...And I'd have pictures if it would let me load them. However, I have changed some pictures so you can look at her that way.
Anyway, she was born January 4th, Chrispy's birthday, at 12:48am. She was 7 pounds 15 ounces, and 20 inches long. Ironically, she is my smallest baby so far. Christian weighed 8 pounds 8 ounces, Nayeli was 8 pounds 3 ounces. Tehya was about a week and a few days early, totally surprising me and Chrispy but Chrispy was happy to have her on his birthday. No doubt will she be a daddy's girl with the bond they've shared since he dreamt of her being a girl.
As for details of the moments leading up to and of the birth, I'll have to make it short since Tehya could wake any moment and I'll have to feed her.
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Thursday, January 3rd, I woke up early to get ready and get the kids ready to go to my brother-in-law's house for the day to play. He took them around 9am and I was able to get to my doctor's appointment without a problem. Leading up to the appointment at 10:30am I hadn't had too many contractions so I wasn't expecting too much, maybe a dialation to 5cm...and I was! I told her about the fun I've had throwing up lately and she was surprised the bag of waters was still intact. She even checked to see if I was leaking and of course I wasn't. She told me I must have a bag of steel and we had a laugh about that. She wanted me to get checked in to the hospital to see how strong the contractions were and how often. I just told her I wasn't feeling many, so she just advised that if I feel them a certain length apart to go to the hospital.
She must have started something cuz on my way to pick up some baby stuff from my sister I had a few contractions. But they weren't screaming to me- go to the hospital. Before I left, my sister told her son to hug me tightly to squeeze the baby out. That might have helped too. After that I went shopping, not even in a hurry but the contractions came often enough to encourage me to time them. They ran from 15 mins, 10 mins and even 7 mins a few times. I went to Walmart then Best Buy, where I got a nice shawl that I thought would be good for nursing and Lego Lord of the Rings for Chrispy's birthday. Before I went to Best Buy I had called my brother-in-law to tell him I'd be over to grab the kids from his house. While at the store the contractions got a little rough to breathe through so I debated picking the kids up (have them stay the night) but I mentally didn't think I was contracting regularly to go to the hospital so I dropped everything I bought at the house and went to get the kids, warning my mother that she may want to ready herself cuz I may ask her to stay with me till Chris got home. I'd say this was at around 4:30pm?
On the way to get the kids I still kept track of every contraction I felt, they ran from 10 mins, 5 mins, and even 3 mins a couple times, putting me on edge. When I got my kids I visited with my other sister and brother-in-law, the contractions spaced themselves again, probably cuz I was more relaxed with family around. When I left with the kids, the contractions picked up again. I texted my mother when we got home, she wanted to be there just in case, and I can't deny that I wanted her there too.
My mother showed up soon after, at around 6pm, and the contractions still hadn't stopped their 3-10 minute squeezes. It didn't take long for me to be convinced we should go, so I called Chrispy's mother and asked her to watch the kids while my mother took me to the hospital. While we waited for her I cooked up a pizza for the kids so Gma Runkel wouldn't have to worry about that. When she got there the kids were thrilled to have both grandma's at the same time, but my mom and I got ready to go and I called Chrispy to tell him of what was going on around 7pm. Ironically, Chris told me he was on his way home and could take me, but I told him it'd be better if he came home to get showered and dressed before going to the hospital, where he would meet up with us.
Checking in wasn't so hard since I registered online before going into triage. When I got checked, physically, the nurse said I was a 6 and a half to 7cm, and said I couldn't go home or she'd get fired. Ha ha ha! Contractions were still at random times but they made me a little uncomfy. The nurse also told me Tehya was sunny-side up (where the back of the head is next to the spine instead of the norm- face to spine). When they tried to get an IV in, the nurse poked me twice, but couldn't do it, even had the anesthesiologist come in, who also poked me twice, finally settling on the vein in my inner elbow. I swear I wasn't THAT dehydrated but whatever they couldn't find a vein. By this time we were in a labor and delivery room and I can't remember when Chris finally came, my mother left, and when my doctor came to check on me. I hadn't dialated much, only to 7cm but Tehya moved into the correct position- face down. The doctor did want to break the water but I said after I got the epidural in, which by the way took 2 times too. Stunk both times but at least he got it in and my doctor was able to break the water, which was clear!
From that point it was pretty much a waiting game of monitors and adjustments Chris and I kept making predictions of when she'd arrive that day. Around 11:30pm they did end up putting me on pitocin to regulate the contractions so they would actually do something. I also had to be given oxygen cuz my blood pressure would go down. Tehya however was enjoying her time inside, kicking away and breathing fine. Then midnight came and went and I told Chris, happy birthday, and things started to pick up. I dialated quickly to 8 and soon 10. I could feel the contractions but I didn't feel the need to push, it was so weird. I'm sure if I didn't have the epidural that wouldn't have been the case. They told me when to push and how long and I listened. It took 3 official pushes to get her out. They put her on my chest and she was cute but a mess. I was able to hold her for about 5 minutes before they took her away to clean her off.
I had guessed 1/3 at 1:03am 7 pounds 15 ounces and 20 inches long. Chris guessed his birthday. Funny huh?
