Iyla Ray's delivery

I had been laboring on and off since Friday night and Saturday. Sunday I had contx in the morning but they stopped, same thing happened Monday. I went walking on Monday afternoon at the mall & got a pedicure and that night my mom was doing some acupressure points on my feet and legs. At that point I was already dilated to a 3 and 75% effaced at my appt on Monday morning, and had been losing mucus plug throughout the weekend. About 2am Tuesday morning I woke up to derek holding my arm and having contraction, got up and had bloody show. Guess I was moaning in my sleep. Took shower laid in bed, contemplated going to hospital with contractions 10min apart. We Went ahead and went to hospital got there around 430, to my surprise I was dilated to a 6! My other fear was that I wouldn't get to hospital this labor on time! Looking back I think it was perfect timing! Got checked in, I declined IV fluids which of course was looked down upon by physician. I was also group B strep positive this pregnancy(wasn't with the other two) and declined antibiotics. I had done my research, and chose to do hebiclens douche every four hours throughout active labor, I started them at home at 330am. Was diffusing Joy & my doula Nataly was applying young living oils valor, lavender, clary sage. I labored until 10, checked again was an 8, no waters broken yet. Around noon went to hot shower and things got calm before the storm! The doctor was ordering my nurse to make me lay in bed and get a good fetal heart rate reading, from what they were saying baby Iyla's heart rate was not elevating with contractions. Contractions were pretty easy this whole time, every 8-10min. At each contraction my doula would say, "let your body melt Into the contraction." It really helped, along with her showing my husband how to push into my back and hips. Towards the end we needed her to move down into canal, and it was suggested I take each contraction into a squat position, which was a little awkward but helped with the labor back pain. The ball wasn't doing it for me, I pretty much just walked entire unit and would grab a hold of the rails and hold them while breathing. At 1252 waters broke. The break of the waters were natural, and she started her descent which at first was painful. A sudden rush of heat came over me and I began to sweat profusely. Then I found out the waters were meconium stained, they called NICU for the delivery. My heart sank, and I turned around from being on all fours to sitting up on my bottom. I felt like I wasn't able to push as well on all fours. Checked again was a 10complete. All I could think was that I needed to get her out, to make sure she was ok. They pulled up the handle bars for me and at 106 pm iyla was born. I pushed her out all in 1 push because I was so scared. My mom is a Nicu nurse, and I worked in mother baby for 2 years, I knew the effects of meconium in water sac. No wonder her heart rate was not elevating. She had a Perfect high pitched cry, but I saw she was covered in the meconium, in her mouth and on her face. Hannah my nurse was suctioning her and she went to the Nicu team at the warmer. Everything happened so fast that Derek or my mom did not get to cut the cord. At that moment my birth plan had to change for iyla to go to the Nicu team instead of my chest for skin to skin and breastfeeding. Iyla was being frantically suctioned and stimulated. My mom was with her and as I heard iyla screaming my mom looked up at me and said she is ok. Thru all that my mom was crying. I ended up having a small tear from pushing her out so quickly, got stitched up and gladly accepted the lidocaine numbing shot! The doc couldn't stop my bleeding, it just kept coming and we decided it would be best if I received a pitocin shot in the leg, probably due to the baby aspirin I took throughout pregnancy for my lupus. Again something I couldn't control and had to just do for my safety. After that the doc came and showed me my placenta, (I always ask to see them) Well this placenta showed us that I had a partial velamentous cord insertion. It a rare cord condition that can requires baby to be born by csection. We are guessing it was missed, but also explains why iyla was so distressed at 35 weeks and tried to come early. When I look back this was a beautiful birth, but at the same time my body's intuition to have a natural birth saved my babies life. Who knows what the pitocin or epidural could have done to heart rate or velamentous cord, my guess is probably more distress. There were times where I questioned if I would be able to make it through the pain, but I knew it's really what I wanted what I longed for after two previously medicated births. Brings tears to my eyes when Dreycin looks at iyla and says "your so pretty iyla!" Both boys have so much love for her! "Iyla is the princess" Dreycin says! All the boys have to do is look at Iyla and she is all smiles ear to ear! It's been a blessing having a daughter, Not only to me but also Derek. He may not survive the teenage years!

We survived the move to Texas!

We have been in Texas about a month now. It was a really rough move with the boys, and me being pregnant with Iyla(yes we have a name!) It feels really good to be home, but I wish Derek could have actually stayed with us here and not had to have gone back to Georgia to finish up some work stuff, and go to the shooting range in SC. The boys and I have been staying with my parents, it just works better so im not alone in Waco being pregnant. My dad helps me alot, since he is home. which Ive just been so tired from the move. My parents have willingly been traveling with me back and forth from Waco, about 1x a week to help with unpacking and my OB appointments. Which wasnt easy finding an OB that I felt comfortable with. I did find a great Lupus dr, but both my OB and her are in Temple which is still a good 30min drive from our Waco house. I was so distraught about the whole process, that Derek and I were considering paying out of pocket for a birthing center. Now that I feel comfortable where we are at, I think I may still hire a doula to help me carry out my wishes of a natural birth this go around, with no medical interventions like pitocin, epidural, bath for newborn, etc. So back to Iyla Ray, ever since we found out we were having a girl we have been showered with gifts! Her little closet is already full, and we really only need big things like carseat, swing, and lots of cloth diapers! And instead of doing a traditional baby shower, im inviting close friends and family to do Painting with a twist for something different and fun! Im excited about everything, and anxious for Derek to get back to Texas and make our more permanent move to Waco from Dallas! Just 3 more weeks! I think we are really going to like Waco, and its so nice to be able to go up and come back in one day! Now onto finding a new car, to fit my family of 3. No minivan....never ever gonna be a minivan mom!!