Monday, July 27, 2015

Our greatest adventure yet: Meeting Riley (Rachelle's perspective)

Short Version:


Riley’s Stats:
6 lbs 4 oz
20 inches long (probably 19 without his cone head)
Born at 7:28 pm

Labor Stats:
22 hours long
No epidural
Pitocin for 9 hours
Pushed for 28 minutes
In hospital

Labor and Birth takeaways and thoughts:

Labor is comparable to earth life and being reunited with Christ. We work so hard in this life to figure out what is right, what we should and shouldn’t do. People bear unbearable things. Some people’s life/labor is easier than others, but everyone’s journey takes effort, means something different to them, and is worth it. When we are reunited with Christ it is going to be the most joyful, celestial feeling you have ever felt which makes your journey worth it. When you meet your own child after birth it makes the work worth it. Whatever you went through will be made right. It will seem a small price to pay to be with your Savior and your family again. However, if we take shortcuts (abortion in most cases) or do not choose to follow the commandments (choosing not to have kids when you are capable and when is right for your family) and do not follow the spirit in this life we will not be able to experience that joy and happiness that is everlasting.
Adam and Eve only had each other when they gave birth to their first child and I believe that they clung unto each other and that Adam was there to help Eve through her whole labor. I believe they were supported by angels and felt a joy they had never yet experienced as they held their first born in their arms. They knew it was a miracle, they knew they had pleased the Lord and fulfilled his commandment.
Labor, birth, and parenting is a team effort. I could not have had the birth that I wanted to without the help of my loving and kind husband. He worked tirelessly for 22 hours straight to help me through the pain I was feeling and he did not have the natural hormones to keep him awake. He was incredible.
Hypnobirthing is amazing! Totally recommend it to everyone! Even if you want to have an epidural it is an incredible class that helps you tune into your body and learn how to listen to the instincts that we have.
Birth is a celestial and sacred experience. That room becomes a safe haven filled with nothing but love for everyone around you. The veil is very thin.
Riley is amazing! I love him!
 

Long Version: Meeting Riley

These last two months I have thought about the night that we met Riley. It has been hard for me to put into words what I felt, I still am not convinced that we have the exact words in our English language that describes the labor and birth process. The experience was so empowering, pure, sacred, and celestial. And the labor process taught me a lot about life and love. I want to share my experience with you because it has strengthened my testimony of families, eternal marriage, and of the plan of salvation.
Michael and I decided that for our labor we wanted to try a hypnobirth. We wanted minimal medication and interventions. Initially I chose this method because I was fearful of an epidural I didn’t like the idea of having a needle in my back and the horror stories of complications frightened me. This was not the greatest mentality to have and I probably would not have been able to have a successful hypnobirth if I kept this same motivation for having a hypnobirth. During our hypnobirthing class my mentality changed drastically. I got over my fear of the epidural and realized that if I needed it, it was there and some people do need it. However, our body can (the majority of the time) birth without medication, and I wanted to be able to feel my birthing instincts and follow my body and feel the power behind birth. I wanted to have a natural high of oxytocin as I met my baby boy. This hypnobirthing class greatly prepared us, we loved going, it was the highlight of our week and we learned so much. Shout out for Laura Lynn Curtis and the Curtis method hypnobirthing it is incredible. I recommend it for anyone even if you are planning on having a medicated birth, it was fantastic!
At 39 weeks I was ready to meet my baby boy, everyday after 39 weeks I tried to naturally induce labor. I hiked the Y, walked, got a massage, and many other “natural” inductions. I didn’t expect to be so impatient I thought I was prepared that “my baby would come when it was his time to come and he felt ready.” I was very impatient and my doctor wanted to induce me at 41 weeks and I didn’t want that until I hit 39 weeks and then my mentality changed and I just wanted my baby boy here. Luckily, I didn’t have to be induced. At 40 weeks and 5 days things changed. That afternoon I felt a hormonal shift. I went from being super depressed to ecstatic and excited within a 20 minute period. Something was different! I couldn’t wait for Michael to come home I just knew it was going to be that day. We were going to meet our son! When Michael came home from work we quickly ate dinner and I told him like I really felt like this was the day. I had been experiencing frequent Braxton hicks for many days and they hadn’t changed even then but I wanted to try natural induction. It worked! Around 9 pm my surges changed almost instantly from upper to lower and intense pressure in my back. I was having back labor.
Michael instantly helped me by putting counter pressure on my back. Side note: After a lot of contemplation prior to his birth, we had decided that we didn’t want a Doula because we wanted this to be a personal and sacred moment for our family and we didn’t want anyone to invade that sacred bubble. I was so grateful for Michael the pressure that he put on my back was so helpful and relieving. I was experiencing these contractions 1 to 2 minutes apart but only 45 seconds to a minute long. I decided to take a shower hoping that moving around and standing would help, along with the warm water. Michael was there for every surge, helping me with the pain that I felt in my back. After about 30 minutes I felt a shift and my body directed me to start making low moaning sounds as I exhaled.

We called the hospital about an hour after the first surges had started to ask when we should come in. We needed to make sure to be there 4 hours before giving birth because I needed antibiotics for Group B Strep. Michael started gathering our bag and snacks for us to eat in-between each of my surges. He also gave me a blessing that the Lord would be with me and help me through this time. I am so blessed to have a strong priesthood holder. At midnight we arrived at the hospital. It took us about thirty minutes to get up to the labor and delivery unit because we had to stop at every surge and do counter pressure and the whole time I was swaying and making moaning noises. I LOVED this part of labor. My body just knew what to do and if I allowed myself to do it even if it seemed hard or abnormal it made labor so much easier. I was still able to talk through surges at this point.
We got up to the labor and delivery unit and were put in a nice and spacious room. They checked me and I was only dilated to a 2 but was 90% effaced. We chose to be checked frequently because both Michael and I both like to know what is going on and the suspense would agitate me. They monitored the baby and everything was well and I was able to walk around and use my birthing ball to be on my hands and knees. It was such an exciting feeling to be there in that hospital room the day I had been waiting for.
They got me hooked up to the antibiotics (an annoying IV). Although I was attached to the machine I was still able to walk around. And for many hours I moved and changed positions. Our first nurse was an angel! Her name was Vicky. She was so supportive! This is where I realized how symbolic labor is to life and our journey. God made woman to be a help meet for man. And man and woman are to cleave together. I honestly believe that what Michael and I experienced was similar to what Adam and Eve experienced. With no one but themselves, Adam would’ve had to be there by her side to help her through her surges. I can just imagine how beautiful and sacred that moment was of the birth of their first child as they worked together to bring him here. I believe that they had angels supporting them as they fulfilled the covenant they made with God to multiply and replenish the earth, just like angels support us through our lives and especially through the birthing process. Vicky was one of my angels. She sat next to us and in her soft and calming voice  chanted birthing affirmations. She would come in our room whenever possible and just watch eagerly and help me through the process by breathing and moaning with me. I realized when she was vocal with me, it was so helpful and I asked Michael to do it with me as well. She would hum and help do counter pressure and light touch massage. She was an amazing nurse I loved her! Michael and Vicky’s support and guidance meant the world to me and helped me get through those morning hours. Sadly, there are shift changes in the hospital world and she had to leave in the morning. I believe this is symbolic as well. At times we feel tremendous help and support from beyond the veil and other times depending on many different circumstances we can feel less support. Those hours with Vicky went by so quickly. It made me consider getting a doula during our next adventure. I wish Vicky was a doula!
I had been laboring for 10 hours when my doctor came and asked if she could break my water since I was still only at a 3 and my surges were slowing down slightly. I agreed and it was a wonderful feeling to have that pressure released. However, it didn’t do anything for the labor. Baby Riley was taking his sweet time. Another life lesson: Life doesn’t go as planned and when it doesn’t we should always turn to the Lord and those who love us to get through those unexpected turns. About an hour later they checked me again and I still showed very minimal progress. The nurse told me that I needed Pitocin to speed things up. I knew that suggestion was coming and I was so scared. I felt my body getting tired and I was starting to withdraw into myself and sometimes my thoughts were very frightening. My mind was becoming an enemy to the process of birth. I practiced repeating birthing affirmations, but those frightened and scared thoughts were winning. I finally voiced my concern to the nurse and Michael: “if I get Pitocin I don’t think I can do it without an epidural. I don’t think I can handle it getting more intense.” Michael was so kind and suggested that we do some natural nipple stimulation to try and make the labor progress instead of the Pitocin. They allowed us to do that for an hour. I honestly believe that it didn’t work because my mind was not allowing oxytocin to release because of the fear I had. When they came back and nothing had changed they pushed the Pitocin and it did feel right I think I needed something to help me get past my fear. I told them that I would probably need an epidural at the same time though. They went to go get the drugs and update my doctor.

When the nurse left, Michael was my angel at this time. He looked at me and said: “Rachelle you told me that when you were about to cave in to an epidural to not let you. I think you should try the Pitocin and just see how it goes before you get an epidural. You can do it even for just 30 minutes just try it.” And so I did. This was the best decision I made. It taught me how powerful the human body really is and how powerful and strong I was.
As I got Pitocin it started out as dark and frightening, but soon I realized how strong my body and mind are and I was able to be enlightened and my mind freed so I was able use visualization and powerful birth affirmations. Up until this point I was able to speak during contractions at least a little bit. After the Pitocin if I needed to speak it either came out as a whisper that no one could hear or a shout that startled Michael.  During every contraction I said the phrase “You are Strong, You are Powerful”. I swayed my hips. Me and Michael danced, I moved to my hands and knees, I sat on the bed. The whole time my body was directing me and Michael was helping as I directed. Birth is NOT a one man show. It is a team effort. I realize that more and more as I reflect on those hours that I felt so close to Michael. We were working together to bring Baby Riley into our lives. I would talk to my baby sometimes and encourage him that he could do it. Mostly I stayed very quiet and internal. I was within myself it was a very sacred place as I prayed and tried to listen to my body.
All of a sudden an hour and a half later I felt a transition and an intense new sensation. I felt the urge to push! Except at first I didn’t think it was that, at first I thought I just needed to go to the bathroom. I asked if I could get help to the bathroom and the nurse said, “wait do you feel like you need to poop?” “um yeah…” “Do you feel it all the time or just during contractions?” (I was only feeling it during contractions) “OH!!!! I’m feeling the urge to push.” “Yes you are, but you are only at a 7 so we can’t have you push right now or it will cause swelling. This is a breathing technique that can help when you feel that sensation.”
The technique she showed me was a fast breathing as if you were blowing out a candle 20 times as fast as you could. It really did help during that urge. She warned me to be really careful not to bear down because we don’t want to cause swelling and make it harder to birth.
This phase of labor was really exciting for me because I felt like labor was progressing a lot more quickly. It kept me going. Michael also kept encouraging me, breathing with me, and reminding me: “Just take it one contraction at a time. You can do it.” It was also really hard because the urge to push was one of the most powerful bodily reactions I have ever felt in my life. I felt like I was at war with my body. I couldn’t bear down, don’t make me bear down. Sometimes I failed and it hurt so badly when I pushed physically and mentally because I couldn’t beat the urge. Sometimes I succeeded and felt so proud as I got through a whole surge without bearing down. Michael was the most amazing support during this time. He could see I was struggling without me having to say anything. Instead of saying don’t bear down hun which he already knew I knew. After every surge whether I succeeded or not he would say “good job Rachelle you are doing so good.” And he would stroke my hair. I felt as if we were in our own little world going through this journey. When nurses walked in we didn’t stop what we were doing. It was just us, and we knew what was best. He and I together with our soon to be living and breathing son.

During one of my dark moments where I felt like giving up, Michael announced that my family was in the waiting room. This was such a surprise! My mom teaches school and she had tests she wasn’t supposed to leave for, but she had arranged it so she could be here and bring our family. My dad also left work. I didn’t want them in the room, but it felt so good and helped me so much to know that they were there in case I needed them. They were there supporting us and waiting for us.
When I hit a 9 I asked the nurse how long she thought it would be. She said an hour and half tops. Which meant I would be having my baby at 5:30 pm!!! I was so excited I couldn’t stand it. That’s what kept me going was 5:30. But then after that no nurse came no doctor came. 5:30 came and went and I was in agony!!! Finally at 6 pm a nurse came in. It was a nurse I had never seen. I was in the middle of a contraction. She came in and introduced me to another nurse and then they both left! That was it! I was enraged. I asked Michael to get someone to come back. I really felt like I was ready to give birth. I could feel him and I just wanted the support that I needed. The nurse came back and checked me and said I was almost fully dilated I just had a small anterior lip that was in the way. She would call the doctor and tell her to come right over. Oh the joy! It was so exciting! It was so close! They got the table ready with all of the tools on it and got the table that they would do some measurements on.
She came back in after a little bit and said that the doctor said this was my “rest and be thankful phase” to allow the baby to drop into the pelvis. She would be over around 7 pm. My heart sunk again! Another hour… I felt like he needed to come in now. And I did NOT feel like resting and being thankful. The contractions were the most powerful they had every been. However I was so internalized and exhausted that I couldn’t communicate anything that I felt. I was so withdrawn into my own mind it was as if my cognitive ability to speak had left. I could only speak in short sentences. It just took too much effort. The hour wait began. I kept repeating the mantra in a whisper that I was strong and powerful. Although that hour was long it also was powerful to know I could keep enduring these powerful contractions.

Right before 7 I got on the bed on my hands and knees and leaned over the ball. This is the position that I felt would be best to birth in. Right at 7 my doctor came in hallelujah! The first thing she said was, “Oh! You are on your hands and knees!” I didn’t know what that meant at the time, but later I found out that a nurse had told her I had gotten the epidural and had not reupdated her and told her that I hadn’t. That is why she waited until seven because she thought I had an epidural!
She quickly came over and checked me and said, “oh my goodness he is right there! Let me get dressed so we can birth this baby. Are you ready to meet your son?” Oh was I ready!
It all happened so fast she told me the next contraction to start bearing down and only to help push if it felt right. She directed me to curl my pelvis to help the baby move down the birth canal. Oh it felt so good when I pushed this time. I was fighting against my body. And I could feel him moving and the pressure changing. After 28 minutes of intense burning, tearing, and exerting of effort he was here!
There were so many wonderful things about the moment that he came out of the birth canal. First there was so much wonderful pressure relief and then the euphoria as they handed me my beautiful son. It was so wonderful and so sacred. Our long journey seemed like a flash in time as I held my beautiful son. His lungs were powerful and he was definitely crying but as they handed me his warm slimy body I placed him on my chest (after having help to turn around onto my back) and he just calmed right down. He knew me. He knew his momma. Michael spoke and he turned his head towards him. He knew his dad. What a precious moment. He had such curly long hair and his cone head was unbelievable it still amazes me how the whole process of birth works! He was perfect. This is what pure joy feels like.

I relate this moment to what it might feel like to meet the Savior again. After our long hard journey in life; we finally get to meet our Savior what joy we will feel. Our hard lives will seem so insignificant and short compared to the overwhelming happiness, joy, euphoria, that we feel in the presence of the Savior.
Michael was able to cut the chord, and I was able to hold my baby as they did their initial measurements and assessments and as they stitched me up. Oh these moments were so precious. I don’t have words to describe them. It was a very celestial feeling; I loved everyone in that room that helped me bring my baby to me safe and sound.
My testimony has grown immensely. I know that the commandment to multiply and replenish the earth comes from a divine being and divine and indescribable feelings are present when you fulfill that commandment. Families are eternal the veil was so thin in that room and I could feel the presence of many angels smiling down on us.
Shortly after Riley arrived I couldn’t wait for my family to meet him. I feel like this is comparable as well to how the gospel should work. You find something that makes you so happy you just want to share that happiness with everyone you meet.
I would not change a thing about my birth other than just making sure the nurses communicate better with the doctor. I loved being able to move and experience the birthing instincts and I loved working with Michael as a team to bring our son to the world. Yes it was hard, but anything hard is worth it. Riley was definitely worth it and I don’t think I would have felt as close to him or Michael if I did not go through this birth experience. I can’t wait for the next one! Haha jk.

We love our Riley and I hope you don’t mind us sharing him with you!