For a few different reasons, I had decided that I wasn't going to deliver at our local hospital in Rock Springs, WY. Sam and I had both agreed that we'd like to use the doctor that delivered Eleanor and I would travel down to Provo for all my prenatal appointments and then stay at my parent's condo for the two weeks leading up to my due date, in case anything happened early. My mom had said that she would come up to Utah early to be with Eleanor and I as we waited for the baby (Sam would still be working those days in Wyoming). My Dad also came into town for the week before I was due, which turned out to be a great blessing! So...
I was due with Nielsen Baby #2 on February 1st, 2015. On Tuesday, January 27th, I went into the doctor for a normal check-up. I was surprised to learn that I was dilated to a one (with Eleanor I was 0's across the board for being dilated and effaced until the day I went into labor with her - 6 days past her due date). So, I was happy to learn I had made a teeny bit of progress, but some women can be partly dilated for weeks so it wasn't anything too exciting. The previous week the doctor and I had talked about him stripping my membranes at this appointment, so he went ahead and did that too (I had that done with Eleanor and it made no difference). I was due that Sunday and didn't want to go past my due date too much because: 1. I was feeling like I was ready to have the baby out and 2. Sam started his "long change" (week off of work) on the Friday before the due date so I wanted to take advantage of the days he already was given off of work. We set an induction date for Tuesday the 3rd. My doctor said to make an appointment to come in and see him the day before. When he left the room he said, "Well, I'm pretty sure you'll be having your baby on the induction date so I'll see you on Monday." That was that.
The day went on and by evening I started to feel some changes. I don't know if they were contractions or what, but I could just feel my body was changing. I decided to shower that evening to wash and straighten my hair in case anything did happen the next day (did the same thing with Eleanor haha). By then I had noticed that I had really dropped - something I never really experienced or felt I had with Eleanor, so I knew real changes were happening. I woke up on and off through the night, but that was already the norm for me since I always had to get up to use the bathroom. At 5 am I felt wide awake and thought I was experiencing contractions. I sent Sam and email and told him that I wasn't saying I was in labor, but I could definitely feel my body was changing and I knew I'd be seeing Dr. Holme's before Monday to have the baby. By 6:00 am I realized I really was having contractions and went on knocked on my parent's bedroom door. Both my mom and dad came out and we started timing the contractions - they were 10 minutes apart. I felt hesitant to call Sam because I didn't want to make him drive out to Utah if it was a false alarm, but I realized it was probably the real deal and my mom assured me she thought it was too so I called Sammy. He had just gotten to work and said the roads were icy, but he would be on his way and get there as soon as possible. After that we continued to time the contractions and they slowly started getting closer together. Eleanor eventually woke up and I bawled pretty much anytime I looked at her - I knew how drastically our lives were going to change that day and the little girl had no idea! It was also emotional for me to think of her not being my only child anymore. Between contractions I got dressed, ate breakfast, and started packing up my things since I knew after I was released from the hospital I wanted to get back to WY as soon as possible and not spend time packing everything. By 9:00 am my contractions were 5 minutes apart so my mom and I were ready to head out the door. I asked my dad to give me a blessing, which he did. Sam had given me one before I left Wyoming, but it was also special to get one from my dad right before the hospital. My mom and I left and Dad stayed to watch Eleanor.
I got checked into the hospital and when they first checked me I was dilated to a 4. I told them that I did want an epidural, but the anesthesiologist was currently doing a c-section so I had to wait till he was done with that. I was so grateful to have my mom with me. It was a huge comfort to have her by my side for while Sam couldn't be there, and it felt special because she wasn't able to be around for any of Eleanor's birth. Fortunately, we had only been in the hospital for about 45 minutes before Sam made it there, so he didn't really miss much. The anesthesiologist eventually made it in and gave me the epidural. Getting that always freaks me out a little bit so it's a relief when it is over. However, I still felt my contractions pretty strongly after it although my legs had gone numb so the doctor eventually had to come back in and give me more. I felt contractions a lot longer than I did with Eleanor but I made it through with my little coaching team of my mom and Sam by my side. The nurse we started the day with I absolutely loved but she eventually got pulled to go help a mom who was having twins but they were trying to delay her labor - the new nurse that was assigned to me wasn't our favorite. My doctor came in and checked on me at one point and later he came back in the room and said he wanted to check me one more time before heading back to the office. The nurse told him she had checked me just 15 minutes before and I was only at a 7.5. Dr. Holmes said he wanted to check me again any way, and the nurse ROLLED HER EYES. Sam and I were so over her! Any way, he checked me and said, "Well, she's at a 9.5 now so lets get things rolling! It's time to push for this baby!"
The actual pushing/delivery part was so different than with Eleanor. I felt a lot more in control and it was a lot more calm environment too. With Eleanor we had a nurse in training, older nurse, doctor, resident doctor, and the NICU team of about 3 people all in the room. This time when I was pushing it was only Sam, Dr. Holmes, the nurse and I. I felt like I could feel myself pushing where with Eleanor I couldn't really feel a thing and was getting so frustrated and exhausted after hours of pushing. I don't know exactly how long I pushed for, but it wasn't bad. I did have to get the oxygen mask on at one point, but everything still was calm (again...unlike with Eleanor where the vacuum suction thing wasn't working and then it was discovered she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck). I remember Sam and the doctor telling me they could see his head and see his hair, but it wasn't nearly as dark as Eleanor's. Jordan eventually made it out and I could hear his crying. They were able to put him on me right away (I didn't get that with Elle) so it was amazing to see and touch him immediately. It is such an overwhelming feeling of joy and love getting to see your baby for the first time! They took him over to clean/weigh...and my mom came back in the room during that time. It was so fun to get to have her see him right away. I got to do skin to skin with Jordan and even nursed him (he latched on like a natural!). It was all so special. I loved seeing Sam hold his little boy. Totally melted my heart :)
Yes, it was worth it to drive nearly 200 miles for every appointment to see this doctor and have him deliver our baby. I love Dr. Holmes!
Jordan was born at 2:38 pm and weighed 7 lbs 2 ozs and was 19.5 inches long. We still had no name for him. We waited in the room while they got him checked out and then were transferred to the recovery room. My parents and little brother Taylor all came that evening to meet Jordan and Sam took the time to take Eleanor out to Chick-Fil-A. Unfortunately, the hospital had a policy that no one under the age of 14 was allowed on the maternity floor due to it being a bad flu season, so Eleanor wasn't going to get to meet Jordan until we were released. That broke my heart, but I had to get over it and just take advantage of the time to put all my attention on Jordan.
The siblings meeting for the first time via FaceTime...
When I realized I was in labor that morning I was really regretting my decision to have my membranes stripped because now the delivery date and time wasn't going as "planned". I know you just can't plan these things, but that's what drove me crazy with this pregnancy - especially with the state-to-state traveling. However, it all worked out and it couldn't have been a better day. I remember just feeling so happy and blessed every time I looked at Jordan and couldn't believe my baby #2 was in my arms! He is the perfect addition to our family.
