Sunday, June 10, 2012

Naomi's Birth Story


If you haven't heard, this little piece of sweetness came out of the oven on Thursday.  Here's how it went down....

This entire pregnancy had been different from my other two. I was sicker in the beginning, I carried much higher, I was mostly stomach (even though I gained 45 lbs...yep, have to document that somewhere, too), I had crazy sciatic pain, and some pelvic issues from before the pregnancy flared up toward the end when I got big. Being married to a chiropractor is awesome. Steve kept me mostly pain-free. I just wish there were some adjustments that targeted crankiness.

I wondered if labor and delivery would be different with this one as well? With the other girls my water had broken on its own, and I needed to be induced several hours later because I never went into labor. This time I wanted my body to labor on its own, and I wanted to avoid having an epidural (for other reasons, mostly lower back issues).

38 week appointment: I was already dilated to a 3. This was new for me, as I had never dilated before my water broke in the past. During that appointment I had met with the nurse midwife (instead of the OB) and I asked her for advice on how to get labor going in case my water broke, and I was in the same boat as the last two deliveries. She gave me a recipe for "special scrambled eggs" (eggs cooked in castor oil) that I could use in case I need a little push. I'd heard mixed stories about using castor oil (mostly getting the runs instead of going into labor... sometimes both) so I decided to think about it. Mixing it with eggs made me wonder if it would be easier on my stomach and not just clean me out.

39 week appointment (last Wednesday): I was dilated to almost a 4. I started to panic a little after the doctor said I would probably go fast once I went into labor. That was hard for me to imagine because I'd never gone into labor on my own before. (And it certainly wasn't fast.)

I really didn't want to dilate much further and not be able to make it to the hospital in time. With the other girls it took me FOREVER to dilate to a 6, but once I passed that mark I was pushing the baby out within minutes.

So...

Enter: "special scrambled eggs" Because I was dilated so far. and I was within a few days of my due date I decided to take the castor oil risk.

Thursday morning: I finished packing my hospital bag and getting some things together for the girls.

10AM: Cooked up the eggs. Said a little prayer to myself and ate them. And waited.

1PM: Mild contractions begin and eventually they got to be about 5 minutes apart. Steve came home for lunch. We left around 3, dropped off the girls at a friend's house, stopped at Steve's office for him to adjust me, then we went to the hospital.

4PM: Arrive at the hospital. I was dilated to a 4. Still having mild, but close contractions. They told me to walk around for an hour or two to see if I was making good progress before they officially admitted me.

6:30PM: Another check -- dilated to a 5.5. They decide to admit me and slowly wander off to find an IV and get some paperwork together.

6:35PM: After 2 or 3 sudden "I want to punch a hole in the wall" contractions (not like the ones I'd been having up until that point), I asked them to give me something to help with the pain. They check me again, and I was FULLY DILATED.

6:45PM: (No IV yet) After another crazy contraction or two, I felt like I had to push. Nurses are taking apart the table and getting stuff together for the delivery. My water EXPLODES after the first push (Steve liked that part.)

6:51PM: Out came little Naomi after the 2nd push and onto mama's chest.


 She was absolutely perfect. She weighed 7 lbs 1 ounce, and measured 20 3/4 inches.


I felt great as well, and relieved that it went so fast. I thought it was interesting that I got everything I wanted out of this delivery, but it wasn't really by choice. (Except for "inducing" myself. But I also hear that castor oil doesn't work if your body isn't ready. I guess I was.)


Naomi has been a little nursing champ since she came out and latched right on. My milk finally came in today (Sunday) and she's been sleeping most of the day and less cranky.


I'm still getting my wits together and dealing with the annoying "I'm crying but I have no idea why" episodes. I do feel good, though, and I'm glad that everything went well and we're both healthy!





We decided to name her Naomi LaRue, LaRue after my grandma (my dad's mother). Welcome to the family little one!!

(I've got a video clip of the other girls meeting Naomi for the first time that I'll post shortly....)

15 comments:

Jenny said...

Thanks for the invite. I've had fun looking at lots of your blog posts.

Congrats on a beautiful, healthy baby. I love the name Naomi.

I love that you got a van. We are going to be right behind you even though it's something I have not been looking forward to. I'm glad you are loving it. It gives me hope. :)

And p.s. I know you guys moved out of the South Meadows ward a while ago, but seeing the pictures of Ivy made me remember what a cute, smart little thing she was when I had her in nursery. Your girls are adorable. All 3 of them.

MindySue said...

LOVE your birth story. Naomi is adorable and I love the pic of you and all the girls squeezed on the hospital bed. So cute!

Sarah said...

Yay!!!! So glad I got to read the story. Reminds me a bit of when I had Jude (except I didn't have scrambled eggs.) Every time I read the work "contraction", though, I get kinda nervous...I can feel it. So worth it once they come out though. YOU DID IT!!!! She is so dang cute, I just want to hold her.

Kathryn said...

I'm so glad you had a (relatively) easy delivery!! And what a cutie-pie! Just like your other two :) I can't wait to meet her!

Millertime said...

Loved your birth story. Its always so amazing to hear birth stories with no epidural. You are amazing. I want to with my next baby whenever that may be try it that way. But then I get scared! She is so beautiful. I am excited to meet her someday! Congrats again.

Beck Family said...

Wooohoooo! No epidural! It really is amazing how good you can feel when you don't use medicine of any kind. She is so beautiful and precious. I'm so glad everything went so well. There is nothing better than snuggling with a newborn . . . nothing.

The Rogers said...

She is such a cutie (but the seems to be the case with Perry girls :) ) Love the name too! Glad everyone is home safe and sound and that labor wasnt to bad. Miss you :)

ivoryhut said...

She is so adorable. Thank you for sharing the news with me! Naomi is a beautiful name. It makes me think of loyalty, faith, and perseverance. Congratulations to you and your family!

James and Monica said...

I kept forgetting to read this!
I'm so so glad it went to well and that it was what you wanted.
You're both looking beautiful!
Cute cute cute! Love you guys!

Kate Larsen said...

I think that's an amazing story. Did you feel great afterwards having not had any meds? Good luck with the newest Perry. :)

The Stephenson Family said...

Love the story- impressive! You're a rock star. :) Naomi is beautiful. I hope you are feeling ok- I totally get you on the 'crying and don't know why' stuff. That happens to me after birth, it's enough to drive you batty! Darn hormones. Let me know if you need anything.

Sarah Junsay said...

Wait, Steve liked your water exploding!? Gross...it must have not hit him! :) I'm so glad your 3rd baby was so quick! Maybe its an omen of how her personality will be. My 3rd was the worst labor and so far is the worst kid! Naomi's a doll and I love her name! Congrats to all the Perry bunch! :)

Lorraine said...

Congratulations! So sweet! I wish we lived closer!! Jack and Rose are so close in age to Sophie and Ivy. They could get into all kinds of trouble together.

I was reading through my journal from 2001-2002 looking for some stuff for Eric, and I found when Eric and I were up for EFY the summer after our missions. You made us all kinds of stuff, like lemon slushies, hot dogs, and cinnamon french toast. I never see those on your food blog ;).

Manda said...

I have to say two things.
1. I am SO happy that you got to have a quick, uncomplicated labor and delivery with a healthy baby outcome. Really. I am. That's the bestest.
#2. WHY DO YOU HAVE 1 HOUR LABORS?!
We are expecting baby #4 in May, and even tho I've never been induced, or had an epidural, (which can often slow labor)I have never ever had a birth story like that!
:) :) :)
Congrats on your 3rd girl! Time to start "flinging" out boys now, don'tcha think? ;)

Sarah said...

OH I'm so glad you shared your story. I love it. It reminds me a lot of MaryEllen's birth, minus the caster oil. =)