The Perfect Delivery...the Epidural Controversy

So after some thought, I just wanted to put down my feelings on Taylor's delivery and then let it go.

After I had Colton I wished I had tried harder at going all natural instead of getting the epidural.  I'm not sure why, but I have always been hard on myself...thinking "I could have done more" or "I could have done better".  So I felt like I let myself down.

When I found out I was pregnant with Taylor, I instantly thought "I'm going to do it this time" and waited until I was about 5 months pregnant to tell Kraig my plan.  He looked at me with the "you are crazy" look and then said "I will support whatever you want, however I don't think this is the best way to go.  We have had 2 great deliveries with epidurals that were very laid back and enjoyable so why mess with it?  You don't get a medal for doing it all natural and you don't have to be a hero."  I told him that I just wanted to do it for myself so it was something I was thinking about.  We didn't really talk about it much the next 4 months because I knew he didn't agree with me.  I didn't tell many people my thoughts because most people thought I was crazy for even considering it.  When I went into labor with Taylor I told the nurse I didn't want an epidural because I wanted to feel like I was in labor and feel as much as I could (since I felt like I was basically being induced).  The nurse said "why do you want to suffer" and Kraig and Dr Reiter both suggested I get an epidural.  I held off for a while, but then once my water was broken I quickly realized I WAS NOT IN CONTROL and for those that know me well, know I like to be the one in control (of myself anyway).  So I didn't like that feeling.

When the contractions got back to back with NO break the only thing I could do was breath through them with my eyes shut.  I no longer cared or knew who was in the room because the only thing I was concentrating on was getting through my contractions.  I didn't like this feeling as I felt like my body was in control vs. me being in control of my body.  The one thing I was really concerned with before I went into labor was tearing or hurting the bottom area as I had a WONDERFUL recovery with Colton and just wanted the same recovery with Taylor.  I talked to my Dr during my last month of pregnancy about the % of people that tear/hurt their bottom area when then don't get an epidural and he said that most people do tear because when he asks them to push they can't hold back and their push is so hard that they go too fast and tear.  This was one thing I did not want!  So when Taylor's birth came, I honestly can say I think it was the PERFECT birth!  Why you ask?

• I got to feel the non-stop contractions which helped me experience labor.
• I also got to feel part of the delivery since the epidural didn't take 100% on my right side.
• The most important part, was I was able to focus on the actual miracle of birth rather than focus on just making it through the next contraction.
• Also my fear of tearing never became a reality because of the epidural.  I was able to slowly deliver Taylor which made for the easiest recovery out of all 3 kids.  Honestly the hardest part of recovery was the first 2 weeks of nursing...that hurt but now that the 2 weeks is up I'm golden and it doesn't hurt anymore.

Another part of the epidural vs. natural thing was most of the women I have talked to that went all natural either did it because their labor was so fast they had not choice (but wanted one if they had time) or they were women who are afraid of needles.  I myself have never been afraid of needles so this was never a thought in my head.  The other thing is delivery is only 1 day in my lifetime and there are other things I can be competitive with myself on that will take more prep, etc (i.e. my half marathon last April and probably another half or full marathon in the future).  For those of you that have done it without an epidural more power to you...but it was not for me!  I'm too much of a control freak.  :-)

So thank you God for answering my prayer and knowing exactly what I needed.  Thank You for letting me feel just enough of the labor/delivery that I was happy with the delivery!  And most of all, thank you God for giving us such a precious baby GIRL!  I'm sure you were laughing at me the whole 9 months I was calling Taylor a boy!  You knew just what I needed/wanted (as you always do) as she was the biggest and best surprise I have every received!

Taylor's Visitors

One of the first pics after baby Taylor was born

Hospital Visitors

Granny and Papa

Nana and Papaw

Nona and Poppa Louie

Aunt Tammy with cousins Katlyn and Austin

Uncle Ryan, Aunt Lisa and cousin Kieran

Aunt Bobye

Cousin Kaeleigh

Aunt Mary Ann

Great Cousin Morgan

 

My friend Raegon Barnes with twins in her belly!  Can't wait to meet them!

Melissa Emmett and Keisha, Ryan, Jackson and Ethan Stearle stopped by the hospital as well but we didn't get a picture :-(

Visitors at Home

Carrie, Lori, Jen and Melanie (not pictured)

Jessica

Aunt Kissy, Uncle Brian and Ava Bug

Chad and Julie

Thanks everyone for all the food, clothes, gifts, etc!  We really appreciate it!

Taylor Marie Williams Has Arrived!

Thursday morning we headed to the Dr for our 8:30 am appointment.  Dr came in and said "ok ready to have this baby"?  He checked me and I was 3 cm and 75% effaced so he stripped my membranes.  He asked if we wanted to go to the hospital or walk around some and go later.  I told him I wanted to walk some but he was worried that if we didn't go then we would end up in the ER first where they would monitor me before calling him where if we went now he would call Labor and Delivery and have them get us a room set up without having to go through the ER.  That way he would not miss the birth.  So we opted for that.  We went to the hospital, got checked in and went to the car to carry stuff in.  We got settled in our room (room 12)  around 9:15 and by 9:30 am I was having contractions.  They were about 15 minutes apart at first and from 9:30 to 12:30 moved to 6 minutes apart.  The Dr came in at 12:30 and checked me and said I was 4 cm and still 75% effaced so he broke my water.  I have never felt that before because with Lauren and Colton I already had the epidural when the water was broken so that was interesting!  I told the nurse when we went in that I didn't want an epidural but my husband and Dr wanted me to get one.  She said "why do you want to suffer?" and I just told her I wanted to feel like I was having a baby so I wanted to at least feel part of it.  She held off telling the anesthesiologist that I wanted an epidural for a while.  When Dr Reiter came in at 12:30 he thought I was already on one and had pitocin.  I told him that I had never had Pitocin so unless I needed it I really didn't want it so we held off since I was progressing on my own.  The nurse told him that my lab work was not back for the epidural yet (thanks Maria) so that's why I didn't have an epidural yet.  After he broke my water the nurse asked again if I was ready for one and I knew that once the water was broken things would pick up so I told her to go ahead and put the order in.  Boy was I right.  The contractions went from 6 minutes apart to 2 minutes apart to 0 minutes apart with NO break!  They were back to back and so much stronger than before so I was glad I said I wanted an epidural.  About an hour after my water was broken the anesthesiologist came in and gave me an epidural but it didn't take on my right side all the way so in a way I got what I wanted...I got to feel something and was still comfortable (after everything I'm so glad I got the epidural).  I was 6 cm but quickly went to 8 cm and then 10.  When I was 8 cm the baby's HR went down into the 70's so the Dr and nurse rushed in and told me to roll over to my back, then to my side, etc.  That fixed the problem and the Dr said "either the baby is laying on the cord or holding it...they do that sometimes" but once the HR was back up Kraig was back at ease.  They put me on oxygen to make sure the baby was getting enough but luckily the HR issue was quick and we were back to normal.  Around 2 pm or so the HR started going down again but not into the 70's and the nurse checked me and said "that's why...the baby is right there" and she paged Dr Reiter who was in another delivery.  He told her to tell me to not push until he got in the room (since Colton's delivery was 2 pushes and he was here Dr Reiter didn't want to miss it).  So we did just that..we waited (not long) and Dr Reiter came in the room...got suited up and when I had my next contraction he asked me to push.  I pushed 1 time and baby's head started crowning and Kraig said "do you see hair?" and Dr Reiter said "oh yea...lots of hair" and he started to make a mohawk with the hair.  Kraig told me to look so I looked down and said "oh my gosh! It's got to be a boy!" (because Lauren was bald and Colton had lots of black hair).  The next thing I knew baby's head was out and he asked me to push again so I did and here was baby...Dr Reiter held baby up and said "it's a girl" and I in total shock said "OH MY GOSH!" and started crying.  I was in total shock and so was Kraig!  What a WONDERFUL surprise!  I just knew Kraig knew it was a boy based on the comments he had made over the last 9 months and was trying to hide it from me but was not doing a great job so that's part of the reason I was convinced baby was a boy but after the delivery Kraig told me that he did NOT know that at 18 weeks Dr Reiter tried to show him on ultrasound but the cord was in the way so he had no clue.  He thought it was a boy but was not sure so we were in total shock.  Our baby girl arrived safe and sound with 10 tiny fingers and 10 tiny toes and is a pound bigger than her brother and sister were at birth!  We are so in love!

Introducing Taylor Marie Williams

7/5/12

2:24 pm

7 lbs 11 oz

20 inches long

Sibling Love

Kraig's mini me in the girl form :-)

Another successful delivery for Dr Reiter and our family

Getting ready to go home Friday afternoon

Thanks to Nana and Papaw we were able to have Friday night at home just the 3 of us.  They kept Lauren and Colton until Saturday morning and brought them home around 9:30.  They were super excited to see Taylor and so far all Lauren wants to do is help me with Taylor or hold her 24/7!  Colton wants to hold her some too but not as much as Lauren...it's his age and the fact that he is a boy.  He will hold her and then want to go play with his trucks/trains/etc.  We are so in love and I'm SO glad we waited to the very end to find out the sex!  What a neat surprise!  Friday night Kraig and I watched the ultrasound video for the first time and the Ultrasound Tech put "hoo hoo" on the video to tell us we were having a girl!  Funny!  :-)

39 Weeks - Baby #3

We went to the Dr Tuesday morning for our 39 week checkup.  First thing Dr said was “are you ready to have this baby today” and I said “let’s talk…I really don’t want to have the baby on purpose today or tomorrow because of the 4th“ and he said “well then lets not check you because I don’t want to stir anything up”.  I then said “if you were going to stir the pot, when would you want to do that?” and he said “Thursday because I’m off at 12 Friday and am on vacation next week” so Kraig and I both said “perfect!”  So we go back Thursday morning and Dr Reiter will strip my membranes in hopes that it brings on labor.  It’s not a guarantee but it did work with Colton so hopefully it will work with this baby also.  Per Dr’s orders I am to relax today and tomorrow so that I don’t bring on labor on my own…so I think I can handle that for 2 days and let daddy do the heavy lifting.  :-)  So it looks like Thursday is the day!!!!!  Kraig and I had actually talked about Thursday because the Dr I don’t like is on call this weekend (from 12 noon Friday until 7 or 8 am Monday) and I didn’t want to risk going into labor over the weekend with that dr delivering…so when Dr Reiter said Thursday without us even mentioning it, it was confirmation that Thursday was meant to be the day (of course unless baby comes on his or her own before then which is fine with me too since it would happen naturally but yes I would like for baby to stay until Thursday if possible). So that’s our update for the week.  Have a great 4th everyone!  We will keep you posted on babies arrival!

Here are pics from Thursday morning...baby's birthday!

39 weeks and 2 days

I don't have any belly pics to compare because this is the furthest I've ever carried a baby.

Stats
How Far Along: 39 weeks and 2 days

Dilation: 3 cm

Effacement: 75%

Baby's station: Dr said baby is lower but didn't give me a #

Size of baby: Watermelon (19 to 22 inches long and 6-9 lbs)

Baby's Heart Rate: 153

Measurement: I'm not sure because I was so excited to meet baby that day I didn't ask

Blood Pressure: 114/72 (mine is always low)

Weight Gain: -1 pounds so a total of 22 pounds

Maternity Clothes: Um Yes!

Gender: It's a Surprise!

Movement: All the time and in my ribs!  Ouch!

Sleep: Last night both Kraig and I actually slept great!  I did have contractions from 3-4 am but that could have just been nerves.

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks contractions, sore ribs and some nerve that feels like a charlie horse down the inside of my leg when baby hits it just right...but that's all to be expected and I try not to complain since this is what I wanted.  :-).  The heart burn and acid reflux has gotten better in the last week which is probably because baby is starting to drop!

What I miss: Being able to bend over or stand up normally...but this too shall pass!  Also being able to hold Lauren.  She has been wanting me to hold her for a while now but since she is 40 pounds I can't lift her so I'm looking forward to holding my baby girl!

Cravings: Anything sweet.

Best Moment this week: Soaking up the last few moments of feeling baby move in my belly.

What I am looking forward to: Seeing my baby for the first time!

Pregnancy Pic's with the kids

I've had pictures taken with each pregnancy so I wanted to make sure I got some with this baby also.  Kraig took some pictures of us this weekend and I think they turned out pretty cute!  Thanks babe!

38 weeks and 3 days pregnant with baby #3

38 Week Checkup - Baby #3

Yesterday was our 38 week checkup and everything looks great.  Dr said "oh you are right there...if you wanted to go into labor today it wouldn't take much" and I said "maybe next week but I would like for baby to gain some chub".  Currently everyone is back in town so I would be ok with baby coming anyday as long as he/she is healthy but Saturday Kristen is going out of town for her anniversary and won't be back until Thursday the 5th so she would prefer we waited until she got back; however baby has been in the works for 9 months and her trip was planned 2 weeks ago, so she understands if baby comes before she is back.  Spencer is also leaving for a mission trip on July 3rd and won't be back for 2 months so there is a pretty good chance he will miss baby being born as well.  :-(  That's ok...they will see baby when they all get back and we will send them pictures and text letting them know if baby is boy or girl!  There is a full moon on the 3rd AND my dr is on call that day too so we shall see!

My helpers this morning giving the baby some love!

Stats
How Far Along: 38 weeks

Dilation: 1-2 cm (dr said almost 2)

Effacement: 50% (same as last week)

Baby's station: Dr said "baby is right there and lower than last last week" but I didn't get a # and head is still down

Size of baby: Watermelon (19 to 22 inches long and about 7 lbs)

Baby's Heart Rate: 145

Measurement: 37 cm

Blood Pressure: 110/72 (mine is always low)

Weight Gain: 2 pounds so a total of 23 pounds so far

Maternity Clothes: Um Yes!

Gender: It's a Surprise!

Movement: All the time and in my ribs!  Ouch!

Sleep: Not great but that is to be expected.  I've been having lots of braxton hicks contractions (including in the middle of the night) but they are not regular so nothing to worry about...but it does keep me up and then I can't go back to sleep.  My internal alarm clock is still waking me up at about 5:30 or 5:45 each morning.

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks contractions, acid reflux, heart burn, sore ribs and some nerve that feels like a charlie horse down the inside of my leg when baby hits it just right...but that's all to be expected and I try not to complain since this is what I wanted.  :-).

What I miss: Being able to bend over or stand up normally...but this too shall pass!

Cravings: This last week it's been ice cream!

Best Moment this week: Last night we felt a knee or elbow or something very pointy poking out of the side of my stomach.  It was crazy because you could just tell baby was trying to get comfortable but is just out of room so it was neat to know what we just felt!  Also Lauren and Colton are getting excited for baby and Colton is starting to understand more and said "can we play with it" when Kraig said that baby would be here very soon.  So I thought that was sweet!

What I am looking forward to: Seeing my baby for the first time!

37 Week Checkup - Baby #3

We had our 37 week check up Tuesday morning and all looks well!  Dr said to take it easy this weekend just to get a little further along, but we are now officially full term so baby could arrive anytime.  I'm not expecting him/her to come this early as Lauren and Colton were born at 9 and 10 days early, but not a bad idea to take it easy as a precautionary measure.

37 weeks with Lauren, Colton and Baby Williams

Stats
How Far Along: 37 weeks

Dilation: 1 cm

Effacement: 50% (last week I was at 0)

Baby's station: Still high but lower than last last week.  Dr said -3 station and baby is head down

Size of baby: Watermelon (19 to 22 inches long and about 6.5 lbs)

Baby's Heart Rate: 152

Measurement: 36 cm

Blood Pressure: 102/70 (mine is always low)

Weight Gain: 0 pounds so a total of 21 pounds so far

Maternity Clothes: Um Yes!

Gender: It's a Surprise!

Movement: Poor guy or girl is running out of room!  Sometimes I bend over and think I hurt him/her because it hurt some organ on MY inside!

Sleep: Not great as I wake up often to either go to the bathroom or change positions because of my hips/acid reflux/heart burn but I would still consider this normal for someone at the stage I'm at.  My internal alarm clock wakes me up at about 5:30 or 5:45 each morning.

Symptoms: Acid Reflux and heart burn are still lingering and I'm still feeling some light cramps every once in a while.  The baby is also hitting some nerve in my legs every once in a while because this stops me in my tracks at times and feels like I'm getting a charlie horse down the inside of my thighs.

What I miss: Being able to bend over or stand up normally...but this too shall pass!

Cravings: This last week it's been ice cream!

Best Moment this week: Watching my belly just roll around and hearing my baby's heart beat! 

What I am looking forward to: Seeing my baby for the first time!