A Birth Story and Hospital Stay

Claire Lorren Thompson

 

10.23.2012

10:16pm

6 lbs 8 oz

20 inches

 

I started having contractions at about 3:30 am on Tuesday the 23rd of October. I thought it would a long labor like Bailey's was - 4 days. Contractions were 10-15 minutes apart all morning. In the afternoon Grandma Hadley, Bailey, and I went to WalMart and walked around to try to get things going, contractions started coming 7 minutes apart. I rested at home and tried to get some sleep, but at about 5:00pm they were 5 minutes apart and some were even 3 minutes. Mark and I went in to the hospital at 7:15pm and contractions were 2-3 minutes. I had to stop in the hallway throughout the hospital breathing through contractions, I wanted that epidural so bad! (yeah, I'm a wimp) Then at 8:15pm I got it! I felt warm all over and pain free (photo below). Mark and I just talked and practiced taking photos with the camera so Mark could be ready for action! About an hour later I called the nurse in because my epidural medicine was wearing off. They checked me and said it was time to push. 30 minutes later I sighed a huge sigh of relief, caught my breath, and rested as they wrapped our new little baby and gave her to me.

Welcome to the world Claire.

 

All photos by Mark and Debbie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day Bailey and Grandma Hadley came to visit. Bailey was excited to meet her new sister, she was startled when she first heard Claire cry, but soon got used to it. There were a lot of "Oh, hi baby!"s from big sister.

 

 

 

 

 

Grandma Hadley with grandchild #4

 

 

Claire gave Bailey a big sister present to open at the hospital, her dress up Mini Mouse.

 

 

 The next two days we tried to relax and catch up on sleep as the nurses took care of Claire at night. I love hospital stays for that reason, plus I actually really liked the food - at least I'm not making it and cleaning it up! Gritman Medical Center was also a great hospital to have a baby in. I liked it even more than American Fork in Utah. I had awesome nurses, they had a candle light dinner for Mark and I brought into our room while they watched Claire, and I got a post pregnancy massage from a masseuse. He said his job was to put me to sleep. I don't think I had been that comfortable and relaxed in months!

 

We sure do love our little Claire, it feels like she's been with us since the beginning.