Beckham Coby ~ Birth Story

~There are a lot of things I want to remember about Beckham's birth that may be TMI for some.  So this is your warning if you don't want to read.

During my pregnancy I had prepared for a natural birth.  My birth plan was to just see how things went.  I was not against getting an epidural at all, I just wanted to see what I could do and how far I could go.  In the mean time I read up on how to get through labor just so I could have as much help as possible.  Coby wasn't a super fan of me waiting on the meds.  He doesn't like to see people in pain and always said he just wanted me to get an epidural and have it be easy; why would you want to go through the pain?  But I just wanted to see what I could do.

My due date was August 23rd.  August 22 I woke up and was just relaxing in bed.  I hadn't had any painful contractions.  Cramping here and there and lots of braxton hicks (those started on week 20), but they weren't together and there was nothing timeable.  About 10:00am I was laying there, felt something a little different, ran to the bathroom, and a couple minutes later my water broke.  The plan was for me to call the front office at Coby's work since he doesn't have his cell on him.  I called right away, receptionist answered, "hi can I put you on hold" click...  so I waited a good 5 minutes on hold.  Coby got on the phone, I told him my water broke but no contractions so no rush, expecting him to be in shock, but I got the most calm response ever.  "Ok, let me find someone to cover my shift and I'll come home after that."  I started pacing the hallway, bouncing on a ball, walking, bouncing, showering, trying to get things going.  I had contractions here and there but they weren't consistent or close together.  It would be 5min, 6min, 15min, 10min, 20min, 6 min...  Since my group B strep test was negative I didn't have to go to the hospital right away, but if I wasn't in active labor within 24 hrs, I would have to be induced.

I took about a 40 min nap since I hadn't slept most of the previous night, but had noticed the baby wasn't moving.  I poked hard, pushed on my belly, pushed on his foot, no response.  We went into the Dr's office for an NST about 3:00 or so just to be sure he was ok.  Baby was great but just wasn't moving much.  They said he was super calm.  Went home, more walking, more bouncing, contractions would start to get closer, then I wouldn't have one for 40 min.  Coby gave me a very sweet blessing then went to bed about 10pm.  My mom text me and said, shower and go to sleep and things will pick up.  So that's what I did, but I just got through the shower.  At about 11 things started picking up.  At midnight I started timing them with my phone and I had to start breathing through them.  They were about 5 min apart and lasting about a minute.  I didn't want to wake Coby up if we had a while so I kept timing.  At about 2am I woke Coby up since I couldn't talk during contractions any more.  We got ready, and headed to the hospital in a down pour.  (my mom told me that they had a bad rain storm when they were going to the hospital to have me too.)

After getting checked in, I was at 4cm (I can't remember how thinned out) and they were shocked at how low baby was.  They said he was at a +1, really low.  I got to my room and got in the tub to help with the pain.  My contractions were all lower belly, but what surprised me was how much rectal pressure I had. (see TMI)  It was so painful; worse than the contractions.  More of a stabbing pain then pressure.  They said it was because the baby was so low so soon.  I labored in the tub for about an hour and a half, got out and was checked and was dilated to an 8, baby was at a +2, and things were moving quick.  I was in transition and had the shakes really bad, but I was done with the tub.  I needed the bed for some counter pressure.  

After I got to an 8, my labor stalled.  I stayed in transition for what seemed like forever.  I got a small dose of medicine to help me between contractions.  It didn't last very long at all.  The hardest part was the pressure in my bum (pressure/stabbing... holy sheesh it hurt) and how tired I was.  I hadn't had any sleep in almost 2 days and was exhausted.  Also, I had zero sense of time while I was in labor.  I was just going from one contraction to the next.  Coby says he had to take a 5 min break and go in the bathroom to regroup because he was so frustrated they weren't giving me something for the pain.  Around 6:30 my mom got to the room.  Sometime around then my dear friend Chelsee Hunt got there too.  I really wanted some pictures of the birth; especially after taking them for others, and she was there to do that for me.  It was a sweet experience that she was there from my first fertility appointment to Beckham's birth.  We had come a long way since then with both of our journeys.  

I was barely getting through each contraction.  In my mind I was moaning very loudly, but everyone says I wasn't loud at all.  Coby would have to remind me to breathe.  He did so good at helping me.  Pushing on my hips and helping me relax.  I didn't want to move, I was so tired and shaking so bad I just wanted to lay in bed.  They had me get in the shower on the ball to try and get things moving (probably around 8??).  Coby held the water on my back, but the pain was getting so bad it was taking my breath away.  I kept begging for medicine to help me because I was so tired and wanted a nap, but every time they asked if I wanted an epidural I wouldn't say yes.  Coby was getting frustrated with me, "Ashley, you have to say yes and they will get it."  In my head I was trying to decide if I could do one more contraction or not.  After I kept asking for medicine I was so tired I said I just wanted the epidural.  I needed a break.  They said they needed to check me first to see where I was.  I was at a 10, time to push.  All I remember saying was I was so tired.  Coby and my mom helped so much just saying I could do it.  My contractions were still 5-8minutes apart so pushing took forever.  I'd push then have to hold it until the next contraction.  (although to me the breaks were needed, but they seemed to only be a minute apart.  No sense of time)  Baby was still super calm and was just taking his time.  His heart rate never moved from the 140's my whole labor.  

After about an hour and a half of pushing, my sweet baby boy was born.  It was surreal!  I couldn't believe he was ours and he was here.  You hold him for the first time and it just doesn't seem real.  Coby was the best help.  He was amazing and so supportive even though it was hard for him to have me do it the hard way.  I was so glad to have people in the room who have been waiting and praying for Beckham to get here and who have cried with me every time we had a failed fertility procedure.  We have been waiting for this baby boy for so long.  He came out with his hands on his face (just like every ultra sound picture), and cried for a couple seconds before he just settled in and was so peaceful.  These pictures are so special to me and I'm SO grateful Chelsee was there to take them.  

Beckham Coby

August 23, 2012

6lbs 12oz ~ 20.5in

10:27am   

39.5 weeks

It is amazing to me how fast you forget what it felt like to be pregnant after you have the baby.  This picture was taken Sunday, Beckham was born Thursday morning.  I can't wrap my head around the fact that my full grown baby was in there.  Amazing how bodies work.

39 weeks

1 week left.  WHAT?!  1 week???  Shorter, longer, who knows, but 1 week?!  Crazy.

37 weeks brought on new challenges.  I felt bigger, baby felt a LOT lower, sleeping got harder, rolling over took a lot more effort (I couldn't just heave my belly over, I actually had to get up on my elbows to try and get over), slight nausea has come back, and I've started to get a bit uncomfortable.

37.5 weeks brought on my first stretch marks; a few tiny ones on my hip.  If that's all I get I'd say it was a success, but lets not jinx it.  Yes, I'm blogging about stretch marks.  There are many other things that I am leaving off the blog.

38 weeks has brought back the crazy pregnancy dreams that I haven't really had since the first trimester. Simple everyday things are even more challenging.  Shaving legs is difficult, rolling over is getting harder, bending over is more like squatting and struggling to get back up.  I made Coby put lotion on my legs one night because I just didn't want to bend over and do it.  (first time he did any foot rubbing or anything... boy has gotten off easy)  With all this though I still am not THAT uncomfortable.  It is uncomfortable, even just sitting on the couch is sometimes uncomfortable, but it isn't that bad so far to the point I'm ready to be done.  I know once he is here I will miss the movements and the jabs and all the things that come with pregnancy.

We have been de-cluttering a bit and trying to get everything cleaned up.  The car has been cleaned, many errands have been checked off, everything has been bought, car seat is installed (I HAVE A CAR SEAT IN MY CAR!!! so weird), pack n play is up in our room for now, clothes are all washed and put away, diaper bag is ready, hospital bag is ready, a list is on the door of last minute things to grab.  People keep asking if we are ready.  I don't think you can really be ready.  I know a lot of changes are coming that we can't even process, but we are ready enough.  Coby is getting to the point of wanting to walk and jump and get this baby here.  I'm ready to just soak up this last little bit of time... it could just be denial.

~picture to come~

Young Women Baby Shower

Our ward was made last December (3 wards split to make a 4th ward).  I was called to serve in Young Women's as the Laurel advisor.  LOVE this calling, I have incredible girls, and I love the women I serve with.  This was also the time that 3 of the 7 leaders found out we were pregnant.  The other 4 have picked up our slack SO much as we all were missing church from morning sickness, were too far along for Trek, were too far along for Girl's Camp, and now will all be having our babies within the next month.  However it has been so much fun to all be going through this together for the first time.  

The other leaders put together such a sweet baby shower for mutual for us.  It was so fun to just hang out and have a lesson on motherhood.  They put so much effort into it and I am so grateful for them.  Thank you Alison, Karly, Mel, and Jenny!!!

The girls tied us fleece blankets

All the girls and leaders brought baby pics for a guessing game.
It was easy to pick the leaders pictures out from the yellowing and the fashion.

It has been so fun to go through this with these girls.
Dallyn, Lexi, and me

Baby Boy Duke @ 34 wks ~ Baby Girl Peyton @36 wks ~ Baby boy no name (poor kid) @ 38 wks

Maternity Pictures

I wasn't going to do these but am so glad I did.  I got some simple ideas online that I liked and have kept them in mind.  Coby did the ones for me on the beach and my friend Kendyl came over (40 wks pregnant herself), grabbed my camera, and did the ones for me in my mom's room.  

SIMPLE!  That was what I was going for and I love them.  Thanks Coby and Kendyl!!!

These were all taken at 36.5 wks.

Now that they moved my due date back to the original date my picture numbers are off.  So I didn't know which one to put.  Technically here I am 33.5 weeks

I can't believe how fast time is going by.
Sleeping is officially difficult.  My bed has exactly 7 pillows... on my side only.
I'm up 26 lbs and feeling stretched.
Dr. told me baby is head down and will probably stay that way.  That made me feel like this is happening SOON and kind of freaked me out a little.  haha
No, we do not have a name, options yes, but probably too many options.  It's killing my mom that we don't.  It is HARD to come up with a person's name they will have forever!  We will most likely be going to the hospital with options (hopefully just 2 or 3).
Still have heart burn a lot (come on head of hair!)
Still don't really have cravings for anything.
It is totally bizarre to me when I see pictures of babies born at 33/34 weeks and they have chubby cheeks and look like a normal baby just a bit tiny and think that this little boy looks like that right now.  HOW DID THAT HAPPEN SO FAST?
We might be moving right around my due date (probably just after) so we aren't setting anything up yet which doesn't help making this seem real with not much changing as far as decor/furniture.

I am still loving being pregnant and am trying to enjoy every bit of it while it lasts a little longer.  I think it's crazy how much your body changes to the point where when your stomach rests on your legs, or how sometimes it feels like your belly button is going to rip open.  I got the ok from my doctor to go to California with the family a month before my due date, but she did give me my medical records in case.  Coby looked up hospitals on the way there so we are totally good to go.  haha  It has been a challenge doing so much for me and Coby while he couldn't use his arm at all, but not too bad.

It does not even kind of seem like this baby will be joining us any time soon.  Ready or not?!?!

Baby Shower

Sweet Dreams ~ Sleep Tight ~ We Love You ~ Goodnight

This was my bear growing up.  I think I got him when I was 4 years old at a ski lodge.  He went on every vacation with me.  Now Ruggles gets another buddy.

 

I'm so sad I didn't get pictures with more people.  None with my family, none with my in-laws, so many friends that I didn't take pictures with... but I appreciate that they were all there. 

I think Perry was expecting toys instead of wipes.  She was my little helper.

I can't believe I had a baby shower!!!  This all still seems so surreal and it's hard to think what is actually going to happen in the next couple months.  So many people helped with the shower and we are so grateful for all they did to make it so fun.  We are grateful for all those who came and appreciate all the love and support that we have.  This babe is lucky lucky.