mOTHERHOOD
Lucy’s Birth Story - July 29,2018
Allie was 41 weeks pregnant (plus one day) and felt very physically uncomfortable. Mentally, each day post due date was agony for Allison. Rob & Allie went on a date every day she was overdue The last date we went on, Allie put on a red dress &make up and went to Able Brewery to celebrate Andy & Andrea’s engagement. Saturday Allison woke up with an abundance of energy feeling the urge to walk. With Finn in tow, we drove over to Lake Harriet and walked around the lake before 7 am. We walked three miles in an hour and half on a gorgeous sunny day. After the walk, we headed home and relaxed for an hour before joining Bob, Kathi and Kristie at the Mill City Farmers Market and newly minted Trader Joe’s
In total we walked 5 miles that day. At Trader Joe’s we picked up an entire fresh pineapple, following the advice of a random old wives’ tale (after spicy food, curb walking, and squats failed to produce results). Rob cut up the entire pineapple and Allie went to town. Allie stayed up late till around 11 and hit the hay. Rob, anxious and unable to sleep, found himself watching the USS Indianapolis on Netflix when Allie awoke with a start to use the restroom. Upon using the toilet, Allie noticed that she had lost her mucus plug – a telltale sign of early labor. This mucus plus loss was accompanied by regular contractions which led the pair to believe this was the real deal. We kept our cool, gathered some food together, cleaned the kitchen, and said goodbye to Finny before heading to the hospital at 4 AM. Upon arrival at 4:30, we were directed to a triage room where they took initial measurements on Allie & Baby T. During the 20 minute test, we were able to see the change in contractions on the scope and saw that Allie’s cervix had dilated to 3 cm with 75% effacement. The nurse, a student intern, wanted to send us home after we failed to make meaningful progress in the two hours we were in triage. Despite this lack of observable progress, Allison knew that she was moving towards delivery with each contractions. During this time, Pat and Kelley provided reinforcements in the form of Starbucks coffee and breakfast sandwiches, and Pat’s loud timbre. Pat chose to wear the Kelley green shirt that we got for him as a gift on our mini moon to Pebble Beach. The nurses gave us two options: head home and come back when the contractions are stronger/closer together, or Allison receive an IV of Pitocin to be induced. Allie could feel the contractions increasing in intensity and felt that leaving the hospital was not an option. She was disappointed that the only way she could stay was to leverage Pitocin, but eventually agreed to get the IV to stay at the hospital. Luckily, the nurse shift changed during this difficult decision which allowed more time for Allie’s body to progress. Upon a check by the new nurse, her cervix had progressed to 4 cm dilated and 85% effaced which showed that Baby T was on the way
Following this update, the nurses formerly checked us into and moved us into the room in which Allie would labor and deliver. In fact, this was the very same room that we had toured many months prior full of natural light on this beautiful sunny July Sunday
At this point, we met our new nurse Kelly who would ultimately help us deliver our beautiful, bouncing baby girl. Kelly, in a previous career, had worked as an administrator in the same department as Kathi at Augsburg College – what a small world!
Kelly was nice, amiable, and welcoming to the entire family by honoring our birth plan and coaching Allie through each stage of labor with a subtle touch. Allie’s contractions were extremely painful at this point forcing her to labor in many positions around the room: in bed, in the chair, on the toilet, standing up. After a few hours of this brand of contractions, the nurse said she was going to give us 15 minutes to cool down. Allie went to the bathroom and found a large gush of blood and a fully dilated cervix, indicating that we were ready to push Baby T out! Also at this point, the nurse speculated that Baby T had meconium based on some discharge in Allie’s vaginal cavity. Allie returned to bed around 12 noon, and readied herself for the marathonian task ahead. Shortly after starting to push during her contractions, brother Pat & Carrie poked their heads into the room to wish Allie good luck. Upon seeing the scene set before them, both young lawyers were left slack jawed with eyes before backpedaling out of the room slowly. Needless to say, things had reached a fever pitch by this point. Allie pushed in this manner for an hour and a half before we were able to see Lucy’s full head of hair during contractions. At this point, nurse Kelly rolled in a massive mirror to allow Allie to witness her progress and what was to come: Baby T. The nurse asked Rob & Kelley to hold Allie’s legs as she pushed which was difficult and very involved at the same time. Ten minutes later, the nurse called in Doctor Hallman to supervise the rest of the delivery. Small world, Dr. Hallman went to St Thomas Academy and Allie’s family goes way back with the Hallman clan. Mr. O’Neill spent more than 15 minutes telling war stories with the Dr. in the hallway prior to his entrance on the scene. The Dr. was cool, calm, and collected and brought an air of confident command to the otherwise hectic room. At this point, Kelley’s leg holding duties were relieved by nurse Kelly as Dr. Hallman stepped into the catching position between Allie’s legs. Dr. Hallman tried to coach Allie into delivering little Lucy on her own, asking her to push hard three times. Ultimately, Dr. Hallman manually manipulated the skin around Lucy’s head to allow her to come into the world. As a result, Allie sustained a minor tear which Dr. Hallman stitched up while they took Lucy to the NICU team standing by. The umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck, and she had meconium which made it difficult for her to breathe. With the quick action of the NICU team, however, Lucy was crying up a storm which was music to our ears. Lucy went skin to skin with Allie and then Rob to begin the connection. We shared our beautiful baby girl with Rob’s family & Allie’s family.
Monthly Updates
Four month update
It has been another extraordinary month with our amazing Lucy. She has continued to grow and develop rapidly. I often have found myself amazed how she grows overnight. She has become more aware of her surroundings every day and has turned into a little person! She has dazzled us as the happiest and cheeriest baby ever. Lucy has been so content and smiley. I could spend every minute of every day with her and never tire of her. I am happy that we have developed a routine with napping and feeding. Unfortunately, though, we still cannot get her to go to sleep before 11pm - she wants to stay up and party with me, Rob, and Finn! I went back to work this month and we are still figuring out our new routine. Lucy is adapting so well to me going back. I am so incredibly fortunate I can leave her at home with my Mom and Rob for the next couple months. It definitely makes the return to work transition easier.
Weight and length
Lucy is over 14 pounds! She is now in 6-9 month clothes and is growing so fast. She is in the 50% for weight, and 80% for height and head.
Feeding
Lucy is still exclusively breastfed, which I am really proud of. I have been feeding Lucy on demand for the 17 weeks before I went back to work right after she turned 4 months old. She is still hungry about every 2-3 hours. I am starting to regulate a little more after hitting the 4 month mark and am fortunate to be able to produce enough (and more) milk to satisfy her daily needs. I have 1200 ounces saved in the freezer which would feed Lucy for approximately 40 days. I do not enjoy pumping at work, but I know it’s important and so good for little Lucy :)
Development
Lucy is currently in her fourth mental leap, the world of events. During this leap, Lucy is expanding her skills and beginning to understand the world around her more. Lucy’s development continues to soar and be advanced for babies her age. She has incredibly strong neck and head control for her age. Everyone still comments on how alert she is. She is doing 2 hours of tummy time per day, loves to stand on our laps, practice walking, and practice gorilla sitting. We read lots of books and still look at contrast cards. Lucy loves looking at herself in the mirror and always giggles when we look in the mirror. She likes to mimic and chat with me, especially on her changing table. She is very vocal and likes to be engaged with, sung and talked to. She has rolled to her tummy to back a couple times as well as back to tummy, but it’s not quite consistent yet. She can grasp toys and her wubbanub – and my hair and fingers! She has a very strong grip. I just love her little hands. She still loves to kick, kick, kick on her piano mat play gym. She gets excited on her love every baby play mat with all the toys surrounding it, and likes to sit and swat at toys in her baby Einstein lounger. Lucy wants to put everything in her mouth and has been drooling more and more every day. I can see two little teeth on the bottom coming in. She enjoys the various teethers we have been giving her.
Sleeping
Lucy is a great sleeper! She is awake for about 90 minutes followed by 45 minute naps. She takes a really long nap in the morning (2 hours or so) and sometimes wakes up happy and other times mad. Lucy has been sleeping through the night since 2 weeks old, but she will not go to bed earlier than 11p.m. She goes to sleep around 11 and wakes up at 5 or 6am then goes back to sleep. She loves to stay up late and sleep in like her Daddy J She still sleeps in the bassinest right next to me, but she is getting too long for it, so I know I have to move her to her crib, but I am not looking forward to that! When Lucy was in utero, we went to sleep and woke up together for the last three months of my pregnancy and we have continued to be on the same schedule. I will miss sleeping right by her. Luckily, we did put her in her crib one night and she did just fine.
Rob and I love our Lucy so much and are just crazy about her! She’s the sweetest baby in the world.
Why I chose to have an unmedicated hospital birth
When I was pregnant with my first daughter, Lucy, I did a lot of research around what kind of a birth I wanted to have. I read many articles and talked to a lot of other women who had been through pregnancy and birth. I learned a lot from their experiences and took it all in until I knew exactly how I wanted my children to come into the world.
I ultimately decided I wanted to have a drug-free, unmedicated natural hospital birth. Looking back, this was the best decision I could have made for myself and my daughters. Being able to decide how I wanted to birth my babies is one of the most empowering feelings a woman can have. I loved everything about the birth experience and actually was always more nervous for the taking care of the infant part than I was about the actual birth process itself.
I signed my husband and I up for a Bradley method birthing class. It was a 12 week program where we learned about the Bradley method, focused on nutrition and physical exercise, and simulated natural ways to manage pain during labor. The Bradley method also focuses on the husband having an important coaching role during labor.
Although I did not want any medicated or drugs and wanted everything to happen naturally, I still wanted to be in a hospital setting in case things did not go according to plan. The hospital staff and nurses were so support of my birth plan and very respectful of my wishes.
Lucy and Liv’s labor experience are my most favorite memories. They both went according to my birth plan and came into the world quick and peacefully. I did not rush them out, I did not have interventions, and I never gave up on the plan I wanted. I spent a significant time envisioning the birth process and preparing myself mentally for the marathon I was about to endure.
My favorite birth mantra:
My baby and my body know how to birth
Here is an example of our written birth plan we distributed to the doctor and our nurses:
Goals/Expectations
● Healthy baby/healthy mom! :)
● Vaginal birth and delivery
● We’d like to go as long as possible without medication and try other comfort measures first; if we feel it’s necessary, though, we’re okay with the use of medication.
● Mobility/walking/eating/drinking during labor
● I prefer to have my partner with me at all times and our doula in the room with us.
First Stage Labor (labor at home as long as possible)
● Please seek our informed consent for all issues affecting our birth and start conversations with us when there is a possibility that something might be serious, letting us know what all the options are.
● We would love to avoid an IV if at all possible.
● We look forward to the freedom to push in different positions.
Second Stage of Labor
● Please tell mom when to push.
● Please let mom and baby work at their own pace; as first-time parents we are prepared for a long labor. :)
● Ideally no episiotomy (unless for medical emergency/ripping in dangerous direction).
● If possible, please allow the shoulders and body of baby to be born spontaneously, on their own.
● Would love for a local anesthetic for repairs.
Third Stage of Labor (Natural Progression)
● Prefer placenta to be born spontaneously without pitocin or pulling of the umbilical cord, unless there are signs of hemorrhaging after the birth of the placenta.
After Birth
● We are looking forward to immediate skin-to-skin of mother and baby after birth (abdomen or chest if cord is long enough).
● Please delay clamping the cord until after it’s done pulsating and dad would like to cut it.
● Please conduct routine procedures while on mother and then after bonding and breastfeeding.
● Vitamin K shot ok after breast feeding.
Newborn Procedures (as much skin-to-skin contact as possible)
● We look forward to exclusively breastfeeding; please no sugar water, formula, or pacifiers :)
● Please do routine PKU testing after 24 hours.
If cesarean is medically necessary for baby/mom’s health:
● Please allow dad and Kelley to be present.
● Would love for one of mom’s hands to be free to touch baby after birth.
● Mom would not like to see the baby delivered—the surgical aspect would be too overwhelming.
● Mom would like to have skin-to-skin contact with baby as soon as it’s possible after birth and nurse immediately.
● If mom is not able to have skin-to-skin contact with baby for medical reasons immediately after the procedure, we would love to allow the baby to have skin-to-skin contact with dad.
● Please discuss my post-op pain med options with me and my partner immediately following the procedure.
**In an emergency, if baby needs to be transported elsewhere, please let dad stay with baby at all times.
Favorite products right now
Lucy often has boogers stuck in her nasal cavity. Honestly it has been a source of constant stress because when she is plugged up, she cannot sleep. When she doesn’t sleep neither do her parents. This snot sucker attaches to the vacuum and pulls the boogers out of her nose simply, quickly, and effectively.