Monday, March 7, 2022

{ Willow Lynne Yuzu Ryther - birth story }

 Party of FIVE coming in so hot. I can't even believe that saying it out loud. But here I am, laying in bed next to my third child, feeling so incredibly grateful for these beautiful babies that have joined our family.

I thought this pregnancy would be the same as the other two, thinking my fluid would be low. Thinking I would have to deliver early at 38 weeks because my babies were better off being out than in with low fluid. But I was very wrong.

First, let's start off with the chaos of changing doctors at 36 weeks pregnant. Yep. Cam got a new job and our insurance changed which meant I couldn't deliver with Dr. Smith at Alta View Hospital anymore. I was devastated because I really enjoy Dr. Smith as he's always listened to me, given me all the info regarding my pregnancies, really took the time to sit with me, etc. Fortunately, I had delivered with Dr. Watts with Stockton at St. Marks and knew I enjoyed him as a Dr. as well. I quickly called to get on his schedule. The front desk receptionist booked me an appointment that was over 4 weeks out and I told her that wasn't going to work because my baby would be here at that time. It felt crazy. So they transferred me back to Rebecca who is his MA and she got me in right away.

Dr. Watts came in with a big smile and greeted me like it had been no time since I'd had Stockton. Honestly that was exactly what I needed to feel comfortable switching Dr.'s so late in the game. He's the best.

Ok so onto Willow's birth story. What a wild ride. Dr. Watts would check my fluid every week and every week it was great! 36 weeks it was a 12. 37 weeks it was a 10. And then we hit 38 weeks. My fluid was an 11 so it was still in great shape. I was dilated to a 2 and 70% effaced. He stripped my membranes as I'd been having painful contractions for two weeks prior. We also set an induction date for 2/24/22 just in case I didn't go into labor. The next day my plug came out and I thought, "ok this must be it". Maybe I won't go into labor tonight, but maybe this week! So I did all the things. I walked on a treadmill. I ate pineapple. I ate spicy food. I bounced on my kids bouncy ball. All of the things to try to get my body to progress even further. Yet. Nothing. My body just didn't want to go into labor on its own. That entire week was a whirlwind of emotions. Every night I thought, ok maybe this is it. Then the morning would come and I'd still have a big belly with aching pains everywhere. I was hurting. And it wasn't ending. I felt like I was in this long tunnel and there was no way out. Something to note is that I chose to quarantine myself from Christmas till February because Covid cases were out of control. There was a point where the case count got over 12,000 a day which was insane compared to when we thought 2,000 was a lot. I wanted to keep myself healthy for delivery and obviously was scared of what it might do to my pregnancy. So. With that in mind, I was REALLY ready to deliver this baby and get back to what felt like normal life.


I went in on a Monday and Dr. Watts came into the room, so happy again. Asked how I was and I responded with "I don't know", and immediately started to cry. I felt so unstable. I had had lots of negative emotions that morning of things like what if I didn't love this baby. What if I didn't bond with this baby. Especially since I didn't know the gender. Cam and I hadn't decided on names. I'd been sick for almost 9 months straight I was worried I'd never feel a connection even after the baby was born. And boy was I wrong. But in the moment it felt very real. Dr. Watts listened and gave me a hug. I told him how I thought my body would go into labor but it never did that week. I asked if I could come back tomorrow to get induced because I was so uncomfortable. Baby had dropped so much that there was so much pressure and it felt like she was going to fall out every time I stood up.

He was so kind and just said, "let's call labor and delivery right now and see what they have on the schedule, let's try to make it happen." He pulled out his cell right there, put them on speaker, and asked if I could get bumped up to tomorrow. They said yes. And again. The tears. I was so happy and felt so relieved! It was like 9 months of worries and pain had been lifted off of me. 

Little did I know it was going to be the most crazy day the very next day. The next day was 2/22/22. A day that everyone in the world wanted to have their babies. I hadn't really thought about it until everyone was messaging me about it. They were all excited for me that my baby would have the coolest bday ever. And I was excited! The hospital told me to call in at 6am and they would give me a time to come in to be induced.

Cam and I took the kids to my moms. I asked the kids one last time what they thought baby was. Stock thought a girl, Scottie thought a boy. I kissed them goodbye and Cam and I went home and went to bed. Preparing to meet our baby so soon.

I called in at 6am and they told me they had a handful of moms come in overnight in labor so to call back at 9am. I called at 9am. They told me that they were still busy so to call back at 1pm. 1 pm rolls around and I call back and they say again, they're so busy. Moms are still in labor, I'm #1 on the list to come in next and to call back again at 5pm. Now here we are at 5pm and I'm thinking, ok this has to be it. I call in and the nurse tells me they're still very busy. They have a lot of first time laboring moms that are taking a long time as well as having two women that needed to be induced due to medical reasons. She also told me there were two others on the list before me which felt weird because I was told I was next. The entire time on the phone I felt like they were all just lying to me and that everyone was trying to get in to have their baby on 2/22/22. Granted so was I apparently. Not so much for the date, but just because I wanted baby here with us and the date was like a plus 1. The nurse told me it was very unlikely at that point that I would be able to come in and that she said they could call me at 2am or anytime in the middle of the night to bring me in. At that point it was just too much and I decided I'd just go in on 2/23/22 to have baby. She also said that 2/23 was busy as well and I may not get in but I could try. I hang up the phone and told Cam to come get my phone from me because I was so disappointed and sad. I immediately started filing off my nails because I had nothing else to do and was devastated we weren't going to meet baby. 

20 minutes later my phone ring and its labor and delivery from St. Marks. I answer and a sweet nurse tells me if I come in right away, they can squeeze me in! WHAT! I was shocked. And so happy. And surprised. And ecstatic! Cam and I packed up right away...after I had hurried and put a base coat of shellac on haha. We got to the hospital 30 mins after she called and got checked in.

They checked us in, got me dressed in my gown and by 6pm we were ready to roll. I was dilated to a 3 and 80% effaced and thought maybe I'd let my body labor on its own with the pitocin to see if I'd progress faster. They started my pitocin at 7pm. The nurse was also able to get to my vein in my hand on the first attempt! I was thrilled because normally I have blown veins in both hands, wrists, arms, until they get one in my elbow. Unfortunately my body didn't progress much at all other than placement. My contractions started getting stronger at 9pm, I was still a 3, but baby had dropped which was good. The first nurse that checked me in told me that Dr. Watts wanted me to get my epidural sooner v. later because then they could break my water. For some reason my deliver nurse, Britt, told me to not worry about what he wanted and to do what I wanted. This was my labor. Which I 100% appreciated. But I was definitely feeling the stress of everyone wanting me to have baby on 2/22/22. Anyways. I made the decision to wait and got my epidural at 10pm. It was the best epidural I'd ever had. I couldn't feel my contractions but I could still feel, wiggle, and move my legs. The anesthesiologist, I think his name was Joe, was so kind and nice and talked to me like I was an old friend. The on call Dr., Dr. Hua broke my water at 10:45pm and fluid came out. That was a first for me! I'd never had extra fluid and it was something I felt excited about. Cam and I turned on a Netflix show, I ate apple juice soaked pebble ice, and we waited. My body progressed super quick after getting my water broken. By 12:15am I was a 7 and 90% effaced. Dilated to an 8 at 12:45am. At that point, my nurse had told me if I feel pressure and feel like I have to poop, to tell her. I felt it. And hit my nurse button. She came in and told me I was still an 8/9. She said she'd be back in 15 mins. So I said ok. She came back in and I asked her to check to see if I was pooping because I felt so much pressure down there. She checked and said..."oh". And immediately I thought am I pooping?! Nope. She said I was bleeding a little which meant I'd progressed and was ready to push. She checked me. I was a 10 at 1:20am, ready to roll but Dr. Watts wasn't there! She told me to cross my legs and not to push, cough, sneeze. I was so worried this baby was coming and that she or even Cam would have to catch baby!

Dr. Watts got there at 1:40am. Smiling and energetic even though it was the middle of the night. He got all gowned up and we started pushing. I pushed 5x for 10 seconds each and then. Baby was here. Born on 2/23/22. A palindrome bday. 1:45am our perfect little girl was here. I was incredibly emotional and was crying even before she came out. It felt like all the pain and sickness and struggle of the last 9 months was finally coming to an end. We had lost Cams mom. My uncle Mike. All within months of each other. Trying to navigate what this meant for me and Cam. Trying to navigate what real grief meant and how to survive it. How to be there for Cam. This pregnancy was hard. Incredibly hard not just on my body, but my mental health as well. It felt heavy. 

Cam was the one to say if it was a boy or a girl. At first he couldn't tell but then shortly after said, "it's a girl!". A baby girl. I had another baby girl! And in that moment, I felt it. Bonded. I was bonded with her like I'd known her the entire time. She came out incredibly calm, didn't cry for a while, then she cried and it was the softest sound I'd heard. She stopped crying very soon after and everyone was just shocked at how calm she was. We did skin to skin and I just soaked in her warmth. She was here. Finally. 

15 minutes later and I thought to try to nurse. She latched on with no issues and nursed for 30 minutes. And nurses like a champ to this day! They weighed her and she was 7 lb 3 oz. 19 1/2 inches long. One lb heavier than her brother and 2 lbs heavier than her big sis! We couldn't believe it. She was our biggest baby.

Soon after delivery, Dr. Watts asked if she had a name. Cam said "Willow!" right away. We were all kind of laughing because we hadn't even had a second to talk about it. Mari was in there taking pictures and she told me that I did apparently tell one of the nurses we liked Willow the most. I don't remember this at. all.

They moved us up to our room at 4am and Cam and I were in heaven. Our baby Willow was here. Safe. Healthy. We love her so much. Her middle name is named after Cam's mom along with her Japanese heritage. It felt important to have both. She holds a very sacred name and we're excited for her to learn all about her name. Yuzu's meaning is healthy, beauty, and pure. And she's just that. It's also a delicious lemon/orange fruit and I had the best Yuzu lemonade at Momofuku in Vegas that previous year. We'll be having that on her bday every year :) 

She's two weeks in two days and I just can't even imagine our family without her. We love you so much Willow Lynne.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

{ Stockton Kazu Ryther | 5 months old }

{ Stockton Kazu Ryther | 4 months old }

{ Stockton Kazu Ryther | 3 months old }

Happy three months son! You are such an angel and bring so much light into our family. This month you’ve learned how to ROLL! You’re such a smart boy and are so funny when you try to roll. You turn your head and shove it into the carpet and keep it there to try to roll over. You still need some help from mom but once I give you that little push, you pop right up and genuinely love tummy time.

This is the second month we’ve been dairy free and it seems to be getting a little easier. Mom still feels like she’s starving but I know that it’s making you feel better so I’m ok with it. As long as you’re happy, I’m happy. That’s all I want for you.

You caught a nasty cold from your cousins and sister and mom feels so bad for you! You’re up all night constantly coughing and gagging because of your lovely gag reflex. Will you ever grow out of that?! I love you. But it would
Be nice to be done with the puking.

You love bath time and smile at your sis when she dumps water on you.

You smile ALL the time. You’re such a little chatter box too! Very social. Taking after your mom maybe?

Your sister is really showing you love this month.

We love you lots.

XOXO

{ Stockton Kazu Ryther | 2 months old }

This month we found out why you're so sad all the time. You can't eat DAIRY! Which means mom can't eat dairy. Poor bug. You've had a stomach ache this entire time and here we are thinking you're just a colic baby.

{ Stockton Kazu Ryther | 1 month old }

One. Not quite sure how time is flying so fast. We're so in love and incredibly exhausted from trying to navigate how to be parents to two little souls.

{ Stockton Kazu Ryther }

Stockton my boy. My son! I have a beautiful son.

To start my birth story, let’s go back a week. On Monday, August 6th I had my 38 week check up with Dr. Watts and a non stress test. We did several of those along with several ultrasounds to make sure Stockton was growing how he should because of my history with IUGR. He was always small, but healthy!

That day I told Dr. Watts that I’d been having some contractions and he thought it would be a good idea to strip my membranes to see if we could get me to go into labor on my own. I had an induction date set for August 15th which would put me at 38 1/2 weeks. The exact same delivery timeframe as I was with Scottie. Well the day he stripped my membranes, it threw me into a week long labor! The next day, I lost my mucus plug which I never did with Scottie so I thought ok, this seems like labor because I was having contractions 5-10 mins apart. Of course this was in the middle of the night. They weren’t consistent for the entire 6 hrs I was counting, but they were on and off consistent. I’d never experienced going into labor on my own so I thought this must be it.

Cam and I called Jerry and Lynnette and at 2am, we went to St. Marks to labor and delivery. I was having contractions on my way in, but once I got there and hooked up to the machine, they stopped.

They monitored me for a while, checked my cervix and said I was a 2 and 70% effaced. Since my contractions stopped and I wasn’t making any progress, they sent us home around 6am which puts us at Tuesday morning.

Thursday rolls around and I have another ultrasound and nonstress test. Baby boy looked good! He had dropped from the 11th percentile to the 5th earlier that week so that’s why we set an induction date for him. Dr. Watts was always so kind to call me personally and tell me what the plan was. That day during the ultrasound I had told them that I felt like my amniotic fluid might be leaking. I was at a 10 that day and anything under a 5, they send you to labor and delivery. Since fluid levels were always a concern with my pregnancy, I was so anxious and worried about it. So they told me to go to labor and delivery downstairs and run a test to see if there might be a small hole and that my fluid was slowly leaking.

As I’m undressing and putting on those awful gowns, in comes my nurse. Madi Owens! I danced with Madi at skyline and was an SBO with her as well so it was a fun surprise. She was my nurse! I couldn’t believe it. She asked if I cared that she was my nurse and I’ve always loved Madi so I didn’t mind. Madi got me hooked up to the machine, again, and we monitored. She did the fluid test and said it would take 30 mins to run so she sent the test back to get checked. She checked me and I’d dilated to a 3 but was still 70% effaced. Meanwhile, we caught up, I had a few contractions, talked about how if it was positive they’d keep me there, and then the results came back.

Negative.

I was happy but also sad at the same time because I’d had a decent amount of contractions since my Monday appointment with Dr. Watts. So, Madi sent me home! She told me her schedule for the next few days as I was hoping I might go into labor in the next little while. Madi was leaving town for a week but said she was working Sunday and Monday the next week. We hugged and hoped I would go into labor on those days. So again, I was sent home.

Nighttime rolls around and I’m having painful, 2-5 mins apart contractions, AGAIN! They lasted for 6 hrs in the middle of the night so again, I assumed and thought ok, this HAS to be it. We get in the car to go to labor and delivery for the third time. I fill out the same paperwork I’ve filled out three times, then they put us into a room.

They hook me up to the machine and check my cervix. I’d dilated to a 3 so I made some progress but was still 70% effaced. My contractions weren’t regular at this point so they told me to walk the hospital for an hour. Cam and I went outside to walk and we walked down a few streets into a neighborhood. I couldn’t help but feel so incredibly embarrassed that I kept going into labor and delivery and getting false alarms so I just started to cry. I wanted baby boy here so badly but also I was in so much pain. I thought this was it.

We head over to 711, buy a drink and a few donuts and head back.

They checked me and again, sent us home.

I was done thinking I was going into labor on my own at this point. The weekend went by, slowly, but surely. My mom had us over for yakiniku on Sunday and it was delicious as always. During dinner I was having more contractions that were more painful. I was having to stop to hold the arms of the chair while having them. They were SO uncomfortable.

We went home that night and again. Contractions 2-5 minutes apart ALL night after midnight. I was too scared to pull the trigger and wake Cam up so I just endured them. By 6am I couldn’t take the pain. I called the on call Dr because I was nervous to make the wrong decision again. I stared to cry a little and was having contractions on the phone and had to pause while I was trying to explain my symptoms. The Dr on Call told me, you know it sounds like you’re in a lot of pain I can hear you contracting so maybe wait another 20 mins, if they’re consistent still, come on in.

So I did just that. I went upstairs to put on makeup, and the contractions weren’t stopping. At that point I thought I must be at least dilated to a 6 because I was in so much pain.

We get to labor and delivery around 9 am, they hook me up, Check my cervix and I’m still a 3. HOW?! Luckily Madi was working that day and I just broke down and asked her if Dr watts would keep me there and induce me because my induction date was two days away anyways. I was in so much pain and could take another long night of contractions. She said she’d go talk to him and meanwhile had me get dressed to walk for an hr again. The next thing I know i see Dr watts pop his head in and ask how I’m doing. I started to cry again and was explaining to him how I first felt so stupid and second how I was in so much pain. He was so sweet and told me he wanted to just come give me a hug and told me he was going to keep me there. I immediately had a huge sense of relief come over me. No more pain! He asked if that was ok with me and of course I said YES! The nurses still had me walk to see if I could dilate any further. I walked the hospital, stopped for contractions, had lots of stares as people knew EXACTLY what I was trying to do. It was kind of funny actually to see people’s reactions. A giant prego lady walking the halls and stopping mid walk to breathe through a contraction.

Cam went to get some food since we knew we’d be locked in for a while and wouldn’t be eating anytime soon. He got a Betos burrito, I got a McDonald’s hashbrown, yogurt parfait and orange juice.

Once we finished breakfast it was about 11am. They had a room ready for me so they sent us off to room 4 to deliver and meet our baby boy!

My cute nurse was an older lady, her name was Gaylene and she was the sweetest. She started to prep me and attempted to do an IV. She, and the head nurse blew 3 veins and at this point, I’m crying again. I’m having painful contractions and not only having PTSD from the first experience (they blew 4 veins with Scottie), but am in pain on both arms again. Both my hands felt broken. They asked the anesthesiologist to come in to try because my veins are apparently tiny. The anesthesiologist finally got a vein in my hand, but it took a long time and Cam said it looked like the worst experience ever. I just stared at the ceiling and closed my eyes, trying to forget about the pain.

By this time it’s around noon and the anesthesiologist was getting ready to do my epidural. I was in so much pain and having contractions so when he asked me to curl up in a ball, I struggled big time. This was the absolute worst experience and worst pain I think I’ve felt! The Dr couldn’t get the epidural right so he had to do it twice. By this time I’m drenched in sweat and feeling like I’m going to throw up. Gaylene gave me a zofran to help and was wiping my face with a cold cloth. She I was so sweet and I was so grateful for her. She just held my hand and was comforting me just the way I needed comfort. Once the epidural was successfully placed, I started to feel better. Thank goodness for modern medicine!

Once my IV was in, gaylene checked me and I was a 4 which meant I was progressing on my own! I was going into labor! Dr Watts came in and told us that he’d come back in a while to break my water. He came back around 2:30 pm and I’d dilated to a 5 1/2 when he broke my water. When he broke my water, he said not much at all came out. So they decided to put the monitor around Stockton’s head just as they did with Scottie. They also decided to put fluid in so that the umbilical cord wouldn’t collapse. Around this time Madi came in to be my delivery nurse!

I remember every time I contracted, fluid would come out just like a normal delivery would. THATS what it feels like to pee your pants and have no control?! Haha I laughed every time.

I stalled at a 5 1/2 for a while so they decided to put me on pitocin at this point. They put me on pitocin for an hour and then took me off to progress on my own. It was 4 pm at I was a 6. I got the epidural shakes really bad during labor so Mari and Cam would put pressure on my entire body to try to help me. I remember my entire jaw hurting so bad from shaking. Madi kept checking on me and we kept catching up. By 5 pm I was an 8. Then as we were talking I told Mari, I feel like he’s coming out. So we rang the nurse button and Madi came in to check me. Sure enough it was 5:55 pm and baby Stockton was making his entrance! I was a 10! I couldn’t believe it was here already.

Dr Watts came through the door and we were ready to push. I pushed for five minutes and then the most beautiful baby boy was born. I sobbed. Sobbed so many tears because I was grateful for this human and was so happy he was safe! Cam and I brought this amazing son into our lives and I couldn’t believe it. Someone I love so dearly to raise a son with.

Stockton Kazu Ryther was 6 lb 2.8 oz and 19 in long. Born at 6:05 pm. He is the sweetest little soul and I’m grateful he’s ours.