Logan's Birth Story

Logan's birth was by far the hardest, longest, most intense, and most emotional labor and delivery I've had. Looking back, I realize I've had a form of PTSD from it. I will never understand some of what happened- during labor and in my recovery after. But we've been so blessed by this sweet baby boy! He brings so much joy to our family and has more love surrounding him everyday than many have in a lifetime. I would go through this experience 100 times over just to have him in our family. So, with that, here's his birth story.

Five days overdue. Five!! I had reached the point of being done probably a couple weeks before. Chasing 3 kids around with a ginormous belly just isn't really my idea of fun. My mom and my sister were staying with us, Danny was home from work because I kept having super annoying, irregular contractions and I wanted him around for when "real" labor started, and we were all on pins and needles just waiting around. We walked miles and miles everyday (went to the Tulip Festival twice, walked Walmart, Target, BYU campus), went to Tucanos (because grilled pineapple worked with the other babes), I did some intense Just Dance sessions, got a pedicure, and even made 12 jars of strawberry jam but this little boy was determined to stay put.

On the Friday after his due date (the 20th), my doctor had me come in for a nonstress test and a fluid check. Everything looked great! We set my induction date for Monday, but I was sure things would happen on their own by that time. Monday (the 23rd) morning rolled around and I got a call from the hospital asking us to come in at 9:30 to get things going. Danny and I hurried in, took care of the mountain of paper work, and they started me on Pitocin about 11. My angel of a nurse, Becky, kept telling me how perfect and ready my cervix was ("feels like jello" were her exact words) and that she was positive I would be the first delivery of the day. I was ready to rock! ( Just a note- I'm a huge believer in birthing YOUR baby in YOUR own way. I choose to go natural because the recovery is easier for me. That's it. I'm no Amazon woman.)  Danny and I watched our favorite Office episodes and then watched Seven Pounds while I bounced and swayed on a birthing ball. Contractions started to get more intense and at 2:50, my doctor came to break my water. I had started out the day dilated at 4 cm, and when she broke my water I was about 7 cm. For whatever reason, things were just not progressing as quickly in comparison with my previous labors. But I was still hopeful that things would speed up.

Once my water broke, I was back on the birthing ball. My contractions got to the point where I couldn't talk through them and I was having trouble even bouncing through them, so I moved to the bed. They checked my progress (because I asked them to) at 6:30 and I was at 8 cm. This is where things got crazy. My contractions were right on top of each other and were lasting at least a minute each. One would end and I would get maybe a 10 second break and the next one would start. Remember my angel nurse Becky? She really saved me. She gave all her other patients to different nurses just to stay with me. Truly the best nurse I've ever had. So grateful for her!  She suggested we do some counter pressure to help me out. We started with me on my back and with each contraction, she would push on my knees and I would push back. Danny and Becky started tag teaming it and eventually it got to the point where Danny would push on one knee and Becky would push on the other. Becky then had me get on my knees, put the bed in an upright position, then I had my arms hanging over the back of the bed. Again with each contraction, she and Danny applied counter pressure to my hips. I thought for sure I would have bruises all over the next day, but there was nothing. Danny's arms were sore for a few days though from pushing so hard. (I felt so sorry for him. Sarcasm.) At some point, I looked down and realized I couldn't move my hand. It was cramped in a c position, like a spasm. Just another weird part of this birth. We alternated between these two positions a couple times. Becky's shift was over at some point and a new nurse, Natalie, jumped right in her spot. Nurses are amazing.

As I was on my knees, I finally felt that urge to push. My doctor rushed in and told me I could just stay on my knees and push that way. I tried that position but was so exhausted and just needed to lie down. So in my 10 second break between contractions, I flipped on my back. I gave 2 pushes and the doctor told me "Just one more!" I gave it all I had. It's amazing what your body is capable of. I put everything into that push. And then at 6:53 pm, he was here! All 9 lbs and 3 oz of him! The greatest feeling of relief and gratitude rushed over me as they placed that sweet baby boy on my chest. I'd worked so hard to bring him into the world and he gave me the most beautiful sounding cry to make it all worth it. I always shake so much after delivery, so they piled tons of blankets on us to keep me warm. He had tried to come out sideways, so I had a 2nd degree tear. As they stitched me up, I just loved on that sweet boy. Danny cut the cord and Logan ate right away. He came out starving and has continued his love affair with food ever since. Because I wasn't able to eat or drink that entire day, I was starving and so thirsty. I was craving water and root beer, and my nurse grabbed both for me as soon as she could. She also brought me the most amazing sandwich, which looking back was probably just a pretty average sandwich, but anything would have tasted amazing at that point. When Logan finished eating, they checked him out. He was perfect! We were able to hang out in the labor and delivery room for a couple hours before moving to our recovery room.

Because of his high birth weight, the nurses were concerned about Logan's blood sugar. He had to have his heel pricked so many times, but he passed and we haven't had anymore issues since being home. The next day (Tuesday the 24th), my nurse was listening to my heart and heard a heart murmur. I've never had a murmur before, so that was a bit worrisome, but they explained that it is very common after birth because of the extra blood found in the body from pregnancy. The doctor made a note of it and I was told it should go away by my six week appointment. The kids, Nana, and Emma came to meet Logan that morning. They were all so in love with him. I loved having all my little ones together. After eating the hospital's entire cracker supply, the kids went home and I tried to rest. We were so eager and ready to go home. By some miracle, Logan was able to get (and pass) all of his newborn testing and we were discharged about 9:00 that night. What an amazing feeling to bring him home! The kids were so excited to wake up the next day and see him. We felt so blessed.

Logan's birth was beyond anything I could have imagined. Before going into the hospital, Danny gave me a priesthood blessing. I was told that I would be in tune with my body and with Logan. I truly felt that. While the birth was beyond hard, I never felt panicked or overwhelmed by what was going on. Throughout my whole labor, the nurses kept telling me how wonderfully Logan was handling everything, that his heart rate was perfect, and that was so encouraging. My recovery has been so different this time around though. Breastfeeding has been harder, probably because this little boy had to eat more often in the beginning due to his weight. We're finally at a point where things are comfortable, but it hasn't been an easy road. Because of some heavy bleeding, I went in to see my OB at 4 weeks postpartum. She checked everything out and did an ultrasound to make sure things were good, which they were, but my heart murmur was still there. So I was sent to a cardiologist. At my appointment a week later, he said he couldn't hear a murmur, but he wanted to be thorough on everything. So they ran an EKG and I had an echocardiogram. Everything has come back normal and I have no heart issues or problems anymore. Such a tender mercy and miracle. The cardiologist called it a "Flow Murmur". Because of pregnancy and all the extra blood, my heart sounded different. I am so thankful for the wonderful doctors and nurses that have helped us through this whole process.

While I don't fully understand this experience, I know that I've learned so much from it. Logan has already blessed our family in ways we didn't know we needed. We love him so much!

Trying to the dance that boy out. 

Tulip Festival

Last picture as a family of 5!

Sooooo huge

Leaving for the hospital! Finally time.

In the zone.

This face perfectly captures everything. 

Big, healthy boy!

I can't get over how long he looks here.

A true swaddle.

Poor boy had his foot pricked so much. He had it all ready for the nurse.

Ready to meet their new brother! Mason bro

Sweet little one.

Going home!