My Labor Playlist

From soft and sweet to fast-paced and powerful, these songs helped me get through the labor process! Some had special meaning, either a play on words from the title or lyrics and/or because we had a baby girl named Georgia! Listed alphabetically by artist.

"Boom Boom Pow", Black Eyed Peas David Guetta remix
"I Gotta Feeling", Black Eyed Peas                                      
"Today My Life Begins", Bruno Mars                                    
"Count On Me", Bruno Mars
"Just The Way You Are", Bruno Mars                                
"Runaway Baby", Bruno Mars
"Sweet Nothing", Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch
"Hope In Front Of Me", Danny Gokey
"I'm Coming Out" remix, Diana Ross
"Light It Up", for KING & COUNTRY
"Busted Heart (Hold Onto Me)", for KING & COUNTRY
"Fine Fine Life", for KING & COUNTRY
"Love's To Blame", for KING & COUNTRY
"Beautiful, Beautiful", Francesca Battistelli
"Good To Know", Francesca Battistelli
"Lead Me To The Cross", Francesca Battistelli
"This Is The Stuff", Francesca Battistelli
"Heartbeat", The Fray                                                            
"Not Over You", Gavin DeGraw
"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)", Hillsong UNITED
"You're Beautiful", James Blunt  
"It Girl", Jason Derulo  
"I Won't Give Up", Jason Mraz  
"A Woman's Rant", Jo Dee Messina
"Why Georgia", John Mayer  
"Georgia Clay", Josh Kelley  
"Forever Reign", Newsboys
"God's Not Dead (Like A Lion)", Newsboys
"The King Is Coming", Newsboys
"Savior Of The World", Newsboys
"I Am Second", Newsboys  
"Joy", Newsboys  
"Here We Stand", Newsboys
"More Than Enough", Newsboys
"Revelation Song", Newsboys
"Your Arrival", Phil Wickham
"Hang On" Digital Dog Radio Edit, Plumb  
"In My Arms", Plumb  
"Isn't She Lovely", Stevie Wonder  
"Strong Enough To Save", Tenth Avenue North
"Beautiful Day", U2  

Georgia's Birth Story, Part 2

Last bump picture!! 1:30am. 38 weeks, 4 days

My nurse, Megan, got me settled and hooked up to the monitor to see where my contractions were & how Baby Georgia was tolerating them. It seemed like forever before she checked me. At 2:20am, I was 4cm dilated, still at 75% effaced, and -1 or 0 station. She called my doctor, who wanted me to walk for 1 hour to make more progress. With one earbud in to listen to my labor playlist, we made laps around the unit. Perry kept track of each contraction {he said they were about 1.5 minutes apart at this point} and rubbed my lower back during each one. They were getting so intense! I communicated with him with single words- "harder", "lower", "stop"... He was my wonderful labor coach again!! When a contraction came, I headed toward the wall & stopped, bent my head down, leaned on the IV pole and the railing, and slid my tight grip back & forth on the handrail. After just 30 minutes, I was moaning- and wanted my nurse to check me now! I think I could actually feel myself dilating... I was between 5-6cm at 3:30am.

The next hour was- I'll say it- torture. I had to get a liter bolus of IV fluid before I could get an epidural. My birth plan was to labor naturally for as long as I could while still getting the epidural before my pain reached excruciating as it had in my labor with Gabriel.... but, since it went much faster, that didn't happen! I raised the bed up high so I could stay standing with my upper body leaning over the bed. Perry thought I was going to pass out from the pain. He stood very close to me in case he had to keep me from hitting the floor! My legs were giving out as I hung on to the far edge of the mattress... Not a safe position! I climbed up on the bed on my hands & knees with the head of the bed elevated for me to lean on. With each contraction I would knead the side rail with my left hand and the top of the mattress with my right. I sung mumbled along to my music and/or randomly hummed. My nurse asked Perry, "Is she listening to Britney Spears?" Um no. That made me laugh! It was Francesca Battistelli "This Is The Stuff"! I decided to try a different position on my side with my knee bent up. This was when I squeezed Perry's hand a lot. Hard. Sorry dear! I remember him and my nurse laughing because I deliriously said "Come in!" out of the blue. I thought I heard someone knock on the door. Obviously I was very eager for the anesthesiologist to get there! I cried "I can't do this," and Perry reminded me that I was doing it, and doing great! I was (and always am) so thankful for him.

Finally. The epidural! I wanted the anesthesiologist to hurry through the patient education, risks, etc. I'm a nurse. I know the deal. Just get it in already!! I had pain relief around 4:30am; I didn't have any blood pressure issues like with my epidural with Gabriel. I did get really hot and feel like I might pass out after having my face buried in my nurse's chest for so long. I apologized to her "for being all up on her"- she was so sweet and said it was fine.

My progress slowed... I was 9cm at 5:05am. Dr. Wyckoff came in at 5:50am. I ate a popsicle and both Perry & I got a cat nap. My nurse Megan's shift ended and Elissa took over. At 7:40am, it was time to get things moving again! My doctor broke my water and instructed me to let my nurse know when I felt "a lot of rectal pressure".

Thankfully no Pitocin was needed this time! Just 10 minutes later, it was go time!! My doctor & nurse came right back in and had me do a "practice push". At first I said "I don't remember how to do this". My legs go where? When do I breathe? How many times are we counting? One push and it all came back to me! While my nurse had my attention, I noticed my doctor pulled Perry aside. He later told me she said, "she (me) doesn't know it yet but your baby is right there!" Exciting! Georgia was at a +2 station! My room quickly filled up with people (the Stork Team, my doctor's assistant) and equipment. I made sure a mirror was brought in. Someone informed my doctor that the room next door, also her patient, was ready to push too! Dr. Wyckoff's response was something along the lines of "Not as ready as we are in here!" Unfortunately no one offered to take pictures for us, so we asked the surgical tech if she could (that's who offered during Gabriel's birth, and the physician doesn't need much assistance until after the baby is born, assuming there are no complications). She said she wasn't able to... Perry ended up taking the pictures- I wish he could have been in more of them.

We didn't write down the time when I started pushing, but my doctor said "it was only a couple contractions"! I'd guess ~5-6. It couldn't have been more than 10-15 minutes!! Perry stood on my left to support me, and to hold my leg! The nurse helped with my right leg which was completely numb. I was amazed at how quickly Georgia came! Pushing was much different- and dare I say easy- this delivery!! For those who didn't read Gabriel's birth story, I tried to get him into the world for 2 1/2 hours.

Georgia Jane Whitaker was born at 8:11am... the exact same time that her big brother was born!!!!! What are the chances of that??!! There are 1440 minutes in a day!! I couldn't believe it when the nurse called out the time of birth!!!

{When I saw it was getting close to 8:00am, I asked "Do you think I can make it by 8:11? That's when our son was born." I was mostly joking. Until I saw how much she moved down with each push! I remember glancing over at the clock at 8:10am and saying "It's almost 8:11! But 8:12 would be cool, too." My nurse informed me they have to go by the time on the monitor, not the wall clock, then another contraction came... so I gave it ALL I had!! There was her head... with lots of dark hair just like her brother! And her pretty squished up face!! There she was!!!! I did it!!!! God is so good.}

Our little baby girl came out with a good, strong cry! She was immediately placed on my chest. Her APGAR scores were 9 and 9! Perry cut her umbilical cord and she stayed with me for a while before the nurses took her to the warmer, weighed her, etc.

Excited Daddy couldn't wait to hold his baby girl!!

All the similarities between Georgia and Gabriel's births:

*~2cm dilated and ~75% effaced (at 39 week doctors appt with Gabe, 38 weeks with Georgia) and labor started 2 days later but baby was born on the 3rd day!

*Born in the same room!!!

*Born at EXACTLY the same time!!!!!!

*Gabe's birth date is the 13th (1-3 for the 1st child) and Georgia's is the 23rd (2-3 for the 2nd child)!!!

*Both born on a Friday

*Weighed exactly 1 pound different (Gabriel 7lbs, 14oz vs. Georgia 6lbs, 14oz)

*Same length

So proud! We called Gabriel to tell him the news- we missed him so much!

We couldn't be happier with our beautiful baby girl!!! We have been blessed!

Georgia's Birth Story, Part 1

Once I reached full term, I was ready for our baby girl to make her appearance! We were eager to meet her and I was getting tired of being pregnant {but yes, I sort of miss it now...}. I wasn't technically ready though - I had a pretty long to-do list for both myself and Perry. The week of her birth I nested like crazy! After dinner on Tuesday (5/20) I was up until 1:00am working like a mad woman! I blogged my 38 week post (and noted all I still had to do), then got a majority of it done: worked on laundry, finished packing Gabe's overnight bag, my hospital bag & Georgia's diaper bag, wrapped Gabriel's "Big Brother" presents from Georgia, painted my toenails...

I went to work on Wednesday (5/21) and left a Honey-Do List of all the items I couldn't/didn't finish. Perry faithfully tackled everything and even added more chores to it! We didn't know it yet but we both finished the must-be-done-before-Georgia-is-born things just in time! Thursday (5/22) I was off; after spending the morning all together, Perry went to work around lunch time. I did some laundry and light cleaning (microwave, kitchen sink, picked up around the house) but mostly Gabriel & I played. I knew it wouldn't be long before my attention was divided so I soaked up time with just my boy!

Belly love & bubbles

Gabriel was asking to play outside again so around 7:00pm I decided to go for a walk. It would be fun for him and just might get labor going! I loaded him into the wagon and walked briskly around the neighborhood- for 45 minutes! The last 15 minutes Gabe wanted to walk so I let him pull the wagon (sure, burn off some more energy, boy!); he thought that was awesome. He asked me over and over again, "You coming?" I noticed the number of my Braxton-Hicks contractions increased while I was walking but weren't painful. I didn't expect that the walk would actually stimulate labor!

Just as we got settled back at home, we heard the ice cream truck! Que a wildly excited boy! I scrambled to find 6 quarters and get Gabriel's shoes back on. It stopped right on our corner (with its obnoxiously loud music); Gabe & I had a good time eating his orange push up on the porch and watching our neighbors.

About an hour and a half later I was finishing up Gabe's bath when Perry got home from work (around 9:30pm). He pointed out that I was bouncing with each contraction. Apparently I noticed a difference from my usual BH contractions- they were getting stronger at this point. After I got Gabriel into bed, I had this impulse to "get stuff done", I guess just in case I was going into labor! I did start timing my contractions with an app on my phone (around 9:50pm). I kept telling myself that maybe I just overdid it on the walk and if I laid down, the cramping contractions might stop. Silly me! I unloaded the dishwasher, took a shower and ran a load of laundry, then was straightening up downstairs when Perry suggested we pull together the items on our "Grab Last-Minute for the Hospital" list even if we had to put them back later. Smart man. He actually started loading the car! Over the next hour, my contractions were anywhere from 4.5 - 8.5 minutes apart. Around 11:00pm, I called work to tell the Charge Nurse that I might not be at work the next day. By 12:00am, my contractions were 3.5 - 6 minutes apart lasting 30-50 seconds. At this point I accepted that I actually was in labor! Perry called my doctors' office and the MD on call, Dr. Wyckoff, called me back at 12:10am - she sounded so sleepy. She instructed us to head to the hospital!! Gabriel had no idea what was happening when Perry woke him up. Poor buddy!

Not great pictures, but they're the last I have of Gabriel as an only child!

We were on the road at 12:34am (that was easy to remember!). I was surprised Gabriel stayed awake the whole trip. As we were rounding a bend in the road, there was a sudden loud "thud"- something hit our windshield! It definitely startled us; Perry guessed it was a bat or a bird. Aw and ew!

It was bittersweet dropping Gabriel off at his Nonny & Boo's house. He was (and will always be) my baby!! And soon, he would instantly transition to his new role as "first born" and "big brother"! It was exciting and nerve-wracking. We had never left him overnight and now we were leaving him in the middle of the night! For a couple days! We gave him kisses & hugs, grabbed a bottle of Coke and water, paused for a contraction, and were back on our way.

My contractions slowed down when I was in the sitting position. I didn't pay attention to how fast Perry was driving, but we made good time! We pulled up to the hospital at 1:15am. Like my labor with Gabriel, I was most comfortable standing, so I hovered at the registration desk while Perry & I worked together to fill out all the paperwork. We were then escorted back to Labor & Delivery. The Registration lady said "Room 10" to the nurses as we walked past. I asked "Is that the first room after the nurses' station?" It was... and I got so excited!! Georgia was going to be born in the same room Gabriel was born in!!!!

To be continued in Part 2...

Georgia at 4 Days Old

We came home on Sunday but since Monday was Memorial Day, Georgia's first "well visit" at the Pediatrician's wasn't until Tuesday. Getting ready to leave the house was trickier with two little ones... but we loved seeing our kids (plural!) together in the back seat!

Matching in navy

Our Ped schedules all the newborn appointments around the same time, so there were 3 others in the waiting room with us! We saw the nurse practitioner- our favorite doctor didn't have any availablity. In our opinion Georgia has been doing great, and the NP confirmed that! Everything checked out perfectly!

Just like Gabriel at his newborn appointment, Georgia was back at her exact birth weight already! They said it isn't expected until 2 weeks old so she is eating very well at this point.

Stats
Weight: 6 pounds, 14 ounces (we weren't told the percentile)

Happy Birthday, Georgia!!!!!

We are proud to announce the birth of

Georgia Jane Whitaker

05 - 23 - 2014

8:11am

6 pounds, 14 ounces

19 3/4 inches

Work Baby Shower

On Saturday, my coworkers threw me a baby shower!! It was actually a joint baby shower for me/going-away party for a coworker, Nicole, who was transferring to another unit. She made the cute baby cake! There was so much food- tacos, dips, fruit, desserts... we eat good on the weekends!

Some of my coworkers!

Getting all my gifts out to my car! Weekenders, thank you!!! It was so nice!

38 Weeks

Total Weight Gain: 27 pounds (as of 38w1d)

Movement: No change from last week. Still moving often but smaller movements in her tight quarters!

Symptoms: Pain (aching and pinching) in my pelvis/hips; some random cramping in my lower abdomen; headache today.

Doctor's Appointments: Heart rate 130's, still head down. Exciting news is I'm already 75% effaced and 2cm dilated!!! In comparison to my pregnancy with Gabriel, at my 39 week appointment (technically I was 38w5d), I was 70% and 1.5cm which is roughly the same as now... both are estimates, of course! I went into labor 2 days later and he was born early in the morning on the 3rd day (39w1d). Getting excited!!! {And suddenly feeling like I have so much to do! Finish packing Gabriel's overnight bag & Georgia's diaper bag including a coming home outfit, wrap Gabe's "Big Brother" present from Georgia, catch up on laundry, vacuum the house, clean the bathrooms, paint my toenails...}  

Best moments: Perry & I had a date today, probably our last for a while!! All 3 of us went to my doctor's appointment, then we dropped G off at Nonny & Boo's, had lunch at Remington Grill (I got a spicy buffalo chicken sandwich in hopes of inducing labor), shopped for what Georgia is going to give Gabriel in the hospital, and saw Million Dollar Arm!

What we are looking forward to: Meeting little Miss Georgia!

38 week belly picture: Coming soon...