Cole's Birth Story

Dear Cole,

In the early morning of January 14th, 2016 Cass and I drove from Mesquite down to Las Vegas. I woke up at 3:45 in the morning and started preparing for the day that I've waited for in a long time! The day I get to hold my baby in my arms! I was very anxious and excited. It takes about an hour to drive Vegas, the whole way we talked about our baby and how excited we were. As we were pulling into the valley we realized that he still didn't have a name! We had 4 names picked out and said we were going to wait to see what he looked like to give him a name. Our top picks were: Cole, Caleb, Beau, or Leo. I told Cass, "I'm really liking the name Cole today" and he agreed! But we still wanted to see what he looked like.

As we arrived to the hospital it was 6:00 am. We walked in our room and they started getting me ready right away! I put on the pink hospital gown, they started my IV and started Pitocin at 7:30. I was dilated to a 3cm/70% effaced. Then we had some quite time. I was too excited to take a nap but I was able to relax. I couldn't really feel my contractions but I could see them on the monitor. They were about 2 minutes apart. We could hear his strong little heart beat on the monitor and it was very soothing to me. Grandma Brunt came and visited and kept us entertained while we waited. Cousin Karen and Jason also came and took Cass to lunch.

I wasn't making much progress on my own. They checked me again at 2:30 pm and I was 4cm. So 7 hours of increasing my pitocin and not much progress, the doctor came in and broke my water. That was an interesting feeling, and my tummy got smaller after! Also, when they broke my water they put a fetal scalp electrode on his head so we could hear his heart beat better. It was still strong and he were just happy to be in my tummy. After my water was broken, then the contractions became really strong! I was only able to handle the strong contractions for 30 minutes, then I asked the doctor for the epidural. It took the doctor 30 minutes to get there, so I got to experience 1 hour of real contractions which was a goal of mine. The epidural made my legs warm and fuzzy, which I really liked. Daddy stayed by my side the whole time and comforted me. After the epidural we started making progress! I was dilated to 6cm by 5:00pm. By this time Aunt Annalee arrived! She drove all the way from Lehi and made it in time to see you be born. Aunt Annalee took care of mom also, she gave me a foot massage, which felt so good.

The nurses took great care of us. They put a "peanut ball" between my legs to help with comfort. I loved it! It was funny looking because they covered it with a blanket so it looked like I was hiding something. Mom and Dad invited Grandma Brunt, Aunt Annalee, and Grammy Taylor to see you be born. They all made it in time which made us all happy! Everyone was so excited to meet you.

By 8:30 pm, I was dilated to a 9.5 cm and almost ready to push. The nurse suggested that we wait for Cole's head to come down farther into the birth canal. We waited and waited, which seemed like forever. The nurse came in and said "Its time to call the doctor, this baby is coming soon!" The doctor arrived at 9 pm and she said "Are you ready to have this baby!?" She started getting everything ready. Dad wrote a Go Pro on his head by mommies request, so we video taped the whole birth. I wanted to be able to see and remember everything.

I pushed for 18 minutes. I gave it my all. In order to get Cole out I was given two episiotomies. I would push and as soon as I stopped, he would go right back up in the birth canal. The doctor recoached me in pushing, after that it only took 3 more contractions after that to get that huge head out. Then I tore 3rd degree when those cute huge shoulders came out. It was such an accomplishing feeling when I heard your cry and you were on my chest. Everyone in the room was like "Wow! Look at that big baby", "Where were you hiding that baby?!?", "You were all baby!" "Look at that cord!, good luck cutting through that dad!"

You were placed on my chest and I can't even explain the emotions. The instant love and bond I had to you was incredible. Finally, my tiny baby that I had waited for was in my arms. The feeling of becoming a mother was so natural and nerve wracking at the same time. I instantly felt like I needed to care and protect you. You were so precious. I just wanted to hold in my arms forever.

The doctor let Dad cut the big, juicy cord. Then they took you over to the warmer and weighed and measured you. You were 8lbs 11oz and 20 inches long. Then Gram B said "So what's his name??" and Dad said "I think he looks like a Cole to me!" and that's how you were named! Dad put on your first diaper! He did a great job and was very gentle. The nurse took your foot prints and wrapped you up like a burrito and gave you to your daddy. There was a big smile on his face, he was so proud. Then everytime he talked to you, you would scream and cry. You were so fresh and your ears were probably very sensitive. It was pretty funny though! Everyone had their cameras out taking pictures of you. You are loved by so many people!

Meanwhile during all of this I got stitched up for an hour. Then the doctor didn't like how it was coming back together and redid it. At this time you were placed back into my arms so I didn't really care what was going on. I had my baby boy and that's all that mattered. Then everyone left but Daddy and the nurse. They gave you your first bath and then we had our first attempt at breastfeeding. It didn't go too well but they said don't get discouraged! Well folks, I was SO discouraged but continued to try.

I wasn't pleased with the post partum part of the hospital, so I'm just going to tell you the positive and happy parts.

They got me out of bed and to the restroom after my legs were awake. I was terrified but everything was okay! I was still numb down there ;) As I came out of the bathroom, my baby was gone! They took him to the nursery because he was breathing like a little froggy. They checked his oxygen levels, listened to his lungs, and checked for patency! Everything came back normal. So they brought him back to me, but I was so exhausted I had not slept for 24 hours and gave birth! I don't remember much that happened. I was glad to have him back, but his was still croaking like a frog! All night. But then he started to wake up and still hadn't fed in 12 hours, he was starting to rooting, but some ladies were in the room trying to take pictures of him while the nurse walks in and says "I'm taking your baby to the NICU" and my mom fought it alittle and the nurse was like "Its doctors orders" I LOST IT! I was bawling because they took my baby and I felt like he was doing better. But instead they took him and started shoving tubes down his nose and force feeding him LARGE amount of food and making him vomit and vomit. AWH! Oh yeah, I was only going to say nice things. I only want to remember the good. But as a new mother it was terrible. His diagnosis went from Respiratory Distress -> Feeding Intolerance -> Jaundice. So Mr. Cole sun tanned for 12 hours. He spent the first 5 days of his life in the NICU. I had to leave my sweet little pea in the NICU every night. I was a mess and hormones didn't help. I stayed at my cousin Karen's house, she was so hospitable! I love her, so grateful! Every morning we would arrive for his 9 o clock feeding, but we would normally call before arriving and on the 5th day we surprisingly got told that he was able to go home! It was AWESOME! So we packed up our stuff and headed to the hospital to FINALLY bring our bundle of joy home with a bilirubin of 8.2! I was SO happy, no words to describe.

Bring home our baby was so exciting and we couldn't wait!