Nathan's Birth Story

Warning: This is probably pretty long for most people. I wanted to record all the details. :o) Enjoy!

Sunday started like any other day. Katie and Paul woke up early to play and I tried to get a little bit more rest. We did some things around the house and loaded up to get groceries from HEB. Katie was starting to get a bit fussy, so we dropped her off with mom and grandma so she could nap while we were out. I asked Paul to put the car seat in the truck, and I packed Katie's overnight bag for later in the week. Mom called and asked if we wanted to go to lunch, so we went to Perico's with mom and papa and grandma and grandpa. We stopped by Irma's for a while after lunch before heading home so Paul could hang up our Christmas lights (which were all burned out).

Katie and I were watching movies inside when I started to notice I was having some shortness of breath. It seemed to be coming in intervals and when I paid attention, I noticed that my back would hurt and my stomach would tighten shortly afterwards followed by pelvic pressure. I though to myself, "Maybe I am having contractions!" I have been contracting for weeks now, but somehow these felt "different." They weren't really uncomfortable, and my back had been aching non-stop, so that wasn't alarming. The contractions were coming 4-5min apart. Finally, around seven, I told Paul I thought I was having regular contractions. I called Nomi and asked her if she thought it could be labor and decided to wait to head to Labor and Delivery until they became more painful. I gave Tara a head's up, just in case it was the "real thing." Around eight o'clock, I told mom that I had been having contractions for two hours and might go in to get checked in another hour or so if they didn't subside. Around nine o'clock, the contractions were becoming more uncomfortable, and I had drank two liters of water, so I doubted I was just dehydrated. I called Grandma and Mom, and Grandma headed over to stay with Katie. I told mom if they admitted me, I would call her so that she could come to the hospital with us.

We got to Labor and Delivery around ten o'clock in the evening. They took me straight back to LDR4, had me change, and placed Nathan on the monitor. The two nurses that were attending to me were Laurie and Diane. Diane drew some labs and placed an IV for me. Laurie took my health history and checked me while Paul was in the waiting room. I was 5cm, 60 percent effaced and -2 station with contractions 3-4min apart. They said we were staying! My doctor wasn't the doctor on call for the practice that night, but the nurses called her anyway to see if she would be managing my labor. She decided to let me labor on my own, and if I hadn't delivered in the morning she would start augmentation (pitocin, breaking my water, ect.).

My blood pressure started to go up around 10:50pm and was 136/92. They drew some more labs to check for pre-eclampsia, and eventually it went back down to 112/62 at 12:25am. Mom got to the hospital around 11pm, Jon stopped by briefly afterwards to say hi, and Noemi came shortly after 12:30am for the night. Paul asked Laurie and Diane when the baby was coming, and they told him "probably not until tomorrow." Paul quickly changed into some shorts and crashed out on the couch. He told us to "wake him up if anything happened." We thought for sure Nathan would be here around 4am, so we had a good chuckle and told him he was unlikely to miss anything if something started to happen.

Laurie asked me if I wanted an epidural when I was admitted, but I was doing pretty well managing the contractions on my own. She told me to let her know about an hour in advance because the on-call anesthesiologist would have to come in to place my epidural. I was the only one in labor at that point. They started some fluids around 12:25am, as well.  Around 2am, the contractions were more painful, and I was debating asking for the epidural. I wanted to make sure that I was progressing first, so Diane checked me and said I hadn't had any changes.

I tried to get some rest around five o'clock, but the contractions made it hard for me to breath, and I would immediately wake up. My contractions were starting to spread out around this time to every ten minutes. I was able to sleep for about 30 min before my nurses came back in to start pitocin. I immediately asked for the epidural when they started the pit because I remembered how quickly the contractions became unbearable last time. They were only starting the drip at 2ml/hr, but they increased it every 20min and I knew it would take awhile for the epidural to be placed. The anesthesiologist would be in house at 6:00-06:30.

They increased my pitocin to 4ml/hr at 5:56 and to 6ml/hr at 06:15. Janie, the surgical tech, came in at 6:15 to set up the delivery supplies. The doctor showed up to place my epidural at 6:41 and the nurses changed shift. Monique, one of my colleagues from nursing school, was taking over my care! It was really nice to see her, and I knew that I would be in great hands.

pitocin drip: 10ml/hr at 08:06, 12ml/hr at 08:29, 14ml/hr at 08:50, 16ml/hr at 09:50, 18ml/hr at 10:10, 20ml/hr at 10:40. I really don't remember seeing the pump higher than 16ml/hr. I was laboring well without much pain or discomfort, just a lot of shortness of breath with each contraction. That was usually the only indicator I had of a contraction with the epidural placed. The pitocin maintained my contractions at 2-3 minutes apart.

Paul and I in Labor and Delivery

Dr. A came in at 10:47 and broke my water, she placed an internal monitor to measure my contractions, as well. She said I was 5cm and 70% effaced. The next hour and half went very quickly, and was the worst part of the entire delivery. Monique went to lunch and another nurse kept an eye on me while she was gone; increasing the pit to 22ml/hr at 11:05, 24ml/hr at 11:28 and 26ml/hr at 11:59. My pain started to become unbearable and I used the PRN pain medicine from the epidural at 11:28 and 11:48. No matter what I did or how I moved, I could not get comfortable and the pain in my right groin was excruciating. The nurse called anesthesia back to give me a bolus dose as the breakthrough medication was not helping me. I got a bolus of Lidocaine at 12:08. Around this time, Monique came back in to check on me and said that she would check my cervix since I was in so much pain. I told her if I was still at a 5 to lie to me and say I was something else. She told me she wouldn't have to lie because I was a 10 and complete at 12:19!!

Monique called Dr. A to let her know that I would be ready to push soon as she was in clinic and would come down for delivery. She helped me change position so that I could labor down and my legs were completely numb. I was a bit worried that I wouldn't be able to push because I couldn't feel a thing! When they first placed my epidural, I was numb but could move my toes and bend my legs without too much help. Monique and Paul both had to lift my legs and move me in the bed at this point, though. As Nathan moved lower down the birth canal, the pain continued to increase, and I used a breakthrough bolus at 13:00. I don't remember the pain being so bad with Katie's delivery as it was this time, but I also dilated from 5-10cm in 92min!

Monique had me push with a contraction at 13:14 to see how much progress we could make. She left to call Dr. A and let her know that we were definitely ready for delivery and when she came back, I pushed with another contraction. She brought the mirror out for me to see Nathan, and I could see his full head of hair when I pushed!! Dr. A arrived and got dressed right afterwards, and with two more contractions, Nathan Edward arrived November 28th at 13:46:12.

Dr. A held him up for me to see, and I was so excited to finally meet him!! He was absolutely perfect, and I reached out to hold his tiny toes. Paul cut his cord, and Dr. A asked if I wanted to hold him. She placed him on my chest and the nurses dried him off. Nathan weighed 7 lbs and 5 oz. He was a perfect 20.5 inches long with feet bigger than Katie's! He has a loud cry, and gets so red when he gets angry. His skin was a bit dry and wrinkly (he was born at 38 weeks and 4 days); with such long fingernails, he looked like a well baked baby! :)

Meeting Nathan for the first time

Grandma and Nathan

Aunt Tara and Nathan

Aunt Nomi and Nathan

Uncle Jon, PawPaw and Nathan

Grandpa with Nathan

Three Generations

Nathan has Paul's curly hair

Grandma and Grandpa brought Katie up to meet Nathan around six o'clock. She was a little bit frightened at first. We were still in the labor and delivery room, there was equipment set up everywhere, and I was getting IV fluids. She came over to give me a hug and Paul took her over to meet Nathan. She kept looking at Nathan and saying "baby" over and over. She really wanted to touch him and look at him. She is going to be such a great big sister! 

Katie meeting her little brother

Katie with Mamaw and Papaw

Baby!

Aunt Tara dressing Nathan

GamGam and Nathan

Great Grandpa and Nathan

Uncle Luis, Grandpa, Paulie and Nathan

Grandma and Grandpa Gauna with Nathan

Aunt Melissa with Nathan

Aunt Leslie with Nathan

We are so in love with our handsome little boy. We were discharged home the very next day around seven o'clock. Nathan has been nursing like a champ, which has been such a great experience. He is sleeping pretty good and honestly acts like a two week old baby rather than a tiny baby who is five days old. He is so precious and we are so grateful to have our family complete.

Our Family

Kaitlyn's Birth Story

Warning: This is probably pretty long for most people. I wanted to record all the details. :o) Enjoy!


The induction was scheduled for 06:00 on December 29, 2009. I couldn't sleep at all before-hand. I tossed and turned, played solitaire, lied quietly in the darkness..I was wide awake until about 03:15. And the alarm went of at 04;30. Goodness, that is early.

Mom went with Paul and I to the hospital where we checked into Labor and Delivery. They were in the middle of shift change, and the shift before was really busy with 4 boys being born. I was weighed, +16.6 lbs, and taken back to my room, Labor Room 4, at 07:10. Kelly was my nurse for the induction, and she was also my nurse when I was sent home after my 24 hour observation. It was really nice to see a friendly face.

She brought mom and Paul back and started an IV for me. I was GBS positive so she needed to give me some antibiotics before Katie arrived. When she placed me on the monitor, my contractions were already 6 minutes apart and lasting about a minute and a half. I had no idea that I was even having contractions! I thought it was just Katie stretching out! WooHoo!

Dr. A was in the hospital delivering the 5th boy of the day, and she came in at 09:23 to break my bag of waters. They put a fetal scalp monitor on at that point to monitor Kaitlyn's heartbeat, and I was not able to get out of bed. That part was not so fun.... I was a "stretchy" 3cm, 50% effaced and station -3. Pretty much where I was at during my appointment the day before.

Denisse and Nomi showed up shortly there-after. Denisse picked up tacos and magazines for Paul along the way, and Noemi said it was sleeting/hailing when she arrived. Back in Oklahoma, they were experiencing a snow storm, much like the day when I was born.

Kelly started the Pitocin at 10:16 at 2ml/hr. I had already received a 2g and 1g bag of Ampicillin at that point and would get the last bag of 1g Ampicillin at 12:30pm. They increased the Pit to 4ml/hr at 10:57, 6ml/hr at 11:45 and to 8ml/hr at 12:11. I was able to breath through the contractions pretty well when the Pitocin was going at 6ml/hr and thought I could hold off on pain medication for awhile.

Tara arrived from Sinton, and Tamara and Elizabeth had made their way to L&D, as well. They were doing a good job keeping me preoccupied and distracting me from the pain. Mom would brush my hair, which I love, and Paul rubbed my back and gave me lots of encouragement and reassurance.

I remember being pretty nervous when they increased the Pitocin to 8ml/hr. I was worried that the contractions would become too painful, and I was trying to wait to get the epidural until I was closer to 6 or 7cm dilated. Papa called to check on us frequently via Skype, and I remember he told me I should just get the epidural because I was starting to tear up with all the pain.

After the fourth contraction on 8ml (12:27), I told mom "THEY REALLY HURT NOW," and asked my nurse how long I had to wait to get the epidural once I requested it. She said I was the only one laboring and anesthesia would be there right away. I decided to go ahead and have them come to place one. Dr. B did such a great job with my epidural and had it infusing by 12:45. She only had to attempt once, and the worst part was the sharp "bee sting" sensation when they injected the lidocaine. Paul stood in front of me and supported my shoulders while the epidural was being placed. The contractions were so painful and were getting closer together, around every three minutes.

With the epidural, my right leg went numb first, but I could still move my toes and bend my knee. My left leg pretty much went completely numb, and I had to have help to bend my leg or move it across the bed. But the pain was gone. I only knew I was having contractions because I would get a very mild tightening sensation in my stomach. Unfortunately, I was only at 4 1/2 - 5cm after the epidural was placed, but I was 80% effaced and -2 station. At this point, I was much more calm and Paul went to the cafeteria to get lunch with Tara and Denisse. Mom and Noemi stayed in the room with me, and Elizabeth and Tamara had gone home to rest.

They increased the Pitocin to 10ml/hr at 13:00 and my contractions were about 2-3 minutes apart. The fetal monitor wasn't picking all the contractions up, though, so mom wrote them down when I would tell her I felt the tightening or she saw them on the monitor screen. The nurses continued to increase the pit frequently; to 12ml/hr at 1:30, 14ml/hr at 1:56 and 16ml/hr at 2:36. They re-checked me at 1:56 and I was 5cm dilated, and 80% effaced.

At 3pm, Kelly went home and Jennifer took over my labor care. Apparently, Jennifer assisted with the delivery of the baby earlier that day, so we told her she was going to be our "good luck charm." She increased the pitocin to 18ml/hr at 3:10 and I remember thinking, "How high are they going to increase this drip?!" I was so glad that I couldn't feel anything. By this time, we were making more progress.

Jennifer checked me at 3:58, and I was 7cm, 90% effaced and the baby was at -2 station. I asked her what I could do to bring the baby down and she recommended changing positions (I was on my back) to my side. We started out on the right side first and Paul and Mom helped me turn to my left and back to my right every so often.

Eventually, I started having some pain in my right lower back that gradually got worse. Paul massaged my back, which worked initially. Eventually, the pain spread to my right pelvis and was more internal. Leslie and Noemi took turns with Paul rubbing my back as it hurt so bad. I finally asked my nurse about whether or not I should get a bolus for my epidural. I was hesitant because I didn't want to be so numb that I couldn't feel to push, but the pain got too intense to manage and they called Dr. B back. Jennifer decreased my pitocin to 14ml/hr, as well, and I received the bolus at4:41. This time my right and left sides were completely numb!

The next time Jennifer came in to check me, Dr. A came in, as well. They were planning to place an internal monitor to measure the contractions because the monitor was having a hard time keeping track of them. I was feeling the tightness and pain but the monitor wouldn't show a change in my TOCA score. At 5:35, Dr. A told me that I was "done and complete!" It took me a minute to process what she was saying. "You're done! We are gonna push!" She exclaimed. The baby was still a little high according to my nurse, so I asked if I could labor down more if the pushing wasn't working.

People moved very quickly at this point, bringing over supplies, turning on the warmer, disassembling the bed, etc. They told me that I needed to have those not staying to leave the room, and I asked if "five people was too many." :o) My nurse didn't answer me, but Noemi went to the waiting room since usually only 2 or 3 people can stay. Mom stood on my right side and Paul held my left leg. Tara took some pictures for us and Denisse cheered me on.

I started to push at 5;40. I was determined to make some good progress because I didn't want to be one of the mom's that pushed for 4 hours. My doctor kept telling me what a great job I was doing pushing and exclaimed that she could see Katie's hair after only one or two contractions. She even had Paul come and look and his face lit up with excitement when he saw her hair too.

I couldn't feel anything at all, and I didn't understand how she was already so far down the birth canal where they could see her hair. It didn't feel like what I thought it would when she was that low, but their faces of excitement and encouragement motivated me to keep on pushing hard. Dr. A had been trying to stretch me so that I wouldn't tear during the contractions, and she told me right before I delivered that she "was gonna cut just a little bit because you are gonna tear!" I remember feeling a light "pop" when Katie's head emerged and another "pop" when her legs and feet delivered. I opened my eyes to see her and thought "She looks just like Paul!" She was/is so beautiful and perfect!

Kaitlyn was born on December 29, 2009 at 6:04:26pm and weighed 6 lbs and 5 oz. She was 20.5 inches long with the most beautiful skin and round shaped head. She has such long arms and legs with long fingers and big feet. One of the girls told me "She definitely doesn't have your feet mom!" as my feet are small for being 5'6". We are so in love with our little angel and so thankful that she made it here safe and sound.