Bryce Andrew Jensen

Our little B-Bug entered this world on Thursday November 15th, 2012 at 9:29pm weighing 8 pounds, 14.5 oz, and 21 inches long! He is a big, healthy boy and we couldn't be happier for this little guy in our lives. We feel so blessed and are so in love. I never imagined I could love the little guy this much. It's unreal and overwhelming.

 

 

My Birth Story



I was 40 weeks and 2 days when Bryce entered the world. I had a doctors appointment on Tuesday 11/13/12 for my weekly 40 week appointment. My blood pressure was high, and had been slowly climbing in the previous weeks. I had no other signs or symptoms of pre-eclampsia at all. Basically just pregnancy induced hypertension with blood pressures of 140s/90s. I was only dilated to 1cm and 70% effaced. My midwife, Lynn Anderson, told me to get some labs drawn and go home, and come back tomorrow on 11/14/12 to reevaluate the situation and whether or not to be induced. I came back the next day and my blood pressure was still high, but my labs were pretty normal. Lynn said she could induce me that night anyway at 5pm, gave me some papers, and told me to go to Labor and Delivery at 5pm, that they would be expecting me.
11/14/12 at 5pm Kyle and I arrived at the hospital on Labor & Delivery in room Sierra 218. My nurse was Brenda when we got there, then switched to Danel. They hooked me up to the monitor and Bryce looked and sounded great - everything was fine. I got settled in, and Lynn came in around 7pm and inserted a foley cervical balloon into my cervix. It was to help me dilate from 1cm to 5cm and sometimes sends people into labor immediately. I had contractions pretty close together and strong right away, but they tappered off and werent as strong throughout the night - although I had the contractions all night.
11/15/12 in the morning at approximately 7am my nurse was Killeen. Lynn came into to see me and I was dilated to 5cm, 75% effaced. They took out the cervical balloon. At 9am Lynn broke my water, but wasn't completely sure it had broken all the way, as she said my bag was very tough. I sat up in the bed for a while and started feeling leaking fluid. Throughout the say my fluid continued to leak pretty well and was clear without any problems. I started to have contractions that were pretty strong but tolerable to breathe through after my water had broke. Kyle was an amazing support through each contraction and helped me stay focused. Jenna and my mom were also in the room with me. I was on and off the monitor, fluid was leaking, blood show all day, and could be in any position I really wanted. At one point I decided to get on the yoga ball and immediately got nauseous and threw up. From that point on, I was throwing up throughout the day until I gave birth. At about 2pm my contractions were very strong and I couldn't stay concentrated or breathe through them anymore. I was breaking down and could barely stand the pain anymore. I asked to be checked, and I was still only 5cm!! I about lost it but asked for an epidural. I was sure I had progressed more than 5cm but I didn't. I was disappointed in myself and felt bad that I couldn't do it natural. I wasn't opposed to an epidural when I went to the hospital but I wanted to try very hard to have a natural labor. I didn't get any pain medication through my IV though, which is what I requested and stuck to. At one point before getting my epidural I asked for something, but Kyle helped me change my mind and stick with my plan. At about 2:30pm, the anasthesiologist came in and gave me the epidural, which wasn't bad at all. I quickly progressed from 5cm to 7cm. I was relaxed and comfortable and slept a little bit for about an hour or two and I started to feel my left side and contractions on that side. I pushed my epidural button a few times but it didn't really help at all. Eventually the epidural wore off completely on the left side and I could feel every contraction and pain... It wasn't fun and I was upset it stopped working on that side, but there was nothing I could do. I just breathed through the contractions and had Kyle holding my hand and helping me. At 8:00pm I was fully dilated to 10cm and 100% effaced and ready to push. My nurse was now Jamie. At this point my epidural had completely worn off except that my right leg was completely numb. Kyle held my right leg up while I pushed and I held my left leg and had help from my nurse to hold it up while I pushed. I pushed for 1.5 hours and felt the entire thing! Kyle gowned up and was ready to help catch the baby with Lynn's assistance and cut the cord. At 9:29pm Bryce Andrew Jensen was born!! The only thing was that Bryce had passed meiconium inside of me and we hadn't noticed because my fluid was clear all day... Very weird!! So Kyle didn't get to catch the baby but he did get to cut the cord! When Bryce came out Lynn was freaked out and said to the nurses "Call RT right away!" (respiratory therapy) and about 3 other people came flying in the room. They whisked Bryce away immediately to the warmer in the room and started suctioning him. He cried immediately and they said he was okay, but had to keep suctioning him. When a baby passs meiconium in the womb, there is a risk of getting into the lungs and getting very sick.... That's why there was a moment of panic. I started to cry and asked if "B-Bug" was ok?? Kyle was holding my hand, and my mom was holding my other hand at my bed. They said the little guy was okay!! I was so relieved to hear that.. It was very scary. The other scary part was that I developed a temperature while in labor of 101 and Bryce was born with a temperature. They weren't sure why, but honestly it was SO hot my room - We had the air turned to the max but it was still about 80 degrees - it wasn't working properly. My mom and Jenna were fanning me while I was pushing Bryce out. We were all sweating! Jenna almost passed out as Bryce was coming out - she was hot, pregnant, hadn't eaten much and was scared when Lynn got freaked out about the meiconium! I didn't know this until after delivery and Kyle told me. I was so thankful that Lynn acted quickly and helped us.
I had a 2nd degree tear that was stiched up while Bryce was being taken care of and suctioned. After I was sewn up and Bryce was ready - he was placed on my chest skin to skin, and I said "B-Bug!" That was the best feeling in the entire world... Holding my son for the first time. I loved him from the second I leanred I was pregnant and loved him even more the second I held him and looked into his eyes and felt his tiny body on my skin.

After delivery, Jenna went home. Then Kyle's mom, dad, sister Aimee and brother James were outside waiting and they came in to see him. They stayed for a few minutes and held Bryce, and then left for the night. Kyle went with Bryce to the nursery for his first bath while my mom helped transfer our belongings to our new room on post partum in Sierra 315. I was transfered there and met my new nurse for the night - Eden. While I waited for Bryce to get done in the nursery, Kyle came back to the room and I took a shower, which felt great to get cleaned up. I was very wore out though. Kyle then wheeled me to the nursery and we sat by Bryce for a minute when the nurse said he was ready to go to our room. Since Bryce passed meiconium in me, they had to take a lot of blood tests, check his blood sugar and vitals frequently throughout the night. He was perfect in the end and there were no problems, which we are very grateful for! We stayed up with Bryce and I tried to feed him a few times, and we went to sleep around 3:30am.
The next morning 11/16/12 Bryce had multiple tests, circumcision, and other things done so he was in and out of our room throughout the morning. My nurse in the morning was Julie who was so amazing. She was patient and very informative and helpful. I tried to breastfeed Bryce throughout the day and saw the lactation consultant once for about 5 minutes... She was no help at all. I thought I had the hang of things because Bryce did latch well a few times.. So I felt like we were ready to go home. We were cleared by the pediatrician, Dr White, and Dr Garcia (doctor who Lynn works under) to go home after 7pm. We had a few visitors throughout the day  - Randi, Danyel and Leslie from my work, my mom, and Kyle's mom and sister brought us dinner. By 7pm Kyle and I were itching to go home. We left the hospital around 8:30 and got home around 9.
What an experience!!!

I am very thankful for all the help Lynn gave me throughout labor - she was a very good midwife and I appreciate all she did for me! I am also thankful that Kyle was extremely helpful and supportive throughout labor and he was truly there for me. I am so glad my mom and Jenna were there also helping me through it. I honestly couldn't have done any of it without all of their help.

Our love bug.