Rory's Birth Story: Part 1

Our Beautiful girl was born on Monday June 11, 2018. Outside of a feared complication that our sonogram thought she spotted in our 20 week sonogram in January, Rory's pregnancy was rather easy. I hadn't suffered any of the pelvic or back pain that had plagued me with Everett and Haven. My morning sickness was no worse and no better than the others. Every sonogram we got Rory's sweet little hands were up by her face and the tech would remark about how smooshed up against me she was in the womb. Every single time! I was positive that with Rory being my third child she was bound to come early. I did have braxton hicks contractions stronger and earlier with her than the other two and I just knew this girl was not going to make it to her due date! Rory's official due date was June 12th and as that week crept closer I was sure at any minute I would go into labor. Haven's birth was a planned induction due to heart complications and knowing exactly what day we would meet her spoiled Dad and I both. Drew grew more and more anxious with each passing day that I didn't go into labor. At my 37 week visit my Doctor gave me the option of inducing the next week. I was dilated some and had made progress between my two appointments but labor still seemed like it could be a bit longer. Knowing that having a plan for labor would be so much easier logistically with two kids already at home and a husband who traveled for work some I hesitantly agreed to scheduling an induction.




We landed on the very next Monday, June 11. It was so important to me to have a clear cut plan for Everett and Haven when I went into labor so that they wouldn't be panicked. It was also so incredibly important for me to have Neeley at the birth, she and Drew were the ones by my side for both Everett and Haven's births but this was even more special as it was Neeley's namesake to be born. Since Neeley was living in Midland at the time Monday seemed easier for her to be here right off a weekend as opposed to coming in in the middle of the week.

I was scheduled to be at the hospital at 7 am on Monday morning. My alarm was set for 5 am so I could get up shower and try to look like I wasn't going to be in labor all day. However at 3 am I was awoken with severe contractions. They were the most intense contractions I had yet experienced, too scared to time then and too strong to sleep through I woke up and began preparing for the hospital. The contractions never eased up and I knew that had we not already planned on going in to have Rory that day we would be doing it anyway! This girl was coming!

We left bright eyed Everett and still sleeping Haven at home with Mimi Susie with promises to come back to bring them to see their new sister. Upon arriving at the hospital we were quickly ushered into a room and I settled into the oh so comfortable labor bed. Our nurses were quick to get my paperwork done and began measuring my contractions. They were coming a cool 4 minutes apart at this point and both nurses remarked on how this was to be Rory's birthday whether we had chosen it or not. I was put on pitocin to increase the rate of contractions and help dilate me beyond the 3 I had come in at. Around 9 am Neeley arrived and we settled in for a wait. I received my epidural and welcomed Aunt Kelsey and Mimi to our labor room around 10. My doctor came in and broke my water before noon.

Haven's delivery was sudden and fast and I had heard that your third can be even easier. I was prepared to "sneeze" Rory out with ease, I also thought she would be here before early afternoon. Time came and went and as I kept saying she'll be here anytime she kept not arriving. My nurses came in and put me in some of the most uncomfortable positions ever. The dreaded fire hydrant that I remembered from Everett's labor was reintroduced to me. Aunt Kelsey had to go to work and so Drew,  Neeley, and Aunt Tammy and I were there just waiting. My nurse came and told me to lay on my side with my legs straddling a ball and one arm behind my bag, it was torture but a "sure fire way" to get this baby out. I laid that way for maybe 5 minutes before the pain was so strong I couldn't stand it. I was feeling immense pressure. The nurses checked me and called for Dr. Appel to come running because Rory was ready. My little snuggle bug was finally willing to be pushed out of her comfortable home for the past 9 months.

Rory's delivery was by far the most painful I had experienced. Possibly because Haven's was so easy and she was so small that being the last memory I had did not help me. With my people on my side and nurses surrounding me I pushed and pushed and pushed. I was in pain feeling like my epidural had worn off and like I was feeling everything. I was giving my all and feeling like I was getting no where with each push. I remember crying and shaking my head thinking I can not get this girl out! I just can't do it! After another push I heard Neeley crying say "She's almost here Meg, your doing so good!" I somehow managed to pull all my strength together and pushed again to hear my beautiful girls brand new wails into the world. Rory was born at 2:47 pm! She was stunningly beautiful! I held her against me for the first time and couldn't believe how incredibly blessed I was to get to have another daughter!




It soon became apparent why Rory's birth was the hardest, our sweet girl weighed in at 8 lbs. 13 oz, our biggest baby by far! She weighed at 19 inches long like her siblings. My doctor couldn't get over her big cheeks and remarked on that being the reason she got stuck in the birth canal. She was beautiful and chunky and absolute perfection!