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| My doctor, Dr Horsley, delivered all 6 of my babies at Logan Regional Hospital. I am the first patient for whom he has delivered all 6. Yeah! |
We had an exciting weekend at our house, welcoming our 6th child into the Parkinson family! After several weeks of anticipation and wondering when it would happen, the day finally came.
She was born on Friday, October 3rd at 1:25 am.
This birth was so different from any of my others, it's still kind-of crazy for me to think back on how it all happened.
From past experience, my babies have all come at least a couple weeks early, with only one out of 5 coming after 38 weeks. My earliest was Jared, who was born at 36.5 weeks and Kyle at 37. So, as that time approached, I was growing anxious with the thought of having another baby so early and not feeling quite ready.
You could say that I have been pretty spoiled for most of my pregnancies because they go pretty smoothly without a lot of complications. In fact, I have never really experienced nausea, heartburn, varicose veins, swelling, or braxton hicks with any of my others until this one. Even this time, I really only had a small taste of these things, enough to say I knew what it was like. But the braxton hicks were what threw me off this time. Around 36 weeks I started having them and didn't quite know what to expect. With all previous labors, I hadn't really felt ANYTHING until labor, and even then, I thought, "I don't know- are you sure this is really it? It just feels like some menstrual cramps!" And of course at the end I realized it really was, just before the epidural. Pretty nice, huh?
So, when I started having all these contractions around 36 weeks, I was really uncomfortable, and they were starting to make me nervous. For the most part I still pretty-much carried on with my normal activities, especially after 37 weeks when I thought, "Bring it on..." I was cleaning bathrooms, weeding the garden, painting in my kitchen, vacuuming, grocery shopping, etc. Might as well, right? I felt like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any minute. I have always gone into labor in the middle of the night, so every morning that week, I would wake up thinking, "I made it through another night, what am I going to get done today?" The week ended well with me being able to make it through another night shift at the hospital and going to all the parent-teacher conferences for the kids. On Thursday night, after getting all the kids to bed, I went to bed feeling pretty worn out, and never really was able to go to sleep. I started having enough contractions that around 11:30 pm I got up and decided to walk around or read to not disturb Aaron.
The contractions were still not consistent, some being 15 min or so apart or less often. I spent the next hour counting out the contractions and just puttering around, not wanting to wake Aaron up unless this was "the real thing". I didn't want to go to the hospital until they were close enough together and they were still only about 10 min apart, but they were getting a lot more painful- to where I had to breathe through them. That was when I woke Aaron up and said we probably ought to head to the hospital. You have to understand that with the last baby, we had headed to the hospital as soon as I felt contractions that hurt and were close enough together, probably 5 min apart. But, I was so disappointed when I arrived and found I was only 4 cm and stayed that way for 4 or 5 hours, thinking, "I should have just stayed home and waited until it was farther along!" I didn't want to do that again. I wanted to be farther along this time. (Well, I was...)
It was a very stressful drive to the hospital. We left at about 12:45 and it was 35 min. away. Needless to say, it took less time than that to get there because Aaron was speeding the whole way trying to get me there before the baby was born. We had no idea things would progress so quickly, as it has never been a problem in the past. As we left, the contractions started getting a lot stronger and were about 3 min apart. About half way to the hospital, my water broke and then they got even more intense and were less than 2 min apart. Aaron called the hospital on the way and told them to get the Dr in ASAP. We both knew that it was very close now, just by the way I was acting, and there was the underlying fear that we would not make it to the hospital before the birth. Just before we got to the hospital, I already knew it would be too late for the epidural. I was to the point now that I cared more about just getting to the hospital and not giving birth in the car. I kept telling myself, "Everything is going to be okay. I will survive this!" Aaron got a wheelchair and ran me in to the delivery room. They were all ready for me. There was no time for vital signs, history, or even an IV, and especially not an epidural. I was in so much pain- they checked me and I was 8 cm and complete.
Sparing you too many of the details, and making a pretty short story even shorter, We arrived at the hospital at 1:10 and delivered at 1:25. It probably would've been even sooner if the Dr had been there, but I had had to wait at least 5 min to push until he arrived. I could hardly believe the baby was here! It had happened so fast! (Too fast- it was scary). It took a minute for her to cry. They had to put her on cpap for a minute to oxygenate her right at first, but then she pinked right up and started crying. They tried to hand her to me, but I couldn't even hold her I was shaking so bad from the trauma of the whole thing. I was breathing so hard I felt like I had just run a marathon!
(AS A SIDE NOTE: people have asked me if I would do it natural again, having experienced it). I would never want anyone to experience it the way I did. Honestly, it was like a nightmare at the time and so scary. I would say if I had known it would be so FAST, I probably would've. It was hard, but not too bad if you know it will only take less than an hour. But, how can you really know that? The crazy thing is that none of my other deliveries ever went that fast. Actually, I progressed rather slowly and I appreciated the epidural A LOT! It would've been long and hard and really miserable without the epidural with all my others, especially my first, when I was in labor over 12 hours and pushed for 2 hours 20 min with a vacuum to get her out! So, I probably still wouldn't have chosen to do it natural unless my others had all been really fast. And then, I also probably wouldn't have driven to Logan! I will say the recovery was pretty easy this time for me, I'm sure partially because I had no epidural, but also I think just because it was my 6th and my body just knew what to do. The recovery still wasn't THAT MUCH better that I think going without the epidural is really worth it. Looking back, I am glad I got the opportunity to experience the labor without an epidural, just to know what it is like and to say I was able to do it. Not that I think it makes you any more of a woman to have done it. Really, I think it's okay to take advantage of the modern conveniences of our time. And, I admire anyone who feels motivated and is able to do it natural every time. Some people are definitely made more for that than others, and that's okay! I am in awe, though, after that experience, amazed that a woman's body can know what to do all on it's own. Childbirth truly is a miracle!)
I had been downing ice chips my whole pregnancy, but the most delicious ice chips I have ever had were the ones I got right after the delivery. :) Aaron was a great support, by my side the whole time. It took me a little while to relax, but at that point I felt so good. I was just SO HAPPY that we had made it and that she was okay. It was such a huge relief!!
Our sweet little
Kaylee Michel Parkinson was born- 7 lbs, 6 oz, and 20.5 inches. It was the best feeling in the world. We did it!!!
After about an hour, they moved me to my room and I enjoyed 2 nights at the hospital with time to relax and recover and to enjoy being with my sweet new little one and my sweetheart and best friend, Aaron.
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| Aaron helping with Kaylee's first bath |
That evening, after the kids got home from school, my mom brought them up to the hospital to see the baby. They were all so excited with this one and it was so fun to watch! They each wanted more than one turn holding her and looking at her.
I wanted to point out the beautiful rose bouquet that Aaron put together for me. He got one color of rose for each of our children. It was pretty thoughtful of him and I LOVED it!!
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| I love this picture, not of me, but of her- because it looks so much like she is smiling! |
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| Kaylee all dressed up in her "going home" outfit |
I will never cease to be in awe of the miracle of childbirth! How grateful I am that I have had the privilege of participating in such a great part of our Heavenly Father's plan- bringing a new life into the world! I consider myself truly blessed to have had the opportunity of bearing children and of raising them with a knowledge of His plan for them! Each of them
is so unique, bringing something special into our home. Each of them also has their own challenges. I know that being a mother is one of the hardest things I will ever do.Because it is more of a choice now than it was in the past, we live in a time when many have lost the vision for having children. Being a parent at this time takes a lot of COURAGE! It is not for the faint of heart. It requires one to "lose him/herself" to a certain degree in order to succeed. No other role has brought me more fulfillment, and will continue to, than my role as a mother. I believe as I rely on the Lord, He will help me keep the vision of WHY I am choosing to be a mother and help me to raise these sweet little ones up to Him.
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| Me at 37 weeks |
