The Tiniest Photo Shoot- Laura Rauch OC Newborn Photographer

Laura Rauch Photography

Welcome Norah Lane

Norah Lane Lopez

2.14.16 /10:31 am

7lbs 9oz 20 in.

Our little Valentines Day surprise 

Norah's arrival was pretty unexpected. My doctor had told me she would let me go to 40 weeks without intervention and I really didn't feel like she was going to come on her own. I was going in almost daily for fetal monitoring due to the gestational diabetes and that week they noticed that her heart would drop a little bit with some of the contractions. They asked me to come in on Saturday just to check on her but I would have to go to the OB emergency department since it was a weekend. 

When we got there they had me change into a gown which wasn't the norm and they hooked me up to the monitors. After about an hour of watching her heart and my contractions, the nurse said she was going to let the doctor know what was going on and they would let us go...she even said, "That's good because you DO NOT want to be induced!" We were thinking about where to go for lunch when she came back in and said, "You're going to hate me...the doctor wants to admit you to be induced"

I was in complete shock. I'm not sure why since I was so close to my due date anyway, but I think the whole thing became so real at that moment. It was time!

I was only dilated to a 1 so the nurse decided I was a perfect candidate for a Foley balloon catheter that would get me to at least a 3 pretty quickly. It took a few hours, but it worked and let me tell you...it was possibly the worst part of the whole process. I've never felt so uncomfortable!

Once that was out they started pitocin and my contractions quickly got to 1 minute apart and the nurse ran in and shut it off. Apparently I really respond to the stuff. Throughout the night she would turn it up and down trying to get the ball rolling. Around 2am they offered the epidural which I gladly accepted and then the real fun started!

The instructions on how I should position my spine weren't very clear which lead to tons of pain and the nurse and anesthesiologist arguing back and forth about what I should be doing with my hands. Once it was over I felt immediate relief, After all was said and done, my back was to Tim and I heard a strange sigh so I asked him if he was okay and he was on the verge of fainting. The nurse ran to get him some smelling salts and those brought him back to life quickly.

We got a tiny bit of rest but her heart rate continued to drop with contractions and I needed to be on oxygen to help her out and I was just waayyyy too nervous to sleep. The nurse decided to check me and I heard a "thud" on the heart monitor. "Oh my, that was your water breaking.", she said. Because of the epidural I didn't feel anything and was kind of disappointed since all this time I've imagined where and when my water would break.  By 9:30 am it was go time and the nurse started to bring in all of the tools and prep the room.

It was soooo not what I expected and not at all like the movies. Everything was so calm and quiet. The morning sun shining through the huge picture windows overlooking the bay. Just one nurse and an intern until the very last minute when the doctor on call came in and basically caught Norah.

I felt the urge to push and although I had no idea if I was doing it right, the intern told me that I was a "rockstar" repeatedly so I knew something had to be happening down there. In between contractions we just held casual conversations about anxiety and releasing worry and leaning on God in scary situations. 

45 minutes later (which really felt like 5) and this slimy, screaming baby was placed on my chest. The first thing I said was, "OMG! She's so cute!" and the nurse said, "You're right, she IS so cute!"

 

Tim cut the umbilical cord and didn't need his second pack of smelling salts and they did all of the testing that needed to be done before we had an hour of skin to skin which was so amazing.

We stayed at the hospital for 2 nights basically just staring at her and taking a million photos of her cute faces.

It wasn't exactly what I imagined for her birth story but I did it! We did it!

 ...and she was totally worth the wait.

36 Week Update

I'm a little late and closer to 37 weeks than 36 but at this point I'm just so.....over it!

The weather has been so wonderful this week that we went to the beach twice and Linus is in Heaven!

How Far Along? 36 Weeks 4 days

Size of Baby: According to my app she is about the size of a Cabbage Patch Doll and probably about 6lbs/ 19in.

Symptoms: I've been sooo sleepy! It takes all I have to get up off the couch these days. I finally got rid of that dreaded cold and I've been laying low for the last week with small outings when cabin fever sets in. I feel like every time I stand up or walk I get some pain that I'm assuming are Braxton Hicks. 

Total Weight Gain: I've been avoiding this question in past surveys but I'm actually pretty pleased with my weight gain! I'm holding steady at 20 lbs and I know I can totally attribute that to the gestational diabetes or else who knows how much I would weigh right now!

Food Cravings: Nothing! I dread figuring out what to eat lately.

Labor Signs: At my appointment last week I wasn't dilated at all but she said her head is engaged which is a good thing. From here on out I'll have my weekly appointment as well as two visits a week to Labor and Delivery for fetal monitoring. As annoying as all the appointments will be, it will be nice to keep a close eye on baby and get to know the nurses and hospital.

Mood: My mood fluctuates between anxious, nervous, excited, beyond ready, and get this baby out of me!

Looking Forward To: At this point I can officially say, having this little girl in my arms!

34 Weeks and Our Nursery

I'm so excited that we finally finished the nursery! She can come any day now....well, not really, but if she did we would be prepared!

How far along? 34 Weeks...Only 6 weeks left!!

How big is baby? About 19 in and close to 5 lbs. The size of a Pineapple or a Basket Ball Hoop depending on which app you look at!

Symptoms: Oh boy! Where do I start?! I think I have officially hit a wall. I'm sure this is partly due to the cold I caught which is 10 times worse when you are pregnant and can't take much to help with the symptoms. I'm just getting bigger and bigger so it's harder to get up and down. She is insanely active lately and is running out of room so those cute little blips I used to feel are now full on hip checks! She serves as our nightly entertainment and I can watch her roll and contort my stomach in to weird shapes forever. 

Best moment this week: Honestly, this week has been kind of lame with not feeling well. We did go to our first Childbirth Prep Class and I've decided that I would rather not know whats going to happen and just let my body do its thing. I totally could've made it through the pregnancy without watching a woman deliver her baby while standing up. I mean, the baby just fell out of her! 

Miss anything? Just being able to move around freely without bumping things with my belly or huffing and puffing! Also, sleeping....I guess I'll get that back in a couple of years.

Food Cravings: Not really any cravings. In fact I haven't had much of an appetite and when I do eat I just get full quickly.

Looking forward to? I think I'm officially to the point where I'm looking forward to meeting her. That changes from day to day. Last night I decided that she's better off where she is and had a melt down worrying about who would take care of Linus while we are at the hospital, but today I'm ready to see her and hold her and smell that sweet baby smell.

As for our nursery...I didn't really go with a theme and since we don't know how much longer we will be here, we decided to keep it simple.

(Please excuse the awkward stickers that hide baby girls initial...that's a surprise)

I've always wanted to make a rag tie banner and when I saw these cute fabrics I knew I had to do it!

This is what we did New Years Eve....Party!!

We had this little dresser but it was beat up and had broken, old knobs. Tim painted and installed new insides to make the drawers slide easier. The cute arrow knobs are from Hobby Lobby.

I think I had the most fun organizing all of the little tiny things like washcloths and socks.

These soft drawer organizers from Ikea worked perfectly. And yes, I'm fully aware they will probably never be this organized again.

Not gonna lie, I probably smell these tiny diapers once a day.

She already has quite the wardrobe! That basket in the bottom is filled with hats and headbands! I'm kind of obsessed.