Liz Farah Barker

 

Liz Farah Barker

Monday April 9, 2012

10:33 p.m. 

 5 pounds 13 ounces 

19 inches long

 My due date was April 8th but half way through my pregnancy I got the big ultrasound done to make sure everything was fine. The ultrasound doctor was concerned that Liz was measuring so small and was actually kind of mean about the situation. I wasn't too worried because A.) Leila and Lexi were small, B.) I have a very healthy history, C.) Liz's heart, head, fluid, and bone measurements were perfectly fine. Her femur actually measured longer than most babies! That doctor was double and triple checking that I knew when my last period was. She looked up previous ultrasounds and discovered that my dates were matching up with what I had said. We made a follow up appointment to make sure that Liz was still growing and the doctor said we should move my due date to the 21st! I went back five weeks later and sure enough Liz was still growing and still.... just small. I told the doctor AGAIN that my other babies were small too. I followed up with my regular doctor, Dr. Marget Lister who said that she's never once changed someone's date and that that doctor has no authority to change any due date. Anyway that info becomes more relevant later.

Around 32 weeks or so, I was sure this baby was going to come early. I had the waddling going on and pelvic pressure and I couldn't roll from side to side without moaning. I knew Liz would be small so I wanted to make sure I could keep her in as long as possible. As time went on I got comments like, "Wow you are so small! I looked like you when I was 4 months pregnant!" "What? you are due today?" Anyway I and my baby were small so I was surprised and glad to make it past my due date! After I delivered Lexi I realized I could have handled it since I only had the epidural for 40 minutes or so before she was born. Also I had all of the contractions in my bed, and I was a 6 when I got to the hospital. With that experience and Liz being small the entire pregnancy, I figured I could do it naturally with no epidural so that was my goal.  After my due date I had an appointment to do an ultrasound just to see how things were going. I was excited for the ultrasound because the last 5 weekly appointments I had I gained only 1.5 pounds which isn't normal for the final stages of pregnancy. Marget and I decided I would wait until I went into labor naturally and come to the hospital when I was ready. I was going to stay at home as long as possible. She looked at Liz and then looked at her stats and said I could go one more week. Then she looked at Liz again. She noticed my placenta was all white in the ultrasound which means it was calcified. It was a grade 3 which means it was done providing nutrients for Liz. I don't know when exactly it stopped providing since I hadn't had an ultrasound for a month but I'm glad we noticed. Basically my placenta had Liz on a diet for the last month of my pregnancy. Which explains why I (Liz) didn't gain any weight.

 We agreed that having a small baby was better than chancing a still birth and I would be having my baby that day. SOOOO what if my due date was changed to the 21st? Crazy to think about. Anyway Aubrey was kind of right when he said in the elevator to my appointment, "Maybe they won't let you go home." My doctor called Labor and Delivery to see when I would check in. At that point I found I had an hour and a half to shower and pack my hospital bag. I went to bagels and buns for my last real meal and headed up to the hospital to check in at 3. It was actually kind of nice to know that Liz would be here soon. I called my friends Ashlie and Dani who work at the hospital so they could be my CNA and nurse. I checked into the hospital at 3 and it was busy because they didn't get me started on pitocin until around 4:30. The highest the doses go is up to is 30 and they started me off at 4. The nurse came in to see me and said, "You don't really look uncomfortable..." and I had to agree because I wasn't really in pain. It was kind of a bummer to be in the hospital when I wasn't going into labor myself but with my placenta in it's condition, maybe I never would have. Scary. So every so often they raised the dose by 4ccs. I went to the hospital when I was at a 1 and luckily my body was progressing. I got to a 2, then 3, then 4 but none of my contractions were really painful until after they broke my water which was around 9:20p.m.. When they did I was up to 20 on the pitocin and dilated to a 5. Then the contractions were a little more uncomfortable to the point where Aubrey could tell by the look of me rather than the meter when I was having one. 

It was really nice not to have an epidural though because I could walk around and be on the yoga ball. It was easier to deal with a contraction when I could bounce around a little instead of trying to move around in an uncomfortable hospital bed. I just sat on the ball and set the tablet on the bed so I could watch some netflix while trying to pass some time. My contractions were getting closer and I just knew I needed to lay down. In between contractions I moved to the bed and told Aubrey and the nurse, "I need to pee." The nurse said, "Okay do you want to get up and go?" I said, "No" They were getting me a bed pan but then I said, "I need to push!" It was so crazy how fast it all happened though. All of the sudden I just needed to lay down and have a baby. I can't really comprehend how the "pain" felt now but I wouldn't really call it painful. It was nice to feel what your body is naturally supposed to do. I could feel Liz descend and that was a good feeling because that meant she was really coming. That is the feeling I can still recall the most. I realized when I first started pushing that I was just trying to push rather then waiting until I had a contraction and that made a big difference! I recall pushing twice at the wrong time and giving one big push with a contraction and Liz was here. I also remember feeling a little embarrassed about the color of my face. I felt like it was purple when I was pushing and I was hoping no one was looking at my face! haha While in labor I told everyone, "It hurts!" and the nurse said, "There is a solution for that. Let's get this baby out." And I thought, "Okay that's a good idea. As soon as she's out I will be done."  It's funny to think about now because that's something you don't get/realize with an epidural. It doesn't hurt so it's almost like you are hindering your body from what it's supposed to do because mentally you can't support the process because of the drugs you've been given. I think it was a fast delivery because I made it like that. I easily could have complained about how it hurt or how long it might take to actually push a baby out of my body but I didn't. I waited until I had a contraction and pushed my hardest to get her here.

I was very grateful for Aubrey, Marget, and the nurse telling me how well I was doing. It was nice to hear the encouragement and that made it easier as well. They could talk to me rather than just tell me when to push. Marget said, "Push when you need and do what you feel you need to do." That was also a nice change because with an epidural you don't get to feel and understand your body. Someone just tells you when to push. When she was born she was put on my stomach and she was so tiny! I couldn't believe it. The nurse and doctor were really surprised at how well I handled it and said that I made a lot less noise that women who do get epidurals! I was glad to hear that. I wasn't crying to screaming or anything but I do know I was moaning quite a bit. At least it wasn't grunting haha. Unfortunately we didn't get a picture of me smiling in the bed holding Liz. Give me a break I just pushed a baby out of my body with no drugs! And I couldn't believe I had done it again and naturally! I can't believe that I have 3 girls! I can't believe that I am only 22. I can't believe I am married to the most supportive husband. I can't believe how far I have come as a person. It is crazy to think I am a mom of 3 of the most beautiful girls alive! Sometimes I think it's a dream like I've just been baby sitting someone's kids for a long time! : ) The best part of all of this is that THEY ARE MINE FOREVER! Nothing can ever separate them from me or Aubrey or us from them. Leila, Lexi, and Liz will ALWAYS belong to me and Aubrey! I can't ever thank Heavenly Father enough for that. I couldn't comprehend ever living without my little family! The Lord has a plan for everyone and everything and I know my family is meant to be together.

Liz is such a good little baby. We were a little worried there would be something wrong with her since she was so little but nothing is. We couldn't be more grateful for her condition considering the issues we had with my due date and placenta. We are lucky my placenta didn't give out earlier during the pregnancy and that Liz got enough time to grow big enough. The girls have been adjusting and they really like to touch Liz. I love having this little baby to just love on and cuddle with. She is so alert and oh so strong. She was born into the most perfect family for her AND she has dark almost black hair! We love her so much and can't wait until she can run around with and talk to Leila and Lexi. I am sure they will have some interesting conversations! 

I want to thank everyone for the support and kind words since being home from the hospital. 3 kids is definitely harder than 2 and this experience took more out of me than the other deliveries. Maybe it's because "I'm older" now like my mom said or that I haven't been as in shape as with my other pregnancies. Needless to say, it's been nice taking a break and a little easier asking for help. My mom has been wonderful as well as some of my sisters! Thank you Ashlie and Dani! Thank you everyone! We love you and are glad to welcome Liz home to our family.