“Heaven blew every trumpet and sounded every horn on the wonderful, marvelous night you were born.”
On the Night You Were Born ~ Nancy Tillman
I can hardly believe it, as I’m typing these words, but today marks exactly one year since I was admitted to the hospital to soon thereafter deliver our baby boy. 365 days ago, I was 40 weeks pregnant, as swollen as they come and, thankfully, less than 24 hours away from meeting my sweet Bodie Bear. Exactly one year later and I’m sharing Bodie’s birth story.
My due date was September 19 (Wednesday), but Luke and I headed in for my 40 week appointment on September 17 (Monday) to see how I was progressing as my doctor was scheduled to be out of town that upcoming weekend (made me a little anxious because I desperately wanted my doctor to deliver Bodie). She had told us to have our bags with us just in case because at that point in pregnancy, you never know. I had been having some high blood pressure readings during the last few weeks of my pregnancy and that morning was no different. Better than some, but it was still elevated. (PS: We had done all the testing for preeclampsia and everything came back negative. It was concluded that I just had some sporadic gestational hypertension that reared its’ ugly head during the final countdown until baby). Because my pressures were high and I was two days away from my due date, my doctor decided to go ahead and admit me right then to prep for labor. Next steps included grabbing the bags from the car, making some phone calls, and trying to grasp the fact that baby will be with us shortly. Nerve-racking and so exciting.
It was kind of surreal being admitted to L&D. We had taken a hospital tour during our birth classes the previous month, but actually going in as a patient obviously had a very different feel to it. (Side note: I LOVED all of my L&D and post-partum nurses. They are special people and truly amazing. I actually left the hospital telling Luke that I thought that was what I wanted to be when I grow up haha.) By the time I got all hooked up and ready in the bed, it was about 10:30 am. Although I was having a few minor contractions on my own (only visible by the monitor because I really couldn’t feel them), the plan was to induce via pitocin. That was not something that I initially wanted, but with my blood pressure continuing to spike, it was the best decision and we had full confidence in my doctor’s plan. The anesthesiologist would not start me on the pitocin before 3 pm because I had breakfast that morning. Typical protocol in case of the slim chance emergency surgery was necessary and I had to be “put under.” So things turned in to a bit of a waiting game. My parents were on their way up from Alabama and Luke’s parents were on their way down from Clarksville. Since Luke’s parents were only about an hour away, they got to our room around lunch and we played some games (you should have seen my swollen hands trying to “roll” dice…) and just hung out while waiting for the main event to commence. I was too anxious to nap and they kept having me lay in certain positions for my blood pressure… I’m still not entirely sure why that makes a difference, but something about it does. Hurry up and wait was the name of the game for several more hour. I remember wanting Chick-Fil-A more than I ever had in my life (which if you know me is really saying something because I want it all the time).
Around 3:30 pm they started the pitocin. Again, I was having a few contractions off and on naturally, but it was time to kick it into high gear. My plan was basically to go until I couldn’t handle it anymore and then get an epidural if necessary. I wasn’t against it going into things, so I just needed to figure out how much I could tolerate. Many times during my pregnancy, I had asked my doctor how I would know if I was having a contraction… she smiled sweetly and just told me “you’ll know.” Well, if that wasn’t the truth. For several hours, I could actually tolerate the contractions because there was enough time in between each one to catch my breath and get a break. I got so excited when I looked at the monitor and saw the contractions. I thought, “Wow, I’m a rockstar. These are intense on the screen so I think I may actually be able to do this.” Long story short, I was looking at another patient’s contractions (L&D nurses have up to two patients at a time and can see both on the monitor in each room… identifying information isn’t shared, it’s just so they can keep up with what’s going on in with the other patient while they’re tending to you and vice versa)… she was about to push and I was still in the early stages. Mine were nothing in comparison to hers and that’s when I realized, I will probably be needing an epidural at some point.
As the afternoon and evening went on, and they kept increasing my pitocin drip and things started to get a lot more real. My parents got into town and stopped by around 6ish. Both sets of soon-to-be grandparents came and went from our room to the waiting room for a while. I finally decided at about 7:30 that it was time for an epidural. My nurse had told me not to wait until I couldn’t handle it anymore to ask for it because it takes them some time to get to the room and go over things, etc. before they actually give it to you. Whoops… I think I waited too long. I begging my nurse to get anesthesiology into my room asap because I was hurting to say the least haha. The biggest issue for me was how fast the contractions were hitting. I had no time to recover between each one. After finally getting the epidural (and adjusting my posture yet again), I had some relief… for a brief time. They actually had to come back in at one point and give another boost of something because I still had pain/pressure that didn’t seem normal after having an epidural. I had nothing to compare it to being a newbie, but that was the assessment. The boost worked and I was feeling better. Around 10 pm, Bodie’s heart rate kept dipping so they had to give me oxygen which helped him in utero. That went on for a couple of hours.Luke was over on the “husband bed” sleeping as peacefully as could be and I was trying to get some rest myself. Couldn’t do it. My doctor stayed at the hospital all evening and night and was not going to leave until I had Bodie. I was so thankful for that, especially with what was to come.
Around 12 am (September 18 at this point), my nurse checked me and said she thought it was about time to start pushing. I asked her if she was sure because I didn’t feel any different… she assured me that it was time. My doctor came in and confirmed. I started trying to call over to Luke and wake him up from his ever so peaceful sleep… how he was sleeping so well is still a mystery to me. After everything was set up, it was go time (around 12:30 am). To spare a lot of the unnecessary and unpleasant details, Bodie did not want to come out. His heart rate continued to drop and they called for NICU to come in and be on standby. Talk about nerves. I was freaking out and figured they were going to rush me back for a C-section at any moment not realizing we were already past that point. Luke understood that, but didn’t let me know it because he was remaining calm and strong for me. After a few “things” (unmentionable details for sake of this public blog) and using the vacuum twice, Bodie finally made his grand debut at 1:40 am. Physically, I was not in a good state, but luckily I couldn’t feel anything and didn’t much care because I truly felt all of God’s grace and love instantly with one glimpse of that tiny, precious baby boy. Everyone checked him over and he was perfect. The NICU team stayed around for a few extra minutes, but ultimately ended up not being needed. We had a healthy, precious baby boy. I remember thinking how strange it was that he was just inside me and then he wasn’t… and how his hair looked kind of red haha.
The emotions that came over me when they laid him on my chest, right away and after he was cleaned up and swaddled, was indescribable. It was a rush of so much love and joy. I honestly cannot describe the feelings with words. Funny how that happens, huh? My love for my son, husband, and Jesus grew so much that day and, suddenly, I never wanted to know a world without Bodie Rylan Salyers in it.
I can’t write this post without mentioning how wonderful my husband was throughout the whole process. Luke was nothing but short of amazing and such a rock for me during an unknown time and experience (must have been all that sleep he got right before the actual delivery haha). During delivery and the days after, he was constantly checking on me, helping me however he could during my low points, making me laugh as always, and constantly lifting me up. And, as wonderful as all of those things were, they paled in comparison to watching him become a father to our little Bodie.
Our stay the next few days was wonderful and we became friends with all of our nurses. The sweet time with just the three of us will be cherished forever and it was equally as delightful to have both of our families popping in and out each day. Honestly, we had the best time (minus my recovery… woof) and would have stayed in the hospital a little longer if they would have let us. If we have another one, I plan to deliver at the same hospital and have a list of nurses that I would like to ask for haha. Honestly, between the euphoria of becoming parents and just all the emotions that flooded over us during those few days, our whole birthing experience was amazing. We continually thank God for the blessing that He gave us in Bodie.
| Bodie Rylan Salyers | September 18, 2018 |
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17
xoxo.
All images by Rylan’s Riches Photography
