Everett Tyler Bryson

Introducing...

Everett Tyler Bryson

born August 22, 2012

10:39pm

8 lbs 3 oz

20 inches

Pregnancy...

I didn't take any growing belly shots like I did with Claire, but we did attempt to take some maternity pictures at about 36 weeks along. I just didn't like how they turned out so much so I never posted any.
First of all, I have to say I don't love being pregnant, even though I'm one of those lucky ones that doesn't get sick during the first trimester. I do love feeling those first small kicks though, before the kicks get stronger and uncomfortable. Everett was super active and kicked a lot... I'm pretty sure he was more active than Claire. During one doctor's appointment, the doctor was trying to hear the heartbeat. He never actually got a good listen but called it good anyway, since we could see him kicking my belly and moving around like crazy.

Birth story...

This birth story was completely different from Claire's. With Claire I was induced a week overdue and not dilated or effaced at all. And then, after a long labor, she came by c-section. So throughout this pregnancy I knew I wanted to have a VBAC, and the doctors were optimistic, but they kept telling me it just depended on whether or not the baby came on time. Well at our 36 week appointment, I was 1.5 cm dilated and about 60 percent effaced. Then a week later I was at a 3, so this really excited me. I was definitely feeling contractions, more than I ever did with Claire. I kind of assumed, since I was already at a 3, this baby would be coming early, but I stayed at a 3 for the next two weeks. Then, at our 39 week appointment, they stripped my membranes for the second time (they had done this the week before). Our appointment was Tuesday afternoon, and I was told there wasn't any change from the week before, which left me feeling very frustrated. They were talking about how next appointment they would schedule the c-section if he hadn't come by then. That evening I was feeling contractions, but nothing different from what I had been feeling the previous week and a half. Scott and I went on a walk that night and then Scott left to play basketball and I headed to bed. My contractions were always worse at night and I'd woken up to them before, but they usually went away after a little bit and I'd fall back to sleep. That night though they were pretty consistent. They weren't painful, but they were keeping me from sleeping. They started getting a little more painful and closer together around 4 a.m. I was timing them and they were about 5 minutes apart, but I didn't think they were painful enough for it to be the real thing, so I debated for a long time whether I should wake up Scott or not. I'd never gone through this with Claire, so I had no idea what I should be waiting for. I  was really worried about going to the hospital and being sent away. Finally, around 6:30, I woke up Scott (he had only slept for 2 or 3 hours) and told him we might want to go in. The nice thing about living in my parents basement... we just had to run upstairs and let them know we were leaving and they were able to take care of Claire for us while we were gone. :) 

We got to the hospital around 7, checked in, and got comfortable (well as comfortable as I could). They then checked me to see how far dilated I was, and to my disappointment, there had been no change since the day before. They could see that my contractions were regular and painful though so they decided to keep me. They gave me an epidural (which didn't want to work on my left side) and kept checking me every hour or so. I progressed slowly and around noon I think I was about 5 cm dilated and the doctors were trying to convince me to let them break my water. Because of my experience last time, I was hesitant about letting them break my water, but everything was going so different this time, and the doctor was confident that breaking my water would help, so I let them. The nurses kept checking every hour or two and I had progressed like half a centimeter every time. I had made it to a 7 and then I remember the contractions were really strong and painful (I felt them all in my left side). The nurses decided to check again and said I was complete and ready to push! That brought a smile to our faces! I started pushing around 7 or 7:30 and 3 hours later... I was still pushing. I was getting so tired and had pushed for so long they decided to use forceps to help guide him out. Just a few more hard pushes later and at 10:39 p.m. Everett was here. :)

The next day Grandma and Grandpa brought Claire to visit at the hospital and see baby Everett. She was so excited and happy to see the baby when she first got there and then quickly lost interest and started playing with buttons and drawers and cupboards and everything else interesting in our recovery room. :) 

Everett is doing so well and Claire is adjusting to him really well also. She loves to give him kisses and make sure he has a paci or the music is playing on his swing. It's cute to see her with him.  Everything seems a little easier this time with the recovery and nursing and everything. The only thing that has been a little interesting is figuring out how to juggle two kids. :)