My Pregnancy & Birth Story!

Oh, pregnancy!

On January 14th, 2013 we found out we were expecting! We had just gotten engaged November 2012, so it was the LAST thing on our minds. Our wedding was scheduled for April 6th, 2013 and I had just purchased my wedding dress {which was not cheap, I might add} Strangely, my first thought was "How will I fit into my dress?!?" Trey & I were pretty worried and scared when we found out. We didn't talk about it much, because as a lot of mommy's know, you aren't "out of the woods" until the second trimester. We kept the news to ourselves. We were a nervous wreck the whole first trimester. I even purchased a fetal doppler around 9 weeks and listened to the heartbeat every day! {Huge stress reliever and I recommend it to any mom to be!} I went to pick up my wedding dress at about 8 weeks and could already tell it was tighter {bloat, of course!} My consultant even noticed and asked if I switched birth controls! On March 17th, the day of our wedding shower, we shared to news with family! Everyone was really supportive and we were just entering the second trimester so it was time to get excited.

April 6th, we got married. <3 I managed to somehow fit in my dress {with some help from my ladies!} although we weren't able to button it! April was an AMAZING month for us. Married, honeymoon, and the gender scan! We had our gender scan a few days after we got back from the honeymoon. As soon as we got the results {in an envelope!} we met my friend, Amy, at Western Sizzlin. She was the only one who knew the sex of our baby until that Friday! I wanted a girl so bad, but always had the gut feeling it was a boy! Always trust your gut, because we opened a box full of blue balloons! We were so happy! And then the name picking began! Which was a BATTLE. I was dead set on Sawyer. On the other hand, Trey was dead set on a family name. I went through SO many names and fell in love with Oliver! And Trey was still dead set on a family name. We finally compromised Raymond "Oliver" Sumners! Raymond is in honor of Treys grandpa. Whom I was never able to meet, unfortunately.

Now it was time to wait! As 36 weeks approached, I was getting really antsy and wanted a baby ASAP. I looked into so many natural ways to induce labor! At our 38 week appointment, my doctor gave us the option for induction the following Monday. I know induction is frowned upon but I was so ready to meet my Oliver! So we agreed. Trey was extremely nervous. I was just ready!



BABY, OH BABY! {BIRTH STORY}

On the morning of September 16th, after a sleepless night, we headed to the hospital at 5am. It was just Trey and I at that time. The nurses began my IV's. At 8am my doctor would be in to break my water! I was so thirsty but all I was allowed to have was ice chips. As the morning progressed, family started to show up. We were all so anxious. Trey and I were nervous: who would he look like? What if somethings wrong? Every bad scenario was there in our minds. The doctor broke my water which was not bad at all. Just kind of gross. Because I leaked forever after that. When he came, I believe I was about 2 cm dilated on my own. The contractions began once my water was broke. They got intense but I could handle them. The nurse didn't check my dilation very much and I wish she would've. The contractions were pretty bad but I didn't know how far into it I was because she wouldn't check. I truly believe I could've gone all natural. But I did agree to an epidural. Getting the epidural....eh. I hated it. I was having contractions while being stuck with a needle in my back. No fun.. I cried during that. You hear so many horror stories, you can't help but be scared of it! After that was done, I could still feel my contractions on one side. And I felt a cold sensation down the left side of my back, it felt like water pouring down me. So they had to inject another dose into my epidural tube, which did the trick. I LOVED the epidural. I have about people being "detached" from the experience. Not me. I could even move my legs and if you touched my toes -- i felt it! I just didn't feel pain! The nurse decided to finally check my after about 5 hours of actual labor. And I was 8-9 cm! Shortly after, we began pushing! We pushed for an hour, which was pretty exhausting. And FINALLY Oliver made his appearance. It all happened so fast after that. Trey was weeping, which was so sweet. I could see the love in his eyes. I did to have Oliver on my chest immediately, THANK GOODNESS! I remember not being able to get a good look at him because he was so far up on my chest but I didn't care. All I could do was cry and stroke his hair. I do remember the umbilical cord just chilling on my arm, which was kind of sick. But even then, I didn't care. I had the most amazing baby on me. MY baby. They then proceeded to wash him up and get his foot prints. I just sat in my bed and watched from afar, snapping picture {of course!}. I attempted to get him to breastfeed, which I then realized how hard it was going to be. Mainly because I didn't know how to hold him in the correct position. He was so small! Family came in shortly and we all showered this sweet boy with love! At this point, I still felt great! All was great! As people started leaving, I was finally able to shower. Which was when I started to realize how physically exhausted I was. And how much pain I was in. I needed help getting out of the bed to the bathroom. That shower was the worst, ever. After it, I cried and cried. They wheelchaired me to my room & my friends, Amy, Randall & Paige, were there. And we all visited for a while! We had a really bad nurse that night. Trey and I were exhausted so at about midnight, I asked her to come get Oliver and take him to the nursery so I could rest. She never came...until I called again at 5am. The rest of the hospital stay was okay. Hospitals aren't very comfortable. I also got PUPPs, which is a pregnancy rash. I got it right before I was induced and it flared after birth and I was MISERABLE. It was probably the worst thing I've ever had to go through, physically. Think I am exaggerating? Try caring for a newborn when all you want to do is claw your skin off. I realize this is probably a ranting mess and I apologize. It's been 3 months so I can't remember every little detail. I do know that it was the best day and experience of my life. I was in Hell the next few days: sore, constantly itching, caring for myself. All the while taking care of a baby and trying to breastfeed. All I've got to say is witch hazel was my best friend the following weeks!

Having a child and giving birth is the MOST amazing, beautiful thing anyone can go through. And I will forever cherish that day. I loved carrying my sweet son and welcoming him. And now I get to watch him grow and love on him every day. <3

I will post milestone & breastfeeding updates shortly. Just wanted to post my story before I jump into the world of mommy blogging :)