Calin's L&D Story

• *Pretty long, sorry! Just skip down to the pics if you want :)

But first - I can't believe how wonderful everything worked out! We feel so tremendously blessed. And know that all of your prayers definitely helped! So thank you thank you thank you!!

Our long day started at 4:00 am when Jordan got up to get a drink of water, and I rolled over to my other side and sat up a bit to look at him when I felt what I thought was my water breaking (but only a bit of it, not a full on gush of everything). I got up and told Jordan, but we both just looked at each other like “yeah right, that would be way too perfect timing.” When I started getting painful contractions, I called my mom to see what she thought. She said it sounded like there was a maybe a small tear in the amniotic sac, but his head was probably blocking most of it. We waited a few hours, and around 6:30 am headed to the hospital to get checked. The nurses said my water didn’t break, and they could still feel it in there. I knew most of it was still in there, but I knew I did not pee my pants, so it had to be some of the fluid! I stayed a while while they monitored my contractions. When I got to the hospital I was only2cm. My contractions were every 3-5 minutes, and getting more intense. I walked around for an hour then the doctor came in to check me around 8:30. I still hadn’t progressed to a 3, but he was pretty confident the baby was coming today. Since I was only a little beyond a 2 he gave me the option of leaving if I wanted to, and coming back when contractions get worse. He also said that even if I don’t make more progress they could start me on pitocin because of my contractions.

We came home around 9:30 am and I showered and relaxed. I planned on walking a lot to push things along, but was too tired, lol. And Jordan REALLY REALLY wanted to go to Idaho Falls to buy a camcorder, so he headed down to Best Buy, and I relaxed on the couch. When he got back, my contractions were about 2-3 min apart, and getting pretty painful, so we headed back to the hospital around 12:00 pm. I was worried this little guy was playing a joke on me, so I was sure praying to be past 2cm! I really didn’t want false labor to be that painful! When they checked me I was a 4, so they set up my room for me, and I stayed. Around 3:00 they checked me again and I was at a 5. They kept telling me to just let them know if and when I want an epidural, and around that time I told them I was ready for it. After that the doctor came in and broke my water. I continued progressing about a cm/hr. I was 8 cm around 8:00, so we thought delivery wasn’t too far off, but I stayed at 8cm for about 2 ½ hours. The nurses said I was actually having too many contractions (about 1.5min apart for over 3 hours), but since the baby’s heart rate was staying strong they weren’t worrying about it. But they were getting worried that Calin wasn’t in the right position (I guess his brows was down or something??) and that’s why I wasn’t progressing any further. They kept checking, and no progress.

Around 10:00 pm our Elders Quorum president from church came by. He and Jordan gave me a much-needed blessing. The doctor came in to check me a short time later and said I was 10cm, Calin must have somehow shifted and was in an “ok” position now (I guess the way he was before I would not have been able to push him out), and it was time to push. His head was still a little off center and was having a hard time coming out so the doctor got the vaccum and helped guide him out. I almost made it without tearing, but his shoulders got stuck, which was another worry, and the nurse had to practically jump on my stomach to help get him out. The doctor said it would be possible for him to have permanent shoulder damage, but again we were blessed and everything turned out fine! I started pushing a little after 11:00pm and finished at 11:50. Not too bad for pushing time (though I did have help). Because he was so low for so long he had a major conehead even before the doctor used the vac, so by the time he was delivered he had a crazy huge conehead (it’s gone now don’t worry :) It was about 2am when they finally finished everything and moved us into the mother baby unit. By that time I was OUT! Well for 30 min anyway, before it was time to feed him again, lol.

Randomness:

• The night before I went into labor we bought and set up his pack-n-play (we had the crib set up, but needed something for our room still) and both had a conversation with Calin telling him everything is FINALLY ready, and he can come out now! Wow, who knew he would actually listen?!!


• Saturday was the last day I could go into labor and not have to re-pay my deductable for insurance. Idealy I did not want to go later than the 29^th, so when I went into labor,REALLY I could NOT believe it! HUGE blessing!!


• When I told Jordan my water broke, and we should go to the hospital soon, he started cleaning the house. He even got out the vacuum, but I told him to stop and get the hospital bag ready instead. He was so funny! Defnitely not the paniky husband trying to rush out the door empty handed! He wanted everything perfect and was moving so slow it was funny, but crazy at the same time :)


• Who decides to take a 1.5 hour trip out of town to buy a camcorder when their wife is in labor? Jordan :) I didn’t think this was too funny at the time, but since there was no harm done, I’m glad he went and got it.


• Friday night we also finally bought Twilight so I could watch it when I was in the hospital, but instead of Twilight I watched Pride and Prejudice, the rest of the time I tried to relax and sleep.


• Calin does have a meaning: “Powerful/Valiant Warrior”


• Oh, and yes it is pronounced Cal-lynn


• Doctor Merideth delivered him. He was not my doctor, but was wonderful. We were also very blessed to have great nurses throughout our whole hospital stay!


• My face was more swollen after having Calin, than it was throughout my whole pregnancy! They pump you with so much liquid! They said the swelling should last 2 weeks?! My feet are so swollen they feel like they giggle when I walk haha.


• His eyelashes are blonde. Will those change color and get darker? Or do you think he will be a total toe-head??

And here is a video that Jordan took, and insisted on me posting.