Madeline's Birth Story

I have always said that I did not want to be induced, but I also believe that everything happens the way you should when you put it in God's hands.

Monday night (May 18) I woke up shivering and body aching. I was shivering so much that I woke Geoff up! Then the cramps stared. At first they were constant and I thought it was just because of the membrane sweep that Dr. Gautreau had performed earlier that day. Then the cramps turned into contractions. Geoff told me to call my mom who told me to call the doctor. Dr. Lawler, the doctor on call, told me he could hear in my voice that I was in pain and to come up the hospital.

I called Kelsey and told her up come over to stay with Ellery. I was positive that this was a false alarm so I was already apologizing for wasting her time. We got to the hospital around 5:40am. It felt like déjà vu since it has been less than 2 years since we were there for Ellery! I was hooked up to the monitors to see if I was contracting. I was contracting, but not enough to be considered in active labor. However, my temperature was at 99 degrees and baby's heart rate was high so the doctor decided to keep me to monitor me. By 7am the doctors talked and suspected that I could have Chorioamnionitis. They decided that it would be safer for the baby to be out rather than in, so the plan was to induce and have the baby that day! Once the doctor left I cried because I wanted Madeline to pick her birthday. I was also upset that Dr. Gautreau would not be delivering her because she was off on Tuesdays. But Geoff told me that this was God's doing - he was picking her birthday just as he would if she had come in her due date. After he said that I saw it no other way. It was go time! 

I was wheeled to our delivery room and my iv was hooked up. I managed without an epidural until 3cm. Once the contractions hurt so bad that I had to ask people to stop talking I knew it was time for the meds! In my opinion, the worst part about an epidural is that you can't walk, therefore you can't walk to the bathroom to pee and the nurse has to administer a catheter every hour to empty your bladder. Plus I have phantom leg itches. But it sure does make the labor much more enjoyable as a whole! I was able to be on the phone giving the maid service that I got for mother's day a priority list!

I was stuck at 5cm for a few hours until the nurse brought a peanut ball to prop my leg up. It is shaped like a peanut and made out of the same material as an exercise ball. I went from 5cm to 8cm in 30 minutes. Geoff left to run home and change his shirt. I had to call him and say hurry up and get back it's almost time! He showed up 15 minutes later sweating and out of breath! I felt some pressure in my pelvis around 5pm. The nurse came back in, examined me, and said lets start pushing! Once Dr. Whitaker arrived, I pushed a total of 3 contractions, 3 pushes each contraction. After 9 pushes, Madeline Alice Morthland arrived at 5:18pm! 8lbs 5oz and 20 inches long. No one could believe how big she was! She had dark brown hair and the sweetest little dinosaur cry :) Watching Ellery meet her little sister for the first time was something I will never forget. I am so excited to watch them grow as sisters and friends, and so thankful to be a family of FOUR! I have also realized that I will forever be correcting people with her name - It is pronounced "line" not "lynn".

Check out Madeline's birth story in pictures here! The pictures are difficult to organize but hopefully I will get to that soon :)

Madeline Is Here!

I will be posting about Madeline's birth story as soon as I can!

Madeline Alice Morthland

May 19, 2015 at 5:18pm

8 pounds, 5 ounces, 20 inches

Dark brown hair and blue/brown eyes

Madeline's Room

Madeline's room is now complete! All we needed to do was hang the pictures on the wall. I was able to get that done while Geoff took Ellery with him to have the car's oil changed. Ellery still hasn't seen Madeline's room. I am giving her some time to get used to her big girl bed and forget about her crib. Hopefully the first time she see's her crib, Madeline will be in it and she will associate the crib with baby. She also hasn't missed the glider in her room, which is where we used to read books every night before bed. That surprises me! Ellery has been so sweet lately, hugging, patting and swaying with her baby and wrapping her in blankets. She also is very concerned that baby has "poopooed", so she prefers to leave her naked, which cracks me up. She brought a diaper  to me yesterday to put on her baby. Where does she get this stuff?? Hopefully her motherly nature will transfer to Madeline.

As you can see, most of Madeline's things are passed down from Ellery's room. However, the wooden bookshelf/cabinet and some of the wall decorations are new. I have to make sure that she has some new things for when she looks back in 10 years and asks me why she was a hand me down child! And when she asks I will teach her the value of saving money :)

Surprise Baby Celebrations at Work

My coworkers did it again! They surprised me with a lunch celebration at J. Alexander's and then AGAIN after our Employee Activity Committee meeting on the same day! I'm way too emotional for such things. I explained to many people that I did not expect anything! Since Madeline will be only 23 months younger than Ellery, she is all set with the seasonal clothing for now and years to come! Everyone's response is that they love a reason to celebrate, and I couldn't agree more. I also could not be more thankful! I bought diapers this weekend with gift cards and with change to spare! We are ready for baby Madeline!

37 Weeks

Our 37 week doctor visit has come and gone! Madeline's heart rate was at 168! Dr. Gautreau asked if I had caffeine before the visit. I said no, but I did have a box of chocolates (yes, the whole box) around noon. I bought them from a lady selling them at work and I could not put the box down. Dr. Gautreau said that could be it! Or it could be because at 37 weeks the baby's heart will beat faster when she is active in the womb, which she is all of the time! I truly feel like she is trying to kick through my stomach and escape.

I am half a centimeter dilated, which is not as far as I was with Ellery at 37 weeks. I think Madeline plans to take her sweet time.

I did find out that I tested positive for Group B Strep. It is a bacteria that can be found on the mother's skin "down there." If not treated during labor it could spread to the baby and cause respiratory infections or meningitis. According to Dr. Gautreau she will simply give me an antibiotic through my IV during labor and this will prevent it from spreading to Madeline. Apparently some of my friends have tested positive and all of their babies were fine, so I am not too concerned. So says the worrier who couldn't sleep last night because of the "what ifs".

I packed Madeline's bag and my bag for the hospital last night. I forgot how tiny newborn socks are! Geoff thinks it is a little premature to be packing our bags, but I won't be the one in a mad dash trying to pack my bag when it is time to leave for the hospital! Who am I kidding? I probably WILL be the one packing his bag right after my water breaks.

My goal is to make my sister Anna's high school graduation in Lake Charles on May 12. Madeline is welcome to make her debut any time after that :)