Little Miss Myla is Here!

Myla Ryann was born June 28th, 2013 at 1:53 PM

She weighed 8 lbs 2 oz and measured 20 1/4 inches long

Welcome to her birth story...

I was a scheduled induction because I went past my due date.  So we got to the hospital at 6 AM on the 28th.  I got all set up in my L&D room, changed, hooked up to monitors and then to IV fluids, had my bag of water artificially ruptured by my OB and at 8:30 they started my Pitocin.  I was started off small: 2 milliunits... They said I was having contractions before they even started the Pit but apparently I just wasn't feeling them.  Don't worry, though, the Pitocin took care of THAT!!  As I was laying in the hospital bed I started having contractions but they were manageable and I just had to take a few deep breaths to get through them.  They weren't anything too serious.

About 20 minutes later I was upped to 4 milliunits of Pit.  At this point is when I started to really feel the contractions.  I really had to breathe through these and I was definitely in pain.  I went ahead and asked for the birthing ball and sitting on that and rolling around really helped me.  Also, Ryan was massaging my lower back and holding my hand through the contractions.  He was amazing.

Fast forward another 20 minutes and I was upped to 6 milliunits of Pit.  I wanted to die.  You hear about women being induced and that the Pitocin makes the contractions worse and much stronger and let me tell you, they ain't lyin' ok?  I was trying to hold off on the epidural for as long as I could so that I could dilate and efface more because some studies have shown that getting the epidural too early can slow down labor and/or increase your chance of having a C-section (which I was already at an increased risk for since I was induced).  But about 4-6 contractions in, I was crying through them, breathing so hard that my mom and Ryan had to remind me not to hold my breath and to please breathe in, and shaking after the contractions were over.  Ryan told me that maybe it was time to stop trying to be brave.  So I grabbed my call light and, in tears, told him "There's a button on my remote that says "PAIN" and I pushed it!!"

My 2 nurses promptly arrived, asked if I felt it was time for the epi and they called the CRNA and Anesthesiologist.  When they started my epidural I remember they kicked Ryan and my mom out.  That made me cry but my attention was diverted quickly and when the anesthesiologist came in, I don't even remember him introducing himself.  He could have told me his name was Santa Claus and I would have told him to just hurry.

He gave me the epidural (while one of my AMAZING nurses held my hand, told me to breathe and told me about her kids as well as that once I saw my baby, all the pain would be worth it) and they had me lie down in bed to wait for the epi to take effect.  About 15 minutes in, I was still really feeling some pain and the anesthesiologist decided I was a very tall girl and needed an extra bolus dose.  He hooked something up, put a remote with 1 button in my face and told me to push it when he said and then every hour thereafter.  BLESS this good man's heart.  He gave me extra drugs.

Shortly thereafter I would not have realized, nor cared, if someone had chainsawed my legs off.  I felt wonderful.  I was instructed to take a nap because pushing was going to take a lot out of me.  So I laid down, fell asleep and was awakened about an hour and a half later so my doctor could check me.  Imagine my surprise when she said: "It's time to have a baby!"

I had jumped from 4 cm before the epidural all the way to 10 cm after it and was now about to meet my daughter!!  I pushed for 30-45 minutes and Myla was born.  In total, from the time my contractions from Pitocin began to the time of Myla's birth, I labored for about 5.5 hours.  Also, due to the bolus dose I received in my epidural, I did not even feel my contractions or any pressure or pain as I was delivering.  I could not imagine a better, more amazing birthing experience.  The biggest shock about her birth?  That she is blonde!!  Yep.  That's right, I have a little Barbie girl.

Ryan and I are SO in love with our little girl.  Here are some pictures from our delivery.

Me, Ryan & my mom

Before the painful contractions began lol

Meeting Myla for the first time

Happy birthday baby girl!

Mmm first meal after delivery: Angus burgers!

My brother, Omar, with Myla, his god daughter.

Christina with Myla, her god daughter.

Myla and her Nana

Mommy and Daddy kisses :-*

My dad and his first grandchild.

Our celebratory meal from the hospital!

And happy 4th of July from Little Miss Myla Ryann!!

WE LOVE HER SO MUCH!!

39 Weeks

How far along are you?: 39 weeks.  Oh my gosh!!

Total weight gain?: 32 lbs.  Last time I guessed 34 but I think I was wrong.  Could be at 33 or 34 now.  Not sure but I have a dr's appointment this Friday morning.

How big is baby?: Doctor is saying she's probably "normal sized".... like 7lbs.  I'm scared!

Maternity clothes?:  The top in this picture is not maternity lol I got it from Forever21 when I was a freshman in college like 6 years ago!!

Stretch marks?: Been lucky, still no stretch marks.

Sleep?: Nothing I didn't anticipate, still uncomfortable to roll over and to get out of bed.

Best moment this week?:  Ryan and I walked like 2.5 miles tonight and halfway back home he said "Man you need to have this baby soon because I can't keep going out for walks like this!" Haha wuss ;-)

Movement?:  Just the same as always.

Food cravings?:  Sweet stuff!

Food aversions?:  I have yet to have any!

Labor signs?:  I wiiiiiiiish

Belly button in or out?: Still out.

What I miss?:  Fitting into my bathing suit, honestly.  It's so hot out and I just wanna go cool off at the splash pad with rhys but none of my old suits fit me.

What I'm looking forward to?: Ryan and I might take Rhys on a last little family get together at the beach this weekend.  Just something for us to do as a family before the little princess makes her arrival :-)

40 Weeks

How far along are you?:  40 weeks... AND COUNTING since my due date was on MONDAY!!

Total weight gain?:  32 lbs.  No weight changes from last time.  I did not have a dr's appointment this week though since I am scheduled for induction this week.

How big is baby?:  She should be coming in around 7 1/2 if she is "normal" sized.

Maternity clothes?:  Same ones as always... They seem a bit tighter now hmmm.

Stretch marks?:  I think I noticed a few this week but only because my skin looks shinier there and if anybody else is looking, they can't see it.  They'll probably be slightly visible after I have her, who knows.

Sleep?: I have like one good night of sleep left because Thursday I will probably be too excited and nervous to sleep very well.

Best moment this week?:  Scheduling the induction.  I will be 40 weeks 4 days at my induction on Friday.  Typically they wait til 41 weeks but Friday... Monday... big difference.

Movement?:  Looks like I'm harboring an alien in my torso.

Food cravings?:  Chocolate.

Food aversions?:  Nada.

Labor signs?:  Other than the fact that I am 2cm and 80% effaced but not having any freaking contractions other than Braxton Hicks, no not really.

Belly button in or out?: Still out.

What I miss?:  My old jeans.

What I'm looking forward to?: FRIDAY!!!!

For anyone here locally in Houston with us who is planning to visit me and Miss Myla at the hospital, Ryan and I would like to let everyone know that we are not going to accept visitors on Friday except for a couple of people who have already been told exactly who they are.  Other than that, everyone else will wait until Saturday.  We will let everyone know once we are accepting visitors.  And lastly, if you do visit, no children please.  I'll be letting my nurses know of my desires so if you bring your kids you're not going to be allowed in at the security desk!!  And just to clarify, "children" = anyone under the age of 18!!  Even if you do not agree with our requests here, I ask that you please respect them.

And if you are our Facebook friends, look out for a post from either Ryan or me letting people know when we will be accepting visitors.  Most likely we will text people, but keep an eye out anyway.  Woo.... Now I can't wait until Friday!!!   

38 Weeks

How far along are you?: 38 weeks.  But who's counting?

Total weight gain?: 34 lbs.  I can't quite keep track well because I don't own a scale so the only time I find out is at dr visits.

How big is baby?: Freaking huge.  At my last appt my dr guesses about 6.6 or 6.7 and that was on 6/7.

Maternity clothes?:  Ya and y'all have prob seen this outfit before since I refuse to buy more than like ten pieces of maternity clothing.  It just doesn't make sense to me since its such a temporary wardrobe.

Stretch marks?: Haven't seen any yet.

Sleep?: Like last week, still getting up like 1-4 times a night to pee.

Best moment this week?:  Being told that if I'm still preggers on my due date (6/24) then we will induce me that week... YES!!

Movement?:  Tons of it.  My baby is crazy.  Plus she is kind of outta room in there.

Food cravings?:  Ice ice ice.

Food aversions?:  Nada!

Labor signs?:  Braxton Hicks.

Belly button in or out?: Still out.

What I miss?:  My feet not hurting all the time :(

What I'm looking forward to?: Being her momma.

And this week, we had big brother rhys in the picture with me!! As you can tell, he already gives his baby sister kisses. He is such a sweet boy and we love him to pieces.

37 Weeks

How far along are you?: 37 weeks.  I'm full term and she could come any day now!

Total weight gain?: 27 lbs now

How big is baby?: Babycenter says the size of a watermelon.

Maternity clothes?: The clothes in this pic are not maternity.  The pants are yoga pants from Victoria's Secret and the shirt is a Mossimo top from Target that I got on sale for $3 woohoo!!

Stretch marks?: Haven't seen any yet.

Sleep?: Getting up like 1-4 times a night to pee.  Ugh.

Best moment this week?: Well I will give you a best moment of last week instead... Rhys put his hand on my belly and she happened to move right when he did and he screeched and was so intrigued!  It was awesome.  He then proceeded to put his ear up to my belly to see what she had to say.  He's hilarious.

Movement?: Yes because she's hyper like her daddy haha.

Food cravings?: Hmm kind of.  I'm craving certain smells more these days.  Like WEIRD smells... Like the weird musty smell that comes from the A/C in your car when you first turn it on... Or the smell of motor oil.  SO weird.

Food aversions?: I don't have any yet, if you can believe that.  Trust me, I'm keeping my eye out for them.

Labor signs?: I have some sharp pains every once in a while but nothing that lasts long enough for me to time it and nothing that comes often enough for me to time it either.

Belly button in or out?: Out unfortunately.  So out.

What I miss?: Pina coladas.  I want one really bad these days.  These hot, hot, hot summer days!!

What I'm looking forward to?: Just her being here :)

35 Weeks

How far along are you?: 35 weeks.

Total weight gain?: 26 lbs

How big is baby?: She should be 5 1/4 lbs, according to BBC.

Maternity clothes?: The shorts in this pic are my Nike shorts that I've had for years and the top is a maternity top.  It's from MM, I think.

Stretch marks?: No siree.

Sleep?: I'm sleeping fine but just having to pee a lot.

Best moment this week?: Literally feeling her little foot up against the inside of me.  It's pretty crazy.

Movement?: Like crazy

Food cravings?: Ice... Ice is soooooo good

Food aversions?: Nothing.

Labor signs?: None that I've noticed.

Belly button in or out?: Outie

What I miss?: Not having to pee so often.

What I'm looking forward to?: My due date haha.

I Am So Behind!!

I know we have not uploaded any blog posts or pictures in the past few weeks, again, CRAZY CRAZY life right now.  But I will be uploading a couple of weeks tonight!!  I am saddened to report, however, that we missed taking our 36 week picture.  But don't worry: I'm still huge and getting huge-er by the day so you at least can count on that lol.  With that said, I'll be uploading later tonight!!

Thanks so much for keeping up with us and Miss Myla Ryann! :)

Love,
R & C