Lincoln James Potter: Birth Story

He was ten days early and perfectly healthy. I had contractions like an hour apart for two nights before he was born but they would stop during the day. I was still working at the dental office and babysitting Desi though. Then at 1:00 am Thursday morning I started having them 10 minutes apart. And by 5:30 am, when I got to Alta View hospital, they were three minutes apart. My mom finally made me go to the hospital, thankfully. I wanted to wait as long as possible and I think I did. I was having back labor so it hurt pretty bad. When I got to the hospital I was 100% effaced and dilated 4+. So they got me the epidural at like 6:30 am. I don't know why people hype that up and say it hurts so bad, it was no big deal. Except they told me to hold real still or they could paralyze me and of course that's when a contraction happens. Anyways so my doctor, who i Love, Dr Larsen, came at 7:50 am and checked me and I was dilated 5+ and be broke my water. Then at 10:00 am I was dilated 10 so it was time to push and I did that for two hours. It didn't hurt with the epidural, I just felt pressure. And then my doctor came back at noon and checked and said it was almost time and that he would be back in a few minutes after he did some paper work and he came back at 12:10 pm and he was born at 12:18 pm. 

 during labor i was sleeping while everyone was waiting...

So chase cut the cord and they put him on my chest for a minute. And then they took him over to the special respiratory person to clean his lungs out and everything. So he was over there getting that taken care of and my doctor had to give me a couple stitches and took out my epidural and catheter. I didn't even realize that happened though cause I was just trying to look at the baby. Then they gave me my BABY. 

 

That was the greatest moment of my life. I thought I knew how happy I could be. I thought I knew unconditional love. I thought I knew how much I already loved Lincoln. I was so wrong. It was more than I could ever have imagined.  

Then I nursed him and that was interesting. It is crazy to think back on that moment now that Lincoln is so good at nursing. After a while of that the nurse gave him a bath and Chase helped with that while I ate some food. It was the best food I have ever had. Well, I'm sure it was actually was terrible but boy was I hungry.

They moved us to what would be our room for the next two days. I really wanted to go home on Friday but I had a fever the last few minutes of delivery so they needed to watch us a little closer because in my case that could mean one of two things, either one or both of us could have an infection or it was a side effect of the epidural. Thankfully it was just the side effect and no one needed any extra medicine. I didn't sleep in the hospital because I just wanted to hold him the whole time. I don't even know why they gave us a baby bed. He never used it except for transporting to and from the nursery so they could check on him. I wouldn't sleep when they had him either cause I didn't want him to be away from me. We finally got to go home on Saturday around noon and I was so glad to get some peace and quiet.

Tuesday we were ready to start back up babysitting Desi so I only missed two days of that. It was good to be able to start a normal routine. I just wanted to cuddle Lincoln all day that I would actually end up just cuddling Lincoln all day. So I am glad I was forced to do a little more than that. Everyday since has been a dream. I cant imagine my life with out him. We love him so much. 

Photos by Marlena Gustafson. THANKS SO MUCH MGUS.

Welcome baby boy!

  

Lincoln James Potter

Born November 29, 2012 at 12:18 pm

7 lbs 13 oz 19 1/2 inches long

Tons of blonde hair.

One day old.

Grandma Nonny with her first grandchild.

I will post more pictures soon and maybe a birth story. No one reads this but i don't want to forget the details so. Stay tuned.

Breaking Dawn Part 2

Breaking dawn part two with these girls was so fun! What's next? Hunger Games catching fire?
  

Baby bump.

So here is the best collection I could come up with of pictures throughout my pregnancy. The weirdest part is thinking how my belly kind of just popped out all of a sudden and that I will someday be (somewhat) back to normal.

I have determined that I am one of those people who really likes being pregnant. And i dont mean i like the attention from it cause I really don't. I just like how it feels. I feel great. There have been days where  I'd rather not go to work or do the laundry or make dinner but I have those days when I'm not pregnant. We all do. So really it's been great.

It's weird that its almost over. Only 18 days until my due date. I already feel like I miss him being inside me and with me all the time. I don't have to share him with anyone. I will let you know if  anything changes but m fairly certain I am going to want to be with him all the time. I'm shocked at how easily people share their babies. And I'm greatful for it cause I love babies. But I might be pulling the "it's RSV season, sorry you can't hold him" card quite often.


15 weeks pregnant at Ragnar.

17 1/2 weeks on the Fourth of July.

21 1/2 weeks wake surfing in

Lake Powell.

24 weeks.

26 weeks.

 27 weeks.

 30 weeks.

34 weeks on Halloween.

35 weeks at my baby shower.

 35 1/2 weeks on election day

36 weeks 

37 weeks. 

37 1/2 weeks.

  

The twins

The twins Michael and Mackenzie. Giving me lots of practice!
  

Baby

Here he is at 20 weeks. :)

All about baby!

So I guess I will try this again. First of all I'm pregnant. Duh. And I guess i will just answer this list of questions so I don't forget anything. But be warned. I'm pretty sure I'm one of those annoying people who loves being pregnant. So here you go...

How did you find out you were pregnant? I'm pretty sure I knew before I took the test but I had taken so many and had negative results that I didn't know for sure.

What kind of pregnancy test did you use? The dollar store ones gave me the earliest results. I had a few different kinds cause I didn't know if I trusted the dollar store brand but it gave me my accurate result like five days before EPT.

How many? Three at first with faint lines. Then again a couple days later. Then again just for fun.

What were your first symptoms? Well before I took the test when I was like 1 1/2 weeks after conception my boobs started hurting all of a sudden but again I couldn't believe it and thought maybe it was just a period symptom that I'd never had before. I was nervous to get over excited. But then I took a test!

Who did you tell first? My mom was with me cause I was scared I'd be negative. The I told chase. He asked "the line doesn't seem very dark...?"  And I just kept saying "a lines a line!"

First reaction? Excitement but scared. It didn't seem real till I went to the doctor at eight weeks and he told me for sure tha I was and we did an ultrasound. I just couldn't believe it.

Was your baby planned? Oh yes.

When was your baby conceived? St Patrick's day. (Though that really means nothing, we weren't wasted for the celebrations of anything. Just happened to be that day)

How far we're you when you found out? I was between 3 and 4 weeks pregnant. So a week and a half after conception.

How did your parents react? Excited duh.

Any adventures while being pregnant? At 15 weeks I did the Ragnar. At 22 weeks I went to lake Powell and wake surfed. At 33 weeks I went camping in Yosemite for five days.

Due date? December 8, 2012

Gender? Boy

Name? Lincoln James Potter

Any ultrasounds? One at 8 weeks to make sure he didn't have a friend in there. And one at 20 weeks for gender and growth checking. I don't think I will have anymore.

Have you felt the baby move? Yes this started at 16-17 weeks. It was a Thursday. And it was the best feeling. Now he's going crazy all the time.

Morning sickness? It was never unbearable. I only threw up once. Pretty much between 9 and 12 weeks I was nauseated all day. I didn't have an appetite my whole first trimester though. I actually lost 10 pounds. 

Cravings? Salads, fresh fruits, fresh vegtables. Pregnancy is not an excuse to eat crap!

Mood swings? No not really. Just the sudden urge to nest.

Any complications? Nope. Weight gain perfect. Measuring perfect.

Feeding plans? Breast feeding for sure.

When did you start showing? Barely showing at about 22 weeks. Then he popped out.

How could you wear regular clothes? Till I was 7 months. Even now at 34 weeks I wear mostly regular clothes. I only have 2 pairs of maternity jeans, 1 pair of leggings and a few shirts.

Natural or medicated birth? Undecided.

Who will be in delivery with you? My husband if he's not taking a final. My mom as back up for my husband. And my sister, the nurse, to tell me what's actually going on.

Do you think you'll need a c-section? This is a weird question...why would anyone want a c-section...it's more high risk. Anyways no I don't think I will. And. Don't want to be induced either.

Will you cry? Probably

What will you say? I will be speechless.

Who will help you with the baby? Hopefully no one. I'm sure i can do everything myself. Maybe someone should feed Chase but other than that...privacy please! 

What's your favorite thing about being pregnant? Feeling him move! And day dreaming.

What's the worst thing about being pregnant? Putting on shoes.

What do you miss doing since being pregnant? Sitting still.

Are you ready for the baby? Well we have a car seat and a bassinet ready. So the bare minimum is ready. Hopefully more will fall into place soon.

Do you still feel attractive? Heck yeah I'm a hot mama already.

Have you had a baby shower? One down one to go.

How far along are you? 34 weeks. 6 to go. Can't wait!