A Birth Story: Thomas Lyle

Waiting for this baby boy to be born was one of the most trying times of my life. Hands down! I have never felt so impatient before. It didn't help that he was the longest pregnancy I've had and the most uncomfortable...he was posterior, so it all makes sense now!

His pregnancy was different than any other of my children's. I can't exactly put it into words...it was just different. I had days early on where I was SURE he was a girl because I spent a couple days here and there kneeling over the toilet so so sick. My other children were definitely on their own those few times as I spent nearly all day in bed. Laneys pregnancy was so hard in the beginning too so I just assumed, ok, it's a girl, I am so sick. 

Then I would have a few days where I didn't feel one ounce of sickness or being tired! Somedays I questioned if I was even pregnant anymore. So that felt a lot like my boys pregnancy's. I was just thrown for a loop the whole 9 months with him. 

Around 10 weeks pregnant I ordered a sneak-peek-test where you prick your finger and send the blood in to a lab and they tell you the gender within a week. So by 11 weeks we knew he was a boy! That was really fun to know the gender before announcing I was pregnant. Doing that blood test at my friends house was hilarious and just all around fun. 

We announced we were pregnant to family around Mothers Day, so I was around 14/15 weeks. I really just wanted to wait as long as possible to announce but I am not one of those lucky ones who doesn't show early on. My belly was sure growing and it was getting harder to keep it a secret! We had a fun 9 months waiting for him to arrive, in the midst of it all we moved to a new house, so we had a lot of changes last year!

Fast forward to about 38.5 weeks. At his point it was unbearable to move. Everything hurt, so I was sure he was going to come early like my others did. I got everything ready...my house was usually always clean too just in case! I saw a chiropractor the last few weeks which helped ease the pain too so I felt like he was totally going to arrive early. False. Those last couple of weeks were so hard! It didn't help that the last few appointments I had they kept mentioning my weight gain and that I was at risk for him being stuck. I kind of brushed it off and just knew everything would be fine. (but really...I gained SO much weight that last month. I still don't know how since I hardly ate anything...nothing sounded good ever.) 

39 weeks came and I was miserable. I even had a friend (bless you Lexi...she is a L&D nurse) come to my house and check me. I was beyond desperate to do anything to go into labor. Well I did it all. NOTHING moved this little guy out. I'm still not even sure if I did anything to really get him out. We picked up my mom from the airport on Tuesday still very pregnant. I only had a few solid days with her here so the pressure was on! On Wednesday afternoon Peter was begging to go on a walk so I took him and decided to curb walk as he rode is scooter. I remember doing low squats on and off the curb, bouncing, jumping..ALL OF IT. I was done. We get home and I decided to drink more castor oil (which has always worked for me..but not this time) it did nothing. We go pick the kids up from school and thats when contractions started. I still am not attributing that to anything I did. I just think it was finally his time to come. My mom and I were laughing our heads off in the car just because I was emotional, didn't feel good and beyond done. 

We get home and I go take a bath and a nap. It was about 4:30pm and I start making dinner. The contractions were still getting stronger and more painful. I go back and lay down still not feeling good. I remember walking out of my room and something my mom said made me just laugh. When I laughed my belly started violently shaking and I saw it in the mirror and I just could NOT stop laughing. Extreme giggles. Everyone was laughing now, my kids were very concerned and confused. During all of this I felt and heard a pop then water started leaking. I told my mom that and she just was shocked and kept saying "no way." I kept laughing, water kept leaking and my poor kids just stood there utterly confused. At this point Alex walked in and went into major protector-we-are-not-having-this-baby-at-home-mode. HE WAS NOT LAUGHING. In fact, he was getting pretty frustrated that I kept standing there laughing. My water has never broken at home before so I had zero clue what to do. I still wish I would have stayed home longer. 

We finally get to the hospital and call my midwife on the way. It's so hard to know with the 4th baby if they are just going to come fast or not. My contractions were now nearly on top of each other so we just rushed there. Well I was only 3cm dilated when I arrived and was so sad about that. I've always been 5+ with every baby so I was not happy. They kept me since I was contracting regularly and my water had broken. Things picked up quickly and I decided to get the epidural. I kept having flashbacks to my appointments saying I was at risk for having him being stuck. I wasn't about to deliver a baby that way with no pain medication. I am so so happy I got that. 

I rested for a bit with the peanut ball in between my legs and then I felt the pressure! It was time to meet this sweet boy! Knowing this could very well be my last baby I soaked everything in that day. I loved it all. We decided to call our moms and have them come into the room and watch him be born. We've never done that before and loved having them there. 

It usually hasn't been difficult pushing before, all of my babies have come out within a few pushes at most so I was surprised with how hard it was to get Thomas out. It all made sense when he was...stuck. He had a shoulder dystocia. My midwifes were right and it all made sense as to why everything I tried didn't work to have him come earlier. He was never sitting right on my cervix and he was posterior. He was never in an ideal position. I still only pushed a short time for him, but he was definitely my hardest delivery in the pushing aspect. 

My midwife told me to reach down and grab him! I told her before that I wanted to be the one to bring him to my chest if everything went well. I did that with Peter too and I loved it. 

He was finally born and I placed big, heavy, warm baby on my chest. Everyone in the room gasped at how big he was. I was so relived he was here safely. They had to take him off pretty quick to evaluate him and look at his shoulder. I laid there feeling so happy he was here and unaware that I was bleeding quite a lot. More than normal so they gave me some more medicine to stop that...that part wasn't fun at all, especially with everyone in the room. (before I started pushing I had them turn the epidural off so at this point I could feel everything, luckily I didn't need stitches.) 

Thomas Lyle Martinsen 

10:39pm

11/6/19

9lbs 15oz

They brought him back to me and he immediately wanted to nurse. That is my most treasured memory. There is nothing sweeter in this world than a new baby rooting and nursing for the very first time. ( I actually miss birth photography mostly because of this part)

The rest of the hospital stay was full of sweet moments that I have tucked away. This boy was meant for our family and I felt that over and over. I still crave those hospital feelings, I loved it all. I could have babies forever and ever. 

Forever grateful to my friend Ashley for capturing these first moments with our boy!

Next up: Introducing him to his siblings!

Peter's Birth

I'm trying to write this all down while it is still fresh in my mind!

When I found out I was pregnant with our third, I knew I wanted everything about this experience to be different than my other two. So we decided to not find out the gender...and then I wanted to have a natural birth as well. Not finding out the gender was honestly super tough. I went back and forth for weeks on this. I made an appointment to find out, then I cancelled it, and then I made it again before I cancelled one last time. Then at 20 weeks we had the big ultrasound. I denied finding out the gender but then immediately regretted it when I got home! Needless to say--it IS fun knowing the gender and it really does help you prepare for the baby to be born. We won't be doing that again.

I went into this pregnancy wanting a natural birth but also not being upset if I ended up getting an epidural. I read a couple books, watched some crazy natural birthing videos, and talked to some friends about their experiences. That was the extent of my preparation. No weird birthing music, oils or doulas were in my plan. I felt pretty good about not having a set plan either since birth is so unpredictable.

***the story***

Toward the end of pregnancy (35 weeks to be exact) I became very uncomfortable. I knew that I had to have this baby early but I wasn't sure how early it would come. I saw midwives my entire pregnancy (seriously love them) so I also wasn't getting my dilation checked either. I was antsy to know but at the same time it kept me very patient. At the end of my 38 week I about had it! Saturday night came and I knew that this baby was coming soon. I really wanted to go into labor Sunday because my favorite midwife was on call. Up until this point I hadn't walked or done any crazy labor inducing things. I'm not sure why...but I was content going the all natural route of letting my body do it's thing. Saturday night though I was done. So I drank the good ol' castor oil. Only 2 tablespoons but that seemed to do the trick.

I was up all night with intense contractions. I was surprised with how quickly they came on! I took 4 baths that night and bounced on the exercise ball. Whenever I tried to lay down the contractions became a lot worse. So sleep really didn't happen. Sunday morning I told Alex that I think we should go into the hospital to get checked. I called my midwife and she said I sounded like I was in early labor and to call back later. My contractions spread out a bit but when they came, they were painful. Finally around 12 I told her we were coming into triage to get checked. She agreed to meet us there. I always feel SO dumb going in because I look fine to everyone else. I don't look like a woman in labor. So of course I second guess myself the entire way to the hospital and just want to turn around! We get there and sure enough I am almost 7cm dilated and 100% effaced. So my midwife said I was definitely having this baby today. She broke my water around 1 and then left Alex and I alone in our room to labor through it all!

I denied getting an IV placed and that was the best decision ever. It completely changes things when you aren't hooked up to anything. It didn't feel so "medical." At this point I could handle my contractions just fine, but only on the birthing ball. Alex's mom and sisters kept us company for a good chunk of my labor. That seriously helped keep me occupied. They would keep talking while I silently bounced/breathed through a contraction, and then we would pick up the conversation again. They left around 4 to get dinner started. At 4:30pm the nurse came back in so she could check Peter's heartbeat. At this point my contractions were nearly on top of each other and I started to become scared. Scared of what was to come and terrified of the pain I was already in. I didn't voice that to anyone because it was negative and wouldn't get me very far in the birth I wanted.

I decided to have my midwife check my cervix after the nurse took the heartbeat. Getting off of that ball was so painful but I was excited to know how far I had come. She checked me and said I was at an 8. I was honestly a little bummed but knew I could power through the rest. I literally sat up in the bed to get back on the ball when my body changed course. The nurse had started to fill up the bath because I wanted to labor in that...but when they saw me sit up they turned it off. I can't even begin to describe the pain I felt in that moment. I immediately became nauseas and turned into a different person. I was kneeling on the bed, holding onto Alex's neck begging for an epidural. I wasn't crying but I was hyperventilating while pleading my midwife to give me drugs.

At that moment they knew I was in transition...but I had no clue what was going on. I felt out of control and could not get my bearings straight. I started to push because I felt like it. My midwife was so calm through it all and told me to lay back so she could see if the head was coming out. Indeed it WAS! Obviously. So I laid there pushing so hard but I was still begging for medicine haha Looking back...it was pretty funny. I kept saying things like, "just take it out!" "my crotch hurts!!" Well duh of course it hurts.

4:43pm our sweet Peter boy was born. It was the coolest feeling having him natural. No I didn't feel the burning ring of fire that people talk about. It felt SO good to push and feel his body leave mine. Man I could get all emotional about it now. Alex was so so great during all of this. I thought I was going to kill him with how hard I was squeezing his hand...arm...and neck. (haha) He kept telling me positive things, and being so patient and calm while I was literally losing control. The nurse was a little panicked because A) I was bleeding a lot and B) she didn't have time to call the baby nurses to take care of Peter. SO...she was trying to check him out all while assessing me. (My midwife was there too but she was delivering the placenta.) I ended up getting a shot in my leg and an IV put in of pitocin to stop the bleeding. My nurse was so calm and did a great job with it all. I wasn't worried one bit about anything the entire time. (nurses are pretty darn incredible. There is no way I could ever do their job.)

They left us alone for a bit while we met our new son. I got to come home the next day around 5pm. This experience was our best, despite the 10 minutes of pain I felt while delivering him. I'm still on the fence about delivering another baby natural again...but I would probably do it. Knowing that my births are fast, it's actually better for me to go all natural. Recovery is going great and we are just loving on our little Peter boy.

I cannot say enough good things about my midwife and just the whole experience! Yes it hurt so so bad but it was the coolest feeling in the world too. I'll put up some pictures of our hospital stay in the next post!

Iphone Dump

Here are some random iphone pictures! Some of my favorites...

 Crew wanted to be twins with gramma...

 Protecting sister...or just taking a poop. I think it's the latter. 

 Here are some of her headband fails. We have lots of those around here! I laugh every time. Poor girl has no clue whats over her eyes! 

 Her first Dr. Appt! She gained 4 ounces in 4 days! 

 Clearly Crew was soooo bored this day...

 Her first dress...and yes she is sneezing! 

 This is Crew saying "DON'T!" while trying to hit me.

 I love a newborn on my chest. Just love it. 

 Oh man we love Hazie Haze around here...and we screen shot most every snap chat we get. How cute is she?! Come on...her pigtails! 

Gross I know..but this was her first big barf. Real Classy Laney bug. 

 Her room will come together eventually...but this will do for now! 

A snap chat of Crew in St. George! He is having a blast at his grandparents house right now. He is also getting so spoiled with attention! Thank you Gramma Tara! (I miss him sooooo bad, but it's been so nice to have one on one time with my girl)

Laney Kate Martinsen

I think I have told my mom a million times how much I miss this and wish I could do it all over again. I'll just say this once, but I love pregnancy and giving birth. 

Once I hit 37 weeks pregnant I was determined to get this little girl out of me. I did not try every "natural" inducing tactic, but almost all off them. She was just very cozy. When I hit 38.5 weeks I finally gave up the thought of her coming early. Maybe she just knew that grandma really needed to get here first because mom couldn't do it without her! 

Sunday came and we finally were off to pick up my mom at the airport! Crew was so excited and we were too...for obvious reasons. Sunday night hit and all of us were tired of seeing myself pregnant. Alex was so funny, and was reading about different things we could do to get her out. He then suggested demanded that I try taking castor oil...the one thing that I swore I would NOT do. 

He went and got it and strongly encouraged me to drink it. So I only drank 1.5 tablespoons and waited all night for something to happen. Well...nothing did...until 1:40am! In the middle of the night I woke up with contractions lasting 40 seconds and coming every 2 minutes. (Oh and I DIDN'T get the normal castor oil side effects) So I was just pacing the floors till 3am with contractions. I decided to get some rest just in case this was the real deal, and if they kept coming, then we would go to the hospital. Well I woke up the next morning still pregnant...but just in constant pain. 

We decided to go to the hospital around 10am just to see if I was in labor (haha) and check my dilation. I felt so stupid walking to triage because I honestly wasn't in a lot of pain. 

The nurse checked me and I was at a 5! I was contracting every 5 or so minutes, but I was scheduled to be induced anyways the next day...so my doctor decided to let us stay. By the time I was admitted it was around 11:30am. My doctor came in and broke my water at 12:30pm which was so weird. So so so so weird. I did not like feeling my water break...at all. It sounded like someone poured a gallon of water all over the floor. We were all just laughing because it kept coming. At that point I was 8cm dilated. 

My contractions were uncomfortable..but not painful at this point. It helped that my sweet husband was rubbing my feet and legs a lot. The doctor came back in at 2:30pm to check me..and sadly, I was still at an 8. I was now only contracting every 12 or so minutes. She decided that giving me a little pitocin would help get things moving quicker. She left so that Alex and I could decide what to do...

We chose to try it, but I also wanted an epidural if I had pitocin. 

So by the time they hooked me up and gave me the epidural, it was around 3pm. 

I asked for the lowest dosage possible for the epidural and Im so glad I did. Totally different experience than with Crew. I could move my legs, and body just the same. It was just a little tingly. I could still feel contractions and pressure...but the pain wasn't horrible. 

Around 4:30pm I told the nurse I felt weird and felt some pressure. 

She checked me and said "wow! baby has a lot of dark hair!" 

At that point Alex and I were shocked! 

It all happened too fast for my liking...but the doctor  came in, suited up, and told me to push. Her head came out...and then her body just flopped out of me at 4:44pm!

They put her on my chest and I fell deeply in love with her cheesy, squishy, and pink body. 

The nurses all loved her hair and said how cute her long toes were! (they are so long and skinny!)

The nurse had to remind Alex to grab the camera because we were not getting pictures! It just happened too fast. So grateful she said something. 

They left us alone for a good 2 hours to do skin to skin. 

Those 2 hours are so special to Alex and I because we did not get that with Crew. We were able to just meet our baby with no interruptions. She immediately wanted to nurse and did so well. 

I get all emotional when I think about my doctor, and my experience with this birth. 

I wanted nothing more than to go home to Utah to have her, but this doctor made me feel good about staying. She promised me she would be the one to deliver, and that she would follow up as much as she could. (in the hospital) She kept asking about my family, about Alex's work, and about my mom coming to town. She made this experience so much better than I expected. 

The 36 hours in the hospital with my little family was so great. My recovery is already so much better than the first time. 

Crew came to the hospital to meet Laney and did so well. He was obviously more interested in all the buttons, and machines in the room...but he still was interested in her. It's been so fun to see him as a big brother. 

We are so thankful for my mom and her service to us! Oh my goodness has she been a huge help. Heavenly Father knew without a doubt that I could not do this without her...so the minute she was here, he allowed our sweet daughter to be born. 

I could seriously go on and on about this pregnancy and birth. I loved every minute of it. Laney is such a good baby. I am just so incredibly sad this whole experience is over! I remember clearly when we decided to have another, and now she is here. The next time I do this..it will be baby #3 and both my kids will be so grown up. 

I love being a mother.

I feel so grateful and blessed that my body is able to create these little miracles. 

 This is my absolute favorite picture of Laney bug. So new and so fresh...right from Heaven. 

 Meeting dad for the first time

 Her first bath..she loves these by the way...just not the first one. 

 Meeting Crew

 Our first picture as a family of 4

 I love her cry face. So much. 

 This girl is always rooting! I love it. 

 She loves her dad so much already. Whenever she cries or is fussy...he will sing to her, and she calms right down. 

Thanks so much to my friend Eden for taking some pictures of us and Laney at the hospital! 

We are so happy our sweet girl is here safely.