The Birth Story

April 19 & 20

Then..

April 20, 2019 our lives changed. We welcomed Teryl Bryce Sheldon into our family. We have learned love with a whole new definition. She brings us joy everyday. I hope to start this blog as a way to document our family and make sure that I keep our memories close.

I was 40weeks and 1 day and we made the decision to induce. 

1. Because it can be harder and harder for a “geriatric” mother and

2. Because I really liked our doctor (Dr. Jody Stonehocker) and that is when we knew she would be able to bring you into the world.

Steve and I went to P.F. Chang’s on our way to the hospital as we had to check in at 8pm. I had chicken lettuce wraps (which I got to see latter that night as well). We got to the hospital and checked into our room. 

After getting us comfortable and settled into the room, with IV in place, they placed a Cook and put in misoprostol to help get things started. I started having some cramping which escalated through the night. It became so painful that I was having frequent emesis. Steve was attempting to sleep on the most uncomfortable pullout bed ever. I really wanted him to get some sleep as I thought that I had not even started to be in labor and wanted him to be rested to help me get through the “hard part”. About 6am the resident came in and checked me and I was 7cm dilated. I couldn’t believe it, but was fairly glad that all of that pain had been doing something. They finally decided to give me some phenergan to help with the nausea and vomiting and I also decided to have an epidural placed. Then I was out. I knew that the nurse kept coming in and making me reposition - I think because of fetal desaturation - but I really had no idea what was going on at this point. It was such good sleep. While I was sleeping, Steve found his way to the cafeteria for breakfast and Naomi arrived after a 16hr drive from Iwoa. Jeremy had the whole family - including Cole and the schefflera. They drove directly from Iowa to the hospital to drop Naomi off to help bring you into the world.

When I woke up I was so rested and had no pain at all. I was smiling and was so excited to bring you into the world. I was 10cm and ready to push, but we waited until Dr Stonehocker was there. 40 minutes later my girl was in my arms.

They were quite worried that my girl kept grunting and quickly took her to the other side of the room to further assess and bag you. Then the NICU team came and made the decision that you needed to go to the ICU for further observation. Steve and I were so scared. Steve got to go to the PICU and see all of the details. He said that as soon as our you got to the PICU you started breathing better, but they wanted to check your blood sugar and a chest x-ray and observe you far too long (from my perspective).

The next 5 hours where SO long... Sarah and Annie got to the room, you left, we had to pack up and move to a different room, Grandpa and Grandma came by.

And then your temperature dropped...
FINALLY they decided that you were healthy enough and got to come back to us!!!!!  I was so glad to have you in my arms and get to smooch your sticky little face. My heart just exploded and had no idea what it was feeling. And it was such a tiring first night, the nurse kept waking me up to try to feed you, but you didn’t know what you were doing and I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing. We kept trying to breastfeed and they wanted to try with a syringe and we just had to keep working at it. They were worried about your bilirubin and your LFTs, we had to stay an extra night to make sure your labs were trending in the right way.

Some other random memories from the time in the hospital...
1. You were born at 1237pm on 4/20/2019
2. You were born the day before Easter
3. I had a small tear that needed suturing
4. I was quite selective about who I wanted to be at the hospital - Steve, Naomi, Sarah and Annie. And Sarah and Annie got there right after you were born. Naomi was there and was able to get some amazing, if not slightly censored, video and photos.
5. Labor was painful, but I had anticipated it to be painful in my lower back, it was not. It was all in my lower abdomen.
6. My most favorite memory is when they came in early the morning after you were born. They told me that your temperature was low and wanted me to give you skin-to-skin. I needed to get to the bathroom. So I made my way to the toilet - which can be quite time consuming.... By the time I came out of the bathroom, your Dad had gotten out of bed and taken his shirt off so that he could give you skin-time and warm you up. That was the sweetest sight, and just what I needed to see at that moment.
7. Other in hospital visitors - Sarah, Aunt Janice, Jeremy (before he had to leave to go back to Iowa), the whole Brown family (Seth, Jamison & Sayer) in their Easter best, Sherry (who I work with in Cardiothoracic Surgery), Sara and JT (JT was born the day before you) and we got a picture together while we were still in the hospital.

8. You were so tiny and I really felt like I had no idea what I was doing and was I ever going to be able to do this right.
9. I was so thankful that Steve was by my side and that I knew that we were a team and our support for each other and our love for you was paramount.

10. You passed your hearing test.
11. We packed so much in our hospital bag, but your Dad didn’t even get to use any of the special back massagers that we had ready.
12. I was very glad that your Dad and I did all of the birth classes prior to you actually being born.