Baby Barnetts and Parents Too!: March 2016

Psalm 139 says, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." I've thought about this scripture many times throughout this pregnancy. As a Biology person I sometimes struggle with the natural and supernatural. It's easier to accept the tangible. It's easier to look at my cycle, take an ovulation test, have sex (sorry if that's too direct for some but we all know about the birds and the bees--lol), and expect a baby. For a year I had a perfect 28 day schedule and I ovulated every month, so I expected a baby and it didn't happen. Then, in June, we saw those two lines and were overjoyed! But why June? What was different about June? The difference is that before the creation of the earth God had planned and orchestrated a baby named Hannah to be born on March 15, 16 and I would be her mom. From June to March she was knit together perfectly and on March 15 I went into labor.

I had prayed that it would happen on a multiple of "5" day because all of my other kids were on a "5" day, but I prayed super hard that it would be earlier than her due date. I even thought well I'll look at the time from conception and that is the 10th of March, so it'll definitely be then. With the contractions I was having I thought definitely she would be early. For two weeks almost daily I had contractions that were regular. Some days they were very strong. Some days they were every ten minutes for the entire day and into the night (through the night--or waking me up). I thought for sure she was coming early, or she would kill me before that point--lol. She was definitely hurting my insides, mostly my c- section scar and my pelvic bone/nerves. I thought for sure I had inflammation or infection because she was hurting my pelvis so bad. Then on the 15th at about 7 a.m. I knew it would be the day. The contractions were strong and lasting about a minute instead of the typical 30-45 seconds. Josh had the flu, and was passed out in the living room chair, but I woke him up and we called over his parents who were such a blessing and watched our kids (the kids who also had the flu for two weeks prior to this day and were still on the mend). We called my doula and headed over to the hospital to labor in the chapel area since I knew we weren't ready for triage yet. I walked, squatted, threw up my breakfast, and labored for a little while until Hannah popped out of position in my pelvis and my contractions stopped. I was about 3-4 cm at this point and Hannah was in front of my cervix. I'm not exactly sure what this looks like but I felt it. It was like she was pounding my pelvic bone. I was in pain, but not having contractions. SO we decided to go get lunch/breakfast. We went to Little Italy and sat outside to eat. I was having contractions sitting in the chair so I got up to squat each time a contraction hit. They were coming about every 3-5 minutes. I must have been a sight to see laboring outside with my throw up bag (haha). I walked inside to use the bathroom once and the staff looked incredibly concerned. No worries though I still had hours of labor to go!

Squatting and trying to get labor going faster

Squatting through contractions

Checking out the belly

Trying to get her to flip (she was sunny side up)

Next stop was Doris' house (my doula). I labored on the ball for a little bit and then she had to go to an appointment with her dad. So my instructions were not to have the baby in the next 1.5 hours (lol). I sat tight with no walking until she got home. Then it was "on!"--operation get baby out on the 15th (her due date). We started with the peanut (this large rubber ball that fits between your knees) and I had some strong contractions! This was probably 3:00 ish. Then we walked the neighborhood and they were about 2 minutes apart and getting stronger. We called my OB office to see if they would check me at 4:00, but they said no just go to triage. I wasn't ready at that point, but I wanted them to check me to maybe move things along faster. That didn't work out so we stayed at Doris' house until things really started to change. At probably 5:15 p.m. everyone knew it was time to head out to the hospital. My contractions were much stronger, coming fast, and I was throwing up again. I threw up about a liter of fluid that day--it wasn't fun but it helped push Hannah down. We got in the car, I got right out to have another contraction/squat, and then we were off =). We got to triage and my water broke there (I was 6 cm) at 6:00 p.m. I was lying on my side and just felt the warm water gush. In triage I requested an epidural. This was at about 5:50 p.m.. Doris talked to me about the epidural to be sure I wanted it and I was sure. I was handling the pain fine, but my mind and desire to birth naturally again wasn't there. I felt tired. For weeks I was having those contractions- and my pelvic pain - and at this point it was almost another twelve hours. I just wanted an easy birth this time! This wasn't a "pain decision" but a calculated one. I wanted to experience an epidural birth. So, I got into a position that I knew wouldn't cause me to dilate too quickly (because what is the point in getting one if it's not going to kick in right?!) and waited for that epidural ;). Doris says it was mind over matter because I held that baby in. She knew if I had the desire I would have gone from 6 to complete in less than an hour, but I didn't this time. I contracted through the epidural process, but I barely even felt the needle go in. About 15 minutes later I felt warmth traveling up my legs. This was very welcomed as I was shivering minutes before (transition). The epidural was indeed amazing!!!!!

Pre epidural serious face (6 cm/stretchy)

Pre epidural between contractions

Contraction

After epidural chillin' as happy as can be ;)

Wow, this is what an epidural does for you. Is this labor?!

Some more of the family showed up

I was so happy I kissed my flu ridden husband

When I started pushing dad hid in the closet

About 2.5 hours later I felt pressure to push. The nurse checked me and I was complete. I was incredibly surprised, happy, and amused that I was ready to push and only felt pressure. My joy was very apparent because my brother's girlfriend (who was in the room at the time I was complete) asked later if I was always so happy-lol. I was in shock I believe because my past two natural births were much different at complete!!!! So, we started pushing, doctor came in a few minutes later, and to our complete surprise asked Josh if he wanted to deliver his daughter! We all realized this is definitely a once in a lifetime event. Not everyone gets to deliver their baby =). I pushed for 15 minutes as the doctor directed Josh on how to deliver a baby, and at 9:03 p.m. our baby girl was born!!! I didn't realize that Josh literally did everything until I looked back at the photos (many WAY too graphic to post here). He held her neck, helped her twist her shoulders out, and completely delivered her--- it was amazing! I closed my eyes through most of the contractions/pushes, so I really got to experience the birth again looking through the photos. At 9:18 p.m. the placenta was delivered by Josh and the cord was cut by him as well. As for my experience I was able to feel pressure and knew when to push. I could also push with my legs which means the anesthesiologist was amazing because she seemed to give me the perfect balance between pain free and not completely unfeeling with legs rendered useless. It was a great experience I won't forget!

I get to deliver my baby?! Doc had just asked him if he wanted to ;)

Creative cropping and you see Josh delivering his baby girl with my mom in the background so happy =)

Everyone smiling ear to ear!

I love everyones faces.. Such an amazing moment

Daddy has a good hold on his girl

Amazing

She's blue but beautiful

Birth is amazing

He was crying his eyes out.. What a night!

Looking back at my four births I am excited to say I've pretty much done it all. Gabriel was a c-section after 30 hours of "labor" (I say this because it was called active labor since my water broke but I wasn't in pain that entire time), Liz was a completely natural VBAC with no induction or pain meds, Josiah was an induction, so not completely "natural," but pain-drug free VBAC, and Hannah was natural going into labor, with an epidural, VBAC. I was asked which I preferred now that I've experienced so many and I have to say if I did it again I would go drug free. Not because the experience with an epidural wasn't amazing, but because I realize that not every epidural will turn out as perfect, and if I wasn't able to feel my legs to move them, or to feel the pressure to push, I wouldn't have been happy with the experience. I also didn't like the way my back felt after birth, the inability to walk right away, and feeling the drugs leave my body. One other thing that may or may not have been caused by the epidural (but studies back up) is my milk taking four days to come in. With my unmedicated births my milk came in the second day. With it taking four days I had to deal with a fussier baby, no sleep for four nights, and weight checks at the doctor because Hannah went from 8.7 to 8.1, to 7.8 before going back to 8.1 at the first weight check to hopefully over birth weight at her next one this week. SO, if anyone is wondering/contemplating birth choices there is my analysis ;). Whether there will be a Barnett #5 I'll leave up to God's leading. He is the one, after all, that opens and closes the womb!

Cutting the cord

Most of my photos with her are topless (oops), but here is a sweet one I can share

Beauty

A daddy's love is like no other

My dad and I

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Uncle James

Thank you for being there again for us Doris Ann!

I give God all the glory and credit for my beautiful Hannah Elise. She was 8 lbs, 7 oz, and 21 inches long. When they put her on my chest I said, "she is tiny look at her!!!" I guess that is what you get when you are used to holding huge toddlers--lol. She is perfect and I'm so thankful for this blessing we waited and prayed for!

The kids are also loving her! Elizabeth thanks me every day for having a cute little baby Hannah, Gabriel says he can't keep his eyes off her she is so cute, and Josiah loves to sit by us and give her kisses while I feed her. All of my kids are such a blessing and I can not wait to see how Hannah fits in to the mix as we all grow together =).

First time we put her in the car. Josiah was unsure, Gabriel was SO happy