Labor and Delivery

Saturday evening, I began having mild contractions.  Sunday, August 29, I called the doctor because I thought I might be leaking amniotic fluid.  The doctor called back and said the only way to be sure it is or isn't fluid, would be for me to come into the hospital and have him check.  So John and I packed up the car in hopes that we would get to stay at the hospital!  We were hoping we'd get to meet baby Taylor today!  John and I got to the hospital with all our 'stuff.'  The nurse came in and did the triage work.  The doctor came in, ran his test, and determined that it was not fluid and I should go home.  John and I were so disappointed.  Today wasn't the day.

On Monday, I woke up with contractions and decided to stay home from work.  I thought for sure the contractions would get stronger and I wanted to be able to time them and be ready to leave for the hospital at a moments notice.  So I stayed home and...the contractions went away!  I was so anxious, but again, this wasn't the day.

On Tuesday, August 31, I woke up with stronger, more regular contractions.  I debated about work.  I decided to get up and get ready.  I knew if I took the day off, it'd end up the same way as Monday, a wasted day off with no progress.  So I went to work.  I called the doctor on the way because yet again, I was having signs of leaking fluid and also having more regular contractions.  When I got to school the nurse called me back.  She told me I shouldn't go to work because more than likely I'd be admitted to the hospital later.  Too late!  I was already beginning my day with the kids.  The doctor called back around 8am.  They told me to come in at 8:45.  I had a lady cover my class.  I was sure I'd be coming back to school so I didn't want to get a sub.  At the doctor's office, John met me and our midwife Jan ran the tests.  She walked out of the room to look under the microscope.  A few minutes later she came in and said you have to come see this.  She took us into her office and said look into the microscope.  What we saw was a beautiful snowflake picture.  A clear sign of amniotic fluid!  She called the hospital and made arrangements for us to be admitted today.  I got emotional, Jan got emotional, John was shocked!
We drove home to load the car with our items for the hospital.  We called family and friends and gave them the good news.  "It's baby time!"  On the way to the hospital we stopped to get lunch.  I knew it'd be a while before I ate again.  We arrived at the hospital at 11am and a nurse showed us to our room.  We were only in that room for a short time.  There was a lot of construction noise (they're adding onto the hospital).  They agreed to move us to a patio room!  This was the room I was hoping for.
My nurse went through all the questions.  She also asked if we knew when my fluid ruptured.  She decided to go with 6pm Monday night.  The important thing when fluid leaks is that the baby needs to be delivered within 24 hours.
Around 1pm the midwife, Nancy, came in.  She checked me and determined I was 2 centimeters.  She mentioned starting pitocin and breaking my water.  In my birth plan I asked that we not do either of these procedures (unless necessary).  She avoided the pitocin and decided to break my water.  What a crazy experience that was!  Immediately after my water broke, my contractions intensified drastically!  Family left the room because I couldn't handle having anyone around.  I had to lay in bed for 30 minutes while they got one round of penicillin in me (to protect baby from infection since we didn't know when my water started leaking).  The pain was incredible!  I wanted to wait on the epidural.  I told the nurse I wanted to try walking around to see if it lessened the pain.  I got up and walked a short distance.  I immediately felt like I might pass out.  I went to lay down and told the nurse I was ready for my epidural.  By this time I was in hard labor.  Didn't know it at the time, but this was SO intense.  I could hardly get through the pain.  I was on my side praying that the pain would go away.  I was trying to breathe through them, trying to create a vision.  OH it was so uncomfortable.  During this time the nurse saw that there was meconium in my amniotic fluid.  It wasn't a bad thing, but they needed to be aware of it when the baby came out.  In the mean time, the nurse was trying to quickly get a bag of fluids into me so she could order the epidural.  Around 3pm the epidural was ready.  I was so anxious and in such intense pain, I did get sick.  Poor nurse having to hold the container.  But once he put that epidural in my back, I was GOOD TO GO!  It was instant relief.  It was the best feeling of my life!  All discomfort, all the contraction pain was gone.  It was absolutely incredible.  Family came back into the room.  I was like a different person.  At 5pm the midwife came in and checked me again.  She said, "She's 10!"  I was 10 centimeters, time to push!  She said to wait until I felt the pressure of the babies head.  I felt a lot of pressure, but most of the time it would subside.
The nurse had been keeping Taylor's heartbeat the entire time.  At this time, she started having trouble keeping the monitor on the heartbeat.  She also noticed that the heartbeat was becoming slower at times.  All of a sudden she asked all family to leave the room.  I was really concerned because I knew it had to do with the heartbeat.  She rolled me on my back to get me ready for delivery.  The heartbeat got even lower when I was on my back.  She said I might have to deliver on my side.  She called the midwife.  There was a lot of pressure, but no pain.  The midwife had me get on my back to push.  I was so worried because I knew Taylor's heartbeat was slowing each time I laid on my back.  When they told me to push, I pushed with all my strength!  I knew we had to get Taylor out.  (During pushing they let me feel her head. Then I remembered that we had a hand mirror so I could watch the delivery.  John frantically went and got it from the suitcase.)  I pushed four times and Taylor's head was out.  They told me to look down.  I saw the most precious site in all of the world.  I saw our baby girl!  They laid her on my abdomen to clean her.  John cut the cord.  They were suctioning her.  They put her on my chest for a short time.  Then they had to take her to the stand next to me. They were a little concerned because her cry wasn't loud.  She was whimpering, but they were looking for a much louder noise.  They pumped her stomach to make sure there was no meconium (there wasn't).  They suctioned until they got a good cry.  They weighed and measured her.  She weighed 7 pounds 15 ounces and was 19 inches long.  She was born at 5:51 pm!
As they were examining her, I was getting more and more anxious.  I wanted to hold my baby girl!  They finally brought her to me.  She laid with me skin-to-skin for about 30 minutes.  I nursed her and then John held her.  We were finally a family of 3!  What an incredible experience this was!  We love our little Taylor with all our hearts!

Sneak Peek of Taylor's first photo session!

Taylor Marie Warren

Week 39

Had a check up on Thursday.  CNM Jan did the exam.  Said I was one centimeter on the outside and fingertip inside.  Who knew you could be both?!  Also said I'm 50% effaced.  At least we have progress!

So do these look like professional photographs or what!  My husband has a new favorite hobby!  We did two maternity photo sessions this week.  We'll be adding them to our website very soon.  Start booking your session.  We'll fill up very quickly!  haha  :)

Saturday I started having a few contractions.  Didn't really know they were contractions.  But apparently menstrual type cramping (even when mild) is considered a contraction.  So that was exciting to learn!  I also lost (brace yourself) some of my "plug" Saturday evening.  Didn't know what it was, but definitely hadn't seen anything like it before.  Sunday when I woke up I felt like I might be leaking.  I'd had contractions intermittently all night, so I thought maybe my water was leaking.  I called the nurse who paged the doctor, who eventually called me.  The doctor said he didn't think it was my water leaking, but the only way to tell would be to come in to the maternity center to have him exam me.  I knew I wouldn't be comfortable just waiting and not knowing.  So, John and I packed the car (anticipating that we'd get to stay) and headed to the hospital.  We called our parents just to put them on alert.
Mom tells me that these are actually the same steps she took when she was going into labor with me.  And I was born on a Sunday!  So I thought for sure this was the real deal!
At the hospital they hooked me up to the fetal monitor and contractions monitor.  Turns out I was having contractions pretty regularly, but I couldn't feel them.  Interesting...I thought this whole labor thing is going to be a breeze!  It was great to here Taylor's heartbeat!  It was our background music for about an hour!  So the doctor did the test to see if there was any amniotic fluid, and.....there wasn't.  So he sent us home.  He said "You could be back tonight, or it could be a week."
Thanks Doc!  That helps!
So here we sit and wait....I did eat spicy food that night and we plan to go on a nice LONG walk tonight.  We're going to get this little girl out!

Week 38

Things continue to go well as we anxiously await the arrival of our little princess.  :)  Taylor is still very active, and she feels so big!  I'm a little concerned....the last doctor estimated that she'd be around 8 pounds 1 ounce.  This honestly sounds like a good size to me.  Collins babies tend to be VERY big!  Luckily we have the Warren's to balance us out!  I'm just hoping she can fit into her newborn outfits for a week or so.  They're so little and so cute!
This past Friday I had a little scare.  Not really a scare, but a sense that this could be the day!  For a few days I'd been experiencing some...let's just say "I was uncomfortable and sore."  It hurt to lift my legs, get up from sitting, move...  So I called the doctor and they said all was normal.  I  had an appointment that afternoon, and I just knew they were going to say I had dilated, maybe even enough to be admitted to the hospital.  First time mom...what else can I say!  So the doctor did the exam and......NOTHING!  I am effacing (but they told me that two weeks ago!).  He said I'd probably go a "couple" more weeks, which would actually take me up to my due date.  So, now we just sit and wait.
I guess little Taylor is happy and comfy in her little home.  But we are so excited to see her!!!!  So hopefully little girl Warren will decide to make her way out in the next two weeks.  I can't believe I'm due next Friday!  One and a half weeks to go!
My third grade team at GHES threw a wonderful shower for me today!  I am so blessed to work with such kind, caring people.  We had a wonderful time!

Week 37

Such a cute little story...
John called me today and said, "You know what I'm looking forward to?"  He said, "I'm looking forward to taking Taylor to get her first Happy Meal from McDonald's!"
I thought this was so precious!  He said he was just sitting at work with nothing to do but think about things.  He's so excited to be able to take Taylor to McDonald's and get her Happy Meals.  He remembers doing it as a child.
Precious moments...can't wait!!

Week 31-36

Four weeks to go!!!!  Wow...a lot has happened since I last published a post.  Where to begin....

Week 31: John and I planned our last trip out of town.  We went to the beach to get our last little vacation in for the summer.  Taylor has really started to move and make my belly jump!  John and I love just watching her!  John and I did have a slight scare this week.  We have a friend that delivered a healthy little girl SIX weeks early.   Immediately, John and I panic thinking "when is six weeks for us?!"  No way we'd be ready!

Week 32: This week we celebrated my 29th birthday!  Being pregnant on my birthday was so sweet.  I can't imagine how God will bless us this year with baby Taylor's arrival.  Year 28 included my nephew's birth, engagement, marriage, honeymoon, pregnancy...  John and I have been so blessed in only one year of marriage! God is so good!

This week we attended infant CPR and safety class.  We also attended Childbirth Preparation on Saturday and Sunday.

Week 33: This week Taylor continues to impress us with her acrobatics.  She's obviously growing bigger and stronger every day.  Heartburn and indigestion are getting worse!  I can hardly eat a meal without taking a Pepcid or Tums.  She also has begun pushing up in my rib cage.  I can feel her little feet (I guess it's her feet) pushing up.  I LOVE feeling her movements every day.  I think I'm going to be really sad when I don't have that connection with her.  I feel the prepartum blues coming on.  :(  Not really, but I will miss the movements!  BUT, I know seeing her adorable little face will be so much more precious and special!

Week 34:  First shower this weekend!  I had a shower in Columbia for family and friends.  We had a great time and Taylor got some great gifts!




Week 35:  Second shower this weekend!  My bestest friend Amanda and her mom threw a shower for John and I in Rock Hill.  This was a great day spent with good friends and family.


This week I also started one week appointments.  I met with Jan, the CNM.  She did an exam and determined that I'm not dilated.  She said she could definitely tell my cervix is getting ready and that I'm a "little" effaced.  So, it sounds like there's progress.  Very exciting!  Jan also said something like, "I wonder if you'll make it to your due date?"  Well I wonder too!  She asked if I was an early baby, but I was a week late and my brother was born on his due date.  It made me wonder if she was implying baby Taylor may come a little early.  We'll see!  Now John and I need to pack our bags!

Week 36: So here we are at week 36.  John and I decided that the best way to celebrate week 36 would be to buy a new car!  :)  The last few weeks we've been looking into trading in John's truck because of the mileage.  We were looking at the Chevy Equinox and Hyundai Santa Fe.  It came down to Hyundai giving us the best trade in value AND being able to get our payments where we wanted them.  So, this summer we've purchased two new vehicles (one new and one used).  This wasn't necessarily the plan for our vehicles.  We knew we needed to trade in my Altima, but it worked out where we should also go ahead and trade in the truck.  Poor John, he's not sure how he'll survive without his "baby" (the truck)!