It started out to be just a normal day on Thursday, January 26, I went to work for 2 hours while Gerald went to school. We came home really quickly and then headed off to Central Utah Clenic where my midwifes were for my prenatal checkup. Gerald and I were together as usual. At my checkups they always want a urine sample and take my blood pressure. Something funny I did that day was I went to use the restrooms there but forgot to give the sample, but being pregnant I always use the restroom so I figured I would wait till I could go pee again. The urge never came, so I never went in a cup. When the midwife came in she told me that my blood pressure was abnormally high. She asked to see my legs, and saw that they were too swollen. My legs felt so swollen and tight that my calves felt tight from running. Luckily I could still wear my running shoes because of it being winter I didn’t want flip flops be the only shoes I could wear. My midwife also asked me if I experienced dizziness or blurred vision, which I didn’t. She then talked to us briefly about preeclamsia and wanted me to save every drop of my urine for a full 24 hours. It gets better, and guess where the urine needs to be stored? In my refrigerator so it can stay cool! So nasty.
After the prenatal appointment, we went to American Fork Hospital to preregister. Then Gerald and I head home, and I am so tired that I headed to my big king size bed to catch some zzzz. In the afternoon, my midwife called us and said we needed to head to the hospital to labor and delivery so my blood pressure could be monitored for 24 hours. I was worried, but stayed calm. Gerald and I said a prayer before we left the house. It was crazy to think we were going to the labor and delivery when I am 36 weeks pregnant.
We arrived at the hospital around 6pm. The nurses had to check my vitals every 2 hours, including throughout the night. I also started my urine test and man was that annoying to keep that because I had to put something on the toilet seat called a hat that collects my urine, and then I dump that into a container that is put into ice. The good thing about this is I didn’t have to do this at home! Friday comes around and we are anxious to hear the test results of the urine test to see if I do or do not have preeclampsia. There was a count of about 700 protein in my urine, and I am suppose to have zero. They confirmed that I had preeclampsia.
I talked to our friend Ramona, who is a midwife in Phoenix , and she was telling me that they started to deliver babies if women had 400 count of protein, it just depends on the Dr. Ramona helped me to know what my midwife was going to tell me next, that I would need to be induced so baby can come out. I was kind of shocked that I would become a mommy sooner than I thought. I went up to labor and delivery and around 10 pm. They started to induce me once I got up to the room. Brit, Lauren, Becky, and Jordan all came to visit us.
The contractions started around 3 am which felt like cramps. Then around 8am the contractions stated to get worse. By noon I was ready for the epidural, but my midwife was helping another woman push for 3 hours. I didn’t get the epidural till 3:30pm. The needle bent when it was placed in me. It didn’t hurt that badly, but once it was in me, I could already feel the pain decreasing. It felt amazing. I was able to get some shot eye. I started to feel the urge to push by 6pm. Gerald, Brit and Lauren were the only family I wanted in the room with me. Gerald and Brit held my legs and I began to push. I pushed for about 10 mins and Brystal Swan Secody came out and was laid on my chest. Gerald cut the cord . when my midwife was pulling out the umbilical cord, my midwife said “oh…that’s interesting, nurse take a look at this..” it scared me when she said that and I wanted to know what she was talking about. Apparently it got detached from the placenta and only the membranes came out. Once we heard that it was such a good thing that Brystal came early because she was not getting the nutrients and oxygen she needs. She weighed 5lbs 13oz and 18 inches. Born at 6:09 pm on Saturday January 28, 2012. My mom made it within 30 mins from when Brystal was born. I had an amazing experience of giving birth. I know she is supposed to be here this early for a reason.
She has thick, curly, dark brown hair, big feet and hands that were wrinkly. She has light skin, my eyes, and Gerald’s lips. Not sure whose nose she has…. But she is absolutely beautiful
