Sweet Baby James- Pregnancy & Birth Story

My last bump pic the day I went into labor at 40 weeks and 4 days! 

When Hayden and I got married we had originally decided on waiting about a year before trying to have a baby. But after starting our married life together, we both felt strongly that our baby was waiting for us and ready to come sooner than we thought. We went over our plans for the next year and realized that getting pregnant right away would make for a summer baby, which gave me time to recover before work started back up and time for Hayden to work, before school started again. So we decided to stop the birth control pills and just see what happened. I tracked everything on an app like the calculated nerd I am, just in case we ran into problems, but just one cycle later I took a test and BOOM we were in business. I couldn't believe how blessed we were to get pregnant so quickly! 

We found out at exactly 4 weeks gestation, so we decided to keep it just between the two of us for awhile. We even spent 7 days with Hayden's whole family for Thanksgiving with this giant secret bubbling up inside! 

8 weeks, and I was convinced I was already showing! Now I wish I could look this tiny!

A few short weeks later we told our families the big news as a Christmas present. They were understandably excited as our baby is the first grand baby on both sides! A few days later (New Years Eve) at 11ish weeks, we shared the news with the world and received so much love and support from all of our friends and family. 

I won't spend a lot of time talking about my pregnancy because it was a fairly uneventful and normal time in my life. I LOVED being pregnant. My body did an amazing thing and I felt really great the entire time. 

Highlights: I worked full time as a Special Education teaching assistant until 32 weeks, weight lifted until 39 weeks, and taught tumbling lessons until 39 weeks as well. I had no morning sickness and besides minor back pain- the only side affect I had was tons of guilt for having the easiest pregnancy known to mankind. Also, I got pretty huge. That is basically all the details of my pregnancy that are worth sharing.

Now for the birth story: 

My family came to Utah one week before my due date just in case I went early so my mom could be there. We had lots of fun and did lots of stuff around Provo to pass the time. Basically it was an awesome vacation for them and a super fun visit that kept me from going crazy in the last week of my pregnancy. Unfortunately, my due date came and went and three days later my family was all set to leave for home to start school. Lucky for me though my mom was able to stay two extra days. 

Wednesday the 25th I went to my midwife hopeful that she would have some good news for me. Again unfortunately, I didn't get any of the good news I wanted! However, I did get a good membrane sweep and an induction date set. Hayden was with me that day so we went home to just relax with my mom. My appointment was at 1pm and by 2pm I started having minor contractions. I didn't say anything until after about 2 hours (I didn't want to jinx it) then we really started to time them. To pass the time I cleaned my house, vacuumed, did the dishes, did my makeup, and went on a walk with Hayden and my mom. The contractions started to get very close together and very strong so by 8pm I was ready to go to the hospital!

When we got to the hospital, the deal was I would be checked and then monitored for an hour. If I hadn't progressed in an hour I would be sent home. I tried to stay relaxed and work through the contractions constantly praying I was progressing and wouldn't have to go home. When I got checked at the beginning I was at a 3 (had been a two at the doc that morning), at the end of the hour I was nearly at a 5 and they admitted me! I was so excited and settled in for the night.

Originally I had wanted an unmedicated birth, I thought I could for sure handle it. Looking back, maybe I could have handled it. But it was so tough! I could handle the contractions as they came- taking them one at a time, but my body couldn't relax and I was shaking and freezing! I knew that if I couldn't get myself to relax then it would be really impossible to push when it came time. So after 9 hours, I got the epidural! I was finally able to relax, eat and drink something, and actually just focus on the moment. It was so much better for me and my epidural went very smoothly. 

While we waited (before and after the epidural) we watched Beauty and the Beast and then one of the Rocky movies (not sure which one cause my mom picked). I drank some Barqs root beer (my fave) and tried to get some sleep. At one point all three of us (Hayden, my mom and I) had all fallen asleep, and only I woke up when the nurse came in to check me again. In my very sleepy and numb state she told me I was just about there and my midwife was on her way! I was so excited it was finally time! 

When my midwife arrived, she broke my water and everything moved very quickly after that. I started pushing and less than 40 minutes later, at 4:36am I had my son on my chest and he was absolutely perfect! I held him skin to skin for the first 10ish minutes of his life and he was so cozy and serene. No tears or anything. They took him to weigh and measure him, and our little James only weighed 6lbs 5oz and was 19in! He was back on my chest super quick and I got to snuggle him like crazy. Eventually however, I realized they were still working on me and as my epidural was wearing off I was more and more aware that something wasn't right. So I told Hayden to take James for some skin to skin with Daddy while I focused on what was happening with me still. My midwife explained that my placenta was stuck and not delivering on its own like it should. I had been given more pitocin to try and get the placenta to deliver, but it was still attached and not coming. After 45 minutes the on-call OB came in to check me. I was given fentanyl so I would stay numb a little longer, and the OB reached in (literally to her elbow) and detached the placenta. With her help, it came out all in one piece and I had no further complications due to the retained placenta. 

After homeboy was born, we were transferred to the mom and baby floor and got settled. We spent the rest of that day (Thursday) and most of Friday in the hospital and left Friday afternoon with two clean bills of health. 

James is 11 days old now and is doing great. He has gained weight and sleeps like an angel for long 3-4 hour stretches. We struggled with nursing after coming home but after seeing a lactation specialist we are slowly but surely improving! My supply is good and hopefully we can keep it up! I am also able to pump a little bit throughout the day to create a supply for when I go back to work in September. I do have to admit it, so far I don't like breastfeeding. It is hard and I get anxious about it very easily. But I am feeling very happy about providing my bubs with the awesome nutrients of breastmilk! 

Well, those are all the details I guess. It was a beautiful experience and I couldn't have asked for a better staff of nurses than the ones I had! I am also so glad my mom was able to be there with us and so grateful for my incredible husband that supported me before, during and after birth like the angel he is. 

James William Thieme

So long for now!

Mrs. Freakin' Thieme 

Midwife: Valley Women's Orem Midwives group

Hospital: Utah Valley Regional Medical Center

IBCLC: Orem Lactation Clinic