I had a lot of people ask me if I had written a birth story about my experience having John. My Hypnobirthing instructor Launi begs everyone in her classes to send her a copy but I have been lazy to do it. I finally sat down and wrote everything down. (Finally after almost 5 months!!) I'm really glad I did it because I realized that I started to forget some things and I know later in life I wouldn't be able to remember even half of this if I hadn't finally written everything down.
I go into a lot of detail at some parts so if you are reading this and don't want to hear about details in childbirth then STOP READING THIS NOW! For the rest of you, this is just something I did for records sake and thought I'd share this with my friends and family who wanted to hear the whole scoop!....
On October 2, 2008 we welcomed our adorable little boy into this world. John Sione Yohanes Tuutau was born at 3:59 a.m. in the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. When I was about 34-weeks pregnant I thought my water broke so I went into the hospital to get monitored. Everything was fine but after that, I started having surges off and on pretty consistently until the birth. At 39-weeks I started getting antsy and couldn’t stop cleaning my house! On Sept 29thmy husband and I celebrated our 1st anniversary together. The next day I woke up and cleaned the house from top to bottom. I took apart an entire futon and stored it away and moved a few more heavy things without telling my husband. He was convinced after finding out about my cleaning spree that this is the reason I went into labor!!
That night (Tuesday Sept 30, 2008) I went to bed feeling tired as usual. I woke up at about 1a.m. feeling surges every 15 min. They started getting closer and closer with each passing hour until they were about 3-4 min apart. I let my husband sleep as much as he could although I couldn’t sleep a wink. Around 6am I finally woke him up. We took our time and got our stuff together while trying to wait it out as long as I could before leaving for the Hospital. We finally checked into the hospital at about 9:30a.m. Our nurse, Mimi, was nice and very supportive of our decision to do Hypnobirthing. We provided her with a copy of our Birth Preference Sheet that was respected by everyone who helped us. I tested positive for GBS and needed IV medication every 4 hours, but they were fine with my decision to have a Heplock instead of an actual IV. This made things a lot easier for me to move around throughout my labor. My surges were 3-4 minutes apart sometimes 2-3 minutes apart until 3a.m.the next day. My labor lasted 27 long hours!
For the first 12-14 hours I felt confident and more or less relaxed. My husband played relaxing music and helped me follow through with the Hypnobirthing relaxation techniques. Then I started to get really tired and my mind started thinking “Why is this taking so long?”BIG MISTAKE!!. After that things started getting really hard for me. Instead of the pressure I once felt I started feeling pain. Every surge felt like it was the end of the world!My muscles would tense with every surge and I was not handling things well. The nurses would remind me of my other options, but they were never pushy. They offered many times to wrap my Heplocked arm in plastic wrap and let me take a warm shower. I loved being in the water so much, but eventually I would have to come back out. I tried to sit on a birthing ball but the pressure was too intense and I was much more comfortable sitting in a rocking chair. A little after midnight, the doctor came in and checked me out and told me that my water sac was bulging with fluid and causing a lot of pressure. She offered to break it since the baby was so close to coming and since I was desperate for a way to get him out faster. Since I’d already been in labor for almost a full day, with little progression in my dilation in the preceeding few hours, I agreed.Within 2 min after she punctured the sac I was in more pain than I’ve ever felt in my life. I started to panic and bawl my eyes out and no matter how many times my husband told me I was doing great and I was almost there, I just couldn’t handle it. I asked for a small dose of something to take the edge off. They gave me one small dose of Fentanyl and boy am I grateful that I did! It was just enough to relieve my panic attack and get my mind back on track.
I still had a little over an hour before the baby was ready to come out but I was finally getting my head back together. I would find my husband Daniel falling asleep in between surges but I would wake him up by tensing my arms and shoulders and squeezing his hand to death each time they would begin again. I paid for that later by having very sore muscles for days after! At 3:00 a.m. Dr. Ramos came back in and told me I should start “pushing” and that he was ready. I was SO incredibly exhausted by this time that I was having a hard time doing anything. But I knew I was NOT going to “push” my baby out. I tried getting on my hands and knees but the pressure was so uncomfortable that I sat at an angle while Daniel and the nurse held my legs up. I didn’t necessarily want to be in that position but the nurse insisted that it was the best position to relieve the pressure and pain. Since I couldn’t find any other way to do that I just let her have her way! I was too tired to object. I started to “breath the baby down” like I was taught in class and apparently from what my husband said I was hardly doing anything because I was so tired. The nurse was trying in a polite way to tell me that if I pushed with a little bit more force that the baby would come out faster. Completely ignoring the pushing part I started to focus every ounce of energy I had into moving the baby down. It still took about an hour but I thought I did a pretty well for being completely wiped out and exhausted.
Finally the baby’s head was in view and the nurse called Dr. Ramos and one other nurse in to help. Daniel stayed right by my side the whole time telling me how great I was doing. He looked exhausted as well but adrenaline kicked in for the both of us and we got really excited. The nurse pulled in a big mirror that allowed me to see what was going on which was SO COOL!!! Dr. Ramos told me everything was looking great and I was doing great. It was interesting watching his head start out looking so small then get so big as he came out. Throughout this whole process from the time I started breathing the baby down until he came out I don’t remember feeling any pain. I was finally focusing and I remember watching his birth in awe. Once his head was out it only took a bit for the rest of his body to follow. At 3:59 a.m. he finally arrived! The nurses took my gown off of me as fast as they could as the doctor placed my little boy on my chest. He was so beautiful to me! They left him on my chest as they wiped him up and put blankets around both of us. We snapped a few photos and called my mom so she could pass on the news. The doctor told me I had a few tiny tears but I only ended up getting 2 or 3 stitches. The doctor and nurses were really impressed with me in how I handled everything. They kept taking turns to check on us because they wanted to see “a hypnobirthing birth”. They were really impressed that I looked so good after just having a baby and was up and walking in no time.
Dr. Ramos patiently waited for over 25 min. until the placenta sloughed off and came out and then she let my husband cut the cord. They gave us as much time as we wanted to bond with our baby before suggesting we take him to get weighed and cleaned up. After about an hour and 15 min or so I handed the baby off to my husband while I got ready to go. It was so nice to have our requests met especially with our skin to skin time and them waiting to cut the cord.
Our little John weighed in at 8 lbs. 14 oz. had a 19 in head and was 21 in. long. I was very happy with the way everyone at the hospital treated us and the understanding and support we received through our Hypnobirthing process.
Today I went to a Stake Primary training thing at our stake center. It was such a good meeting. There were various workshops on how to become a better teacher and ideas on how to make lessons more interesting and helpful for the kids. I teach the 4 and 5 year olds in my ward and they are so much fun. I teach along with one other teacher and our class size is between 9 and 10 kids a week. Sometimes it gets a little crazy in class but for the most part they are all really good kids.
During this training meeting our stake president got up and talked about how children don't just remember the stuff they learn in primary while they're still young but they remember the principles they learn for the rest of their lives. He started saying what sound like a poem about "Everything I learned about life I learned in Primary" and he used lyrics from a lot of the Children's Primary Songbook songs and it was really neat. I never thought about how many true principles these kids are learning each week just through song. I don't remember much about my primary days but I do remember the songs even now when I hear the tune!
I saw this on my sisters blog and was the first person to comment so I told her I'd better get something good!!! Then I thought about it and thought it would be fun to do the same thing :)
The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! Made with tons of love just for you!
It might be a fun sewing project, a sweet letter to you from me, or some yummy goodies, you might be surprised what you get! Give it a try!
The catch? You must re -post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a lovely little treat for themselves! Have Fun!Ready........Set............Go!
Please leave me your address in your comment too...THANKS
I just heard rumor that there will be a In N Out built in Draper, UT by the end of the summer. COOL!!! Now every time you go up to the Draper temple you can get some AWESOME food before swinging by the Ikea and heading home! In N Out holds a special place for me because it was there that I ate my very first burger. Not that I ever plan on eating a hamburger again but I really enjoyed their strawberry shakes and fries. That right there would totally be worth driving to Draper for!...when I'm visiting my family in Orem of course. Right now I'm spoiled by the fact that I can just hop in my car and be at a In N Out in 10 min!!! ;)
My friend Katie posted a tag entry on her blog and I thought it was funny. I tried it to see what it would say for me and I thought the results were pretty funny...
Google "(Your name) needs," and share the first 10 results.
1. Brandy needs to keep the toughness inside. 2. Brandy needs a good lawyer. 3. Brandy needs to get her acronyms straight. 4. Brandy needs some home training. 5. Brandy needs a girl. 6. Brandy needs your help. 7. Brandy needs your positive vibes. 8. Brandy needs an eye exam. 9. Brandy needs a mate ASAP! 10. Brandy needs a drink.
1. Daniel needs a slump buster. 2. Daniel needs your help. 3. Daniel needs help with his betta. 4. Daniel needs to be here in 24hrs. 5. Daniel needs to start practicing his Heisman Pose. 6. Daniel needs your prayers. 7. Daniel needs a new car. 8. Daniel needs to walk around without a shirt on. 9. Daniel needs to be checked in. 10. Daniel needs Chinese food stat!
He he he! Apparently I need a drink...even though I already am one ;)
This last Tuesday it was my dads birthday and a few weeks ago (back at the end of January) was my brother Tyson's birthday. Man I feel like I keep missing everyone's birthday!! That's 3 already that I've missed. My mom's is coming up next month and I'm probablly gonna miss that one too. Life just isn't fair!! I have missed out on so many good cake and ice cream parties it's just sad!!!
Well anyway, Happy Belated Birthday Dad and my Tyshon! I love you guys!!!
I absolutely love this little boy!! I love both of my nephews :) Yesterday was Logan's 2nd birthday. I was so sad I had to miss it but I did call him on Misty's phone and I told him Happy Birthday and he responded..."Dats Awesome!" in the cutest little high pitched voice. It totally melted my heart.
So here's to you my little Loga-poga!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY CUTE LITTLE BOY!!
Yesterday as a Valentine activity while Daniel was at work Little John and I went to KMart and got his pictures taken. We signed up for this deal thing where every month we can go in and get pictures taken for 1 free 8x10 and then $5 a sheet after that. Sometimes when I go shopping in there they have a booth set up and they sell packages for like $10 for a bunch of pictures. I was feeling up to it and I had just been paid for babysitting so I coughed up some money and got his pictures taken. I thought they turned out SO cute. He wouldn't smile big like he usually does but he sure had fun playing with the girl the whole time...he's such a flirt!
I thought they turned out cute! I think the next time I get them done (probably at 6 months) I will do it when Daniel can come with me so he can make him smile a little bigger. The girl tried so hard, but I still think they are darling even without a big smile :) :) :)
This is definitely my favorite holiday. Can't you just feel the love on an awesome day like this?! I must say I'm in a WAY better mood this year than last year. Lets just say that last years Valentine's was one of the worse days ever for me. To make a long story short I was right at the beginning of my 4 month morning sickness phase (which lasted all day instead of just the morning) I was stuck in a car for 12 hours, and I was fighting with my husband. Not very fun! But this year turned out a million times better.
Daniel and I started our celebrations last night with dinner at Chili's, then we dropped the baby off at a babysitter and went to a Valentine concert the faculty of the music department at UCSB were performing in. It was really good. Then we went and got ice cream (starlight mint-gotta be the best ice cream in the world). Oh yeah and Daniel also got his BFOM group together (as a surprise) and sang a song to me ("In the still of the night"). It was quite a romantic night.
Then today we hung out after Daniel got off of work and made MnM oatmeal cookies and played with the baby. It was A LOT of fun. I would definitely give this Valentine's Day an A+!!
Let's see what the baby thought of his very first Valentine's Day...
(Don't worry we don't just hit our child with random objects on the head all the time! It was an empty packet of baby wipes!!)
Over this last week Daniel performed in the Opera "Viva La Mamma" at UCSB. It was a REALLY good show and I'm happy I got to see it. I was able to bring a video camera to the dress rehearsal, but holding a baby and trying to maneuver a video camera on a tripod was NOT an easy thing! Oh well, At least we have a recording of it even if I don't think I did that great of a job.
Daniel played a character named Stefano who is married to "The Diva". The opera is about an opera company during their last dress rehearsal. At the dress rehearsal the main tenor and another main character gets offended and they quit. So the director has to improvise and ask Stefano (Daniel) the Diva's husband and Mama Agatha, the mother of the 2nd soprano in the show, to take their places. The city counsel finds out that two of the main actors quit and they decline financial help for them. So the producer of the show flirts with Mama Agatha and convinces her to give him all of her jewels as subsity for the show. At the end the tenor and the other girl comes back and it all ends on a happy note. So that's pretty much the show in a nutshell. It was hillarious! Mama Agatha was played by a bass. It was so funny to see this big deep-voiced man in a dress and wig! The show was a success and now I'm glad that it's over so I can spend some time with my husband again!!!
I added a clip of the show. This is Daniel's Aria that he sings about how awesome his wife is. I'll put up more clips later but I'm out of time right now. So...enjoy!
