The birth story.

I’ve been putting this off I suppose. It was a wonderful special day. How sad though that this will be my forever last birth story I get to share. I mean I have had 7 so I know that’s a lot but it’s all just bitter sweet for me. So I’ll just jump right to it.

So for my last pregnant night I just enjoyed those last few kicks and playing time. I actually fell asleep pretty quickly and got up early feeling so excited for the day. I did my hair and makeup and cried a little before I left. It was a good cry. I was just so happy we made it. There was a point when I thought we may not get here. With two failed attempts before transfer three that was meant to be. Then we had such a low first beta number I was sure it was bad news again. Then we had two scares of early bleeding that we couldn’t figure out. Needless to say this baby girl was hard work to get here. But so worth every sad and scary moment. I would do it all again for her and her family.

Once we got to the hospital they got us in the room and all set up. Karen and Roger arrived soon after. We were all very excited and chatty. Once baby Mac knew we had a time set for her to come she decided she was perfectly content staying. I am still shocked I was just walking around at 5cm and 50% effaced. I was half way done with labor. Dr Sammons told me the first thing to tell them was to make sure she was still head down! So they checked and all was good. Woohoo They started my pitocin and we waited. We all took a guess at the times we thought she would get here. The nurse said well definitely before my shift is over at 5:00! I don’t remember my guess but it was after that and everyone else was guessing afternoon times.

Kailynn thought this was a super fun game and enjoyed keeping track of the times and telling everyone when they had lost as everyone’s times kept passing. I was so happy that she was able to be there with us for such an amazing experience. I have had babies for other moms and dads for basically her whole life. This was the first time she was really really into it though. Like the birth and stuff. When she had asked me if she could come and watch the baby be born I was like on man what do I say? Once I talked to Karen and she said she was fine with it I told Kailynn she could. I made sure to explain that sometimes I would be hurting and might get quite or not want to talk but that was normal and ok. We also told her if she wanted to not be there last minute she didn’t have to be.

As the hours kept passing and the day nurses left I was still laboring. I finally got to the point they said they would break my water at 5:00 I believe. I was very proud of myself for turning down the epidural still. They always try to give it to me before I feel the need for it and I promised myself not this last time! I wasn’t going to get it until I really needed it. So they broke my water and soon after the contractions started getting more intense. But I wanted to really wait to need the epidural. So I decided to do the laughing gas option. I was a little worried because before I could take it they told me I might feel really sick from it. But I ultimately decided to take it. Thankfully I never felt sick from it. I did feel like it helped. I was able to push through for another hour or two I would guess before I was ready for the epidural. Then everyone stepped out except Karen. She was so great and held my hands and let me squeeze as much as I needed too. If you have had an epidural you know all the uncomfortableness that comes with it. Its always worth it but those 10 mins of getting it all set up and ready suck! Trying to stay still and then breathe through contractions while they shove an enormous needle into your spine and tell you to wait for the odd sharp pain down your leg/legs and odd taste in your mouth. Like I said it’s all worth it though. When it was over I opened my eyes and poor Karen was crying. I felt so bad. I was like did I squeeze too hard! She just felt bad I was in pain and thanked me for everything. It was so sweet of her. ❤️ I assured her I was fine and that would be the worst part for me. After this we were smooth sailing! I think it speaks volumes of Karen though. She’s so incredibly empathetic and loving. I told her I’m not even crying so she didn’t need to worry about me. It was a beautiful moment for us. These are the moments I know it’s all worth it. I am so blessed and lucky to be her friend and be able to help her and all the other incredible women I have helped.

The meds kicked in quickly and I was feeling great after that. Just getting hungry and feeling bad everyone was waiting on me after thinking it would go so quickly. Finally we ordered food before everything closed and I was hoping I could deliver and it would still be warm ish 😆. Good news I was PUSHING when the food came. The nurses went down to get it so no one had to miss anything. If you have been around for awhile you know I’m a super pusher! I love it. Kailynn was so excited and loved every second and Karen was so great encouraging her and being there for her when I couldn’t do much obviously 😂. She was next to Karen the whole time and watched the whole thing. She was amazed and not scared at all! I loved that we got to experience this moment together. Child birth is incredible and so cool that our bodies can do this. Of course we were all so excited to meet this sweet little girl we had all waited for and prayed for. Two whole pushes and she was out! It was SO FAST! They put her on my belly so all the cord blood could be beneficial for her. Karen and I touched her and admired her beauty. Roger got to cut the cord and Karen finally got her baby girl all to herself! It was so beautiful to see her enjoying skin to skin with her perfect little daughter she’s waited so incredibly long for. It makes all the hard times we had worth it one thousand times over.

It was a perfect ending labor and delivery of my very last pregnancy and delivery. My heart is so sad knowing I will never again feel a baby moving inside my body but my heart is also so happy knowing I was blessed and able to successfully carry my own two children. Then I was then able to go on and help three other mothers. My body is amazing and I’m forever grateful for all of these experiences. I can’t imagine anything in my life ever being better then this. If you have ever considered doing this please reach out. It’s not always easy but I swear it’s so worth it!

We got to spend the next day and a half loving on little Miss Maggie Jane. I was able to nurse her in the hospital so she could get all the extra nutrients before she went home. I got lots of love and snuggles before we all went home. As usual I cried when we left. It’s such an emotional experience. I never cry because I want to take the baby home. I cry because it’s all over. All the sudden it’s just finished. My little part in their whole big lives is over. I take my job of keeping them safe during pregnancy very seriously and once it is over I know my job is done and now their parents get to take on that roll. I obviously miss them and the joy I get from pregnancy but I love knowing they are safe and loved and that I now get the joy of watching them grow and flourish in this great big world! I’m so excited to watch and see all the amazing, incredible things these children do. Seriously how lucky am I!

While I was in the hospital Karen gave me my push present. Though it was only two pushes so we joked that I didn’t deserve it! So it’s a labor gift instead. 😆 It was a matching heart bracelet to match the heart necklace she gave me for our second transfer. Since I would be carrying her babies heart. The bracelet has 7 hearts on it. She had it made so that their would be a heart for each baby I carried and birthed!!!! You guys how incredibly sweet, beautiful and thoughtful is that. I wear it every day now just like I do my necklace. It was such a meaningful gift I just love it.

Closing this chapter of my life sucks. I wish I could say I was ready or happy but that’s just not true. I will forever miss all things pregnancy and delivery. I’m still pumping and that’s helping me feel like it’s not all over yet. I’ve been producing a lot this time and feeding babies is pretty cool! We don’t really have any freezer space but I just keep pumping. It’s been 3 months now I’m pretty proud of that accomplishment as well. I’ll add some cute pictures now. Thanks everyone for following along on this last journey and all the others you have been apart of. All the prayers and well wishes. I will be forever grateful for all of it.

Last bump pics!
I loved these overalls 😍
Gas mask time!
Waiting is exhausting 😆
Things are getting real!
It’s finally time to push!
We are excited
Pushing look how excited Kailynn is!
Look who’s here!
She peed all over me when she came out. 😆
❤️❤️❤️
Dads time to shine!
First family photo.
Look at these cheeks
The hand off 🥰
She was pretty good at eating too!
First bath
Her first birthday cake. We ate it for her! 😆
How adorable are they!
So precious
Baby number 7 😂 Everett’s idea
Happy birthday! 🎂
My push gift from Karen and Roger. ❤️

Last moments before my last birth.

Wow looking back on all my journeys is incredible. Thinking about the fact that I started all of this more then 11 years ago is crazy. I have basically been pregnant for the last 14 years between my children and everyone else’s. I started out on this journey hoping to help a family within my church and when that didn’t happen I was still so drawn to finding someone to help. I am so happy I followed through with what I knew I was supposed to do. As much as people tell me how great I am and what a blessing I am I really REALLY mean it when I say my family and I are really the lucky and blessed ones. I truly believe God answered my prayers and sent me the perfect families to help. He knew how important my relationships with these moms were to me. Don’t get me wrong all my baby daddies are incredible men as well but I was just drawn to help other women become moms. Ricky and I were so blessed to have our own children so easily and I know there are so many women who don’t have that same blessing. I really wish I could help everyone who wanted a baby.

Knowing these families and watching them love and enjoy their lives with their children is so fun to watch and see. The friendships I have cultivated with these women are so important to me. I know I can call any one of them and they would be here for me. (Not just because I had their baby/babies) haha. My body has grown, loved and birthed 7 babies! (Well 7 tomorrow) That honestly still shocks me! I guess because I have never seen them all together it just doesn’t seem real. I’m not sure why. My uterus has been so good to me and my body has done an incredible job at keeping these babies growing and safe. I am so thankful for that.

I hope that through this others are encouraged to find a way to help and give back. Obviously not everyone can have other peoples babies. Honestly most people can’t and that’s totally normal and fine. There are wonderful ways to help others though and I promise it feels so good to know you can do something for someone else to help them in their lives.

I know for me I will be emotional after this delivery. I’m emotional after all of them but knowing this one is really really it is a hard pill to swallow. Pregnancy has been essentially part of my identity at this point. I’m not sure what to do with my life when I’m not pregnant or preparing to get pregnant or have a birth. I had a good cry in the shower today knowing this is it and knowing how much I’m going to miss this all. It’s sad for me to think about the fact that I will never again have an ultrasound where I see a baby in there. I will never watch my belly grow and get round again as a baby grows. I will no longer feel those first little flutters of a baby starting to move. I will never again feel the big kicks and Jabs. This is the last time I will have counting and timing contractions. Last time pushing a baby out. I won’t get to park in expectant mother parking anymore! 😂 Seriously so many things I’m going to miss. Even the uncomfortable parts like, lack of sleep, hormone headaches, nauseous days, swelling, getting winded while walking or showering! Im going to miss it all.

It’s all been worth every single moment the good and bad. I know 99% of people don’t love pregnancy like me and I get it. If I had all hard pregnancies I wouldn’t want to do it either. Im just glad I did love it so that I was able to help others. I’m excited to see what’s in store for all these children I have birthed. I feel like maybe one of them will be a president! With 7 I feel like I have better odds then most? 😂

Thanks to everyone who has helped in anyway during any of my journey’s. I appreciate all the love, prayers and support I have received through all this. You all are part of this too! Please continue to pray for me after this. Like I said I know this will be a difficult transition for me. I need to take some time and see what I am supposed to be doing next.

For everyone asking!

I’ve gotten so many messages, calls and texts. I appreciate each and every one. It’s so nice to know so many people care about baby, me and the parents! So the update is we are STILL PREGNANT. 😂 I seriously can’t believe I am just walking around half way done laboring! Heck who knows now I may be more then half way because I haven’t been checked since Sunday morning before I left the hospital. Karen and Roger are not leaving they are staying until baby girl comes. Basically they get a St. Louis vacation before she makes her grand entrance.

On Monday morning I messaged Shirley on Facebook. She works at my drs office. Perks of knowing someone! I had tried to call the regular hotline number to see if I could get an appointment with Dr Sammons but the lady told me no. I said I really don’t need a whole appointment time even. I really just wanted to check and make sure she was at least still head down. That’s literally the only thing I cared about. So I said can anyone see me to check via ultrasound anyone. She was like nope sorry you are out of luck. 😂 So thankfully Shirley made magic happen for us and got us in at 10:30. I had also texted Dr. Sammons have I mentioned how much I love her as my OB. Seriously how many people get their cell phone number! I’m a lucky lady. I told her what had happened over the weekend and everything they told me. She said let me work on this I’ll come up with a plan.

I was just so nervous something crazy would happen like my water breaks or something and if she had flipped again we could be in trouble. Especially since it’s my 7th delivery and I was progressed so far already. I said I don’t want an arm falling out or birthing in the car! Wouldn’t that a a crazy birth story. So we all got to the drs office and Dr. Sammons was all ready to go with a plan. Because of the fact that I am already so progressed and that the baby has been known to flip so much her and MFM (maternal fetal medicine) decided it would be a good idea to induce us at 37 weeks. That will be Thursday. They also did the ultrasound and thankfully she is still head down!!! Praise Jesus I was so happy and relieved to hear that. That’s all I needed to know to feel better about our situation. So Unless she tries to come before that Thursday will be the day. She really likes to keep us on our toes though so who knows. We all feel pretty comfortable with that plan. We just want a happy healthy baby and a healthy delivery for me.

So honestly now that we have an official plan she has been so good and I haven’t really been having any contractions. Definitely not like I was. Part of me thinks she’s definitely waiting for Thursday now. I’m ok with that. Honestly I wish she would have stayed put for even longer but her safe delivery is our top priority at this point. Since Karen and Roger are in town we are just visiting and trying to pass the time. We went out to a delicious dinner at a new restaurant we hadn’t even been too. 801 chop house it was so yummy and I ate WAY too much. I already want to go back! The steak was delicious and so were all the sides. So if you haven’t been you should go! Today Karen and I went for manicures and pedicures because clearly that’s important before she arrives. I’m hoping since my feet and toes look so good that is all anyone will be looking at during delivery! 😂 😆

So that’s the plan for now. Let’s see when little miss decides to make entrance. We are all excited and ready whenever she is. Thanks again for all the support and well wishes.

Time to relax
We even ordered yummy drinks.

36 weeks and 2/3 days. Guess what’s happening?

Well I’ll start off by saying if Dr Sammons tells me she’s going out of town that’s how I know I’ll have an issue! 😂 So remember on Thursday I was 3cm and 50% effaced still. My Friday appointment went great actually baby girl FLIPPED! She was head down so the dancing, acupuncture, and cold pack stuff worked. I actually think it was mostly the cold packs but they were all still fun to do. What a relief. So on Saturday Ricky and I went to the farmers market for a bit to get out of the house and we took Bo to hobby lobby to get GG (our kids great grandma) a cute sign for her door. He enjoys the car rides and does well in stores. We came home and I took a nap. I don’t sleep much at night because she loves to kick and play.

I got up to go do a few pictures with our family photographer for something a little extra to remember this last pregnancy by. I wasn’t going to do anything but then one day getting in the shower I was looking at my body thinking this is really it. I am never going to look like this again. It’s really a bittersweet feeling. So I decided last min I was going to do something for just me if no one else. I may not always love the way I look or my body but I can’t forget the amazing things it has done. I’ve been so blessed to be able to get pregnant and carry my children and then five more for other women. Wow sometimes that even surprises me. My old uterus has been good to me and my body has held up well concerning how many babies I have grown and birthed.

Anyway after the pictures I told Ricky I was having a few contractions but nothing I was worried about yet. He came home and we were watching tv. The contractions kept coming so I decided I better start timing them just in case. Well they got pretty timeable! So I drank extra water and moved positions. All the things they tell you to do. I finally gave in and figured better safe then sorry I will go in to be seen. I wanted to make sure I gave Karen and Roger enough time to get here. So off we went.

Once I got to the hospital it was like the contractions were like haha never mind. I told the nurse I swear I was having them for like the last 2 hours! Well then they started again and were even getting stronger. The house Dr came in and checked me. I was 4cm and still 50% effaced. So that was a change from Thursday appointment. Because I am not 37 weeks though they can’t do anything to encourage labor. So they gave me some fluids and said we would check again after some fluids. I told Karen to wait until my next check for us to make a decision on what to do. So about an hour or hour and a half goes by and she came back in the re check me. You guys I was then 5cm! I called Karen and said I would feel more comfortable if you guys came. They were ready to go! So the hospital said they were keeping me over night for monitoring and they would keep pushing fluids and sugar water to see what happens.

I wanted to sleep but as everyone knows in the hospital that doesn’t happen. They came in constantly trying to get this girl back on monitors. One nurse was like no wonder you don’t get any sleep. I don’t mind too bad though we manage. Karen and Roger made great time and got to the hospital to say hello around 3am ish. They went ahead and went to a hotel since not much was happening. Once I got up they decided they were sending me home! 😳😬 That’s right I am literally 50% done having this baby and they are like go home and good luck. Just come back if contractions start coming again and get worse. I am sure I looked panicked because the nurse was like is everything ok? I said well I a mean this is my 7th baby and delivery we all know it can go fast at this point. She was trying to be kind and reassure me but I finally said well I am not trying to have a baby in the car! She was very sweet but also young. I know she was doing her job but I just couldn’t believe this was happening.

So I told Karen and packed up to come home. On the one hand I totally get it. They want her to stay in and healthy so do we I, but I can’t help to think I have NEVER been 5cm and not been in the hospital actually birthing! She is obviously trying her best to come out. To make things extra exciting I lost my whole mucous plug I think! I was losing a bit in the hospital I thought but couldn’t be sure. Well once I was home a huge amount came out. I was sure that was it! It was so yucky looking. I made Ricky come look because well I needed someone else to see it I guess. 😂 He wasn’t happy about it. So now I’m thinking how much faster will this make things? Dr. Google haha says hours/days. I am thinking soon for sure. I can’t imagine walking around have way done could last much longer. I guess we will see.

So now I guess we wait and see. I know whatever birthday she picks will be the perfect one. This is still my favorite part and I am so glad Karen and Roger made it safely for the birth. Whenever she decides it should be. I’m going to keep praying she stays head down! I actually may call the office today to just see if they had time for a super fast check just so it can put my mind at ease to make sure with all her moving she hasn’t flipped again. You all know how much I wanted to experience my water breaking naturally. I still kind of do but I will say I’m a bit more apprehensive now that I’ve naturally progressed so far. My fear is if my water breaks I really might have a baby in the car!

That’s all the information and updates I have so far. Let’s all keep praying for baby Mac and that her birthday is wonderful and that we all make it to the hospital in time. 💓

Happy 36 weeks! Did she turn?

I’ve been doing all the things to get her to go ahead and go in the right direction for exiting. Acupuncture twice a week, spinning babies moves, I even tried a bright light and music! Karen’s friend said it worked for her so hey why not. I’ll try it all! I found the brightest light I could and even danced a little to get her moving in the right direction. Out of all these things the most fun was definitely the light and dancing! I am really just trying my best to soak up each and every second of this last bit of pregnancy. Obviously we are so very incredibly excited for her to come but selfishly I just want to keep her inside longer.

I have been struggling to sleep at night. I pee a lot and getting comfortable is difficult plus she love’s moving about. As easy as it would be to complain about this I am still excited and grateful for these moments. I’ve been having off and on contractions still but nothing regular. I would love for her to stay in as long as she needs but I don’t really think we will make it to 39 weeks. I am excited to see what day she picks for her birthday though.

At my appointment today Dr. Sammons checked me again and surprisingly I am still 3cm and 50% effaced. She could feel something but wasn’t sure what it was so we took a peek via ultrasound and nope not a head. She was still laying sideways Or transverse as they call it. Her head was on my left side. I will continue to do acupuncture and hope that works. I am currently laying in bed with cold packs on my left side. Hopefully it encourages her to slide head down. Like I said I am trying it all. Worst case scenario we will try to manually flip her right before birth.

I have another appointment tomorrow with another ultrasound so we will see if maybe this ice pack thing helps. Dr. Sammons did mention that it’s probably helping me stay pregnant because if she goes head down she will obviously apply more pressure and labor could start. So I will just keep waiting and enjoying all these last little fun bits. I love birthing and surprises so I can’t wait for her to surprise us with her birthday. Ps I’m still hoping for my water to break spontaneously! Let’s see what she’s up to this week.

How’s Baby Mac?

In week 36, Baby Mac is probably close to 19 inches (47.8 cm), and 6 lbs (2.7 kg), about the size of a papaya, although variation in the height and weight of each individual baby increases as they get closer to birth, and when your little one arrives they should be just the perfect size for them! At this point, if Baby Mac is still in the breech position, your healthcare provider may talk to you about ways to try to get them into a head-down (vertex) position for safe labor and delivery. Your baby’s digestive system still isn’t fully developed yet. Although Baby Mac has had plenty of practice swallowing amniotic fluid, they won’t be digesting food until they start eating on the outside.

Speaking of which, if you haven’t thought much about it yet, you should spend some time thinking about how you want to plan to feed Baby Mac once they’re born. Breastfeeding is an excellent way to bond with your baby and make they get the nutrients they need, but it’s not the only way to do things. Bottle feeding can also be an intimate, special time. Many parents feed their babies with some combination of these methods. And while it can be helpful to plan for these things advance, once Baby Mac arrives you should do whatever is right for you and your little one.

Ice pack on the belly!
Enjoy my sweet dance moves and big belly