Olivia Mary Bing: December 24, 2011

I was up feeding Olivia early Saturday morning, while I was feeding her I was reading my friend Emily's blog. Emily had a little girl, Kinley 2 months ago, and I have been enjoying reading her blog about her experiences with a new baby. It made me realize how much I have missed blogging and how much I wanted to record Olivia's life on here so I can turn it into a blog book each year as a special family memory. So I'm back on the blogging train and hope I can keep it up. Thanks Emily for being a great inspiration!

I thought that the best place to start for me would be the birth of our first daughter, Miss Olivia Mary Bing, on December 24th, 2011. To do that though I feel I need to go back one day and start my new blogging goal on December 23rd, 2011.

December 23, 2011

December 23rd, brought snow to Nova Scotia, something I was not excited to see. Being 39 weeks pregnant I didn't want anything to get in my way of getting to the hospital if I went into labour. I'd been lucky during my entire pregnancy to not have had to deal with a lot of snow, and I was thankful for that. I'm a bit clumsy says Brandon, so I was always worried about falling. Although the snow was pretty, it was coming down quite heavily, and not making me happy. Little did I know, it was not going to be the only thing that made me sad that day. It was about mid morning, when the phone rang, it was Brandon's father calling with some news. It was news that we were not expecting to get, and news that we didn't want to hear. Brandon's grandfather Steve had passed away suddenly that morning at his home in Ontario. Brandon and I were both shocked.

We had just been with Brandon's grandparents this summer, and grandpa had seemed to be well. I think I cried for Brandon and I that day, I just couldn't seem to stop. Brandon's grandparents, Steve and Sandie reminded me a lot of my mom's parents, who have both passed away. They are grandparents who are so involved in their grandchildren's lives and love being around them and you can see it on their faces, so loosing grandpa really hit hard. He was an amazing man and will be missed greatly in our family. The picture below was taken in January 2010 at Chelsey and Ryan's wedding, we enjoyed every time Nanna and Grandpa came to visit.

That night Brandon had to go to work, so I had some time to prepare for Christmas Eve that night. It had been decided through conversation with Brandon's parents throughout the day, that although we were all feeling the great loss, that we would continue on with our planned holiday celebrations. After the holidays some of the family would be heading to Ontario to be with Nanna for grandpa's memorial service. I was able to finish packing for the hospital for both Brandon and I, packing up the Christmas gifts, and packing for the holiday weekend. Brandon was going to be working, so I was planning on staying at his parents home on Christmas Eve. Going to bed that night, little did I know that my Christmas Eve plans were going to be changed drastically!

December 24, 2011

Brandon as mentioned above was working on Friday night, so I had the whole bed to myself which is always nice, especially since my pillows had been taking up a lot of space the past few months. I had been up to the washroom twice throughout the night, and after the first time baby girl got the hiccups which kept me up for a little while. I really enjoyed feeling her little hiccups throughout my pregnancy no matter when they happened. When I got up to go to the washroom the second time, there wasn't anything different. I got back into bed and that's when something didn't feel right. There wasn't any pain, but just something different. So I stood up and all of a sudden I felt wet... not the kind of wet that would make one think they had an accident, but wet as in OH MY GOODNESS MY WATER BROKE! It was 6:47am, I waddled to the washroom, with the phone because I had no doubt that it was indeed my water breaking, I had been worried about not knowing, now that I think about that I just laugh!

The first person I of course call is Brandon, he picks up and in tears I tell him "My water broke, and it's Christmas Eve." His first question was, did it get on the bed, hahha I laughed at that, only my husband would be concerned about that. (It hadn't gotten on the bed) I think he was a little shocked to be getting this call because I wasn't due for three days and we figured I would most likely go over due like most first pregnancies. Plus I had been telling the baby she didn't want to come on this weekend for a long time, but she obviously wasn't going to listen. Brandon was done work in a little over an hour, so I told him to stay until he finished up his shift and then meet me at the hospital.

Mom was my next call, I figured it being about 7am that she would still be in bed, but she picked up and sounded awake. I said "Hi, what are you doing", a good question when one's water has broken to start a conversation right? Anyway mom replies that she was reading and asked what I was doing, thats when I told her about being in labour. She said she would be out to get me as soon as possible! I decided since I had some time, and no real pain that I would get a shower and shave my legs... isn't that what all pregnant women think when their water breaks? So I got myself ready slowly while waiting for me. I received a text from my little sister who had heard the news, and a phone call from my older sister wondering why she heard my news via text from Laura, I just hadn't gotten the chance to call everyone right away. I also during this time called my in-laws to share the news. They were pretty excited to get that phone call. Mom arrived and helped me take my bags down to the car where dad was waiting to drive us both down. I used the car ride to text some friends and of course up date my Facebook status, you can see I had my priorities in order right...hahhaa!!

When mom and I got to the hospital we headed into admitting. Luckily I had pre-registered so the process was quick. I can't believe I am going to post a lot of the pictures in this post because I hadn't gotten to put makeup on so I look especially special, but back to Olivia's story. I had what is called Group B Streptococcus, it's a bacteria that pregnant women either have in their body or don't. Since I had it, that meant that I had to go to the hospital as soon as my water broke so that they could start antibiotics so that the bacteria wouldn't be passed on to the baby. Once I was checked in at admitting, I was taken into an assessment room where the nurse took some of my information from my prenatal record which I loved having in my purse to handover, it made things much easier. She took my blood pressure and then she escorted me upstairs to the 3rd floor, labour and delivery!!

When we got up to the third floor I was taken into a little waiting room to be monitored until it was time to go to my delivery room. It was great to have mom with me, she was a good little photographer as well as fantastic company. While I was in the waiting type room, the hooked me up to a heat rate monitor to monitor the baby and to see if I was having any contractions. I also had an IV started. The first attempt didn't work, but she was able to get it in the second time in my other arm. I don't really love IV's at all, and this one was a tad uncomfortable, just the way it was angled in, but I could survive the discomfort. It was there that I was started on fluids and antibiotics. Mom was a great support, before they could start the antibiotics I needed to eat something because after that I was cut off from food. So she ran down and got me a bagel and apple juice, such a great last meal... hahaha!! It was actually quite delicious.

Brandon's parents had brought him over one of their cars since he didn't take ours to work that night. Brandon was able to drive home, change grab a bite to eat and then meet us at the hospital. I felt pretty bad for the guy, he had worked all night and was super tired. Although he was tired, he was pretty excited too. I encouraged him to grab a snooze, he got a mini one in this room. I was excited when we finally got to move down the hall to delivery room number 10, I didn't enjoy getting up because my water leaked like crazy more, sadly making me look like I wet my pants, luckily though my sweat pants made it not as noticeable!

Waiting in the waiting type room... my belly is looking sooooo BIG! I kinda miss it now...

Although my face looks MASSIVE... this is my belly being monitored!

Daddy arrived... I was really glad to see him!

Below... Daddy gets a little snooze while we waited... he said that was the best nap!

As mentioned above we walked down to delivery room number 10 where I met my sweet nurse Christa. She was amazing, she explained things clearly, she was easy to talk with, she was funny and she helped me through the hard contractions so much. First thing when we were in the room we got all my bags situated and I got to finally get changed into the hospital gear which was much more comfortable then what I had on... some people don't like the mesh hospital underwear, but I'm going to put it out there, I found them quite wonderful! At thins time I was also able to put some makeup on, as my sweet little sister Laura texted me, I needed some makeup so that I wouldn't look so tired. Wasn't that sweet of her! So after I fixed myself up I felt so much better, Christa said the only rule in the delivery room, was that the patient wasn't allowed to look better then her nurse. We had a good laugh about that and I told her that I didn't think she had to worry too much about that, hahah!! Brandon was able to get a little rest in during this time. There was a chair there that pulled out into a full bed, and Christa got him a heated blanket he was in daddy to be heaven!

This is my last belly shot before Olivia joined our family, I was just over 39 weeks in this picture. I loved my belly and feeling her move and kick. I miss it as mentioned above, but now am also enjoying seeing it melt away... hope it keeps melting!!

Me and my sweet nurse Christa... she was the BEST!

Below...Daddy and Mommy to be both resting...aren't we cute in our beds!

Once we got settled in, they started an induction drip. They started the drip because my water had broken and with the group B strep, they wanted to get my labour going. I think if I remember correctly Christa said something like they would increase the amount every four hours or so. My doctor wasn't on this weekend so I had two different doctors for Baby O's delivery, the first one I saw once when she came in to introduce herself, and check me, then she got swamped and I saw her before she ended her shift. My doctor hadn't checked my progress this week because she said if she did she would put me into labour and we were trying to avoid that this weekend, so this was really my first check and wow it was PAINFUL! I teared up big time, and found out I was quite thinned out, but only at about 1 cm, all that pain to find that out, so cheap!

While the contractions were still mild, she recommended me sitting on an exercise ball, which was pretty comfortable for a little while. I managed to sit and bounce on it for a little while, but as the contractions increased the pain began to be too much and I felt like I might fall off the ball, so mom helped me back into bed. As you can see in the below pictures, I was happy on the ball and then the contractions got BAD!! Brandon woke up around the time that the drip had really worked and the contractions were getting unbearable. Brandon, mom and Christa were a great support during these painful times, encouraging me to breathe through the contractions. They didn't want me to hold my breath or hyperventilate which was easy to do with that amount of pain. The induction drip had really worked and Christa even had to turn it down a bit because they were coming on FAST, maybe even like a minute apart. Just as I would finish one contraction the next one would be starting. It was quite an amazing experience to feel the contraction, you can feel it building, reach it's peak and then start to come down. When they end it's such a sigh of relief... too bad the next one would come so soon. I remember that my main phrases through the contractions were, "This sucks" and "This is so not fun", I this "This sucks" was the more well used comment during this time.

I had told Christa I didn't have time to write up a birth plan, which she said was a good thing. She said a lot of people come in with them and want to stick to them to the word, and when things have to change they feel disappointed and upset about not following the plan. I told her the only thing I knew I wanted was an epidural. The thought of a giant needle in my spine did make me a bit nervous, but after the pain of contractions I was READY to have it. I was checked and was about 4-5 cm so they brought it on. It was so hard because your still experiencing the great pain of contractions, and they make you sit up on your bed, and lean over a pillow. You have to sit still through the pain, while the anesthesiologist does their job. I thought it would be hard, but with Brandon's support and the change in position, I actually felt better through the contractions. I had a resident put my epidural in and she was awesome, she was quick and got the job done properly. For all those who are on the fence about getting an epidural or not, I vote GET ONE. It was amazing. You still feel the great pain of the contractions as it kicks in but gradually it starts working, and you slowly regain the ability to normally converse with people. It was a magical feeling.

Brandon found me quite funny after I got my epidural. He thought the drugs affected me in many ways, one way being making me slightly high, because he said I was so funny. We explained that it doesn't have that affect, but that when you go from great pain to no pain, you get a little giddy. I was, I couldn't stop chatting because I could again! You can see my joy in the pictures below. When I had the epidural in Christa wanted to see if I could make it to the washroom to empty my bladder. She said the test was that I had to stand up and squat twice. So Christa and Brandon help me get out of bed and stand. I was feeling pretty confident, rocking back and forth, then Christa helped me squat, hahha I couldn't get back up, and she said I failed, back to bed I went. She had to use a catheter which was the easiest pee of my life, I didn't mind it at all.

We hung out and waited to dilate for the next few hours. I enjoyed a couple of white grape popsicles, updated Facebook and did some texting. Dad I think was antsy being at home, he'd texted for updates throughout the day, but he likes to be helpful, so be brought down some food to mom and brandon which was sweet and visited for a few minutes. Brandon felt bad eating in front of me, but I really didn't mind, I wasn't that hungry and the popsicles were making me happy, although his french fries smelt amazing!!

My sisters are wonderful and kept texting mom and I for updates. Laura was in Calgary and it was driving her nuts not being here for the big day. She wanted pictures and videos sent along with the updates. Kathy was someone who was going to be in the room with us when the baby came, so she kept wanting dilation updates which they didn't do as frequently as she wanted. They limit them because they introduce new bacteria into the area. It being Christmas Eve, Kathy had to come at just the right time. She had things to do in preparation for Christmas as well as activities with her own kiddies. So when I was about 8-9 cm we let her know. Sweet Laura I believe made the comment at this time wanting to know which one I was closer to because in labour being an 8 or a 9 is a big difference. So Kathy and my mother-in-law Laureen headed over together to be with us for the big moment. Brandon didn't want a lot of people in the room, but I got final say and I am so glad they were all there, it was nice to have extra people to talk to and distract me while I waited. It was exciting as they all arrived. I knew if I needed to ask them to leave that they would, and they stayed out of the way of Christa. Mom and Laureen sat in a corner and chatted. Kathy was on one side of my bed and Brandon was on the other it was great!

hanging out on the exercise ball... still happy!

Not so happy now... the contractions were hard!

woohoo for epidurals, they make me happy again!

Brandon attempting to help me with my squat

My big sister arrived, I was excited to see her!

Below... The two grandmothers to be again!!

As the time came to start pushing, Brandon and Kathy got nice and silly, complaining of delivery room smells, which resulted in them both putting on hospital masks, don't they look fancy! Brandon put gloves on just for extra added affect, he almost put a hat on too, he said he wanted to be like Bill Cosby on the Cosby show... he totally kept us laughing! We also found a way for Laura to be included in the special day... Kathy used her iPhone to Skype Laura into the delivery room. So on Christmas Eve all the way in Calgary, my sister got to be in the room for the whole time I was pushing, getting to see her niece when she arrived in this world. Isn't technology just so amazing!

When the time came to push I was a little nervous... you go through labour knowing it's coming but when the time finally comes it's surreal. Once I got into the pushing I was giving it my all. Three big pushes for every contraction. My support team was great, although Brandon didn't want to look down to where the baby was coming from, he was totally by my side holding my hand, giving me water and keeping me cool with a cold cloth. He was a great helper. Christa was off at 7:00pm but she stayed around for a little bit extra just incase I was a quick pusher. Unfortunately I wasn't a fast pusher which sucked because there were only a few private rooms left upstairs, and I wanted a private room (which didn't happen).

I ended up pushing for 2 hours, it was a long and hard 2 hours, but the end result was worth it. It was frustrating because my new nurse Kaitlyn, who was also super great, kept saying how close she was to being out, but I think they were all lying. They kept saying she just had to make it around this last corner... well she was trying to do that for a LONG time. It was getting annoying to hear. In the end, for my last few pushes the doctor had to use forceps to deliver Olivia. I didn't want them at all, but she was so close that she just needed the extra help. Well they were the most intense pushes of the day, I had two nurses pushing my legs back and then the doctor doing her job, I thought my legs were going to break off. Sorry if this is too much detail, but it's for my blog book and memory. Although it was intense, I do remember seeing her kind of coming out, and of Brandon cutting her cord although it is a foggy memory.

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he let me squeeze as much as I wanted...

below... Doctor Bing wiping down my forehead... what a husband!!

They brought in the NICU team to be on stand by where they were using forceps, just to check her out, but she was great. Brandon and Kathy said that when she came out she looked pretty special. She had a cone head, blond bloody curls and here eyes were wide open. They quickly held her up so I could see her, but then they took her over to be check out. Everyone followed along to see her and snap pictures. It was such an exciting team, she had a strong little cry and scored 9/9 on both of her APGAR tests... that's my girl!! Kathy who has had 5 kiddies had never been in the delivery room for another delivery other then her own, was pretty affected by my delivery. She told me after that the doctor was really yanking the baby out of me, the doctor said she wasn't yanking, just gently guiding out... Kathy was like she was Yanking!! Hahha it was pretty funny. I ended up having four stitches, but survived the delivery. Kathy snapped some great pictures of Olivia's first few minutes, Miss Olivia made some great little faces!

The NICU team checking out our little lady...

I call this face, what am I doing here... it's so COLD!

Still pouting a little bit while she was getting checked out

she was such an alert little lady...

she was taking everything in, look at how wrinkly her little fingers are

she looks a little angry in this picture and looks like she has strong words for someone

This was just a great face, classic Olivia!!

So it was official, on Christmas Eve our little family had a new member join it,

Olivia Mary Bing

December 24, 2011

9:00pm

8 lbs 22 inches

Perfect in every way!!

It was love at first sight when we finally got to hold our girl. She seemed so tiny and warm. She had the cutest little eyes and nose, and it looked like she had daddy's dimple in her chin, although I don't think it's there still now. She had a lot of hair for my side of the family, it was blonde, curly and super cute. I got to snuggle her first and have some skin on skin time, and some time to get her to start feeding. Daddy had some time to check her out to and he was in LOVE. He got to hold her next and it was super cute to see him with his daughter. I was even more in love with him that day seeing him as a father. It was super sweet.

Although we could have just kept holding on to her, we did want to let our support team get some baby love. The grandpa's were called and both managed to be at the hospital pretty quickly and both were able to come into the delivery room to meet their newest grand daughter. It was so wonderful to see our little girl being loved by all her family members that were waiting all day to meet her!

Nanny Jackie who had been with us through it all, got some snuggles

Poppy O'Hearon loves his grand kiddies so much, he will steal the baby at any opportunity for a snuggle it's pretty sweet. I love how she is awake in this picture.

Auntie Kathy was a great photographer and even better sister. I am so glad she was there for Olivia's birth, it was so special to have my sister there.

Nanny and Grandpa Bing were very excited about their second grand daughter. I love this picture of them they both look so great and Olivia is nice and alert. I think it's fun too that grandpa has a Santa hat on, to celebrate the festive day our daughter was born.

The first official picture of the Bing family of three

After everyone else took off we had some quiet time as a family. I was able to get a nice hot shower and clean myself up which felt so amazing. Brandon had some daddy time and is turning into quite the natural with the baby. We packed up all our stuff and we headed up to the 5th floor, to our semi private room which made me really sad, but we had our daughter so that made it all better. The room was cozy with another loud family across the room, but we just tried to take in every minute with our new little lady. We didn't get much sleep that night at all, our neighbours didn't know how to use a quiet voice when talking on the phone and the husband snored like a lawn mower it was fantastic. I was over tired, but just couldn't stop looking at my daughter.

Me and my little girl after my nice hot shower

Olivia Mary Bing in her bassinet.

It was an amazing day. Although labour had it's challenges, and discomforts, it was a life changing experience. I found that everyone had prepared me for the worst, that it all didn't seem so bad. I wouldn't change anything because it brought us Olivia in the end. I'm sure there is something that I am missing in here, but I tried my best to remember it all.

I like to think that the emotion of the 23rd, is what started Olivia's journey into our family. When grandpa passed away, I like to think that he was able to meet Olivia and told her that it was time for her to come join our family. I like to tell myself that he knew we were going to need some happiness in our lives right now and that happiness is Olivia. When I heard the news of grandpa passing I was sad that Olivia wasn't going to meet the great man that grandpa was, but this thinking made me happy that she maybe got to snuggle him on her way to join our family.

I am so excited to be a mother and I am so looking forward to sharing all my Olivia stories and memories on here.