MilkCOW

Homegirl Ellie nurses for FORTY minutes every THREE hours which has officially turned my status as a human being into “Milkmaid.”

A Labor Story

I walked up to the receptionist on the third floor with a white slip of paper in hand. It felt funny, so unnatural to be doing it this way. “May I help you?” The nurse at the front desk asked. I handed her the paper. “Oh you’re here to be induced,” she said. “Have a seat.” I nervously sat down next to mom, JD, and mommy G. We sat and chatted about the infomercial selling the microwave version of a skillet. The food looked gross and unhealthy, I thought. Please go into labor right now I pleaded with myself.

Almost two hours later I walked up to the front desk to ask if they wanted me to come back tomorrow. Maybe I will go into labor tonight… “Anne Groves your room is almost ready, just a few more moments.” I asked if I could take a walk. The nurse receptionist smiled and told me I could go walk over and see the babies in the nursery. JD and I began to take laps around the birthing floor. “This is so frustrating,” I told JD. “I don’t want to go into labor like this. We’ve been waiting for two hours and I never wanted to be induced anyway.” “I know sweetheart,” JD says. “I know.”

Mom came and found us in the hallway, my head buried in JD’s neck. “They’re ready for you honey.”

We walked into the labor/delivery room that was prepared for me. A nurse stood at a computer which was placed next to a monitor. “Hello! You’re here to be induced, right?” I nodded my head, still very disappointed that I had agreed to be induced. “What’s wrong?” the nurse asked, with a look of compassion and concern on her face. “I didn’t want to have to be induced, so I’m a little sad.” She looks at my chart and lets out a low whistle, “Nine days late I see. Well, it’s probably best this way. The placenta begins to act like a little old lady and stops working for the baby as well. Plus, you don’t want the baby to get too big.” I nodded. I knew she was right, and even though I’m sure I would have gone into labor on my own eventually, JD and I decided this was best. Better to eliminate risk to the baby.

“So you’re Bradly I see.” We nodded. She chuckled and told us there is a running joke that the Bradly people always end up with epidurals and C-sections. We assured her that we were flexible and should a complication arise, we would surrender our birth plan. She then explained that a lot of Bradly people only do the research online, and aren’t really prepared. We informed her that we had twelve weeks of classes.

We got into our room around noon. The nurse put in my IV at 2:30. 2:30 pm. The official time labor began. I didn’t feel anything more than the contractions I’d experienced for the past month or so. Mom and Mommy G sat in the chairs reading. JD and I watched a few episodes of Scrubs. At 4:30 the nurse increased the pitocin in my IV. Minutes later I asked the moms to leave. Contractions were coming strong and I knew it was time to get serious.

Pitocin is a funny medicine. It is basically oxytocin, which stimulates contractions and the birthing process. Rather than go through the early and first stages of labor, however, the pitocin sent me straight to late first stage labor, which is considered hard labor. Contractions came every two to three minutes and were remarkably strong. When the nurse told me I was only dilated three centimeters I wanted to cry. Half an hour later, I was writhing in pain and completely unable to relax. I kept commenting about an epidural, thinking how nice it would be to be completely numb. I asked the nurse about it, but she told me I could do it. My doctor came in a little while later and stretched me to four centimeters. She then broke my water. OW.

At that point I was ready to give up. I no longer wanted a natural birth and asked the nurse to please call for an epidural. All of the relaxing techniques that JD and I had practiced weren’t working, since I was thrown into hard labor without time to ease into the painful contractions. My nurse came to my side, held my hand, and coaxed me into deep breathing, encouraging me to relax. Moments later I found my focus. The anesthesiologist came in and I sent him away. “I can do it,” I said.

All of this took place around six pm.

At 7:30 pm a new nurse came in and I figured I could convince her that I needed an epidural. I was only five centimeters dilated and the contractions were sending me to the roof. I had been in the same position for a few hours now, and had resolved that this was going to be my only child. I asked the nurse for an epidural, but she just looked at me and said, “honey, I think you really want to do this naturally and so I’m going to do the best I can to help you. You are already over halfway there. You can do it.” From that point on, whenever I told JD I wanted an epidural (which happened a few more times), he encouraged me and relaxed me to the point where I looked like I was sleeping during my hardest contractions. We then decided it was time to get this baby going so we walked around and tried different labor positions. My mom and Virginia walked in for three contractions. They were coming one after another, almost stacked. I broke from my concentration for a moment to look at my mom, “This is the hardest thing I have ever done.” I told her. She nodded compassionately. She’d been there before. They left the room and later told me I was going into transition at that point.

At 6-7 centimeters dilated I found my first urge to push. I told the nurse I wanted to push and she told me I couldn’t. She checked me a few minutes later - 8 centimeters. The urge to push grew so strong that I had to concentrate very hard on my breathing in order to do what I was told. Panting away, I told the nurse there was no way I could not push. She called the doctor and checked me again. Ten centimeters. I went from 6-10 centimeters in about twenty minutes, and I literally thought I might explode.

Pushing began moments before my doctor arrived. What a relief to push through contractions! Intense burning became the newest sensation as I realized the baby’s head was close to crowning. The doctor arrived and I was crowning. She told me to push through the pain, that my baby would be here soon. A couple pushes later, Elianna came wriggling out of my body. I pushed for less than twenty minutes, praise God.

8 lbs. 6 ozs… she is certainly not a petite girl! All the doctors and nurses were in awe of her size - the doctor even said to Ellie when she came out, “your mom is an amazing woman,” in reference to me pushing out our little beast child

Here are some pictures of Elianna’s birth:

JD cuts the cord.

our new family

the birth team

gorgeous girl

mom and daughter resting after all that hard work

daddy’s little girl

home from the hospital and sleeping soundly!!!!

Photos…

Hello dear readers,

I am still very much recovering and haven’t been able to post about Ellie’s birth as of yet, but I want to direct you to the “Photos” link on my blog where you can view a photo album of Elianna.

Mahalo nui to Cait for posting an incredible entry announcing Elianna’s arrival!!!!

We are loving this time - our sweet little girl is absolutely incredible. I will post more when I have found energy and rest :).

Love to all,

da new mama

TaDAAA! Here SHE is!

Since, Annie is still all snuggled in at the hospital, recovering, resting, eating bran muffins and the like. I just thought I would take the opportunity to introduce you to this very cool little lady- (yeah, I peeked at those blog stats you all are chomping at the bit eh?)

So, without further adieu,

Elianna Joy Groves finally came out (ok, she was coaxed just a little) to meet the world last night, June 30th at 10:05 pm.

In true Groves Fashion, she weighed 8lbs 6oz and measured 20 1/2 inches long.

Groves locks? Burdette cheekcakes?

Oh, Momma! You’re looking good! Elianna, apologies we will take lots of these pictures of you, all squinty and red, we promise not to hold them against you– we just can’t contain ourselves with how dang excited we are to see you!

My dear dear Elianna Joy,

We haven’t met yet, well at least not formerly. I do however, happen to know much more, than maybe you will EVER want to know about the details of your past nine months of existence. In addition, I may or may not have contributed to that lingerie, or that big pink “natural” fertility book I gave your Mom last year, that is now responsible for that little life of yours. So while, for the next 20 years you would probably prefer to be sparred of those details, I am just letting you know that we are stuck together sister and I couldn’t be happier that you are here.

I also just thought I would let you know how much you scored with this family of yours.

Scored, big time.

Your parents fell in love with you many months ago. Your life little one, lays on the foundation of joy, crazy love, and hours of prayers. Your beautiful Mother has been one of my longest and dearest friends. A kindred spirit. Much like you will be. And girl, you will be hard pressed to find a more patient and compassionate woman. Your Father, both stud and maker of the best beans I have ever eaten, will take great care of you. You’ll have his heart around your finger , but watch him carefully my dear, he will have much to teach you about integrity and strength of character. As for the rest of us, the village that you have inherited- many aunties, uncles, tia’s and the like, we just can’t wait to watch you grow dear girl. Oh yeah, and we are only a little bitter that you are across an ocean. Bitterness only remedied by looking at those sweet cheeks of yours!

May God Bless you all the Days of your life!

Peace be the journey Elianna.

Love,

Auntie Cait (And ALL the rest of your mommas faithful blog readers)

In case you you aren’t keeping track…

I am now 7 days overdue. 41 weeks today. Baby Groves passed the non-stress test and is happy as a lark in my belly. Aubi is here now (my mom-in-law)) so we are all ready to go! Praying fervently that the baby comes before Monday morning… Otherwise it’s pitosin (sp?) for me.

Oh Psalty!!!!

I found this on one of my new favorite blogs, Stuff Christians Like, and had to share it with all of you… Oh my goodness, it’s just too good.

Here’s a throwback to Christian culture in the 80s and 90s!!!

I think this baby has huge feet.

Baby Groves is growing so enormous that I can fairly easily distinguish body parts as they move around - and let me tell you - I’m almost certain this kid has giant feet. The end.

Peace and Induction

Still battling the tail end of a cold and waiting for little baby Groves arrival, I’ve come to an unexpected place of peace. It’s a peace I have to work at, continually fighting my human instinct to control, please people, plan perfectly, and be impatient. I offer my anxiety to the Lord constantly, learning to trust and release the things I hold on to so dearly.

Though baby Groves is late, and much later than expected (I really thought this baby would come quite early), I’ve come to enjoy these last few weeks. The other night, as I was praying, I took off my blinders, looking at the beauty of this time rather than the focused pressure of “is this the day?” I wouldn’t trade these past few weeks with my husband for the world. We’ve had such an incredible time of growth together, strengthening one another in the Lord and making the most of these last few days before the baby’s arrival. Time with mom has been wonderful as well. From pedicures and shopping trips to giggle fests on the bed, it has been such a blessing to have mom here.

I’ve learned to consider each day a gift of God’s rather than a date on the calendar that just may be the date of our baby’s birth.

Our doctor’s appointment went well today. I am still dilated 2 centimeters, which is slightly disappointing, but the conversation about induction was great. We decided to wait until Monday to induce, though we will go in on Saturday for a stress test to ensure little baby Groves is healthy and well. My prayer is that the baby would come before Saturday, but I am at peace regardless of the day.

So ready or not - a baby is on the way by Monday!

Now if only I could kick this cold in the butt…

Still no baby

It’s pretty much like the title says. Still no baby. Everyday I wake up and experience contractions for several hours. Each afternoon they cease. At night they pick up again… and so the cycle goes. As far as the contractions go - they stay at fairly the same intensity, never increasing significantly. It’s a bit frustrating, as you can imagine. Until I’m writhing in pain, I will not be convinced that I’m in labor. For instance, as I type this, I have contractions coming every few minutes or so, and they are definitely painful - but I am certain they will stop and I will continue to be pregnant another day.

Mom and I picked ourselves up a nice cold to go along with the contractions, so we are both laying around the house sniffling and waiting. I go to the doctor’s on Thursday for a check up and a discussion about induction. I’m not too worried about it - prayed plenty, and am trusting God. Mostly I’m just impatient and more uncomfortable by the day.

I assure you that when baby Groves decides to poke it’s little head out into the world, you will all hear about it shortly after. Cait has offered to be my guest blogger and will promptly notify you of the essential information concerning baby. I.E. - Baby Groves was born today at 3:59 am after a 48 hour labor. Baby weighs 9 lbs. 7 oz. and is 23 inches long. And the baby looks like a frog. Or something like that… Hopefully not at all like that but you never know…

On we wait…

Due Date: 40 Weeks!

JD and I lied to all of you… our due date is actually today - June 21, and not June 23. Why would we do such a thing? Beats me. I thought it was June 23 for 9 months when my doctor just informed me that the actual due date is the 21st (which makes sense because today is 40 weeks). So there you have it. After today, I am not supposed to be pregnant. Just kidding. If only that were true

Anyhow, here’s a 40 weeks belly update. This is my “Let’s have a baby today outfit!!!”