Maxwell's Birth Story and Pictures

As I sit in our family room with little Maxwell in my arms I can’t help but think back on the last week.  It has been a full week (June 16th) since I was admitted into the hospital, and has been a week full of pure love for our new baby boy.

Last Thursday, June16th, I woke up feeling weird.  Will had slept through his work alarm, and I ended up startling him out the door.  I on the other hand tried to sleep a little while longer, but ended up watching “A Bugs Life” instead. 

Maxwell has always been a mover inside my belly.  His favorite was butt up, legs stretched out.  But this morning I hardly felt him move.  I waited for a bit, drank sugary juice, drank tons of water...nothing.  So I called the doctors office and they got me seen right away.  Tanei and Nohea accompanied me to this appointment.  I had vitals looked at, a stress test run, and constant monitoring of babies heart rate.  Turned out that my blood pressure was again high, and the baby was not surrounded by enough fluid to keep him safe.  Conclusion:  Off to the Hospital.

Will came home from work, Tanei and I dropped Nohea off at Jake and Kat’s, I grabbed something to eat, and got all my stuff ready for the hospital.  To say I wasn’t scared would be a lie, but knowing I had Will and Tanei there for love and support I knew in my heart it was going to be okay. Although NOTHING could have prepared me for the days ahead.

When Will and I first found out we were pregnant our good friend Tanei recommended we use Hypnobirthing as our birthing method.  After doing research we decided as a family this would be a great fit for us.  We attended classes and learned how to relax, breath through contractions, work together as a couple, and enjoy the birthing experience.  The classes were informative and gave us the tools to help us with birth.  Will and I practiced the Hypnobirthing techniques and felt prepared as a couple for the birth of our little boy.

Will, Tanei and I headed to the hospital on Thursday afternoon and arrived at 2:30pm.  By 3pm I was in a hospital gown, had my hep-lock placed, and the doctor started me on a drug that would help thin my cervix.  This was the major problem my cervix was not softening, and therefore I wasn’t dilating.  The pill was given every three hours, and would slowly start contractions with the hope to bring on labor naturally.  The average person only needing 3 doses...I needed six.  I was having pretty regular and strong contractions at this point, and when they checked me after the six dose, 18 hours later, I was at last dilated to a ONE!

Stitch and I

At 7am on Friday Morning they started me on pitocin and I continued to have regular contractions.  I was using my breathing techniques and trying to relax during contractions.  Tanei would rub my back and Will would hold my hand, both speaking quiet and encouraging words.  We watched the Jetsons, listened to music, ate lime flavored ice chips and keep a happy and upbeat atmosphere in the room.  This phase lasted a long time, but eventually I reached a dilation of FIVE.  My body then stalled and I was stuck on a five for hours.  At this point it was early Saturday Morning, and I was in “active labor” for about 18 hours making my total about 36 hours.  I was getting tired and my contractions were getting stronger and stronger.  I was given a mild pain medicine in my IV to take the edge off the contractions. 

Tanei took a little break to go home to be with her family and our good friend Stooph came to take Tanei’s place for a bit.  Together at 2am, Stooph, Will and I decided that I needed an epidural to calm the contraction pain,   This was not something I had planned, but after about 40 hours of labor my body was tired and needed relief.  Even though this was not in my plans, I had to change my outlook on my labor and delivery and realize what matters most was the healthy arrival of my baby boy. 

The epidural did bring mild relief but I could still feel the contractions pretty strong.  Tanei came back and most of the day on Saturday we spent in the room quietly breathing through each contraction.  It was a long day.  We went through many wonderful nurses and one nurse we had twice because we were in the labor and delivery department for so long.  Then at about noon I was dilated to a seven.  Feeling hopeful we kept plunging forward.  The doctors were trying to avoid a c-section at all cost.  But more frustrating news came to be, I was spiking a fever and my blood pressure was on the rise.  Little Baby Max was still strong in my tummy, and his heart beat gave everyone hope that he was going to come into the world safe and sound.

During my stay at the hospital I went though a LOT of nurses.  Some I even had twice. 

I called a very close family friend in New Jersey, Fran Caswell (Mom #2), and asked her to start saying prayers, and prayers she must have said because within an hour I went from a seven to a ten and on my way to pushing baby Maxwell out.  Prays work, always.  Sometimes they just come in ways that we least expect it.  My Mother and Heavenly Father were paying very close attention to me and I could feel their love all around me, it was astounding.

I pushed for 2.5 hours.  I pushed my little heart out.  I tried my best to get him out and in my arms.  But after all the pushing we could only see the crown of his head and we were at a standstill again.  The doctor came in a few times to check on my progress, and when he realized that his little head wasn’t moving anymore he checked an Max had flipped his little body over and was posterior.  Now we had to make some decisions.
1.  Stop all medications and go dry turkey to try and get him out.
2.  Get me prepped for the OR and try to use forceps to flip baby over so I can still deliver vaginally.  If there was problems, I would have an emergency c-section.
3.  Have a c-section.  This was a last resort for everyone.  The doctor didn’t want to perform a c-section at all.

Will and I decided, in between my tears and fears, that we would try to flip the baby and push him out. 
I was prepped and in the OR.  The doctor had Will sing “Come Come ye Saints” while the forceps were going into my tummy.  And EVERYONE in the OR room cheered Max on to flip.  I kept saying “Do it for Mommy!”  And guess what - He FLIPPED!  I pushed TWICE and he was OUT!

Max was born with Meconium all down his lungs and had to be in the NICU for about 17 hours.  He had breathing problems, and needed to be monitored closely.  They said it burned his esophagus and lungs because of the amount of time the meconium was in his little system.  But we are extremely grateful that it was only that long, and feel blessed that he made strides in the NICU to be able to be with us on the mother/baby floor soon thereafter.

 

 

 

8 pounds 6 ounces, 22.5 inches

We were able to come home from the hospital on Monday night.  It was the best feeling to walk through our condo door and know that all members of our family were home.  Maxwell has changed my life in so many ways.  I never thought I would be capable to love another human like I do him.  He is a darling little man, and Will and I are so proud to be his parents.

Max's Going Home Outfit

“Just as Jesus used a child in His mortal ministry as an example for the people of the pure love they must and could have to be like Him, He has offered us the family as an example of an ideal setting in which we can learn how to love as He loves.  That is because the greatest joys and the greatest sorrows we experience are in family relationships. The joys come from putting the welfare of others above our own. That is what love is. And the sorrow comes primarily from selfishness, which is the absence of love. The ideal God holds for us is to form families in the way most likely to lead to happiness and away from sorrow. A man and a woman are to make sacred covenants that they will put the welfare and happiness of the other at the center of their lives. Children are to be born into a family where the parents hold the needs of children equal to their own in importance. And children are to love parents and each other.”
-Our Perfect Example, President Henry B. Eyring First Counselor in the First Presidency

Thank you to ALL our friends and family members who prayed for Maxwell and I.  We feel so lucky to have such a super support system. 
Thank you especially to Tanei, without her support in the delivery room, and after, I would have never been able to have endured the long labor and delivery. 
"A friend loveth at all times." 
- Proverbs 17:17

Max welcome to the world.  You are VERY loved!

Jason

Casch

Just precious. Tanei and Nohea.

Grace

"It's A Boy" chocolate cigars

Stooph

Kat and Stooph

Michael Wyatt

Jake Wyatt

Hannah Gibson

Hunter Gibson

The Gibson Girls