot of moans, dizzyness, pushing and pain later you were born at 6:24 p.m. It was the most empowering moment knowing that I pushed you out almost completely naturally. I am so glad I got the epidural because it helped lessen the pain of the contractions for a bit and honestly I think the labor is actually much more painful than the actually delivery. You weighed in at 8 lbs. 9 oz. and were 20.5 inches. A big baby. Which resulted in a BIG tear. Recovery went smoothly though and we got to go home just 24 hours after delivery to start our life together. Love you to the stars sweet Stella!

On The Day You Were Born: Nora's Edition

You were very content in my warm, watery womb. I had had contractions for months and a few "this is it" moments that obviously weren't it. I was anxious for you to get here but it was probably a good thing you waited because a week before you were due I got a nasty head cold. I would not have liked to be that sick paired with labor. On your due date I may have cried because I was so huge and uncomfortable. I eased the waiting with frozen yogurt almost daily with Grandma Wagstaff and a last minute pedicure from Aunt Nicole. Your due date came...and went. My O.B. wanted to induce me two days after you were due but I told her no. I wanted to see if you would come out on your own. You didn't. You were already my sweet but stubborn little girl.
April 5th 2009, one week past your due date, I was induced. I woke early and couldn't go back to sleep so I enjoyed a long shower (last one for a long time) and ate some toast. Around 7 a.m. we arrived at LDS Hospital to an eerily quiet labor and delivery floor. Come to find out later you were only one of 3 babies born that day. It was General Conference Sunday and a beautiful spring day. They started my pitocin at 7:30 and because it was so slow that day my nurses spent a good amount of time fussing over me. My O.B. came in around 9:30 a.m to break my water. After that she didn't return until you were born. I knew then that I would be finding a different doctor the second time around! It was a looooong day. Although I had plans to go natural I look back and laugh at that absurd idea. I now know that Pitocin and natural childbirth are mortal enemies. Especially when it takes the highest dose possible. At 12:15 p.m, after the first session of conference, when the nurse came in to chat it up about how wonderful President Monson's talk was and I realized that I hadn't even noticed he spoke at all I decided to give myself a wonderful gift. An epidural. The pain was so intense I was almost blacking out. Daddy would talk to me and I wouldn't even hear him. He finally just took refuge on the couch with the Nintendo DS. The epidural was heaven sent. I got to relax and spend some time resting before you made your arrival....10 hours later.
During that wait we had some unexpected (and unwanted, even though I love you guys) visitors. I think you would have been born quicker had I not had that interruption and emotional breakdown at the surprise. Finally when it was just Daddy and I again things finally started to progress. By 5 p.m. I was at 8 cm and although I ate many a popsicle waiting for you to arrive and I was exhausted and starving. The nurses kept telling me I should be ready to push within the hour. I wasn't. I was stuck at an 8 until 9 p.m. Meanwhile your poor heart wasn't liking the contractions and your heart rate kept dropping. I was flipped from side to side to try and stabilize it. This was fine except the epidural was taking much more heavily on one side and I couldn't spend enough time on my other side to get it to even out. One leg ended up being numb through the night until about 4 a.m. Finally at 9:20 p.m. I started to push...and barf...and at 10:24 p.m. despite a cord around your neck you came out crying. And perfect. You weighed in at 7 lbs. 9.5 oz. and were a whopping 21 inches long. You had black fuzzy hair atop your little (HUGE) head. You stopped crying almost immediately and just looked around at the world. I was in awe at such a miracle. You didn't like to nurse, didn't like binkies and didn't like to be swaddled. You knew what you liked from the start and I love that stubborn side of you. You are just like your Momma! I love you to the stars Nora Ruthie!