Alice's Birth Story

I lasted exactly 38 weeks with Scarlett and I lasted 38 weeks and 1 day with Alice. Guess my timer dings at 38 weeks. So here is her story

Feb 15- I had my 38 week check up and my doctor said I was 90% effected and dilated 3cm. I asked him if I would last another week and he smiled and said " I am no fortune teller but probably not". I really wanted to go the full 40 weeks with this pregnancy but guess it was not in the cards.

Feb 16- I woke up around 4 am having painful contractions. They slowly became regular and more intense throughout the next couple of hours. Nick helped me time them with our fantastic I-pad ( yes, there's an app. for that) . When they were 4 minutes apart I picked up the phone to call my mom and then... they stopped. Thats right, just stopped. Nick was upset because he then had to go to work. Poor guy. Later in the morning I headed over to my mom's house to let Scarlett play and me rest. I knew this baby was coming in the next day or so I needed to catch up on sleep. Come the afternoon I started to have irregular but very painful contractions. I figured that they would go on like that for a couple of hours. I was right. Nick picked me and Scarlett up after work and we headed home. I then just labored at home for a while waiting impatiently for my contractions for be about 3-4 minutes apart. Around 10pm it was time. I was ready to be done, those contractions were oh so painful. My parents and Clarah came over to watch Scarlett. Nick gave me the sweetest blessing before we left, I am so thankful for the priesthood. My mom came with us, she missed Scarlett's birth so it was so nice to have her here this time. We got to the maternity ward and they told us they were super busy and all beds were full except their triage room. I would probably have to have the baby in there, only 5 feet from the next bed. What?!. I told myself it was going to be okay and the most important thing was a healthy baby. I was dilated to a 6 when they checked me 30 minutes later. Did I mention I was not going natural, I love epidurals. I wanted one so bad at this point. Then they came in with great news, a room had opened up. It was a huge birthing room and I ended up being able to stay there the whole time. IV, some fluids, blood work, tons of questions, and some more pricking... that was the next hour. It was a blur.

Feb 17 - Then around 12:45 I got an epidural and labor became peaceful. I talked with Nick and my mom. I was so excited to finally meet our little girl. When my water broke I was at 8-9 cm and I could feel my body start to transition. I get nauseous and super shacky. I knew that I only had 10-20 minutes left. I asked my mom to leave so Nick and I could have some time to talk. It was in those quiet 10 minutes that we chose her name, Alice Patricia. Her middle name is after Nick's sweet grandma Patricia Dunhill. You could not meet a more gentle, giving, and kind women. After months of deliberation we looked at each and said "that's perfect." My nursed checked me again and I was ready. The doctor came in and after 15 minutes Alice entered the world at 3:01 am. Then the next 30 seconds got scary. I did not hear her cry and every one started to move around very quickly. She had a triple nuchal cord and the cord was wrapped around her body 2 times. She was so, so blue. Finally she cried and proceeded to do so for the next 10 minutes. I love hearing that sound. The doctor said that everything would be okay and that I was able to deliver her without a c-section because her cord was so, so long. She never showed any signs of distress on the monitor during labor. I feel so blessed that everything went so smoothly and that Alice got to us safely.

It was been a glorious last couple of days. Little Alice is divine. She is a little bit of heaven in our home. Scarlett loves to look at her and gets very nervous whenever she cries. "Baby tay, baby tay (okay)?". She brings Alice her blanket. I love my two girls. With Alice I am more content. I more content with her newness and dependency. With Scarlett I could not wait for her to smile, then laugh, then roll over... always wanting the next stage. Alice is my baby for just a brief moment, I know that now.

My favorite part about Alice... when she is done eating and her face is all red and wrinkled from nursing. She leans her head back, her mouth opens just a little, and she is falls sound asleep. In that moment I know she is happy to be here.

Nick snuck this picture in. Having a contraction at home.

Before delivery. Check out that mop of hair.

dimples?

On our way home

Coming home was so peaceful. Scarlett was down for a nap, the house was vacuumed, and my mom had made this cute banner.

Flowers from parents and grandparents