Here's the Story....
On Memorial Day this year, we had a great day of just being with each other outside (7 mile bike ride), going on a date and picking up a going home outfit for the soon coming baby. Little did we know that we did this just in time! I woke me up at 2:15 a.m. that night with what I thought was gas cramps. 10 mins. later, same thing. Again, 10 mins. later. That's when I decided to wake up Andy telling him I think I'm starting labor. Although this wasn't what I was imagining contractions to feel like, I had confidence that it was a contraction. Andy started timing the contractions, and we did so for 3-4 hours at home while getting bags packed, cleaning up and going for a walk to Kum-n-Go for a popsicle. By the end of the walk, I was ready to go to the hospital.
We arrived at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City at around 6:30 a.m. and I was immediately hooked up to monitors to see how far along I really was. Soon after, we were informed that the baby was going to come that day! I was then brought to the labor and delivery room, where I was again attached to monitors. This was something I wasn't expecting either. I thought I would be able to walk around, get in the whirlpool, etc. in order to stay more comfortable and move things along. But nope.... they wanted to make sure baby was staying active. Which he wasn't really, so then they wanted me to lay on my left side. :( I hated being on my left side to sleep throughout pregnancy and now I had to lay on my left side while trying to go through a contraction. Not fun! Although Andy was doing a great job helping me through each one. By reminding me to breathe. "In, 2,3, Out, 2,3, In, 2, 3.... " Believe it or not this helped a great deal with each contraction. Speaking of contractions, that is not how I expected them to feel! They weren't no period cramps for me. It was all pressure on my bottom. Seriously like I was going to poop my hospital gown and all over. Sorry for the ugliness of that, but in case you haven't had a baby, contractions feel different for everyone. And that's exactly how mine felt.
In order to keep things moving along, Dr. Smollen broke my water, and I started to get some pitocin. They wanted contractions to be at the intensity level of 60 and I was consistently going through 40's and a couple 60's. After knowing this I decided to receive an epidural. Wow!! That's something I don't regret! I went from being misable like I was going to poop everywhere to being TOTALLY relaxed. I was enjoying being on my left side, reaching contractions at the 80 level mark for more than 2 mins. and watching Andy eat a bagel! What more could you ask for!
Less than an hour later, Dr. Smollen came back in to tell me we were ready to start pushing. REALLY! AHHHH, crazy this is it! This was another thing that was different from I expected. My knees were jacked up to my ears, as Andy was holding my left leg and a high school student observer was holding my right leg as they basically cheered me on while I could see in a mirror that with every series of pushes, the baby's head came down lower and lower. After under an hour of pushing, our new baby was ON my stomach..... It's a boy!! In one moment, Zander became what we had always dreamed of and prayed for. We are constantly being reminded that THIS is what God had been getting us ready for during the last two years. What a blessing from the Father, and a picture of how His Son came into the world to save it.
For a glance at Zanders first week, click here: http://picasaweb.google.com/mrsbishop/ZanderWkOne?authkey=Gv1sRgCNrJ3rHL8LebqgE&feat=email#
Hope that works!
Love,
Andy, Lisa, and Zander
On Memorial Day this year, we had a great day of just being with each other outside (7 mile bike ride), going on a date and picking up a going home outfit for the soon coming baby. Little did we know that we did this just in time! I woke me up at 2:15 a.m. that night with what I thought was gas cramps. 10 mins. later, same thing. Again, 10 mins. later. That's when I decided to wake up Andy telling him I think I'm starting labor. Although this wasn't what I was imagining contractions to feel like, I had confidence that it was a contraction. Andy started timing the contractions, and we did so for 3-4 hours at home while getting bags packed, cleaning up and going for a walk to Kum-n-Go for a popsicle. By the end of the walk, I was ready to go to the hospital.
We arrived at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City at around 6:30 a.m. and I was immediately hooked up to monitors to see how far along I really was. Soon after, we were informed that the baby was going to come that day! I was then brought to the labor and delivery room, where I was again attached to monitors. This was something I wasn't expecting either. I thought I would be able to walk around, get in the whirlpool, etc. in order to stay more comfortable and move things along. But nope.... they wanted to make sure baby was staying active. Which he wasn't really, so then they wanted me to lay on my left side. :( I hated being on my left side to sleep throughout pregnancy and now I had to lay on my left side while trying to go through a contraction. Not fun! Although Andy was doing a great job helping me through each one. By reminding me to breathe. "In, 2,3, Out, 2,3, In, 2, 3.... " Believe it or not this helped a great deal with each contraction. Speaking of contractions, that is not how I expected them to feel! They weren't no period cramps for me. It was all pressure on my bottom. Seriously like I was going to poop my hospital gown and all over. Sorry for the ugliness of that, but in case you haven't had a baby, contractions feel different for everyone. And that's exactly how mine felt.
In order to keep things moving along, Dr. Smollen broke my water, and I started to get some pitocin. They wanted contractions to be at the intensity level of 60 and I was consistently going through 40's and a couple 60's. After knowing this I decided to receive an epidural. Wow!! That's something I don't regret! I went from being misable like I was going to poop everywhere to being TOTALLY relaxed. I was enjoying being on my left side, reaching contractions at the 80 level mark for more than 2 mins. and watching Andy eat a bagel! What more could you ask for!
Less than an hour later, Dr. Smollen came back in to tell me we were ready to start pushing. REALLY! AHHHH, crazy this is it! This was another thing that was different from I expected. My knees were jacked up to my ears, as Andy was holding my left leg and a high school student observer was holding my right leg as they basically cheered me on while I could see in a mirror that with every series of pushes, the baby's head came down lower and lower. After under an hour of pushing, our new baby was ON my stomach..... It's a boy!! In one moment, Zander became what we had always dreamed of and prayed for. We are constantly being reminded that THIS is what God had been getting us ready for during the last two years. What a blessing from the Father, and a picture of how His Son came into the world to save it.
For a glance at Zanders first week, click here: http://picasaweb.google.com/mrsbishop/ZanderWkOne?authkey=Gv1sRgCNrJ3rHL8LebqgE&feat=email#
Hope that works!
Love,
Andy, Lisa, and Zander
1 comment:
Congratulations, guys!!! SO excited and happy for you. Isn't childbirth AMAZING!?!? We welcomed another little one of our own into the world last Monday, June 8th. (Norah Lou.) Look us up if you ever get back to Ames...it would be fun to get the little ones together!
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