Love is in Stiles

At 5:44 PM on January 22, 2014, at exactly 38 weeks gestation, Scott Maverick Stiles was born! Our healthy baby boy was 7.6 lbs, and 19.5 inches long. 

On the night of January 21 just before we fell asleep me and Scott said a prayer, and I asked, as I had been doing for weeks, that baby Mav join us as soon as possible. I woke up the next morning at about 7:30 feeling like I had wet the bed just a bit. And when I stood up there was more trickle. I called my mother to tell her that I thought my water had broken, and then I called Scott, who was on his way to orientation for the ski resort he was volunteering at. I got his answering machine, but he called back just a few minutes later. I told him that I thought my water had broken, and he turned the car right around to take me to the hospital. He later told me that he knew I was in labor when he saw a missed call from me that early in the morning, because normally I don't get up until at least 11. 

We made it to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in downtown Provo, and entered in the E.R. for the first time in my life. When I told them that I was in labor and my water had broken the nice lady at the counter zoomed over with a wheelchair. It was nice, but I felt pretty silly because I could still walk. But no way was I going to turn down one of the only times in my life I could legitimately ride in a wheel chair. So we made our way up to the Labor and Delivery floor. Then some nice nurses proceeded to ask me lots of questions and poke at me. 

I had been really excited that since I was now 38 weeks, and had broken my water there was no way they could turn me away. But they checked me, I was only dilated to a 1. Uh oh. Then they did a PH strip, which was negative for amniotic fluid. Oh no! They warned me that they might have to send me home, but decided to look at some of my fluid under a microscope just to double check. So me and Scott waited anxiously, playing Settlers of Catan on the iPad, and me having contractions that were horrible. But the fluid was confirmed to be amniotic fluid- yeah!!!

Once they discovered this, they officially checked me and called my doctor. Since my mom's work was about 5 blocks away she showed up then, and the kind nurses started me on some sort of great painkillers that even allowed me to nap! The nurses checked me again in the afternoon and I was at a 4.  At that point the doctor came, a sweet lady from my OBGYN group that I hadn't met yet, Dr. Dabling. They discovered that I either had two amniotic sac layers, or that I had a hole where the bit of water before had come from, and now I was no longer leaking because the fluid was below the hole level. This meant they had to re break my water. By poking it with what was essentially a very long crochet hook. When this happened Scott nearly passed out, and had to go find himself some food. A few minutes later I went to the bathroom before the anesthesiologist came to give me my epidural, and there was a literal FLOOD of water. It was disgusting and super embarrassing, but the nurses were very sweet, and the anesthesiologist was in and out in about 3 minutes. I can't imagine what his hourly rate is. 

That epidural was AMAZING. I couldn't feel anything in my lower half, just some pressure during contractions, and cold numb legs. Sweet relief from those contractions. An hour and a half later, I was dilated to a 10 and pushing. I pushed for about 30 minutes, with the nurses and Scott holding my hands and coaching me. Me and Scott had discussed previously that he would stand by my head and give me moral support so he wouldn't be grossed out or scared. But when the time came he said he was so excited that it wasn't scary, and he was right there with me, I really appreciated it. (He even cut the umbilical cord) I was throwing up while I was in labor, up until about a minute before he was born. 

Finally, I felt pressure, and then no pressure, and Scott told me, "Open your eyes- we have a baby!" And when I opened my eyes I saw the most beautiful, sweetest, most lovable thing I had ever seen. And I was terrified before they put him in my arms. I was scared that I wouldn't know what to do, or that he wouldn't like me. But as soon as I touched him, he stopped crying and I felt peace. The entire day of labor and delivery was really very easy, and far less scary than I had heard. Knowing that in just a few short hours I would not be sick anymore, the pain would be over, and I would have my baby, it seemed like a very light price to pay. As Scott would say, I had about 100 days during my pregnancy that were far worse. And sure enough, as soon as he was born my nausea was gone and I felt completely healthy again.

Today Mav is ten days old, and already I feel like my little baby is growing up! He is the easiest baby I have ever seen. I believe that Heavenly Father made the pregnancy so hard for me because He knew Mav was going to be so easy. At least as a newborn ;). Every day since he was born has been pure bliss. Mostly we love to hold him, stare at him, cuddle him, and kiss him. Scott is the best daddy, and husband. He has been taking care of both of us, and is so sweet and gentle. I love to see how excited he gets to see the baby after even just a few minutes apart, and I hope that little Maverick turns out just like his daddy. 

I am so glad that I have a healthy, happy baby. Although I am sure that even if he were a hard baby we would feel just the same. He is my little ray of sunshine, and every moment I am thinking about him, and how lucky and blessed I am.