Blake Douglas : Birth Story

A sweet little boy was born and made us a family of four. This is the birth story of Blake Douglas!

39 weeks 3 days - Wednesday, March 13, 2019

I had a midwife appointment Wednesday and decided to get checked to see if I was progressing any. I was at "a good stretchy 3", the baby was tucked into my right hip, my belly was measuring 40 weeks and the midwife said with some good contractions I would open right up.

We were forecasted to get the storm of the century and since we are 70 miles from the hospital, as a precaution Steve and I were staying with his sister, Jess.

Wednesday night around 11pm I started to have my bloody show and possible loss of mucus plug along with some noticeable contractions. I went to bed but that was the end of those labor symptoms and I slept through the night with no issues.

39 weeks 4 days - Thursday, March 14, 2019

We stayed warm and cozy at Jess's and that included the baby. We binge watched Game of Thrones and I really didn't have any more signs of labor.

39 weeks 5 days - Friday, March 15, 2019

I woke up at 7:30am to a little jolt and what I thought could have been my water breaking but it was very little fluid so I thought I probably just peed.

Steve and I ran some errands around Fargo as the roads hadn't been opened up yet for us to go back home. Around 2pm we decided to go to the hospital just to make certain my water didn't break.

Swab test came back positive for amniotic fluid so we were admitted and I couldn't even go get my bag from the car. I was feeling great, was dilated to a 4 and contractions (that I hardly noticed) were 3 minutes apart.

Around 3:45pm we were all cozy in our room but not much was happening on the baby front, I was still super content and hadn't had much more come out for amniotic fluid. The midwife checked me at 5:30pm and could still feel some of the bag so she was scratching the baby's head trying to get it to break the rest of the way and ... break. it. did. Now it was go time!! I seriously wish I would have had a video of the water coming out because I felt like a fire hydrant haha it is a feeling that is unexplainable.

This time around I tested negative for Group B Strep so I didn't have to be hooked up to anything. They did give me an IV just incase something were to go wrong and they needed to give me meds, it was there. I labored naturally sitting on the bed and then laying on my stomach over the peanut ball. I did all this without pain and just kept talking with God and praying over my body singing along to Fear is a Liar. I let my contractions do their job!

At 7:45pm I was at 8cm. At some point I remember being on the peanut ball and I asked if there was a head there because I felt a lot of pressure - the midwife hopped up to come check and sure enough it was time. That is one of the main reasons I love the midwife team is they let you do your thing, and also a reason I'd like to try home birth if we have another! I turned around to use the birthing bar because that worked so well with Quinn but we couldn't get the bed to drop down far enough for me to get into a squatting position. So around 8:30pm one nurse grabbed one leg and Steve grabbed the other - 3 good pushes and we welcomed our son at 8:46pm.

This was another wonderful pregnancy, labor & delivery and I thank God for this experience (recommend the book Supernatural Childbirth to anyone trying to get pregnant).
I'm still a little shocked we have a son - what a wonderful addition to our family he has been!!

8 lbs 10 oz 20.25 in

Family of Four

Photography by our wonderful friend and photographer Dalayna

Growing Baby Rote2: 39 Weeks

How far along: 39 weeks

I’m feeling: really good and excited for baby but trying to soak up every ounce of Q that I can!

Total weight gain: 32 lbs

Baby Rote’s size: about the size of a honeydew melon {19-21 in, 7-8 lbs}

This week: We had a good midwife appointment on Wednesday and despite pending bad weather I decided not to get checked this time around - baby measured right on at 38 weeks and heartbeat was 148-150bpm.

I got a little annoyed this week with people thinking I should have my baby, women are supposed to go to 40 weeks for a reason and that is my intention!! So, I am fully preparing myself for another week of constant "oh you're still here" comments.

Got a little head cold the start of this week but made sure to really doctor up with oils and felt great at the end of the week.

We survived another winter storm this weekend and feel like we are overdue for Spring ... but more pending rain/snow forecasted this week.

I finally packed my hospital bag and washed baby clothes so now it won't be a mad dash when baby does decide to come. I will say I am way more calm this time around and I don't think I was that high strung the first time but there is a lot more uncertainty that first time around.

Maternity clothes: bought a new pumping/nursing bra so I'm excited to get that

Sleep: more middle of the night bathroom breaks but otherwise still good sleep

Best moment this week: pamper day on Wednesday. Baby appointment, Nails done, Massage, Bangs trimmed!!

Movement: still a lot of good movement

Food cravings: nothing

Food aversions: nothing

Belly button in or out: flat/out

Looking forward to: Spring and this weeks baby appointment

39 weeks with Quinn

Growing Baby Rote2: 38 Weeks

How far along: 38 weeks

I’m feeling: Good and ready for baby

Total weight gain: 32 lbs

Baby Rote’s size: about the size of a mini watermelon (19-20 in, 7 lbs)

This week: Was good and fast. My group B Strep test was negative so that was exciting news since last pregnancy it was positive, not that it was a huge deal but I plan to have a natural birth again so hopefully this time I won't need an IV.
Midwife appointment was good, she thought baby had dropped even more than last week and heart rate was 152bpm.

I was pretty emotional this week - really trying to soak up all of Quinn lately. She will always be my firstborn but the thought of her not being my baby anymore just really got to me this week! That and we sent her for a sleepover with my parents on Tuesday night and I missed her something terrible.

Our photographer came out on Saturday, so now that we got some family maternity pictures this little babe can come at anytime.

Today our oldest niece turned 11 - a great reminder that time FLIES and I need to cherish every bit of my babies, while they are still babies and not able to wear the same shoe size as me!!

Maternity clothes: same, same. However I think I'll be in the market for new nursing bras - favorites welcome!

Sleep: Not as many bathroom wakeup calls this week so that was nice. Got a charlie horse a few mornings ago and my leg is still sore from it.

Best moment this week: Maternity pictures - Quinn called our photographer "Auntie" the whole time, haha safe to say she is well liked!!

Movement: Movement and jabs are feeling more intense these days as baby's space is limited. I do think I've been having some light contractions here and there, you'd think I'd know for sure being the 2nd time around and all but it is so minor I'm really not sure!

Food cravings: just wanting chocolate shakes on the regular

Food aversions: nothing

Belly button in or out: it must be more out than flat because Quinn always likes to push on it

Looking forward to: Baby. Quinn is changing her mind and now says she is going to have a sister so I'll be excited to see.

38 weeks with Quinn

Growing Baby Rote2: 37 Weeks

How far along: 37 weeks

I’m feeling: finally hitting that mark where I feel quite large and now that baby has moved lower I have a pretty good waddle-walk going on

Total weight gain: 30 lbs

Baby Rote’s size: about the size of a canary melon (19 in, 6.5 lbs)

This week: seemed to really fly by. I had Monday off from work for President's Day so Quinn and I had a wonderful day hanging out together. Wednesday had a good midwife appointment baby is still head down heartbeat 148-150.

Maternity clothes: My options for shirts are running low but no need to buy new stuff, just a handful of tunics to rotate through and as always paired with leggings

Sleep: had a few nights of 3:30am bladder wake up calls but other than that sleeping like normal throughout the night. One thing though, turning from side to side is getting harder and harder and I can't wait to sleep on my back again!

Best moment this week: more snow - ahhhhh NOT! This was just a really good week with Quinn, she was in a great mood and it was very refreshing!!
Oh and tonight we finally got some things hung on the wall in our bedroom, like family pictures from Quinn's newborn session ...that I'll have to change out in a few months haha!

Movement: lots of full belly movement and jabs at my bladder

Food cravings: nothing

Food aversions: nothing

Belly button in or out: out

Looking forward to: midwife appointment on Wednesday (time for weekly appointments) and our rescheduled family/maternity photos on Saturday (better not snow)

37 weeks with Quinn

Boudoir Maternity Shoot

Steve and I are on the fence about how many kids we want, scratch that, Steve is on the fence haha I would love 3 or 4 kids!

But, since this could potentially be my last pregnancy I wanted a special kind of maternity shoot to help capture how amazing I feel when I'm pregnant. If you haven't figured out by now, I'm one of those people who loves pregnancy. Growing babies happens to be something I'm really good at - being a good mom during the toddler phase is questionable and requires A LOT of grace but pregnancy, I got that!!

I was able to get in on a boudoir event at a new local venue with a great photographer. I didn't have any certain photos in mind I just let the photographer pick my outfits and do her thing!!

Enjoy some of my favorites - the ones appropriate for this slice of the internet

I felt like a movie star, it was one of the best experiences and I highly recommend Taylor if you are in the FM area. I plan to do another shoot with her when I get my pre-baby body back!!

...
Details:
30 weeks pregnant
Photographer - Taylor Jane Photography
Hair - Hair by Amy Rose
Makeup - Nikki Terras
Vintage Couches - The White House Co.
Venue - The Pines

Growing Baby Rote2: 36 Weeks

How far along: 36 weeks {one month til due date}

I’m feeling: Still really good but I do feel like baby has dropped. So, due to stretching or baby being lower or both, I wake up in the morning feeling like someone punched me in the groin over and over!!
Oh and hello hemorrhoids, if you didn't know this was a thing during pregnancy, now you do and you're welcome - thankfully mine are almost gone {thanks essential oils} and don't really bother me!

Total weight gain: 29 lbs

Baby Rote’s size: about the size of a bunch of kale {18-19in, 6lbs}

This week: Celebrated Steve's 32nd birthday.
Had a good low key Valentine's day.
Met my friend's new baby boy, Kellen!

Maternity clothes: nothing new!

Sleep: switching sides is getting to be more and more of a challenge but other than that, sleeping is still great

Best moment this week: Meeting baby Kellen, such a sweet baby it made me excited for the newborn stage where they just lay there and sleep!

Movement: not as much room to swim around in there and I can tell he/she is lower now just watching my stomach and where they are at!

Food cravings: Yesterday I had an amazing salad so now I just want to eat that exact salad for every meal! And there wasn't anything fancy about it besides the fact that I didn't have to make it hah

Food aversions: nothing

Belly button in or out: out

Looking forward to: Long weekend, no work Monday + Midwife appointment on Wednesday + family photos on Saturday!

36 weeks with Quinn

Growing Baby Rote2: 35 Weeks

How far along: 35 weeks

I’m feeling: Tiring out easier these days but overall still feeing really good

Total weight gain: 28 lbs

Baby Rote’s size: about the size of a spaghetti squash {18in, 5.25lbs}

This week: Had a good midwife appointment on the 5th. Baby still head down, HB 144, measuring right on schedule.
Had a great meeting with our birth photographer after the midwife appointment.
One of my best friends had her baby on the 8th, Kellen Keith.
Celebrated my Grandma's 90th birthday today!

Maternity clothes: just stretching out the same clothes

Sleep: slightly more restless but can still make it the whole night no bathroom breaks

Best moment this week: having Quinn with for the midwife appointment

Movement: Still a busy little one in there but I can tell he/she is running out of room. Baby will respond when Quinn talks to my belly and it is the best!

Food cravings: not really craving anything

Food aversions: nope

Belly button in or out: flat/out, feel like babies butt/foot keeps pushing the top of my belly button out

Looking forward to: Hopefully meeting baby Kellen

Ran a little poll on my Instagram account last week and by a small margin, more people are leaning towards us having another girl

Growing Baby Rote2: 34 Weeks

How far along:  34 weeks

I’m feeling: Still good except today I was more exhausted than I've been in a really long time - baby might be starting to take a toll on me!

Total weight gain: 28 lbs

Baby Rote’s size: about the size of a pineapple {19-22in, 4.9lbs}

This week: was horribly cold ... on Wednesday my car said -40 on my way to work!!

Maternity clothes: nothing new

Sleep: last night I moved around a lot more than normal, waking up here and there otherwise sleep has still been great!

Best moment this week: having a date day with Steven - and Quinn telling us she thinks baby is a boy!

Movement: moving like crazy, hopefully babe is still head down

Food cravings: milkshakes

Food aversions: nothing

Belly button in or out: flat/out

Looking forward to: midwife appointment this week!

Growing Baby Rote2: 33 Weeks

How far along:  33 weeks

I’m feeling: Pretty good still. I didn't wear my support tank yesterday and today my legs were a little more sore, so supporting the extra weight made an impact

Total weight gain: 27 lbs - my weight was up and down more than ever this week (4.5 lb difference in one day kind of crazy), blaming that on some crap food

Baby Rote’s size: around the size of a honeydew melon (19in, 4.5lbs)

This week: Had a great midwife appointment on the 24th - baby is head down, hopefully he/she stays that way! This weekend we had fun with Auntie Eri staying over and a visit from Auntie Kayla too.
Calving started in full force this week so Steve has been very busy.

Maternity clothes: No new clothes but clearly still loving my blanqi tanks

Sleep: Still getting great sleep!

Best moment this week: Having lunch with one of my best friends who is due with her 2nd babe on Feb 10!
Attending a keynote by Rachel Hollis!
Ohhh and I got my maternity pictures back!!!

Movement: Babe is still an active little one!

Food cravings: Chocolate Milkshakes

Food aversions: Nothing

Belly button in or out: out/flat

Looking forward to: warmer weather, forecast of -57 (negative fifty-seven) with windchill this week

Growing Baby Rote2: 31 Weeks

How far along:  31 Weeks (1 day)

I’m feeling: still feeling really good

Total weight gain: 24 lbs

Baby Rote’s size: around the size of a coconut (18in, 3.2lbs)

This week: fairly uneventful week in the baby department

Maternity clothes: nothing new

Sleep: woke up to a charlie horse on Saturday - those things kill and I hope that was my only one this pregnancy!

Best moment this week: Quinn turning 21months and her mood improving as the week went on - toddler tantrums are no joke

Movement: Got some good videos of babe moving this week - seriously this guy/gal is crazy active!

Food cravings: nope

Food aversions: nope

Belly button in or out: flat

Looking forward to: this upcoming chill week, so hopefully another boring bump update coming to you next week.