Labor and delivery of Cooper John

It all start Wednesday night around ten. I was on the ground playing with Boone and felt a little gush. I looked at Cody and said pretty sure my water just broke. Contractions where very mild at this point so we decided to go to bed. I really didn't get any sleep, I started timing the contractions around 1 am they were 5 minute apart and I was bleeding quite a bit. I woke Cod up and said I think it time to pack up and head fore the hospital. This was so exiting, we got everything together and got to the hospital around 3. They let me go right to a room sense my water had already broken. I got checked and I was already a 4 and 90% effaced. This was good news to me, I was progressing and the contractions really didn't hurt all that bad. I was very confident that this labor thing was going to go fast and smooth. Well I continued to labor the rest of the night laying in bed trying to sleep in between contractions. Around 7am I was no longer able to just lay there. Elizabeth (my Douala) would use counter pressure while I was breathing through a contraction and that help so much. I was able to breath right through them. We went on walks around the hospital, rocked on the birthing ball, slow danced with Cody and sat in a huge tub all through out the day. Finally someone came to check on me at about 3pm they said I was dilated to about a 5 maybe 6. I started crying, there was know way I could continue for to much longer. I could tell I was becoming exhausted. Cody held me and reminded me that I could do this. He really gave me the confidence to continue on. I then got into the tub again. It was amazing, the tub is like an epidural in my opinion. Everything feels much better. Then around 5:00 my contractions intensified by like a million. They were coming super fast and SO HARD. I was freaking out, I thought for sure this baby was coming any second. The nurse came in to check and see if I was fully dilated and she said I was dilated to a 6 or 7 I cant remember. That was so hard for me to hear. I did not want to continue, I decided an epidural sounded pretty good right now. I think I even begged for it:) I wasn't able to get one right when I asked, they started me on an IV and gave me some drug that made me so loopy. They told me that I was going to feel like I was very drunk. And that it did, I always wondered what being drunk felt like. Well lets just say, I didn't feel much at all, my body was so relaxed, I could barely open my eyes. I said anything and everything that came to my mind. I laughed at everything but I could still feel all the contractions I was just to relaxed to really care. Around 7:00 my epidural finally arrived. I was very happy for this. I felt immediate relief. ( From what I had read in a lot of my books they made me think epidurals where bad, that they would take away the labor experience) I was going to try and do it with out one but I was still leaning toward getting one if I needed to. Well let me say, the epidural was nothing like I thought it was going to be. I could still feel and move my legs, I could still fell my contractions just not the pain only pressure. I was able to relax a bit and not think I was about to die. Cody really liked it too. He said it was really hard seeing me in so much pain and not being able to stop it.

Finally at 9:00 I felt like it was time to push. I called for the nurse and sure enough I was fully dilated and the babies head was engaged. Then the real work came, I had know idea how hard it was to push out a baby. I figured my body would do most of the work. Wrong I pushed with every last bit of energy I had and more. I pushed for about 45 min, which felt like a really long time but the nurses said that's great for my first kid. On average it takes about 3 hours. While I was pushing I really wasn't in reality. It felt like a dream, I couldn't open my eyes knowing that that would take energy. I remember everyone telling me the baby was almost there. and saying look at all that hair and to keep pushing. Finally I felt all the pressure go away, and I could hear Kara reach down and grab your baby. I snapped back into reality and realized I had just given birth to this amazing little child. I was able to hold him from the moment he came out. He was beautiful. I was sobbing, I looked up at Cody and he was crying tpo. That moment I will remember forever. I have never felt so much love at one time. It was amazing. I will cherish little Cooper forever and be the best mom that I can be.

40 weeks

Sorry, no baby pictures yet. I was hoping 39 weeks would be my last post.

Things are going great! I had a doctors appointment on Friday and I was 3 centimeters dilated and everything was looking really good (except baby is still facing the wrong way). He stripped my membranes again, it caused a lot of cramping and bleeding but no labor. I have been contraction A LOT but they never lead anywhere. I will keep you posted.

And pray that labor will start on its own and I wont have to be induced!

40 Weeks (I was having a contraction in the picture so my stomach is very round.)

39 weeks

So I'm kind of hoping that this will be my last pregnancy post. I think I'm done being pregnant. Not that it hasn't been fun but I really really want to meet our little guy. And 9 months is a very long time to wait. I'm starting to feel really large. My stomach has expanded to an amazing size. Putting on shoes is really hard, standing up is a challenge. And I think I'm starting to waddle as I walk, its like the babies head is right between my legs or something. Oh wait it is:) Its crazy that he only has a couple inches to go to be out of me but those couple of inches are going to be not so pleasant. I'm ready though! Let the labor begin!

Last week was good. It was my first week not working. Yes a quit my job!! Best feeling ever. I thought I would have oodles of time to get things done. But I swear I'm just as busy as before. I don't think life will slow down ever. And that's ok, I enjoy being busy. For pregnancy things are good. I had a false alarm on Thursday. I thought my water broke! This may be TMI .I went to the bath room and I was all wet. Like I had peed my pants:) But not as much as if my water had broken. So I thought well maybe I peed my pants, I did have to go really bad. So I changed myself and went to the bathroom later and my underwear was wet again. Anyways I got all exited and thought labor was soon to start. But still not quite sure if it was actually my water that had broke. There really wasn't that much water coming our. I called and talked to my doctor and he said it was probably the lubrication he used during the exam today. Gross! So no labor that day:(

For symptoms ....

My hips and super achy and wobbly. I am HUNGRY! I think the baby must be taking more because I am a lot hungrier. Stretch marks on my sides none on my stomach(knock on wood). My feet are staring to swell a bit. Boobs are getting a lot bigger and hurt. My back hurts!!! I have gained 24 pounds as of now. That really not much for being 9 months pregnant but to see the scale that high is a little scary. And I'm starting to wonder if I will ever look the same. And this week I have been tearful again. I blame it on the hormones. I haven't cried for months. And on Friday Cody and I went on a date to dinner and a movie. I stared crying on the way home. I had know idea why, I just felt like crying. Then Saturday at the temple I couldn't stop crying again. People were staring and I nice man even brought me a tissue to blow my nose.

Doctors Apt

I'm am now going to the doctors two times a week thanks to the ultrasound tech that measured my fluids wrong. So on Friday I went in after work and they watched the babies heart rate for about 30 min. The doctor reviewed it and said everything looked great but the cord is wrapped around his neck, not good. Hopefully that will change. Then I had an ultra sound to check the fluids around the baby and everything looked good but the baby had turned. So instead of looking toward my back he is looking toward my belly button. That's not goo either. I have now been on my hands and knees a lot to try and help him turn into the right position, I read that it is suppose to help them turn.

As I was talking to my doctor he says, I was really hoping that you would have gone into labor after the last visit. I ask him why, I am only 38 weeks I have 3 or 4 more weeks that the baby can stay in there. He told me that he has a bad feeling about me staying pregnant for much longer. Confused I asked if there was anything medically wrong with me or the baby that is concerning him. He said no but my gut feeling is usually right on these things.

My feelings on this are a little confused. Its seems a little unprofessional for him to just say that he has a bad feeling. Unless there is a real reason to be in a hurry, I don't mind being pregnant for another 2 weeks or so. I hope everything goes well and the baby continuous to stay healthy.

~PIctures~

35 weeks

36 weeks

36 weeks

37 weeks

37 weeks

37 weeks

On Tuesday I had a doctors visit, I was super exited because we had an ultra sound scheduled which means we got to see the little guy. Cody and I went to the ultrasound tech and she didnt say much but I figured everything was fine. Then we went up stairs to my OB and the nurse directed us to the ultra sound room. I thought it was weird to be having another ultra sound when I just had one. Then my doctor got to the room and told us that my previous ultra sound had shown that my omniotic fluid was super low. It was measuring at around a 2 and average is 8. He was super serious and said I would like to get the baby out no later than tonight. My thought was, oh geez this probably means c section. I really really did not want that but I wasnt scared and was ok with it knowing this what out of my control. Poor Cody looked like he was going to faint.

Anyways the doctor wanted to do another ultra sound to see what measurement he got and when he did it it was up to 8. Which is perfect, right where it is suppose to be. Because of that little scare he has me on high alert. He now he has been monitering the baby a lot more and having my come in twice a week for a stress test to make sure the baby is ok. Im really glad that is was just an miss reading but it got me to realize that the baby is going to be here any day. Im not sure if im ready yet. I would still like to decorate the babys room and clean the house really well. But ready or not the baby is going to be here soon, so I best be getting ready for him.

Oh and just for a side note... I was not very happy about this. When he check my cervix to see if I was diolated he sweeped my membrains without asking or telling me. Im only 37 weeks and sweeping your membrains will put you into labor if the baby is ready. I was so crampy and spotting for the next two days. Yeah, Im not to happy with him. But im not in labor yet so I think the baby still wants to cook for a while!

Week 33,34,35,36

Wow! Where has the time gone? I thought I only skipped one week. Anyways I will try and recap what has happened pregnancy wise in the last month.

This month has been great! I am actually love being pregnant lately.

I love the round belly, feeling the baby move, buying baby stuff, talking to friends and family about different baby and pregnancy topics. I really wouldn't mind if I was a week or two late.

I had both baby showers this month. One that my friends through me and one from my mother in law threw me. They were both so much fun! There was so much good food and the baby got so spoiled with gifts. This little guy has more clothes than I know what to do with, I cant wait to put them on him!

As for symptoms I really cant complain to much. I think I have it really easy.* I did get a few stretch marks on my sides but I have come to peace with them. I decided however my body changes it will all be worth it. *My back is bad:( It really hurts, especially after a long day of doing hair.

Other than that I cant complain. At my last doc apt I was 1cm dilated and 50% effaced and the baby has dropped and is in the correct position. He is all ready to come but I hope he stays in there for a few more weeks. Just so I can get the house cleaned and his room all decorated:)