Taylor's Birth

Well, I've made it to my last blog post!! I've been wanting to turn my blog into a book but was waiting until I had Taylor so I could post his birth story. I'm so happy I wrote all of these stories down for each of my babies. After this my blog will rest in peace while Chatbooks saves the day for my journaling. It's been fun Blogger!!

Here's my story, written after having him but just now getting around to posting:

Taylor Robert Lyman, 8 lbs 13 oz and 22 inches born July 28, 2019

I had an awesome labor and delivery with Taylor. Since this was my fourth time around, I knew what to expect and what I wanted. I don’t really like delivering in the hospital and was considering a birth center. But we decided to go with the hospital again because of my risk for preeclampsia and because they have a NICU. I also love my OB and wanted to keep seeing her for my prenatal visits.

Sunday morning the 28th I woke up at 5am to go pee and noticed I had a contraction that was a little painful. More than a Braxton Hick. Then again at 5:15 and 5:30. I started getting really shaky - looking back I think it’s because I was nervous and knew this was it. But at the time was still kind of in denial because really, what are the chances I’d go into labor on the 28th of the month for the fourth time?!! And they weren’t hurting much yet. But I woke Tom up anyways and told him this might be it. He packed his bag while I waited for another contraction. When it came we decided to head out and got to the hospital at 6:30. There was no traffic!! Which was a blessing because one of my biggest worries was getting caught in 635 bumper to bumper traffic.

They took me right to a room, checked me and I was at a 6. They got an IV and antibiotics done all in the next hour and a half or so. I was having pretty steady contractions but luckily they weren’t too bad yet and I felt ok sitting in the bed while they did everything. Everything looked good with the baby so they let me take the monitors off and brought me a labor ball. Then it was pretty much just Tom and I while I labored the rest of the time. I was surprised how calm I felt and how we talked between contractions like we were just hanging out. Kinda funny and nothing like what you see on the movies. I mostly sat on the ball and stood and kind of rocked around during contractions.

When the contractions became more intense and back-to-back I asked for the doctor. She was with other patients and would be there “soon”. I knew it was getting close because my legs were getting shaky and the only way I could make it through the contractions were by squatting. I was feeling lots of pressure down there - it was time. I finally had the nurse check me and she was like yep let’s get the doctor!

As soon as the doctor came in I sat right down on the bed, she broke my water and I pushed him out during the next contraction! It was hard but it couldn’t have gone more smoothly.

He screamed and screamed even while doing skin to skin. It took us a little while to decide on a name, and I think it fits him perfectly. We love our Taylor so much!!

Only seconds old here

He was our screamiest baby haha 

Tom holding him for the first time.

My favorite part of giving birth. Let's be honest, pushing a baby out sucks, but those first moments are pretty amazing.

Now time for Taylor to meet his future best friends.

First picture of our family of six.

He was our first baby that didn't have to do the bili lights! He ended up having breastmilk jaundice, but it went away on its own.

Time to head home.

Looking back it was such a beautiful birth experience. I feel gratitude for Tom, my mom at home watching the other kids, the nurses, the doctor, my freakin awesome body and most of all for my sweet little guy.

Jack's Birth

Jack was born March 28, 2017 at 6:19am. Here's the story, written a few days after I had him while it was still fresh in my mind :).

Well, time for the birth story of baby number three! Jack came a day before his due date. I was beginning to think he'd  made himself so comfy in there that he'd never come out. I'd had contractions for weeks but all just Braxton Hicks. My body was definitely prepping ahead of time since I was at 4 cm and almost all the way effaced before I went into labor with him. The night before I had him I went for a walk with my mom, which we’d been doing each night since she came into town. Then we watched some episodes of “I didn't know I was pregnant” (ha! I think this helped) I took a really long and really hot shower. Then as I went to lay down I started thinking about all the old wives' tales about making yourself go into labor. One thing popped into my head about being relaxed and trying visualization/meditation. I thought, why not try? So I laid there and pictured the delivery and holding my little guy and tried to visualize the emotions and experience. I fell asleep and woke up a few times to pee, then woke up around 3:15am to a painful contraction. I knew right away this was it. It felt different than all the other contractions I'd been having. I stayed in bed though to see if more would come. One more came ten minutes later, then another five minutes later. That's when I woke Tom up and was like "let's get to the hospital." I knew if it was anything like the last one that he'd be coming fast. 

We got to the hospital around 4:15am. They hooked me up to the monitors - which I hate - and had me lay in the bed for awhile. When they checked me I was at a 6. It seemed like they were kinda taking their time with everything, and I had to remind them that I was GBS positive and they were like “oh yeah better get the antibiotics started.” The girl doing the IV tried two spots that didn't work out. While waiting for them to come back and do an IV that worked I told Tom to go find the nurse because I needed an epidural. Our nurse came in and said “ok we have to wait for the IV and something else" (can’t remember). So we were waiting in the room for a few minutes by ourselves and man the contractions were coming! Finally I thought, what are they going to do to me if I get out of the bed? Kick me out of the hospital? So I finally just stood up and all the monitors fell off and started beeping. haha It is soooo so much easier squatting through the contractions and actually moving around than laying down like I was dying. At this point my legs were shaking really bad. Lots of pressure going on down there! I remember with Natalie when my legs were shaking like that it was time to push her out, so when the nurse came back in I asked her to check me one more time. She checked and I could see the surprise on her face. I was complete!

All of a sudden it got real and more people came filing into the room. They called the on-call doctor from my practice who luckily lived right by the hospital. The resident doctor who was already there was like, "I'm going to wait to break your water until the doctor gets here, but push if you feel like it." I pushed through a few contractions and thought I broke my water (later found out I was just peeing everywhere haha). The doctor arrived and they tried squeezing some more antibiotics into me. Then she broke my water and it was pushing time! After one round of pushing she said the baby was face up and when I started pushing again she somehow turned the baby so he was face down (worst pain I've ever felt!!) I'm so glad she knew what she was doing because he came out in the next round of pushes! She said if he stayed face up it would've been a lot longer and harder to push him out.

They immediately laid him on me and he was quiet for a few seconds, then started crying. I got to hold him skin to skin on my chest for the next hour, which I loved!! Tom cut the cord and took some pictures. I delivered the placenta and they stitched me up since I had a small tear. After all that we got to relax and enjoy the quiet and calm with our new little Jack. After an hour they took him and weighed him. Still can't believe he was 9 lbs because he didn't look like it. 9 lbs, 21 inches of pure sweetness.

First moments of life.

Jackson Ames Lyman

Sweet relief

 Moved to our postpartum room and caught this sweet moment with Tom and Jack.

Nat meets Jack for the first time.

Had to stay an extra day for his jaundice.

Little cuddle break from the lights.

Finally off the lights!

About to head home.

Trip to Boerne

We took a quick trip to Boerne on Valentine's weekend so everyone down there could meet Natalie. Even though it was short it was lots of fun. Tom and Natalie were both sick, and Grayson was getting over a cold, so we mostly relaxed and enjoyed being with family. I always forget how pretty it is in the hill country. It made me want to move down there. Let's be honest, I always want to move down there.

We got there Friday afternoon and fed the ducks and went to Tractor Supply. Grayson got a new little pig to add to his animal collection. Saturday we went to Outdoor World and ate at Red Robin. Then we visited with family and played around the house the rest of the day.

Here's Nat meeting Granny and my dad. Grandpa Allen wasn't feeling very well so we don't have any pictures with him.

Here we are hanging out and playing around the house.

One of my favorite places. Relaxing on the deck.

He loved the tractor.

Playing with all his new cars from Grandpa.

Fish tank at Outdoor World.

Grayson and I rode with Grandpa Whiting (dad) down to the creek. Gray had a lot of fun seeing the water pump and playing in the dirt and weeds. It was nice to sit down there with my dad and just talk and enjoy each other's company. It's such a peaceful place, and I'm not sure if it's nostalgia or what but I always feel so at home there.

We packed up and headed home Sunday after church. It went by way too fast! At least we aren't far so I can go visit more often.

Happy Valentine's from my little valentine.