Introducing Haley Joy

On Thursday morning, I had a doctor’s appt. and she did a membrane sweep.  At that point, I was 3 cm dilated.  I went for a long walk around suppertime, spent time with Jared, and then contractions started at 10 p.m. just as I was ready to go to bed.  I got up and started walking around and they were continually 5 min. apart, so at midnight, Jared’s Dad came to sleep at our house and we headed to the hospital.  My doula met us there and we spent most of the night walking around, with contractions 5 min. apart, but not very hard and not increasing in intensity or frequency.  By 6 a.m., the contractions had stopped and we got sent home.  That was VERY frustrating + disappointing.  Jared’s parents took the kids so that we could sleep Friday morning and I got 3 hours of sleep before contractions started again around 10:30 a.m.  They were quite far apart + not very painful.  I took a shower and then a bath and right after that, at 12:00 p.m., the contractions started 5 min. apart and were quite painful.  Jared decided to try to go to work for the afternoon, but was ready to leave at any time.  I called a close friend and she came over + blessed me with a slurpee and had rented a movie.  We were about 5 min. into the movie when I said, “Sorry, I have to go!”  I called Jared, he came home after being at work for half an hour, and then we left for the hospital at 2:15 p.m.  We had to wait in the waiting room for a while and when I finally got checked in triage at 3:30 p.m., they said I was 7 almost 8 cm dilated and immediately moved me to a private room.  I knew then that again, it was too late for the epidural.  I had read a book called Supernatural Childbirth and in it, they talk about how it’s possible to have a pain-free labor + delivery because Jesus died on the cross for all pain.  They talk about praying + speaking to your body, so I was praying almost the whole time (not out loud) and telling my body to relax.  My doula rubbed my back almost the whole time and I still had pain, but it was WAY less than my labor with Blake.  My contractions didn’t get a whole lot closer together and I still had breaks in between right until the end!  The doctor + nurses kept saying how well I was doing and I said, “Jesus is helping me.”  I was quiet almost the whole time and I just had my eyes closed and was praying as I breathed through each contraction.  I had asked Jared ahead of time to pray during each contraction, too, so later he told me he had.  At 5:00 p.m. I was 10 cm dilated, at around 5:15, I started pushing, and at 5:21 p.m., Haley Joy was born!  She was 8 lbs. 7 oz. and 22 inches long, so my biggest baby by half a pound and half an inch!  Haley means creative.  I was sort of guessing I might have another girl, but was unsure.  I wanted Kiera to have a sister and she thought the whole time she would have a baby sister and she was right!   I had also prayed that my labor would start at lunch time and I would have a baby at supper time, so God answered!  I also prayed that I wouldn’t tear like I did with Blake and I just had 2 tiny tears with one stitch each, which I can’t feel at all!  It’s making recovery SO much easier!  I’ve always had to stay in the hospital at least 48 hours because I’ve always been Group B Strep positive, but the hospital changed their policy and because both Haley + I were doing well, we got to go home the next day!  Praise God Haley is breastfeeding wonderfully, but she has her days + nights completely mixed up, so I’ve hardly slept in the last 3 days.  SO glad Jared is off work for 2 weeks and I’m praying her schedule straightens out before he goes back.  Here are some pictures of our sweet little princess!

Long feet

First picture as a family of 5 (taken by my Mom-in-law)

Ready to leave the hospital

Home sweet home