Sunday, November 9, 2014

Birth Story- Baby Girl #4

My little Reese is not so little anymore, she’s now 6 months old and it’s time to document. This post is a bit lengthy but seeing as how this is my family journal and I’m not forcing you to read this . . . you’ve been warned.

We were very excited for this baby’s arrival but the due dates kept changing. The initial due date was April 23rd but after the ultrasound in December it got adjusted to May 5th. Sometimes at my prenatal appointments the baby would measure big, making me think he/she would come in April. Other times he/she would measure right on track for the May due date. As time went on we passed the April due date and soon May 5th came and went too. Those last couple of weeks went really, really S-L-O-W.

There were days in late April where I would have contractions for 5 hour stretches but they felt like glorified braxton hicks and I came to the conclusion that the baby was in a posterior position (he/she always pushed their feet at my tummy, their back was against my back) and thus my body wouldn't go into full fledged labor. The midwives would try to lessen my concern of a posterior delivery by saying the baby was on my side and could slide "into position" at any moment.  But any moment turned into days and days passing by, so I went about my life as normal.




In the evening on May 8th I had mild contractions all night long but was able to sleep through them just fine. I knew they'd go away because the baby was still in a posterior position. If the baby didn't move into the right position my uterus wouldn't have a baby to grab “a hold of” and contract against.

In the morning the contractions stopped and everything went on like normal. In the afternoon I dropped Addie off at kindergarten and then pick up some lunch for myself. I got home, put Cameron down for nap and then sat down to eat my lunch in peace. Then something strange happened to my body. I sat up to put my lunch away after I was done eating and I felt tiny bit of water leak on to my pants. I was a little shocked because I don't have bladder issues.  I went to go change my pants and lifted my leg at a certain angle and again the tiniest bit of water leaked out.  The thought crossed my mind that my bag of water could've broken, but it was so miniscule that I thought it just couldn't be. I called Robert at school and told him that I think my water broke and that he should probably come home. He thought it was so funny that I didn’t know for sure. I called the midwives at OHSU and they said that since I was group B strep positive that I should come up there to have them evaluate me and check the situation. So then I called my mom to arrange picking up the big girls from school and watching them while we were gone.

We drove to Portland in record time. I listened to my hypno-baby recordings in hopes to jump start labor. We arrive at the hospital around 4 o'clock in the evening and they took me into the triage area. I told the midwife that I thought the baby was posterior so she started kneading my stomach to see where the baby was positioned and as a result I started gushing amniotic fluid all over the place. And thus it was determined that my water had indeed broken. Apparently I had a “high tear” where the bag of water tears open at the top of the uterus and only a little bit of water leaks out at a time. In all my years of watching TV I'd never seen this portrayed. Usually the water just gushes out of the woman and that was not my experience.

The midwife did an ultrasound and confirmed that the baby was in a posterior position. I asked the midwife for some tips on how to get the baby to turn into an anterior position. She showed me a few exercises and was on her way.

I was officially admitted to ohsu hospital around 5:30pm. We were taken to our room and I was started on antibiotics for my group B strep, I really hate having an IV in my arm.  Once we were settled I started listening to my hypno-baby CD’s again to help with natural birth and I started doing different exercises to get the baby to flip. The funniest looking exercise I did, to get the baby to turn, was when I would elevate one leg onto a chair and do lunges. I spent a good amount of time on the birthing ball resting my head on the bed leaning forward trying to get the baby to flip.  While on the ball I had a few back labor contractions due to the baby being posterior and they were VERY intense.



Hypno-Babies was helping a lot but around 7:30pm I just had to lay down on the bed and rest. I was getting frustrated that the baby wasn’t changing position and I needed a break.  I put three pillows in between my knees to give the baby some extra space. I tried to focus on my breathing and imagining that the baby is turning. It must have worked because during this time the baby flipped!!! This is when things got real (contractions escalate and get intense).

Around 8:30pm I started getting the chills and the shakes. I knew that transition was coming soon.  I told the midwife and nurses that I needed to get into the tub soon. But the water was too hot.  After I got admitted they had set up the birthing tub (around 6 o'clock). There were a lot of ladies in labors that night and they wanted the tub to be ready. Since the baby was posterior the assumption was that I’d be in labor well into the morning so they made the water hot expecting it to have plenty of time to cool off. Well it had only been about three hours and I wanted to get in the water as soon as possible. The nurses went to work. They started taking buckets of hot water out of the birthing tub and with the hose, pouring in cold water.
.
By 9 o'clock I couldn’t wait any longer, none of my coping mechanisms were working. I was given the OK to get in the tub but they warned me it would be hot and I told them I didn't really care I just needed to get in there!

The birthing tub (which is a large circular inflatable tub with high walls and a padded bottom) and water felt incredible, not hot at all.  And it was just like when I gave birth to Camryn, I knelt on my knees and leaned/rested over the edge of the tub. Robert was a great support; he sat at the edge of the tub and would give me water and ice chips in between contractions.  As the contractions or pressure waves got stronger I did ask him for more encouraging words and he was happy to oblige.

By 9:30pm the contractions were about three minutes apart lasted about a minute. The midwife came in to check on me and noticed that my birthing sounds (moans and groans) had changed quite dramatically and she decided to “stay in the room” and stop making the rounds.

I remember the nurse kept doing the Doppler/ heart monitor on my tummy to read the babies heart rate. I could feel and knew that the baby was going down the birth canal and she just kept poking me with the Doppler. Finally she looked up at the midwife and said “the babies in the birth canal”. I was like “yeah the babies in the birth canal now get away for me”, so frustrating.

At 9:45 PM everybody was gearing up and Robert was in the tub.  I started pushing around 9:55 but I didn't want to push too hard. With Camryn, she went through the birth canal to quickly resulting in hematoma, where blood vessels burst and make tiny red spots all over her face. I didn't want this to happen to baby number four so I was pushing but trying to be somewhat controlled, if that’s even possible at that time.

The plan was to have Robert catch the baby but as the baby is crowning the midwife noticed that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby's neck twice.  With her 30+ years experience she kept the baby under the water and quickly got the cord off the baby's neck. Then she told me to lift up one of my legs. So I lifted up my leg and then like some cool basketball player move the midwife guided the baby under that leg and said “catch”. All of a sudden the baby was in my arms.  I had my left hand over the baby’s crotch and with my fingers I felt a void of something significant and instantly knew that it was a girl.  I chuckled under my breath “it’s a girl”.  The nurses asked “what is it, what is it?” and finally I said in a little bit louder voice “it's a GIRL”!



I turned around, sat down in the tub and showed Robert. I just held our baby girl for a few minutes. We delivered our fourth baby girl at 10:03 PM on May 9. It made perfect sense because Robert’s birthday is on the ninth and I'm born on the ninth as well.

I was surprised that I had enough energy to hold the baby for as long as I did. After Camryn was born I couldn't physically hold her for at least 15 minutes but I held this baby for about five minutes and then gave her to Robert to hold. And we got a few cute pictures in the birthing tub.




Overall it was a great delivery.  I feel very blessed that I got the baby to turn into an anterior position or else that 9 hour labor would have been a lot longer and way more intense.  Reese is just an amazing baby and we’re so happy to have her in our family!!!

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Sisters meeting sister . . .







The day you realize you have four girls, 
pure LOVE!!!

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

BLESSED

SHE'S HERE!!!



On May 9th 2014 at 10:03pm
Reese Morgan 
joined our family. 


8 lb 3 oz  -  21.5 inches

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Baby #4 guesing pool






The countdown has begun for Montgomery Baby#4, reluctantly because I have still have so much to do. But it has begun with 30+ days to go. Just like the last three times we are doing a baby pool to see who's the most in-tune with the baby  (for baby#1 it was Mark Friess). The winner will receive a 1 pound box of See's chocolates for "SEE-ing things correctly". Here is some brief info on our previous babies so you can guess more accurately.

Baby #1 (also known as Bailey): Girl
Born: on her due date
Size: 8lb5oz, 21.5inches

Baby #2 (also known as Addie): Girl
Born: induced 3 days after her due date
Size: 7lb12oz 20inches
Baby #3 (also known as Camryn): Girl
Born: 1 day past her due date
Size: 8lb3oz 20.5inches

Facts about this pregnancy, overall I feel the same as the rest. I am more "hairy" this go round when with the past pregnancies I enjoyed plucking my eyebrows less. And I've been told by multiple sources that I am "carrying low". My original due date was 4/23 but after the ultrasound the midwife adjusted it to 5/5. Yet sometimes I measure back to the April due date and then my body will flip back to the May due date at the next appointment. I will continue to believe it's a girl until I see a penis. Click on the link below, enter the game name and good luck!!!

http://www.expectnet.com/game.php
Game Name: Montgomery4
Press: Enter a guess

Sunday, August 4, 2013

That time your baby turns ONE!

She goes from 8 pounds 3 ounces at birth, just a little thing . . . 

and turns into a BIG ONE YEAR OLD!!!
Weighing in at 22 pounds and always on the move. 

And as a third child (and a busy summer) your parents celebrate your birthday 10 day late. But we got the pictures and have documented that we are decent parents and had a little party. 


Camryn Mae
Digging into her birthday cake!

Behold the one year old!!!!

Is this a drum?

Sure taste better than a drum!!!

We love this little angel and are so blessed that our Heavenly Father let her join our family. I couldn't imagine a day without her in our lives. Her big sisters fight over who get to get her out of bed every morning and they will stop dead in their tracks if you ask them to cuddle with her.  Her parents adore her and are so grateful that she's been a calm, easygoing baby. Can't wait to see what the world holds for this gem!!!
Happy Birthday BUG!!!

Friday, June 28, 2013

March via INSTAGRAM

Date night, gotta get dessert! Is there another place besides the konditorei in this town?

So much fun, we've got mardi gras masks, moms old dresses, and stuffed animals. But best of all is a horse back ride from Uncle Brent!!!!

Bunko pajama party!!!! I was lucky enough to be a substitute!!!! I love these ladies, especially my mama!

Due to the plague that struck my household I haven't been to spin class in over three weeks. I'm not here to burn calories, I need to get my gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus used to riding on the bike seat again!
#IWillBeSoreTomorrow
#AndTheNextDay

Apparently fruit leathers bring out the animalistic characteristics in my children. 
#ClawedThruTheBox
#CouldNotWait
#SummerStrawberryIsTheBest

Out with the birthday boy for some Spanish Tapas, at one of Salem's fine dining establishments. Great company (no kids), wish I could say the same for the food. 
#LoveMyManToPieces
#PortlandHasRuinedUs
#TheOliveOilWasGood
#FoodSnobsForever

5 years old and she's already planning 'matching hairstyles' with her bestie!!!
#TooCute

Onion found in the back of the pantry.
#ThinkICanUseItForDiner
 #KindOfPretty

Lunch date with this handsome guy!
#BestDaddy 
#NeededAStudyBreak

Take bite. Head tilt. Rest head. Smile. Repeat.
 #ItIsACamrynThing
#BestSmileEVER

She made a fort all by herself. Complete with 2 guards and the shoes she'll need for the rest of the day!
#CompleteClothesHorse
#WearsHeelsToCostco

My new ankle bracelet.

At Bid for Justice with my law student husband. Too bad law student are poor and don't have any money to bid on the auction. All the better for the professors!!!!

Teething much??? In a 10 minute time frame she chewed on my shoe, dining chair, table leg, and a tube of desitin. And don't even get me started on the drool! 
#GonnaLookLikeAVampireSoon

Getting some love from her auntie!!!@slebar21


Practicing her slobber kisses with the cute baby in the mirror.

Shopping in between the rain showers.


Rocking her to sleep is one of my favorite things to do. 
#EyelashShadows

Finally getting the time to paint the crib white. It's been primed for over 8 months but then baby came and projects stopped. Gonna feel so good to get this off my to do list.
#HoneyBrownIsGross
#NoMoreMosesBasket
#NoMoreBassinet 
#NoMorePackNPlay

Fighting the crowds and shopping at winco on a Saturday for groceries- BOOO! Loading up on food so you can go to the beach for spring break - YEAH!!!!! 
#GlassHalfFull

Eight months old and she's taken up waving as her main focus of study.

Love hearing about the hidden fishing holes as Robert drives us to the beach.
#CouldListenToHisStoriesAllDayLong
#LoveBeingWithHim 
#SpringBreak



Swimming with the sharks! No lions, no tigers, no bears but still OH MY!

At first I thought she had spit up on her face, then I saw the crib . . . the newly painted crib! 
#BabyBeaver
#DidYouEatPaintChipsAsAKid

Yo Gabba Gabba PaRRRtay!!!!

Over 1,000 Easter eggs to find. This ward does it right!

Our Easter beauties! 
#VeryBlessed
#SistersRock