And yes, I used the stairs every time I went to an appointment. A small victory, yes, but it meant something to ME that I could do it as huge and awkward as I was.
Anyway, this appointment included a sonogram to see how big baby was. I'd never done one that late, but I'd also gotten horrifically sick and been in antipartum with the first 2, so I had more recent sonos with them.
I was excited to see his little profile one more time. I got ready and hopped up on the table and that's where the birth story begins.
Immediately upon doing her measurements, the sono tech at my OB office told me my fluid levels look low. Then she started saying, with more edge in her voice, that they looked really low. After a few minutes she informed me that 15 is what they're looking for. Really anything between 10 and 20 is acceptable. 8 and below means baby induction that day. I was at 6.
A little stunned, I went into crisis mode. I texted my husband and told him we might be having a baby that day. Then I started making a checklist on my phone of who I needed to call and what needed to be done. Then I tried to remember if I'd shaved my legs.
Dr. came in and asked how I was feeling. I responded "tired". Then she asked, "How do you feel about having a baby today?"
I could have cried I was so happy. I may have had a little emotional moment. The end was in sight!! I, of course, said something along the lines of hurray and she told me to head over to the hospital. I asked if I could go home and get my bag and she said no. Apparently, I picked the day she had to catch a flight out of town.
I texted my husband again and let him know it was time to go and to grab my bag and some other things at the house and then meet me at the hospital. I called my mom, who didn't answer her phone and royally freaked me out. Luckily, my dad answered his phone because mom wasn't MIA, but just recovering from sinus issues. We worked out that they would go grab Trenton and Carter and meet us at the hospital, too. I called my boss and let him know that I wouldn't be coming in and would be otherwise occupied that day and that was it. I didn't let any of my friends or family know. I just wanted to relax and do this without having to worry about keeping anyone updated or my {or my husband's} phone going off constantly. And what a fun, unexpected announcement to get to make! No one was expecting little man to be born that early. I was still 11 days away from my induction day... which was 5 days earlier than my due date!
All aflutter with nerves, I parked and walked into the hospital. I got into an L&D room and got ready. I answered a million questions, got hooked up to an IV, got the fetal heartbeat monitor on, etc. My husband showed up during all this with all our bags and he settled into the {broken} recliner next to the bed. I got my pitocin started at 10 'til noon. Which seems like forever since my appointment that morning had been at 9:30 am. My doctor came by soon after that and broke my water fully {we aren't sure if it had been leaking before that} and told me apologetically that her cut off time was 5pm. Otherwise she'd miss her flight.
A short time after that I got my epidural and things progressed from there. I slowly dilated while we waited in the room. My parents and the kids came in and out, hanging out with me for short spurts then heading back to the much more fun kids' area of the waiting room.
At some point, far into the throughs of labor, I was dilated to 7 or 8 and my epidural wore off. Trenton was in the room watching spongebob and I slowly started noticing I could move my legs with zero problem and there was no tingle that goes with the numbness of that tube in my spinal cord. Then I had a contraction. Holy.Crap. I tried, in my best calm mom voice, to rationally explain that Trenton needed to go back to the waiting room. I didn't want him to hear me cry or scream and I could feel that things were going to get ugly in that room pretty quick. However, since I could barely talk, I squeaked out something less than poetic, got T back to the waiting room, and hit my nurse call button. Long story short, the anesthesiologist had to come back in twice to shoot me up with something progressively stronger to block out the pain. She promised pain free but able to push. And after her last appearance, she delivered. Just like that, I was me again. No pain and ready to get it over with.
Sadly, we didn't make my doctor's cut off. She had to go. She apologized profusely, but her partner would deliver my baby. Which was fine. I've had to see her for various reasons on occasion and I really like her. So it wasn't a huge deal.
The time came and the room started bustling with activity. Nurses everywhere, lights being adjusted, gloves snapping on and my husband constantly asking if he was in the way, lol. The doctor showed up and it was time!
At 5:51 PM, after 2 pushes, Tanner McMahen Durbin was born.
Then things started to blur. They laid him on my tummy to clean him off and everything felt so surreal. I talked to him and ran my fingers over his face and head while he laid there objected to this intrusion by crying his tiny baby cry. It's so amazing to realizing your living in a moment where there's a person lying on your stomach that has been LIVING IN YOU for 9 months. Scott cut the cord while this little nugget peed AT him, lol.
Anyway, after a while, they took him to be weighed and measured and further cleaned while I dealt with the last birth phase (placenta) and got my lady business repaired. After a few minutes the doctor started talking about how lucky our baby was. She held up his umbilical cord and there were 2 huge knots in it. She mentioned this is rare and she hadn't seen 2 knots in FOREVER. I was kinda in lala land, so I didn't think about it until later when I did some research on it and... wow.
Having a true knot is rare. And dangerous. Babies can get their oxygen cut off when these knots get tight. They die. It's horrible. Having TWO knots is EXTREMELY rare. So scary when I think about the different ways this could have played out. Tanner's safety proves God's hand in our lives for sure.
Anyway, after all was said and done, he was weighed and measured and we were left to cuddle our newborn son. Such a surreal and amazing moment.
FYI, I'm not breastfeeding in this picture. Just doing the recommended skin to skin bonding. They actually stick the baby IN the gown after delivery. It helps with the baby's heart rate, body temp, etc. This picture just has the added bonus of post baby cleavage.
My parents and kids came in soon afterward and everyone meet Tanner for the first time. His brother's reactions are priceless and I will never forget them. Trenton cried. It was the sweetest thing EVER. Made me want to start crying. What an amazing heart that kid has.
Carter rushed in, ran over to my bed where I was holding the baby and immediately asked, "What happens if I poke it?". Lol. That kid. He later gave Tanner kisses and declared him a "cute baby", but I was initially scared of what experiments he might try on his little brother.
First bath in the Labor and Delivery room
My 8 pound and 19 inch chunky monkey!
The next few days of hospital life are pretty normal. Sleepy new parents trying to sleep while everyone employed at the hospital does their best to walk into our room as soon as we've gotten him to sleep or fallen asleep ourselves. The boys stayed with Nana and Popaw while we were in the hospital. They brought them up to hang out with their new little bro several times and, of course, to see Tanner themselves.
Trenton was so excited to have won this bear for Tanner at Cici's the night Tanner was born. They left the hospital with Nana and Popaw and stopped there to eat. True to Trenton's sweet nature, he was thinking of his new baby brother instead of himself. Such a sweet and amazing kid.
Tanner, after meeting Trenton and Carter, sent his new big brothers warm cookies and brownies that were delivered to the hospital because they are incredible kids.
On our last night at the hospital, we had our yummy celebration dinner. Lobster and steak with yummy sides and chocolate cake. So good. The food at Baylor Frisco is so good. They have a genuine chef instead of the stereotypical hairnet lady dishing out slop.
We came home Saturday afternoon. After my nurse loaded me up with freebies from the hospital (like ice packs, tubes of lanolin, and those knit undies. I love those. Having a baby is messy. I love having undies I can just toss after wearing) we got ready for discharge.
We got Tanner dressed in his going home outfit, an adorable gray running suit with and elephant on it. So sweet!
But when she came with the wheelchair, Scott was downstairs giving my parents the keys to the car so they could take one of our cars home for us. Since I had to leave in a wheelchair and he has to carry the baby out in the car seat {hospital policy}, my nurse gave us another meal since the trays were being delivered. Service/customer care there is awesome.
After eating, we headed home. And it was SO nice to be home. Carter was waiting for us with Nana and Popaw at the house when we got there. Trenton was with his dad so we started life at home as a family of 5 with him in spirit.
And that's the story! Tanner's almost a week old now, and such a cutie. His brothers have been so good to and about him. I love my boys so very much. I am a monumentally blessed lady. My kids and my husband are the absolute best.
And now, random hospital pictures!
Exciting story! Glad you are all happy and healthy! Pinch those little baby thighs for me!! He's really cute!
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