Cashtyn's Birth Story

I figure it is about time to write this. I have been meaning to and just haven't got around to it. Beware this is going to be a really long post and there are some freaky pictures of me. Seriously though. But here we go...

I am so lucky and got some fantastic pregnancy jeans. I had such a smooth and weird to say but enjoyable pregnancy. I really did enjoy it. I never really felt sick or miserable or anything. It just was amazing to me the whole time that I had the ability and privilege to carry a baby. The week I delivered started out great. My sister Rachelle came into town from Utah just for me. Thinking of delivery kind of scared me so I asked her to come to be there for me and Nolan. She came down 10 days before my due date. Its a good thing she came a little early cause my baby came 6 days before I was due. Anyways, I new on Wednesday May 2nd that something wasnt right. I didnt think I was in labor because it was still 8 days before my due date. But I had felt so good my whole pregnancy that when i woke up and felt miserable wednesday that something wasnt right. I went to work and just worked through how I felt but by thursday morning I went to work and asked if Elise and I could start working at home because I was feeling that uncomfortable. So we headed home. This is disgusting and probably TMI but thursday I seriously felt like I was sitting on the toilet all day and all night. It was gross. And then Thursday evening I get the migraine from hell. I couldnt get it to go away and didnt sleep all night. So Friday I went and got a massage at noon. We will let the therapist think she was the one who put me into labor even though I think that is a load of crap. I'm even a massage therapist lol. I finished work at 4 and about 5 went to use the restroom and had a really bad contraction. I had had braxten hicks throughout the last couple months but this felt way different. I went and sat on the couch and told rachelle that I think I had just had a contraction. She got pretty excited and said to let her know if I had another one. After the first contractions they started coming every 5 minutes. Rachelle kept saying yay I think its happening all i could think of was breathing. After an hour of them I went and jumped in the shower (where I think my water broke because it did break at one point but I dont remember it breaking) and Nolan and Rachelle got everything ready to go. Nolan was a little nervous so it was nice to have Rachelle there to keep us on track. By 7 we were off to the hospital. My contractions had gotten a little closer together but they werent too painful to where I couldnt handle it. Infact I still was joking. I asked the little tech who took us to the room to pop a wheeling with me in the wheel chair lol. They took us to a room with a lot of other beds to just asses me to see if I was really in labor. They wouldnt let Rachelle in this room they said they would get her if they were keeping me and when we went into the actual room. It felt like eternity for the nurse to get in there. I think I was just anxious to know if I was really in labor. Once the nurse finally came in and hooked me up to a million machines. One was to try to track my contractions but they never got it to work. They never once were able to track when i was having one. Another machine was to watch the babies heart rate. The got that one going and the nurse seemed really nervous. All she said was your babies heart rate drops with each contraction. She then measured me and said you are at a 4 and we are keeping you until this baby comes. The next thing I knew there was like 4 nurses around my bed and they all seemed in a panic. Nolan was so good at holding my hand as the contractions started getting worse by the minute. He tried to get information from the nurses but all they would say was that the babies heart rate was dropping. after about 30 minutes of them running around like chickens with their heads cut off the nurse measured me again and I was at a 6 1/2. So they decided they needed to get me into an actual room. At this point all I could do was focus on breathing. They had in on my side and told me not to move because the baby needed me on my side. So i was trying to stay in one place and not punch someone from pain. It took about 10 min before they were ready to wheel me into the room and by then they measured me again and I was at a 9 and 100% effaced. At that point int became a panic by the nurses to get me into a room but they still wouldnt tell Nolan and I much and all i could think about was that I wanted rachelle. I kept saying where is my sister and Nolan finally had to specifically tell the tech to go get Rachelle from teh hall. They wheeled us into a room but none of the machines worked so we had to find another room. By then rachelle was there and all i remember is here saying you are doing so good vanessa. And her and nolan standing by me helping me breathe. The nurse had me get on my hands and knees because that is the position where his heart rate was teh best. Which was a blessing because I was on my hands and knees long enough that his heart rate stayed up for me to get my epidural. They kept asking me if i wanted one but I couldnt think of anything besides getting through the contractions which were almost unbearable by now. I was grateful when i heard Rachelle say she told me 2 things before coming and one was that she wanted an epidural so get her an epidural. That may have been the best sentence I have ever heard in my life. The second the epidural kicked in it was like night and day. I know some people are against epidurals but I am not. It made delivery enjoyable. Pretty sure I told every person in the room that I loved them after I got an epidural. It helped that much! After having the epidural I started pushing and baby Cash came within 30 minutes. The doctor that delivered knew exactly what he was doing. He was kind of a punk but new what to do. I remember trying to push but not really knowing where my butt was so i didnt know where to push. Strange feeling but way better then pain. The doctor didnt like how i was pushing but rachelle helped me get it right. She kept saying Vanessa act like you are pooping. He will come if you act like you are Pooping. Well she was right lol. Cash had the cord around his neck which was causing the heart rate drop but the doctor unwrapped it and everything was fine. Nolan was such a champ. He stood next to the doctor the whole time and was more then willing to cut the cord. I was proud of how well first of all he took me yelling at him and second on how well he kept himself composed. Hearing little cash cry for the first time was amazing. Just realizing he was fine. Then I heard Rachelle say he has red hair. Nolan was shocked. So was I. I didnt expect red hair. But the second they handed cash to me and I looked at him it was perfect. He is so perfect. And his hair is rad! Color and all! I love it. I was so thankful for good nurses that kept me and Cashtyn safe and for a husband who was there for me the whole time and a sister who sacrificed so much to come down and keep me calm and put together. Thinking back on delivery it was all worth it and I would already do it again. All of the pain is worth it in the end. We are all doing fine and loving life. Sorry this was so long and boring but I had to document it. Here are some pictures of the hospital and after. We sure are thankful for our little Baby Cashtyn!

nolan helping me through a contraction. Sure am thankful for him

waiting for the epidural to kick in

I look like death but loving life after the epidural. 

exhausted

holding my perfect little man

his hand really didnt seem that blue. They are that big though

Here he is!

After his bath. 

Proud daddy

I am in love

look at that hair! It looks blond in this picture but it is red

I dont look excited but I really was to finally get to love on him

Photo therapy for bili rubin to try to stop jaundice. This broke my heart. he was like that for 20 hours

leaving the hospital sooo tiny

uncle Weston pretty proud of Cashtyns hair

Out little froggy lol outfit from the kelseys

Aunt Heidy came to visit. his hair looked so red next to her

40 more hours of Photo Therapy at home

Outfit for natalies softball game. Wish we could have come

Best thing to wake up to!

Nolan and cash getting so ZZZZs

We are so thankful for our sweet little man. We thank our heavenly father every day that I had a healthy pregnancy and delivery and for the chance to be parents! We sure do love Cashtyn!