Rachel's Birth Story - Not Your Ordinary Birth Story

Over the 4th of July weekend, we walked, walked, and walked some more. We had really hoped that our baby girl would come over that weekend because Jared didn't have class on Friday or Monday. However, despite all of our efforts, our baby girl did not want to come out, yet.

I was scheduled to see my OB-GYN on Wednesday, July 6th, so we went to bed on Tuesday evening planning to discuss when we could break my water at the appointment. Dr. Smith had said we could look at the beginning of the next week, but I did NOT want to go through another weekend pregnant. I was beginning to feel that our baby girl would never come out. I was even beginning to consider Castor oil. We had it in our cart at Walmart for one round of walking around the store. Then I decided to wait and see what Dr. Smith said at the appointment first.

But then at 2 am on Wednesday morning, I woke up with contractions. I started timing them, and they were coming every ten minutes. The doctor had instructed us to head to the hospital when the contractions were 6 to 7 minutes apart from each other since we had the hour drive. The contractions continued at every 10 minutes, but they started lasting two minutes and were quite intense. So I decided that since I wasn't sleeping anyway, I would get up and wash dishes to see if they started getting any closer together. We had some dishes that would have been stinky after a few days, so I wanted to make sure they were rinsed and in the dishwasher before leaving for the hospital. But when I started washing the dishes, I felt that my water had broke - not a gush, just a leak - and the contractions were starting to come every 3 to 4 minutes. I decided to wake Jared up and then lay back down to see if that changed how often the contractions were coming. Jared got things ready to go, including finishing the dishes for me, and then I decided that it was time for us to get Allie out of bed and get going. Contractions hadn't changed much and they were worse while laying down.

Around 4 am, we all got into the car and started heading out of Stillwater. We planned on calling Maria (my sister) when we were a little further out of town so that she could meet us at the hospital to get Allie. But when  we were about four miles out, a deer jumped out in front of us, and we hit it while going at least 65 mph. We pulled to the side of the road, and Jared had to climb over me to get out of the door because he could not open the driver's door. Jared then called 911 and had to stay on the line until the ambulance arrived. Allie was pretty frightened, so despite contractions, I had to go into "Mommy mode" and comfort her. I got her out of her seat and brought her up to the front seat with me. She was worried about Daddy as he had to run across the four lanes of highway to figure out our exact location. Luckily, she calmed down fairly well, though, once Daddy was back by the car.

The ambulance got there, and I had to get into it. I do not recommend climbing into an ambulance during a contraction. The plan was to take us to the nearest hospital, which was Stillwater Medical Center (where VBACs are not allowed), and then, once we were checked out, be transferred to OU Medical Center so that I could still attempt a VBAC. The EMTs had me tell them when contractions started and ended, and at that point my contractions were only 2 minutes apart and lasting about 1 minute. It seemed like an eternity to get me hooked up to the monitors and have my hep-lock put in. After it was all done, we were able to head for the hospital. They did not have any instruments to check on my baby girl, but they were able to tell me that my fluids were still clear. I figured she was okay, but I was anxious to get to the hospital to hear her heartbeat.

Jared and Allie needed to wait for the state patrolman to come and fill out an official accident report  (the deputy couldn't do it). After he came, everyone else left and they had to wait for the wrecker to come get the car. After a little while, the trooper asked how bad the car really was. It was still drivable, or at least it could move, so he had Jared pull it farther off the road so that they could get to the hospital. Then the patrolman gave them a ride to the hospital.

When I arrived at the hospital at 5:15 am, they had me get into a gown and then hooked me up to monitors. I finally heard our baby girl's heartbeat. What a relief! Then they did a pelvic check. I was very surprised to hear that I was extremely thin and dilated to a 9. I had the thought that I could have given birth naturally had all gone as planned. But I knew at that moment that I would be having another c-section; there wasn't enough time to be transferred to OU Medical Center.  Jared and Allie had not arrived yet, so I was then worried that they wouldn't get there in time. As it turned out, however, there was plenty of time. I had to wait about an hour and a half for the anesthesiologist to arrive. I don't know if I ever reached a 10, but I think I was probably really close as I did start feeling more pressure down low. Knowing that I had to have a c-section, I was impatient for the anesthesiologist to get there; I just wanted relief from the contractions that were pushing me closer to a birthing experience that I wasn't allowed to have. Jared was wonderful and helped comfort me through the contractions that continued to come every 2 minutes. Maria and Monte (Nikki's brother) also arrived in time to watch Allie during the procedure.

Just waiting on the anesthesiologist

Finally, the anesthesiologist arrived, and they took me into the operating room. The spinal was heaven! They didn't wait long to start once I was numb. They had actually cut me open before Jared got into the room. He just averted his eyes and came to my side. Our baby girl, Rachel Emily Gale, was born at 7:14 am. She was beautiful! There did end up being some meconium in the amniotic fluid, and the nurses pumped her stomach to get some out. She did not have any breathing problems, luckily. Rachel had a 14-inch head circumference, was 21.5 inches long, and weighed 8 lbs 10.5 oz. She was a big baby! The doctor then half-joked that maybe God sent the deer to prevent me from having to push her out. We were just so happy to have another healthy, beautiful baby girl.

Rachel fresh out of the belly

Mommy happy knowing that Rachel is out and healthy

Mommy meeting Rachel

All cleaned up

Rachel sporting the little t-shirts that the hospital provides

Mommy with Rachel in recovery

Daddy with Rachel

Such a sweet picture of Daddy with Rachel

Allie was excited to hold her baby sister. She couldn't understand all that had happened that morning and that baby Rachel would be coming home with us in a few days, but she was happy and in awe of her.

Allie meeting Rachel for the first time

Baby Rachel and Allie

Auntie Maria meeting Rachel

Uncle Monte meeting Rachel

Rachel is a much better eater than Allie was, but she did have a 10-hour stretch in which she would not wake up to eat. She was a little yellow, so the doctor tested her bilirubin levels. She was only an 11.3 (I forget the units), but the pediatrician decided to put her under the bili light for a day. (I had thought that one of the doctors I worked for in Rexburg was aggressive with jaundice.) Luckily, it measured 7 the next morning, so we didn't have to continue with the light.

Rachel under the bili-light, sporting her mask to protect her eyes from the UV light

We had some visitors while at the hospital. We didn't get pictures of all who visited, but we were grateful for those who came to see us. Here are some pictures of visitors and from our few days in the hospital.

Megan Linsenmeyer with Allie

Megan's son Blake with Rachel
(Blake is 4 weeks older than Rachel; they'll get to be little buddies.)

Grandpa Alton with Rachel

Mommy and Allie

Daddy with Rachel

 

Mommy with Rachel
(It's hard to believe she fit inside of me, especially when looking at this picture.)

Our stay at the hospital was not a typical experience, either. On Thursday afternoon, the power went out. There was an emergency generator, but there was only one outlet per room that could hook up to it. We used my outlet for a fan (the AC did not work with the power out) and Rachel's bili light (while she was on it). There were no lights, so the hospital passed out little lanterns and miniature LED flashlights. We hung the flashlight above my bed so that I could have light for feeding Rachel in the middle of the night. And I had to take the lantern with me to the bathroom. All in all, I was ready to go home to electricity, AC, and my bed.

Our car was deemed "undrivable" because the plastic cover over the wheel was resting on the wheel. So my parents, Monte, and Allie came to take me and Rachel home. Jared had to do something at school. The price of fixing the car is the same amount as what we paid for it a year ago. We probably will not get it fixed, but we haven't figured out exactly what we are doing yet. Luckily, Maria has a car that she is trying to sell, and we can borrow it until we figure out what we are going to do. (We don't want to buy her car, largely due to the fact that it takes Supreme or ethanol-free gas, both of which are more pricey.)

Rachel all ready to go home

Allie excited to get to bring Rachel home

Below are pictures of the damage that our car received. There is also a picture of the deer that lost its life on the day that we brought another life into the world. (That is a warning. So if you don't want to see a dead deer, don't look at the last picture.)

40 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Gale #2

Well, today is my due date, but no baby is here yet. With only 2 hours left to the day (in our timezone), I am not expecting her to arrive on July 2nd. Hopefully she comes soon. I am definitely ready to hold her in my arms as opposed to in my belly.

I kept meaning to take belly pictures to track my growth, but life was busy and other things took priority. I serve as secretary to the Young Women Presidency at church, and the first counselor in the presidency was just under four weeks ahead of me with her first baby. She has had her baby, but I was always so jealous of her baby bump. Mine popped out earlier and was bigger for the rest of her pregnancy. She does have more height... Anyway, on the Sunday before her due date (if I remember correctly), another lady at church thought it would be fun to get a picture of us two together. So here is a picture of me with my friend, Megan, at 36 or 37 weeks. 

Megan and Nikki
36 or 37 Weeks Pregnant

Despite the horribly hot weather, I got into my "picture outfit" today so that we could take a 40 weeks picture. Here is my big belly that is ready to pop.

40 Weeks

As you are all aware, I am hoping to have a VBAC. At the beginning, my doctor stated that my body needed to progress on its own, or I would need to have another c-section. So on June 6th, at my 36 week check-up, I had Dr. Smith do a pelvic exam to see if I was dilated at all. Though it wasn't much, I was happy to find out that I was dilated "a fingertip." The next week, at my 37 week check-up, I was dilated to 2 cm; and then at 38 weeks I was 3 cm and 50% effaced. I was very optimistic given my progress. Then we had my 39 week check-up this last Wednesday, June 29th, and there "hadn't been much change." I was honestly a little bummed by the news, but at least I am at a 3 and 50% effaced. Given that my cervix is dilating and thinning on its own, Dr. Smith has stated that if need be (after 41 weeks), we can try breaking my water. Also, given the fact that my body has progressed some, he would be willing to try pitocin as a last resort. Women who have closed cervix's have a much smaller chance of having a successful VBAC with pitocin, but mine has been progressing some on its own, which would give me a somewhat better chance. The risk of a uterine rupture goes up about 1% (up to just under 2%), so we can weigh the benefits and risks if we get to that point. But hopefully, my body will just go into labor on its own. We've been walking a lot, hoping it might help, but no luck yet. We'll let everyone know how it plays out. We can't wait to meet our little girl and hold her in our arms!

For those who are wondering whether we have picked a name, yet, we would like you to know that we have started to lovingly call her, "Gator." We are excited to be the parents of Allie and Gator. We have not chosen her real name, yet. And we don't plan on choosing the name until we see her. We have several possibilities to choose from, but we want to make sure that we pick a name that fits.