First, I have to tell you from the very beginning when we found out we were pregnant and that our due date was January 18th, Michael started saying, "Maybe she'll come early and we won't have to pay another deductible, she'll just be covered! And we'll get another tax deduction for the year!" So he always said that she'd come early, more as a joke than anything, but Dec. 29th was the day that he chose as her "new" due date. I had to fiercely fight these thoughts because the last month of pregnancy is already hard enough. I knew I really needed to hunker down and settle in for the long haul after the holidays.
Michael had to work Christmas day, but had the 3 days after, the 26th, 27th and 28th off of work. So we decided to celebrate Christmas on those days. His parents also decided to come up on the 26th and 27th so that I wouldn't have to travel to Bicknell, 4 hours away from my doctor and hospital when I was so pregnant (and it's a good thing too!). We had a great Christmas with them, and enjoyed a little family time on the 28th, Wednesday.
Wednesday night was the first day after the holiday rush when Michael and I were actually alone and had time to sit down and really talk about our birth plan. Who would watch Levi, what days Michael would take off of work, etc. We were also juggling logistics of Grandpa Kay's funeral on the 7th, including having Dad, David and Jonathan (my brothers) fly into town and staying with us. So we ironed out the days he would take off, who we would ask to watch Levi while we were in the hospital, etc. I remember making a mental note that night that I still needed to pack my hospital bag. Oh, also, Michael had taken it upon himself to get out the baby swing and all of the bouncers the week before Christmas, just in case. I would just roll my eyes and be bugged because they took up so much room and I knew they could just be put up where the Christmas trees were once they were taken down. I hate that he ended up being right about that! Ha!
Anyway, we had just turned out the light to go to bed and I was gearing up for my day of travel the next day- I was planning to go to Costco to pick up the second half of my picture Christmas cards and order contacts to use my vision benefit for the year. I had been waiting to do this all month so was anxious to get on it. I also was thinking about my visiting teaching ladies, and how I needed to see them this week and bring them some Christmas cheer (these are all things that didn't happen, by the way, and I'm still bugged about it!). As I was mentally winding down I started feeling contractions. This had happened before so I didn't think much of it, and I thought if it was anything, it would wake me up from sleep so I might as well go to sleep. Plus she still wasn't due for 3 weeks!
Well, there was no sleep to be had. Michael had rolled over and dozed off almost immediately but my contractions were coming pretty regularly and were a little painful. They started at 11pm and about midnight I turned the light back on and woke up Michael and told him I was having contractions and he might want to keep track. In his sleepy stupor he agreed and then went back to sleep. I tried to wake him at the beginning of a couple of contractions, but it was obvious to me that he was really tired, and if it really was labor, there was no sense in both of us being sleep deprived. I'd go out on the couch and keep track of the contractions and come and wake him up if we needed to go to the hospital.
So about midnight I'm out on the couch, with my "Preparing for Childbirth" booklet the hospital gave me, keeping time of when the contractions start and how long they last. I was SO tired so I really tried to fall asleep and was hoping it was just false labor, but the more I kept time, the more I realized, there would be no sleep that night. They started out about 7 or 8 minutes apart, but then some started coming closer. After a solid hour of tracking and realizing these were consistent contractions, I decided to call the OB department in the hospital and ask for advice on whether or not to come in. On the one hand I didn't want to go and be turned away, after all I was still 3 weeks early, and we had JUST gone to see Dr. Nolte earlier that day and things seemed fine (in the Bio physical profile she was weighing in at 7.5 lbs and I was dilated to a 4, which I thought was a lot but the Dr. didn't seem to think was too big of a deal). In fact we had just scheduled that morning for her to be induced on Jan. 10th, so that we wouldn't have her on my birthday. Ha! But on the other hand, Levi came super fast, so I didn't want to risk not getting to the hospital in time!
So I called the nurses in the Labor and Delivery area and told them that I had been having consistent contractions for the last hour, and should I come in. The nurse said it would probably be a good idea. I asked if I should stay at home and labor a little longer, but she asked if I was Strep B positive. I responded that I was and she said in that case I better come in for sure because I would need to be on antibiotics for at least 4.5 hours before birth if I was in labor so they better get started. So I hung up the phone (I was in the closet trying so hard to be quiet and not wake anyone up) resigned to the fact that I was in fact in labor and I was going to have to go to the hospital in the middle of the freaking night and wake people up to come and be with Levi! Looking back I don't know why I was so worried about everyone getting sleep but me- I was having a baby!! But that's just the way my mind works.
I came out of the bathroom and woke up Michael and said I think we better go to the hospital. He started to get ready and I started to try to call my friend Teressa. I had arranged with her beforehand to keep her phone on at night so in the off chance I went into labor in the middle of the night she would come over and stay the night at the house with Levi. Well I called- no answer. Called again, no answer. Sent a text. I know how hard it is to wake up from a dead sleep in the middle of the night. So I call again and again and again and again. After 15 times I realize there's no waking this lady. So I call the one person I know will be up in the middle of the night- Susan. I say, "Hey, are you by chance still up?" She immediately texts back and says, "Yup, what's up?". I told her I was in labor and needed to go to the hospital and asked if she could come stay with Levi. She immediately agreed and said she'd be right over. What a life saver!!
And she did, she showed up just 15 minutes later, and we were out the door to the hospital at 2am. I had time to pack my bag and get ready so that was good, but on the way to the hospital the contractions started coming closer, like every 2-3 minutes. Probably because I was rushing around being frantic before. I started to worry that I might have a baby in the car! Michael was going like 80 mph and I just knew it would be the one time we'd get a speeding ticket. Side note- I've never been more grateful for seat warmers in my life! They were worth every penny we paid to have those suckers in there while I was having my contractions every 3 minutes. So comforting!
We made it to the ER and got checked in to the OB department right at 3am. I told them how fast Levi came and the nurse checked to see if I was dilated. I was already at a 5, so she called Dr. Nolte on whether to start the antibiotics. He said to get started so she hooked me up to an IV and I knew we were in business.
Ironically, once we got to the hospital, my contractions slowed down quite a bit. It was like I relaxed and so did the baby. But I still was having steady, but manageable contractions. Mostly I would just have to wait for a minute for it to pass, but the pain was definitely manageable. The nurse asked me if I wanted an epidural and I told her the pain was manageable right now, so no. But she said to be aware that it would take some time to call an anesthesiologist and wake them up and get them out of bed and over to the hospital so I should decide soon. I felt bad for both Dr. Nolte and the anesthetist so I was kind of hoping things would hold off until at least 6am so they could get a little sleep. Someone might as well! I told her I'd decide later.
By 5am I had only dilated to a 5, so we decided to go on a walk to see if we could get things going again. Well that definitely worked! As we were walking down the halls, I'd have to stop every few minutes and lean on the wall to wait for the contractions to pass. We walked and talked for about 15 minutes but by the end of the walk the contractions were starting to get REAL. I mean I started to remember what that pain was like and decided we better get back and wake up the anesthesiologist before it was too late like last time, and I'd lose my mind. So we got back to the OB department and immediately told the nurse to order the epidural. Got back to my room and all hooked up again and Michael again asked the nurse to get the guy on his way. Apparently he remembered last time too. Ha! I settled into my bed and just started concentrating on breathing.
They checked me again and I was at a 6cm, so the contractions were doing some good. I was squeezing the life out of Michael's hand every contraction and really hoping the pain relief would come soon. Well it did, and he was in my room by 6am. He administered the epidural and it was like sweet sanity returned to my mind and body. Oh the blessed relief. So nice. Not so nice side effect- having no control over my legs or lower body. Oh well, at least I didn't have to feel the contractions anymore.
I think I was so relieved again that my body just kind of kicked back too. I actually went to sleep for a couple of hours which was heavenly. It gave me some much needed rest and then the Dr. wasn't having to come in the middle of the night.
Dr. Nolte showed up about 8am and was like, "Didn't I just see you yesterday?". Ha! I like that guy. I like his sense of humor and feel really comfortable around him. He broke my water to get labor started again, and we were in business. Went from a 6 to a 7cm by 9am and a 7 to a 9 by 10am. I was kind of starting to feel the contractions again through the epidural around 9:30 but I had this nifty little button I could push to administer more medicine through the epidural. At first I thought I'd be tough and not do it, but after like 2 or 3 of those suckers I was done being tough. I'm pretty sure I pushed that button like 4 times in 15 minutes. Those must have been some strong contractions to get through that epidural!
At 10:15am Dr. Nolte made the executive command and everyone started readying the room for birth. The broke down the bed and put all these landing pads out, got out the heavy duty bowls to put the stuff in I guess, and the overhead headlights came on.This was it! Then the blankets came off and I was reminded how everyone and their dog gets to see you in your full glory except for you. And also, my legs didn't work so they were flopping around everywhere like a dead whale. Wonderful. One of the CNAs was holding my left leg, but I asked Michael if he would, and then he could see the birth too. I didn't know at the time that they have mirrors so that you can see the birth. If I knew that I would have asked because I'd rally like to see the crowning of a child sometime. And since I was numb and couldn't really feel anything, I think that would help restore some sense of awareness.
Which reminds me, I really disliked the numbness in the lower half of my body. I started to feel really heavy and uncomfortable, but around 10am things must have been wearing off a little bit because I had control of my right leg and that helped out a lot. I really disliked not having any control over my body.
Anyway, Dr. Nolte said, we're going to have you push during contractions so you tell me when that is and we'll have you push. Because of the medicine I didn't really know exactly when they began and ended so I kind of just guessed. The nurse would say push and then count to 10 while I pushed. Then I'd rest for a couple of seconds and we'd do it again- pushing for 10, and then again a 3rd time. Then the contraction would be over and we'd wait for the next one.
After doing this twice, Dr. Nolte asked if my other kid had dark hair, and I said, No, why? Does this one? He said, she sure does! I was shocked! Dark hair?! Where did that come from? And then it hit me like a ton of bricks- from my mom. From Margaret. It actually made me a little teary eyed. This child would have some characteristics of my mom. And that solidified it for me. Her middle name would be Margaret.
The next contraction came and again I pushed hard. Dr. Nolte had to maneuver her shoulders a little bit and I felt my body moving around but just like that, a baby came out. They took her right out and put her on my belly, all covered in the white stuff and that was that. I had a daughter. Welcome Alida Margaret Brinkerhoff. She looked so...strange to me though. Not like someone I was related to. I didn't think she looked like Levi either. It was puzzling to me. I was trying to figure out who she looked like. She definitely didn't have the Brinkerhoff pudgy toes- she had long delicate fingers and long long toes- I guess that's from me. She had a dimple in her chin and chubby little cheeks- that's from the Brinkerhoff side. And then of course the dark hair from Mom. Other than that, I felt like we'd need to wait and see what look she'd grow in to.
All the medical staff proceeded to do their stuff, and I just layed there with a little white slimy baby on my belly. She was born at 10:35am, like Levi's 10:35pm. I held her for 2 hours skin to skin while Dr. Nolte stitched me up and everyone cleaned everything else up. I wanted Michael to be able to hold her but the told me to keep her on me for at least 2 hours. I tried to get her to latch, and she licked and bobbed and showed interest, but no latching. I was ok with that for the moment and didn't want to have to start stressing about anything else yet. I was just so glad she was here and we were done.
After our skin to skin time, the nurses took her to clean her up, weigh and do some testing. Michael and I took advantage of the time and rested for a couple of hours after lunch. Michael had arranged for Susan Lupold to take Levi from Susan Rowser for the day and decided to go back to Duchesne and get him and stay the night at home. I was kind of glad to have some one on one time with the baby, and I knew Michael was exhausted as well and would need a good night's sleep. He told me he went to bed about 7pm with Levi in the bed awake, but eventually he fell asleep too. Ha, my cute boys.
Kim Wilson decided to come out that night and see the baby, all the way from Herriman, but she didn't get there until 7:30pm that night. She ended up spending the night and it was nice to just talk and have some company. We got ready to go to bed around 10pm, but little miss decided it was time to be awake. I ended up awake with her until about midnight, and tried to feed, but to no avail. I was so tired, I finally decided to take her to the nursery about 12:30am, but then woke up at 2am to get her and bring her back in the room. I started remembering that my last night of full sleep was probably 2 days ago.
Kim got up to drive home at 5 am and I got up as well. I asked the nurses if I could use a pump and started to pump some colostrum to give to baby girl in hopes to avoid jaundice and get my milk supply going. I was happy to be able to pump a little bit and feed it to her through a syringe. I asked about a lactation consultant, but as it was a holiday weekend (New Year's), no one was on staff, so I was again stuck trying to figure things out on my own. I did remember that my milk wouldn't come in for a couple of days though, so I decided not to worry, and just pump what I could. The pediatrician came in to see her and said everything looked great, just a little bruising on her face from delivery, but she had a 9.9 Apgar score and was doing just fine. They had to keep poking her heel every 4 hours to test for low blood sugar but she passed all of those tests. Later that day Michael came with Levi to do the grand introduction and Pam came as well.
Levi wasn't too impressed. He had just woken up from a nap so he was grumpy, but he did seem a little intrigued. He wasn't too patient being in the hospital though, so they just stayed an hour and went home. The hospital also has a strict policy about little kids, only being allowed to visit for 1 hour to prevent RSV. But that was enough time.
After they went home Joyce and Riley came to visit, along with Katie Pack who was working that day. It was really nice to visit with Joyce. It's easy to have good conversation with her. After Joyce went home, I got to just rest and enjoy the endless supply of food- which was good because I was STARVING! I felt like I could eat a whale! I seriously don't remember being so hungry in my life!! Every meal I would go to the cafeteria and get seconds, and snacks and anything else I could. Of course Saturday morning when I had just brought back a huge plate of biscuits and gravy and a muffin and everything else (while I'm supposed to be taking my blood sugar to check for diabetes as well) Dr. Nolte walks in and gives me the dirty eye, jokingly. I told him I was sure it wasn't a diabetic approved meal but he joked that if you're going to eat a muffin you might as well get all the good stuff and just eat the top with all the butter and sugar. I was glad he didn't shame me for being a pig!
Overall this delivery was so nice and comfortable. I felt like I knew what to expect and that was so nice. And it was kind of nice to be in the hospital alone to be able to focus on her and me, and just relax and recover for a day. I was kind of sad to have to go home! But I packed everything up and the nurses helped me and Pam came to pick me up on Saturday and we headed home- after making sure we could get her safely in her carseat and in the car.
I was glad that Pam had come up to help. Her and Michael mostly cleaned and that was so nice. The ward of course took care of bringing in meals so she didn't have to worry about cooking and she just played with Levi. Levi LOVES grandma and loved having her here. He was sad to see her go on Sunday, and so was I. But it was nice to spend time with my little boy again. I think he felt like I had abandoned him. It was good to be home and have some normalcy.
One thing I'll always remember about our first night home together was that Michael, about 10pm looks at me and says, "ok, it's time for bed, is she about done?" speaking of Alida being awake. I was like, "you've got to be joking. You know we have a new born here right? There's no going to bed when we want anymore. I have to stay up with her!" He forgets so easily. But I was nice and let him go to bed and went out in the living room to nurse her and let her sleep on my chest. She loves sleeping on my chest. She hates being set down. And I kind of love holding her and having her close. It feels so sweet and tender to hear her breathing and have her close. I'm so glad I have a daughter. I'm so glad she came without any problems. She's such a blessing! So excited to see what her personality is like and to watch her learn and grow.
I know it's going to be hard having 2 kids under t still haven't figured out a lot of the logistics. But I just think, there's no better way to spend my life than bringing these precious souls to earth. Yes it's hard, but so sweet and rewarding. Excited to be a family of 4! Let the fun begin. :)
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